The Man Who Haunted Himself

- Goodnight, Tom. - Goodnight, Mr Pelham.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jim, I think he's gone.

What's the matter with the bloody thing, looks as though we've got two heartbeats there now.

Ah, that's better.

I hope you're not going back to the office too soon.

Of course not. Good as new.

Goodbye, Daddy.

Goodbye, darlings.

Michael, will you please go back and finish your breakfast. You'll be late for school...

You too, James.

Why did we have to have the same sort of car again?

I'm used to them.

Damned good motor cars... Didn't seem any point in changing.

- I'll put that on your tombstone. - What?

- Don't forget the seatbelt. - I don't forget things like that...

not important things.

Like — kissing me goodbye.

- Goodbye, darling. - Take care.

- Alex. - Sorry... Sorry, Mr Chairman, gentlemen.

Traffic, I'm afraid.

No, no, we hadn't really started. I was just bringing Pel up to date...

apart from saying how glad we are to have him back.

So, well now, that's... everybody...

There it is then, on the table. Do we merge with Electronics General or don't we?

Pel, look... it's quite simple... The offer's there. E.G.O. have made it. They want it— we want it...

Just a question of agreeing a statement, I should have thought.

- What d'you think, Freddie? - If a merger's right, and we can make it look right,

presumably we come out of it smelling like roses...

and with a few extra pennies in the bank, eh Hugh?

Well, it's in our own best interests.

In the best interests of our shareholders. That's what you meant, Hugh.

If I'd meant that I'd have said that.

Shall I take it, then, that it's the feeling of this Board that the proposed merger with E.G.O.

is a forward-looking step for the good of all?

It's not quite as simple as that, Charles...

I've thought a good deal about it lately...

Would you mind if I said my piece?

We've all been waiting for it, Pel.

The one word I haven't heard mentioned so far is 'takeover'.

No... no... no...

- A takeover— that's what it is. - Not as I see it.

...a merger.

Joint partnership, I'd say.

A takeover... However you like to dress it up that's what it is, staring you in the face.

- Well, I don't agree, but... - Look at the facts...

E.G.O. isn't out to do anybody any favours. Never have been...

until recently...

...and since we entered into Marine Electronics we've not exactly set the shipping world on fire.

A nice, steady old firm, Freeman, Pelham and Dawson. One or two bright young lads coming up.

- Thank you. - But that's... about it...

- until recently. - What d'you mean?

What have we got recently that they haven't?

- You mean our new Marine Automation system? - I mean just that.

But that's top secret!

Perhaps we only think it's top secret.

But how? Alex, how?

How do most leaks leak? Through an open mouth.

I think this is a very serious allegation...

and if Pel can't substantiate it, he should withdraw it.

All right, I withdraw it, fine.

No... no... I think this whole matter's got to be thoroughly investigated...

It could affect our whole bargaining position. Our own security's got to be checked.

Perhaps we can probe E.G.O. for any indications that they know of our new system.

I know some of their chaps socially... Ashton, for instance.

I could chat him up, I suppose.

Right. Er, soft-pedal it, though. We still want it to go through.

But we've got to know where we stand...

Right, thank you, gentlemen.

If you ask me, Pel, you're stirring up a lot of trouble about nothing.

Perhaps.

I hope you're feeling quite fit again? I was a bit worried about you.

Walked right by me in Cheapside last week.

Last week, B.J.?

Wednesday... Cut me stone dead. Anyway, glad you're all right.

Silly old sod. I was in Spain last week.

If E.G.O. get him they won't need the secret weapon.

- Good to see you, Pel. - Thank you, Freddie...

Well, I'm going for a swim, doctor's orders. You coming?

Why not.

We've got it. Great shot, Timothy!

Have you clocked David Bailey in the bikini?

Oh, d'you know, I think she'd like to point her camera in your direction,

- if you'll forgive the expression. - Oh, sure.

Pity you're a happily married man...

What would you do if she was to give you the old exposure meter treatment?

Oh, I'd probably give her F8 at 1000th of a second...

Great!

Hold it while I check...

- What about Ashton? When are you seeing him? - This evening.

Give me a call if you get anything out of him.

Hold it!

Can you move in... some more... come on.

- You'll be in this evening, will you? - Yes, we very rarely go out.

Oh! I'm sorry.

I'd say F4...

with a very slow shutter.

D'you know this? It's Pel's latest craze. He played it all the time in hospital. Drove the nurses mad.

