Fantomas vs. Scotland Yard (Fantômas contre Scotland Yard)

FANTOMAS VS. SCOTLAND YARD

Mr. Walter Brown, welcome, come on in.

I am the secretary of Lord Mac Rashley.

Dear Walter, at last. Edward is waiting for you.

Come in.

Good old Walter, glad to see you.

Come in and set your things down.

This brings back memories. Oxford, remember?

I remember it like it was yesterday. But the years pass.

My secretary recently reminded me of that.

A remarkable young man. Serious, polished, organized, dedicated.

Soon your husband's life will finally be secured.

The insurance pays out unconditionally, in case he...

Poor dear. God bless his soul.

As quickly as possible.

Shall we get to the point?

The life insurance policy you sent me.

I reviewed all the clauses. Everything seems fine.

Except clause six. I wanted to discuss that.

'Under all circumstances and in all countries except China...

risks of natural death are covered.

But the risk of suicide is not included in this policy...'

Now is not the time to play Indian.

Let's stay on topic.

I want this clause to fully cover the risk of murder.

Please, Walter. We're too old for such jokes.

Well then, Lord Mac Rashley...

you should know that Fantomas does not like jokes.

Rest assured. I am not here to kill you.

Not immediately, at least. It depends on you.

You are the third richest man on earth.

Let's not exaggerate. - Don't be so hypocritical.

I am proud to be the greatest criminal on earth.

To speak with you, I posed as your friend Walter Brown.

This face is a mask...

but so perfect that you fell for it.

Now that we're on the subject, let me refresh your memory.

Two years ago I, disguised as journalist Fandor...

disappeared with a billion in jewels.

Here I am committing a heist disguised as Commissioner Juve.

And here I escape once again from my pursuers.

Thanks to my pocket submarine.

And these are my secret laboratories.

Here work is done on the destruction of this planet...

on the day I depart for another.

But on that day I won't leave by flying car.

That was my toy from last year.

I'm not planning yet to destroy this world.

That would be like killing the goose that lays golden eggs.

I decided to make use of humanity.

I use a slogan that demagogues often abuse:

Make the rich pay.

I will tax their right to live.

Do I not hold your life or death?

I devised my own taxation system.

A tax office that collects from all excessively wealthy citizens...

a tax on life.

Here is your statement. Just sign it.

Of course, you may pay in installments.

For example, in terms of two years, n years, six months.

But that soon becomes tedious and costs a fortune. So no.

Given your good health and extraordinary finances...

it is best to pay all at once.

Three billion, or six million dollars.

Then you will never hear from Fantomas again.

Six million, that's a fortune.

At today's rates, that's reasonable. And you pay in a month.

And here it says: If you do not pay on time...

the assessment will increase by ten percent.

Six million six hundred thousand dollars? - Excluding extra fees.

If you do not pay within a month...

a final warning will follow before I execute.

Execute?

And if you speak to anyone about our arrangement...

execution will happen immediately.

I will inform you by letter how and where to pay.

What is that? - Rest assured. They will pick me up.

If you want to use my film box, there is an instruction manual.

I can manage on my own.

See you soon, my lord.

Walter.

Look, dear. I don't know which to choose.

Here you go again about Fantomas. - He killed Walter Brown.

You have no proof. And that headline: 'Fantomas in Scotland.' Cut it out.

It does indeed resemble sea monsters.

You gave me an idea: 'The monster of Loch Ness is Fantomas.'

You must leave immediately. I'll arrange your tickets.

Hopefully you'll have better ideas there.

Commissioner Juve.

Yes, my lord.

I beg your pardon, but I think...

I am absolutely sure Fantomas is behind it.

I am confused. It is a great honor for me to be invited to your castle.

Take your assistant with you.

With my assistant. I accept.

I speak French, you know. I studied in Paris.

Very well, my lord. My compliments.

Meanwhile, be very careful. Once I arrive, you'll be safe.

And keep quiet. I come incognito. This time he won't escape me.

See you tomorrow then. - See you tomorrow.

What is it? Thank you very much.

