Music
THE PHANTOM LIGH Yeah, yeah.
Here, missus, where do I
get a car to the village?
[speaking Welsh]
What?
[speaking Welsh]
Alright. Alright. Alright.
[speaking Welsh]
Same to you.
Huh, nice place, Wales.
God, blimey.
Whose there?
Hello... -Beg pardon?
I'm sorry, miss. Nice evening.
What's nice about it?
I've been here for hours.
Oh, you don't happen to know where
I could find a car, I suppose.
That's just what I'm waiting
for. -Well, isn't anybody about?
Only the old station woman,
and she only talks Welsh.
Funny sort of place.
Oh, here's a porter.
Oi, taffy, come here.
Do you speak English? Well,
I want a car, see. -A car.
A car to take me to the
village. -Both of us.
Car. -Alright, alright,
I heard you, cook.
God bless me soul. Another
white man. How did you get here?
Transferred from Clapham Junction.
-Huh.
Now listen, I've got a
job of work to do, see.
I'm reporting for duty tonight.
I'm taking over at the North
Stake Lighthouse. -Oh, are you?
Yeah, any complaints? -Plenty.
-Well, go on then, spit it out.
Well, down here they say
the lighthouse is haunted,
and what's more, blokes go
mad and kill their selves.
Oh, do they? -Have they? -Yes,
miss. The last bloke done himself in
or somebody done him in.
People say it's ghosts.
-Who told you that?
Well, the whole blinkin' village.
-Ah, don't you listen to him, miss.
He's been so long from a fried
fish shop he's gone batty.
Oh, be quiet, this is interesting.
Well, I'm sorry interrupt, miss,
but you see I'm late as it is.
Now then, old sport,
what about that car?
Right-o, cook. I'll go and
have a look down the road.
Uncle Percy of the Children's Heart.
You know, I think you're
wonderful, mister...
Higgins. -Higgins.
The way you don't seem to mind about
ghosts and murders and things.
Oh, a lot of nonsense. -Well, it
didn't seem like nonsense to me.
Oh, didn't it? -No.
You know, you surprise me, Mr.
Huggins. -Higgins. -Higgins.
I always thought lighthouse keepers were
grim and grisly with yellow teeth and scars.
You know, sort of
human gorillas.
I never realized they were
good looking like you.
Well, there are two in the
service handsomer than me.
Now then, miss, what's
your little game?
Take me with you to
the lighthouse. -What?
Well, don't look at me like that.
-Oh, so that's your game, is it?
Well, you can put that
idea out of your head.
There's nothing of that sort of
thing goes on in lighthouses.
What sort of thing? -Well, that
sort of thing. -How dare you!
Well, ain't that what you meant?
-Of course not. -What did you mean?
Mr. Higgins, I'm going
to tell you the truth.
I live nearby in a small village.
Life in a small village
is very dull, Mr. Higgins.
Not with you there, I'll
lay a pound to the sausage.
Of course, I do all I can.
I belong to a psychic society.
Wales is full of folklore, you
know. -Is it? -Didn't you know? -No.
Now, I've heard this legend
about the phantom light,
and I mean to investigate
it for my society.
Well, I'm very sorry, miss, but
you can't do it on my lighthouse.
You see, I've got me instructions,
and though they mention there's a lot of
funny things they don't mention no women.
We've got work to do on the
lighthouse, and females is tattoo.
Now how good looking am I?
This is the station's car.
It looks it.
Oh, it lools to
beatup to put anybody in.
I suppose there's somewhere
I can sleep tonight.
I expect they'll put
you up at the pub, miss.
This is the pub, miss. -Well,
thank God we've got here.
Where are you off to, mate?
-Harbormasters. Do you mind?
Well, you better
walk the rest. It's safer.
I believe you. How do I get there?
Down the street,
follow the stream,
then take the steps 'round the cliff.
-Right-o. -You'll see it by the harbor.
Here you are, mate. Here's
my share of the damage.
Goodnight, miss. -Goodnight. -So
long, cook. See you at the funeral.
So long, misery. I'll
be in the front carriage.
