[indistinct talking]
Right, sir.
New York to Southampton via Liverpool.
We have the name of the passenger.
Now, what are the cabin requirements?
A single cabin.
Single cabins port and starboard here, sir.
From midships to stern.
That cabin. A15.
A15. Ah.
Now, can I give you a little advice, sir?
I'd recommend further forward. That's a bit toward the stern.
You get a bit of roll there, sir.
I want A15.
Well, I really recommend that you have --
Did you hear me, sir? I said I want cabin A15.
Oh, yes, sir. You have what you want.
I was only trying to advise.
- MAN: $150. Correct? -That's right.
[ Foghorn blowing]
[Sea gulls squawking]
In Edwardian times there lived many detectives --
the rivals of Sherlock Homes.
- Are you arguing with me? -No, ma'am.
This ship vibrates. I can't sleep at night.
Probably the reciprocating engine, ma'am.
- Quite normal. -"Normal." Rubbish.
I've complained to Lord Altington,
and perhaps he'll do me the courtesy
of reciprocating with a more plausible explanation.
I say, Horrocks.
I hate to mention this, old boy,
but last night I had a bit of a run-in with my steward.
Wanted a drink. Not late. Uh, midnight or so.
He seemed reluctant to oblige.
He's looking even surlier today. Name of, um, Garnett.
Garnett? Uh...
Hmm.
I shall change your steward to, um...
Masterson, Sir Edward.
I think you will always find him most obliging.
Good chap. Spot on.
HORROCKS: Good grief, Taylor.
Mrs. Vanrenen's.
Are my eyes deceiving me,
or have you been trundling that stuff between the baggage room
and her cabin ever since we left New York?
Eighth load this trip.
There's no room to swing a cat in there.
HORROCKS'. Oh.
[Telephone rings]
Purser's office. Horrocks speaking.
Yes, sir.
Immediately, sir.
Hold the fort, will you, Robbins?
Yes, sir.
Horrocks.
Captain wants to see you on the bridge.
I have to see Lord Altington.
Captain's orders have precedence.
Lord Altington pays my wages. And yours.
Do me a favor, Clayton. Say I can't be found.
Do I owe you any favors, Horrocks?
None.
Then I shall tell the captain that you were more frightened
of Lord Altington's tongue than his.
Damn you, Clayton.
Purser, I don't know whether it's yourself or your clothes,
but your appearance needs smartening up.
Now, do that. Smarten yourself up.
Oh, damn it, man. Stop fussing. That's enough.
Now, Mr. Horrocks, in case it's escaped your notice,
we're breaking two records on this voyage.
One, we're carrying the largest consignment of bullion
ever to across the North Atlantic.
A quarter of a million in gold.
Two, we're making the fastest-ever
transatlantic crossing.
New York, Liverpool, Southampton.
So I've heard, my lord.
Eight nights. We've been at sea four days.
Indications are the thing's in the bag.
Yes, my lord.
I've received a complaint from a Mrs. Pallin.
Vibration disturbing her, apparently.
- I know about that, my lord. -Oh, do you, indeed?
Then may I remind you it's your responsibility
to deal with such complaints.
You explained, of course,
that we were on a record-breaking run.
No, sir.
I understood you didn't wish the passengers to know, sir.
I didn't wish them to be disappointed
if for any reason we failed to bring it off.
But we're past the halfway mark.
12 hours in hand. I have every confidence.
No need to keep it under hatches any longer.
Very good, my lord.
There are two men on board -- a Mr. Fox and a Mr. Gaylord.
They come from the scrapings and leavings of our society.
The ill-named "gentlemen" of the press.
I've seen them, my lord.
They're here to give our crossing publicity.
Yes, my lord.
You will treat them with such generous consideration
that they will not do the dastardly on us
in the unlikely event that we fail
to reach Southampton in eight nights.
Yes, my lord.
Get them drunk and keep them drunk
from here to Southampton docks.
Certainly, my lord.
Lastly, the safety of the bullion
is your entire responsibility.
I understand that, my lord.
You will double your checks on the specie room.
Yes, my lord.
[Sighs]
Taylor.
Mrs. Vanrenen again?
- Second lot tonight. -Oh, dear.
