Flawless (2007)

[bunniefuu]

Waiter!

What's that?

Oh, my god.

Hi.

Madam.

Thank you.

Woman: Hold on one second.

Well, yes.

Hold on one second.

One second.

Hi. Sorry I'm late.

Cassie Jane, I'm the features

editor at the paper.

We spoke on the phone earlier.

It's, um...

Laura Quinn.

Robin, go ahead.

I got front page?

Perfect. Thanks.

Thanks, bye.

Whoo! We should be careful

what we wish for. Hmm.

Having it all at 25 cannot

be biologically correct.

So, thank you

for contacting us.

As you know, we're

running a series

of features

called "Women Who Led."

All about the everyday women

who back in the late fifties,

the early sixties,

started breaking

the boundaries,

really inventing

the modern woman.

A lot of people who

turned up in our research

turned out to be dead,

but you're...

alive, so that's great.

I, um, I need

to paint a picture.

You're hired by the London

Diamond Corporation.

It's number one in the world.

It is the fifties.

It's a fiercely

male-dominated environment.

You take on the men.

You battle your way up

and become... a manager.

Well, that's not going to

impress anyone these days,

but you were the only female

manager that had ever existed

in that company and I want

to know your story.

You know, I haven't

set foot in this city

as a free woman

in over 40 years.

Really?

It's changed.

It's an exceptional

piece, isn't it?

very rare.

I stole it...

from London Diamond.

Good deal took place

at London Diamond.

It may not be

in your notes.

You've been in prison.

That's where you've been.

Good morning,

gentlemen.

Miss Quinn, good morning.

Good morning,

Miss Quinn.

Good morning,

Miss Quinn.

Good morning, Mr. Hobbs.

Aiming to b*at

the sunrise, Miss Quinn?

Literate, Henry.

Literate.

No more blood for diamonds!

I see our fan club

is assembled.

m*rder*r!

m*rder*r!

Good morning, Mr. Milton.

Good morning,

Mr. Milton.

Morning, gents.

Good morning.

I'm sure by now

you're all aware...

tensions reached a head

yesterday in Kimstad.

What are

the final figures?

What do you mean?

Dead? How many dead?

A hundred, give or take,

most of them on our pay roll.

It is a cock-up.

Everyone is pointing

their fingers at us.

Christ Almighty!

The whole pissing South

African regime is our fault.

What are the Soviets saying?

I'm afraid the Russians

are leading the charge.

They're pressing

for U.N. sanctions.

They're going to w*r with us

the week that we are

renewing their contracts.

We don't need

the Russians.

With respect, sir,

if the soviets broke away,

it would be disastrous.

They could align

with Botswana,

Sierra Leone,

or even Angola.

Combined production

would exceed our own.

We would no longer

control global supply.

The cartel collapses

and prices would free fall.

The Russians are paid

well above market.

They won't

break ranks.

In any case, officials from the

Soviet diamond trading organization

are en route

as we speak.

Precisely.

To end our relationship.

Very well.

Now we have two days.

Two days to find

a solution.

Wait, wait, uh, um...

one final item.

I'd like you to join me

in congratulating

our newest

Managing Director,

who, god willing, will keep

us afloat in Cape Town,

Mr. Peter Boland.

Congratulations.

Well done.

I'm speechless.

Boland over you?

The old man

is losing his mind.

No, he's

thinking straight.

In addition to being

several years my senior,

Boland's experience is far

better suited to the position.

Besides, they're doing

me a favor.

Didn't you know cape town's

a furnace in the summer?

Well, I hope that they've got

something better lined up for you.

"Lon Di subsidiaries worldwide, 1,223.

"Female Managing Directors,

"0."

"Don't give up.

"Work harder.

"You will win."

You forgot again.

Lunch?

Lunch?

It's a holiday,

middle of the day,

people meet, unwind,

buy make-up, plot against men.

Oh, it's all the rage.

I'm so sorry.

Look, it's one crisis

after another.

Can we reschedule?

Tuesday it is,

but not with me,

with Kenneth Pearson,

a friend of mine that

would like to meet you.

Judy, it's so kind,

but I really don't like

the name Kenneth.

Don't leave it

too long, Laura.

There won't be

any plots left.

Oh, working late again,

Miss Quinn?

Always the first to arrive

and the last to leave.

Your colleagues must value

your dedication.

What's that bit from

the, uh, from the Bible?

You know, "he who

is last shall be first

"and he who is first

shall be last."

Is that how it goes?

Yeah.

What a load of rubbish.

We all know you

take what you desire.

Fortune favors the bold.

Take those South Africans,

for example.

Do you think we should

hand them their freedom

or let them seize it

for themselves?

Well, that's an interesting

debate, but a dangerous one maybe.

But for my money,

I'd say things are never as

simple as they would seem.

I'm sure

you're right, Miss Quinn.

You're the one with the suit.

Good night.

Good luck.

Living dangerously,

Miss Quinn?

Recklessly, Henry.

Recklessly.

Man: Something troubling you,

Miss Quinn?

The existing

Russian contract.

I propose

we simply extend it.

I'm sorry.

You've lost me.

Was it not you that

suggested the Russians

were on their way

here to sever all ties?

If we allow the soviets to publicly

disassociate with London Diamond,

let them pound

the table at the U.N.,

denounce r*cist capitalism

and so on and so on,

but secretly

we extend our contract

and keep it a strictly

private matter,

at least until the storm

has passed over.

While they continue

to wholesale

diamonds at

a magnificent price.

That's not bad.