Not there, miss. That's the bar.
You're the Bottle and Jug.
Well? -Is this the Bottle and Jug?
YES. -I want a bed.
[Crosstalk]
Nice evening. -Maybe.
[Singing in Welsh]
I tell you that nobody may
visit the lighthouse
without the permission of
Trinity House. Nobody at all.
It is the regulations. Nobody.
Not at all. -But if I was to go -
When I tell you it
is the regulations,
I tell you it is
the regulations.
Don't you understand
me when I speak English?
Name of Higgins,
chief lightkeeper.
Reporting for duty at the
North Stake Lighthouse.
Good evening, lightkeeper.
We have been expecting you.
Now that's off my chest.
Oh, thanks very much.
So he did, did he? -Yes, 50 times
did I tell him he could not go,
but he would stand there
and argue. -Funny, ain't it?
You know, there's
lots of folks like him.
They think there's something
romantic about lighthouses.
Romantic. A couple of months out there
in winter weather, that would learn him.
Pork and beans, pork and beans.
And you're lucky if
you find the pork.
By the way, where is
this here lighthouse?
Marked in the chart. -Over there?
I see. Half a mile from
the shore around the inland.
So if I got a bit of skirt in
the village I can't wave to her.
Mr. Owen,
-Yeah.
What about a boat to the lighthouse?
-My brother Griffith will take us over.
The boat is ready. It is the
others we are waiting for.
It is time Dr. Carey
was here, David.
Late he is and we must go
out on the ebb tide. -Aye.
Is it him we're waiting
for? -And Sergeant Jones.
They have to make a report on poor Jack
Davis, the lightkeeper who was killed.
Drowned wasn't he? Poor devil.
He just disappeared.
Disappeared like the other
lightkeeper before him.
Well, I hope it ain't catching.
What's the doctor coming for?
For poor Tom Evans. It is him we will
be bringing off from the light tonight.
What, the other lightkeeper? I
wasn't told this. What's his trouble?
His poor brain got twisted by what he
saw the night Jack Davis died. -Cuckoo?
Only yesterday we knew it. There
were signals from the light.
Very rough it was. Hardly the
relief boat get out to the light.
But whose in charge out
there now? -Claff Owen. -Owen?
My brother. -Let's get this straight.
There's you two Owens here right now,
then there's Claff Owen
at the lighthouse now.
Then there's the Owen who drove me
down in the car. That makes four.
Anymore Owens?
Well, there is John Owen in the
coal and William Owen, the gas.
They are the cousins of
Owen and Owen at the post.
And there is Iva Owen at
the farm and Trevor Owen.
Owen, Owen, Owen,
ain't anybody paying?
That's not bad.
There will be a sea getting up
before long, Griffith. -Yeah.
Wasn't there a big wreck around
here last year? -Yes, indeed.
One of the Fern line, it was. My
son Emerus was in her, whatever.
It was a lot of men
from this country.
It was the North Stake
light that drowned them all.
You'd better be careful what you're
saying. I mean, this is serious, this is.
You'd better not let Trinity House hear
him. How could the light drown him?
But he is right, lightkeeper. It
was the light that drowned them all.
Everybody knows it is a haunted light.
And when a ship comes into the channel,
suddenly out goes the light and another
light comes up onto the cliffs,
and the ship goes
on to the rocks over there.
A phantom light, I tell you.
Oh. So this is a good
place for wrecks, is it?
Well, now, I'm going
to tell you something.
It ain't going to spoil my sheet.
I've been in the service now
for 25 years come Michaelmas,
and I've never had
me light go out yet.
Hello, David. -Dr. Carey, this is Mr.
Higgins, the new chief lightkeeper.
Good evening, Mr. Higgins.
-Good evening, sir.
I suppose they've been chilling
your blood to begin with, eh?
Well, they've been
doing the best, sir.
They tell me the Merry
Fern signaled up channel.
Claff Owen will be pleased. His
son's the chief officer on board.
What ships that, sir? -The Merry Fern.
-But I thought she was wrecked last year.
Oh, no, no, that was
her sister ship. -Oh.
