Film - Nursing Home to Big Ben

8/11/2019 Film - Nursing Home to Big Ben

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The Thirty-Nine Steps 1978 Film Dialogues of later sections

NURSING HOME

from about 01:07

Alex

I wonder if you could help us.

Conspirators

Wed be delighted!

Alex

Were looking for our cousin. His names Hannay Would you know

where he might be?

First Conspirator

HannayIve heard that name somewhere

RICHARD ARRIVES DRAMATICALLY BY WHEELCHAIR

Hotel Butler

Ladies and Gentlemen! Could I have your attention, please? The recital,

as you know, will begin in fifteen minutes.

HAMILTON THROWS WINE IN THE FACE OF A CONSPIRATOR

Hamilton

Im so sorry!

Alex (to Richard)

Heavens! We were just talking about you!


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Hamilton

Im awfully sorry - Campbell! This is entirely my fault will you see that

this gentlemans clothes are cleaned and that he and his colleagues have

dinner this evening at my expense?

First Conspirator

It wont be necessary

Hamilton

Nonsense I insist!

Alex

David! Our cousin is having one of his attacks we must get him to his

doctor!

First Conspirator

May I help?

Hamilton (pushing him aside)

No, youre a guest!

Campbell, Ill borrow a couple of your chaps if I may!

Hotel Butler

Yes, Mr Hamilton

Hamilton

Andwill you send the coats out to the car?

Hotel Butler

Certainly, sir


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(to Conspirator)

May I suggest you change out of those clothes as soon as possible?

First Conspirator

Yes, of course Tell me who is that young gentleman? I should like to

return his hospitalitysometime.

MORTON CASTLE RUINS

Hamilton

Poor fellow! Did he say anything before he died?

Richard

I think Scudder said: well it sounded like Post of us.

Hamilton

Doesnt make sense!

Richard

No, it doesnt

***

Hamilton

They wont be looking for you in those clothes!

Alex (to Richard)

Why did he want you to go to Strathallen?

Richard

If I knew that.!


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Alex

Somewhere between leaving your rooms and reaching St Pancras,

Colonel Scudder must have got rid of the real notebook in a safe place

Richard

Good thinking! But where?

***

Hamilton

You know what Id do? That would be simple. Id put it in a pillar box

The first I could find!

Richard (triumphantly)

Post office!

Hamilton, Richard and Alex (in chorus)

Post Office

STRATHALLEN POSTOFFICE

Post Office Lady

Will you sign there, Mr Scudder?

Richard (signing)

Thank you.

AT HAMILTONS ESTATE

(Richard is reading the secret notebook)

Alex


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Is it all in code?

Richard

Yesexcept this one phrase The Thirty-Nine Steps 11.45 Ariadnes

Thread

Alex

Ariadnes thread?

Richard

Its one of the questions they asked me at their houseDid I know the

thirty-nine steps?

Alex

Ariadnes gave a thread to her lover, so that he could escape from the

Labyrinth, after slaying the Monster

Richard

Escape after a slaying. Karolides! At 11:45

(dog barking)

Alex

Richard - theres something wrong.

Richard

Of course

(Richard discovers that Hamilton has been killed by the conspirators at

his estate while Richard and Alex were at Strathallen. Richard is lucky to

escape with Alex by diving onto the back of the pony-trap)


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IN THE HOUSE OF THE CONSPIRATORS

Conspirator

Mr Appleton,weve decoded the message from Berlin

British Fleet Affirmative

Karolides Affirmative

Urgent to confirm requirements for Ariadne on 15th

Chief Conspirator ( akaAppleton)

What was the last message from Scotland?Conspirator

Theyre both on their way back, sir

Chief Conspirator ( akaAppleton)

Then reply:

Sleepers will proceed as planned

ON TRAIN FROM SCOTLAND TO LONDON

Detective-Inspector Lomas, Hannay and Alex

Lomas

All right Mr Hannay, no need to hold your breath any longer!

Richard

Danke schn!

Lomas

Hows the head?


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Richard

Its fineits a graze

(giving Lomas Scudders secret notebook)

Here!

(to Alex)

Where are we?

Alex

Just south of SheffieldLomas

My train from London nearly missed the connection

Oh bye the way [giving Richard a newspaper] Ive brought you the

announcement of your death!

(train whistles)

Richard

That should stop our friends looking for the notebook, anyway!

Lomas

Well, it doesnt give us much time to decipher ittomorrow Karolides

addresses both houses of Parliament at 11:45!

Alex

11:45?

Richard


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Thats the time set for the assassination!

Lomas

Were not amateurs, Mr Hannay! Karolides will be guarded every

moment And we also have the best code breaker on the War Office

waiting for this notebook Oh! if that meets with your approval, that

is!

BREAKFAST IN SIR WALTER BULLIVANTS HOUSE

(Richard is eating hungrily)

Alex

He only eats once a year, Sir Walter

Richard

This is the first breakfast Ive had in a week!