I'll go and have a talk with her.
[Knock on door]
Come in.
- Mrs. Vanrenen? -Yes.
Oh, uh, allow me to introduce myself, ma'am.
Horrocks. Ship's purser.
Yes, Mr. Horrocks?
Madam, this cabin is, um, a little overfull of luggage.
If there was to be a storm,
it might fall and do you serious injury.
Allow me to explain, Mr. Horrocks.
For there is an explanation.
You see, my husband died 10 days ago.
Oh. I offer my humble condolences, ma'am.
He was American.
When he died, I wanted to return
to the comfort of my family in England.
- Hence the luggage. -Yes, ma'am.
All our personal effects.
At the cost of some inconvenience to the steward,
whom I will reward,
I am now sorting through everything for the first time.
Discarding this, keeping that.
I quite understand, ma'am.
Well, the task will soon be completed
and the cabin tidy once more.
I understand you have the electric telegraph on board.
- Yes, ma'am. -I have to go to London.
Is it possible to telegraph for hotel accommodation?
I shall be happy to do that for you, ma'am.
[ Laughter, chamber music playing]
Mr. Gaylord, Mr. Fox.
May I introduce myself? Horrocks. Ship's purser.
Oh!
Are you the chap who brought the case of champers?
- Yes, sir. -Top-hole.
Terrific.
And as soon as the cogs need further lubrication,
I'll be happy to send up another case.
- Oh, delightful. -Real sport.
And if there's any other service I can do for you...
Well, as a matter of fact, there is.
Mr. Fox and I have just concluded that our brains
are in an accelerating state of decomposition.
You couldn't possibly write 800 words of copy
about this record-breaking attempt?
I'm afraid I'm not very good at the writing lark, sir.
Nor me.
Trouble is, this kind of record isn't of any interest to anybody
except the owners of this ship.
Contrary to our editor's quaint, old-fashioned notions --
Prompted by a handsome drop from Lord Altington.
Quite so -- Boredom is not news.
So, Horrocks, come up with something.
How do you mean, sir?
Well, you're carrying a fortune in gold in your specie room.
Chuck it all overboard.
Then we can write that it's been lost at sea.
A scoop. A veritable scoop.
Toot toot. [ Laughs ]
Or better still, get somebody to steal it.
I'm afraid it's impossible to steal it, sir.
On? Why?
Well, the specie room is impregnable.
And, anyway, how would you get the stuff ashore?
Excuse me, sir. Could I have a word with you, please?
Yes.
Good night, gentlemen. Enjoy yourselves.
- Good night, old boy. -Toot toot.
Sorry to bother you, sir, but I thought I'd better inform you.
I've just walked through B Deck pantry.
I think you should see what's going on down there.
Steward!
- Last card, Mr. Clayton. -Yes, I know.
Ohh. The curse of Scotland. 9 of diamonds.
Any use to you?
Oh ho ho.
Um, 10 guineas.
All right, your 10 guineas and up 20 guineas.
You're bluffing.
Call me.
Another drink?
What's going on here?
Mr. Clayton and I were just having
a little thrust at the cards, sir.
Against captain's orders.
But you wouldn't report us, now, would you, Mr. Horrocks?
How much have you lost, Clayton?
None of your business. I'll see your 20 guineas.
Have you got it, sir?
I'll add it to my note.
Oh, no, no. I'm afraid not, sir.
I already have your notes for £200.
That's quite enough.
Have you the coin to raise me 20 guineas?
God help you, Clayton.
Lend me 20 guineas, will you, Horrocks?
I'll pay you back shortly.
I'm sorry. It's out of the question.
Thank you, Mr. Clayton.
I'll have the £200 when we dock at, uh, Southampton.
And after that, I'll play you again.
Anytime.
[ Door opens ]
[Door closes]
Does he cheat?
No. No, he's just skillful.
You can't give him £200.
-£800. -What?
I have other gambling debts ashore.
- Oh, you must be mad. -Yes.
God almighty.
If only I could get my hands on £300,
I could pay everyone a little, and that would suffice.
Where are you going to get a fortune like £300?
- Well, you could help me. -Me?
Oh, come off it, Horrocks.
