06x18 - The Man who Gambled with Life

[bunniefuu]

SIMON: England and June make a
combination

that is impossible to b*at anywhere
in the world.

And when you add to it
complete and utter solitude,

you get a situation close to heaven.

Am I trespassing?

I say, snap!

Because you're a highly individual man,

we have chosen a highly individual
approach.

To say the least.

We want you to think...

very hard and very, very deeply.

About what?

Death.

Is that why undertakers are here?
You think death is inevitable?

Well, we all have to go some time.

We do not.

Her name is Mimi.

Who, him or Madame Butterfly?

Her lifespan has been more than doubled
by feeding her on butylated hydroxytoluene.

Please keep her for hours
and examine her carefully.

Well, it's what I always needed.

You will hear from us again soon.

Go back to the van, please.

You have been selected with great care.

By you, I hope.

You have no living relatives
and you travel about a great deal.

Then come with me.

Therefore no-one, least of all the police,

will be the least bit curious
about your absence from London.

But I am not leaving London.

Oh, yes, you are.
OK. Have it your way.

We intend to.

Because there is no-one more suited to
our purpose than the famous Simon Templar.

Well, Mimi,

what are they selling?

The Elixir of Life?

MAN ON TAPE: Mr Templar,

you are a man with a logical mind.

Yet, in common with the vast majority of
people, you tend to regard yourself as eternal.

You are not.

One begins to die the day one is born.

And some time in the future,

death will come even to you.

Too true.

Perhaps it will come to you
in the next seconds.

Perhaps not for the next years.

Think about the inevitability of dying.

And at the same time,

think about the intense joys of living.

The joys of living meaning me.

And the...inevitability of dying
means your g*n?

Exactly.

Come a little closer. I'd like to
see you better.

Stop.

Were you responsible for that?

Mm-hm. Good, don't you think?

A remarkable likeness.

It should be. It cost my father a
small fortune.

Your father?

That was him on the tape recorder.
He's wonderful. Strong, dedicated.

You'll adore him.
I doubt that.

Mr Templar, the very last thing we
want to do is harm you at the moment.

We just want you to be aware of the
fact that we could harm you.

Missed.

Blanks.

Hence the lack of holes.

If they'd been real, you'd be dead.

And Father would be furious.
I'd have been none too pleased myself.

You're terribly sexy.

Well, the vice is versa.

Now, you've had your fun and games. Talk.

You're not in the least bit
frightening.

Just give me time.
And you couldn't strike me.

Don't count on it.

I don't mean that you couldn't
physically,

but psychologically,
your hostility index to women is zero.

It's increasing rapidly.

No, it isn't. You're a very stable
personality.

Oh, all right, I'll try sweet reason.

What's your name?

Stella, Stella what?

You'll be told everything
when we think you're emotionally ready.

What would you say if I called the
police?

What would you say?

That I'd given you a model of yourself
and my sister had given you a mouse?

Your sister?

Yes, this afternoon on your picnic,
that was Vanessa, my sister.

And the four fellas with her were
your brothers?

Oh, no, they work for Dad.

Oh, and what work is that?

You'll find out.

And now, I simply must go.

Police, fire, ambulance?

You never call the police.
We know all about you.

Your incoming sensory stimuli and outgoing
motor impulses have all been computerised.

Oh, they have, have they?

We've analysed your ego,

superego, intelligence, libido,

and personal stability.

We've even found your shirt-maker.

Yes, I must talk to him about that.

You've done extremely well.
I'm thrilled.

That's why we've selected you
as Case Number One.

And now, I really must rush.

I simply can't stay another second.

Much as I'd adore to stay the night.

Well, do obey your impulses.

Dad said no, not at this stage.

I thought you said I'd grow to love
your father.

You'll be seeing us again very soon.

Bye-bye.

I suppose you sent the letter?
The letter?

What letter?

It's in the bedroom. I'll get it.

I hope I can trust you two together.

Mm-hm.

Simon?

# Dee, dee...

He's not quite as predictable as you
are, Mimi.

You're late. How did it go?

He may need more conditioning
than we thought.

Excuse me, can you spare a moment?

Sure.

See you later.

Er, that helicopter.

What about it?
Do you know who owns it?

Haven't a clue.
Do you know where it's going?

Yes. It's cleared for Edinburgh.

Well, I have £

that says it's going nowhere near Edinburgh.

I could check. Will you?

Sure.

There's £ more if you find out who
owns it and where it lands.

Get in touch with me at that address.

You'll see me soon.

Well, gentlemen?

I pay you for truth, not tact.
And I know that I have a bad heart.

I gather from your funereal
expressions that I'm worse.

Yes, Mr Longman, you are.

Quite a good deal.

The fibrillation is more frequent,
the deterioration more rapid.

Then, in your opinion, gentlemen,
how long have I got to live?

