Puppet on a Chain

RADIO: 'No score. New York Mets are batting in the bottom of the first inning at Shea Stadium.

'The Mets and the Cubs will play tomorrow afternoon. We'll be broadcasting the game at 2pm.

'Tom Lara, hitting 289 for the year. 22 home runs, 95 runs batted in.

'It's a perfect hit! One man past the plate!

'Ball's going all the way to the wall!'

RADIO OFF

AGH!

FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT IN DUTCH

'Your attention, please. KLM flight KL644 from New York and London

'has just landed at Gate 24.'

LOUD GUNSHOT

A-A-AGH!

CROWD TALKS EXCITEDLY

'This is a staff announcement. Security staff and medical team,

'please go at once to Gate 24, Flight Arrivals.

'I repeat...

'Security staff and medical team

'please go at once to Gate 24, Flight Arrivals.'

I resent letters which order me to co-operate with strangers and junior members of a foreign police force.

-I'm sorry, sir, but I didn't write that letter.

-Why are you Americans interested in our drug rackets?

-Most of the heroin from Holland comes to the States.

-You're implying that, since we haven't stopped it,

-you've come here to do so, hmm?

-No-one has implied that, sir, I can assure you.

-Hmph! Can you indeed?!

-All right, Sherman, what is your side of it?

-Two days ago, three people were professionally murdered

-because they intercepted and stole a consignment of heroin we know came from here.

-How do you know?

-They worked for a firm - Schulster - which imports entirely from Holland.

-You call this proof?

-No, sir.

What do you hope to achieve in Amsterdam?

-To find the source.

-Oh.

Is that all(?)

We haven't done very well so far, Mr Sherman.

We know the stuff comes in in bulk and goes out broken up. But where, or how, we've no idea.

Well, we can all sit back and let our American allies solve it for us - like in the War.

-It's a beautiful city.

-Oh, I am glad you're enjoying yourself, after such an eventful day(!)

-I didn't kill Duclos, Colonel.

-Oh, that was quite clear at the airport. But we found out very little

-about him, except his name and the fact he came from London three weeks ago. He was meeting your plane.

-Yes.

-He was one of our men.

-But, sir, Duclos must have been onto SOMETHING.

-And now we've lost it.

Perhaps.

They tell me you used to be Dutch.

Yes. We, uh, moved to the States when I was quite young.

-Sherman...what sort of Dutch name is THAT?

-Oh, we changed it.

-Easier to pronounce.

-Uh-huh?

How does one apologise for other people?

He retires soon, Mr Sherman, that's the trouble. The thought of growing tulips doesn't much appeal to him.

Sherman...

we're acquainted with your methods,

but, here, we are all subject to the law, myself included, and you're no exception.

PIPE ORGAN PLAYS

Uh, you have a reservation for me. Sherman.

Now, we've done the Anne Frank House. How about the Rijksmuseum?

We've SEEN the Rijksmuseum. That's where the Rembrandts are.

-Welcome to Amsterdam, Mr Sherman.

-Thank you.

METALLIC SQUEAKING

-Room 616, Mr Sherman.

-Thank you.

-Oh, leave those. One of the boys can bring them up.

-It's OK, I don't mind.

BOAT'S HORN SOUNDS

Room 616.

PIPE ORGAN PLAYS

Hello, love. ..Oh!

Hello, love. American?

English? 30 guilders to you, love.

Come on.

CONVERSATION INAUDIBLE

Well? Did he contact anyone?

I lost him.

-You mean he knew he was being followed, and lost YOU?

-Yes.

That's very clever(!)

You won't get a second chance. You know his reputation - efficient, never makes mistakes, ruthless!

-Who is it?

-Sherman.

Sherman?

Hello...SHERMAN.

-It was "Paul" last time we saw each other.

-Hmm.

-When did you get in?

-Lunchtime plane.

Absolutely packed. You know, they'd only provide first-class transportation for...

-Were you followed here?

