Man: Cipher, coding, optics...
Film labs, computers, experts in every field
and yet we're still left
with 36 rather dreary and badly photographed color shots.
Yet I'm convinced they contain the clue we want.
Have you tried superimposing?
Man 2: Yes, we have, sir, but as you will appreciate
the permutations on 36 run into millions.
Well, coming to them relatively fresh
one of us may get a sudden flash.
That, you say, is loch ness?
Uh, yes, sir.
We've pinpointed the position exactly.
Not an inspired photographer
however brilliant a scientist.
Extraordinary order of filming, isn't it?
Loch ness, the Yorkshire moors, dartmouth, the eiffel tower, beachy head.
What's number six?
Hopelessly overexposed.
Perhaps there's a reason.
There are nine on the roll very overexposed
and as many under.
The rest
are correctly exposed. I, uh...
Hate to mention this, sir Charles
but, um, it is possible that there is no clue to be found
in these shots.
How did you work that out?
Breaking a code or Cypher is a finite problem.
But, as I've said, with these
we don't know that there is a problem
and if there is, on what level of reasoning
it is set.
We just haven't thought of it.
And I don't accept that it is impossible to do so.
Do we know where Seltzman is?
( Thunder booming )
Relax.
Relax, old boy.
It won't be long now.
( Siren wailing )
Ah...
Colonel.
Had a good trip?
Yes, thank you.
Did they feed you before you left
or would you care for breakfast?
No, thank you.
I'd appreciate knowing my duties as soon as possible.
You've no idea why you're here?
All I know is I was sent here by the highest authority.
You were indeed.
You should feel very proud.
I'm gratified, certainly.
And now if you'd be kind enough
to explain what I'm supposed to do...
What sort of opinion would you form
of that fellow?
Anybody who spends his time doing that must be rather stupid.
You couldn't be more wrong.
Because he's our most interesting citizen
from every point of view...
Particularly yours.
Why is that?
You'll find out.
Tell me... have you heard of, um, Professor Seltzman?
Professor Jacob Seltzman?
I don't seem to recall the name.
Should I?
No, in your line of business, I suppose not.
Doctor Seltzman is a great neurologist
who became fascinated
with the study of thought transference.
I've actually seen it done.
In India.
Where Seltzman studied for many years.
As you know, the advanced yogi is capable
of living in a state of suspended animation for months
his mind and body dissociated.
Now, what Seltzman did was to take this discipline several stages further
and with scientific aid, he was able to transmit the psyche
of one person... into another.
The mind of one man into another?
Impossible. I don't believe it.
Where is this Seltzman?
Nobody knows.
The only man who may
because he had the last contact with him
is, um, our friend.
Are you asking me to believe
that it's possible for me to become you
and you to become me?
Not exactly.
But near enough.
I don't believe it.
If I told you ten years ago
that you could have flown a rocket
round the moon
would you have believed that?
No, I suppose not.
But why all this interest in Seltzman?
Colonel, you must be aware that all major powers have in their prisons
one or two of each other's spies.
Yes.
From time to time, diplomatic swaps take place.
Imagine the power we would have
if the spy we returned
had the mind of our choosing.
We could break the security of any nation.
Let me show one or two other things
that will interest you.
( Equipment beeping )
We call this our amnesia room.
Rather proud of it.
With it, we can erase the memory
back to any point in time we choose.
This man you see was extremely cooperative.
He told us all we wanted to know in three days.
With hardly any persuasion.
So now we wipe out all unhappy memories of the village
and put him back into circulation
to gather more information.
And this... Is the Seltzman machine.
( Siren wailing )
Number two: Let me give you a dummy run.
( Zapping, faster beeping )
The device with which Seltzman
finally succeeded in switching the minds of two people.
( Thunder-like booming )
( Steady beeping )
Sleep well, my friend, and forget us.
Tomorrow you will wake up a new man.
( Number six yawning and sighing )
( Thinking ): Hmm...
( Humming )
Hmm... yes...
Not a bad day.
Let's see...
Oh, yes... Janet's birthday present.
( Chuckles )
Hope she likes it.
Can always change it if she doesn't.
What's on for today?
Let's see...
Uh... car service...
Dentist appointment... no, no, have to cancel that...
Because sir Charles' lunches, they go on forever.
But who can blame him...?
He's the boss.
( Humming )
Number two: Seltzman machine...
The device with which Seltzman finally succeeded
in switching the minds of two people.
Switching the minds of two people.
Relax.
Number six ( On megaphone ): I am not a number.
I am a person.
( Thunder booming )
Number two: You're very aggressive.
