02x03 - Cell 13

[bunniefuu]

[Wind whistling]

[Dogs barking]

days solitary,
days loss of privileges,

days loss of remission.

- Take him down.
-Sir.

- And, number ...
-Sir.

...no need to feel too badly
about it.

No one's succeeded in escaping
from Grangemoor yet.

The fact is that nobody can.

- Carry on.
-Sir.

- Carry on, Number Two.
-Prisoner, escort, hut!

Prisoner, escort, right, turn!

Prisoner, escort, by the front
right wheel, quick, march.

Left, right, left, right,
left, right, left, right, low!

Prisoner, escort.

One on, sir.

[Clears throat]

Oh, don't mind if I do, sir.

Well, sir, I think we can
congratulate ourselves.

Again.

[ Chuckles ]

In late Victorian times,
there lived many detectives --

the rivals
of Sherlock Homes.

VAN DUSEN:
The man's a fool.

Nothing is impossible.

The mind is the master
of all things?

Precisely.

Philosophically speaking,

in the sense that stone walls
do not a prison make.

Literally speaking.

FIELDING:
Come, now, Professor.

No man can think his way
out of a cell

in a maximum-security prison.

A man can so apply his mind
and ingenuity

so that he can leave one,
which amounts to the same thing.

Let's be quite clear about this.

I am.

Fielding, what would you say
was the most secure prison

for which you're responsible?

Grangemoor, without question.

I've had all sorts
of modern devices fitted there,

including electricity
and arc lamps,

an idea that I culled
from our American cousins.

No man could escape from the
condemned cell at Grangemoor,

Cell .

[ Chuckles ]

Stuff and nonsense.

Are you saying
that you could do so?

Certainly.

Provided you were allowed to
take in the necessary tools.

Lock me in Cell
or any other cell in Grangemoor

or any other prison

with nothing
but the clothes I'm wearing.

I'll escape in a week.

You would think yourself out?

I'd get out.

Are you serious?

I usually am.

You see?

Yes, Ransome.

Professor, I'd heard that you'd
been making some such claims.

I was anxious to meet you

because, as the architect
responsible for advising

the prisoner commissioners
on security,

you must realize
that statements of that kind

are damaging
to my professional reputation.

It's not my fault

if your reputation's founded
on a fallacy.

You wouldn't care to prove that,
I suppose?

Why not?

You'll agree to being locked
in Cell of Grangemoor Prison

and treated exactly as though
you were a condemned man?

Certainly,
provided you can obtain

the consent of the Prison
Commissioners to the experiment.

Oh, I can speak
for the Home Office.

I've already arranged it
with the Prison Commissioners,

subject to you signing
a general indemnity.

VAN DUSEN:
Indemnity?

Well, they're bound
to protect themselves,

you know,
in case anything goes wrong.

It won't,
not from my point of view.

Thank you.

Here.

Good.

Well, Professor,
shall we make a start?

I shall be ready tomorrow.

- No, now.
-Now?

You don't seem to understand.

You have elected to make a claim

which is damaging
to my reputation

and a danger
to public confidence.

You have volunteered
to substantiate that claim.

Show the courage
of your convictions.

[ Chuckles ]

Very well, then.
Now.

Oh, one stipulation --
no prison clothing.

Oh? What will you wear?

As little as possible.

Shoes, stockings...

...and a shirt.

And naturally,
a pair of trousers.

You will permit yourself
to be searched, I suppose.

I am to be treated precisely
like any other prisoner.

No more attention and no less.

Good.

Perhaps I may use your telephone
to alert the prison governor.

VAN DUSEN:
By all means.

In the meantime,
I'll get changed.

You won't mind if I inspect
your wardrobe, Professor?

[ Chuckles ]

FIELDING: His Majesty's Prison
at Grangemoor.

Yes, it is on the telephone.

Cape...

Ah.

...hat...

and a pair of shoes.

FIELDING:
Ready?

I must just make
some arrangements

with my housekeeper.

Oh, in your presence, naturally.

FIELDING:
Very well.

VAN DUSEN: Oh, Perkins,
it is now minutes past : .

