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persuaders71Busy Street outside a nightclub
Brett parks the Aston Martin.Danny
That's it.
Brett
I think I better go in first. Give me a couple of minutes and when you do come in, you don't know me.
Danny
Okay.
+++
inside the nightclub
Brett sings and dances to himself
Bonsoir, Mademoiselle. Comme bien? Je suis seul.
Girl at the cash register
Dix Franc
Brett sits down at a table. When a girl winks at him, he dances with her.
Danny comes in and is recognized by Serena. She gives him a kiss and frisks him.
Danny
Oh, dear?
Hm.
Serena
You are not carrying a gun.
Danny
How can you tell?
Serena
Shall we sit down.
Danny
You like to frisk me again? How about me frisking you?
Serena
We thought you'd love to do business with lots of people around.
Danny
No, not really. Really if you insist.
Brett lays his hand on the cheek of the passing Danny.
Danny
Oh, pardon.
Serena
You may have become suspicious if we'd picked an isolated spot.
Danny
Yeah, I probably would have become suspicious. Now, what would you like to do?
Serena
Have you got it?
Danny
Ah, yes, I've got it, I've got it right here.
Serena
I thought it would be quite… bulky.
Danny
Well, how bulky could it be?
Serena
I don't know, I've never seen it.
Danny
Believe me, it's not very bulky.
Serena
Here is our side of the deal.
Danny
Oh, yeah…
Serena
It's all there.
She hands him an envelope
Danny
Thank you very...
Serena
Uh, what about your side of it?
Danny
Oh, crafty creature. Have it right here in my pocket.
He hands her an envelope and both look at the contents
Excuse me, but this is money, right?
Serena
So is this.
Danny
Why? I am not here to buy any money. I mean, I've got money.
Serena
The lines crossed here somewhere.
Danny
I'll say there is, but why would I buy money?
Serena
What are you selling?
Danny
I'm not selling anything, I buying, that's why I brought the money. I mean…
Serena
No, I’m buying!
Danny
Then, whoever's selling, isn't selling. Right? I mean… I got an idea. You know what we ought to do? Let's go to the door and come in again where you were frisking me. I'm sure… where are you going?
Serena
Just wait a minute.
Danny takes both envelopes.
Well, I hold on to this to make sure you come back. And don't let me catch you frisking anybody.
Brett
What on earth is happening?
They dance!
Danny
I met the most wonderful frisk.
Brett
Oh, I believe you.
Serena points out Danny to Grosky and another man, dressed like a native American. They walk past the dancing Brett to Danny, who is dancing with a lady.
Grosky
Excuse me, a minute please. Nah, just… ah, yes.
He is manhandling Danny to look at his face and addresses the lady.
Would you go away, please.
Danny
Oh, excuse us for a minute.
Grosky
I believe… excuse me, I believe there been some misunderstanding.
Danny
I'm… I'm just looking for the guy that try to kill me, and I'm willing to pay for that information. That's all. Excuse me.
He turns back to the lady, but Grosky is patting him again on the shoulder.
Grosky
I wish to buy the bird.
Danny
What bird?
Grosky
Shows him the picture in the newspaper
This bird here, the bird you got in your hands. This one.
Danny
That is not my bird, the guy standing behind the photographer. It's… it was his bird. He dropped it, I picked it up and they took a photograph of it. That's the whole story.
Grosky
You mean, this is an error?
Danny
Yes, that’s what it is.
Grosky
Damn, those are fools.
Danny
They really are fools about it.
Brett identifies another accomplice of Grosky. He pretends to be ill and follows the criminal to the entrance stairs.
Grosky
I'm afraid, Mr. Wilde, that this error is… going to have to be rectified.
Danny
Right, well. Here is your money. Rectify it.
The 'Native American' points a gun at Danny, but Grosky pulls his hand down.
Grosky
No, not here. What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?
Danny
With all the people around here….
Grosky
I'm afraid, Mr. Wilde ...
Danny
Yeah?
Grosky
…I ‘m sorry to say….
Danny
Yes, what?
Grosky
You, ahm, already… know too much about this.
Danny
Well, I don’t really think so, but that's alright. Whatever you say.