(knock at door)

Sir Walter

Come in!

(Lomas and two others arrive)

Sir Walter

Good morning, gentlemen!

Lomas

Good morning, sir!

Sir Walter

Care for a cup of coffee?


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Lomas

No, thank-you, sir!

Assistant

We have the clothes you want, Mr Hannay!

Richard

Thank-you!

Sir WalterHows Tillotson doing with the notebook?

Lomas

It seems it was Scudders personal code, sirbut I understand that

Tillotsons cut the key to it half an hour ago.

Sir Walter

Make sure we have the details!

Lomas

He wants to see you, Mr Hannay and myself at the War Office at eleven

oclock

Richard

But thatll leave us forty-five minutes!!

Sir Walter

The meeting of the Imperial General Staff at 10:15 that usually

takesan hour


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Richard

Sir Walter, that meeting couldnt have anything to do with what Sir

Walter called, the safety of the British fleet?

Sir Walter

Mr Hannay, we owe a great debt to you for your courage and

resourcefulness; but you must realize that there are still some matters that

are classified as highly confidential

Richard

(after a pause)

Yes I do understand that. You must realizethat Im not exaggerating

about these three Prussians. They are men of extraordinary courage and

devotion

Alex

Courage?

Richard

(holding her hand)

Yes I know.but they are courageousand dangerous!

Lomas

We are taking as many precautions

Richard

Lomas! Lines of policemen wont safeguard Karolides! Theyre not

going to rush up and throw a bomb!


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These men were chosen as sleepers because in any social situation they

can pass themselves off as natives of this country, not so much by disguise,

as by outrageous bluff!

Lomas

Is Mr Hannay suggesting that weshouldnt

guard Mr Karolides?

Richard

No. I simply want to remind you both that Scudders not so far been

wrong about anythingand today, at 11:45, Karolides will be killed

THE ABDUCTION

Sir Walter

What the devil!?

One of the Conspirators

Get the girl!

AT THE HOUSE OF MR APPLETON

Richard

Thats the house where they held me prisoner.

Lomas

Martins. Find out who lives there!

Assistant

Superintendent! Its Edmund Appletons house!


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Lomas

Oh, youve got it wrong this time, Mr Hannay! Edmund Appleton is a

successful businessman and a friend of half the British Cabinet!

Edmund Appleton has shot grouse with King George!

Richard

Scudder did tell me one thing about the man were looking forHe was

standing beside Porton when he was assassinated!

Lomas

So was Edmund Appleton!

Lomas (shouting)

Hannay! Come here!

Assistant

Superintendent!

Lomas

Yes?

Assistant

Somebodys been trying to copy Sir Walter Bullivants signature!

(Lomas examines the signatures)

BIG BEN STRIKES 10:45

AT THE WAR OFFICE

First Sea Lord


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Superintendent, I repeat: the man who took the minutes of this meeting

was Sir Walter Bullivant!

Lomas

I tell you he wasnt

First Sea Lord

Dammit! Hes a member of my club! Ive known him for years!

Lomas

He was an imposter, sir! Now you must answer our questions!

First Sea Lord

Must? Are you insane, Superintendent!?

Lomas

You may judge that for yourself whenMr Karolides is assassinated!

Now what was discussed at the meeting?

First Sea Lord

I warn you! Your career is in grave danger!

Richard

So is Mr Karolides, sir; and so is the British fleet!

Gentlemen would you please just answer three questions? Did Sir

Walter sign them ?

First Sea Lord

No.! No..he didnt!

Richard


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Does the phrase, The thirty-nine steps signify anything to you?

First Sea Lord

Really Mr Hannay.! These games!

Second Sea Lord

Ariadne? Its the name of a ship!

Richard

What ship?

Second Sea LordGerman cruiser Shes lying off Gravesend Asked permission to drop

anchor there last night

Richard

Thats how they plan to escape!

ASSISTANT ENTERS

Assistant (to Lomas)

Ive been to Sir Walter Bullivants house, sir. The Butler was trussed up

in a cupboard. He said Sir Walterand

Miss Mackenzie were both

abducted.

Lomas (to First Sea Lord)

Now sir! Will you answer our question?

First Sea Lord


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You havent a moment to lose! We were discussing the role of the Navy

in the event ofwar with Germany! Bogus Sir Walter has the battle

dispositions of the entire Fleet!

IN CONSPIRATORS HIDE-AWAY

An Assistant arrives and gives Appleton an article of clothing.

Assistant

Uniform, sir!

WITH TILLOTSON IN THE WAR OFFICE

Tillotson

Scudder unearthed an enormous amount of stuff.! I remember once

Lomas

Tillotson! Tell us what youve found out! In forty minutes the Greek

Prime Minister may be assassinated!

Tillotson

Yes, yes, I know that.! Their timetable is quite remarkable! I

meanthe sheer volume of background research these Prussians must

have carried out.

Lomas (shouting..)

Tillotson!! (quietly, as if speaking to a fool) Do you know how theyre

going to carry out the assassination?