Well, sir?

I am going away.

At half past : precisely,
one week from now,

these two gentlemen
and possibly two others

will take supper here
with me.

In the meantime,
I shall not be needing these.

[ Exhales ]

- Oh, and, Perkins?
-Sir?

VAN DUSEN: Dr. Ransome here is
particularly fond of artichokes.

All right, then.

- Quite ready?
-If you are.

By all means.

Thank you.

How did the governor take it?

Calmly, although I will allow

he sounded a trifle bemused,
poor man.

[ Chuckles ]

Quite frankly, sir,
I don't like the idea.

"Ours is not to reason why,"
Chief.

What's the point, sir?

I must confess.
I'm not entirely clear.

But if the prison commissioners,
in their wisdom,

deem it necessary,
we must bow beneath.

[Hooves clopping]

Whoa.

[Bell ringing]

It seems they're
at the main gate, Chief.

Sir.

This the party?

Yes, Chief.

Let him in.

This way, gentlemen.

Three on top.

Three on.

Good evening.

This way.

Chief Prisoner Officer

and party of three
from the Prison Commission.

- Four on, sir.
-Four on.

Come in.

- Ah.
-Governor.

- Mr. Fielding.
-You know Dr. Ransome.

- Yes, indeed.
-Good evening.

And this is...

FIELDING:
Professor Van Dusen.

How do you do?

Welcome to Grangemoor,
gentlemen.

Do sit down.
Chief, another chair.

The professor is to be
your prisoner for a week.

If you can manage to keep me.

I see.

You understand,
he has committed no crime.

The exercise is in the nature
of an experiment.

- And its object?
-FIELDING: Our own protection.

"Our"?

Yours and mine.

The professor has been putting
it about that our claims

as to the security of Grangemoor
are unfounded --

in short, that he can escape.

-[ Scoffs ]
-Quite so.

Nonetheless, you will appreciate
how important it is

that we should prove him wrong.

And is he to be treated --

Like any other prisoner.

Then I don't anticipate
any problems, do you, Chief?

- None, sir.
-Good.

- Search him, sir?
-If you please.

Coat.

Collar and tie, sir.

Are you sure you want to
go ahead with this?

Would your friend here
be convinced if I didn't?

No, I wouldn't.

Well, then.

[ Coughs

Spectacles, sir.

I'm blind as a bat without them.

He can keep his spectacles.

Mm, thank you.

We'll have those later, sir,
and the studs.

Clean as a whistle, sir.

Quite finished?

Is there any way

that he can communicate
with anybody outside?

None.

You understand that,
as a high-risk prisoner,

you'll not be permitted
writing materials of any kind.

Oh, yes.

Your officers wouldn't deliver
a message from him.

It'd be worth more than
their lives are worth, sir.

You can rest assured, gentlemen,
that they will report to me

anything that he says
and turn over to me anything

that he might give them.

Satisfied?

Oh, of course, in the event

that he admits defeat
and asks for his liberty,

you understand
that you are to free him.

I understand.

I would like to make
three small requests.

You may grant them or not,
as you wish.

No special favors.

Oh, no, no, no, nothing special.

I should like some tooth powder.

Provide it yourself to make sure
that it is tooth powder.

Do we have any, Chief?

Try the infirmary.

VAN DUSEN:
Thank you.

[Keys jingling]

CHIEF: Tooth powder
for the prisoner number !

MAN:
Very good, Chief.

GOVERNOR:
And next?

Well, I would appreciate
a little money -- say, £ .

Is there anyone here
he could bribe with £ ?

Not with £ , sir.

Nor even £ , .

I haven't got it.
Have you?

Just about.

Yes.

Ah, you are too kind.
And now perhaps we --

GOVERNOR: Let us get down to
the condemned cell, gentlemen.

- Chief, lead the way.
-Sir.

Professor.

Gentlemen.

Prison Governor, Chief Prison
Officer, party of three!

MAN:
Five on, sir!

Five on.

- Five on, sir.
-Five on.

Prison Governor, Chief Prison
Officer, party of three.

- Five on.
-Five on, sir.

