Cult TV Special Thread-Brian Clemens' Thriller (1973-76).

[HawkMan]

Ann has made her way to switchboard on ground floor, desperately trying to replace wires The Man ripped out , to try and make call. Lift 1 arrives at ground floor, Ann runs to main doors desperately pulling at them, but of course not achieving anything. Headlights light up car park, the police arrive.

The Man knife drawn runs to Ann and grabs her as she tries to run back to lift, he then sees Mark with police security keys opening the main doors. He abandons his attack on Ann and runs back into lift 1 and ascends.

Mark rushes in with officers quickly checking Ann is alright Mark then goes to lift door and takes handcuffs out of pocket and jams then in lift door forcing them to slightly open, the lift is stalled midway between floors. The Man is trapped, he bangs at door of lift, but there's no way out.
Ann relieved and seeing how Mark forced open lift door says, " I wish I'd thought of that."
Mark suggests a visit to hospital for a check up, but Ann is insistent , she's okay, she'll drive herself home, she just wants to go home.
Mark joins officers on the 6th floor, they have opened the outer door of the lift , they look up shaft, the lift is between floors 6 and 7. The lift is winched down the officers ready to take him.
Mark, " don't worry about the judge's rules whack him......ready?"
The doors open...its empty!
A trapdoor is open in ceiling an officer states the obvious , " He heaved himself up to next floor , he's gone."
Mark runs back to foyer, Keston is there injured, bloodied, a knife wound, he collapses, "..I ran into him Sarg,....I think I wounded him bad.....think I got
him."
Mark is alarmed, "Ann, what about Ann!?"
Keston splutters blood saying, " I think she got away."
Mark runs into car park screaming ," ANN, ANN!"
Ann is driving home, she arrives home and outside house parks car, and looks in rear view mirror, checking her face , she looks a bit bedraggled, not surprising really. In the mirror staring back at her from the back seat is The Man.

Five minutes later a screeching car pulls up outside the house, Mark's police car, he runs out and up to Ann's car. She is sitting staring straight ahead unmoving , in shock.
" Ann are you okay?"
Mark sees The Man in back seat , he reaches in to grab him, but The Man slumps forward.....dead.
Mark says, " Keston said he got him, it's okay Ann he's dead."
The ordeal finally over he takes her into the house.

Cast;
Ann....Julie Sommars
Mark.....Tony Selby
The Man.......Robert Lang
Sam....Ken Jones
Mr Burton.....Anthony Steel
Keston....Geoffrey Whitehead

[HawkMan]

S6 E2 - THE NEXT VICTIM 

 

A killer is on the loose in London, a strangler who kills women. Police Officers Insp. Frampton and Detective Small are on the case. They believe he will strike again. Frampton is worried, not only does he kill the women, but has enough energy pent up inside him to then wreck the apartments of the victim, a psychopath.

Meanwhile Sandy Marshall and husband Derek live in a luxury apartment block, she is confined to a wheelchair after a car accident. It's Bank Holiday weekend and also a sweltering heatwave is hitting London and most of the residents of the block have left for the coast. Derek has to leave Sandy for a day on a business meeting with a Libyan client, an Important meeting, and promises to return to Sandy as soon as possible, but this meeting is really important, he even has bought a bottle of expensive wine as a sweetener for the guy to smooth the meeting. It's only after Derek has gone that Sandy realises that Derek may have made an error, the Libyan might be a Muslim and not drink.

Meanwhile the killer strikes again, two women murdered together in their flat, the strangler is seen wearing blue jeans and trainers.
But he attempts a third but this girl ran from him out of her apartment.

Edited February 25 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

She tells the police that the attacker muttered something about his mother.
Frampton and Small start to go through the files to see if anyone with a mother fixation is on record as an attacker of women.

Sandy gets a visit from Betty a resident on a lower floor, and promises to pop up for a drink after she has a shower.
The doorbell of Sandy's apartment rings, it's the postman with a special delivery, Sandy let's him in and the guy enters the block, he is wearing blue jeans and trainers.
He then proceeds to walk down the corridors knocking on doors looking for his next victim. Betty is at her door, she spins round and screams as a man pushes his way in. Who he is we cannot see, but is wearing blue jeans and trainers as was the so called postman.

Sandy is puzzled the postman hasn't arrived at her flat, and realises it's a holiday so why should the postman be calling. Very worried she tries to phone the police but the phone isn't working.
She wheels herself into the lift and down to Betty's.
Sandy knocks on her door and is agitated that she can't get a response. Betty is dead on the floor of her apartment.
Sandy, " BETTY ! BETTY!"
Suddenly a young man turns up and introduces himself as Tom Packer, a new resident wondering why Sandy was shouting.
Sandy, " it's my friend Betty, she doesn't answer."
Tom, " perhaps she's gone out."
Sandy, " no her car is still outside and she said she was popping up to see me. I know this is going to sound foolish, but I let someone into the building, a postman and he hasn't turned up, and erm..well this business with the strangler."
Tom laughs,"oh right! The strangler, you've nothing to worry about, the postman I saw seemed quite normal."
Sandy," you saw him?"
Tom," yes upstairs on the 6th floor."
Sandy, "but he rang me."
Tom, " oh that's an old trick, they put a big hand on all the buttons and first to answer let's them in, it's just a technique to get access, and the guy left, and Betty probably has gone out too."

Edited February 25 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Tom wheels her back to her apartment and they have a nice chat.

Tom tells her he is an old hand at using a wheelchair, his mother was confined to one in the last years of her life.
Tom," I miss her, I hadn't thought about her recently, but you remind me of her, I hope it's not a life sentence ?"
Sandy, " oh no, I should be out of this chair within 6 months the doctors say."
Sandy reveals she is wheelchair bound when she crashed her new sports car after the brakes failed.
Tom ," how could that happen to a new car. It was okay when you drove it back from the showroom?"
Sandy, " well actually Derek my husband drove it."
Tom," I see a present?"
Sandy, " well no, Derek is in insurance doing very well, but it doesn't quite stretch to sports cars."
Tom, " and as you have some of your own money you decided to treat yourself?"
Sandy, " yes"
Tom, "lucky girl, and it was okay when Derek drove it back, strange. Derek wasn't in it when you crashed?"
Sandy," no he had to go out on business, so he gave me the keys and said, here's your new toy."