I'm sorry Frank. I've no idea why he's so late...

I'm worried about him driving anyway.

Thank you, Luigi.

- Where are the boys? - Oh, there you are!

- Now what does that mean? - Hallo, Daddy.

I've done a painting of your car all smashed up.

Oh Michael, you're covered in it, can't I leave you for a second?

I said you'd be cross.

Mummy, has that man gone yet?

No, he hasn't... Now, will you both go back upstairs again at once

Go on! And wash that paint off, Michael.

Has who gone?

Frank Bellamy. You asked him for a drink.

- I did? - Why didn't you tell me?

Because I didn't ask him.

Ah, there you are, old love.

Hallo, Frank. What a pleasant surprise.

What, surprised I'm still here?

No, I'm... I'm sorry. Sorry I'm late. You had a drink?

Just finished the third, Eve and I have been getting quietly smashed.

- Good — then you'll have another. - Oh, no... no... no... I'm off. Can't drink and drive, old love.

Well, I'm sorry... what else can I say?

Don't give it another thought. It's not often I get a pretty woman to myself!

- Keep him guessing, eh? - Yes,

goodbye Frank and I'm sorry about the muddle.

I must go and hurl the children into bed.

Frank I had no idea. It must have gone completely out of my mind.

Oh, that's all right, old son. I say, I'm... I'm sorry I landed you in it.

You don't want an alibi, do you?

- No, why should I? - Oh, just asking.

You know I thought after last Thursday you might have.. made it away.

What on earth's last Thursday got to do with it?

Oh, you are a cagey old sod, aren't you...

You don't have to play it straight with me, you know.

I was there, remember? ...at the Club.

I won't forget that game of snooker in a hurry.

Nor the little party we had afterwards...

...but don't worry, old son... prenez garde... prenez garde...

You can read until Daddy comes up.

- Go and settle them, will you? - Yes, in a minute.

Why have you taken up with Frank Bellamy again?

I might ask the same of you.

- I didn't invite him. - Nor did I.

He bores me to tired sobs. You must have asked him.

Darling, I'm telling you, I didn't.

Frank Bellamy has got mental B.O.

Well, why would he turn up here unless you invited him?

Probably after you. You seemed matey enough together.

- Well I had to entertain him, didn't I? - God, what's that?

Cleaning ticket.

Well, the bloody pin stuck in my neck...

Now look, darling... he says I invited him last Thursday at the Club. Right?

Now, just ask yourself... where was I last Thursday...

On holiday, right? Not at the Club, right?

You sure?

Now don't you start. Am I sure what?

- Sure he said at the Club? - He said at the Club.

Well, don't get at me. I've just had him breathing heavily down my neck for an hour...

Read the riot act, will you?

Daddy, what lies at the bottom of the sea and quivers?

Oh God, not riddles!

D'you give up?

All right, what does lie on the bottom of the sea and quiver?

A nervous wreck!

- It's for you. - Ho... ho... ho... I'm coming.

Right, books away, lie down, go to sleep...

and you, monster... nervous wreck!

Sleep tight boys, see you in the morning.

It's Alex.

Yes, Alex? Don't tell me I stood him up too?

Well, did he admit it?

Well, what did he say?

Tonight? I've just got in...

...O.K. Alex... O.K.

- No dinner? - Sorry, darling. Crisis.

You mean another crisis? Apart from the Italian one in the kitchen?

Charles has called a meeting.

Can't it wait until after dinner?

No, apparently not. It's pretty important.

- Oh dear, I wish to God... - I'll be back soon as I can.

Drive carefully.

I'll drive carefully.

You mean Ashton actually admitted it?

You know Ashton...

He gave a few clues across and down, and left me to fill in the blanks.

But you're convinced?

Mm... I'm convinced that E.G.O. know we've made the breakthrough.

- I can't believe it. - It's inconceivable. It's top secret.

Yes.

So there has been a leak.

Well, I don't know, I'm getting too old for this jungle... How could it happen, Pel?

Come on, Charles. Espionage isn't all James Bond and Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Industry goes in for it too, you know.

They could be shooting at us right now from across the street...

Infra-red film... rifle mikes...

...pick up every word.

Look... it's obvious that something's going on... though God know I don't want to believe it...

So we have to take decisions.

It's inconceivable that there could have been a leak at Board level...

So... where could it originate?

Research? The Labs?