33 Half Moon Street [SA] 650527 03 A Kitten For Mr Katz_OTRRPG

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode 33: Half Moon Street [SA] 650527 03 - "A Kitten for Mr. Katz"
Release Date: February 15, 2026
Podcast Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

---

Overview of the Episode

This episode presents an audio drama from the Golden Age of Radio, specifically an installment in the 33 Half Moon Street series titled "A Kitten for Mr. Katz." The tale follows the employees of Assignments Unlimited—a quirky agency that prides itself on handling any task, anywhere, anytime—as they navigate a mysterious request from a theatrical agent. What begins as a straightforward “kitten-sitting” job quickly unfolds into a comedic yet treacherous web of show business intrigue, mistaken identity, and a hidden criminal enterprise.

---

Key Discussion Points and Story Arc

1. The Setup: The Mysterious Client

• Aubrey Mason, head of Assignments Unlimited, receives a visit from the flamboyant and fast-talking Mr. Benjamin Katz (Theatrical agent).
• Katz requests someone from the agency to collect a “kitten” arriving on the boat train, instructing they care for it until his return from the Midlands.
  • Notable quote:
    "At Assignments Unlimited, we do anything anywhere at any time." — Aubrey Mason [00:19]
• Katz’s hurried, secretive behavior sets a mysterious tone.
• Katz leaves abruptly, giving vague details and instructing, "Just look after her until I get back." [02:17]

2. A Feline… or a Femme Fatale?

• Cannon, Mason’s reliable American operative, is tasked with meeting the “kitten” at King’s Cross.
• Upon arrival, Cannon is approached by Marie Lavour, a glamorous French actress, who reveals “‘kitten’” is her stage nickname, causing confusion and comedic relief.
  • Notable exchange:
    “But Mr. Katz said I was to meet a kitten.” — Cannon
    “That is what they call me in France, monsieur. My name is Marie Lavour.” — Marie Lavour [05:06]
  • Cannon quips: “For once, I've got me an assignment. That's the cat's whiskers.” [05:18]
• Cannon moves from chaperone to unexpected escort, as he ensures Marie's comfort in London.

3. Show Biz Realities and Social Dilemmas

• Over curry, Marie discusses her struggle as a newcomer, needing to be seen in the right places and with the right people to succeed in cinema, but she's burdened with no luggage and limited resources.
  • “In the cinema world, one must be seen only in the best places with the right people.” — Marie Lavour [08:02]
• Cannon offers Marie his flat and promises to be her gallant protector, enhancing the light romantic-comedic tone.
  • “For me, mademoiselle, I'm a regular Galahad…” — Cannon [08:55]

4. Doubts, Deceptions, and a Sniff of Crime

• Aubrey Mason begins to doubt Katz’s legitimacy after a suspicious direct phone call and an investigation into Katz’s provided address, which turns out to be fake.
  • “No phone number, just the address. And for a theatrical agent, that's decidedly odd.” — Mason [13:25]
• Cannon verifies there is no Katz at the address, no legitimate theatrical agency, and realizes they may be sucked into a scam.
  • “Not even on the rooftops. Chief. We've been taken?” — Cannon [15:35]

5. The Drop and the Sting

• Despite suspicions, Assignments Unlimited agrees to fulfill the client’s instructions: deliver Marie (“the kitten”) to the Four Swans Hotel at Waltham Cross.
• Katz and Marie quickly exit, but Cannon, sensing a setup, tails them from the hotel.

6. Showdown and Reveal

• Cannon intercepts Katz and Lavour after a tense car pursuit.
• He demands the handover of Marie’s travel bag, suspecting criminal activity.
• Discovery: The bag contains a sealed metal cylinder filled with cocaine.
  • “There's enough cocaine in this cylinder to keep you on easy street for years. You got the wrong name, buster. They should have called you rat.” — Cannon [22:13]

7. Resolution

• Aubrey Mason reflects on how a routine job for Assignments Unlimited escalated into a criminal case.
• Authorities were already observing Katz for narcotics smuggling; using Assignments Unlimited as intermediaries was Katz’s cover to avoid suspicion.
• The episode closes with Mason ruefully noting the experience and lessons learned.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the nature of Assignments Unlimited:
  “At Assignments Unlimited, we do anything anywhere at any time.” — Aubrey Mason [00:19]