You mustn't resist.
( Zapping, siren wailing )
Take it easy.
Take it easy...
It will all be one in the end.
Number six ( On megaphone )1 unlike me
many of you have accepted the situation of your imprisonment
and will die here like rotten cabbages.
I intend to discover
who are the prisoners and who the warders.
Number two: The thing to do now is keep calm.
Keep your head.
I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed
briefed, debriefed or numbered!
Number two: Just bear in mind your ultimate objective.
We want information.
Information!
Seltzman... Seltzman.
Proceed as our friend would have done.
Relax... cool.
Now, go, boy, go.
This is the time... now!
Move or leave it.
Move, move, move!
( Electronic whining )
Seltzman!
( Doorbell ringing )
His car... is he back?
Is he with you?
Yes.
Darling?
Where is he?
Janet...
However fantastic what I'm going to tell you
may sound... You must believe me.
Who are you?
How do you know my name?
What are you doing here, anyway?
How did you get hold of his car?
Why... why did you tell me he was here?
Who are you?
A friend.
Well, then, where is he?
Why did he leave
without a word to me?
Leave? But he saw you, he told me he saw you
last night.
I didn't see him last night.
But he had dinner with you.
After your fitting.
What fitting?
Your dress.
For the party.
Your birthday party.
He even told me the color: Yellow silk.
Yellow silk?
The only yel...
That was a year ago.
Yes, I... I took him to the final fitting.
I haven't seen him since.
A year...?
A year?
What's happened?
You couldn't have seen him.
Even if you had, he couldn't have made that mistake.
No, but I could have.
I must have got it wrong.
Yes, you must have.
What are you doing here?
How did you get in, anyway?
Miss Portland...
You must be aware
of the sort of work he did.
Obviously, working for my father.
So it won't come as a surprise to you to learn that...
It may not be possible for him to get in touch with you for a year.
Or even longer.
Thanks.
That's a big help.
Miss Portland...
I may have a message
for you soon.
When?
I'll bring it to your birthday party.
Father, I must have a word with you.
You can see, my dear
that this is not a very convenient time.
I hope you don't make a practice
of bursting in like this.
Yes, I know, I'm very sorry, but it is important.
And it's personal, do you mind?
Perhaps, gentlemen, you would be good enough to give us a few minutes?
Certainly, sir.
Thank you.
Now, my dear...
You know where he is.
All this time you've known
and you've let me go through this hell.
You sent him on a mission.
He can't get in touch with me.
I presume that you're talking about your fiance.
His house, his car... he's lent them to a friend.
This friend, tell me about him.
What sort of man is he?
Well, he's perfectly ordinary.
Is he unable to get in touch with me?
I honestly don't know.
Do you mean you haven't sent him on a mission?
No, and you must realize I'm telling you more than I should.
I shouldn't even tell you that.
Do you mean even you don't know where he is?
I have no idea.
But you must know someone who does.
There again, I can't help you.
It's awful.
I don't know whether you're telling the truth or not.
Get me sir Charles!
Who are you?
What are you doing here?
I said get me sir Charles Portland at once!
You're still as pompous as ever... danvers.
Where did you get my name?
Jonathan peregrine danvers.
Born in bootle.
Took elocution lessons.
Came to London, joined the civil service in 1948 as a junior clerk.
But moved to this department some three years later
mainly at the request
of the typing pool.
Am I going to see sir Charles?
Well?
Or would you prefer me to go on?
I'm sure these gentlemen would be most intrigued
to hear of your little jaunt to Paris
in march 1958.
Let me see now, what was her name?
What is your name?
Code or real?
Code.
In France, duval.
In Germany, Schmitt.
You would know me best as zed. M.73.
And your code number is p. R.12.
Do you want more?
Seltzman.
All right, thank you.
Danvers, I must ask you to leave.
Yes, sir.
What do you know about Seltzman?
The inventor of the device that makes it possible
to put one man's mind into another man's head.
Sir Charles...
At last.
I am zed. M.73.
You claim to be zed. M.73.
And I can prove it.
Do so.
I could pitch this on a very personal level, sir Charles.
Don't spare my feelings.
Speak as freely as you wish.
Very well.
I will confine myself to simple domestic details.
Of no interest to anyone except the family.
Details which couldn't be known by anyone except ourselves.
Would you accept that?
Yes, I suppose so.
You are a keen rosarian
and it was when you were pruning your baccarats...
those ones down by the little goldfish pool...
when I asked you for permission to marry your daughter.
( Chuckles ) I remember you dropped the secateurs.