Yes, it hit the village
pretty hard too.
Most of us are
small shareholders.
Oh, by the way, David,
where is Sergeant Jones?
You will find up to the public
house, Dr. Carey, courting Mrs. Owen.
Well, we better go down
there and find him.
I don't suppose you'll object,
Higgins? -Lead me to it, sir.
Here. Did you say Mrs. Owen? -The
name Owen is not uncommon in Wales.
God blimey, it must be half
the blinkin' directory.
How's the sea? -It looks like
a bit of a chop come in, sir.
We'd better have a
look at the glass.
Yeah, it don't look
too good, do it? -No.
By the way, Sam. -Yeah. -You don't
believe all those old women stories
about Jack Davis' death
and the men after him, do you?
Well, I don't know, sir.
It seems a bit odd to me.
Oh, pure coincidence.
Don't let them frighten you.
Well, it's the only bed I've got.
Take it or leave it.
Oh, I'll - I'll take it.
You were quite right
about that mattress.
I said it was a flop mattress.
-I thought you said rock.
Your health?
She is staying whatever?
These skinny bits of girls from London
do not know when they are well-off indeed.
Aye, it is not everyone who is as
good a judge as you, Sergeant.
Perhaps it is because I am used to
looking at a really fine woman, Mrs. Owen.
YES.
Hello, chum. -Good evening, Dr.
Carey. -Evening, Evans. Evening, Mort.
Good evening, doctor.
Good evening, sergeant.
Mrs. Owen, I want a couple
of good tarts of rum.
It is rum, isn't it, Higgins?
-Thank you, sir. Doubles.
Sergeant, they shall
want you directly.
This is the new
lightkeeper Mr. Higgins.
Good evening. -So you've come
to take poor Jack Davis' place.
Well, his place where
he was, not where he is.
Ha-ha. Joke.
-I hope it's the right one.
Well, cheerio. -Cheerio.
Same again? -I should
say so. -Single.
You blokes, what about
having one with me?
No.
Well, it isn't many fisherman would care to
drink with the man that has his fate on him.
Well, perhaps I better pay
before I pop off.
We're all ready now, doctor.
-Oh, right David. Sergeant?
Yes, doctor, Whenever
you're ready.
We'll need to be getting right
away on the tide, doctor.
Even now it will be dark before
we get to the North Stake rocks.
You got a special
rig for Tom Evans?
That's what I just came
up to show you. -Right.
You will follow Higgins. -As soon as
I've got my rations, sir. -Good night.
Slowdown, young man.
You're in a hurry, aren't you?
Sorry.
Whiskey and splash, please.
Planning for a rough
night? -Bloody rough.
I want a word with you,
lightkeeper. Have one?
Well, I don't mind if I do.
Doubles.
Cheerio. -Here, here.
Going out to the lighthouse now?
-Yeah. -I'd like to come with you. -No.
YES. -No! -Have another.
Well, um... -Doubles.
Now listen,
do you think that
if I could - now, look here.
You heard what the
harbormaster said, didn't you?
That nobody could go out to the
lighthouse under no conditions.
No.
No.
You're a reporter, ain't you?
How'd you guess that? -You're so
ready free with your office money.
Chin-chin.
Does anybody here got a motorboat
I can hire? -There is Tim Morgan.
Where can I find him? -Well, he
lives at the grocers down the street.
Say you'll come from me. He'll
want paying in advance, young man.
It's a very old boat he has, and
the coast is very dangerous.
I know the coast.
Gin and soda, please.
Not much gin.
And soda? -Not much.
Good evening. -Good evening.
-Nice evening, isn't it?
Yes, very.
I know what that is. That's a map.
I've got one at home.
An awfully nice map.
What did you say?
-I didn't say anything.
It is a nice evening, isn't it? -Yeah.
-Lovely evening to go out in a boat.
Is it? -Oh, I'd love to go out
in a boat tonight. -Would you?
Do you know what I'd do if anybody
asked me to go out in a boat? -No.
Well, just ask me
and you'll see.
Well, of course I would not go out
with you now if you begged me to.