• On the harsh world of show business:
  “Romantic game, show business.” — Mr. Katz [01:43]
  “Cutthroat, Mr. Mason. That’s the word to really describe it, a knife in the back.” — Mr. Katz [01:52]

• On assignments and feline puns:
  “You’ve never kept cats and now you’re working for one.” — Cannon [04:02]

• On misunderstandings and social climbing:
  “If I book into a small, out of the way hotel and someone sees me, then it will start bad gossip for me. The cinema star must live only in the best places. Yet… I cannot book into a good hotel because they will ask why I have no luggage.” — Marie Lavour [08:10]

• On criminal intrigue:
  “There's enough cocaine in this cylinder to keep you on easy street for years. You know, you got the wrong name, buster. They should have called you rat.” — Cannon [22:13]

---

Timeline / Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00-02:45: Katz delivers the mysterious job to Assignments Unlimited.
• 02:46-05:32: Cannon receives his task; confusion about the “kitten.”
• 05:33-06:51: Cannon meets Marie Lavour at King’s Cross; confusion resolved.
• 06:52-09:16: Cannon and Marie bond; the realities of show business.
• 09:36-11:45: Mason begins to doubt Katz’s story.
• 13:17-15:39: Cannon investigates Katz’s address; uncovers the scam.
• 17:23-19:14: The rendezvous at Four Swans Hotel.
• 20:07-22:13: Cannon confronts the schemers after a car chase; drug smuggling revealed.
• 22:29-End: Mason reflects and the case is closed.

---

Tone and Style

The episode is laced with witty repartee, theatrical in-jokes, tongue-in-cheek humor, and noir-lite narration. The banter between Cannon and Marie is playful and charming, while Mason’s dry observations ground the convoluted story. The overarching tone is breezy and clever, though underscored by genuine suspense as the mystery deepens.

---

Conclusion

What starts as a whimsical, seemingly low-stakes assignment morphs into a classic Golden Age radio yarn—part comedy, part crime caper. Through snappy dialogue and twisty plotting, the episode nostalgically captures the intrigue and atmosphere of postwar London, rife with theatrical egos, shady deals, and quick-witted antiheroes. For fans of vintage radio drama, “A Kitten for Mr. Katz” delivers intrigue, humor, and a glimpse behind the velvet curtain of showbiz and subterfuge.

---

For more Golden Age radio tales and classic cases, tune in to Harold's Old Time Radio.

---

Transcript

[Aubrey Mason]

That's right.

[Cannon]

But I work in good old London town. My last assignment took me to the States.

[Aubrey Mason]

Really?

[Cannon]

May I ask what sort of work you do, Mr. Kenneth? Well, let's see. $64. Question. The company's name is Assignments Unlimited, and my boss lives up to it like a battle on her. Come up and see me sometime at 33 Half Moon Street.

[Aubrey Mason]

Aubrey Mason at your service. At Assignments Unlimited, we do anything anywhere at any time.

[Marie Lavour]

33 Half Moon Street.

[Aubrey Mason]

I have a file in front of me. On the front cover is boldly typed, a kitten for Mr. Katz. To say that Mr. Benjamin Katz paid us a visit of 33 Half Moon street would not be strictly accurate. He descended on our peace and quiet in this backwater like a clap of thunder. Mr. Cast was a man of few words, but he had a lot to say. It's part of the routine at Assignments Unlimited that I lend a patient and attentive ear.

[Mr. Katz]

I'm in the theatrical profession, Mr. Mason. Casting mainly. You've got quite a few things on the go at the moment. Theatre's having a boom. Vaudevilles on the way back. Television, radio, motion pictures, films, you know.

[Aubrey Mason]

I know.

[Mr. Katz]

Yeah. Well, it keeps me on the go all the time. Never have a chance to sit still for a moment. I'm here today and tomorrow I'll be in the Midlands. After that, over Italy to shoot a scene of a girl on the beach bouncing a ball. That's for a TV commercial. Why they have to go all the way to Italy just to get a girl bouncing a ball on a beach? Beats me.

[Aubrey Mason]

It must be very trying.

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, but I'll never let it get me down. Get in there and fight, I say. If you don't get the job done, your competitors will get there ahead of you. Romantic game show business.

[Cannon]

That's what you think.

