23 Paces to Baker Street

Sorry. What have you got to be sorry about?

You didn't make the world, and neither did I.

And if we had, I'm not so sure we would have made it any different.

Correction. Drop that whole speech and substitute... um...

substitute...

Sorry.

What is there to be sorry about? We didn't make the world.

And if we had, what a mess we would have made of it, being what we are.

Sorry. What is there to be sorry about? We didn't make the world.

And if we had, what a mess we would have made of it, being what we are.

Oh Bob, I've been redoing that speech at the end of act II.

Type it and send it to the theater.

That'll mean Pearce learning some new lines.

He never learned the old lines. So new one's won't make any difference.

Most of the time opening night I thought he was in

some other play, and I wished I was in some other theater.

That's no business of mine, but you've got a play

that's a smash hit in New York. It looks like being one here. Why not leave it alone?

What do you suggest I do instead?

Take a walk around the National Gallery or sit here and rot?

Or maybe go back to New York and Rot.

Get it over to the theater right away.

Good afternoon. Is this Mr. Hannon's apartment?

That's right.

I wonder if I might see him.

Would you please tell him, Jean Lennox is here?

Is he expecting you?

No.

Excuse me, but... are you a friend of Mr. Hannon?

Well, I think of myself as one.

Won't you wait inside?

Excuse me a moment madam.

Ask Miss Lennox to come in.

Will you come in, please, Miss Lennox.

Hello, Phil.

Hello, Jean. What are you doing in London?

Oh, just a vacation. I wanted to drop in and say hello...

and congratulate you on getting such wonderful notices.

You came 3,000 miles for that?

No, of course not.

Phil, why didn't you let me know when you were leaving New York?

You know the answer to that.

Johnny and Pat are in London. Have you called them?

I haven't called anybody, I've been busy working.

Phil, I don't see why you insist on acting this way.

Jean, we've been all over this a dozen times.

When a thing is finished, I like to forget it.

Let's talk about something else, shall we?

Do you like the apartment?

It's lovely.

Come and look at this beautiful view.

Houses of Parliament over there. There's Big Ben watching over us.

They're doing some work on him, as you can see.

Charing Cross station.

Over there we have Waterloo Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral.

We even have some prehistoric ruins that date right back to 1941.

Don't be so bitter Phil. It doesn't help.

Bitter? Me? I'm a successful playwright who's just had a hit!

A big hit.

What have I got to be bitter about

I'm alright as long as people leave me alone.

I wish people would leave things where they're supposed to be.

I have to go out now, Jean. Were you going someplace?

No. Just back to the apartment I guess.

Oh you've taken an apartment? Well, I must come and see your view some time.

Bob, I'm going out.

Shall I come along?

No, I'm only going to the pub.

- The Eagle? - Yes.

Are you sure you don't...

Quite sure! Quite sure.

Look, if you must do something, you can call a cab for Miss Lennox.

And when you've finished typing up that new stuff,

You can pick me up in the car at the Eagle, and drive me to the theater.

Goodbye, Jean.

Goodbye, Phil.

Nice of you to look me up.

Do you want a cab, Miss Lennox?

Oh, no, thank you. I can manage.

- You mustn't do that, you know. - What?

Well fuss over him like that. He'll go crazy if you do that.

I don't like him out alone.

I know, but he must if he thinks he can. Where is this bar?

It's two streets down, across the road.

Across the road?

Yes. You can see it from here.

Allow me.

Oh thank you.

Have you worked for him long?

Only since he came over here the last time. Nearly two months.

Is he drinking?

Well, not exactly drinking, but not exactly not!

Have you known him a long time, Miss Lennox?

Well, yes. I was his secretary for three years in New York and here...

and here... wherever he wanted to go.

We were engaged to be married. And then it happened.

He didn't like having me around.

So I was fired.

I'm sorry.

What's it to be this evening dear?

Scotch, please, double.

Soda or water?