Prison Governor, Chief Prison
Officer, party of three.

- Five on, sir.
-Five on.

Prison Governor, Chief Prison
Officer, party of three.

Five on, sir.

Open up, Number Two.

Welcome to Cell , gentlemen.

Yes, it's very nice.

Didn't you have a third request?

Indeed, I did.

I should like to have
my shoes polished.

Good God above.

Well, it seems harmless enough,
if a little odd.

Chief?

Number Two.

Get a move on, Number Two!

Chief, I take it
you've searched the cell.

From top to bottom
the moment you telephoned.

Nobody could enter or leave
with my permission, sir.

Well, I counted
seven steel doors

between here and the main gate.

No one --
not even the governor --

has got keys to more than two,
sir.

Spreads the risks.

And my office
is at the end of the corridor

so that I can be
immediately alerted.

Ah.
Satisfied?

- What's that noise?
-[ Squealing]

Well, it sounds to me like rats.

Yes, well, I --

Our business is security,
not hygiene.

Oh, quite.

Shoes.
Tooth powder, Chief.

Oh, thank you.

And that's your lot.

You're in a cell now,
not a hotel room.

Well.

Well, we'll say good night,
then, sir.

- Good night.
-Good night.

Good night.

Oh, Governor, would you tell me
the exact time?

- Just gone : .
-Thank you.

I'll join these gentlemen

in the governor's office
one week from now,

at half past : , precisely.

And if you don't?

There's no "if" about it.

[Keys jingling]

[ Locks rattling]

Oh, good morning.

On your feet.

Give me those.

Lock up.
Unlock when I tell you.

MAN:
Right, Chief.

Oh, tell me, do you serve

all the prisoners' breakfasts
personally?

You don't speak,
not till you're spoken to.

And when you are,
you stand to attention.

NOW!

And when you do open
your horrible mouth,

you say, "sir," every time.

Understand?

Mm. Sir.

Right.

Here.

Oh. Thank you.

-"Sir."
-Sir.

- Wrap yourself round that.
-What?

Eat!

All right,
you've had your bit of fun.

Now shut up and pay attention.

The powers that be and you
are playing games, right?

Well, I'm not, on account of
it's me who'll carry the can

if anything goes wrong.

And I'm not having that

'cause I've only got three years
to go till my pension,

and I don't intend to lose it

because of some half-baked
experiment dreamed up by a --

Well, never mind.

- Clear?
-Sir.

Right.

Here's the score, then.

Through there,
you've got seven locked doors.

Steel doors, mind.

And in case you have any ideas
in that direction,

them bars is steel.

And outside them
is yards of clear ground.

It's lit all night
and watched day and night,

at the end of which
there's foot of wall

so smooth an ant couldn't find
a fingerhold.

Mm, I'm impressed.

Never mind the sarcasm.

And the routine's set

so's you don't have a chance
to cook up anything fancy.

: midday, : meals,

: governor's inspection,
then lights out.

In between times,
at least once an hour,

me or one of my lads
will be having a look at you

through that Judas window there.

And if we see anything the least
little bit suspicious...

Are you threatening me, sir?

Mm.

Why, what ever gave you
that idea?

I'm just explaining.

- You can't escape.
-Oh.

Give up the idea,

and there's no reason
why we shouldn't get along fine.

[ Chuckles ]

Finished?

Number Two!

[ Lock rattling]

He got the message, then?

I hope so.

I'm lovely with dogs and
children, though, ain't I?

Oh, yeah.

I'm gonna be seeing
a lot of you.

[Door closes]

[Rat squealing]

[Shoe tapping]

Gotcha!

What's that you got?

Something rather interesting.

Would you care to see it?
It's a field rat.

[ Rat squeals]

Ugh!

[ Keys jingling, lock rattling]

Stand by
for governor's inspection.

Cell , prisoner present
and ready for inspection, sir.

- At ease, Number Two.
-Sir.

- Still here, then?
-For the moment.

"Sir."

- All right, Chief.
-Sir.

They tell me
you've been catching rats.

Yes.

He'll be starting a flea circus
next.