-Someone tried. Were YOU?

-No.

Yes, of course - no-one outside of Washington knows you're on this job.

How many know about YOU?

Naturally, the local police chief, name of De Graaf. Besides him...

only Jim Duclos.

Well, neither of them would talk.

Paul, something's bothering you.

Jimmy Duclos is dead.

Shot. Meeting me at the airport.

SHE SIGHS

The police say there was a girl with him.

Could you find out who she was?

I'll try.

Any lead on the man who was following you?

-He went to a warehouse at the docks. Had the name "Morgenstern" outside.

-Morgenstern. Do you want me to go?

No, I'll do it. I want to keep you strictly undercover. Not even the police here must know about you.

These people, whoever they are, are murdering wholesale.

It's going to be a rough one, Maggie.

How's Joanna?

-She's extremely happy.

-That's nice.

Yeah. We got a divorce last year.

I'll get started on looking for Jimmy's girlfriend.

PIPE ORGAN PLAYS LOUDLY

INAUDIBLE

PAPERS ARE SHUFFLED

Freeze.

Don't move.

Put your hands on the table.

Who sent you?

All right...

turn around.

I asked you a question. Who sent you?

Right, put your hands up.

Above your head.

STRAIGHT!

Now, turn around.

Agh!

Oh... Agh!

Now, for the last time, who sent you?

A-A-ARGH!

Agh! Oh...!

Enjoy your meal.

-MALE TOURIST:

-Let me see that book. It should be somewhere around here.

616, please.

-Mr Sherman.

-My key, please.

Thanks.

-We could go on a boat tour of the canals.

-I get sick on boats.

I suppose we shall have to stay in tonight, that's all.

-We could have gone out for a drink.

-That's all you ever think about!

A-A-A-AGH!

Is anybody phoning the police or an ambulance? Get a blanket, will you?

She met Jimmy Duclos two weeks ago. Her name is Astrid Lemay,

and she works at the Bellanova nightclub.

-What does she do - take 'em off?

-I'd say more "puts them on".

-Puts what on?

-The customers.

-She gets them to buy drinks then promises to meet them outside.

-And doesn't?

-Not while

-I

-was watching.

-I want to talk to her.

-I'll find her.

BOAT'S HORN BLOWS

Great Rhine barges... the harbour and docks...

..and, over there, the city itself.

That's our royal palace.

Are you married, Mr Sherman?

-I was.

-Any children?

No.

You're a wise man. This is no world for the innocent.

-What do you mean?

-I'd like to show you something. Come.

Trudi? >

Say hello to Mr Sherman.

-No.

-Then you must go to your room.

-No, Papa!

-Then do as I ask, please.

Hello.

Hello.

Dutch gin. ..Prost!

I don't understand why you brought me here.

She calls me Papa. In fact, she's my brother's daughter.

-He and I worked in Curacao together. He was killed with his wife in a car crash last year.

-(How old is she?)

It's all right - she won't understand this. Officially, 24. Mentally...

four, five - something like that. When she was 16, she was an intelligent young girl.

Then someone introduced her to heroin. Within six months, she was on 5 grams a day.

In a year, she was in an oxygen tent, that far from death. They brought her round, but she lost 12 years.

She left hospital a child again. I suppose for ever.

-Trudi? >

-Yes, Herta?

Come.

Who's she? Her nurse?

The old retainer, you might say. My parents' housekeeper. From the island of Huyler in the Zuider Zee.

-Well, Mr Sherman... do you feel like working tonight?

-Why, of course.

-Good.

MELLOW GUITAR MUSIC

How long have you worked in narcotics, Mr Sherman?

-Too long!

-Yeah, we all feel that way.

They're the coming thing.

Nice kids. No trouble to anyone. Just a harmless evening smoking pot.

And each one is sure he won't get hooked. They think there's still a future!

Within a year, half of them will be on the hard stuff. And NEXT year, three out of every ten will be dead.

Just came in.

