The Terrible People

Mr. Shelton, is that correct?

Incorrect. I'm Colonel Proudley.

I bet against that. You've lost this launch, Shelton.

The execution takes place at 8! Everyone is here, only Mrs. Revelstoke is missing.

She says the first glimpse she had at Shelton will last her whole life.

The priest is still with him. - The whole business is very disturbing.

After all, one has to respect the last wish of a man who is about to hang.

Yes, of course.

A weird fellow. Seems to have no remorse. - This way, gentlemen.

I hearty welcome you.

The Queen's Council who asks for the death penalty.

And His honour, the judge, by whom I was condemned,

the bank director who shot the gun out of my hand,

the idiot who prevented my escape. - That was just a mere chance.

I didn't mean to hold you. You ran into me, Shelton.

And Inspector Long who arranged the traps for me...

and made the arrest.

There is only one missing. The woman who spoiled my shot.

I'm afraid she was unavoidably detained. - You must tell her then.

We're listening. Go ahead. - You want me killed,

and so I'm going to kill you. One after the other as well as...

the executioner who is waiting for me. And when the time for you to die has come

you find there is plenty of room in hell. - I beg you, Shelton,

turn your heart and soul towards your God.

You want me killed.

But the gallows' hand will kill you all.

I bet against that, Shelton.

That's right. They call you "The Better". You'd bet against that.

Alright, gambler Long!

I'll take you on.

Welcome, executioner. Come and make the bet validly.

Go on, do it!

Hangman of London, perform your office.

May God pardon you. - He'd better get a move on then, friend.

Or you'll find my gallows' hand first!

Shelton was a genius in his own way as a blackmailer, forger and murderer.

It was very difficult to catch him, because he didn't have any accomplices.

By the way, who shot at you? - A bloke behind a tree, I bet.

An ex-convict, called Harry, the Razer, an old acquaintance of mine.

Then I think we can assume that he shot at you before he got shot himself.

Without straining the mind we can almost consider it as certain, Sir Archibald.

And this man was then shot dead by another chap. Who is the other?

Apparently the one who paid him to shoot. - Do you have an idea who he is?

Might be another old acquaintance of mine. - It doesn't worry you, all this?

No. Not much. And soon I'm going to forget my old acquaintances.

Now this case is over. I should attend the loving arms of my dear old father.

I'm going to try to earn an honest living in his bank. There you are.

What's this? Your resignation? - So long, Scotland Yard.

Come in.

The Jones case, Sir. - Leave it on my desk.

No, no, Long. You're wrong. This case isn't finished.

Will you think it is rather bad taste to try and hang a dead man?

Shelton took poison in the execution chamber.

Impossible, how did he get hold of it? - Well, could be the priest.

No. No, I think he is off. - The hangman?

Mmh. Unprofessional in his part. No, he'd be doing himself out of the job.

So? Who was it?

Yeah? What?

Where? In Landstone Avenue. Good. Well, do the necessary.

He says the Queen's Council for the prosecution has had an accident.

Well, Long, what was that about your old acquaintances?

What's the matter with him? - He's the photographer...

from criminal records, got a weak stomach.

Rouch! - Yes, Sir?

An accident, huh? - Yes, Sir.

I bet that it wasn't! There is just one thing wrong in the set up here:

The lorry that hit this car hit it twice. Make sure your men don't do anything...

to cover over the track. - Right.

Shelton! Look! Shelton!

What's the matter with you now? - Look over there, it's Shelton!

Lymmermore, did you see anything over there? - No, Sir.

Did you photograph Shelton's body? Yes, unfortunately. I did, Sir.

Why do you say that? - You can't imagine how it upset me, Sir.

When I only think of it I get weak. I used to be an animal photographer.

That was jolly! Nice happy doggies, little snapshots, what a joy that is!

Or sweet little bunnies, but not any longer. All they want nowadays...

are solid corpses, Sir. That's all. Anyway, it's a living, I suppose.

Talking of living. Was Shelton dead the last time you saw him?

Yes, I'm quite sure he was dead. - And that's that.

But he looked almost as if he'd wake up again and in that mist he just did it...

and made a sign. He had white hair, and he gave me a dreadful look.

Wait for me here, Rouch. - Ah! Sir!

Don't get carried away by that comic photographer.

His lordship wanted me to fetch him a little more ice.

It's alright. - I could have sworn it was...

Even the steady English can imagine enough to see a ghost occasionally.

Is my father at home? - His Lordship is in the library, Sir.

Good evening, father. - Good evening, my boy.

Excuse me, I'm late. I got kept back. - The champagne has been on ice 6 hours.

Champagne? Why that? - I thought your resignation from...

the Yard deserves a small celebration. - This will be a great disappointment...

to you, but it looks as if I can't resign from the Yard.

You know you are going against my wishes? - I know, but in this case...

I'm obeying necessity and not just paternal wishes.

I got to go now, in any case.

I know, father, you never wished me to join the police, never.

Thank you, Brown.

We can drink to something anyhow. I have a reason.

I've been pushed up to Chief Inspector.

Due to the arrest of Shelton? - Yes, and because a few wealthy bankers

feel somehow better than they used to.