Tom," and you couldn't wait to drive it, still I've never heard of brakes failing like that not on an expensive car."
Sandy, " just unlucky I guess "
Tom," Derek, insurance is an interesting career, you get to know all the fiddles what to do, what not to do, all the scams."
Sandy, " scams?"
Tom, " you know, to defraud companies. Buildings that burn down just as the fire insurance is close to running out, just before the firm goes bankrupt, or burglaries that are convenient. Yes if you're smart you can really clean up. I bet your life is insured for a big sum. Oh sorry none of my business "
Tom seems a nice guy until he blurts out, " I bet you've got nice legs! Oh I'm sorry, that's my problem, always saying things without thinking."
Sandy, " no it's okay, I'm flattered, I did do some modelling, would you like to see some photos?"
Tom, " oh yes please "
Sandy goes to a bureau and pulls out a photo album and hands them to Tom.
Sandy, "they're not very good."
Tom looks at pictures, " not good? They're fantastic."
Sandy at bureau opens a ledger, listing the residents of the block, " you're on the 6th floor Mr Packer?"
Tom," yes that's right."
Sandy checks, no Tom Packer is listed.
Sandy desperately needs Packer out of her apartment.
Sandy, " Mr Packer I know I'm being silly, but could you check again on Betty, I really am very worried."
Tom," yes, okay, er..I'll be back."
Reluctantly Tom leaves, Sandy quickly locks door.

Meanwhile Police officers Frampton and Small have found a case history of a violent offender now free, who attacked a nurse while talking about his mother. This could be the man. Further investigation at the suspect's flat reveals he is a TV repair man ,and the last two customers were living in the block of the two murdered women. The man is Tom Packer.

Edited February 25 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Packer returns to Sandy , sees the locked door , " MRS MARSHALL...MRS MARSHALL." He breaks down door and runs in.
Tom," why didn't you answer me, (shouts) ARE YOU MENTAL !?"
Sandy backs away scared, Tom seems to be losing control, then calms down.
Tom," do you want a drink? Let me get you one, I'll join you."
While at the drink cabinet he notices something odd, the telephone wires into the apartment have been cut.
Tom, " Mrs Marshall....your phone it's.."
But before he tells Sandy this she smashes a heavy ornament on his head.
She desperately wheels out of the flat to the lift, but the lift isn't there and Packer is staggering out of the apartment, head bleeding and coming towards her. Sandy goes through a door to the stairs, she has no option, she tips her chair over and slides out, and crawls in agony down the stairs, one stair at a time as Packer follows her, head bleeding and staggering slowly after her.

Tom, " MRS MARSHALL... COME BACK....MRS MARSHALL."

Packer sees her down the stairwell a few flights below, he cries out, " Mrs Marshall I see you" , he staggers on.
Sandy inching down slowly as Packer gets nearer, suddenly hands grip her throat!! It's Derek saying "now I'll be rid of you, they'll blame it on the strangler,

....they'll blame it on the strangler."

Packer desperately launches himself at Derek, and punches him senseless, then Tom dies, head in Sandy's lap.
Before he dies he says, " I wouldn't have hurt you, not you, you're different, like my mother "
The police arrive just as the excitement is over!


Cast;
Sandy.....Carroll Baker
Frampton.....TP McKenna
Derek....Maurice Kaufmann
Tom Packer....Max Mason
Betty....Brenda Cavendish

Edited February 25 by HawkMan

[unapologetic pedant]

On 23/02/2024 at 17:23, HawkMan said:

The humour was pretty corny and doesn't really fit in with Thriller, and the episode is oft regarded as the worst of the series.

I'm no authority on Brian Clemens, but at risk of sounding po-faced this is an aspect of some of his other work that occasionally grates for me. 

No problem with including humour, particularly dark humour, in drama. Part of life, doesn't affect verisimilitude. However, get the tone wrong and it can break the fourth wall. 

Prime example is the episode of the New Avengers where sinister industrial-scale bank robbers send swathes of London to sleep. Engaging story marred by bits of jolly-japes silent-movie slapstick.

BTW, a couple of other 70s TV anthologies have popped into my head, both made by Thames - "Shadows of Fear" and "Shadows". Some episodes of the former are up there with the best of Thriller. The two series of the latter are only half-hour long. Perhaps a little stilted at times, still worthwhile considering they were made for children.

[HawkMan]

2 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

I'm no authority on Brian Clemens, but at risk of sounding po-faced this is an aspect of some of his other work that occasionally grates for me. 

No problem with including humour, particularly dark humour, in drama. Part of life, doesn't affect verisimilitude. However, get the tone wrong and it can break the fourth wall. 

Prime example is the episode of the New Avengers where sinister industrial-scale bank robbers send swathes of London to sleep. Engaging story marred by bits of jolly-japes silent-movie slapstick.

BTW, a couple of other 70s TV anthologies have popped into my head, both made by Thames - "Shadows of Fear" and "Shadows". Some episodes of the former are up there with the best of Thriller. The two series of the latter are only half-hour long. Perhaps a little stilted at times, still worthwhile considering they were made for children.

Yes I have Shadows of Fear which IMO had 2 or 3 really good episodes. Shadows I've seen the first couple of series,  I think I've got series 3 somewhere in the flat haven't seen it yet. After Thriller ATV produced a 6 episode series trying to recapture the essence of Thriller called Scorpion Tales,  stories with a sting in the tail. 2 are pretty good, 1 is excellent,  the others are average.

Two Clemens written stories appear in Hammer House Of Mystery and Suspense which are sort of unofficial Thriller episodes at least in my head, Mark of the Devil and Sweet Scent of Death.

Edited February 25 by HawkMan

[unapologetic pedant]

1 hour ago, HawkMan said:

Yes I have Shadows of Fear which IMO had 2 or 3 really good episodes. Shadows I've seen the first couple of series,  I think I've got series 3 somewhere in the flat haven't seen it yet. 

I'd forgotten there were three series of Shadows.

Might have been getting mixed up with another Thames children's drama "The Feathered Serpent" which ran for two series in 76 and 78. This has to be the most bizarre TV ever made for a young audience. Rivalled only by the extraordinary BBC saga "The Changes".

No social media back then, so not much outlet for complaints from parents. Programme-makers didn't have to worry about frightening us to death.

I reckon the best episode of Shadows is the one in the railway station starring Jenny Agutter. The picture of her you posted from Thriller would look just fine on my bedroom wall.

[HawkMan]

1 hour ago, unapologetic pedant said:

I'd forgotten there were three series of Shadows.

Might have been getting mixed up with another Thames children's drama "The Feathered Serpent" which ran for two series in 76 and 78. This has to be the most bizarre TV ever made for a young audience. Rivalled only by the extraordinary BBC saga "The Changes".

No social media back then, so not much outlet for complaints from parents. Programme-makers didn't have to worry about frightening us to death.

I reckon the best episode of Shadows is the one in the railway station starring Jenny Agutter. The picture of her you posted from Thriller would look just fine on my bedroom wall.