Bjorn Gerber, aged 19. I won't show his face - he's been in the canal too long.

Now, this one is... Let's see... HE SNIFFS

..Hans Volstenmeyer. Hold this, please.

16.

Riddled with heroin.

-16.

-What are these bruises?

He fell off a warehouse roof.

-May I?

-Mmm.

-What was he doing up there, I wonder?

-Who knows? Who knows anything with these wrecks?

-Entrepot Docks.

-I'll show you the place if you wish.

-No, I think I'll go to bed, Inspector.

Yes, of course.

BOAT'S HORN BLOWS

WIND WHISTLES

CAT HOWLS, DOG BARKS

"Schulster, New York."

Yeah.

TRAIN RATTLES BY

Bibles.

A souvenir warehouse.

That's odd.

"Marianne".

-Where do you get this book?

-From the man who was following me.

-How's your famous intuition working?

-Very well.

-What does "Marianne" mean, then?

-The name of a boat.

Scotch, please.

Thank you.

-Miss Lemay?

-Yes!

I had to make sure it was you.

Don't go. ..Please, join me.

Who are you? How did you know I was here?

-I was told.

-Well, what do you want?

Jimmy Duclos was a friend of mine.

I simply wanted to meet the last person to speak to him.

-I

-don't know who killed him!

I don't want to know WHO. I want to know WHY.

For the same reason YOU will be if you don't stop asking questions!

CHURCH BELL CHIMES

ORGAN PLAYS SLOWLY

ORGAN PLAYS LOUDLY

Ladies and gentlemen, this statue is of a much later date than the church, and the artist now lives in Italy.

Oh, we must rejoin our bus on the corner of the gardens. We have just enough time for lunch...

Mesdames et monsieurs, alors, venez avec moi...

-She came straight here. The only one she spoke to was some woman in charge.

-What's she like?

-A spinster with a very grim face.

-I'll take a look inside later.

Mr Sherman?

Oh! Hello, Mr Sherman!

Hello, Trudi!

What are you doing here? Are you alone? Where's Herta?

Herta's gone!

Hello!

-Hello.

-Who are you?

-I'm just a tourist.

-Are you Mr Sherman's friend?

-Who?

-I'm Sherman. I'd better take you home, Trudi.

-I don't want to go.

-How about a taxi ride?

-Oh, can we go in a taxi? A taxi!

FUNKY MUSIC

-All right?

-Uh-huh. Champagne.

CONVERSATION INAUDIBLE

Scotch, please.

-I'm not giving him any more money.

-And you're going out to meet him to tell him that?

-He has to understand.

-It can't go on, I'm getting into debt!

-You can have all the money you need for George...and yourself.

I'm always generous when it comes to something...I really want.

PIPE ORGAN PLAYS

George... I need it, I need it!

You asked me to meet you! I know you've got something!

Oh! If you won't give me it, I'll get it somewhere else - but I'll get it!

-Why don't you stop following me?!

-Right, next time, I'll let you get mugged!

He wasn't a thief. He was my brother. Now leave us alone!

SOBBING AND PANTING

HEAVY BREATHING

Oh, God!

Where is it? Where is it? Oh...!

HE SOBS

-Lemay?

-Agh!

< Excuse me...

-is there something wrong?

-No, why?

-I thought I heard noises in the church.

-Church?

-My church. I'm the pastor. I thought someone was in there!

-Not me, Reverend. Haven't been in church in years.

-Is that a friend?

-Yeah.

-What is the matter with him?

-Oh, a few drinks too many, that's all.

-Oh, perhaps I can help?

That's all right. ..Would you mind?

You may not believe this, but I found him in a church.

George, you fool. You bloody fool! Go on - get out!

-Can't you see I'm trying to help you?

-How can YOU help me?

Do you want to spend your life being blackmailed, lead Duclos to his death, get George his fix?

-I didn't know they were going to kill Jimmy!

-But they did.