It was in the Liverpool paper. Your uncle died.
They printed his will. He left you £2,000.
-It's spent. -I don't believe you.
- True. -On what?
I can't tell you, but it is spent.
Look, I'm not asking for £800.
All I want is a couple of hundred.
I can pay Mr. Taylor £100 and £100 to my shore debtors.
I haven't got it. I really haven't.
I don't believe you.
It's impossible for a man to spend £2,000 in a year,
Unless you've got some secret vices
10 times more expensive than mine.
The only money I've got are my earnings.
And even if I had money, I wouldn't pay your debts.
Go to the captain.
That's impossible. You know gambling's not allowed on board.
Tell him everything.
What, and ruin my prospects for a promotion?
At least he might cancel your debt with Taylor.
So you refuse to help a brother officer in need.
I told you, go and see the captain.
I've a good mind to kill you, Horrocks,
take your keys, and rob the specie room.
Don't be daft.
Mind my advice, Mr. Clayton.
Good night.
2300 hours.
Specie room checked. Bullion intact.
[Bell ringing]
Well, Mr. Clayton?
I wondered, um...
Yes?
Do you think we'll make it, sir?
Our owners instruct me we'll make it.
That's all right in theory, I suppose.
Lord Altington is not a theorist.
Our passage will take eight days,
or many of us will be looking for a new job.
Do you follow?
Yes, sir.
[Speaking indistinctly]
...and asked him to come around to my house.
He brought his list of figures, and I showed him mine,
much as I dictated to you.
Now, the interesting thing was
the disparity of the two lists was around the region --
- Morning, my lord. -Get out of my way, Purser.
The difference was about .9%.
Good morning, Mr. Horrocks.
Oh. Good morning, ma'am.
I've only been on deck three minutes,
and I feel quite refreshed already.
- Yeah. -Mmm.
It is a bracing day. Not too cold.
Was that Lord Altington?
Yes, ma'am.
I'm most impressed --
I've just been looking at the passenger list.
Two knights and one peer of the realm on board?
The Town Line must attract the nobility.
That can be an advantage and a disadvantage.
Why's that?
You will often find that men who've received knighthoods
for exceptional services to their country
are also exceptional in other directions.
Exceptionally loud, exceptionally rude,
and exceptionally mean.
[Chuckling ] Oh, come, Mr. Horrocks.
You're far too amiable a man to hold such strong opinions.
I've been ticked off for it before, ma'am.
A purser isn't supposed to hold opinions of his own.
Why are you different?
Well, I've been a comparatively short time at sea.
10 years.
Before that, I was a shipping clerk in Liverpool.
I'm not so steeped in the tradition
of the mercantile marine
that I haven't still a few opinions of my own left.
10 years is a long time.
Oh, I don't know.
Not if you love the sea and the service.
My husband loved the sea. He was a great sailor.
We would go sailing on the few afternoons
he took away from his business affairs.
They weren't many.
I fear he overworked.
He was only 42, Mr. Horrocks.
A terrible tragedy, ma'am.
Forgive me, ma'am. But you're a young woman.
I'm sure your husband would have wished you
to have the courage and fortitude to go forward
and make a new life for yourself.
You're very kind, Mr. Horrocks.
Thank you, ma'am.
My steward tells me
we're carrying a fortune in gold on board ship.
True. It's a big responsibility for me.
Why is that?
Seeing to the safety of all valuables aboard
is part of my job.
Oh.
How do you feel about taking responsibility
for such a fortune?
To tell you the truth, I'm a little bit worried.
Good evening, Sir Edward.
Uh, g-g-good evening, uh, Horrocks.
He's a bit of a card, isn't he, Robbins?
Well, Liverpool tomorrow and all the usual dockside chaos.
I'm turning in.
- You should do the same. -Right, sir.
See you in the morning, lad.
- Good night, sir. -Good night.
[Knock on door]
[Sea gulls squawking]
[ Foghorn blows]
We have many fine restaurants in Liverpool.
I hope you will find this one satisfactory -- the Tara Hotel.
Your bill will, of course, be taken care of.
Oh, jolly good show. [Clears throat]
Oh, you'll -- you'll find a cab
the other side of the customshouse.