Love The Feathered Serpent,  seen it so many times. Today's audience would probably be insulted by white actors tanned up to play Mexicans but Diane Keen and Patrick Troughton were class.

After Thriller might do a Feathered Serpent thread.

 

[HawkMan]

S4 E6 - WHERE THE ACTION IS ( in depth)

In a private mansion, a huge place, the residence of Walter Burns, multi millionaire, a poker game is nearing its conclusion.
Both players are American, Burns and Tommy Vaughan, sitting opposite each other around a green baize card table.
The dealer is a stunning blonde, ilse, a lady with a Germanic accent.
Burns is obviously winning, the large pile of cash next to him is testament to that.
Vaughan, sweating profusely pushes forward into the pot his last wedge of dollars.
V " 100,000 all-in"
ilse" 100,000 to you"
B " I guess I'm forced to see you Vaughan"
Vaughan turns up his cards,
ilse " full house aces high"
V " guess I win"
Burns reveals his cards, four queens.
B " I guess you lose Mr Vaughan"
Vaughan is panicking,
V " come on Burns, you're not serious!"
B " we explained the house rules very clearly Vaughan"
Vaughan looks around him, three more men are in the room watching, like Burns all wearing tuxedos and bow ties. These are Zac, Pursell, and Winters, all work for Burns, all staring unfriendly at Vaughan, more about these three later.
ilse has brought a silver box to the table, she opens it, inside two revolvers.
ilse " two guns, one with blanks, the other loaded with real bullets, we place them on the table, spin the table, when the table stops you pick up the gun nearest you and fire"
ilse places them on the table, in special indentations for the guns to fit. Burns spins the table top, the top goes round and round, Vaughan a look of horror on his face, the table stops, Vaughan picks up a gun and fires at Burns.
Just blanks,
B " you lose again Mr Vaughan"
V " please Burns, no, please!!"
Burns takes aim and fires.
Vaughan dead, Burns get up and looks down at the body.
B " one thing I can't stand is a bad loser, ( to ilse), and one thing you love honey bunch is a winner....a winner!"

Edited February 28 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

In a more traditional London casino, Eddie Vallance is at the roulette wheel, he is doing well, his pile of chips healthy, he pushes them , all of them onto the table. The ball spins, he wins again.
E ( to croupier) " let them ride one more time"
Croupier" I'm sorry sir, the house limit"
E " please"
The croupier looks in the direction of a gentleman watching, the guy nods.
Cr " okay sir"
The ball spins again, this time Eddie loses, the whole lot.
E " oh well..easy come easy go"
He stands up and wonders over to the bar. ilse is there looking glamorous.
ilse" you lose well mister?"
E " Eddie Vallance I learn to lose as well as win, gambling is my living, I'm a professional"
ilse" there are many games of chance, many venues, London,Paris Vegas,...my room, come on Eddie"
E " I don't remember saying yes to that"
ilse" I bet you", she leaves, Eddie does indeed follow,
E ( to himself) " that's the second bet I've lost tonight"

In ilse 's room in the hotel above the casino,
ilse " pour me a drink Eddie, I'll change into something more comfortable, vodka on the rocks please"
Eddie pours two drinks while ilse is changing.
E " you know if I'd won big tonight I wouldn't be here. I'm careful accepting invites from beautiful ladies when I have a full wallet, trouble usually is in store, a waiting boyfriend"
ilse comes back in having changed into a little black number.
ilse" you would have turned me down?"
E " right"
ilse" I bet you wouldn't"
E " I wish you wouldn't bet on sure things, it erodes my confidence. Anyway why me?"
ilse" you're handsome"
Eddie is drinking, ilse puts her glass down and turns the record player on.
E " you're not drinking"
ilse" no, the bottle was drugged"

Eddie suddenly staggers about, his legs affected as he slumps on the floor. ilse opens her door, Zac and Pursell, two of Burns henchmen come in.
They pick Eddie up, he is conscious but helpless as they guide him out of the room.
ilse " don't bruise him, he's nice"
Eddie is kidnapped, put in a car and driven off, the next unwilling guest of Walter Burns.

It's not until the following day, at noon that Eddie wakes up, in a bedroom in Burns mansion in the English countryside. He slowly gets off the bed, still wearing his evening clothes, his wallet is on the dresser, his money all intact. He opens the door and goes along a plush corridor to the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs two men talking, Pursell and Winters, one a henchman and Winters, always in a black suit and bowtie is the butler.
W " Mr Burns has invited the Fosters over on Thursday, so he'll probably want you to pick them up"
P " okay", Pursell nods upward , both men see Eddie looking down on them, and leave.
Eddie goes down the stairs to the front door, opens it and steps out. The house is set in huge grounds. Zac , wearing a brown casual suit approaches.
Z " good morning sir, not too pleasant a day is it sir"
E " where am I ?"
Z " the home of Walter Burns sir, we have a swimming pool round the back if you'd care to, I can provide you with some trunks sir"
E " look I was drugged..."
Z " you certainly slept well sir. You may also walk in the grounds sir, but not outside them"
E " who says?"
Z " Mr Burns sir"
E " I've never heard of a Walter Burns"
Z " Walter Burns a gambling man sir, one of the five richest men in the world sir"
E " tell Mr Burns thanks but no thanks. That looks like a road over there, I can be out of here in five minutes"
Z " I'm a bit of a gambling man myself sir, I'll give you ten to one you don't make it"
E " you're going to stop me?"
Z " no sir, Henry is"
E " Henry?"
Zac points up to the side of the house. A bald guy armed with a rifle is leaning out of the window.
Henry " good morning sir"
Z " he won't kill you sir, just a leg wound, we're not permitted to kill you sir!"
Zac wanders off, Eddie plays safe and retreats back to the house.

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Eddie enters the bedroom he awoke in, Winters is there, holding a grey suit.
W " I think this should fit you sir, the clothes you're wearing are suitable for the evening games sir, but this is for more casual wear if you prefer"
E " who are you?"
W " Winters sir"
E " okay Winters how did I get here?"
W " I think we both know the answer to that sir"
E " but why?"
W " you're an honoured guest of Mr Burns"
E " I'm a prisoner here, will I meet Burns?"
W " it's on the cards sir"
E " and you work for him?"
W " not exactly, I was a gambling man myself, I encountered Mr Burns sir, he won me!"
E " he what!"
ilse pokes her head into the room,
ilse" Eddie, nice to see you again, lunch is ready, come"

 

ilse and Eddie enter the dining room, Burns is seated, a balding man, grey beard, in his fifties.
B " Eddie, Eddie, a delight to meet you, come in, glad you could join us"
E " I didn't have much choice"
B " the drugged drink? Just a little gamesmanship Eddie, that's how to win, take the ascendancy over your opponent and keep it. You're not going to be sore are you Eddie?, now Eddie, or Mr Vallance if you prefer"
E " no Eddie is fine"
B " okay, you can call me , Wally, or Mr Burns, but most round here call me Daddy, got a good solid sound to it"
E " what is it you want Burns?"
B " your company Eddie, ilse tells me you're pretty cool on the roulette table. That your main game?"
E " no poker"
B " draw or stud?"
E "stud"
B " me too, I'm probably the best poker player in the world"
E " I doubt that Mr Burns"
B " you're thinking of Tommy Vaughan?"