[Mr. Katz]

Cutthroat, Mr. Mason. That's the word to really describe it, a knife in the back.

[Aubrey Mason]

What is it exactly that you wish us to do?

[Mr. Katz]

What's that? Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, a little job. They told me you handle anything. Is that right?

[Aubrey Mason]

That's right.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, great. Here's my card. Send the account there and it'll be settled right away. Well, I must get going. You've got to be in the Midlands.

[Aubrey Mason]

First thing tomorrow, Mr. Katz. Is it film stunting or something like that?

[Mr. Katz]

Film stunt? Oh, the job. Yeah. Well, I didn't say, did I?

[Aubrey Mason]

No, no.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, I got a little female kitten arriving on the bull train lunchtime tomorrow. She's got someone on the train looking after her, and he'll hand the K to your man in the platform buffet if he's there at lunchtime. Now, just look after her until I get back from the Midlands day after tomorrow. Well, now I really must run. Been a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Mason. Do you ever go to the theater often? Well, I'll send you tickets for my next review. Goodbye.

[Aubrey Mason]

Good afternoon, Mr. Katz.

[Cannon]

You okay, Chief?

[Aubrey Mason]

Canon. Nice to see you. Come in. You.

[Cannon]

You're having trouble with that guy?

[Aubrey Mason]

No, no, just a can't. He's a little exuberant.

[Cannon]

Well, he must have spent his prenatal days on a machine gun fire.

[Aubrey Mason]

How was the trip to Washington?

[Cannon]

Oh, went off without a hitch. Do I get a furlough?

[Aubrey Mason]

Surely five days on the Queen Elizabeth was enough.

[Cannon]

Yeah, that's what I thought you'd say. So I'm reporting for duty.

[Aubrey Mason]

As it happens, I have a small thing here for tomorrow.

[Cannon]

The Mr. Katz, the man who just left.

[Aubrey Mason]

How did you know his name?

[Cannon]

I looked in the appointment spot.

[Aubrey Mason]

He's got a kitten arriving on the boat train at King's Cross tomorrow. We have to look after it until he gets back from the Midlands.

[Cannon]

So you want me to go to King's Cross with a quart of milk.

[Aubrey Mason]

Or something like that? The kitten's in charge of a man on the train. He'll hand over to you in the platform buffet at lunchtime.

[Cannon]

Well, how'll I know this guy?

[Aubrey Mason]

Oh, there shouldn't be any difficulty. Canon, how many people on King's Cross station will have kittens for company?

[Cannon]

That's a good question. And what do I do with the kitten when I've collected it?

[Aubrey Mason]

You're in charge until Mr. Cass gets back. Take it to your flat if you like. Anything, so long as you don't lose it.

[Cannon]

Uh huh. Hey, what do I. What do I feed this kitten on?

[Aubrey Mason]

Oh, I don't know. Cream, I suppose. I've never kept cats. What's the joke?

[Cannon]

I was just thinking. You've never kept cats and now you're working for one.

[Aubrey Mason]

Late the following morning, Cannon, after a short consultation with a pet shop in Charing Cross, left for his assignation with a kitten at lunchtime. He was sipping an Old and Mild in the platform buffet when the boat train pulled into the station. He carefully scanned the passengers for some sign of a man and a kitten.

[Marie Lavour]

Pardon, monsieur. Are you the gentleman who was sent to meet me?

[Cannon]

Wow, I. I mean, I wish I.

[Marie Lavour]

Was, but Monsieur Katz said there would be a gentleman to meet me in the platform buffet. And you are the only gentleman to serve by yourself.

[Cannon]

Did you say Mr. Katz?

[Marie Lavour]

Well, monsieur, he is my agent.

[Cannon]

But Mr. Katz said I was to meet a kitten.

[Marie Lavour]

That is what they call me in France, monsieur. My name is Marie Lavou.

[Cannon]

Oh, Marie Lavor. So. So you're the kitten I had to meet, huh?

[Marie Lavour]

Is the idea distasteful to you, monsieur?

[Cannon]

Distasteful? For once. I've got me an assignment. That's the cat's whiskers.

[Aubrey Mason]

Yes. Cannon's job was to act as chaperone to a 6 kid. I just hadn't understood the theatrical puns of my flamboyant client. A lesser man might have been a little nonplussed by this turn of. Well, of events, but Cannon was not in the least bit disturbed.