- Thanks, old boy. -Liverpool lasses, here we come.
Enjoy yourselves, gentlemen.
Uh, Mr. Horrocks,
this is Mr. Jacobs of the Royal Northern Bank.
- Oh, how do you do, Mr. Jacobs? -Mr. Horrocks.
Might I ask how you intend to transport the gold?
I've a motor vehicle and three porters on the quay.
We'll take it direct to Lime Street terminus,
and thence it'll go by rail to London.
Splendid.
Robbins, get the porters aboard.
Yes, sir.
Meanwhile, we will check the consignment.
[Door closes]
This way, if you please, Mr. Jacobs.
If you'll follow me.
[ Foghorn blows]
Now, then.
Empty!
Six full and six empty.
I regret to say, Mr. Purser,
we've been robbed of £125,000 in gold.
And the responsibility, sir, is yours.
My God.
Ridiculous! Outrageous! How could it happen?
I don't know, my lord.
And you, Inspector, are stating
there was no forcible entry of the specie room.
I've examined it thoroughly, sir.
However, I shall go over it again, inch by inch.
But there's no doubt in my mind
that entry must have been through the door with a key.
- Your key, Mr. Horrocks. -No, my lord.
Is it possible that anyone could have used your key
to make a wax impression?
It's out of the question.
This key is kept on a chain 'round my neck 24 hours a day.
Which leaves us with the inevitable conclusion
that you must be the thief.
No, my lord.
If not the actual thief, then the thief by default.
The responsibility of the bullion was yours.
My lord, Inspector Trent,
why isn't this ship being sealed off
and the passengers stopped from going ashore?
Have you taken leave of your senses?
If we imprison the passengers,
news of the robbery will get to the press in no time.
We shall be known as the line whose vessels anyone can rob,
the Northern Bank the bank who can't be trusted
to guard the bullion of its customers.
- Correct, Mr. Jacobs? -Uh, indeed, my lord.
We sail in three hours.
Inspector, I consider it your duty to accompany us
to Southampton to continue your investigations.
Oh, I'm afraid that won't be possible, sir.
This ship cannot leave Liverpool
until I've completed my preliminary investigations.
We're on a record-breaking run. Know what that means?
- I'm sorry about that, sir. -And I'm sorry about you, sir.
Your chief constables a very good friend of mine.
- Know what that means? -Yes, my lord.
So you will make the passage to Southampton with us. Understood?
Yes, my lord.
- And you, Horrocks. -Yes, my lord.
You will remain purser on board this ship
until we dock in Southampton.
Unless the gold and the thief are discovered by then,
you will be dismissed.
- Yes, my lord. -Out.
Out.
Oh, Mr. Horrocks.
- Oh. Ma'am. -What is going on?
Nothing to worry about, ma'am. Nothing to cause alarm.
Mr. Gaylord says there's been a robbery.
Gaylord?
But he went ashore two hours ago.
No, I saw him talking to a steward outside your office
about 20 minutes ago.
Um, I'm sorry, ma'am. You must excuse me.
ROBBINS: Yesterday afternoon.
And he never said a word about it.
Robbins, have you seen Mr. Gaylord?
Yes, sir. He's just gone ashore.
Damn.
[Chamber music playing]
[indistinct talking]
- Good evening, gentlemen. -Ah!
Horrocks. You cunning deceiver. Have a drink.
What are you saying, Mr. Fox?
I went back to the ship. Forgot my pipe.
Steward told me some lucky fellow got off
With £125,000 in gold.
Now, that's a real story.
To hell with transatlantic records.
Just a rumor. There's no truth in it.
It's also rumored that you could have pinched it.
You look as though you need a drink.
I think I do.
What's your tipple, Mr. Horrocks?
An extremely large malt.
Ahh.
You, uh -- You wanted me, sir?
I wanted Mr. Horrocks, lad.
Yes, sir. Well, I've been looking for him.
Well?
Well, it seems he's disappeared, sir.
Disappeared?
Well, I think he's gone ashore, sir.
GAYLORD: Our editors were absolutely delighted.
Got telegraphs back from them straightaway,
saying the whole story had gone straight to press.
Make all tomorrow's first editions.