E" I was thinking of me"
Burns laughs at this,
ilse" we'll have to put it to the test Eddie. Want a drink? from a bottle with an unbroken seal"
E " vodka neat"
ilse pours the drink.
B " I thought we might start off with some dice , then some backgammon, build up to the big poker game"
E " maybe they'll be no game. Picking me up as you did I don't have a lot of cash on me."
B " my method of getting you here may be unconventional but I'm prepared to pay for the privilege of playing you Eddie"
ilse puts on the table a small wooden casket, inside are bundles of cash.
E " there must be 30 or 40 grand there"
B " 50,000 dollars, that'll be your stake money, I prefer U.S. dollars, as Italian is to opera, dollars is to gambling, a universal currency"
Meantime, Winters the butler has opened the front door, he looks longingly at the road about quarter of a mile away. Suddenly he makes a dash for freedom, Henry at the upper window takes aim and fires, Winters hit in the leg.
Back at lunch the gunshot is heard.
B " sounds like Henry got himself a rabbit"
Eddie looks a bit concerned, what has he landed himself in here.

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Later that evening, Burns and Eddie are playing roulette. Burns seems to have a dedicated room for different games. In the roulette room ilse spins the ball. Burns has a considerably larger amount of cash in front of him compared to Eddie.
E " this can't mean anything Burns, winning your own money back"
B " it's your money Eddie, payment in advance so to speak. Anyway the intrinsic value of money is not important, it's the challenge that thrills me , the gamble, it gets my adrenalin going"
Burns stands up, large bundles of cash in each hand.
B " it's getting late I'm going to bed"
E " one more spin Wally, after all you didn't officially close the game"
B ( to ilse)" okay honey"
One more spin, Eddie wins. ilse removes one of the bundles from Burns and gives it to Eddie.
E " yep, it is late goodnight. You can't win them all Burns, but make sure you win the last game"
Eddie leaves, Burns furious, thumping his fist on the table.
ilse" Daddy, don't be so silly, he's just the opposition we've been looking for"

Eddie enters his bedroom, Winters is there folding clothes neatly, he is hobbling about the room.
E " so you were Henry's rabbit. Best time to escape Winters is at night, plenty of shadows"
W " also the dogs sir"
E " dogs?"
W " Doberman pincers sir, trained to kill, not even Mr Burns goes out at night into the grounds"
ilse comes in , Winters leaves.
ilse ' goodnight Eddie, well played tonight, but Daddy Burns is still the big winner round here"
E " so far"
The next morning ilse and Eddie are in the heated pool in the basement. ilse just completed a few laps underwater. Eddie applauds as she surfaces.
E " well done"
ilse" could you do better Eddie?"
E " I reckon I could do four lengths under"
ilse" bet you you can't"
E " okay, what do I win?"
ilse" something nice"
E " promises promises "

Eddie dives in, and swims four lengths, he surfaces,
E " right, something nice"
ilse" many people say my smile is the nicest thing about me"
E (playfully) " why you...."
Onto poolside walks Burns, Zac and Pursell.
B" morning Eddie, how long could you hold your breath under water for?"
E " a couple of minutes I guess"
B " what if there was 10,000 riding on it?"
E " well that might give some extra power to my lungs"
B " I bet you 10,000 Pursell here can beat you Eddie"
E " okay you're on"
Pursell is horrified,
P " Mr Burns I can't swim! Please Mr Burns"
Burns nods to Zac, who pushes Pursell in , fully clothed.
Pursell struggles, thrashing about in the water, he makes it to the side. Eddie at one end of the width of the pool, Pursell at the other.
B " okay,..now"
Both men dip under, Eddie coolly holding his breathe. Pursell struggles, bubbles coming out of his mouth, he can't hold on much longer.
Burns looks to Zac, who then kneels down, bends over and grabs Pursell 's head, pushing him down. Eddie surfaces, and looks over to what is happening to Pursell, if looks could kill.
B " that's 10,000 you owe me Eddie"
Zac drags Pursell up out of the water. ilse gives Eddie a smile,
ilse" I told you, Daddy is a winner."

 

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Later at lunch,
B " we're even Eddie, you won at the roulette wheel, I won at the pool"
E " not exactly I scored"
B " scored?"
E " yeah, I learned valuable information about you Burns"
B " games of chance is all about luck Eddie"
E " for you perhaps, you gamble for fun, I am a professional, I don't discount luck but I don't rely on it, I rely on skill too"
Eddie gets up and walks over to Burns, quick as a flash he puts one hand on Burns forehead the other under his chin.
E " 10,000 says without looking you don't know what shoes you're wearing"
B " er...suede polo boots"
E " wrong, brown lace ups with a wedge. I just got my 10,000 back"
Eddie releases him, Burns looks down,
B " hey these are black"
E " another thing Burns, if you're going to bluff do it with conviction"
Eddie leaves, Burns looks at ilse who smiles, Burns this time sees the funny side.

Eddie is playing pool by himself in the billiards room when Winters comes in.
W " that was superb sir, but dangerous, you beat him"
E " everyone loses Winters"
W " but not him, don't you understand he's psychologically incapable of losing. If we are to escape sir it will have to be tomorrow morning after the dogs are brought in, tomorrow evening will be the big game , poker, and Mr Burns never loses at that even Tommy Vau.."
E " were you going to say Tommy Vaughan?, has he played here?"
W " please sir forget I said that"
Burns enters,
B " that was clever Eddie, you're the closest to my style I've come across. I enjoyed it"
E " well if you enjoy losing 10,000 I can provide pleasures for you a plenty"
B " it's not the money, the thrill of gambling, the turn of a card, a roll of a dice is what I live for. I was 21 when my father struck oil, suddenly I had so much money I could never lose. That's when gambling lost that tang, that edge, it was terrible, like losing an eye for a pretty woman, or a hunter impervious to the lion or a heavyweight champion who couldn't be beaten. I need someone to pit myself against, someone who's a real gambler like me..."
E " like Tommy Vaughan?"
B " why d'you mention him?"
E " you mentioned him at lunch the other day"
B " oh yes, right, Tommy Vaughan, he wouldn't amount to much against me Eddie"
E " played him have you?"
B " no no , not had that privilege"
E " I'd fix you a meet, but he has dropped outta sight, no one has seen him in months"
B " yeah , you do that Eddie whenever he resurfaces"

Eddie takes a walk in the grounds, ilse and Burns watch from an upstairs window. Burns puts his arm around her, she pulls away.
ilse" not now Daddy, after the big game tomorrow....if you win"
Eddie has reached a clearing in the woods around the house, he notices something, a patch of ground recently dug up and reburied, a coffin sized patch of ground. He looks up Winters is staring at him about 50 yards away. Winters turns and hobbles quick as he can back to the house, in through the French windows into the billiard room. Eddie follows promptly.