[Cannon]

You see, Marie, the chief got the whole thing wrong. He sent me on the trail of a feline. Well, come think of it. He wasn't all that far out after all.

[Marie Lavour]

Well, I'm in your hands, monsieur. Where's your legal.

[Cannon]

Well, that's a question, Marie, that causes a conflict in my mind. Should I follow the line of duty or countermand my chief's orders and change them to suit the situation?

[Marie Lavour]

I don't quite follow you.

[Cannon]

Well, my orders were to feed you on cream and keep you in my flat.

[Marie Lavour]

Then you exchange your orders, monsieur.

[Cannon]

I was afraid you say that I never eat cream.

[Marie Lavour]

It's bad for my figure.

[Cannon]

Yeah, this job gets better by the minute. Hey, do cats eat curry?

[Marie Lavour]

Delicious.

[Cannon]

Then we'll eat curried chicken at Viraswami's. And then, well, let's. Let's go chew on a chicken first, huh?

[Aubrey Mason]

Over the curry. Cannon warmed to his task. The change in diet for his charge had been drastic. But Cannon looked for all the world like a cat at a bowl of cream. This didn't prevent him putting some pertinent questions to the lovely Miss Lavour.

[Cannon]

Oh, by the way, Marie, what happened to your luggage?

[Marie Lavour]

I have just an overnight bag. This one.

[Cannon]

Do you usually travel so light?

[Marie Lavour]

Monsieur Katz telephoned just one hour before the ferry left. He said I was to drop everything and come. That's not uncommon in show business, you know. He said he would provide everything for me at this end.

[Cannon]

Well, I guess he'll do that when he gets back tomorrow. Where does he live? The sky. Katz is home, you mean?

[Marie Lavour]

Oh, I have no idea. I wish I did. Then I would go there.

[Cannon]

Well, if he wanted you to do that, he would have said so. Well, maybe Mrs. Katz is in residence. And if she got a look at you, she might get Papa to change his vocation.

[Marie Lavour]

Oh, but it will still be a difficult 24 hours for me now.

[Cannon]

How come?

[Marie Lavour]

I'm hoping for my big break in England. Mr. Katz says there is a good chance that I will get a part in a new film there to shoot at El Street. You know this place?

[Cannon]

Sure, half an hour from here in Boreham Wood. But why is it so difficult?

[Marie Lavour]

In the cinema world, one must be seen only in the best places with the right people.

[Cannon]

Oh, you should have said. I'd have taken you to tea at Buckingham Palace.

[Marie Lavour]

Oh, please do not misunderstand me. It's just because I haven't my luggage with me. I. I haven't even a change of clothes. If I book into a small, out of the way hotel and someone sees me, then it will start bad gossip for me. The cinema star must live only in the best places. Yet. Alas, I cannot book into a good hotel because they will ask why I have no luggage.

[Cannon]

And the film star is never far from her pantechnican. Yeah, I always wondered why film stars were a bit screwy. I'm learning. But you know, you don't have to worry, Marie. You can stay the night in my flat. How's that?

[Marie Lavour]

You're very kind, Monsieur Canon, but that would not be proper now would it?

[Cannon]

Well, it would if I bedded down the flop house around the corner. You.

[Marie Lavour]

You would really give up your flat for one night?

[Cannon]

For me, mademoiselle, I'm a regular Galahad. But there's a condition. After you've met up with cats and gotten organized on this movie, I take you out to dinner and we'll do it on your conditions. The right people, that's me.

[Aubrey Mason]

And the right place.

[Cannon]

Beer and sausages and dirty dates.

[Marie Lavour]

I shall look forward to our date with anticipation and ple.

[Cannon]

And I'll twist old cats arm to make sure you become a movie star right soon.

[Marie Lavour]

Do you think I'll be successful?

[Cannon]

Baby, you be the cat's meow. Waiter, clear away the litter.

[Aubrey Mason]

It wasn't until after his lunch at Butterswami's that Cannon reported in. At that time I had no idea that Mr. Katz's kitten was a lovely girl from France. Cannon, of course, was quick to inform me.

[Cannon]

So you see chief, you got it all wrong. This kitten's a real bish. And our client, Mr. Katz needs his head wet for treating her this way.

[Aubrey Mason]

I don't follow, Cannon. Are you suggesting that he's treated her badly?