Grosky
I want you to understand that.
Danny
Yes.
Grosky
I don't like doing this to you. You understand?
Danny
Yes, I understand that.
Grosky
So I tell you what I want you to do. I want you to go towards those stairs, you understand?
Danny
Yeah, right.
Grosky
Now remember, there's going to be a gun on you all the way.
Danny
Right.
Grosky
So, no nonsense.
Danny
Here, that's yours.
Grosky
Oh, thank you.
Danny
Yes, right.
Grosky
You go ahead.
Danny goes over the dance floor and suddenly scatters the bills. It creates turmoil. He runs up the stairs and Brett kicks the accomplice down the stairs. He wants to get out, but Danny holds him back.
Danny
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Brett
What for?
Danny
The money.
Danny hops down the stairs, punches Grosky and grabs the envelope full of cash from him.
Danny
Thank-you.
He runs up the stairs to an applauding Brett.
Brett
Cabaret time over?
Danny
Come on Your Highness.
Brett
That was beautiful.
They leave the nightclub.
+++
Castle of the Comte de Marceau, Living room
GroskyA farce. Your stupidity has made me look foolish.
Comte Marceau
After seeing the photograph, it was a logical assumption to believe that Wilde had the bird.
Grosky
In my business I need certainties, not assumptions.
Comte Marceau
And I need assistance and not criticism. We've lost time, we need to move quickly now.
Verner
Move? But where? We have no idea of the identity of the man who has the bird.
Comte Marceau
Perhaps, but we do know that there are only two people in the world, who would be interested in purchasing it. Myself ...
Verner
And the daughter of the Marquis de Villeigne.
Comte Marceau
Precisely. When he makes his approach to her, we shall know of it.
+++
Hotel Plaza Athene, Danny's Suite 405
Danny and Brett are sitting together at the dining table and eating breakfast.Danny
A bird. All this is happening, because of a bird.
Brett
That is the seventh time you said that.
Danny
A bird. They try to kill me because of a bronze bird.
Brett
It only goes to prove, how dangerous it can be to go around picking up strange birds.
Danny
It’s a case of mistaken bird, ah, mistaken identity.
Brett
I had an ancestor once who was mistaken for someone else.
Danny
I've got news for you, I don't want to hear about it.
Brett
Oh, the Marquise de Castlehey.
Danny
Oh, really?
Brett
You don't finish your eggs?
Danny
No, no. Eat it. Keep your mouth shut.
Brett switches their plates and starts to eat Danny's scrambled eggs.
No, it was ages ago, the time of the French Revolution ...
Danny
I don't want to hear about it.
Brett
He and his wife were doing the Grand European Tour and when they got here to Paris, the carriage was surrounded by a mob of angry, revolting peasants. You see, my ancestor bore a most canning resemblance to Ludwig, the fifteenth. Before he could deny the fact, the mob dragged him off to the Guillotine.
Danny
Did that really happen?
Brett
Hmm. Here.
He leans Danny's head on the table, holding the empty plate over him.
There he was with his head on the block. The blade poised to fall...
Danny
Right.
Brett
Get up ... when his wife burst through the mob and explained the entire situation.
Danny
She saved his life, ha?
Brett eats the eggs
Ahah. She couldn't speak French. She married again shortly afterwards.
Danny
You do that to me every time and I let him get away with it.
Brett
Well now, let's get down to solving your case. The facts, as I see: you bumped into a man.
Danny
Excuse me, you got the facts wrong. This man bumped into me. His case fell open, I reached out and picked up his stuff.
Brett
And got photographed in the process.
Danny
Right, holding this bronze bird.
Brett
It's apparent to me, that the man they really want, is the one you bumped into.
Danny
Oh, exactly.
Brett
Which one's he in the picture?
Danny
Well he is hid by the photographer. You can’t see him.
Brett
That's a great pity.
Danny
Yes, it is.
Brett
Because he is the key to the whole thing. You must find him.
Danny
How am I gonna find a man I saw for a couple of seconds in Paris? I mean, you gotta be kidding.
Brett
I saw a film. Here…
Danny
That’s the wrong paper.
Brett looks in the newspaper
By George, I've got it.