-You set him up. You were the only one to know he'd be at the airport to meet me.

-What else could I do?!

I can't just let my brother die!

-Why did they kill Duclos? What had he found out?

-I don't know!

-I think you do.

-I don't. I swear I don't!

-You swear easily, don't you?

I was in love with Jimmy.

If you change your mind...

call me at this number.

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

-Sherman!

-Oh, good morning, Colonel.

-I want a word with you.

-What are these men doing?

-I asked for a search at the Morgenstern warehouse.

-Who gave permission?

-Inspector Van Gelder.

-My force has better things to do on a Sunday than to run around playing games!

-It's imperative to our case...

-OUR case?! Since when have

-I

-been consulted?

-Colonel de Graaf,

since I arrived, you've resented my presence. I've reason to believe that this warehouse is linked

with the transportation of heroin to the States! May I get on with it?

Do it quickly.

Thank you, sir.

If it helps...

-Morgenstern's been to prison.

-Thank you. It does.

I'd be grateful if you took charge, Colonel.

That WOULD make it look more official.

-Boy, I hope you know what you're doing!

-I want to give the appearance of a search.

What I really want are the invoices, giving a list of all the suppliers of souvenir items to the warehouse.

Have you seen this, sir?

-Is he in?

-Yes, sir.

-Right, let's go.

-Police, sir. Routine search.

-Wait a minute! Why?

-I apologise for what is, I'm sure, a waste of time.

-But I am interested in that puppet dangling from your hoisting beam.

-What?!

-Come with me. I'll show you.

-150 years, our families have been...have been respected by all the tradesmen in Amsterdam!

-Uh-huh?

-Go on - search! Search all you want.

-Don't you want to know what we're searching FOR?

Why? We have nothing to hide!

-But who put it there, Morgenstern, and why?

-I don't know, sir!

Some maniac! I have to find out. I will dismiss the man responsible.

You do that.

Well, did you get what you wanted?

-Yes.

-You did? ..Morgenstern's never been mixed up with anything as big as drugs before.

-Do you think he knew about that doll up there?

-Yes, I'm sure he did.

-Why?

-I saw him last night with Duclos' girlfriend.

-You didn't tell me that!

-It's her face on the doll.

-Maybe you'd be kind enough to tell me just what you think that means.

You tell ME.

CHILDREN LAUGH AND SHOUT

CONVERSATION INAUDIBLE

INAUDIBLE

I wonder if your ceaseless activities in Amsterdam have taken you across the path of George Lemay.

-Yes, I know him.

-George Lemay was taken in charge last night.

What for?

-For being dead, Sherman.

-What happened?

-One injection too many.

-His heart acknowledged the futility of going on.

-It wasn't murder?

-No!

Surprising, isn't it, since you're involved(?) ..Stop here.

I thought, uh... I thought you might be interested to know.

Thank you, Colonel.

HE KNOCKS AGAIN

-Miss Lemay?

-GLASS BREAKS

SIREN WAILS

20 years in this business... and this kind of insanity still turns my stomach.

I want your report tonight. Yes, sir.

-What kind of man...?

-An addict, if he had to earn his ampoule. Who was she?

-Astrid Lemay, sir.

-Duclos' girlfriend.

-Oh, I'm sorry.

Maybe De Graaf was right.

Death follows me around.

The dolls come from Huyler. So does Herta, and the barge, Marianne.

The heroin is sent, in the dolls, to the Morgenstern warehouse, the main supply centre. From there,

it's dispatched to its distributors abroad, either in the dolls, bibles or pendulum weights of the clocks.

One more thing. The girl, Trudi, always carries one of the dolls.

Could be they're using the kid as an unwitting messenger. ..I'm proceeding to Huyler.

If I fail to make next contact, our schedules suggest Emergency Fatality Procedure.

End of Dispatch Number Three - Sherman, Amsterdam.

-Why did you wait till now to go to Huyler?

-Because today...

..is the 18th.

