The Secret Ways

Here you go, pal!

Ah, my boy!

Good to see you!

- Herr sheffler, how are you? - Good to see you!

- But you look exceedingly well! - Thank you.

- Oh, make yourself comfortable! - Thanks.

- Mmhm. - What would you like?

- Coffee or Brandy perhaps? - Brandy is fine.

A Brandy for Mr. Reynolds, please, and myself.

Well, I see you got the same old buzzer system.

You are teasing! Same as before!

Because I am old and foolish, left behind the times!

But tell me, I didn't expect you until tomorrow.

- How did you get here, by car? - Plane.

Straight as an arrow to your door!

- I smelled money. - And your luggage?

The hotel wanted it for a souvenir.

Charming!

Were you working long in Madrid?

Few months, off and on. Nothing steady.

And before that, where were you?

Around.

That man still following you, is he?

How would you know?

A bookie' you call him, correct?

That clown? No, he's the bookie's collector.

Yes, they take these extreme measures

when the debt is considerable. Correct?

Now don't play around, Herman. You've had me looked up.

You know what I'm in to them for precisely.

Then quit dangling me. Get to the point.

Sit down, please.

The man in the center here is jancsi.

In every part of Hungary

there are men searching for jancsi.

When they find him...

Kaput, huh?

We wish him out of the country, before this can happen.

- Who is we? - Private interest.

I can tell you nothing except they are quite determined

and will pay according to the risk.

What is this jancsi?

A former head of the university,

a leader in the revolution, a very popular figure.

Not much is known of his activities recently.

He's been in hiding, of course.

Why is he so important to you?

A man is in disfavor,

for whatever reason, with one group.

Another group wishes to save him.

That's all I know.

Herman, which group are you with?

You are teasing.

Silly boy!

Anyway, thank you very much but I wouldn't be interested.

Not interested in saving a man's life?

Come off it, Herman! Neither are you!

If I'm wrong, why don't you go get him?

Oh, my boy!

I have not your experience from the war,

your skills, you knowledge...

Okay and you don't need the money, so that lets you out!

Assuming I'd do it,

how could I find this jancsi?

Oh, fine!

We have reason to believe his daughter, Julie,

escaped into Austria very recently.

She's presumed to be dead by the authorities.

From drowning, I believe.

- Not much use, is it? - But, it's something!

And a refugee, young, pretty, newly arrived in Vienna...

That shouldn't be too difficult for you.

Easy.

Of course, you couldn't use regular channels,

- jeopardize her position. - Of course not.

She'd have changed her name.

Naturally.

Am I boring you, Michael?

Now look, Herman, it's too hokey!

Suppose I do find the girl? Then what?

I can't go poking around Budapest.

I'm an American! They'll know every move I make!

Yes, my boy...

And don't tell me to grow a mustache! It's been done.

That's what we want! The unlikeliness of an American!

- Precisely! You see it? - No, I don't.

Your name, Robert Stevens. Occupation, actor.

Here is your passport, visa, visitor's permit and press card.

The newspaper you work for, United States, Ohio.

Here are the articles you have written.

Your style is corny, forgive the Liberty.

And here is your ticket.

The train leaves Vienna for Budapest

on July 19th at 12 am.

You will be met by a welcoming committee

on your arrival in Budapest at 4 pm, approximate.

Their trains never run on time as ours do.

And you leave Budapest

on July 21st, 9 pm.

Ah, yes.

It has taken some time to arrange.

I am rather proud.

Now what do you say?

Pretty sure of me, weren't you, Herman?

You've miscalculated, old boy.

Not for Mel

I'll see you around.

Your hotel...

You cannot return until you pay them

two thousand dollars, correct?

And the funny little man on the street

wants forty thousand, correct?

In short, you are a man without recourse, correct?

There can't be that many new arrivals.

- As I said, I can't help you. - Why? You're too busy?

That's it, exactly. You're wasting my time...

But you must be able to give me some information!

I'm sorry, sir. Even if I had any information,

I'm forbidden to give it out, except to relatives.

- Well, maybe I am a relative! - You'd need proof. Good day!

Danke.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

Have you got paprika chicken today?

Oh, yes.

Fine, and a little green salad too.

- How? - Asalade.

Oh, yes.

How long have you been here?

One year. I am learning to speak English.

Wonderful. Sehr gut!

You've been in Vienna one year?

Nein. Excuse me, I go.

You see, you frightened her.

Most of the people in here will run away

if you get too inquisitive.

Except me.

My name is Elsa. What's yours?

Stevens.

You don't mind if I sit with you?

You seem to be sat.

You're most polite.

I heard you order paprika chicken.

May I have some, too? My favorite.

You can have mine, when it comes.

I'm not really hungry.

Are you here on business, Stevens?

- Mmhm. - What is your business?

You could say I'm in the people game.

Then you are not connected with wall street?

Sorry.

I'd like to meet someone connected with wall street.

I'm sure you will.

You know, I have a feeling we're both wasting time.

How long have you been in Vienna?

Four years now. I was formerly acting

with the people's state theatre in Budapest.

Is that a fact? That's terribly interesting.

Danke.

Thanks.

I see you're gonna be all tied up.

Before I go, I'd like to ask you a favor.

- Tonight, I am busy. - Lucky Pierre.

Have you ever seen her?

From this I couldn't recognize my best friend, if I had one.

I'm sure you had one.

You're a doll.

Bitte.

- Thank you. Come again, please. - Thank you.

Well, you've had a busy day!

Did you want to see me, friend?

Evening, mister.

You want company? You need a guide?

- Go away! - I know this city like a book!

I want to help, I'm a friend.

- Very sympathetic. - Beat it!

So many like you come to the center.

- I see what goes on. - What goes on?

They are not sympathetic. No feeling.

I'm a refugee myself.

The picture you carry, may I see it?

Is it someone Hungarian like myself?

- You're Hungarian? - On my mother's side.

If I don't recognize the one you seek, I'll go away.

No questions, no name, please. Just the picture.

Well now, there is a young lady

who recently moved into our section.

I couldn't say positively, it is this one.

What address?

Now I have to remember that, don't I, to help you?

I love you, too.

Oh.

- You want coffee? - Yeah, sure.

How do you feel now?

Lousy.

Would you like me to rub your back?

No, I've got to get up.

Don't be silly. You need to rest.

Where's that address?

Is it so important?

To me, it's like wall street.