I never understood why.
It couldn't have been that much of a surprise.
The next day
you took me to lunch at your club.
Our favorite dish...
jugged hare... was on the menu.
I don't dispute the accuracy
of your statement.
It is correct in every detail.
Trouble is, there's nothing you can tell me
which may not have been told you by the person you claim to be
under sedation or hypnosis.
We're all aware of truth drugs
and other ingenious means
of extracting information.
You could have learnt it all parrot-fashion.
Ask me the minutest details
of anything you know that we did together.
The same problem applies.
I could never convince you then.
Only sufficiently to intrigue me.
To make sure that you are watched and followed
every inch of wherever you go.
It's a waste of somebody's time.
He'll be paid for it.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Number six ( Thinking )1 where is he?
Where is he?
Did he perfect the reversal process?
If he didn't, it's a pity.
Before I know it, I'll be inside for forgery.
Talking of forgery
is my handwriting still the same?
Let's see.
Let's try it.
( Chuckles )
That's rather interesting, isn't it?
That's something.
Well, let's be grateful for small mercies.
Now... money.
Unless the rats have been at it.
Good.
Still intact.
Fresh as ever.
Splendid.
That should be adequate.
( Jazzy dance music playing )
Are you sure he's being followed?
We've attached a homing device to his car.
Our man will be there by now.
Music playing y
( music only, no dialogue )
I didn't invite you.
I haven't taken it to heart.
Our friend lent me his card...
A year out of date.
Have you seen him?
Not exactly.
Look, do you work for my father?
Did he send you here?
No, but I have no doubt
that he knows that I'm here.
( Slower dance playing )
When I arrived, they were playing a waltz.
The first I danced with my love.
My dear love, in kitzbuhel.
How do you know all this?
Where is he?
Please...
I have a message from him.
Before he went, he left something with you
for safekeeping in case of trouble.
A slip of paper.
Yes... yes, I have it.
If you want to see him again, will you get it?
I'll be in the arbor.
May I?
Excuse me.
Was she just trying to get rid of me?
Will she come?
Will she have the receipt?
( Footsteps approaching )
I'm sorry I was so long.
Here it is.
Thank you.
Now, what was the message?
Simply this...
Who else
could have given you that message?
Nobody but...
Couldn't you say, "nobody but you?"
I need your faith.
Nobody but...
You.
Oh, I am sorry, sir.
Am I late
or are you possibly just a little bit early?
In a bit of a hurry, let's put it that way.
Then we mustn't keep you a second, sir.
What can I do for you?
I, um, I left some film with you.
A roll of color which you dispatched for me.
Uh... here's the receipt.
Oh, thank you, sir.
Just over a year ago.
Yes.
But you still have it, presumably?
Oh, certainly, sir.
Just takes that second or two longer.
Always the way, sir
when we're in a hurry, isn't it?
I'll be as quick as I can.
Here we are, sir.
If you'll be kind enough to sign.
Oh, that was quick.
Number 31, sir.
It's been signed for already.
Uh, yes, sir, a stupid clerical error, I'm afraid.
One of our juniors handed over your transparencies
in mistake for this number.
Pure carelessness, of course.
Confusing the last figures 0-1 and 1-0.
Needless to say, he wasn't with us for very long.
However, no damage was done
because Mr. Carmichael returned your transparencies
the moment he discovered our mistake.
How very good of Mr. Carmichael.
Very kind of you to take it that way, sir.
Alas, no business can be entirely free from the occasional
clerical error.
Is there anything else, sir?
Yes.
What is that, sir?
Can I get a photograph taken?
A photograph?
Yes.
A passport photograph.
I'm afraid our photographer
is away on holiday at the moment, sir.
Hmm, he would be.
As you say, sir.
I won't promise a flattering study of you, sir
but, um, I think it will be satisfactory to the passport authorities.
Thank you.
Pleasure, sir.
This way.
He has collected the transparencies, sir.
Ah, confirms my conviction.
Somewhere they contain a clue
and our bright boys have missed it.
X.B.H.
He's gone inside.
And now the living room curtains have been drawn.
Sir Charles: Stay put until he leaves, then follow.
Miss out one "m".
A, b, c, d, e
f, g, h, I, j, k, I, m: 13.
And "n" must be 14.
Hello, sir.
The curtains are being opened.
He's coming out of the house and getting into his lotus.
Follow him.
En route to definitely Dover.
Oh, welcome to the village, sir.
What would you like
to order?
( Slow beeping )
I took some photographs.
Look... that's one.
Is he still here?
Yes. Herr hallen, sir.