Oh, I see. 0600 on the 19th. Six o'clock tomorrow morning.

-Right.

-And the other figures are a map reference?

-Very good. You don't miss much, do you?

I missed YOU.

I always meant to write...

but you know how things were.

I understand.

That's Huyler.

The lion's den.

THUNDER RUMBLES

LIGHTNING CRASHES

Paul...

what are you thinking?

I was, um...

-thinking about my ex-wife, as a matter of fact.

-Oh.

Sorry I asked.

I was thinking about how you and she have absolutely nothing in common.

What was she like?

Very affectionate...

-with other men.

-Oh.

My fault. I was never there.

I don't know if I'd like to be married to you or not.

We'll see.

Promises, promises!

-What's there?

-That's what I hope to find out.

-How?

I'm going back to Amsterdam tonight.

Six o'clock on the 19th - it's a rendezvous time.

-I'd bet my...

-My life on it?

The Marianne...

picks up the bulk heroin...

-there, and I want to be there when they make the pick-up. She brings it in here.

-Why here?

Because the Marianne is from Huyler. If I'm right...

-I'll be back in Huyler tomorrow morning.

-And if you're wrong?

Now...

you're a tourist...

..doing the Zuider.

Let's take a look at the other map.

There's a doll factory...

On the north of the island, a quarter of a mile from the castle. There's a moat...

..that surrounds the castle... and a drawbridge.

And, on the south side of the island, there's a hotel...

WIND WHISTLES

A-AGH!

BOAT'S HORN TOOTS

Agh!

Oh...!

CHOKING

COUGHING AND SPLUTTERING

GUNSHOT

ENGINE CHUGS

DISTANT WHIR OF HELICOPTER

-Hello!

-Oh, hello!

-I saw you at the church.

-Yes.

-Mr Sherman was there.

-He's my friend.

-Yes, I remember.

INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION

-Are you here alone?

-Herta had to go away.

-Before she comes back, would you like to see my dolls?

-What kind of dolls?

-They make them on the island.

-Please...let me show them to you.

-I really haven't much time.

-But it's not far to the castle.

-And I haven't any other friends to show them to.

-All right, I'll come.

Please?

FOLK MUSIC PLAYS

Oh...! Dance!

MUSIC CONTINUES

They're lovely.

-Where do you get them?

-They're mine!

Of course they're yours - I'm not going to take them. But you can tell me. I'm your friend.

They're not really mine!

Sometimes I have to give them away to people as...presents.

Trudi...

..let's you and I share a little secret, all right?

Who gives you the dolls?

I do. >

I do.

Trudi...you were told never to bring anyone in here.

But she's my friend.

But so am I! Why don't you leave your two friends together?

-Herta is waiting downstairs.

-Oh, please, I don't want to go.

Please.

You will come and see me again, won't you?

Yes.

Thank you so much for looking after her.

Let me show you a way out. I can find my own way, thank you.

No, not that way. That leads to the courtyard. It would interfere with the dance. Please, this way.

Thank you.

No! No! Oh...!

Let me...go, please! No, no!

Oh, help me! Somebody!

Somebody, please, help me!

No...!

Don't be frightened. Ssh, ssh, ssh!

Don't be frightened.

There's nothing to worry about. Everything's going to be all right.

Look...

No!

No...!

NO!

NO-O-O-O-O!

SHE SCREAMS

SILENCE

CREAKING

MUSIC CONTINUES

You...bastards!

YOU BASTARD...!

CLOCKS TICK

Good morning, Mr Sherman.

Welcome to my castle. I trust you found what you were looking for.

But, uh...we've met, of course, before. Haven't we?

Who killed her?

Ah...

Miss Lemay, you mean?

Well, it amused me...

Also...

she was about to be most indiscreet...

..after her brother died.

-That didn't suit us.

-Who killed Maggie?!

-Hmm?

Oh...

your other young lady. It was your fault she had to die.

Beautiful girl.