That's not bad at all.

Who else have

you told about this?

Man: It's much better now

than it ever was.

Second man:

In such a short time.

Laura, is that you?

Harold Reynolds, good god.

Gentlemen, this lady

is the cleverest person

I've ever met,

and she's American.

Ran circles around

the lot of us at Oxford.

Of course I don't

talk to her anymore.

She turned me down

for dinner three times.

I was just

testing his resolve.

If he had tried one more

time, I would have said yes.

I'm with allied banking

heading up syndications.

We've just been sweating

over your accounts.

A lot of ice down there.

No doubt impressive, but

it's making people nervous.

But now I know you're here,

I can sleep a little easier.

Um, unless of course you're

considering a career change,

with allied banking,

world domination

can also be arranged.

Henry: Earliest and brightest

as usual, Miss Quinn.

Oh, I do my best, Henry.

Thank you.

No, you won't.

Miss Quinn.

Miss Quinn.

Why don't we sit

in there?

Mr. Hobbs?

Yes.

Mr. Hobbs, I'm flattered,

but I'm... I'm... I'm

really not looking.

Oh, please... please

don't panic, Miss Quinn.

I'm... I'm a happily

married man.

And I wouldn't be

so courageous.

I... I have a proposal

to put to you.

It's... it's a trifle.

Just give me

five minutes. Please.

Come and sit.

It's something

I do to get sympathy.

w*r wound. The Blitz.

My wife and I, we went

for some music at Wilton's.

Very expl*sive performance.

Anyway, we both

survived that one,

only to find out that my wife

was living on borrowed time.

I thought you were

happily married?

Oh, I am, Miss Quinn.

And I always will be.

Are you always in the habit of

reading private correspondence?

Would you hold these

for me, please?

Correspondence?

This is more like

a diary of frustration.

"Number of Lon Di

subsidiaries worldwide 1,223."

"Number of female

Managing Directors, 0."

That first number

is not correct.

It's 1,224 now,

but the other number,

that is quite accurate.

You've succeeded

in arousing my curiosity.

Now, I'm wondering

what it is you want.

Well, I... I think the

question is, Miss Quinn, is,

what is it

that you want?

Hey, this is ridiculous.

They're... they're going

to knock over a bank

in the middle of London

in broad daylight.

I could have

your job for this.

Yeah, and they might

just give it to you.

I know that you've been

passed over six times

in the last three years

for someone less

qualified than you.

You know this has

been illuminating,

but I am really

am very, very busy.

Miss Quinn, please.

Please sit down.

Please sit down. Please.

I... I haven't got

to my point yet.

They're going

to fire you.

Excuse me?

Yes, your ingenious

Russian proposal.

How do you know

about that?

How do you know

all of my business?

Shh!

Shh!

I'm only trying to help.

You know,

it's extraordinary

the conversations people will

have in front of their cleaners.

It's like...

like we don't exist.

What conversations?

Well, I'm not a businessman,

but I certainly

got the gist of it.

What conversations?

Well, the Russians

won't accept your plan

unless it's kept secret

among senior staff...

and only

the senior staff.

They don't seem to think

that you qualify.

Well, I don't believe you.

Well, uh, you...

you're probably right.

The ramblings

of an old man, eh?

Who would notice?

Hey, this is a good bit.

Look there.

Would you like a peanut?

Oh, is MKA in?

He's just left.

That's odd.

Someone from the Prime

Minister's Office is in the lobby.

Says he has

an appointment.

Hmm.

Oh, no, that's

not right at all.

Ahem.

Well, I seem

to be the end

of the whole restaurant.

You look wonderful.

Well, I heard reinvention

was the latest craze.

Thought I'd try

it on for size.

Thank you for seeing me.

Well, don't thank me

too quickly.

Um, ahem.

It's bad news, I'm afraid.

We can't offer you a position.

Really, why not?

There's a conflict

of interests.

Lon Di is our largest client,

back to the Boer w*r.

We funded Ernest Ashtoncroft's

first diamond mines 70 years ago.

Well, it's done

all the time.

You simply ask their

permission to speak with me.

Say I know nothing

about it, unsolicited.

That sort of thing.

I did.

Look, and I tell you this

in confidence as an old friend.

But they're saying you're

grossly incompetent.

Claim you botched their

relations with the Russians.

That is absolutely

ridiculous.

I am sorry.

Word came down quietly you

are not to be touched by us

or in all likelihood by anyone

doing business with Lon Di.

Well, that's every

last company on earth.

You said you, um,

had something else to discuss.

Well, I... I feel

stupid now.

I was going to finally

accept your offer of dinner.

Well, that, um, would have

to be unadventurous.

Married now five years,

three rather boisterous

girls to prove it.

You should come

over one Sunday.

Mmm, good soup.

Early lunch, Miss Quinn?

Very early

and very long.

I'm taking

the afternoon off.

Placed a bet,

Miss Quinn?

Oh, I never gamble.

Not on dogs, cards,

or strangers.

You were right.

Was I?

Why do you want to steal

from the company?

Who said I did?

Hypothetically.

w*r and plunder,

the two most reliable

sources of income.

I didn't realize

we were at w*r.

In six months' time

I shall retire

to a hearty pat on the back

and a not to hearty pension,

a situation

in dire need of attention.

So money, plain

and simple?

Suppose I wanted to do

something for my wife.

Your wife

who d*ed 15 years ago?

The one you're

happily married to?

Lovely. You did

your homework.

I guess you would.

What else

did you uncover?