E " how many Winters?"
W " what sir"
E " bodies buried out there"
W " three sir"
E " is Tommy Vaughan one of them, WELL IS HE!!?"
W "yes sir, don't tell them I've told you"
E " we're leaving, tomorrow at 7 when the dogs are in"
In his bedroom Eddie removes his shoes, takes out his keys and uses one as a knife, he prods at the heels of both shoes. The bottoms slide away, a hidden compartment in his shoes! He takes out two pieces of a silver metal object. The two pieces clip together to form a handy little gun, loaded with a single bullet. The escape is on.

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Early at dawn the next day Zac is bringing the Dobermans into their pen. They look vicious, Zac has to wear protective gloves as he carries raw meat for them.
Z " shut up you brutes"
He flings the meat into the pen and the dogs run in and devour it in seconds, the pen is locked securely.
Eddie opens the door of his room, steps out quietly, but ilse opens her door, in her nightie.
ilse" you won't make it Eddie"
E " where's your confidence in me darling"

ilse holds up a bracelet, jewelled ,
ilse" bet you one thousand against this bracelet you don't make it. Now I'm going to have a bath, a long one"
She saunters off to the bathroom.
Eddie descends the stairs, Winters is waiting, and looks at Eddie's tiny gun.
W " does that thing work?"
E " if it didn't I wouldn't be here, come on"
W " what about Henry?"
E " I'll deal with him, wait here"
Henry the bald headed rifle man is on patrol at the window, he hears something behind him, too late, Eddie knocks him out with one punch , then returns to Winters.
The escape begins.

Zac turns the corner of the house and into Eddie and Winters.
E ( pointing gun)" nice and easy Zac, come on Winters lets go"
Eddie sticks the gun in Zac's back and they set off across the lawn towards the road. Eddie not realising Winters hasn't followed. They go past a tree, and from behind it appears Pursell with a rifle and Burns is there too.

B " morning Eddie, nice try"
Eddie is marched back to the house, Winters is there looking sheepish.
E" why Winters?"
W " I'm sorry sir, I was offered a side bet that you wouldn't make it"
Winters holds up ilse's bracelet,
W " must be worth 10,000 at least. I couldn't turn it down, I am a gambling man sir"
E " I forgot the best advice my shrink ever gave me, never gamble on a woman "
Later Eddie is stretched out on his bed, ilse comes in.
ilse" I hope you're not angry with me Eddie"
E (sarcastically) "nah, of course not, you just stopped me getting out of here that's all"
ilse" you are angry with me, I wouldn't want to lose you before the big game"
E " I'll be there"
ilse" you really take losing well Eddie, I remember saying that when we first met. You know how to lose, unfortunately I'm not sure you know how to win Eddie"

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

ilse goes down stairs,Eddie watches her go, then sneaks into her bedroom. He opens the dresser, looking for something. He takes out a make up case. It is rectangular, black plastic, inside is eye shadow. He pockets it and goes back to his room.
In his room is a transistor radio, using his keys he unscrews the back of the radio revealing the printed circuits and other wiring.
That evening Zac has released the Dobermans again, and Eddie has finished his tinkering.
He has removed the eye shadow from the case and replaced it with a piece of a circuit board and other wires.
ilse comes in,
ilse" for the big poker game tonight Daddy Burns insists on formal evening wear"
E ( holding his little device behind his back) " okay, mustn't upset Daddy must we"
ilse" we dine first then we play. Eddie I hope you win really I do"
A bit later Eddie sneaks unobserved into the card room. He takes out his device, opens the velvet curtains and places it on the window sill.
During dinner Burns is telling one of his gambling anecdotes.
B " that Texan cleaned me right out, he had four fives, I lost 2million that night. Still I invited him here, got my revenge, I took him for three million"
E " wow, now he's buried in the garden!!"
A stony silence ensues for a moment or two, Burns glares at Eddie, then turns to ilse,
B " you haven't been too nice to me lately honey, I like it when you're too nice to me"
E" perhaps a good run on the cards will do it, after all ilse loves a winner"
B " then she'll love me after tonight"
E " or me, after all it's an even chance"
B " yep, it's even, (standing) okay mister I'm ready for some poker, what about you?"
In the card room;
ilse is dealer, Zac Pursell and Winters are there too, all in tuxedos.
B " okay, the house rules Vallance stud poker, aces high or low, no stake limit"
E " for a poker player you talk too much Burns"
ilse deals the first hand, the game starts.
E " I'll start with one thousand"
B " kind of cautious Eddie"
E " so was Mythrus"
B " Mythrus? where does he play? "
E " Crete, about 1200 BC , he was cautious, ending up taking the whole island"
B " you're talking about war Eddie "
E " that's right Wally"
Eddie fixes him a hard stare.

 

The game is progressing, Eddie is running out of cash, he's losing. Eddie studying his cards hard.
B " what's the matter Eddie, this game too rich for your blood mister"
E " no no, this hand is just dying to be played. See your ten thousand and raise ten thousand"
ilse " ten thousand to see"
B " I don't want to see that garbage he's holding. See your ten, and raise twenty thousand"
ilse" 20,000 to you Eddie"
E " here's 8000, and I'll give you a marker for the rest"
B " no markers Eddie"
E " my bank will verify the amount"
B " no markers, but we'll accept payment in kind"
E " kind, what's that? All I have is my clothes and my watch"
B " wrong Eddie, you have you. How many times have gamblers said , I bet my life on that, hell I've said it many times"
ilse " on three occasions he meant it"
B " I'll take you as collateral Eddie"
E " what am I worth?"
B " one million dollars , what about it Eddie, your life or mine"
ilse" if you win you walk away with one million and the pot"
E "and if I lose?"
B " another little game I've dreamt up which we haven't told you about"
ilse " but you still get a chance"
B " that's right Eddie, an even chance. What do you say"
E " you play one hell of game Burns, the ultimate challenge for someone with so much money he can never lose"
B " that's right Vallance, there's no thrill in winning without the possibility of losing"
E " you're on Burns I accept"