[Cannon]

Landing a potential movie star in London with no gear? You just don't Know the business, chief.

[Aubrey Mason]

But I do know that you all know Rudolph Valentino.

[Cannon]

Valentino? He went out with Prohibition.

[Aubrey Mason]

Well, I must confess, I don't attend the cinema very frequently. However, where is Ms. Lavour in my.

[Cannon]

Pardon?

[Aubrey Mason]

What?

[Cannon]

Now, don't panic. Those were your orders. And I've booked into the hotel around the corner for the night.

[Aubrey Mason]

Well, Ken and I. Assignments unlimited.

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, is that you, Mr. Mason?

[Aubrey Mason]

Speaking. Oh, good afternoon. How are things in the Midlands?

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, they're fine, just fine. Did you meet the kitten?

[Aubrey Mason]

Yes, One of my men met her and is looking after her.

[Mr. Katz]

Good. Now, it occurred to me that she won't know where to come to tomorrow. I wondered if your man would bring her out to the four swans in Waltham.

[Aubrey Mason]

Cr the four swans at Waltham Cross? Yes, certainly. At what time, Mr. Katz?

[Mr. Katz]

Six in the evening.

[Aubrey Mason]

I'll see to it.

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, good man. Now, don't worry about the expenses. I'll see to everything. Goodbye, Mr. Mason.

[Aubrey Mason]

Good day, Mr. Katz.

[Cannon]

Um, Chief, you got that look again.

[Aubrey Mason]

Ms. Baines is off the switchboard. She popped out for a minute and put the line through to this office. Cats rang straight through to me. So I asked him how things were in the Midlands, and he said fine. But he can't be in the Midlands because he dialed direct. You heard that wasn't a trunk call. Mr. Katz is right here in London. That's old Canon. I wonder why he told me a deliberate lie. If Mr. Katz was in London, then why did he wish an escort for Ms. Lavour? And if she knew that he was in London, then she'd made an awful fool of Cannon. For all his ponderous bulk, Cannon is agile of mind and body, to coin a Canon phrase. He'd gotten the message.

[Cannon]

Let me have the phone, chief.

[Aubrey Mason]

Who are you ringing?

[Cannon]

My flat.

[Aubrey Mason]

Well, careful what you say.

[Cannon]

That's all right, chief. I just swallowed a jar of honey. Hello?

[Marie Lavour]

Hello? Are we speaking to you?

[Cannon]

It's me, Cannon. Everything all right?

[Marie Lavour]

I was in the bath.

[Cannon]

Sorry.

[Marie Lavour]

Oh, that's all right. It's nice to hear your voice.

[Cannon]

Just thought I'd ring to check that you're okay.

[Marie Lavour]

Oh, you're very kindness. You can understand.

[Cannon]

Now, you get back to that bath before you drip all over my Persian carpet.

[Marie Lavour]

In Persian?

[Cannon]

Well, the guy Marks in Spencer's bargain basement said it was.

[Marie Lavour]

What time would you be home?

[Cannon]

Oh, about an hour or so. Oh, by the way, Mr. Katz rang.

[Marie Lavour]

Oh, he's back in town?

[Cannon]

No, no, he's still up north. He wanted to know if you were.

[Marie Lavour]

Okay and I am, thanks to you.

[Cannon]

That's what I told him. Now, look, if I'm late, you can play solitaire. There's a deck of cards in the bureau.

[Marie Lavour]

I'll cook you some dinner. How's that?

[Cannon]

Great. Be seeing you, kitten.

[Marie Lavour]

Au revoir, Monsieur Canon.

[Cannon]

Well, I don't know. She's an actress. Could mean a lot. Or nothing. Chief, where is this. Where's this guy Katz hanging out?

[Aubrey Mason]

Oh, here's his card. See anything odd about it?

[Cannon]

No phone number, just the address.

[Aubrey Mason]

And for a theatrical agent, that's decidedly odd. I didn't bother to look at it closely before I simply shoved it in the drawer of the desk.

[Cannon]

17A Wardour Street. Well, do I take the tube or a taxi?

[Aubrey Mason]

I think this warrants a taxi. Don't forget, he's never met you. And he doesn't know that you were assigned to the job of meeting Ms.

[Cannon]

La Bour unless she rang and told him.