Don't you think you should set
about attempting your escape?

After all,
you've only six days left.

Look here,
you stick to your job.

I'm quite capable of doing mine.

GOVERNOR:
Pay no attention, Chief.

If you say so, sir.

Bravado is the first refuge
of a beaten man.

I feel almost sorry for you,
really.

Thank you.

One's own words make an
indigestible diet, don't they?

Yes, I'll remind you of that.

Still, you've brought it all on
yourself.

Good night.

You watch yourself when
you're speaking to the governor.

- Chief.
-Sir!

[Door closes, keys jingling]

Dash it.

[Knock on door]

Come in.

First attempt, sir.

GOVERNOR:
What is it?

One of the lads found it
on the ground

outside the window of Cell ,
sir.

"Finder of this,

please deliver
to Dr. Charles Ransome,

Devonshire Place."

Why Dr. Ransome?

What I want to know, sir, is
where'd he get the pen and ink?

Hmm.

Let's see what he has to say,
shall we?

What is it, sir -- Greek?

GOVERNOR:
Cipher, more like.

Come on.

[Keys jingling]

Ah!

Give me your shirt.

May I ask why?

Don't argue!

Put this one on.

Ah, your men brought you those.

Whose side you think they're on?

What does it mean?

Whose side do you think I'm on?

Never mind.
I'll get it deciphered.

- Where's the pen and ink?
-[ Chuckles ]

- Ransack the cell, Chief.
-Ah.

Nothing, sir.

No.

Well, writing notes on shirts
won't get you out of here.

That's certain.

Yes, I'll remind you of that,
too.

And whatever
you've used to write with

won't show up on your new shirt.

If he gets out of here, sir,
damn it, I'll resign.

Can I have that in writing?

Come on, Chief.

[Door closes, keys jingling]

[Keys jingling]

Ah.

It's a random check, sir.

Oh?

- Chief's orders.
-Ah.

Tell me.
Who attends to those arc lamps?

MAN: The local
electricity company, sir.

Oh, you don't have
your own supply?

No.

VAN DUSEN:
Ah.

I just thought
it would be cheaper for you.

It's none of my business.

VAN DUSEN:
Mm.

Anyway, I'm not here
to answer questions.

You've bitten off a bit more
than you can chew, haven't you?

VAN DUSEN: Now, you know,
lam not a criminal.

Well?

VAN DUSEN: I could make it
well worth your while

if you'd help me
to get out of here.

You couldn't.

£ .

Now, I didn't hear that.

£ .

Keep on,
and I'll have to report you.

But I'm not a criminal.

Yes, well,
don't try and make me one.

Even if I wanted to,
which I don't, I couldn't help.

Seven doors
'tween you and freedom,

and I've only got keys
to two of them.

-£ .
-Now, I warned you!

[Door closes, keys jingling]

First a cipher and now
a straight attempt at bribery.

Two attempts in three days, sir.

Yes?

Ah, Number Two, your integrity's
a credit to the service.

Quickly, sir!

- What?
-Cell , sir.

What the devil's he up to
this time?

[Keys jingling]

I'll have that.

No.

What is it, a file?

I don't want to have to have you
searched again.

As you please.

Chief.

From your shoe heel?

Here's the pair, sir.

What's the damage?

[ Chuckles ]

He's made the bottom of one bar
a bit bright, sir.

You didn't seriously think
you could saw your way out?

Not in a twelvemonth.

And now you haven't even
got these.

Ready to admit defeat?

I haven't started yet.

[Door closes, keys jingling]

[Sighs]

Only three days to go, Chief.

Aye, sir.

I think we've got
the measure of him.

Been a perishing nuisance
for all that, sir.

MAN:
Aah!

It's upstairs, sir.

Keep your eyes open,
Number Three.

Chief.

- Two on, sir.
-Two on.

- Two on, sir.
-Two on.

- Two on, sir.
-Two on.

Two on, sir.

Right.
Open up, Number Four.

[Keys jingling]

[ Lock rattling]

Let me out of here.

- Name?
-Ballard, sir.

- Offense?
-Throwing acid, sir.