Wouldn't surprise me if we didn't get promotion out of it.
Mm! Deeply indebted to you, old boy.
Not true. Not a word of truth in it.
No, of course not. Cue for another drink.
Isn't that our first officer?
So it is.
- And a comely looker with him. -His wife.
You think they'd take a drink with us?
Well, with the Town Steamship Company paying, why not?
I should promote your offer, gentlemen.
If you will excuse me.
Clayton.
Horrocks, I...
Um, I don't think you've met my wife, Esther.
- Good evening. -Good evening.
Well, I would ask you to join us,
only my wife and myself are having a private celebration.
Oh. Champagne.
Yes, the finest.
Might I ask what you're celebrating?
- Why? -Mm, curiosity.
Well, we're celebrating my promotion to captain.
Captain?
Well, it hasn't happened yet, but I --
I told Esther I'd probably make captain this trip or the next.
She slightly anticipated events. Haven't you, darling?
However, I shall be captain soon enough.
Do start.
Do you know the specie room's been robbed?
Yes. And you're in a great deal of hot water.
How very unfortunate for you.
This...
celebration must be costing you a great deal of money.
Well, what are you getting at?
You're not suggesting that this was paid for
by robbing the specie room?
I have never wittingly slandered anybody, sir.
But I must say what I think if it will further the truth.
Oh, don't give me a wind, Horrocks.
Get to the point.
It concerns Mr. Clayton, sir.
- I know he -- -Oh, come in. Come in.
Ah, Mr. Horrocks. I heard you were here.
- Where the devil have you been? -I went ashore, Inspector.
Yes, and he's apparently come back with some gossip
you might care to listen to.
Oh? What?
Mr. Clayton, our first officer,
has gambling debts of some £800.
Hmm. Has he, by Jove?
He tried to borrow money from me.
I refused him.
So?
He threatened to rob the specie room.
[ Scoffs ] Clayton rob the specie room?
Utter nonsense.
I thought so myself at the time, sir.
But at the moment he is at the Tara Hotel
spending a large sum of money on a celebration with his wife.
- Large sum of money. -Well, what of it?
I can't help wondering how he came by it, sir.
What do you damn well mean by that, sir?
Be careful what you say. There are laws of slander.
Which are second in precedence to our need to solve this crime.
- Go on, Mr. Horrocks. -That's all, Inspector.
And not very much.
While we're about it, take a look at this man, Inspector.
Clayton tells me that, in 12 months,
you've managed to spend the entire £2,000
your uncle left you.
Do you wish to comment on that?
I would rather say nothing, Captain.
So I wonder what expensive vices you have, Purser.
And I'd advise you to go carefully.
Because the fact of the matter is
that you are still suspect number one.
It seems that I am suspect number one.
Impossible, sir.
My orphanage -
You're the only one on this ship who knows about it.
Yes, sir.
Setting it up used every penny of my uncle's legacy.
And I need every penny of my wage to keep it going.
But Lord Altington expects his pursers
to give their whole existence to the job.
He'd be furious if he knew I had another interest
outside his wretched company.
True, sir.
As far as the outside world is concerned,
I'm just a man who squandered £2,000 in 12 months
on some mysterious vice...
...and therefore have every motive for the robbery.
You are in a predicament, sir.
Yes.
And I fear I will not find a solution in this.
[Knock on door]
Enter.
We've searched two decks. Nothing so far.
- Wait outside, will you, lad? -Yes, sir.
Had any thoughts about any other suspect crew or passengers?
I can't think of anybody, Inspector.
- Odd. -How do you mean, "odd"?
I've talked to the barman.
Sir Edward Markham has run up large bills
which he hasn't paid.
You, as purser, would know this, of course.
Sir Edward is an honorable man.
And a well-known London rake. And a bankrupt.
And therefore a first-class suspect.
I must say he has been behaving mysteriously.
Has he?
Bring your keys. We'll search his cabin.
[Sighs]
This ship will be sailing for Southampton in 15 minutes.
The only remaining gangway is on C Deck, aft.
Will all visitors please leave immediately?
The only remaining gangway...
- Horrocks. -Oh.
Good evening, Sir Edward.
THIRD OFFICER: ...please leave immediately.