Tillotson

Well, Scudder only refers to it as the thirty-nine steps

Richard


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Well, after Sir Walter was abducted from his home, he went to his office

for twenty minutes, before going to that meeting

(Lomas and Richard leave hastily)


IN THE CABINET ROOM WITH HIGH OFFICIAL

Official

The man at the Imperial Staff Meeting may not have been the real Sir

Walter, but the man who came here most certainly was.!

Lomas

Tell me, what exactly did he do, while he was here?

Official

He read the urgent mail I put in front of him; he signed two memoranda I

drafted; he took a telephone call from his taylor; he signed a Ministry of

Works Permit; and then he went off to his meeting

Richard

He signed three papers!

Lomas

Tell me see those three papers, quickly please!

HOUSE OF COMMONS ANTE-ROOM

Official

Gentlemen! Gentlemen please! We would ask you to take your seats in

the House within ten minutes!


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(to Mr Karolides)

Mr Karolides

Karolides

Yes..?

Official

You will be escorted to into the Chamber within fifteen minutes, sir!

Karolides

Thank you.IN THE CABINET ROOM WITH HIGH OFFICIAL (continued)

Official

I assure you the signatures are quite genuine

Richard

Why would he risk coming here? It doesnt make any sense!!

Lomas

Because theres something here, vitally important to their plans


IN THE CABINET ROOM OFFICE LOMAS, RICHARD AND

HIGH OFFICIAL

Lomas

Scudders let us down. He didnthave

the answer!

Richard (frustrated suddenly on whim to the official in next room)


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I dont suppose you know what the thirty-nine steps are, do you!!!??

Official

Anyone with any knowledge of the Palace of Westminster would know

that!

Richard

What ?

Official

Well, its common knowledge!The run of steps to the various levels of

Big Benwere all built in multiples of thirteenthere was quite an outcry at

the time!

Richard (somewhat impatiently and discourteously)

But what of thethirty-nine

!?

Official

Thirty-nine steps leading from Lauderdale Doorto the belfry of BigBen itself!

Richard

Big Ben!

Lomas

Hamilton [correctly, Appleton] signed a permit for routine work to be

carried out on the clock!

BIG BEN SHOWS 11:35

(observed by River Police boatman, Appleton..)


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FINAL SCENE 1 (THE PARTY REACH THE DOOR TO BELFRY)

Richard

Thirty-nine Ah well Scudder!

(at the door)

They must be up there!

LomasBreak it down!

(Policeman tries and fails to break down the door)

*

Conspirators (through the door..)

We have Sir Walter Bullivant and Miss MacKenzie! You hear?

Lomas (shouting)

We hear!

Conspirators

Then send someone in we can talk to Hes to come aloneand

unarmed!

[Hannay enters the Belfry]

FINAL SCENE 2 RICHARD AND CONSPIRATORS IN BELFRY

Lomas (shouting)


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Hes ready!

First Conspirator

Hannay!

Richard

Yes!One step ahead of you both as usual! (condescendingly) Youre

really not very bright, are you?

Second Conspirator

Listen here! We have Sir Walter and the girl. Theyre our passports. If we

reach Bremen safely, they will be releasedunharmedisthat clear?

Richard (noticing dynamite)

Bremen? You wont even get as far as the Ariadne!

First Conspirator

Hannay, there is one thing you cannot know! If anything happens to us,

we dont reach our rendez-vous they will both be killed!

Richard

By Appleton ?

Second Conspirator

Go back down, Hannay! And if youreally

value their true lives, ask

Lomas to call off his men!

FINAL SCENE 3 BY THE CLOCK (1)

Richard (very quietly, to Lomas)


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Thats your problem!


Lomas (laying plans)

Right Scott, stand by here!

(to another policeman)

Stand by with me!

*

Lomas (hearing a shot)Shoot that lock off!

*

[gun battle]

*

[The two conspirators have been killed in the shoot-out, but the dynamiteis still active]

*

Lomas

Right, look after the wounded! And tell Scott to stand by to bring Hannay

in as soon as I have put this thing out of action!

[Lomas disables dynamite]

Bring Hannay in!

First Policeman


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Give me your hand!

Richard

Dont be bloody stupid!!!

Second Policeman

Tie that end to the post!

First Policeman

Right!

(to Richard very calmly)Im lowering a rope to you

Put your foot through the loop!

No - to the left! Thats it!


(Lomas discovers River Police uniforms and works out the plot)

Lomas

(to a dazed Richard, showing River Police uniform)

Look!And theres a police launch down by the pier!

FINAL SCENE 6 AT THE RIVERSIDE

(Genuine River Police overpower imposters)

River Police Officer

Look out!

After you, MrAppleton!


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*

[Final titles]

Edmund Appleton was convicted of treason in May 1914; and thanks to

Richard Hannay, Britain gained valuable time to prepare for the Great

War

Documents

Film - Nursing Home to Big Ben