Get me out of here. Put me
in some other cell, anywhere.

- The woman d*ed, didn't she?
Circumstantial evidence, sir.

They never did get a confession,
or he'd have swung.

Please, sir, I heard --

GOVERNOR:
What's the matter, Ballard?

Just put me in another cell!

GOVERNOR:
What did you hear?

I can't.

Come on, out with it!

- BALLARD: A voice.
-What voice?

-It wasn't human.
-Talk sense, man!

I tell you, it wasn't human!

GOVERNOR:
Inside or outside the prison?

[ Breathing heavily]

Oh, here.
Everywhere.

I heard it.
I heard it!

All right, what did it say?

Answer the governor!

Just get me out!

Who is under here?

Cell , sir.

Wouldn't you know?

- Let's go down there.
-BALLARD: But, sir!

Ballard, any more screaming, and
I'll put you in a padded cell.

But, sir -- sir.

Sir.

Sir!

CHIEF:
What's he up to, sir?

Soundly sleeping.

Where?

On the ground, sir,
outside the window of Cell .

"Only hours to go."

Yes, sir, same material
as last time, sir.

But where he got it...

Where the devil did he get
pen and ink and material?

[Telephone rings]

Yes?

Yes.
I look forward to it.

Safe and sound.

Dr. Ransome and Mr. Fielding

will be with us
tomorrow evening,

provided the prisoner
hasn't escaped.

He won't have, sir.

Well, I don't see how he can,

but I think it's our turn

to arrange a little surprise
for him.

All right!
On your feet!

Oh, not again.

[ Yawns ]

Might I ask the time?

Close on : in the morning.

Good heavens.

Ohh!

CHIEF:
Found something, sir?

Ugh!
One dead rat.

- You, Chief?
-Nothing, sir.

You've less than hours to
escape and no means of doing it.

I'll be there.

He's bluffing, sir.

We'll see, won't we?

If he gets out of there, sir,
he's a perishing magician.

MAN:
Aah! Aah!

Here we go again.

[ Door opens ]

Just stop that voice!

GOVERNOR:
The same voice as last night?

Accusing, accusing, on and on --
"Acid, acid, acid."

All right, I threw it!

But I didn't mean to k*ll her.

There,
you've got your confession.

You'll repeat that
to the police,

in writing, if necessary?

Oh, yes, to anyone, I swear it,

just so's you'll put me
in another cell.

Bryant!

Get this prisoner to Cell ,
west wing,

and telephone the police and
tell him he's ready to confess.

Sir.

- On the double, now!
-Right.

BALLARD:
[ Crying ]

Can you hear anything, Chief?

Not a sound, sir.

Coincidence?

Well, it's got to be,
ain't it, sir?

Let's get some sleep before
we all start imagining things.

[Knock on door]

Come in.

[ Laughs ]
Gentlemen.

- I'm told we've won.
-Yes.

Well, he does still have
a few minutes in hand.

GOVERNOR:
If you ask me, he's given up,

but he gave us a good run
for our money, though,

didn't he, Chief?

- I'll say, sir.
-From all accounts,

he spent most of today
looking out of his cell window.

- Thinking his way out, perhaps.
-[ Laughter ]

Excuse me, Chief.
They're here.

How many?

Four -- three electricians
and a foreman.

All right, let them in.
Make sure only four leave.

Right, Chief.

This came for the governor --
special delivery.

- Right.
-[ Laughter ]

A letter for you, sir.

Ah, what was all that about,
Chief?

We had an arc lamp go outside
the window of Cell , sir.

Confound it,
the man is a hoodoo.

Oh, it's all right, sir.

I've got the electricity people
here.

[Telephone rings]

Governor's.

All right.

There are two reporters
at the main gate

asking leave to see you, sir.

All right, send them up.

Is this the professor's writing?

Well, it certainly seems to be.

Good heavens.

Why? What is it?

An invitation.

He's asked the governor to join
us for supper at his flat...

this evening.

It's posted from outside, too.

- Check the cell, Chief.
-Sir.

[Knock on door]

Come in.

The reporters, sir.

GOVERNOR:
Ah, ah, yes, all right.