Thanks very much. -But you are going
to beg me, aren't you? I know you are.
Anything else you know? -Yes. You
want to go out to the lighthouse.
Oh, do I? -Yes, and you've
hired a motorboat. -Have I?
Yes. I heard you when
I was around there.
I see. -Well, what about it?
-Why do you want to go out there?
Well, I want to go because
you're... to be with you... -Goodbye.
No, but... no, no,
listen. Wait. Wait.
Listen, I'm going to
tell you the truth.
Oh no, you're not.
Use the tressel.
God blimey, King Kong.
Well, Higgins, how do you like your new
quarters? -Oh, they're all cozy, sir.
Especially the loony ward.
Oh, thanks.
When was the last attack? -This
afternoon, Dr. Carey. About teatime.
Well, he looks as
quiet as a lamb now.
Get off of me.
[Fighting]
There, there now.
Larry? -Yes, Dr. Carey? -We
must have a word about this.
It's impossible to get him away in
this condition. -What sent him that way?
Who knows. Perhaps it was
Jack Davis dying so suddenly.
No, David, he's certainly
not fit to be moved.
Well, he's fit enough to all but
murder you, sir, and chance it.
It's out of the question,
Higgins.
Any sudden shock might be very
dangerous to the poor fellow.
Well, no offense, sir, but
I'm in charge here, you know?
And if me and king - I mean,
if me and Claff Owen and the boy
have to look after the light and take
on his nibs in all his resting as well.
He's not to be moved, Higgins.
-Well, look here, Sergeant -
You heard what the doctor said,
lightkeeper. That's enough now.
Dr. Carey surely ought to
know what you should be doing.
Uh-huh.
Well, I've made me protest.
That's all I've got to say.
If anything happens
it won't be my fault.
Here, how do you know it wasn't him
what done to these blokes before me?
Do you know who that
poor boy is, Mr. Higgins?
My sister's son. He's a
good lad when he is normal.
Ah, when he is normal.
But he ain't normal.
I mean, he has these
come-and-go fits.
When they come, somebody goes. -Aren't
you talking rather wildly, Higgins?
Well, as I said before,
sir, I'm in charge here.
You've said that many times. We
know it now. -Well, I am, ain't I?
There's no need to worry, Higgins.
-Oh, I'm not worrying, sir.
But if I'm found tomorrow morning at the
bottom of the sea with my throat cut
I'll know who is responsible.
Well, I'll know then that
you have done your duty.
Oh, I have no doubt it's very
funny because I'm busting my sides.
The tide is on the turn,
doctor. We should be going.
Oh, alright,
David, I'm coming.
There's nothing we
can do here tonight.
I'll need the three of
you to look after him.
I'll come over first thing
in the morning. -For the body?
Well, he's not going to die.
-Oh, I didn't mean his body.
What's going to happen the next
time he goes off the deep end?
These will keep anybody quiet. If
one isn't enough give him a couple.
Don't worry, he's only a bit
unhinged. -Yes, I've noticed that.
Goodnight. -Goodnight,
sir. -Sleep well.
He seems peaceful enough now.
God blimey! Now,
now, now, look here.
I've got two things
to put you to bye-n-byes
and one of them is this.
Who leaves spinners about?
Yeah. Pressure's alright.
Come on.
This is Bob, isn't it? -Yes, sir.
-You've got a nice face.
How did that happen?
Isn't she a beauty?
Not a half. -It wasn't
me who left the spinner.
Oh, forget it, old timer.
We'll be having it up
and forth before long.
You'd better taking
your observations.
I see the log book as I
come up. -Aye-aye, skipper.
But why did this man want
to come down here?
Reporter - newspaper reporter.
Can you beat it? -Yeah.
There's a lot I don't know, as the
farmer's daughter said to the squire,
but there's one thing I do know,
and that's how to cook a sausage.
Look at them. None of your
smooth bananas here, my boy.
Every one with
a split stomach.
You can have that one.
It's a beauty. The king his self
would be proud to eat that sausage,
though I said
that it shouldn't.
YES.