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

E " your twenty and raise twenty"
B " I raise one hundred thousand"
E " that's a lot of money Burns"
B " you can afford it, you're playing with a million dollar stake now"
E " yeah, and my life, your one hundred thousand and raise one hundred thousand"
B " I raise two hundred thousand"
E " the suspense is killing me, I'll see you for the two hundred thousand"
Eddie lays his cards, full house queens high. Burns reveals his cards, four kings.
B " you lose Vallance, I wonder if you'll be as cool Eddie with the next little game I've dreamt up"

ilse brings to the table the silver box , she opens it to reveal the two revolvers.
ilse. " two guns, one loaded with blanks the other real, we place them on the table, and spin the table, when it stops you pick up the gun nearest you and fire"
B " it's an even chance Vallance, better than even, because you get to fire first"
ilse. " and Daddy gets the same chance as you"
Eddie picks up the guns, one in each hand.
E " l like to examine the deck before I play. "
He opens up both guns to look at the bullets, satisfied he returns them to ilse.
E " I suppose at this point Tommy Vaughan cracked up, he played sweet poker but any sign of violence and he went to pieces"
B " went to pieces? he literally begged me "
E " I won't give you that satisfaction Burns"
ilse places the guns on the table, Burns grabs the table and spins it, the top spins round. Zac, Pursell, Winters ,all watch avidly as Eddie's games with Burns will soon end one way or another.

 

The table stops, Eddie picks up the gun nearest him and stands in front of Zac, he aims at Burns and fires. Nothing...blanks

Burns picks up his gun, still seated he aims at Eddie, and pauses.
B " no I don't think you will beg Eddie"

( Eddie in action)

Eddie spins to face Zac and fires, a bang and a flash, Zac falls temporarily blinded, Eddie now holding gun fitted with silencer. He points it upwards.
E " come on Burns, your shot"
Burns points his gun but doesn't fire.
E " come on Wally, kill me"
ilse " why don't you fire Daddy, you can still win"
E " nah, he won't fire, because then everyone will know, Daddy Burns the world's greatest gambler is a cheat. Two guns, both loaded with blanks, one set tricked up to look real, but anyone familiar with guns can tell by the weight that they're just blanks. Make a loud bang, enough to cover Zac shooting them from behind with this gun"
ilse(in tears) " tell them it's not true, DENY IT!"
Burns says nothing, he sits paralysed almost with shame and humiliation. ilse grabs Burns gun and fires into the table. They are just blanks.
ilse (crying) "cheat, CHEAT YOU CHEAT"
E " that's not all he cheats at. I've had you psyched out from our first game"
Eddie grabs Burns jacket sleeve and pulls, playing cards fall out onto the table.
B " who are you?"
E " Eddie Vallance professional gambler, and a patient man, which is a virtue for a gambler and a detective"
B " detective?"
E " you didn't find me ilse, I've been onto you for weeks. I'll get my fee from Vaughan 's estate, Tommy was a friend, he always paid his debts and..."

Zac has recovered and leaps up and grabs Eddie, holding him tight. Burns walks up to him.
B " I'm going to kill you Vallance"
E " you haven't the nerve"
Burns strikes him across the face drawing blood.
E " you're running out of friends Wally. Zac maybe, but the others are seeing something in you they didn't know was there"
B " they'll do as I tell them, besides the price on your head still stands, one million dollars. Who is going to turn that down, one million, why Vallance they'll tear you limb from limb to get a piece of the action"
E " you're too late Burns. You don't think I played this single handed do you, without an ace in the hole. Tell Zac to get off me and I'll show you"
Burns nods, Zac releases him, Eddie pulls opens the curtains to reveal his device he planted earlier.
E " everything that's been said in this room has been recorded. A direct line to the police"
Burns tries to grab the box, Eddie drops it and stamps on it. Burns picks up the pieces, just fragments of plastic and wiring.
Z " sir, when he produced that gun we went through all his possessions with a fine tooth comb"
B " yeah, right this is just a toy you've tricked up Eddie, it's no transmitter"
E " are you sure?"
B " you're bluffing"
E " the police are outside now"
B " I didn't hear any sirens"
E " sirens? to tip you off Burns. No they'll surround your house , then break in and shoot you down. This is one scenario you can't buy your way out of"
Winters heads for the door.
B " stay where you are Winters. Its a bluff"
Zac nervously looks at Burns , feeling the heat,
Z " I'm sure your right Mr Burns , but if not we don't have much time"
Zac is worried as are the others.
B " it's a bluff, I'm a gambling man a winner"
ilse " this time though you'll have to play it straight without cheating"
Burns pushes Zac aside and opens the French windows,
B " I'll show you all, no one is out there, I'll prove it"
Burns runs out,
Z " NO MR BURNS THE DOGS!!!"
There's a horrendous scream, barking dogs jump up to the window, a mixture of dog saliva and blood running down the glass. Eddie quickly closes the windows and pulls the curtains closed.
E " mmm, I've just been devalued, I'm no longer worth a million dollars"
ilse " you WERE bluffing"
E " and you sweetheart are an accessory to murder. You'll get about ten years"
ilse " really? Me and an all male jury. Wanna bet Eddie?!"

 

Cast;

Eddie.....Edd Byrnes

ilse......Ingrid Pitt

Daddy Burns......James Berwick 

Zac......George Innes 

Pursell.......Frank Coda

Winters......Trevor Baxter 

 

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

S1 E5 - THE COLOUR OF BLOOD 

London has been gripped by fear for months, but now the terror is over. Women can relax, Page the demented killer is behind bars, after being found guilty of murdering multiple times.

On the way from the court to prison the security vehicle carrying Page is involved in an accident, skidding off the road. The guards unconscious , Page opens the door of the van and calmly walks away.....free again.
Meanwhile at Baverstock solicitors Mr Baverstock is briefing assistant Julie Marsh on the assignment she is to undertake. Client Michael Graham has inherited a house and £40,000 , he is a busy businessman and wants to quickly view the house with a probability he'll put it on the market and he'd like his inheritance money in cash. Julie is to go with the money in a case to Waterloo Station, accompany Graham to the country house, Westerling, stay while Graham does an inventory and return. Julie sets off, a dependable girl, who no one would suspect would be carrying that money, and says goodbye to her boss and Peter, another employer at Baverstock's.
After Julie has left Peter reminds Baverstock of his promised afternoon off, and Baverstock says he can leave, Peter though has one thing to do, put a file in the archive cabinet, then he's done for the day.