Hutchinson Hatch
of the Daily Recorder.

I believe you know my colleague.

I think you'll find, gentlemen,

that I have precisely
two minutes in hand.

All right, sir,
he's still there. I've seen him.

Let's have a look at what
you did see, shall we?

It's a pity
you don't exercise your wits

as vigorously
as you exercise your tongue.

You're suspended,
pending an inquiry.

[Sighs]

When you're looking
for a replacement, Governor,

you'll find his number two
not much brighter,

but incorrigibly honest
and relatively human.

You don't mind if I take
some pictures, do you,

just to round out the story?

How did you do it?

Never believe that you can hold
a man who can use his brains.

However, come on, we mustn't let
Perkins' supper spoil.

[Bells chiming]

Splendid artichokes.

We aim to please.

Will that be all, sir?

Mm, thank you, Perkins.

I'll away to bed, then.

You may close the door, Perkins.

You must excuse her.

Perkins' devotion extends
to taking the keenest interest

in my comings and goings.

Yes, that's something that we
three have in common with her.

[ Chuckles ]

Well, let's make ourselves
comfortable, shall we?

Oh, brandy, port?

Help yourselves, gentlemen.

Oh, and cigars.

Governor?

Fielding?

Come on, Professor,
don't keep us on tenterhooks.

For heaven's sake, man.

You admit it was a fair test?

Damn it, yes.

And I asked for nothing

that you would have refused
any condemned man?

Except, of course, the money.

Oh, good heavens, you knew
I had undertaken to escape.

I think, on balance,
that £ was a fair exchange

against
all the additional precautions

that you were bound to take.

How did you manage it?

Well, you will recall

that I wished to delay the start
of the experiment that evening.

Because you wanted to establish
contact with the outside?

Not at all.

I knew that my first night there
would be largely wasted.

On? Why?

Well, I wasn't able to examine
my situation till daylight.

Now,
your Chief Prison Officer --

like all stupid people, he
volunteered more than he knew.

Before he'd finished speaking,

I abandoned the idea
of trying to pass

through seven locked
steel doors.

Instead, I turned my attention
to the window and the yard.

I observed first that the wires

from the arc light
nearest to my cell

appeared to lead
towards the building,

from which I deduced that they
must pass close by my window.

I heard children's voices.

I saw a kite -- all of which
lead me to the conclusion

that beyond the outside wall,

there was liable to be
some wasteland

used by children
as a playground.

Well, just then, a rat
interrupted my deliberations,

reminding me that Cell
was infested with the creatures.

There was a gap
at the foot of the door.

Yet, when I startled it,
the rat didn't use that.

It disappeared, nonetheless.

I knew, then, however small,
there had to be another means

by which they could enter
and leave my cell.

In due course, I found it.

- Next...
-Gotcha!

...I caught one.

[ Rat squeals]

What's that you got?

VAN DUSEN:
Something rather interesting.

Would you care to see it?
It's a field rat.

Ugh!

Your man's disgust blinded him

to the significance
of my discovery.

It was a field rat.

Therefore, it must have come
from outside the jail.

Ergo, there was a direct link

between Cell
and the outside world.

You're not going to tell us
that you escaped down a rathole?

Yes and no.

But I anticipate.

My first task was to distract
the governor --

hence, the notes written
on pieces of linen,

torn from my shirt.

I see you have them there.

What does it mean?

Oh, well, read them backwards,
beginning with the letter T

and disregarding the division
into words.

GOVERNOR:
"This is not the way

I intend to escape."

But what did you use
to write with?

Oh.

Spit and shoe black was my ink.

And your pen?

- The metal tip of a shoelace.
-Ah.

But why the second note?

And your attempt to bribe
the prison officer?

Distractions, all.

But I'd removed your shirt.

Yes.

The bosoms
of all stiff dress shirts

are made in triple thickness.

I chanced the fact
you wouldn't know that.

- I didn't.
-Quite.

One piece, addressed
to Dr. Ransome, you had.

The second, you removed
with my entire shirt,

and of course
you weren't to know

that I had the third thickness
wrapped up in my mouth.