Well, to resume.
Bread please.
Thanks. Pepper.
About this reporter bloke, he takes a
bundle of notes out of his pocket, see,
and he says, Mate,
one night on the lighthouse and you
can have the lot." Tried to bribe me.
Me, with 25 years
service come Michaelmas.
Then he takes out a lot more,
bundles and bundles of notes,
all spread out before me.
Pound notes or ten shillings?
-Pound or ten, what's it matter?
What about the honor
of the service?
Then at the station there
was a girl. What a peach.
You know, lovely beauty
parlor lips, film star eyes.
"Take me with you", she
says. Just like that.
What did you do?
Do? I give her a look like the one
you got now. That settled to her.
Claff? Claff?
Yeah. -Are you aware
that I've been talking?
I've been listening. Do
you hear anything? -No.
What is it? -Footsteps.
Soft footsteps like Bob and me heard
last night. -You've got the rhets.
Sometimes I think of the ships
passing to and fro in the storm,
and I listen to the
gulls beating against the glass
and breaking
their little wings.
It's then I realize the
lives that are in my hands.
Suppose I let
that light go out?
I'd have all those drowned
souls on my conscience,
beating their wings against
my window like the birds.
The phantom light. That's what
you and me's go to think about.
The phantom light.
-Some of you blokes...
well, sure, you'll make me
believe it myself before long.
Of course, you know what
your trouble is, don't you?
Listen.
Did you hear anything?
I could have sworn.
Last night when Bob
and me heard the steps,
I ran downstairs and shouted,
but the only answer I got was
a scream from poor Tom Evans.
In his bunk he was lying with
his face hidden in the pillow
and babbling about
Jack Davis and the light
and God knows what besides.
All over the floor was the
marks of wet feet
leading from the bedroom
down the stairs.
So down I go to the bottom,
and the outer doors are opened
Open. And the wind is whistling in,
and the spray from the
waves wets my face.
The feet led to
those open doors.
It was the spirit of Jack
Davis up from the sea,
mangled maybe by
the rocks below.
YES.
Poor Jack Davis, back from the dead
with the water streaming from his hair.
Oh, God, the phantom light. The
phantom light. I don't know...
Now's the time for his sleeping drought.
-No, wait 'til he gets real violent.
Oh, he ain't been
real violent yet?
Well, I'm going to get a bit of
a rope, see, and tie him down.
There's no need. I know Tom.
My sister's boy, poor fellow.
Well, personally, not
being one of the Owen's,
I'd feel safer if your sister's
little boy was tied down, see.
Ahoy.
Lighthouse ahoy.
Ahoy below. -Hello...
Mr. Higgins, there's a
motorboat off the lighthouse.
Right-o. Standby the searchlight.
AYE-Bye, sir.
Ahoy below. Who are you?
Motorboat drifting,
running out of petrol.
Throw us a line. -You can't land
here. How much juice you got?
Almost gone. I've
got to land. -Alright.
Claff!
Tom - Tom Higgins, ahoy, Sir.
Hello. -Come back. It is
against the regulations.
No one must land here.
Come back.
Come on, give us a hand.
Come on!
Come on, hurry up.
Here, catch hold of this.
Good God, sir, it's a weight.
And this.
How many more? -Look out, I'm
going to abandon her. -Alright.
Oh no, you don't. -Eh?
Hello... -What the
hell are you doing here?
You swear at me later. I don't
want to drown now, even if you do.
Here, grab hold of this.
No, don't do that.
Here, give it to me.
Now, when I say jump, jump-
I don't think I can. -You've
got to. Now then, jump.
Here now. Catch hold of this.
Go on, quickly. There you are.
Give her a hand.
There you are.
Oh, it's cold.
I couldn't help it.
-Here hand on to this.
Oh, wait 'til I get across.
Don't.
How do you expect us to get up here out of a
little boat up to this great, big high place?
What are following
me about for, anyway?
Well, I wouldn't have followed you
if you had you spoken to me nicely,
but the way you shouted
at me, what do you expect?
Oh, come on, for God's sake.