- What on earth is going on here? -Um...
Good evening, sir.
Inspector Trent. Liverpool Police.
You presumably know there's been a bullion robbery on this ship.
I had heard, yes.
We are therefore searching certain cabins.
Why my cabin, Inspector?
You have been observed on occasion
creeping about the ship...
"Creeping"?
...in a suspicious manner and late at night.
Can you explain?
What? Oh, that.
Well, the explanation's quite simple.
We're both men of the world, Inspector.
- Why don't you ask my maid? -Your maid?
I think you'll find her most forthcoming.
Oh, sir --
Mr. Clayton's wife gave me this letter just before we sailed.
She said I was to hand it to you personally.
Thank you, Robbins.
"Dear Horrocks, it is true that I have large debts.
It is true that I made playful threat to rob the specie room.
It is true that tonight
my wife laid on an expensive meal at the Tara Hotel.
But this was paid for by money borrowed from a moneylender."
Listen to this, Robbins.
"On your gossiping tongue, these facts could prove most damaging,
and I have therefore decided to stay ashore
until the real villain of the piece is discovered.
I would earnestly suggest you make every effort to find him.
For if I end up in jail, it will be your doing.
And on my solemn word of honor, I'll kill you when I get out.
Yours truly, Godfrey Clayton, First Officer, RMS Oceanic."
Well, he certainly won't achieve anything by running away, sir.
"Postscriptum.
When I walked the boat deck last night,
I heard banging noises coming from below,
in an area where the specie room lies.
I thought nothing of it until these recent events.
Find the villain, Horrocks.
Your life is at stake."
What are you going to do, sir?
The key never left my person.
They couldn't have brought the gold through the alleyway.
The thief would have been seen.
No.
The answer must be in here.
And Clayton said a banging noise.
A banging noise.
Banging noise.
[ Clanking ]
[ Thudding ]
That sounds like wood.
It is wood.
TAYLOR: Mr. Horrocks?
Mr. Horrocks?
Taylor, just the man. Come in here.
- Give me a hand. -What are you doing, sir?
Knock the -- Knock those rivets off, will you?
- That's impossible, sir. -Why?
- They're solid steel, sir. -No, no.
They're wood painted to look like steel.
Go on. Knock them off.
Very good, sir.
- HORROCKS: Yes. -Well, I'm damned.
Yeah, go on. Knock them all off.
HORROCKS: The bulkhead is steel.
The rivets are wood.
A false bulkhead.
Behind it, the real bulkhead with a hole cut in it.
Diabolical.
Inboard of the specie room are the ship's water tanks.
No, no.
No, it must be from above or below.
You stay here, Robbins. I'll be on the boat deck.
Yes, sir.
[ Foghorn blowing]
Ship's water tank about 10 feet from here.
But where is it filled up?
Water tank immediately below here.
The equipment lowered down here.
No, no, no. It's too exposed.
No, it's impossible. Take too long. Bound to be seen.
There has to be another way.
[ Clank ]
My God.
ROBBINS: Mr. Horrocks! Inspector Trent wants you!
What's going on?
[ Footsteps departing]
Mr. Horrocks.
Oh, my God. What's happened?
May I remind you, Inspector,
that we dock in Southampton in four hours?
What progress have you made?
Beyond the fact that I am now reasonably certain
that the bullion was somehow got ashore at Liverpool
and that our principal suspect,
First Officer Clayton, has vanished,
there's no much more we can do
until Mr. Horrocks returns to consciousness.
Luckily, our Mr. Horrocks was endowed at birth
with a singularly thick skull.
I have no doubt he'll recover.
I fancy that any statement he makes
will be vital to my investigation.
I fancy it will, Inspector.
-[ Knock on door] -Come in.
Oh. Mr. Horrocks' compliments, sir.
He requests you come to his cabin.
He what?
Well, he thinks he knows how the specie room was robbed, sir.
Good grief, Purser. You look appalling.
[ Weakly ] My lord. Inspector Trent.
Please be seated.
Mr. Horrocks, I trust you are fit enough to make a statement.
First things first.
I want a telegraph sent to Mrs. Clayton.
Tell her to come to Southampton.