[Aubrey Mason]

There's no telephone check.

[Cannon]

Okay, I'll be 30 minutes. And if I find what I think I'll find, Mr. Cat's the fur is going to fly. Oh, four flights. Mutton Webster Publishing Company. Anne's Theatrical Hire. Chamois Window cleaning company. The CO Black Bridge Club. Hmm. No Mr. Katz. Well, I guess here's as good as any. Ah, Major Farnum.

[Aubrey Mason]

We were expecting you.

[Cannon]

No, no, just a minute. You got me wrong. My name's Cannon. I just want a little information.

[Aubrey Mason]

Are you from the police?

[Cannon]

No, I'm looking for an old friend of mine, name of Katz. I was told he ran a theatrical agency in this building. Cats.

[Marie Lavour]

Cats?

[Aubrey Mason]

You're American, aren't you?

[Cannon]

Yeah, Cats. Yes, Cats only.

[Aubrey Mason]

No, no, there's no one here by that name.

[Cannon]

You know everybody here quite so well.

[Aubrey Mason]

There's Anne's Theatrical Hire. Of course. It's run by a girl called Sally Manger. Not Anne at all. Sally Manger's always eating, so they call her Salle Manger. Terribly amusing, don't you think?

[Cannon]

No cats.

[Aubrey Mason]

No cats. Okay. Good afternoon. No cats.

[Cannon]

Not even on the rooftops. Chief. We've been taken?

[Aubrey Mason]

It looks like it.

[Cannon]

So what do we do?

[Aubrey Mason]

Technically, we have a case for fraud, of course.

[Cannon]

You mean the cops?

[Aubrey Mason]

We'd be entitled to lay our predicament before the law. It's obvious that Cats never intended to pay for our services rendered. I'm not sure that I'd welcome the publicity, though. And then there's the. The girl.

[Cannon]

Yeah, the girl. What about her?

[Aubrey Mason]

From your telephone conversation, she's probably toasting you a tasty frog's. Leg over your gas ring.

[Cannon]

You know, chief, sometimes I wonder why I work for you.

[Aubrey Mason]

I suppose the money has something to do with it. Now, our client has asked us to deliver the lady to the Four Swans Hotel at Waltham Cross. This we will do. It may well be that he wished to keep his real address a secret for some quite logical reason. If that's so, then he'll pay up when you deliver the goods.

[Cannon]

Chief, I got a funny feeling.

[Aubrey Mason]

Yes, have I? But we'll play along straight at our end. Go back to your flat and act as if nothing's happened.

[Cannon]

Okay.

[Aubrey Mason]

Don't let the girl know where her assignation with cats is to be. It's just as well not to take chances. Tomorrow evening at 6, you can take it at the Four Swans and clean everything up.

[Cannon]

I know who I'll clean up first if I don't get the dough.

[Aubrey Mason]

There is this to it, Canon. It might be dangerous. You never know.

[Cannon]

I'll take a chance on that. Now, what's this? What's this guy Katz like anyway?

[Aubrey Mason]

You won't have to worry about him. He's late, middle aged and out of condition.

[Marie Lavour]

Why won't you tell me where we're going?

[Cannon]

Did I say I wouldn't tell you.

[Marie Lavour]

All day when I ask you if you've been busy?

[Cannon]

Well, the fact is, Mr. Cat said to take you to the Four Swans Hotel in Waltham Cross. I couldn't ring him back to check because he was out of time. Now, you see, the Four Swans is really in Eleanor Cross. The two places are a stone's throw away, but, well, I thought I'd make sure first.

[Marie Lavour]

Is this the way to the cinema studio?

[Cannon]

No, it's the way to the north. The Great North Road. It leads to the Midlands. You know where Mr. Katz has been all this time?

[Marie Lavour]

Mm.

[Cannon]

Well, this is it. I'll just turn the corner and park.

[Aubrey Mason]

There.

[Cannon]

It is for Swans Hotel. That statue was erected to the memory of Queen Eleanor by King Edward.

[Marie Lavour]

You are a student of English history, Monsieur Cano?

[Cannon]

No, no, no. I looked it up in the guidebook. Okay. In. Well, see anybody you know?

[Mr. Katz]

Maria, I'm so glad to see you. My most humble apologies for not being at the station to meet you.

[Marie Lavour]

I was well looked after. Miss you Katz? By this gentleman.