Jabber, jabber, jabber.
I've never heard
anything like it.
In there, you. You'd better change
quick before you make any more puddles.
Yeah, I bet you can do it.
Me best trousers.
Oh well, it can't be helped. Now
look here, that's my Sunday clobber.
Now you got easy on em', see?
Well, what are you
doing? You'll crease them.
What's in there? -Nothing. You caring
about my clothes just as if you...
now come on, off with
those things of your'n.
It's went enough outside as it is.
Come in.
Here. Help, miss.
Help. They've tied me.
What's up? -There's a
man over there. -Oh, him.
Oh, don't mind him, miss.
That's the one, old man.
Now you go to bye-bye, see.
You see, miss, he's batty. He's always
seeing things. Anyway, he's tied down.
But I can't undress
with a man in the room.
God bless you, there's no
worrying about his feelings.
What if he do happen to
see you with nothing on?
He'll think he's
seeing the fairies.
Well, what was she yelping
about? -Oh, nothing.
She just met one of
our prize exhibits.
Well, now, perhaps you ought to tell me why
you joined up with that bit of trouble.
I didn't. She's a stowaway.
-Stowaway, me foot.
A ruddy girl in a
respectable lighthouse.
You wait 'til old Claff has a talk
with you. -Who is he, chief lightkeeper?
What him?
Don't make me laugh.
I'm chief here.
Ever heard of King Kong?
You are always saying you
are chief here, Sam Higgins.
No one is disputing it.
It is your responsibility this man
and woman are on the lighthouse
against all regulations. -Well, we
couldn't leave them to drown, could we?
This is the reporter bloke I was
telling you about. -Mr. Higgins?
Oh, brace them up.
Don't let them drag like that.
I've braced them up and braced them up so
much that my feet hardly touch the ground.
Well, go on and roll them up
then. Tuck a leaf in them. Here.
God blimey. Tuck your shirt in,
can't you? Put it in these here tapes.
Oh, do what you like with
them. I ain't your nanny.
Females.
So we've got you on our hands
tonight, I suppose. -Uh-huh.
And you didn't know
she was with you? -Nope.
Must have followed me and
hid under the tarpolean.
Can't these
journalists tell them?
You tried to bribe
me, didn't you,
so that you could give your paper an
eyewitness account of life at a lighthouse.
Or had you another idea in coming
here? -Aye, speak the truth, man.
Or maybe you'll leave this lighthouse
the way others have left it before.
Oh, steady on. It ain't a
capital offense, you know.
Mr. Higgins?
-What the...
do you mean to say
you went and cut my...
Well, you told me I could
do what I liked with them,
and I think I made a
very good job of it.
My Sunday trousers.
You ought to be
ashamed of yourself.
Go on, now. Sit on there.
Now, we'll do avail of
me Sunday trousers.
What's your little game?
Mr. Higgins, you know I
wouldn't have done it -
Oh, for goodness sake,
don't turn on the tap.
Here.
Mr. Higgins, I'm going
to tell you the truth.
I'm an actress, hiding
from the police.
What, you act as
bad as all that?
There was a man. He fell in love
with me, terribly in love with me,
and then there came another
man, and he fell in love with me.
And they fought. -What
for? -Me. Poor little me.
They fought as cavemen fight for their
mates. Oh, it wasn't horrible. I fainted.
And then one reached for a
knife and I fainted again.
And then the other reached for a
knife, and I ran and ran and ran.
And the next thing I
remember I was in a train,
and I fainted again.
When I came to there was
a man sitting opposite me.
I smiled at him. -And he fainted?
No. I said, "Where am I?"
He said, "Telebuch."
You do believe me, don't you, Mr.
Higgins? -So the police are after you.
They ain't in love with you too, are
they? -Oh, please don't make fun of me.
You've got such a kind face. -Hmm,
what was the show you was in, Eastland?
Cheerful, ain't it?
So now you know. Of course,
personally speaking I don't believe it.
But old Claff -
well, here he is.
He'll tell you.
So you believe in the
phantom light, Mr. Owen?
Yes, sir, I reckon I do
believe in the phantom light.