That you're far

from stupid,

and you were forced to

apprentice under your father,

the one

with the drinking problem.

Oh, yes, married at 21 and years

later when your wife became ill,

you took the night job

at London Diamonds

so you could spend

your days by her side.

You never did use

those qualifications.

Clever, Miss Quinn.

Clever.

How do you know

I won't turn you in?

Are we still speaking

hypothetically?

I mean, what makes you think

you can pull off such a thing?

Well, simply because

I have a plan.

What I propose involves

the least possible risk

because we don't have to

change our normal routines.

Each night at 9:00...

they lock the front doors,

which means,

that for 10 hours,

no one can go in

or out of the building.

They increase the security

on the main floor

but on the lower floor they

just keep these two guards,

here and here

by the lift,

which is the sole

point of access.

You intend to go

for the vault?

That's where

the diamonds are.

You can't be serious.

Generally, each evening I

start on the fourth floor

and work

me way down, see?

Nice day today.

Once through

the outer floors

I'm escorted

to the sub basement.

The next few hours are

spent on rubbish collection,

mopping, waxing, minor

repair and maintenance.

During that time,

I'll work mostly unattended.

Once an hour or so,

someone checks up on me.

Otherwise, I'm

left entirely to myself.

I mean, in theory,

I could take off all my

clothes and walk around naked.

A frightening thought,

Miss Quinn.

Don't dwell on it.

I'll try not to.

I've saved the vault

hallway for last.

The long corridor that leads

to a circular door,

behind which

lies one of the largest singular

deposits of riches on earth.

For 16 years

I've been working

within a hare's

breath of that door,

and for 16 years I've never

opened it, not once.

You couldn't if you wanted

to, not without the codes.

The codes are changed weekly

and entrusted to only two people.

Mr. Eaton, lifelong company

servant, portrait of reliability.

Rumor has it that the swiss use

his pulse to set their clocks by.

And, of course, Sir Milton

Kendrick Ashtoncroft,

aging ruler of everything

that daylight touches.

And you plan to obtain

the codes how?

That's where you come in,

Miss Quinn.

Until recently, this was

supposed to be a solo operation.

A year ago, quite by accident,

I discovered that Sir Milton kept

the codes concealed in his desk.

Then some months back,

they were gone.

Night after night,

I searched the office,

but they never turned up.

Why'd you wait?

Why not do it while

you had the chance?

Oh, I've asked myself that

question a thousand times.

I told you, I'm...

I'm not courageous.

But my hesitating

will be your gain.

Will it?

And what will

that require?

Here, proof of conviction.

You are on the, uh,

guest list, are you?

It's business.

I'm expected.

We're entertaining

the Russians.

You suspect he keeps

the codes at home?

On Saturday, go to his study

and look under the center

drawer in his desk.

This is ridiculous.

Say I did find the codes

and you were able to slip in

and out of the vault undetected.

How would you get the

diamonds out of the building?

How much will it hold?

How much would

you like it to hold?

What's the price of revenge?

Difficult, eh?

Would a million pound do?

Each?

I should think so.

They wouldn't even

notice that much.

Well, by then...

I'll be retired and

you'll have been let go.

Why should I trust you?

The same reason

I have to trust you.

We have the same objective.

Oh, you make it all

sound so easy.

Is that a yes?

No, it isn't.

Be sure to wear

something nice.

Good evening, sir.

Come on in.

The Russians here?

To pressurized carbon.

Here here!

Now that's

a sight worth seeing.

Sir Clifton Sinclair, our

very own insurance man,

making a rare trip down from

his ivory tower at King's Row.

No doubt losing sleep over our

somewhat top heavy inventory.

Oh, I don't think Sinclair's

the type to lose sleep.

It's rather unnerving

to consider a man

with that history as London

diamond's greatest guarantor.

Ooh, you didn't know.

He was mixed up in all

those insurance scandals

before the national

health service.

Of course, he's

completely innocent,

or he was never prosecuted.

Otherwise, we wouldn't

do business together.

Allow me to present

Vladimir Dmitriev,

head of the Soviet

Diamond Authority.

Mr. Chanson,

my second in command.

How do you do?

And miss

Laura Quinn,

one of our

brightest gems.

Ballet, vodka, diamonds,

the three things closest

to the Russian soul.

And which do you prefer?

Diamonds, of course.

I'll drink to that.

My lord!

And what would you have

done had I said ballet?

I would ask you to dance.

Of course, I have

ulterior motives.

And, um, what makes

you think I don't?

I shall miss her.

How's the old man

bearing up?

Oh, I expect

he'll outlive us all.

Well, I only ask because

I should think hoarding

basically a worthless commodity

would be very bad for his heart.

What am I doing?

I ask myself that

repeatedly.

Sorry.

I didn't see you.

Purely by design.

You've stumbled into my lair,

my sanctuary of sorts.

Yes, I think I know

what you mean.

At least the evening

is a success.

Your father's spared

no expense.

Never does,

always first class,

so long as it's discreet

and doesn't attract attention.

Yes, he's famous

for his discretion.

Is it true he paid 100

pounds to the families

of the miners

who d*ed in protest?

Anonymously.

Pulled the b*ll*ts

from the caskets.

Should be a discount

for that.

What sort of man

does such a thing?

A man of conscience.

Miss Quinn: Mr. Hobbs.

I'm having trouble with

the heat in my office.

Uh, Miss Quinn,

do you want...

more or less heat

in your office?

If we do this, I want

to know every last detail.

Understand?

Ok.

Man: Now, if you just

lock it off under there.

We have to call it off.