Dr Williams, my father asked you a
question.

It is not an easy question to
answer. Try.

Well, you could live for six months.

Or you could die tomorrow.

There, my dear, in a nutshell, you have
the idiocy of the medical profession.

The accuracy of your prognosis
is positively staggering.

Good night, gentlemen.

Hard to take, isn't he?
His money isn't.

Chick, Morris, excuse us, please.

I'm worse.

I am so sorry, Mr Longman.

I will not die.

Now, you all know my philosophy, what
I believe in. I intend to achieve it.

Carl, all blue personnel in the
foyer in two minutes.

Sir.

At Mr Longman's instructions, all blue
personnel in the foyer in two minutes.

All right.

The latest on Templar?

As you know, his psychoanalytical profile
showed an immense bias towards the bizarre.

The bizarre is time-consuming.

I agree.
I could die tomorrow.

Time is now all-important.

Suppose I offer him £ million?

His profile also indicates
a strong rejection of bribery.

Oh, he enjoys good living
but he's not interested in money.

Everybody is interested in money.

No, not Templar, not that much.
Too mentally stable.

We initiate Phase One tonight.

Mr Longman, we're not ready.
Then get ready.

Yes, sir.

We drop the conditioning
and bring Templar in by force.

STELLA: No.

I beg your pardon?

I know him better than any of you.
He's unique.

That's why we selected him.

I believe he could be psychologically
conditioned to do this voluntarily.

He's romantic and, in his own way,
an idealist.

Anyway, we agreed not to use force.

You heard Dr Grange. I could die
tomorrow.

But you won't. I might.

It's a chance I do not intend to take.

If you use force, he'll fight.

He may get hurt and then he'll be no
use to you.

That's a risk we'll have to take.

Sorry, I don't agree.

Stella, there are times when I
find you intensely irritating.

There are times when it's mutual.

Stella, either you are with me or
against me.

There is no...no middle ground.

Now, I will not stand interference
from anyone, not even from you.

Now, is that clear?

Yes, quite clear.

Nothing

and no-one

is going to stop me.

Mr Longman, the men are ready when
you are.

Shall we go, my dear?

You all know why you're here.

And why you're being paid
£, a month tax-free.

If you all fulfil your contracts with me,
you will retire relatively rich men.

Now, we have found
the ideal Case Number One.

His name is Simon Templar.

As you know, there is some
risk that we may k*ll him.

If any of you has any reservations or scruples,
you're at liberty to speak now and withdraw.

Very well.

I infer from your silence that I
have your complete obedience and loyalty.

Mr Templar will be with us tomorrow.

In hours,
the final experiment will be complete.

Until it is finished,

we are on top security alert.

All of you will be armed and carry
sarin g*ns

at all times.

Now, remember that - as from now.

I will not tolerate disobedience

from anybody.

Thank you, gentlemen. That is all.

Report, please.

Stella is going to give us trouble.

Yes, Mr Longman, I think she is.

I hope not, for her sake.

I won't tolerate opposition from anyone.

Not now.

I don't mind admitting I'm nervous.
I can understand that, Mr Longman.

I'm a scientist.

But if I believed in God...

You'd be praying?

Right.

You were dead right about that helicopter
not going anywhere near Edinburgh.

At :, it was spotted over
Sherborne on the Dorset/Somerset border.

The last reporting

by a bloke named Pete Williams, pal
of mine,

was miles southwest

over the Truro Flying Club.

You can talk to Pete. He'll be glad
to help.

I'll do that. What about the owner?

Registered under the name of John Smith.

Albert Court Mews.

There's no such address. I checked.

Well, thank you.

Thank you, Mr Templar.
Sorry I couldn't do better.

Oh, you've been a great help.

If a needle can be found in a haystack,
I'm sure I'll find a helicopter in Cornwall.

Good luck.
I'll need it.

Well, Mimi,

our friends were so busy
computerising my incoming sensory stimuli,

they forgot one important factor.

My curiosity index.

Good hunting, Mr Templar. Thanks.

I'll tell you another thing, Mimi.

My hostility index is building up,
too.

What do you say?

PETE:When I last saw it, it was
heading southeast towards St Mawes.

About seven miles.
Or it landed in the Channel.

Or it could have veered east.

No, I don't think so. I figured out
it was somewhere in this area here.

Along the .

Well, it's worth a try. Won't be easy.

Nothing is these days, is it, Mimi?

Well, Mimi, we haven't a prayer.

Right, then.

We know from his appointment book
that Templar has a dinner date at :.

Which means he'll leave his flat
at approximately :.

Then get there by :.

There's something we've overlooked.
I've computerised his initiative curve.

He may take things into his own hands.

Very doubtful, after only one day's
conditioning.

Besides, you'll get there
before he has the chance.

Yes, that's true.