Where is he now?
Oh, in the barber shop
I suppose.
( Faster beeping )
Guten tag, mein herr.
Good afternoon, herr hallen.
The waiter at the cafe told me that I could get a shave here.
That is correct, sir.
Bitte, nehmen sie platz.
Please, sit down, mein herr.
Your English is very good.
Yes.
We barbers get around.
In several big London stores.
Very bad area, usually downstairs
and so I come back to the village where I am born.
Herr hallen, I may as well come to the point.
I don't want a shave.
I want your help... desperately.
In what way, sir?
We have met before
but you couldn't possibly remember me
because the first time we met...
I looked like this.
It is not possible.
You see, Professor Seltzman
your invention works...
Only too well.
I am a simple village barber.
Don't play tricks on an old man.
Believe me, herr Professor
you're the last person in the world I would choose
but somebody's played a wretched trick on me.
Do you recognize that face?
Of course.
He was, he was a friend.
But anyone who had that photograph
could claim to be him.
For what reason?
Perhaps you will
tell me.
I understand.
Incognito until I can prove that I am that man.
But everything I tell you can be countered by you.
By saying that I have extracted the information by fair means or foul.
Yes, that is so.
Herr Professor...
Would you admit that
as with fingerprints, no two handwritings could be the same?
I would.
Then the only way that I can prove to you
that I am that man
depends on whether or not you
kept that letter that I sent to you
over a year ago from London
when you were staying in Scotland.
If you really are who you say you are
you would not have expected me to keep it, would you?
No.
It's a hopeless situation.
If I had kept it, I would have been very stupid. Silly.
You've made your point.
I accept it.
But you overlook one thing.
Sentimental people are sometimes stupid.
Very stupid.
Wait, please.
( Faster beeping )
My poor young friend.
But... who?
I don't know.
The motive is clear.
You will lead them to me.
That is what they hope.
Do you think your people
have done this to you?
No, I'm sure.
Then it must be your enemies.
My enemies presumably... Having my other half?
Precisely.
If we are taken by the side that hasn't
you must learn
to accept yourself
as you are.
( Faster beeping )
As both sides want my reversal process
it will be a close race.
Then the reversal process does exist?
In theory.
But put into practice, it could be dangerous.
Very.
Here comes the first of our visitors.
Is his face familiar?
Number 6: Potter.
We must not be taken by him.
Then hide behind this door.
G bell jingles)
Come in, come in.
Don't move, please...
Professor.
( Hissing )
( Helicopter engine )
( Door buzzes )
Ah... Herr Professor.
Welcome to our humble village.
Had a good trip?
At least let me offer you some breakfast.
You have kidnapped me for one reason.
My answer is no.
( Chuckles )
You are livery this morning, Professor.
Surely neither of us wants to prolong this interview.
Life has not taught you sweet resignation.
Nor has it for many other scientists.
Rutherford, for example.
How he must regret having split the atom.
Yes... almost as bad
as splitting the identity of two human beings.
Unlike all the king's men, only you can put them together again.
Don't rely on it.
Why make this stand now?
You must have known what you were doing
when you invented the wretched process.
Only people like you have made it wretched.
Can you really leave this poor young man
with his mind
wrongly housed?
Surely you owe him some slight responsibility.
I will do it...
On certain conditions.
I'm sure they will be reasonable.
For once, I Al"! Dictating.
Heil.
I will do it...
But alone.
Under this condition only.
I accept.
Very well.
I shall need time to prepare myself.
In 12 hours.
Number two: All cameras turn.
Make a note of everything he does.
( Beeping and whirring )
( Pulsing electronic tones )
( Faster pulsing )
( Zapping )
( Faster pulsing )
( Pulsing and zapping increase in intensity )
( Pulsing and zapping stop )
Emergency.
Examination room.
Immediate treatment.
Number two: Emergency... emergency.
( Siren wailing )
He must not die.
I need him.
Thank you, colonel.
Your help has been invaluable.
I trust I've been of service.
Yes. You'll be suitably rewarded.
Your helicopter is waiting for you.
You assured me that he was in good health.
You must contact number one
and tell him I did my duty.
The colonel.
( Helicopter engine in distance )
The man who is just flying out of here...
Is not who you thought it was.
I don't believe it.
I watched.
I saw everything.
The good doctor's mind now inhabits a body
perhaps not to his liking... the colonel's.
Dr. Seltzman had progressed
more than any of us had anticipated.
He can and did change three minds at the same time.
( Engine in distance )
He is now free to continue his experiments in peace.
( Slam echoes )