They've installed

security cameras.

Closed Circuit Television

monitoring everything.

I've been with them all

morning showing interest.

Cameras in the building?

Yes, inside, outside,

halls, lobby.

In the vault?

No, but

the vault corridor.

They don't want

security guards staring

at mounds

of diamonds all day.

Can you blame them?

Oh, security cameras,

goodness gracious.

What'll they

think up next?

Is there any way

around them?

No, absolutely not.

No?

There are eight

separate cameras

covering the entire

sub basement,

including one dedicated

to the vault corridor.

The cameras link

to the guard station,

and Eaton has a man on watch 24

hours a day, seven days a week.

Basement's here.

We've got reception,

boardroom, the corridor.

So you'll just have to

reconsider that pension of yours.

All right.

So, fool proof, eh?

And you came all the way

over to the wrong side

of town to tell me...

when you could've

told me tonight.

You've seen a way,

haven't you?

I have not, Mr. Hobbs.

Your tenacity reminds

me of my wife.

Why are you being

so persistent?

Because I hate

English winters.

Now, tell me how

it can be done.

All right. There's

one possibility,

but I'm telling you,

it won't work.

Although there are eight

cameras in the sub basement,

only four images are on

screen at any one time.

Four on, four off,

and since the images cycle

in 15-second intervals,

they reappear

in the order they leave.

So each image

is off-screen for...

Yeah, 60 seconds,

but that's not enough time.

Enough time?

I'll be in that vault

in 10 seconds flat.

You can't be standing

outside the vault

when the image goes

off screen

and be nowhere in sight

when it reappears.

You have to start

at the end of the corridor,

and that's 40 yards long.

Well, I don't have

a problem with that.

With all due respect,

Mr. Hobbs,

you can hardly walk,

let alone run.

I'm telling you,

I can do it.

This has gone too far.

I'm sorry.

You're involved now,

whether you like it or not.

I beg your pardon.

You gave me the code, Miss

Quinn, so you're involved.

Make no mistake.

I'm going through

with this.

And don't you pretend

to me that you don't want it,

because you want

it more than I do.

You want a life that means

something that adds up.

And you know that this is the

only way you're going to get it.

Miss Quinn,

you said it yourself.

They're never going

to notice it.

This is how it'll work.

Tomorrow we'll

synchronize our watches,

but it has

to be tomorrow

before they realize

the flaw in the system.

At the exact moment you're

at the vault corridor,

I'll call

the guard station.

That should buy you at

least 30 more seconds.

When this is over, I think

best we not speak again.

Evening, Miss Quinn.

Evening, Henry.

Evening, Henry.

Albert.

Evening, Miss Quinn.

May I?

What's the word,

Henry?

Ask me again on Friday.

Good night, sir.

Good night.

Ah!

Ah!

Damn it.

Willis.

Hello?

Man: Halt!

I'm afraid

there's a problem.

If you won't mind,

come along with me.

Uh...

Mr. Lewis, I'm afraid.

God knows what

that man ingests.

Would you mind?

I'll, uh,

leave you to it.

Mr. Hobbs.

Morning, Miss Quinn.

How are things

this morning, Henry?

In a word, dull.

Isn't there

a sight next week?

Fifth Monday.

That's very odd.

The sorties have gone home.

Man: Is he here yet?

MKA, is he here yet?

No, sir.

Mr. Jameson, what happened?

What is so important?

Man: Miss Quinn?

Miss Quinn, you in there?

I need not remind you

we're all bound to the

strictest confidentiality.

Under no circumstances

are we to discuss the incident.

Any acts to the contrary

will result in the

severest consequences.

Is that clear?

Yes, of course.

The elevator's

the single point of entry,

no underground tunnels,

three narrow

ventilation ducts,

all of which

lead nowhere.

The entire sub basement

is encased in concrete,

marble and the outer casing

is solid steel.

This has to be the most secure

facility in all of Europe.

That's certainly

what we believed.

Besides, there was nearly

two tons of diamonds.

You would need an army

of men and several vehicles.

Now, you all know

Sir Clifton Sinclair,

from King's Row,

our underwriters.

Well, we've talked it

through and we have agreed

that our utmost priority must be

the appearance of business as usual.

I mean... any police

investigation

and subsequent publicity

would be a disaster.

Just like that,

all confidence gone.

So we handle

the matter privately.

Sinclair.

As you all know, King's

Row has been behind

London Diamond

for the last 70 years.

And today

is no exception.

With that in mind,

I'd like to introduce

you to Sir Gavin Finch,

our Chief

Insurance Investigator.

Mr. Finch.

Good morning, everyone.

Please, there

is no need to panic.

We will find

your diamonds.

No need to panic?

The royal supply of diamonds

has vanished

into thin air

and there's no need

to panic?

I will see inside

the vault now

and if the night staff could

be called back, thank you.

What have you done?

It's all in hand,

Miss Quinn.

In hand?

In hand?

The contents of

a thermos, you said.

When you're finished,

meet me at the caf

at the corner

of Hatton Ground.

Mr. Hobbs.

Yes.

This way, please.

Not one of your

better ideas, Miss Quinn.

I suggest

we cut this short.

What have you done

with the diamonds?

I want answers,

and I want them now.

You're gonna get them

all in good time.

Oh, I can't breathe!

I insist

that you remain calm.

What did

you say to Finch?

I told him I went

on shift as normal.

I waxed the floors

for a while.

I emptied the rubbish,

a normal night.

I... I lied.

I want you

to go back to work,

do exactly

what we discussed,

keep to your routine,

and we'll talk again.