So will you if the Lord ordains
you see the sunrise tomorrow.
The prime minister of mirth.
This thing you heard,
opening and shutting doors,
do you really believe
it was a ghost?
Pretty strong, your ghost.
What was that? -Oh, nothing.
Ain't you had enough
excitement already?
Me, excitement? Oh, yes.
Of course, you know you'll
be having ghosts after you
as well as police if
you're not careful.
Are you sure there was no one
about when you heard those steps?
No, there was not
until Tom Evans let out
a terrible, great scream.
It's Davis!
Fetch it quickly. Quickly.
That was a near shave. -Yeah.
I wonder - he's
tied up alright.
I'm almost beginning
to believe -
Sam. Sam!
What the - what the blinkin' -
They are open, like they
were last night, wide open.
Have you searched the place?
Nothing here?
Listen, I've been waiting for a
chance to see you alone. -Have you?
You're a frightful liar. -Am
I? -And a fearful nuisance.
Am I really? -Uh-huh. -Then you
don't care for me a little bit? -No.
You know, nobody ever
hated me before like you.
Really? Isn't that grand? But all
the same, I want you to help me.
Opens the door with
invisible hands and vanishes.
Don't be silly. How could you
vanish if you're invisible?
If you're invisible you're vanished
before you started. Ridiculous.
I'm going up to talk to Bob.
Lord protect us.
Lord protect us.
So he tied you up,
my own flesh and blood tied up so
that you can't move hand nor foot.
Well, we'll soon see
about that, Tom, my boy.
We'll soon see about that.
Well, I think it's the most thrilling
thing I've ever heard. -Good.
Now, the first thing you've got to do
is to keep Sam Higgins out of the way.
Well, I can easily do that. -I'll tell
you what, get him to show you the light,
him and the other fellow.
-Do you want me to them there?
Yes, as long as you can. Let them
go on thinking I'm a reporter.
I'm going down to the storeroom
to fix my box of tricks.
It's all wired. It's only got
to be connected up.
Bolshies.
Claff!
I thought you was going up? -Claff,
they ain't what they said they was.
I just overhead them talking.
You know what they're going to do?
They're going to blow
up the lighthouse.
What? -Communists, that's what they
are. A couple of ruddy Bolshies.
Now, listen, we've got to act
quick and don't interrupt.
I did not interrupt. -No, but
you was going to. -I was not.
What if you know. Shut up.
Now listen, you go and take the young
lady upstairs and show her the light.
That I won't.
It's against the regulations.
You'll do what you're told.
Who is boss here, you or me? Me.
Then it's unanimous. Now come on.
Come along. Show her the light.
Suppose she doesn't
want to see the light.
Hello, Mr. Higgins. -Ah, nasty
night, don't you think? -YES.
Still, I suppose you'd rather be in
here since the cops are after you.
You won't give me
away, will you? -Oh no.
But wouldn't you be better off if
you went to some foreign clime?
Foreign slime?
-Yeah.
I knew a bloke who was in
trouble just like you. -Oh?
But you know what he done? He grew
along beard and went to Russia.
Ever been to Russia?
-Nope, nor grown a beard.
Mr. Higgins, what's up there?
Oh, that's where
we keep the light.
Would you like to see it? -Just
what I was going to ask you.
Claff, take this young
lady up and see the light.
Now, go on and do
what I tell you.
Take this young lady
up and see the light.
But Mr. Higgins, you're coming
too. -No, thanks very much.
I think I'll turn in
if you don't mind.
Please.
Wait for me, Mr. Claff. Is it much
higher? -We're there now, miss.
Oh, if I had known there were so many
steps I might have changed my mind.
Lighthouses aren't
built for fun, miss.
What an interesting room. Oh,
good evening. -Evening, miss.
Can't I stay here a little while?
-Well, no need to hurry, miss.
What do you do up here? -This
is the service room. See this?
That's hollow. It goes
right down to the bottom
where there's a cupboard holding the
weights that works the clockwork.
Why's that so thick all the way down
and so narrow in the living room?