I needed that to communicate
with my friend Hutchinson Hatch.

And for that,
you used a rathole?

I used a rat.

I became quite adept
at catching them, you know.

However,
my message to Mr. Hatch --

I wrapped it
in my remaining £ note --

nothing more likely to catch
the eye of a passing child.

And I attached a promise

that Mr. Hatch would give
the finder a further award.

Next, I unraveled
the tops of my stockings

to obtain a quantity
of stout thread.

With the end of this,

I attached the little package
to the leg of a rat.

I popped the little creature
down the hole,

and as it scampered away,
I paid out the thread.

When the rat got out of
the hole, it cut itself free.

Good heavens.

Surely any number of things
might have gone wrong.

Mm, it was an anxious time,

which I filled in
as best I could

with bluff, bribery,
and bravado.

Sawing through the bars
of your cell with a shoe heel.

HATCH:
[ Laughs ]

Hatch, your honor, I think.

A boy brought me the note.

I realized its potential
as a story at once,

and so I duly rewarded the brat.

Then I set about getting
the professor

his immediate requirements.

Which were?

Well, stout twine and thin,
pliable wire, obviously.

I don't see what's obvious
about them.

Well, don't interrupt --
There's a good fellow --

and perhaps you will.

Then,
as the professor suggested,

I got the boy to show me
exactly where he found the note.

[Water running]

I started to search
for the end of the rathole.

At the end of an hour or more,
I was close to despair.

Then, at last.

I twitched the thread
three times, as directed.

I felt the professor's
answering twitch.

I attached the twine
to the thread

and the wire to the twine.

I waited, praying
that each in turn would hold

as the professor drew them
into his cell.

VAN DUSEN:
All this was accomplished

in absolute silence.

Then we tested the rathole
as a speaking tube.

Acid.

Acid, man.

HATCH: I could barely hear
the professor.

Acid!

I didn't dare speak too loudly,

for fear of being heard
in the prison.

In particular,

Mr. Hatch seemed to have
the greatest difficulty

in understanding my request
for nitric acid.

I had to repeat myself
several times.

Then...

[Keys jingling]

CHIEF:
What's he up to, sir?

Soundly sleeping.

That was the nearest I ever came
to being caught.

But once having established
this improvised service hatch,

it's easy to see how I was able
to bring things into the cell

and make them disappear at will.

In addition, I safeguarded
the entrance to the hole with...

Ugh.

You remember?

I remember.

But this difficulty I had
in getting Mr. Hatch

to understand
my most urgent requirements...

"Acid, acid, acid."

All right, I threw it!

Then it was your voice.

Distorted in the rathole, yes.

But still, you got
your confession, didn't you?

MAN:
And you got your nitric acid?

Yes, I sent that in to him

in thin bottles
attached to the wire.

And I used it to cut through
the bars of the cell window.

And no one noticed?

Oh, the cuts were barely
visible.

- With nitric acid?
-Mm.

How on earth did you stop it
from running?

Well, that's why I wanted
the tooth powder.

I made a paste with the acid,

and I applied it to the tops
and bottoms of the bars.

And, presumably,
you also used the acid

to cut through the wire to the
arc on your side of the yard.

With a dropper
in the misty dawn,

once the current was off, yes.

The failure wasn't discovered
till that evening,

and while they were busy
repairing it,

I removed the bars,
slipped through the window,

and then replaced them.

But you're actually
leaving the prison grounds

and coming in again
through the main gate?

VAN DUSEN:
Ah.

Yes.

[Telephone rings]

I suspect this will be for you.

Hello?

Yes.

It is.

Grangemoor, the main gate.

Yes?

Oh.

Oh.

Right.

FIELDING:
Well, what's troubling you?

They let four men in
from the electricity company.

DR. RANSOME:
Well, what of it?

They're still there.
They've just stopped working.

Well, what's the point

in fussing you
with details of this kind?

The point is that
there should be only three.

They let one out some hours ago

to fetch something
from the depot.

And there are still four?

But that's impossible.

Nothing, Mr. Fielding --

literally nothing --
is impossible.