Ok?

This is where

I'll be tomorrow.

Miss Quinn?

Sir Milton's office is

asking for you urgently.

Should you elect

to purchase the goods

you must notify me

by week's end.

It's my understanding

that specifics

as to the inventory

and to the purchase terms

are explicitly set forth

in this letter.

And importantly,

I'm not to be made privy

to any arrangement between

my client and yourself.

You are simply to alert me

to your intentions,

at which point I will

provide instructions

regarding method of payment.

My client will then convey where

you may take possession of the goods.

Mr. Boyle,

are we to understand

the identity of your client

is unknown to you?

That's correct.

As is the nature

of this inventory?

Also correct.

Excuse me,

but there's a call

for Mr. Boyle

from his office.

What in the name

of God is all this?

"Now available a selection

of uncut diamonds,

"market price, 100 million

pounds sterling."

Is that it?

Is that all it says?

"Payable within 48 hours."

We've been h*jacked

by madmen!

Shouldn't this man

be detained?

I'm afraid Mr. Boyle has

told us all he knows.

Pardon the interruption.

Is there anything further?

I will await your call.

Good day.

The South African Star.

Get Sinclair back. Now!

Ah, Miss Quinn, may I?

I'm working my way

through personnel.

Yes, please.

Thank you.

Take a seat.

Would you care

for a cigarette?

No, thank you.

Thank you.

Now... Miss Quinn...

you're American, but you

were educated at Oxford.

You have been working

here for 15 years,

and you are now

a Senior Negotiator.

That's right.

Would you say you have

done well for yourself?

Yes.

Not married?

No.

And you are 38?

That's right,

Mr. Finch.

I certainly hope

that's not a crime.

Do you have any leads?

Ahem.

Now in your professional

capacity, Miss Quinn,

who would you say were

London Diamond's enemies?

It's potentially

a long list.

We are a major

global business.

Why do you think there could

be more to this than money?

The diamond that

Mr. Boyle has left, the...

Kimberly 4.

cut diamond in the world.

If it were

motivated by money,

it's unlikely it would

still be in our possession.

Are you saying

it's symbolic?

It's also known

as the South African Star.

Thank you, Miss Quinn.

That'll be all for now.

Oh, uh...

that Mr. Hobbs,

you're on good

terms with him?

I suppose so.

He's one of

the night janitors.

Always seems quite jovial.

You were speaking to him

today in the corridor.

Yes, I've been having

problems with my radiator.

I asked him if he could

come and look at it.

It's erratic.

Temperature-wise.

And did he manage

to solve the problem?

I believe he was going to try

and find some time this week.

Good. Thank you

again, Miss Quinn.

Thank you, gentlemen,

for the instruction.

I'll get back

to you in 24 hours.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Miss Quinn, good morning.

You seem bright and

breezy this morning.

I'd like to be given

authority to liaise

with Mr. Finch

on the investigation.

Why?

With the time pressure

we're under we all need

to be communicating as

efficiently as we're able. And...

and?

Finch was hired

by Sinclair.

Well, I don't

see why not.

There's a whole expl*si*n

of nothing downstairs.

I see the King's Row

lawyers are back.

Surely they're not prepared to

pay the ransom on our behalf?

Not if Sinclair has

anything to do with it.

He's already lobbied the other

members of the syndicate

against settling the claims.

Saying the, uh, the deadlines

are unreasonable.

But then of course he would,

wouldn't he?

He's the majority

shareholder.

His life would return

to zero, where he started.

They're not bound

by contract?

Miss Quinn, as I'm

sure you're aware

where large personal

fortunes are concerned,

contracts have a habit

of developing loopholes.

And if that happened,

then we're insolvent.

No diamonds. No sight.

The world knows.

All hell breaks loose.

You'll speak

to Mr. Finch?

Tell him that

I'll be assisting.

It's our official

company position.

Well, you seem

terribly keen.

Well, my job

is at stake.

All of ours are.

All right.

I'll speak

to him right now.

This has just come

through, Mr. Finch.

Miss Quinn.

Mr. Jameson may have

spoken to you, uh,

I'm to assist you in any way

I can with the investigation.

Yes, he told me.

I'm going down

to the vault now.

Oh, these monitors.

The new security system.

Well, actually,

not very secure.

Every 60 seconds

each corridor

is left totally unobserved

for one full minute.

Well, one minute, that's

not very much time.

Time enough

to pass undetected.

The lift is

the single point of entry.

But the diamonds were not

removed by way of the lift.

Each activation

is recorded,

prompting an electronic

time stamp.

As usual, there were

three trips that night.

In each instance the lift

returned at once to the main level.

So the lift was never

stationary long enough

in the sub basement to load

the contents of the vault.

That's right.

You may need these.

Excuse me.

Steel, three inches thick,

floor, ceiling, walls.

But to get the diamonds out

they must have penetrated

it somewhere.

No forced entry.

They knew

the combination.

So, all things

considered, Mr. Finch,

what conclusions

have you arrived at?

Isn't it obvious what conclusions

I've arrived at, Miss Quinn?

A woman of your intelligence

must surely have guessed.

we're expected upstairs.

A stop gap to restore diamond

inventories to an acceptable level.

Five million pounds.

That is what you've

come up with, eh?

Financing the stones

is impossible.

You control all the major

trading centers across the planet.

When the first

diamond turns up,

within hours

you'll get the rest.

Sinclair, we are the sole supplier

of diamonds to six continents.

Any hint we can no longer

supply would be catastrophic.

