The Frightened City

No, no!

Yes?

Come on, dear.

- What do you think you're doing? - In you go, darling!

- Pardon me, all. - Here! What you...

Hello? What's going on here?

What are you lot doing in here?

Shut up! Shut up!

Stand over there and you won't get hurt.

Come on. Wait here.

- Mind what you're doing! - Oh, darling, keep still.

Well, I'd say that somebody doesn't like you, mr moffat.

Inspector sayers. Who sent for you?

Someone with more sense than you, obviously. Who was it, Frankie farmer?

Wasn't like that at all.

Some of the members got excited and started a bit of a ruck.

Oh, sure, sure.

Are you going to pay them what they want now?

And if I don't? How many men can you spare to guard me for the rest of my life?

Are you going to make a charge about this?

What do you think?

Come on.

If some of these people had the guts to take 'em to court,

we'd cut this protection racket in two before it got off the ground.

Well, you heard him. We can't watch 'em round the clock.

It's a nasty alternative.

Want to do anything about Frankie?

Any idea where he is?

My information is, he's usually at Maggie seely's place about this time.

Why can't these villains work decent hours?

You know, that's the third club he's done this week.

Things are hotting up.

What we want's an iron man in this town.

Someone like old Percy sillitoe up in sheffield.

- Remember? - Yeah.

What we want are laws designed to catch villains and not hamper the police.

Now drive on, macduff, and less chat.

I've got to work out an explanation for the wife

why I haven't been home before midnight all month.

Well, what do you think?

I think you're in trouble, mr wingrove.

Well, of course I am. That's why I've come to you.

I can't help you, my friend.

Look, all I need is £20,000 to bridge the gap.

You've raised more than that in the past.

Oh, yes, very much more, but only when the risk was infinitesimal.

I can't recommend investment in a company like wingrove construction,

not on these figures.

But we're under way. The contracts have all been signed.

We've been working on the building for a month now.

You've got a tight schedule, mr wingrove.

In my opinion, you'll be extremely lucky to complete on time.

And look at that penalty clause if you overrun.

£2,000 a week.

We won't overrun, there's too much at stake.

All the same,

I'm sorry.

Miss rush.

Yes, mr zhernikov.

Would you get mr wingrove his hat and coat, please?

Yes, sir.

But haven't you got any suggestions?

How am I going to get out of this?

Mr wingrove, I'm an accountant not Houdini.

But one word from you... "Words are but sands.

Money buys lands." And old Russian proverb.

See Harvey gonning. He's got resources.

Goodbye, mr wingrove.

j but I'm not laughing

j now j.

Anya, please.

In moderation?

Everything in moderation.

I'm sorry, darling.

- How's it going? - Waldo...

Can't you help me to get some work?

I know I'm ready.

- Yes, miss rush? - Oh, mr foulcher telephoned earlier, sir.

- He wants to make an appointment. - Yes, miss rush? Go and make one then.

Yes, sir.

Oh, miss rush.

Did you telephone the ministry of labour about a work permit for miss bergolin?

Oh, yes, sir. I've made a note of it.

Um... "The granting of work permits to foreign artists

is governed solely by the availability of British performers

of similar talent and experience."

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

So where's the problem?

Pretty girl like you and with a voice as well.

How unique do you need to be?

No one will give me a job without experience

and I can't get experience without a permit.

Oh, Waldo, all I need is for someone to give me a chance.

But I don't know anybody in that line of business, my darling.

Ordo I?

Wait.

Miss rush.

- One moment, please. - Mr foulcher?

Ask if it's convenient for me to call at his place. Er, what is it?

- The taboo club. - Right.

But this is a business appointment, sir. Well?

Well, it's just that I thought as you never...

So, I've changed the habits of a lifetime.

Does the entitle you to flounder like a fish?

- I'm very sorry, sir. - Get on with it then.

Waldo, what sort of place is the taboo?

Well, it's not exactly the palladium, but, er...

It's got a certain distinctive style of its own, shall we say?

j what a marvellous lie you told me

j' in your arms on our wedding day

j when you promised to have and to hold me

j and to love and adore all the way

j when life tore us apart, you were sure you could wait

j now you've found out that the odds are too great

j what a marvellous lie you told me

j but I'll never believe you again.

I hope your interest is purely professional, mr zhernikov.

I was just reflecting.

Herein lies the nub of all trade.

They've got it, we want it, so up spring a thousand crafts to smooth the exchange.

You know what you're doing, Harry. Sex is a wonderful thing for business.

I'm happy to say.

j in your arms... j

- pretty girl. - Well, if you're interested, I...

Not the way you think. Is she good?

Well, her voice isn't so hot but she seems to know what the customers want.

How would you like a girl with equal sex appeal and also a voice?

You going into the agency business, mr zhernikov?

Just this once.

Well, send her down, I'll audition her myself.

Thank you. Harry.

Audition only the voice, not the sex appeal?

This girl is my, er... A relative of mine.

I wouldn't cross you, you know that, mr zhernikov.

Come right in.

And, Harry, no need to advertise the connection?

Anything you say.

So now, what did you want to see me about?

Well, something very much in your line.

Just a little problem I've run into.

This is a problem?

It will be when the revenue ask where I got it.

- I'm your adviser, tell me. - Well, let's say, insurance premiums.

Protection?

If you like.

And your own accountant doesn't want to know?

He'd have a blue fit.

He's just a straight man I use for the legit books in the club.

What opportunities they miss, these scout masters.

I'm in a sweet position here.

On the surface.

With a club for a front, I've got the perfect answer

for any reasonable amount of bent income that comes my way.

But this is getting to be an embarrassment.

I can't bank it. The bogeys know all the strong rooms.

It's too much to write up to gambling wins.

And if I invest it, the tax boys will find out eventually.

If I leave it lying around here much longer,

sure as €ggs are €ggs, some crook's gonna try and lift it.

I've got a couple of companies with international contacts.

I think I can lose it for you through them.

What's the bite?

Twenty per cent.

I'm in your hands, mr zhernikowv.

All right, Harry.

- Glass of bubbly? - No, thank you.

Tell me, how much do you make this way?

- The thick end of 300 last week. - And net?

Hundred and, er... Hundred and forty-six.

Why so big a drop?

Legal fees, operating expenses, boys' cut, mainly.

How many boys you got?

Three right lunatics full-time and a dozen on reserve.

- How often do you use the reserves? - Most of the time, lately.

Some of the other mobs are trying to creep on to my manor.

What's the average fee you extract from each place?

About a tenner a week, I'd say.

What kind of places?

Pubs, clubs, coffee bars,

striptease joints, car dealers, delicatessens, things in that line.

Something the matter?

I'm getting a feeling.

I've got a nose for profit, Harry.

So have I. There's the proof.

Oh, more than that, much more.

You wouldn't be interested in this level of operation, would you, mr zhernikov?

Not as it is, but it might become interesting.

How many gangs are working this way?

About a dozen, I'd say, but most of those are tearaways with no organisation.

There aren't more than six real mobs.

And every one of them is wasting its time fighting off the others?

That's about the ticket, yeah.

Could you get the other five top men together?

Together?

I suppose I could, yeah. Why?

Why?

Do you realise the potential here?

If you six split up the town between you,

think how that would increase your turnover and reduce your outgoings.