The police are on the alert for Page , the hunt for the killer starts in earnest. Julie arrives at Waterloo to meet Graham, she will recognise him by a red carnation that Graham will wear, Graham's idea. Unfortunately Page is known as the Carnation Killer, he wears a red carnation too, and when Julie approaches him and asks if he's Graham , Page immediately says yes. Page can't believe his luck, on a train, a case of money and heading for some out of the way house to hide in.

On the train the unsuspecting Julie gets Page to sign some legal documents to hand over the deeds of Westerling and the cash, and after an hour or so they arrive at their destination. Page deliberately without Julie seeing, removes his carnation and drops it, they then leave the carriage. Page momentarily leaves Julie on the platform and rushes back on the train to their carriage, a lady passenger is there, she got on halfway during the journey and was looking decidedly uncomfortable. Page says, " you recognised me didn't you ." He kills her and rejoins Julie on the platform saying he got his carnation that he must have dropped.

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

The police have swamped Waterloo Station with officers, and stopped all trains leaving within 15 minutes of Page escaping as this was the nearest station, but too late, Page and Julie had left within 10 minutes.
Michael Graham is at the station waiting for Julie in vain, a young over enthusiastic policeman arrests him thinking he is Page because of the red carnation on his lapel.
Back at the police station apologies are offered to Graham for his false arrest and he rather angrily leaves.

Graham arrives at Baverstock's office and explains what happened to him and that he missed Julie . Baverstock is sure the dependable Julie will return to the office with his cash.
Peter, Julie 's colleague at work is also at Waterloo, sitting impatiently waiting for the trains to move, he is told by a guard that a killer is on the loose and the trains will leave when the police gives the all clear. Peter nervously checks his watch, he's in a hurry to get somewhere.

At Baverstock's, Baverstock is getting worried, Julie hasn't come back, Graham urges him to call the police thinking Julie has ran off with his money. Reluctantly Baverstock calls the police and when it's revealed how Julie was to recognise Graham, the red carnation, the alarm bells ring. Page must have taken the fortuitous opportunity and went off with Julie.

[HawkMan]

Julie and Page arrive at Westerling, a large mansion in the middle of the countryside miles from anywhere. They enter and look around, Julie screams, a rat scampers across the floor upstairs.

Page, " women? You scream and run away from something so small, yet you're not afraid of me."

Julie, " why should I be afraid of you?"

Page, " well I'm larger than a mouse."

Page says he'll have them all humanely destroyed when he moves in. Julie is puzzled, Graham ( who Julie thinks she's talking to) said in his letter to Baverstock that he needed the ready cash because he's off to a business meeting abroad and just wanted a quick look at Westerling before selling it. Page says he's changed his mind.

Page insists on coffee and a sit down before they start on the inventory. Julie seems anxious, but agrees.

Julie wants Page to get started on the inventory straight away but Page now insists on a meal first, and says he'll prepare it, they'll eat together, get to know each other better then start on the inventory. Julie reluctantly agrees, and Page starts preparing the meal. Julie is looking incredibly nervous, strange as she doesn't realise she's in danger!

She looks nervously out the window as if waiting for someone.

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Scotland Yard police have sent a message to the Hampshire police to get to Westerling quickly and a car pulls up. The officer gets on his radio to inform his chief that he's at Westerling but everything is okay, no disturbance, no one here. The sign outside the house says Westerling, but it isn't the house Julie and Page are at.

The police are at Baverstock's and get the message, Baverstock can't understand it, the police say it looks like the Page link to Julie was not true, Julie will go on the wanted list, she seemingly has run off with the money. The police tell Baverstock the dead body of a woman strangled was found on a train that Julie might have taken , but surely if Page had met Julie they'd be at Westerling and they're not.
At the house Julie and Page are at, Peter has arrived, he creeps into the house and calls over to Julie sitting in the chair looking worried.

 

She is so pleased to see him, and excitedly asks where the hell has he been he's late. Peter explains about the train delays and everything will work out fine.
He explains,

Peter, "we are in a house of someone who died intestate, without heirs, I've placed the file on the house in the archive section at Baverstock's, it'll probably be lost for ever. Even if it is found I'll claim I made a clerical error. After  we kill Graham we'll have 40,000 pounds to ourselves and if one day the council or police break in here all they'll find is a skeleton, the rats will see to that , the place is full of them, that's  why I chose this house for that reason."
Peter gives Julie two tablets to put in Graham's ( Page) drink, Julie takes them and Peter departs before Page returns.
Outside Peter walks up to the sign Westerling on the gatepost, he pulls at it, it comes away to reveal the sign " Houghton Heights " the real name of the house.

Page has completed the cooking of the meal and enters the spacious lounge wheeling a trolley of food. Julie says she'll pour the wine. She pours two glasses and slips the tablets into one of them, unfortunately Page sees this....

After about ten minutes Peter re- enters the house, and goes into the lounge, Julie is sitting on a chair, the case of money open on the sideboard , he excitedly handles the cash, assures Julie that Graham didn't suffer, it was a painless death. He goes over to Julie, taps her on the shoulder, she slumps onto the floor...dead. Peter spins round, Page is there menacingly moving towards him.
Later Page leaves the house , locks the door and hurls the key into some bushes. He's heading back to London, where vulnerable women await , for his pleasure.
At Waterloo Page alights the train and tries to get passed the ticket gate, police are still there, they spot him he is caught.
Back at Scotland Yard Page is interrogated, where did he go, did he meet Julie Marsh? Page plays dumb, the psycho knows nothing.
...........and at Houghton Heights , a property empty, and it's existence lost in the archives, the dead bodies of Julie and Peter lie, undisturbed except for the pitter patter of rats scampering over the money and their lifeless corpses.

Cast
Julie Marsh....Katharine Schofield
Peter...Garrick Hagon
Page.....Norman Eshley
Baverstock....Derek Smith
Graham.....Geoffrey Chater

Edited February 26 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

S6 E4 - DIAL A DEADLY NUMBER 

A young man, Paul Kirby , walks up the stairs of a lonely country mansion, up to the landing, knocks on one of the bedroom doors, wants to see Helen. Suddenly the door opens, someone holding a large curved blade, Paul is stabbed and crashes down the stairs, looking down on him is Helen Curry with knife in hand screaming. Helen then wakes up, in bed, a bad dream..or was it?

American small time actor Dave Adams returns to the London apartment he shares with Tim Foster, bemoaning the fact he was turned down for a role in the local theatre because he wasn't in Equity the actors union. Tim owns the apartment and is getting fed up with Dave and his constant excuses for not getting a job. Tim has lent him money many times and suggests Dave goes home. Dave wants yet another loan, his security he says is his future acting success and he'll pay it back. Tim is firm, no more loans, also he disapproves of how Dave is treating Susie a friend of them both. Dave says he squires her around town , gives her a good time, and says Tim , lets her pick up the bills. Dave is a louse and Tim's patience is running thin.