Money is no substitute

for diamonds.

Miss Quinn is here

with Mr. Finch, sir.

Well, paying the ransom

won't guarantee

your diamonds back and will

make it more difficult

to apprehend

those responsible.

That is your problem,

not mine.

Now, Mr. Finch.

I believe Mr. Finch

has got something

to tell us which may

alter all our perspectives.

I am now in no doubt that

the crime was perpetrated

by either one or a number

of London Diamond employees.

I believe also that

the perpetrator obtained

the codes to the vault

from Sir Milton's residence,

most likely on the evening of

last Saturday during a party.

A team has been sent over to

the house to dust for prints.

Mr. Finch, you said

that you deemed

the motive for the

robbery to be political.

Were it a crime for profit,

a single handful

of diamonds would do.

Now, Mr. Finch,

in your opinion,

who are the most likely

political factions?

The Soviets and the South

African rebels would top the list.

And are there any

members of personnel

in London Diamond

who might be associated

with, uh, these

political factions?

Well, there was one name

that came to the surface.

Ahem.

Oliver Ashtoncroft, age

whilst attending a

Marxist Leninist rally.

But this is ridiculous.

That was nearly

two decades ago.

Just because I don't

advocate everything

that goes on

at this company

does not make me

a communist or a thief.

That is enough!

You really have sunk

to the dregs this time, eh?

Well, I'm sorry,

but unless we can remove

even the slightest

hint of fraud,

King's Row will not even

consider full settlement.

Sinclair, as the syndicate's

largest underwriter,

you stand to lose a great deal

of your ill gotten fortune.

Or do I overstate?

Ill gotten? Well,

now that is rich,

coming from a de facto dictator

of an entire sl*ve nation.

For 30 years

we have paid you

inordinate sums of money

for your security.

We have done so

in the hope that one day

we may receive

something in return.

Well, that day has come,

Sinclair, and what, eh?

Nothing.

I will crush you, Sinclair.

I will take

everything you have.

And then I will piss

on your f*cking grave.

How'd you do it, Mr. Hobbs?

How'd you get them out?

Do you know what the hardest

substance in the world is?

And who's really

behind this?

The diamond.

You rub it with a cloth,

it lets off a charge.

You put it in water,

it comes up dry.

Its only enemy

is another diamond.

You do know you've rendered

the stones worthless?

All of them.

They can't be sold.

London Diamond's

the only buyer on earth.

Precisely!

And to that end

we have demanded a ransom.

We? No,

there is no "we."

They won't pay.

They couldn't

if they wanted.

There's no money.

And that investigator finch,

he saw us talking.

He will find out.

I have absolutely

no doubt.

Have you ever thought

about your plans, like?

No, I mean,

when you get your share,

what you gonna

do with your life.

I mean, are you gonna

be a giver or a taker?

Why, you stupid,

old man!

Wake up!

Don't you understand?

That the only life for us

is one behind bars.

Ok, look.

I can negotiate

our way out of this.

I'll go to Ashtoncroft.

Offer him the diamonds

in exchange

for our freedom

and our silence.

He'll... he'll

accept the deal.

His terror of publicity

will see to it.

All you have to do is tell

me where the diamonds are.

I'm... I'm sorry,

Miss Quinn.

I... I'd like to help, but

I do not intend to negotiate.

Well, then I have no option

but to turn myself in.

Oh, really?

Is that what you're

gonna do, eh?

After all these years

clawing your way up,

laughing at men's jokes,

subservient, neglecting

your opportunities,

giving up on love,

no time for the simple,

the decent.

Doing all the dirty work,

you're really going to throw

all that away just to spite me?

I require the money in full.

And yes, they can pay it.

It is precisely what

they are insured for.

As you wish.

Then I shall find

the diamonds myself.

Oh, is that a fact?

Oh, it certainly is.

I shall find the diamonds.

Make no mistake

about it.

Is this a bad time?

No, no, not at all.

It's just a formality,

you understand?

And we have requested

the same from all employees

who were present

a Sir Milton's party.

A set of fingerprints?

Of course.

May I?

There's really

nothing to worry about.

It's simply to rule you out

conclusively from our investigations.

Sorry, it's quite

warm in here.

Isn't it?

Now, if you'll

allow me.

Are you really considering

Ollie to be your prime suspect?

What? Mmm.

Wouldn't you say he had the greatest

facility to obtain the codes?

But does

he have the courage?

The requisite spine

of ambition?

It's hard to imagine anyone

capable of so audacious a crime.

Audacious

or just ambitious?

Ambition is something you

understand, Miss Quinn.

No longer married,

Mr. Finch?

No, I'm not.

She tire of all

your investigating?

Yes, she did.

I'm sorry.

Here.

Thank you.

Oh, and just one

last thing, Miss Quinn.

I need your assistance

downstairs.

Could you? It's just

a matter of a few minutes.

Certainly.

Now, I want you to tell me

in your opinion, Miss Quinn,

if this man is lying.

Mr. Hobbs, I believe

you know Miss Quinn.

Uh, third floor, second

office from the lift, yes.

She's been kind enough to

act as my second set of ears.

Uh, are we still discussing

Tuesday night, sir?

I would like to revisit

the period

in the sub basement

from 3-6:00 a.m.

Three hours.

The bulk of which

is unaccounted for.

The nature of my job,

sir, is somewhat solitary.

Now, you stated earlier

these hours were spent

waxing and polishing floors.

Yeah, mostly. Yeah.

That's a great deal of time

devoted to polishing floors.