Danny
I think you've got it. Got what?
Brett goes to the door.
Come on ... Come on.
Danny
She couldn't speak French.
Brett
Who?
Danny pushes Brett out the door.
Well, the Duke of Dukesparing or whatever her name is.
++++
Street outside the Hotel Plaza Athene, the old Rolls-Royce
Comte MarceauYou sure this device will work?
Grosky
Of course it will work. I use only the most sophisticated electronic equipment.
Comte Marceau
You searched the whole place thoroughly?
Grosky
Yes. This morning they went down for breakfast. The girl has not got the bird. ... listen, listen.
They overhear the following conversation.
Suzy
Hello?
Bird-dealer
I am ready to talk business now, Mrs. Wagner. Why don't we meet.
Suzy
When and where? Just tell me that.
Bird-dealer
One hour from now. Apartment 9, Bois du Seine
+++
Photographer darkroom
A young photographer develops a picture with an address.Brett
A briefcase fell on the ground. Some of the letters fell out of it. This is an enlargement of an address that was on one of the letters.
Photographer
Excuse me.
Danny has more eyes for the photographer than the picture.
It's wonderful. Hm, excellent.
Photographer
That is about as big as I can enlarge the section.
Danny
Wonderful.
Photographer
Any good?
Danny
Oh, excellent. 9 Bois du Seine…
++++
Road, Aston Martin
They drive along the street and the old Rolls-Royce goes the other way. Brett parks his car.Danny
There is number nine.
Brett
Enough and pretty grotty. Fold up your map, pathfinder.
Danny
Okay.
They go inside and climb a staircase.
Brett
Puh, the smell is awful.
Danny
Are you kidding? Smell it’s ambrosia., ahh.
Brett
You sure some of your aunts didn't pack that food parcels here?
Danny
Very funny, very, very funny.
Brett
Ath. What makes you think that it's up there?
Danny
Well, there is a door.
Brett
I believe in starting at the top.
Suzy
Ahh!
Suzy runs out of the door into the stairwell and throws herself into Danny's arms.
Oh Danny. I don't want to go inside. It's horrible.
Brett looks into the room.
Daniel! Daniel, please.
Brett goes in the room and finds a corpse. Suzy and Danny follow inside.
Suzy
There.
Danny
Shh.
Brett
Daniel, if you wish my qualified opinion, this is a very, very dead corpse. Is it the bird-man? Oh, I mean: was it the bird-man?
Danny
Yeah, that's him, alright.... Oh, it looks like the bird is flown too.
Brett
Would you mind if I ask your friend a few questions?
Danny
Oh, ask her anything you want. Go ahead. My friend is your friend. Go right up ahead and ask her.
Brett
Mrs. Wagner, um …
Danny
Who was it?
Brett starts to polish the door handle with his handkerchief.
Suzy
I never knew his name. He kept telephoning me. So I arranged to meet him. But when I arrived he… he was like that.
Brett
Well, if you forgive an impertinent question. Why did you want to meet him?
Suzy
Because he said, he could prove my father's innocence.
Brett
Innocence? Innocence of what?
Suzy
Haven't you heard the story?
Danny
No, he doesn't know it. Tell him the story.
Brett
I make it a golden rule not to listen to gossip. Why don't you fill me in on the facts.
Suzy
There's not much to it, really. After the fall of Berlin some papers were found, secret papers. They prove that a titled member of the French government was a traitor. Someone who helped resume the French surrender.
Danny
So, they made her father the fall guy.
Suzy
You see there was going to be hearing but he killed himself before it happened. And they took it as an admission of his guilt.
Brett
Did you know this?
Danny
I know everything.
Brett
Well. What was the evidence if any that he had?
Suzy
I don't know. He only told me he was willing to sell it to me for a lot of money. I just came in through here and… First I did not see him, but then I went around the bed and… I saw that he was dead.
Brett
Well, Daniel, unless you took a crash course in pathology, I don't think there is anything for us to do ... excuse me ...
He is busy cleaning the surface of the suitcase with his handkerchief.
Danny
What are you doing?
Brett
I saw a film once, fingerprints, fingerprints.
Danny
I'm wearing gloves .... Stanley.