By the way, how is it that Shelton didn't touch your bank while he was at it?

Wrong. He didn't ever leave me alone.

You bought your way out with this? - You couldn't call it that.

I'm afraid this is quite private. It can't concern you.

I would be grateful if you tried to respect this wish of mine.

The master fuse for the house had blown, Sir. I installed a new one.

Right there on emergency. Well done, Brown.

Alright, alright!

I'm coming! Who is calling at this time of the night?

Who is it? - The police. Open this door!

Mercy on me!

Good evening. I'm Inspector Long. I'd like to speak to judge Bennett.

But His honour has gone to bed now. - I'm still up. Who is it then?

Inspector! You're rather Chief Inspector. To what do I attribute this pleasure?

The pleasure is all mine, Your honour. I see you're still alive.

To make sure you remain alive I'd like you to come with me to Scotland Yard. I don't

want you to end up as the Queen's Council. - I see. Because I condemned Shelton,

and he threatened me. I'm the last person intended to be murdered.

I'll be right down.

Broken neck. He is dead.

Sawn through. Take a look in the garden. Look out for footprints.

Sir! Sir! - Don't tell me you've seen Shelton's ghost again!

That's right, Sir. - Did you leave the gates open?

I'm sorry, Sir. I'm not sure. - Rouch, I know that you're an abstinent.

You're not giving reflects of imagination. You've been in service too long for that!

Now I'm gonna use scientific methods! I exterminate this foolish spook!

I am more than worried about this undertaking, Chief Inspector.

If my superior department knew of exhuming a body here...

I bet they couldn't care less that a gangster who was executed lawfully

would suddenly hop out of the grave and go on a rampage, scaring us all to death.

Where are you going to place it? I must put my apparatus in place.

Right! Here.

Please... Would you please stand by me a moment. I'm fighting against it.

It's stupid, of course. But when I see a body I feel all sort of queer...

and my knees begin to go... - Rouch! - Sir?

It's all dirty. - Take off the lid!

Empty!

Full. - Bricks.

And there's the bill.

Well, what do you know about this? - Of this? I don't know...

So as usual we have again 3 possibilities: Either Shelton is dead...

or he's playing to be a ghost in the neighbourhood, or we are all crazy.

I think that the latter appears to be the most plausible.

Sir, there's a gentleman to see you. - But it's almost midnight!

Oh well, the later they come the greater they are.

Where there's a rope there is always a hangman. What's wrong?

Sir... I... truly met 2 men. I was attacked by 2 men!

Sir! Sir!

Didn't any of your clans show you how a man can be dignified...

when he's getting his neck stretched? - But they wanted to murder me!

When did this happen? - I'm going down the road, quietly, Sir.

Yes, from the pub... - When I was fetched by these two guys...

Did they say anything? - Yes, Sir.

What did they say? - The gallows hand, Sir!

Brown, take this chap upstairs to the green room, will you?

Rouch, please guard his door. - Thank you, Sir.

Is there anything more, Sir? - No. No.

Then I bid you good night, Sir.

I want 2 men positioned in front of Mrs. Revelstoke's house. And send a car,

I want to put someone in protective custody. Do you wanna know who it is?

You will hardly believe it: It's the hangman of London.

Rouch, what's going on there? Open the door! Let's have a look.

Too late.

How do you do? I'm Chief Inspector Long. May I speak to Mrs. Revelstoke, please?

I telephoned to say I'm coming.

I see. I... Mrs. Revelstoke.

I telephoned. - Ah...

Thank you.

Thank you.

It doesn't bite you. I'm Nora Sanders,

secretary of Mrs. Revelstoke. Must I raise my hands?

I'm sorry. But to be honest, that clock has confused me.

What then? The clock or my secretary?

Both of them. - The clock was bought by my husband in New Zealand.

He was always late. He even met his death because of a silly miscalculation of time.

Nora, find a large carton, and fill it with shavings to stick the monster inside.

Yes, Mrs. Revelstoke. - One should get rid of what one doesn't like.

I decided to send this clock to Mr. Monkford long ago.

He is a collector. He's a little mad. Why must your men watch my house?

How did you know that? - When men with large raincoats...

stand long hours outside watching the doors as unobtrusively as they can,

even I see the bod, Inspector. What do you want?

Where will you be on the 19th of this month?

I know my taxes help to provide you with a salary, but my private life...

is not your concern at all. - I believe your life is in danger.

One risks one's life from the day that one is born, Sir.

You weren't in Shelton's dead cell. - No, but I've been informed of the news.

By whom?

I even know that you are going to Marlow, to Mr. Monkford's place.

You are really astoundingly well informed.

Since you seem to think that I need your protection you've probably decided that...

the others also need protection. You could take my secretary to Mr. Monkford's place

and give him that awful clock. - Certainly. I should go by motorboat.

I hope she doesn't get seasick. - I think that rather depends on you.

Tell me why you don't go by road. - I want to stop on the way down...

and turn off to Maidenhead to see the third candidate of protection:

the animal lover Crayley. - I'm only interested in Monkford.

Tomorrow is his birthday. - That's on the 15th?

Why? Yes. Wait here. Be good enough not to upset Nora.