Oh, marble is very

particular, sir.

It requires a certain type of

polish and a lot of time to set.

At what time did you tend

to the vault corridor?

At the very end.

Between 5 and

Yes.

Why then?

Why wait until the end?

Oh, it's... it's

a cherished task.

It's akin to tending the

palace throne, I imagine.

I always save

the best till last.

Hmm.

Any hobbies, Mr. Hobbs,

leisure time activities?

Yes, I... I read a good

book now and then.

Anything in particular?

Graham Greene,

uh, H.G. Wells,

sometimes

Emily Dickinson.

Nothing more radical?

No Soviet literature in your

collection, Mr. Hobbs?

Oh, I... I tried

w*r and Peace,

but I couldn't

finish it.

You frequent

Greyhound races.

You like to watch dogs run

around in circles?

And I also wash

my smalls on Thursdays,

if you're interested.

Now, I see your wife d*ed

some years back of cancer.

Her name was...

Margaret.

That's right.

It must have been

excruciating for you.

Sitting by, watching her

wither away.

Taken in

the very prime of life.

Mr. Finch, you sound like

a man who's lost something.

Perhaps if you were

to tell me what it was,

I could help

you locate it.

Mr. Finch?

Yes?

We have something

that may be of interest.

Excuse me.

Mr. Finch: Come on.

That'll be all

for now, Mr. Hobbs.

I will see you later,

Miss Quinn.

In Ashtoncroft's study

I used a handkerchief,

but in the heat

of the moment

I may have left

a fingerprint.

I know why you did this.

I know it's not

about the money.

Nothing important ever is.

I understand you have

political convictions,

but you have to know King's Row

is trying every tactic not to pay.

And I have a feeling

they're going to succeed.

Our only way out of this

is to negotiate.

They'll never find

the diamonds then.

You'll get nothing.

Absolutely nothing, just

a lifetime in jail.

Is this cause

of yours worth it?

I mean, would the cause

do the same for you?

This time tomorrow morning

this will all be over.

What's that old phrase about

two wrongs a right do not make?

That's nonsense.

Sometimes to make

something right

you have to do

something just as wrong.

Oh, get... oh, yes, my cause.

It's worth a 100 lifetimes

in jail for me, Miss Quinn.

Some day you will understand.

Maybe it will inspire you to

look beyond these marble walls.

There's a remarkable

world out there.

Oh, and if it's

any consolation,

I never really

intended to involve you.

Get the forensic

department to verify it.

Yes, sir.

How about the dog track?

Anything?

Yes, um...

this one here.

I'm pretty certain that's him,

sir, the janitor.

Christ, Hobbs!

How did you do it?

I'm telling you.

We have no more time.

Taking on Ashtoncroft

when his back is to the wall

will lead to a blood bath.

Someone's going

to be ruined.

And what about finch?

He says he has

some leads.

I don't think

we can rely on him.

We don't

have any choice.

Make sure that he comes up

with something, and quickly.

What the hell do you think

I have been doing?

Contact

the syndicate members.

All of them.

Convene a meeting

tonight.

And tell them

what?

Tell them...

tell them...

Tell them if

they do not come here

with their wallets open

to pay me everything

they owe me, I will dedicate

my remaining years

on this earth to ruining

every last one of them.

Tell them that.

Word for word.

Woman: London Evening News.

Put me through

to the news desk, please.

I was looking for you.

I need some air.

Will you have

a drink with me?

You know you're quite

someone, Miss Quinn.

A true maverick.

Why was it again

no one married you?

My mother said, "b*ating the boys

won't make you popular or happy."

It turns out

she was right.

We're the same, you and I,

outsiders, loners.

We could almost be brilliant.

But what would we achieve

with all the hours we put in?

Absolutely nothing.

Man: Anything else, sir?

Come in.

Sir, the press

are outside.

The press?

What do they want?

I'm not sure, sir.

I'll speak to them.

Ladies and gentlemen,

please.

Mr. Milton Ashtoncroft is

not available at the moment.

So, Miss Quinn...

are you going

to tell me how you did it?

Remove 100 million pounds

of diamonds past cameras,

walls of steel and security

guards and sealed doorways?

For the life of me

I can't unravel it.

I wish I could help you, but

I'm really not that clever.

Maybe you struck a deal

with the Russians.

Who knows?

You could look

after their new cartel

once Lon Di

hits the scrap heap.

Do I appear

so diabolical?

We've seen a photo of you at

the racetrack with Mr. Hobbs.

You must be mistaken.

I never gamble.

We also found some fingerprints

at the Ashtoncroft Mansion.

By midnight we shall

have conclusive results.

Oh, and, um...

did you know my fee is five

percent of recovered goods?

I understand what you're

doing, Mr. Finch.

You're testing me,

measuring my reactions,

my stimulus responses.

But the truth is you

haven't arrested me

because you

have no evidence.

Because I've

committed no crime.

Perhaps I haven't arrested you

because I'm waiting for you

to reveal who's

really behind all this.

Sir, there's been

an incident.

News of the robbery

has leaked to the press.

Mr. Ashtoncroft

has had a heart att*ck.

Is... is he all right?

I'm afraid not, madame.

The board are reconvening

back at the office.

I hope you have no intentions

of leaving town, Miss Quinn.

sh*t.

Ohh.

Aren't you a picture?

Clever girl, eh?

Filthy, but clever.

Ashtoncroft's dead,

or was that all a part

of your plan, Mr. Hobbs?

I'm going back and

telling them everything.

