The Man Who Watched Trains Go By

Good morning Mr. Popinga.

She's late this morning, three minutes.

Is she? I didn't notice.

I sometimes think you should be doing my job.

It's an important one.

You take a great interest in trains, Mr. Popinga.

I'm more interested in the places they go to.

Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, exciting isn't it?

I haven't thought about it.

No?

Well, I'm sorry, good day to you sir.

Good day Mr. Popinga.

Good morning, sir.

Morning.

Good morning, sir.

Nice morning, Mr. Popinga.

Quite.

The following orders are to go out this morning

without fail.

Invoice number 397, stores for the (mumbling),

she sails at three this afternoon.

Invoice number 398, fuel oil for the Maria.

Invoice num...

- You can start on those. - Yes, sir.

Have you heard anything yet?

Is there a chance, Mr. Popinga?

Well, not yet.

I thought I'd wait till he's in the right mood.

Oh, I see.

Mr. Popinga, I hate to pester you but...

Merkemans, the first chance I get, I...

Good morning sir.

Merkemans: Good morning, Mr. De koster.

De koster: Good morning, popinga.

Mr. De koster?

Yes?

This is Mr. Merkemans, he was managing director

of the deyonga biscuit company.

De koster: Yes?

Popinga: He's looking for work and I thought

that perhaps...

Anything, Mr. De koster, anything at all.

The deyonga biscuit company.

Popinga: Yes, sir.

Isn't that the company that went bankrupt?

Some, uh, scandal.

Yes, sir, but I was not responsible,

and Mr. Popinga will tell you.

I have here the report of the investigation.

I've shown to Mr. Popinga, they proved

that I was not to blame, it was Mr. Deyonga who did it.

He falsified the books.

It is always somebody else's fault, Mr.?

Merkemans.

You were the managing director,

it was your responsibility.

No, Mr. Merkemans, no, there is nothing for you here.

This firm has a reputation for integrity and honesty.

And morality, am I right, popinga?

Yes, sir.

It took a long time to build this reputation, Mr. Merkemans.

Good day, sir.

I'm sorry.

Can I?

Mr. De koster?

Yes?

I'm Lucas.

Ah, Mr. Lucas. Yes, yes, yes.

Of course, come in.

Well, as I told you over the telephone,

I doubt if we have the information you want.

But of course, I am entirely at your service.

Sit down, sir, sit down.

The gentleman who came in with you, your father?

Yes, the head of the firm.

But he doesn't concern himself with the details,

if you understand.

I understand.

And the gentleman in here.

Does he concern himself with the details?

Ah, yes, Mr. Popinga, our chief clerk.

May I speak with him?

Of course.

He knows more about my business than I do myself.

- Cigar? - No, thank you.

Yes, sir?

De koster: Come in, popinga.

This is Mr. Lucas.

He's with the police department in Paris.

How do you do, sir?

I'm very we", thank you.

Well, popinga, it seems that a good deal

of Dutch money has been turning up in Paris illegally.

A black market currency operation,

is that what you're after?

Where the money comes from.

De koster: Yes, well in the course of his investigation,

Mr. Lucas has come to the conclusion

that some of this money comes from here,

from groningen, right?

He'd like to examine our books.

Our books, sir?

De koster: He believes it may help him to track down

the criminal he's looking for.

Oh.

We, of course, have nothing to conceal,

as you know, but I've told Mr. Lucas

that we are entirely at his disposal, right?

Oh, yes, sir.

Our books are open books, sir.

Open books.

How far back to your accounts go, Mr. Popinga?

They date from the founding of the firm, sir, in 1628.

Of course, with all due respect to my predecessors,

I can only guarantee their accuracy for the last 18 years.

Before that, I was not with the firm.

Well, should we take a look at them?

Certainly.

Popinga is the best bookkeeper in groningen.

Perhaps the best chess player, too.

Next to you, Mr. De koster.

Oh, you play chess?

- Yes. - That is my passion.

Really?

We have a very good chess club here.

Perhaps you'd like to join me there this evening?

Oh, that would be delightful.

Might even find my criminal there.

At our chess club, sir?

Why not?

Interesting thing about criminals, Mr. Popinga,

is that they're just like anybody else.

That's why it's possible for us to catch them.

They're so human, so ordinary.

Anybody can get to them, Mr. Popinga, anybody.

Even you.

I beg your pardon, sir.

No Mr. Lucas, popinga is the one man who would never

be a criminal.

His wife, you understand, his wife simply would not allow

it, would she, popinga?

No, sir.

Popinga: I've told you, Karl, over and over again not

to eat your food so fast.

Karl: I'm sorry, papa.

Anything new at the office today?

Oh, the usual.

Although there was a man who had to look

at the books, some detective or other from France.

Detective from France?

Oh, it was nothing.

He just wanted to look at the books.

He was very cordial.

Very respectful.

He complimented me on how well they were kept

and in Mr. De koster's presence.

That's very nice dear, isn't it?

That chap merkemans was in again.

That poor man, and the poor wife.

She's really very nice, you know,

and the children are lovely.

I tried to help him, I spoke to Mr. De koster

about him personally.

Well, that was nice of you.

But there's nothing to be done for him.

We have a reputation, integrity and honesty.

And morality, right?

I've heard all of that before, dear.

It took a long time to build that reputation, right?

Of course, dear.

You're always right.

722 from Paris.

You and your silly old trains.

I think I'll go down to the chess club for awhile.

- Tonight? - Why not?

It's Tuesday. Your evening is on Wednesday.

Mr. De koster will have a guest there,

that detective I spoke of.

Might be a good thing if I dropped in for awhile,

create a good impression.

Alright, I'll get your coat.

Good night, children.

Both: Good night, papa.

You won't be late though, will you?

Of course I won't.

It looks as though you've got me, Mr. Lucas.

Just luck.

It can't be, this is our third game.

Don't you ever lose?

With chess, very often.

At the more serious game, less often.

Oh by the way, this woman.

Do you know her?

Charming, beautiful.

Not from around here.

Never been a woman like this in groningen,

has there, popinga?

No, sir.

She doesn't look Dutch.

Thought you might have met her in one of your trips to Paris.