I have definite proof her husband is not guilty.
Proof? What proof?
Before anything else, let me tell you --
the specie room, how it was robbed.
Never mind how it was robbed. Who robbed it?
The thieves, two of them, approached their task thus.
Imagine this box to be the specie room.
They found a way of gaining access from the side.
It's impossible!
They cut a hole in the starboard bulkhead here.
What, with a pair of scissors, I suppose?
No, my lord --
with that newfangled oxyhydrogen steel-cutting equipment.
Oxyhy--
Purser, are you hallucinating?
I don't understand a word you're saying.
No, my lord.
Having moved --
Having removed a section of the starboard bulkhead,
they took out the gold.
Then came their diabolical plan.
They brought in -- through the hole, like this --
a new, false section of bulkhead,
made of steel
but with wooden -- w-wooden riv--
I can't hear you.
False section? Wooden what?
HORROCKS: [ Groans]
When he's recovered his senses, call me again.
Yes, sir.
Did you understand any of that?
Something about a new bulkhead section
brought into the specie room, disguised with wooden rivets.
- Wooden rivets? -Yes.
Come on. We better take a look.
Plan... The plan, Robbins.
The plan, lad.
- Sir. -[ Groans ]
Inboard of the specie room here are the ship's water tank.
TRENT: Yes.
HORROCKS: Between the tank and the deck,
a gap of five feet.
A catwalk.
C-Crawl across...
...to the -- to the specie room.
But that's impossible, Mr. Horrocks.
Come along, lad.
We'll take another look at the specie room.
I can't get a proper statement out of him
when he's in this condition.
It's...
It's the only way of access.
It must have been.
The thieves entered from...
...from cabin...
...A15.
They must have done.
No time left.
Southampton.
Cabin A15.
[Knock on door]
TRENT: Extraordinary.
But how could anybody get behind there, sir?
It's impossible.
[ Thudding ]
[Hollow thudding]
[Water bubbling]
- Look. -What's that, sir?
Scorch marks on the metal.
It looks as though this edge has been cut recently.
Oxyhydrogen cutting equipment. Mr. Horrocks was right.
- Go fetch the plan. -Yes, sir.
Diabolical.
Mr. Horrocks has gone, sir.
- What? -Vanished.
Well, don't stand there! Go and find him!
HORROCKS: Hello, there!
The specie room!
Anybody in the specie room?
Mr. Horrocks. It can't be.
- HORROCKS: Stand back. -it is.
Mr. Horrocks!
Stand back!
[ Clangs 1
[ Grunts ]
Mr. Horrocks.
That's how it was done, Inspector.
So I see.
But -- But who did it?
Who did it?
- Taylor, for one. -Taylor?
He was the one responsible for this.
He also happens to be
the steward responsible for cabin number 15.
What's that got to do with it?
You'll see.
Robbins, go to the -- to the Royal Bar.
There's a whist drive on there.
More than likely, the occupant of cabin 15 will be there.
- Yes, sir, but I -- -Use any excuse you like.
But get the said occupant back to the cabin.
I'll be waiting.
Yes, sir.
If it's not asking too much, who is the said occupant?
One thing at a time, Inspector.
I can't have you arresting anybody on such a serious charge
unless you're absolutely certain of their guilt.
I will try to extract a confession.
Meanwhile, you will be listening outside the door.
[indistinct talking]
I Laughter]
- Shh! -[ Clears throat]
[ Door opens ]
Mr. Horrocks. What are you doing here?
Good evening, ma'am.
What has happened to you?
A misfortune, ma'am. Happily nothing too serious.
You look terribly ill.
Please. Sit down.
Thank you, ma'am.
When did this happen? Have you seen the ship's doctor?
Yes, ma'am.
Surely you should be in bed.
I'm afraid that's impossible. I have unfinished business.
- Then I will rest. -What can I do for you?
A small matter.
Just in case you should ever happen to travel with us again,
we like to know as much as we can about our passengers.
Yes?
For instance, you say you are a widow.
Yes.
But I believe you are not a widow, Mrs. Vanrenen.
I think you are an actress.
I don't follow.
Being a widow was a clever excuse
to explain away the extraordinary amount of luggage
you found it necessary to keep in your cabin.
