International Lady

Pardon me. How do you do?

Do you think it is safe to go to the shelter in the underground?

Well, not in this weather. I'm afraid it's a bit showery.

Showery?

Showery, I see.

That stuff isn't terribly dangerous. Just fragments from the aircrafts.

They can sure mark you up when you get in the way of them.

You're American, aren't you? Yes.

You must be Mrs. Carla Nillson.

You are observant. Oh, I know all about you.

Really?

You're quite famous. Concert singer. Photographer's delight.

You Americans are just as bad as the Irish.

A lot of us are Irish.

What's your name?

Tim Hanley.

Delighted, Mr. Hanley. An honor, Mrs. Nillson.

By the way, there's a very pleasant shelter in the Berkeley Hotel boiler room.

Thank you, but if it's all clear, I don't think it's necessary.

No, I think it's very necessary. We're apt to have another raid any moment.

Do you really think so? Oh, yes, a worse one.

But the Berkeley is quite safe.

Besides, they have a dance floor, an orchestra and just what it takes to settle our nerves.

Well, in that case, perhaps I might need it. Good.

My, those anti-aircraft things make quite a big hole, don't they?

They remind me of some of my divots.

If you don't like the Berkeley, I can take you over to...

What's the matter?

I think somebody is following us.

Following us? Yes.

A man just hid in the shadow.

You are getting the jitters, aren't you?

I'm sure that man is following us.

Well, we'll soon find out.

Good evening. Good evening.

The Café, sir? Just a moment, please.

Good evening. Are you looking for me?

If I were, I should have caught up with you long ago.

Oh, sorry.

Guess I spoke out of turn.

How jolly! Looks like a speakeasily.

"Speakeasy".

Is there any difference? Purely academic.

Good evening. Good evening.

Operator? Temple Park 1111.

Hello, sir. Sergeant Moulton here.

I'm sure of it now. Of what?

Of having seen you somewhere before.

Perhaps in the newspapers. No, no, somewhere else.

I've been trying to remember all evening.

At my last concert? Oh, no. I haven't been to any concerts over here.

You don't care for music? Not of late.

Do I dance that badly?

Yes, sir. I'm in the Berkeley Hotel shelter.

Oh, very good, sir.

Now I remember. Yes?

You were at the Portuguese Consulate.

That's right. For a visa.

I expected to go to Lisbon for a singing engagement.

Oh... why didn't you go?

I'm stopping here in the hope of getting a United States visa.

Oh, yes? Yes. My agent has a wonderful tour booked for me there.

You should have a great success in America. Perhaps.

If I can get there. Why, what's wrong?

Oh, I have applied again and again for a visa, but... No luck?

No. I'm afraid my passport is a little old.

Oh...

Make up your mind, sir? Yes, may I have that one?

Oh, certainly, sir.

What would you like? Oh, I'd like a Martini.

Two, please. Tell me...

Where was your passport issued? In my home, Norway.

I left in great haste after the invasion. There was no time to get a new one.

Well, maybe I can help you get a visa.

Really? I'm over here on legal business with the U.S. Consulate.

You are a lawyer? A graduate of Law School, if that makes me one.

But I do know my way around the Consulate.

Oh, if you could help me, I... Well, at least I can try.

You are kind.

Very kind.

Ah, he pleases the lady. I hope I'm intruding... in time.

Mr. Oliver, Mr. Hanley.

How are you? How are you? Don't get up.

Won't you sit down? Thank you.

Mr. Hanley is from New York, and Mr. Oliver is a music critic on the Daily Post.

He is most charitable to me in his reviews. Well, you are good, you know, Carla.

Enjoying London, old chap? Not bad.

You're putting on a great show. Show? Are you from the theater?

No, Mr. Hanley is a lawyer with the American Consulate.

Oh, a diplomat! Beware of diplomats bearing notes, my dear. If you knew the trouble they can make.

There's that guy who said he wasn't following me.

He's probably a Scotland Yard man. They're all over the place.

If he is from Scotland Yard, I would like to know why he's so interested in me.

Maybe we should ask him.

Maybe we should.

I'm sure you are both mistaken.

No, not a bit. He's from the Yard all right.

Go on, old chap. Climb down the blighter's back.

I'll stand by you. Official support of the British Press and all that sort of rot, you know.

Excuse me, please.

Now look here. You say you're not following me but I'm convinced you are.

Who are you? Yes, who are you? My American friend here has a right to know.

Sergeant Moulton, CID.

CID? Translation. Criminal Investigation Department, Scotland Yard.

Scotland Yard? Well, let's get on down there and settle this.

I'll go with you, Mr. Hanley, and give you every assistance.

It's outrageous, this nosy parker business.

Just as you say, sir. Just a moment.

I'm sorry, but I've got to teach this fellow a lesson.