I am afraid we recognised her today

as the girl who had attended... one of our services...the other day.

I'm going to kill you, Meegeren.

Isn't it simply beautiful?

And we knew... you'd be along sooner or later.

I'm going to kill you.

Yes...

you are trespassing, my friend.

You also killed two friends of mine.

If only people would live and let live! Interference! Mixing with each other's affairs!

Why do they do it? If you'd stayed out of it, nobody would have got hurt!

I'm going to kill you.

I tried to help the ladies. I did, I...

I did try to make it beautiful for them.

Ah!

You may be interested in the castle guidebook.

Listen...

"You are now in the celebrated Castle of the Clocks -

"the finest collection in Europe...

"some say, in the world. For the entertainment of visitors,

"a recorded device has been installed to give some idea of what it sounds like when every clock strikes...12...

"..simultaneously."

Oh, would you like to hear it, Mr Sherman?

I admit I've adjusted the machine just a little, just for you. ..Agh!

I'm severely displeased with you, Mr Sherman, but I want you to die beautifully.

You're an artist, too.

I'm giving you the best I have.

The most divine sound...

that I love.

-Can you hear me?

-I'm going to kill you and whoever told you to kill Maggie.

VOICE REVERBERATES: I was told the sound can send a man insane in 15 minutes!

And dead in 20!

I wonder how long will you last, Mr Sherman.

We'll try. Try!

CLOCKS TICK LOUDLY

BELLS CHIME

LOUD CUCKOO CLOCK

MORE CLOCKS TICK AND CHIME

VOLUME INCREASES

VOLUME AND PITCH INCREASE

AGH!

HE STRUGGLES AND PANTS

-I am going back to Amsterdam.

-Yes, sir.

-Get rid of the body later.

Agh!

Oh...!

Oh... OH!

CRASH!

FOOTSTEPS

ENGINE ROARS

ENGINE STOPS

SHIP'S HORN SOUNDS

SQUAWK!

GUNSHOT

CLOCK CHIMES IN DISTANCE

BOAT'S HORN SOUNDS

HORN SOUNDS

HORN SOUNDS

BOOM!

PHONE RINGS

Yes?

I see. At the castle?

And Meegeren's dead?

Well, in that case, you'd better go ahead.

No.

No, let me take care of that.

Sergeant?

-Sir?

-I don't want to be disturbed - not by anyone.

-Very good, sir.

-I'll explain in the car.

-Where are we going?

-You want the bastard in charge.

-Yes, but who is it?

-Come on.

TYPING >

Morgenstern?

Are you serious?!

Everything... Everything leads to this warehouse. Meegeren worked for him. They all did.

-Where's your evidence? What have you got?

-Enough.

-Morgenstern!

-Hmm? What do you want?

-Police.

-What do you want?

-You're under arrest.

-Why? On what charge?

-You're under arrest.

-I'm not taking the blame...

GUNSHOT

Good evening...Mr Sherman.

We all knew it wasn't Morgenstern, didn't we?

-We had a good system until YOU came.

-No wonder De Graaf got nowhere.

The distribution going on right under his nose...

in Trudi's doll.

Oh, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every minute of it.

-Most regrettable end to a promising career. I shall say so at your funeral.

-Why, Van Gelder?

Why all of this?

Here's one 60,000 reason why.

-NO!

-GUNSHOTS

LIGHTS!

GUNSHOT

-Where is he?

-He didn't come this way, Sherman.

-The roof!

-He'll make for the river!

-Yeah, if you let him!

Two cars! Block the east gate. We'll take the other end.

SIREN WAILS

-Do we go up, sir?

-No, not yet.

WIND WHISTLES

Sherman! Stop the chain!

Sherman! SHERMAN! Switch it off!

SHERMAN!

Please! For God's sake! Switch it off! Sherman! SHERMAN! SHERMAN!

Please, Sherman! Switch it...

Switch it off! Sherman! Switch it off!

Agh! AGH!

SIREN WAILS