Suddenly the phone rings , it's Helen Curry, asking Doctor Porton for an appointment, she's suffering from violent dreams, she needs help psychiatric help urgently. Before Dave can say she's dialled the wrong number, she talks of money and she'll pay over the odds for a consultation now. Dave, the louse that he is, says sure he'll come over, takes down the address and hangs up. Looking in the telephone directory he sees she misdialled by one number. Tim wants to know what is going on, Dave says he's off out to help a poor neurotic girl, a poor neurotic very rich girl.

Edited February 27 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Dave is at the mansion posing as Dr Porton listening intently as Helen tells him of these terrible dreams she is having, murdering a young man she has never seen, there's lots of blood, and some of her dreams has her cleaning blood off the walls. Dave looking very earnest, using his acting skills, says Helen needs treatment, a number of sessions, which may be expensive , but he'll devote his time to helping her. He writes down a phone number to contact him, saying this is his private home phone, Tim's apartment number of course, doesn’t want her phoning the real Dr Porton and says he'll return tomorrow first thing. Into the room walks another young lady, this is Ann Curry, Helen's sister, Helen introduces Dave as just a friend, she doesn't want Ann to know she's getting psychiatric help.

Back at Tim's, Tim is appalled that Dave went through with it, Dave says Helen is just a spoilt rich girl with too much imagination and he's actually helping her by talking it all out, and it's all harmless. Dave looks for some saccharine tablets that he'll say are tranquillisers to give Helen. Tim says , Dave is now acting below the louse level.

Paul Kirby, stabbed at the foot of the stairs, Helen gleefully holding the knife, blood everywhere, Helen screams.....then calmy washes blood away from the bannisters..another dream?

Dave returns, Helen tells him of another dream, at least she hopes it was a dream. Dave gives her the saccharine tablets, "take two , they may seem awfully sweet but they'll help". Helen goes upstairs for a rest, Ann enters the drawing room. Ann has worked out he's a doctor and says how worried she is for Helen. Ann says Helen is a worrier, worries about Ann, not getting married, being left on the shelf. Ann says she had a boyfriend, Paul Kirby, Helen got excited as if he was her boyfriend , Helen is very protective of Anne and when her relationship with Paul ended , Helen took it badly. Dave is beginning to get interested in this case despite only being here to get money out of the situation.

[HawkMan]

Back at Tim's apartment Dave is relaxing on the couch while Tim is at his desk working at his PC. Dave is reading a book on psychiatry and gives his verdict in the Curry case. " It's called transference , Ann had this boyfriend Paul Kirby, Helen actually wanted him, but she couldn't he was Ann's, so she tells herself she's just looking after her sister by getting involved. That's on the outside, but inside she really wanted him, and as she can't have him, so in her dreams she just does away with the guy." Dave laughs, Tim doesn't seem impressed, Dave mischievously says, " I wouldn't expect a layman like you to understand Tim."
Tim has just about had enough of this guy and says, " it's immoral and illegal."
Dave replies, " no one is going to find out or tell, not you Timmo or I'll spread you all over these walls, relax Tim, don't be so serious "

In a detective agency, Mr O'Hara is listening to Sally Kirby, a potential client, who wants him to find her brother Paul who has been missing for several weeks. Sally tells him that Ann Curry is his girlfriend and she spoke to her sister Helen about Paul's whereabouts but Helen Curry told her they hadn't seen Paul either in weeks. Sally tells O'Hara that she has a feeling that Helen Curry was lying. O'Hara promises to visit the Curry mansion.

 

O'Hara is at the Curry mansion, there was no answer at the front door, so he goes into the gardens, through the French windows and into the drawing room, no one is about, he pops his trilby hat on the hatstand then he climbs the stairs. At the top looks in horror, a curved blade is slashed at him, he falls, blood pouring out of him, he collapses at the foot of the stairs. Later Helen is at the top of the stairs looking at the bloodstained walls, " please no, not again."
Dave enters Tim's apartment and sees his luggage packed. Tim is unrepentant, " that's right Dave I'm throwing you out, what you do is your business, where you do it is mine, I want you out."

Dave protests that things are going great, he's paid back Tim all he owed, his stuff is out of hock, but Tim is unmoved and says if Helen calls here again he'll tell her the truth.
Back at Helen's Dave says he needs to move in, to be close to Helen in the critical part of her treatment coming up. Is there no depth Dave won't sink to?! Ann thinks it's a tremendous idea, but Helen is afraid, she privately tells Ann she wants him to go. Why are you afraid of him asks Ann, Helen replies she is not afraid of him.

Dave and Helen are having another 'session' when the doorbell chimes, Helen answers it, it is Sally Kirby, looking for Paul. Helen repeats what she already told her on the phone, they haven't seen him for ages. Sally is unhappy with this answer, and tells her that she's hired a private detective named O'Hara and that surely he's been here. Helen says, no, no one has been here. Sally leaves, and Dave listening to all this is concerned, especially as he sees on the hatstand a trilby, the hat is labelled under the brim , the label says 'J. O'Hara.'

Edited February 27 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

The next day Dave and Ann are at breakfast when Helen walks in dressed in black. It is the anniversary of Mother's death, and Helen as usual is going to visit the grave. This year Ann says she's not going, it's morbid, Helen stalks off. Dave sits there eating until Ann reminds him, '" as her doctor shouldn't you go with her?"

At the grave, trouble, the gravestone has been vandalised, Helen runs back home crying, Dave tells her what's happened, then picks up the trilby hat and asks Ann how did this hat belonging to J O'Hara get here? Ann says it's obvious, " J O'Hara brought it here on his head." Dave reckoned that too, Helen was lying about O'Hara not coming.

Tim meanwhile is smartly dressed for an evening out when the door bell rings, he sighs as he opens the door to see Dave. Dave just wants a chat, he reckons he's got in a bit too deep with the Curry situation. Too many things just don't add up, the hat, the gravestone, Helen Curry might actually be dangerous. Tim mocks, " no one can be more dangerous than you Dave."
Dave notices Tim's smart clothes, Tim replies, " yeah I'm taking Susie out, you remember her, your previous meal ticket."
After Dave has gone the phone rings, it's Helen wanting to speak to Dr Porton, she's had another dream. Tim is resolved to doing the correct thing, he tells her the truth about Dave...oh dear!

Sally Kirby is worried, O'Hara hasn't contacted her, he's missing now, the office caretaker hasn't seen him for a few days.