Then off you go.

Remember, he's not to be injured in
any way.

Well, Mimi, we've done it.

Now, all we have to do is wait until dark.

Ah, Mimi.

It's time to go to work.

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Yes, it looks very good.

They'll be back with Templar
in a couple of hours.

Oh, Mimi...

I just hope your survival index is high.

You may need it.

Go on, have fun.

I'm going to.

Do you want one? No, thanks.

Got a light?

Tonight's the night. So they say.

What do you think the chances are?
I don't know.

And at this salary, I don't care.

A few more months of this
and we'll be able to retire.

Hello, Chick. This is Tom.
Come in, Tom.

TOM: Nine o'clock, all right.

Right, thanks, Tom.

Five hours is every bit as good as
five years.

If there's going to be any deterioration, it'll
take place in the first three minutes or the last.

Yes, I agree.

Stella!

Come here, please.

Where are you going?

I have friends.

I'm sure you have.

But I need you here.
I've opted out.

Now that you're going to use force,
I can't go along.

I'm afraid you can't leave either.

You gave everybody else the chance.

That was last night.

And you're my daughter.
Does that really matter to you?

No.

I didn't think it did.

Nothing is going to stop me,
do you understand?

Carl, lock her up in Room .

I'm hardly a security risk,
not against eight of you.

Stella...

I'm sorry. I bet you are!

£, a month sorry. What would you
do for it?

m*rder?

You know I wouldn't do that, Stella.
My father would.

Put your hands up.

Please.

Argh!

CARL: You must have been mistaken,
Mr Longman.

No, I wasn't.

Somebody screamed.

I heard it.

All blue personnel in the foyer
immediately.

Come on, wake up.

It's a nice evening for a chat.

Now, what's in this?

Mace?

Sarin.

What's that when it's at home?
It's a psycho-mimetic nerve gas.

One whiff and you're paralysed
without any ill effects?

Yeah, but it wears off in a few
hours.

Great for deb dances.

Who owns the house?

Longman. Keith Longman, the industrialist?

Go on.

It's a long story. Then edit it.

And don't stall for time.

I know that Longman is a multi-millionaire
and a health faddist, but what else?

Time for you to check in?

And don't say anything silly.

Hello, Chick. This is Tom.

Tom, we've been trying to raise you.

All personnel in the foyer
immediately. Mr Longman's orders.

I'm coming in right away.

I'm terribly sorry.

But I'm afraid you're not.

That's everyone accounted for except Tom.

LONGMAN: Something's happened to Tom.
CARL: He said he'd be right in.

Well, he sounded OK.

Carl, you stay here. The rest of you
search the grounds thoroughly.

If you find anyone, you know what to do.

We shouldn't anticipate trouble, Mr Longman.
It's the only way to keep out of it.

LONGMAN: Carl.

Switch the controls over here for
me.

It's falling.

Yes, we've lost about five litres.

Why didn't the computer catch it?

It did. It's just rising.
No need to be concerned, Mr Longman.

Well, we've no margin for error.
We've got to set it at that.

Another hour and we'll know.

We've done it this time, Mr Longman,
I'm sure we have.

If you ask me, Longman's on edge.
I think he's hearing things.

No, I heard it, too.
Somebody definitely screamed.

Look, check the rear of the house.
I'll take the drive.

Ronald! Tom's here! What?

Sarin gas.

Look, round everybody up,
back to the house - fast!

Ahem!

Impressed, Mr Templar?

Very.

I'm Keith Longman.
I thought you might be.

I designed and built the entire
system.

What did you use? Liquid nitrogen?

Yes.

The temperature is more than
degrees below zero.

Freezing takes less than three
minutes. That's the secret.

It's nice of you to let me in on it.

Mimi, the little mouse that Vanessa gave you,

she was frozen and reanimated a
month later with no damage.

Memory, eyesight, encephalogram -
all completely normal.

She came out exactly as she went in.

Please.

Good evening, gentlemen.

These are...
Don't bother with introductions.

I'm not planning on staying long.
You've time for a sherry?

Oh, well, that's different. Splendid.

Presumably, you know that I am
one of the richest men in the world?

Yes, I figured you were struggling by
without national assistance.

Unfortunately, with all my money,
there is one thing I can't buy.

Immortality.

And you want it?

I do.

LeChaim. Long life.

Death is all around us, Mr Templar.
We seem bent on k*lling.

Governments spend billions of pounds on
weapons that will destroy cities in a flash.

I hate it. And so...

I decided to devote my huge fortune...

to life.

Very civilised.

You approve? Who wouldn't?

When I first realised that I
suffered from a heart condition,

I naturally considered a transplant.

But the rate of failure is far, far too high.

Oh, in time, they'll perfect the
technique.

Mr Templar,

I have no time.

I began to investigate cryogenics.