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, you must be from Assignments Unlimited.

[Cannon]

That's right. Cannon's the name. You're Mr. Katz?

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, yes, I am. You've done me a great service.

[Cannon]

That's a pleasure. We do anything for money.

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, yes, yes, your fee. Now, are you Empowered to accept it.

[Cannon]

That's right.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, excellent. Now, if you'll just settle down here, order yourself a drink while I show Miss Lavour to her room. I'll come right down and fix up about your fee, all right?

[Cannon]

Okay.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, this way then, Marie.

[Marie Lavour]

Thank you for everything, Monsieur Cannon. And I shall not forget our date. You know how to keep in touch.

[Cannon]

Don't ring you. You ring us.

[Marie Lavour]

I will.

[Cannon]

Me seeing you, kitten.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, Maria, now, did you have a good trip?

[Cannon]

Hey, waiter. Yes, sir? Where does the door at the back of the hotel lead to?

[Mr. Katz]

Oh, it's your car.

[Cannon]

Folksy. Yeah, that's all I wanted to know. Here. Cool plumbing, quid.

[Mr. Katz]

Why didn't you come alone? That man might have caused some embarrassment.

[Marie Lavour]

I couldn't get him to tell me where you'd arranged the meeting.

[Mr. Katz]

He looks an ugly customer.

[Marie Lavour]

He's quite armless. Very sweet.

[Mr. Katz]

Did you ask him where we were to meet?

[Marie Lavour]

Of course he didn't tell me. Because you said Walton Cross instead of Eleanor Cross. They have a reputation, his company. He did not want to make a mistake.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, he's made one now.

[Cannon]

The poor boo.

[Mr. Katz]

I wonder how long he'll sit in that lounge waiting for me to come back.

[Marie Lavour]

Must have been wild to pay him.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, the less he sees of me, the better. I know these chaps. They've noses like Pinocchio and ask a lot of awkward questions. What's the matter?

[Marie Lavour]

A car behind us. He's about to pass. It's the same car that brought me. It's Cannon. Cannon is behind the wheel. It's forcing you off the road. Stop. Stop already.

[Mr. Katz]

Get over, you fool. Get over.

[Marie Lavour]

Pulling to this side, please.

[Mr. Katz]

Go to the devil.

[Marie Lavour]

You crash, you crash.

[Cannon]

Okay, you two babies, get up.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, I hope my own.

[Cannon]

Pity you didn't break your neck. You too, Ms. Lavore, or whatever your name is. I'm in a pretty nasty mood.

[Marie Lavour]

You tried to kill us.

[Cannon]

He could have stopped. Okay, hand over that traveling bag. No, Ms. Lavoir, I'm not in the habit of pushing women around. But if you don't give it to me, I'm gonna take it.

[Mr. Katz]

It's all a mistake. I'll pay you. I forgot. In the hotel there was so much on my mind.

[Aubrey Mason]

But.

[Mr. Katz]

Well, you can always come to the.

[Aubrey Mason]

Office to go to lecture your money.

[Cannon]

I already tried that. And if you've got what I think you've got, your next office will be a cell in Dartmoor.

[Aubrey Mason]

Now give me that.

[Cannon]

A metal cylinder. Sealed too well. I guess we only need a little hole. That jagged fender on your car will be just the thing. Well, well. Talcum powder, Ms. Lavore.

[Mr. Katz]

I, I, I. I'll pay you well.

[Cannon]

I bet you would. There's enough cocaine in this cylinder to keep you on easy street for years. You know, you got the wrong name, buster. They should have called you rat.

[Aubrey Mason]

Can be no doubt that Katz has spoiled his ship for a half of tar. If he'd paid Cannon in the Four Swans Hotel, we'd have left it at that and put down the false visiting card to eccentricity. As it turned out, it was a profitless task and I lost Cannon for four days. At the trial, the narcotics people were on to Mr. Katz. And that day at King's Cross, they mingled with the crowd watching for him. He knew this and realised that the moment Marie Lavour made contact with him, they'd both be arrested with disastrous consequences. It was a good plan to have someone from Assignments Unlimited meet the lady. She'd be quite safe until Katz could arrange a quiet rendezvous. Her cover story was sound and well, indeed took us both in. It was that telephone call that really upset Katz's plans.