Neither. Straight.

You're American, aren't you?

Yeah.

Then you'd like a bit of ice in it eh?

No thanks. I've learned to like it your way.

Here we are, then.

Thanks.

What makes you so tired, dear?

It'd be a long dreary story, one I'm sure you've heard many times before.

But not from a young fellow like you.

Will that do?

That'll do fine. Thank you.

I don't want nothing to do with it, Mr. Evans. I don't like the sound of it.

You'll like the money, alright. It'll be more than this last job.

Much more.

But how do I know what you will do with it?

You needn't have to worry about that.

You just do what I tell you, and take the money and forget it.

It's dirty somehow, when people have trust in you.

Would you like me to say a little prayer?

You promised that when I went with His Lordship that would be the last thing.

This is a much bigger come on...

Mary arrives on the tenth. You go down to meet her and take it over.

Then we take it off your hands and give you your money. What is simpler than that?

You don't understand. I might get to like it.

No time for that.

No. No, Mr. Evans. I won't do it. I won't!

Oh... now listen.

In less than five minutes. So think that over!

You wouldn't do that. You wouldn't!

No, I wouldn't do that.

Just as long as you do as you're told.

Come on, pull yourself together. There's nothing to cry about.

All right. Is there decency left anyway. When do you want this?

Night of the ninth, same address. I'll take you down.

Then you start the job on the tenth.

All right. Can I go now?

What's the hurry? Have another drink.

No, I have to get back. Her Ladyship's going

to a concert and there will be no one to see to them.

I'll walk out with you. Which way do you go?

Just to the corner. 73 takes me right to the door but they always get so full.

Miss? Miss? Would you come here, please?

Yes, dear?

Those two people who just went out. Do you know them?

A man and a girl? No, never saw them before.

That I can remember.

Well, what were they like?

I don't know dear. Just a man and a girl.

Were they tall, short, young or old?

Well, he was a bit taller than she was. Not very tall, not very old.

Sort of medium people all round.

Were they sixteen or sixty?

To tell the truth, I didn't look at them particularly.

But I think they were, you know, thirtyish. Maybe her a bit younger.

Anything the matter, Mr. Hannon?

Oh, Bob, When you came in, did you see a man and a woman leaving?

No, There was no one coming out just now.

Miss, there must have been something about them you noticed.

Well I think she had a blue cape and he a raincoat.

Anyhow, they came right by you dear, much nearer

to you than to me. You saw them, didn't you?

No, I didn't see them. I don't see things nowadays.

I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't realise.

That's all right. You weren't intended to.

Both of medium height. Age - probably 25 to 35.

Woman thought to be wearing a blue cape, man a raincoat.

The woman used a perfume.

The man breathed with a slight wheezing sound

as though having, having bronchial trouble.

Anyway there was something strange about his voice.

The police are coming round right away.

Okay. Now be quiet. Let me finish this.

The conversation went as follows:

"I want anything to do with it, Mr. Evans. I don't like the sound of it."

"Oh, You'll like the money alright. And It'll be more than this last job. Much more."

"But how do I know what you're gonna do with it?"

"When do you want me?"

"The night of the ninth, same address. Then I take

you down and you start the job on the tenth."

"All right. Can I go now?"

"What's the hurry? Have another drink."

"No.I've got to get back. Her Ladyship is going to

a concert and there'll be no one to see to them."

"I'll walk out with you. Which way do you go?"

"Just to the corner. 73 takes me right to the door but they get so full."

"That's all there was. I couldn't hear any more. Then they came out."

Well?

You've done that verbatim, Mr. Hannon? That's the conversation word for word?

Yes.

You must have a remarkable memory.

Well, it's my business to remember dialogue.

Well, what do you think?

Was that all there was Mr. Hannon?

Well isn't that enough for you?

There's something evil going on isn't there?

- Might be. - What do you mean, might be?

Well you tell us what you make of it, Sir.