Nice to hear your voice, Commissioner. - Who am I speaking to?

I look forward to your visit to Scotland.

So do I, but who are you? - Fantomas. Safe travels and see you soon.

What's wrong? - That was Fantomas.

Never heard of him? Don't you remember?

Gentlemen, I have secretly summoned you today...

because together we are the richest in the world...

and because Fantomas has targeted us for his life tax...

in an excessive way.

The Maharaja of Kinpura asks to speak.

His Excellency says he is the most heavily affected victim.

He must pay each year his weight in diamonds.

I know a great masseur for the Maharaja.

That saves him fifty kilos by the end of this year.

Richard, normally we appreciate your sense of humor.

But the situation is now serious.

Remember that our friend Walter Brown was killed by that monster.

And we could face the same fate.

We sympathize with the Maharaja of Kinpura.

The Maharaja quotes a thought from Rabin Dranath Tagore:

'Lightning strikes the cherry tree, but the storm makes it bloom.'

Very beautiful. Thank you.

Gentlemen, we are all forced to sign this statement.

I already have the notice. - Me too.

I've never been afraid of anyone, not Fantomas either.

You can die without fear. - But I'm leaving now anyway.

But you're taking a big risk. - Maybe.

Enjoy yourselves, gentlemen.

The plan is as follows: We lure Fantomas into a trap.

And that trap will be my castle.

Commissioner Juve and the journalist Fandor with his young fiancée...

will be my guests. They form the bait in the trap.

Surely Fantomas will sooner or later come after his enemies.

And then we catch that wild beast.

What beautiful flowers. Very kind.

Commissioner Juve? Andr Berthier, secretary of Lord Mac Rashley.

Is this Loch Ness? - We're almost there.

Does Lord Mac Rashley remember what happened?

No, after the whisky with Walter Brown he remembers nothing.

A sedative in his glass. - Or he fainted from shock.

I don't interfere with your reports either.

It's getting foggy. I'll take the forest route.

It's a bit narrow, but faster.

People here don't like this road.

It's also called the road of the three hanged men.

The story goes that three travelers walked here...

who were found hanged in the middle of the forest.

Fortunately there are five of us... - It's of course a myth.

Watch out.

Wait a moment.

That can't be. - That's way too heavy.

Why don't we go this way? - The car can't pass there.

No, look.

The tree has been cut. - That can't be.

This was an attack. Look at that stump. An attack.

Who did that? - A good start.

Look. - What's coming there?

It's Godefrey.

Hello. Take us to the castle. That tree blocks our way.

Maybe your car can pass. Back up a bit.

Come on, push. - Now we can get in.

Drive on, Godefrey.

Dear Elisabeth, all alone. May I offer you a whisky?

Sit down, friends.

You'll see: the colonel tells the war stories with humor.

They are laughing at us. All of them.

I don't know why. - Have you seen what you're wearing?

Don't you dare do that again.

The kilt is evening wear in Scotland. - The tuxedo.

It's clearly in the Scotland guide.

Exactly, the tuxedo is black on white. Leave me alone.

It's an unknown, mysterious world.

An eternal struggle between good and evil forces. Indeed, Commissioner.

I'm certain Fantomas is from another world.

Do you really believe he could be a Martian?

How prosaic the French are.

By another world I mean the afterlife.

Don't you believe in evil forces?

I don't know...

We are surrounded by invisible beings.

Suddenly they can appear and decide over our life and death.

Dorothy is right. There's so much mystery around us.

I sense you find this interesting.

I once did a report on a haunted house.

Very exciting. Only all my photos were blurry.

Those were the ghosts. That's why you can't photograph them.

You do believe in that, right? - Of course.

Does it haunt in your castle too? - Naturally.

Do you also believe in spirits? - Why not.

Journalists are curious. I'd like to see them.

You will see them. Albert? A table, please.

For four people? - No, for seven.

For what?

Lady Mac Rashley apparently wants to hold a séance.

Should we really do that?

With your eyes... You must be an extraordinary medium.

You also have those special eyes.

Don't you think so too?

Absolutely agree.