Brett sighs
Oh, I wish I'd never seen the film.
++++
Castle of the Comte de Marceau, Living room
Comte MarceauHe signed it, Verner. Look, see his hand actually touched it.
Verner
May I?
Comte Marceau
Careful with it.
Verner
He did you great honor, Sir.
Grosky
Yes, but he also put you in a spot. Ha? I mean, if that had got into the wrong hands, they would have hanged you. And that is a very vulgar way to die.
Verner
So many years waiting, searching.
Comte Marceau
And now it's mine. And to think that he signed it.
Verner
But we must destroy it.
Comte Marceau
Destroy this? Destroy it. Yes, of course. It will have to be destroyed.
+++
Hotel Plaza Athene, Danny's Suite 405
Brett and Danny lying on the sofa, drinking champagne. Brett is smoking a cigar.Brett
The Rolls Royce.
Danny
Where? What?
Brett
That's the common factor. There is always a common factor.
Danny
What are you talking about?
Brett
This may seem pretty vague, but I think I'm on to something. Give me a little bit more champagne.
Danny
Yeah, right, pal. I need it.
He pours champagne for Brett.
Brett
You remember the man I chased out on the street, who got shot?
Danny
Aaaah, I'll never forget him.
Brett
Well, parked just down the street was a Rolls Royce.
Danny
Well, ah.. there're a lot of Rolls-Royces in the neighborhood, you know that. There’s nothing…ahm.
Brett
Not like this. It was an old red Sedanca De Ville. I think I saw it again today.
Danny
Where?
Brett
It was parked just down the street from where the bird-man was killed.
Danny
Well, maybe we can trace it, maybe we can find it. Or something, ha?
Brett
No, them. Them. There's bound to be more than one. I tell you, who help us.
Danny
Who's that?
Brett
There's a man in Paris who looks after my uncle Charles's Rolls-Royces when he is on the continent.
Danny
Oh nice, oh nice for him, hm.
Brett
Even when he's not.
Danny
Hm, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I check out that Marquis de Villeigne. Is that his name?
Brett
Yes.
Danny
Yes.
Brett
Oh, by the way, Daniel. Did I ever told you about my Uncle Charles?
Danny
Your uncle Charles… you told me a lot about your uncle Charles.
Brett
Fourteen Rolls Royces and ...
Danny
... fourteen wives too, from what I understand.
Brett
Ah yes, that's fine.
Danny
You can say that.
They leave the suite.
++++
Hotel Plaza Athene, Danny's Suite 405
Danny reads VERY fast in filesDanny
If you haven't got a gun, come in.
Brett comes in.
Hey pal, I got absolutely nothing here.
Brett
Well, I obtained a list. But not much help, it reads like a list of the French four hundred. The Duke de Valaise, Comtess Ferenaque, Le Comte Marceau, Baron Coreaux, the Duchesse Severaise, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Danny
Wait a minute. I ran across one of these names a minute ago.
Brett
Now, what about the Marquis de Villeigne, anything new?
Danny
No nothing. Nothing new. We knew every … wait a minute. Here it is, look. Count Cement Marceau was a member of the government at the time of the capitulation. That means, he served with Suzy's old man, right?
Brett
It was a link, I suppose, but a very tiny one.
Danny
We haven't got anything else, have we, pal? What's his address, do you know?
+++
Castle of the Comte de Marceau, Living room
VernerIt's time for you to go to bed, Sir.
Comte Marceau
Yes. Yes, Verner to bed. I'm cold, Verner, I'm cold.
Verner
The bird, Sir?
Comte Marceau
It's gone, Verner. Gone. The furnace. It's just so much molten metal now. So. No one can touch me now. No one.
++++
Castle of Comte de Marceau in the garden
BrettWell, shall we? I really should have my head examined. Trashing around in the middle of a french jungle.
Danny
Hey. Hey, this way.
Brett
This way.
Danny
No, no, no. This way, it's this way ...
Brett
What are you talking about... This is obviously the quickest way.
Danny
It's this way.
Brett
Oh, Daniel, would you kindly defer for my obviously superior wisdom…
Danny
Why pal are you using these big words? We could be in there. This is the way. You wanna bet?