I assembled a group of talented men and
we built the unit that you saw downstairs.

Now, we have frozen animals and
revived them.

Soon, we will freeze and reanimate humans.

Think of it.

In years' time, all the diseases
that we die from today will be curable.

And your Shakespeares and your Beethovens

will have lifespans of , years.

You put yourself in pretty fast company.

Well, why not?

I am a genius.

I intend to freeze myself

until the day when heart transplants
are as routine as appendectomies.

It's a cold prospect.

The technique has not yet been tried
out on humans.

That is the final experiment.

You are the ideal type,
physically and psychologically.

I'm not going to argue about that.

I will pay you £ million.

We then freeze you for hours...

..and reanimate.

Why don't you gamble with your own life?

Maybe you'd like me to tell you why.

Because you're afraid of dying.

And people who are afraid of dying
are usually afraid of living.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Don't bother to see me out. Well,
stand at ease.

Good night, gentlemen. Good night.

Gentlemen, we start the final
experiment immediately. Take him upstairs.

Temperature rise...

..two degrees per second.

Apply full heat from the beginning.

We attain normal body heat

in under three minutes.

CARL: seconds.

That's the fastest time we've attempted.
Less time during freezing for deterioration.

Prepare the electrodes.

Ready, Mr Longman. You don't
think it's too fast, Mr Longman?

Set for two degrees per second.

Drain capsule.

Apply full heat.

Well...

The er...joys of living girl again.

So, they got you.

Yes, I'll tell you all when I think
you're emotionally ready.

I was so sure.

Of what?

That you'd outwit Vanessa.

Yeah, well, just give me the opportunity.

Vanessa and two of the men went to
London to bring you back here by force.

And that's what you're opposed to?

I don't understand.

I heard your little domestic squabble
with Daddy.

Oh. Do you mean to say
you came here voluntarily?

Oh, my curiosity index built to such
a pitch, I couldn't stand it any more.

But how did you find the house?

That wasn't easy.

You know, you're making a bad
mistake not to take my father seriously.

He's a genius, a fanatic and
terribly dangerous.

Why do you work for him?

I don't. Not now.

Oh, why?

I didn't want to see you k*lled.

Just slightly frozen to death, eh?

If a man deliberately risks his life for
the advancement of science, that's one thing.

But if he's k*lled for science,

that's m*rder. A delicate distinction.

But important.

You could have been conditioned...

..to do this voluntarily.

Not in a million years, darling.

In a month.

They can do anything nowadays
with psychology

and post-hypnotic suggestion.

Well, not just at the moment.
I want to get out of here.

Carl? Ready.

Oxygen?

Ready.

It's steady at three degrees below normal.

LONGMAN: Full voltage for three seconds

as from...now.

LONGMAN: Oxygen.

Pulse? No.

Respiration? None.

Full voltage again, as from...now.

No pulse, no respiration.

Full voltage again, as from now.

Anything?

No.

We've failed.

We shall have to freeze even faster.

Carl, you'll come with me all the
way on this?

Chick? Need you ask?

Morris?

I'm with the others.

Right.

Have it all set up.

You and Chick, get Templar.

We try again.

With Templar.

But this time, we...

we freeze more sl...slowly,

and we...we only reanimate...

Are you all right, Mr Longman?
Yeah, I'm all right. I'm all right.

Still out?

You can see, can't you?

Chick, Morris, what's happening?
Well, Phase One is over.

Reanimation failed.

Come on!

Alert the men in the grounds.

Attention, everybody. Attention,
everybody.

Attention, attention!

Search the grounds.
Stella and Templar have escaped.

Argh!

I saw that on television.

Good, but keep your voice down,
Mrs Peel. All right.

Templar and Stella have got away.

But they won't get far.

This time...

..the whole unit will be on
automation.

Don't forget, Carl.

This time,

we freeze...

..for one minute.

Ooh! Ooh, I say... Oh, dear.

Here, come on. OK, let go.

The car's only a minute away from
here. Yes, well, later, huh?

All right.

Not so fast, Mr Templar.

That's an original line, Vanessa.

We missed you in London. We?

Ah, the undertaker's men again.

We realised we'd underestimated you.

Very perceptive.

Then we saw your car from the helicopter.

I don't know what you're doing here,

but I can tell you one thing -
you're not going to leave.

Strange, everyone seems to feel that way.

We're going back to the house.
Get your hands up and turn around.

Spoilsport.

Keep six paces ahead of us.

Father!

Chick!

Morris?

Bring them in here.

Sit down there, Mr Templar.
My father will...

Oh, no!

What does that mean? Father.

He had a severe att*ck. He was
dying. I didn't have any choice.

Freeze.

Wait.

Reanimate when?

Ten years, maybe twenty.

You'd better be sure.

He's gambled with death.

Give him the chance to win his life.