I'm afraid I can't

let you go, Miss Quinn.

You see, the deadline for

the ransom's in about an hour

and I'm guarding

the entrance to Aladdin's Cave

in case someone's smart

enough to figure it out.

Look at you.

You're quite an asset

to the company.

Aren't you, Miss Quinn?

They're not going to pay and

you're insane to think they would!

Oh, they will.

I'm sure of that.

Ever think what you're going

to do when all of this is over?

Ugh! Ugh!

You know, you remind me

so much of my wife.

Once she got her teeth

into something.

Did I ever tell

you how she d*ed?

Cancer.

But first, they said that not

only was her cancer operable,

but it had been caught early

and she had an excellent chance.

But you see, we paid

what little money

we had into a private

hospital policy.

But then the insurance

company told her

that she had to wait her

turn for a stay in hospital.

So we pleaded

our case all the way

up to the Chairman

of the company.

But he said

it wasn't an emergency.

So, you know...

but by the time she was

admitted to the hospital,

well, it... it was... she

was too far gone then.

It's Sinclair.

Yeah.

At that time Clifton Sinclair

was the biggest seller

of private hospital policies

to the British underprivileged.

And he used that money

to establish himself...

as London Diamond's largest

insurance underwriter.

Individual participants

in King's Row syndicates

are liable to the full extent

of their private wealth.

What is the meaning of this?

What the hell

are you doing here?

We've been discussing

the situation.

What situation?

The impossible situation

that you got us all into.

What are you talking about?

In case you didn't know,

we own 75 percent

of the London Evening News.

I believe you spoke

with them earlier.

Yes.

Going to the press means

you don't have to come

up with a quick settlement.

The scandalous news, your time is

bought, that was the plan, wasn't it?

Mr. Ashtoncroft has, however,

agreed to dismiss all charges

pending an immediate

settlement of the claim

which I have

just authorized.

You have what?

King's Row

signifies one thing.

Reliability.

Now just...

our business

was built on it.

Our reputation

demands it.

You will never ever

get the money back!

It's for a ransom,

for Christ's sake!

Are you telling me you waited 15

years for the absolute right moment?

All this

to punish one man?

Patience, they say,

is a virtue.

He took from me...

the one thing in this world

that I truly loved.

Mr. Hobbs,

you have so much valor.

No.

Didn't we?

How did you solve it?

My clumsiness and

your background.

Come on, come on.

Here it is, sir.

Thank you.

This is the telex from the bank

confirming that the deposit

has been made corresponding

to the exact amount

as requested

by your client.

Everything looks

to be in order.

Ugh!

Look at the

inventory list

what does it say?

Would you call

security, please?

I don't understand.

Blank!

What the hell is

that supposed to mean?

I believe it means the

diamonds are not being returned.

Good day.

The South African Star,

so it wasn't a message?

Shh, shh.

More complicated.

Would you mind?

I'll, uh,

leave you to it.

Man: My client will then convey where

you may take possession of the goods.

Excuse me, but there's a call

for Mr. Boyle from his office.

Yes?

Has there

been a delivery?

May I give you

some advice, Miss Quinn?

Well, you are the one

holding the g*n.

Life is for living.

It's there for the taking.

Grant yourself no regrets.

Go on, put it down.

You don't have

it in you.

It was never loaded.

It doesn't matter now.

All done.

Man: How many more?

Second man: Steady.

Steady with that.

Mr. Hopkins.

Finch:

Miss Quinn.

Mr. Finch.

Congratulations.

The idea came

when you were dropping

your earring in the sink,

is it right?

Sorry I lost you

your finder's fee.

We didn't find prints

on Sir Milton's safe.

We found them on the opera

glasses in his office.

They weren't conclusive.

Mr. Finch.

Whatever it is you have

to say, Miss Quinn,

now is not

the right time to say it.

Maybe there will never

be a right time.

As strange as it may sound...

I can't bare the thought

of you spending

the rest of your life

behind bars.

Naturally you'll have to agree

to assist the investigation...

with your all-round

experience, you are...

perfectly situated to do so.

Good-bye, Miss Quinn.

It has been widely reported

that a large scale theft has

taken place on these premises.

As you can see,

that is not the case.

Quinn: Ollie took

over the company

and became everything

his father had ever hoped.

I was more fortunate.

We look forward

to a long...

and prosperous...

and...

confidential

relationship.

Quinn: After an extensive

investigation,

it was determined that Mr.

Hobbs had somehow acted alone.

They never found him.

A month later I was

passed over again

and tendered my resignation

the following day.

Cassie Jane: Well, forgive me

for being sensational,

but I really need to know.

What happened

with the money?

Mr. Hobbs?

Well, Mr. Hobbs, though

we never spoke again,

but I did receive

a letter from a bank

in Switzerland

informing me a deposit

had been made to a numbered

account on my behalf.

The sum of

Everything.

And that's where

my real story begins.

Your article it's called

"Women Who Led."

That's right, isn't it?

I hope you're inspired.

I hope you can

inspire others.

You can contact me.

My details are

on the back.

Quinn: "I never intended

this to happen,

"but the burden of Hobbs' money

sent me in a different direction.

"I discovered the world

"and through it,

I discovered myself.

"You'd be surprised how long it

takes to give away 100 million pounds.

"It's taken me 40 years.

"And just today...

"today I gave away

the last penny.

"I'm free at last.

"Except...

"except for that jewel

that you held in your hand,

"that I've been saving

for a rainy day.

"Or perhaps...

"or perhaps it's

the last little piece

"of vanity that

I have left."