Brett
You know I'm sick and tired of taking your money.
Danny
You wanna bet, bet, bet?
Brett
Same conditions?
Danny
You got it. Same as always. Ready, get, set, go.
Danny runs through the park and throws a wooden bench as a bridge into a water canal.
++++
Castle of the Comte de Marceau, Living room
Danny sneaks into the living room and finds Brett with a drink sitting on a sofa.Brett
I thought you'd never get here. I win.
Danny
How'd you get here so fast?
Brett
I've simply rung the front door bell.
Danny
Well, that's cheating.
Brett
It's certainly not.
Danny
Yes, it is.
Brett
However you will be happy to know, Daniel, that my plan has one little flaw.
Danny
Yeah, what is it?
Brett
Him.
Grosky
Good evening.
Danny
Good evening, nice to see you again.
Brett
I presume you're wondering why I didn’t warn you…
Danny
Yeah.
Brett
…but he made all sorts of threats about wanting to kill me and you know sensitive I am about dying.
Danny
Yes, of course I know. Well, what are we gonna do now?
Brett
Ask him.
Grosky
Oh, I tell you. I am going to usher you through the doors of eternity, or I should help you shuffle off this mortal coil.
Brett
I think he is going to kill us.
Danny
I think so, yeah.
Grosky
Oh, yes, yes, yes. But with great beauty and dignity.
Danny
Oh, excuse me, if it's all the same to you, we rather not go in any event.
Brett
Yes. May I have one for the road?
Grosky
Please, help yourself.
Danny
Excuse me, can I ask you a question?
Grosky
Yes.
Danny
What made that bird so important?
Verner comes up behind him and hits him in the back.
Verner
Shut up!
Danny
Oahh.
Brett
Ask a silly question, Daniel ...
Verner
So you've got them both. Well, there is a nice old well in the garden. Very deep.
Brett pours his glass full of Cognac.
Grosky
Oh, that's very good indeed. Now, gentlemen, excuse me, will you come along with us, please?
Brett
Cheers?
Danny
Cheers.
Brett pours the cognac into the open fireplace, resulting in a spreading fire. The deflection works and Danny fights with Verner, while Brett struggles with Grosky. Verner shoots twice and hits Grosky who falls on the sofa.
Grosky to Brett
This is not the way to go. This is not beautiful. This is not right.
He dies. Danny takes the gun from Verner.
The Comte enters the room.
Comte Marceau
Verner! Verner!
Verner
Monsieur Le Comte, I beg of you, say nothing, say nothing. There is no evidence…
He discovers the statue in the arms of the Comte.
You fool. You stupid, old fool.
Comte Marceau
I could not destroy it. He signed it.
Danny takes the statue and throws it to Brett
Excuse me. You read German, what's it say?
Brett
Roughly translated it says: to the Comte Marceau for his role in making France part of the glorious fatherland. You read signatures?
He throws the statue back to Danny.
+++
Hotel Plaza Athene, Wagner Suite
Suzy holds the statueOh Danny, I ... I don't know how to thank you. It's wonderful, you're wonderful.
She hugs and kisses Danny.
Brett
She just thought of a way. Daniel, with your luck her husband will come walk in.
Mr.Wagner puts his hand on Danny's shoulder. Brett puts his hand on Frank's.
Suzy
Oh.
Brett
Oh. Daniel. That is not my hand.
Mr.Wagner aims for Danny but beats Brett, who falls back on the sofa.
Danny
Now will you stop punching people…
Mr.Wagner hits Danny, who also falls backwards next to Brett, tumbling the sofa over.
Suzy
Listen, you can't do that. But Frank! Oh, I'm sorry.
Frank Wagner
Come on.
Suzy leaves the statue on a table.
Please, forgive me. Frank, you have to understand. This can't be..
Frank Wagner drags his wife out of the room.
Danny and Brett – who still holds his cigar – lay side by side on the overturned sofa.
Danny
Oh, I am going to a monastery.
Brett
Ha, count me out. There's no girls there.
Danny
The one I'm going to, does.
Brett
Oh, in that case, I might join you.
They shake hands.
end
Final credits
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