I don't understand.
It's quite simple, ma'am.
In collusion with the steward Taylor,
you booked a specific cabin on this ship.
This one. Cabin A15.
Nonsense.
Those trunks were supposed to contain your personal effects.
In fact, they contained, amongst other things,
oxyhydrogen steel-cutting equipment.
Cutting equipment?
When this ship docked at Liverpool,
the oxyhydrogen cylinders, the damaged piece of bulkhead,
and the gold went ashore in those trunks
as the household effects of an apparently harmless widow.
Leave this cabin at once, sir!
Which way, ma'am?
Through the door?
Or this way?
Through the exit so ingeniously made by Mr. Taylor?
[ Gasps 1
Oh, yes, we realize you couldn't have
brought this off single-handed.
The sheer weight of the equipment involved --
to say nothing of the technical skill --
required someone of unusual strength
and exceptional craftsmanship.
Taylor suited your requirements exactly.
Well, ma'am?
So, Mr. Horrocks, you've had your say.
Now I'll have mine.
The existence of that panel is a complete surprise to me.
You have not one shred of evidence against me.
And I deny absolutely any knowledge
of what you've just told me.
I assumed you'd say that, ma'am.
Unhappily for you, however,
Mr. Taylor has already confessed.
- What? -He told me everything.
- Oh, no, he'd never turn -- -Against you?
I fear he has.
[Crying ] Oh, my God.
Might I suggest you turn King's evidence, ma'am?
Admit your guilt and give evidence against Taylor?
You do admit it, don't you?
How can I deny it?
Did you hear everything, Inspector?
Everything.
Get some rest, Mr. Horrocks. You've earned it.
Mrs. Vanrenen, I must ask you to make a statement.
Come along, sir.
Good day, ma'am.
[ Crying 1
Unforgivable. Quite unforgivable.
What's that, sir?
I tricked her, lad.
A terrible thing to do.
What, Taylor's confession, you mean?
I thought that was damn clever of you, sir.
It was the only way.
How could she do it, Robbins?
How could she do it?
Don't know, sir.
Gosh, sir, Lord Altington will be pleased to hear about this.
Let me list your crimes, Purser.
One, never mind the fact that the gold will be recovered.
It should never have been stolen in the first place.
Your responsibility.
Two, you pointed an accusing finger at a first officer
who I've now had to promote
in order to avoid being sued for slander.
Three, I employ you to give your total energies
to your work with my firm,
and it turns out you divide your time between the Town Line
and some backwoods orphanage.
- How did you know that, my lord? -Oh, yes, I know all about that.
Amongst other things, I'm on the board
of the Charity Commissioners.
- Did you know that? -No, my lord.
You should make it your business to know such things.
Yes, my lord.
All of which argues a degree of ignorance
and incompetence on your part,
for which any rational employer would be fully justified
in dismissing you immediately, agreed?
Yes, my lord.
Well, now, it seems that despite all the odds
we shall have broken the transatlantic record after all.
So you catch me in generous mood.
I'll merely demote you to one of my smaller ships.
The RMS Bombay.
I trust you'll wake up your ideas
and in future carry out your duties
in a more correct and efficient manner.
You may go.
Wait.
Give this to your wretched orphans.
[ Clinking ]
Oh. Thank you, my lord.
[ Foghorn blows]
Ah, Clayton.
Oh, Horrocks.
Kindly address me as "Captain," would you, please?
Oh, may I congratulate you, sir. Have you a ship?
A new command, a new ship. Yes.
And where do you think we're off to now?
I've no idea, sir.
We're going to join Lord Altington for dinner.
Oh. You should enjoy that.
Ma'am. Bon appétit.
Let me tell you something, Horrocks.
I shall never, never tolerate a purser like you
aboard any ship that I command.
Might I ask the name of your ship, Captain?
Yes, it's not the largest in the Town Line,
but it's a fine vessel -- the RMS Bombay.
- Bombay? -Yes.
Well, I'm sure the Town Line will find you
the best purser available, Captain.
Oh, yes. I'm sure they will.
Good night to you, Captain.
Goodbye to you, Mr. Horrocks.
[ Chuckles ]