It'll only take a few minutes. If you don't mind waiting here, I'll see you home later.

That won't be necessary, old chap. You run along with the Sergeant.

I'll drop Mrs. Nillson off on my way to the Yard.

Very kind of you, Mr. Oliver. Great pleasure, Mr. Hanley.

I do hope it's nothing serious. Don't worry. May I look you up tomorrow?

Please do. Good luck. Thanks.

Pardon me, sir. Your bill. Bill? Oh...

Honey Dew looks good in the three o'clock early field tomorrow.

Well, if you're sure of it, I'll take the risk.

Say, how much longer is Sir Henry going to be busy?

Well, I thought we'd wait for Mr. Oliver. He said he would be over directly.

Oliver? You mean we're waiting for him?

Well, who does he think he is?

Hm... the skies are beginning to clear.

Ah, there you are, old boy.

Sorry to keep you waiting, but uh...

Ms. Nillson had so many interesting things to say.

Really? It must have been a one-sided conversation.

Sir Henry will see you now, gentlemen.

Oh, thank you.

Good evening, Sir Henry.

Sorry to disturb you, sir, but this is Mr. Hanley.

We ran across him under rather questionable circumstances and I, uh...

Did you hold him in? Yes, sir.

You bade big game.

Mr. Hanley has quite a record. criminal?

Oh, yes. He's been mixed up in a number of notorious cases. I say, that is a bit of luck.

By the way, Mr. Hanley, what were the final results in that airplane case?

Well, as the Embassy suspected there was an inside leak of information on plane shipments.

However we were fortunate enough to run it down and plug at least one hole.

Rather brilliant job. You ought to be congratulated. Thank you.

That is not for publication, Mr. Oliver.

May I add my congratulations, Mr. Hanley, and also for pulling my leg so beautifully.

That was partly your own fault, you know, luring me down here.

I have an idea that you and the Sergeant here were demonstrating a bit of your Scotland Yard technique.

That's an old rule of ours, Mr. Hanley.

To get men here for questioning without detention or arrest.

I'm surprised that it took you in. As a matter of fact, I wanted to be taken in.

I wanted to prove to Ms. Nillson that I was, er... knowing from nothing.

Translation?

I wanted her to think that I was a useful young simpleton that could be pushed around a bit, old boy.

As Oscar Wilde once said, we have everything in common with America, except language.

You two would have met sooner or later anyhow.

Mr. Hanley is an old friend from the FBI in Washington.

He's been working quietly at the United States Embassy on a phase of your own job, Mr. Oliver.

Very clever, Mr. Hanley.

But it would be less embarrassing for me if you had identified yourself.

And destroyed Ms. Nillson's belief in both of us? Oh, no.

Besides, I wanted to see Sir Henry and find out what you fellows opined on her.

Nothing yet. Except bouquets and my capacity as music critic. Amateur status.

Will you be needing me any more tonight, sir?

No, that will be all, Sutton.

Very good, sir.

Sit down, Mr. Hanley.

We haven't anything definitely on Ms. Nillson.

At least not enough direct evidence to arrest her.

But she's given concerts in several Northern cities

for the British Red Cross.

In two instances near hidden aerodromes...

where new American planes had recently arrived.

Shortly after she left, both aerodromes were bombed and several planes destroyed.

She's moved into the flat below you, Mr. Hanley. That's why Sergeant Moulton and I

gave you such special attention.

I see.

I very carefully arranged for her to accidentally learn my address.

And the bait worked?

Well, her anxiety to get a U.S. visa for her passport interests me very much.

I prefer to keep her here under observation.

That may not suit my plans, Mr. Oliver.

I already have my plans in operation and I prefer not to have them interfered with.

Remember, gentlemen, our fight and our future depend largely on the supply of planes coming to us from America.

That takes precedence over anything.

That's Mr. Hanley's assignment from his headquarters, that's yours here, Mr. Oliver.

Planes are our lifeline.

And the enemy isn't bothering with scruples in their endeavor to break it.

You may be interested in this.

This report contains a transcription of a radio message received from an American plane flying the Atlantic.

Our speed is decreasing to 250 miles per hour...

and gradually slowing down.

Something's wrong with the motor.

Pressure's okay, plenty of gas.

Motor's clogging, losing altitude fast.

I'm seeing the water now.

Motor's gone.

Well, here we go, lets log to finish.

There's no doubt this plane and others had been tampered with before leaving the United States.

If Ms. Nillson is connected with this I hope to trace through her the higher ups and the lower downs.

That's precisely what I've been working on, Mr. Hanley, now look here...

Now you two follow whatever method you like. It doesn't who runs her down.

If she's dangerous, she must be stopped.

You may go to any extremes, gentlemen, to accomplish that purpose.