There's only a cable passing
through it in the living room.
This way, miss. -What's this? -Oh, this
is a clinomter, miss. -This way, miss.
Oh.
Oh, hello.
Hello? God bless me soul.
I must have dropped off.
That's funny. -Do you usually
go to sleep with your boots on?
Oh, I couldn't sleep a
wink without them, chum.
Just habit, you know. -Hmm, not even
trouble to slip off your clothes either.
Well, it ain't necessary. You see,
I could sleep anywhere, any hour.
It's in the family.
Same with my father.
He used to go to bed with his hat
on. Just his hat and his socks.
You wouldn't believe it, would you? -No.
-That's a fact. Same with my grandfather.
Even on his wedding day they had
to wake him up to say I will.
Hello... Oh, by the way, I
wanted to ask you something.
Yes?
Have you ever been to Russia? -No.
-Why ask? -I don't know. Just an idea.
Been to Switzerland, if that's
any good. -No. -Oh. -Just a moment.
You know, I've took
rather a fancy of you.
Now, what was your idea in
pretending to be a reporter, eh?
Well, aren't I? -You know ruddy well
you ain't. Come on now, what's your game?
Game? -Yeah. -Game.
-Come on, now.
Can't I sail a boat if I
want to? -Nice night for it.
I like sailing at night. -Oh, you
do? -I like everything at night.
I was born at night. -And the
girl? -Never set eyes on her before.
I don't know who she is.
I don't know where she's from.
I don't know how she got into my boat. I
don't know a single damn thing about her.
Oh, blimey, you talk
as if you was married to her.
Bob.
Hello... -Getting a bit
thick out there, isn't it?
Yes, Claff. -Better get
the fog signal going.
Aye-aye.
Hello? -Oh, it's you. See
Higgins on the way down? -No.
Well, if you do, keep an eye on him.
He suspects us.
Here, hang on to this.
Oh, Lord, hang on to it. And nip
up to the loony hatch. -Where?
The bedroom, play it
out of the window.
Leave 6 foot in the room and
then shut the window down tight.
It's the aerial.
Everything hangs on it.
And don't fall out. -I won't.
But I promise if I do I
won't hang on the aerial.
Hang on to this a
minute. Have any trouble?
No.
Did you see anyone? -No. I can't
think where they've all got to.
Oh, it doesn't matter. I'll
have this ready in a minute.
Oh, no you won't.
Hey, put that down.
This ain't Chicago, you know.
Claff? -And if you shut up a
minute I'll tell you something.
Lord, blimey, I've done so much ruddy
listening tonight I've got corns on me ears.
Well, come on now,
make it short. -Right.
I'm a naval officer. My brother
is skipper of the Merry Fern.
Ever heard of that ship?
-She's due in tonight.
Now, all this funny business
here, these Wreckers. -Go on.
They're after the
Merry Fern tonight.
They expected her the night Jack Davis
disappeared but she was held up at Havre.
I don't like your
mate's stories. -Claff?
Oh, Claff's alright. He ain't a
ray of sunshine, but he's alright.
Are you sure of that? -What's
it got to do with you anyway?
Just you keep on dodging the cops
and minding your own business.
I mean, ain't you done enough harm
cutting up my best pair of trousers?
Just you mind your
own business, see?
But it is my own
business, see.
Mr. Higgins, I'm going to tell
you the truth. -What, again?
I'm a detective
from Scotland Yard.
I was told to join up
with Lieutenant Pearce.
And you ain't an actress
no more? -Oh, actress?
Oh, of course I couldn't trust
you before, but I do now.
Blimey, you a detective.
What is the force coming to?
No wonder the cops wear top hats to
set their blinkin' handkerchiefs.
Here, what was you saying
just now about wreckers?
Do you mean to tell me they want
to sink the Merry Fern? -Mm-hmm.
What for? -Ever heard
of insurance? -Yeah.
Well, the Merry Fern's
heavily insured,
just like the ship
that sank last year.
And most of the shares
are held by local people.
God love a duck. -You see? Now
perhaps you won't be so stupid.
Oh, stupid am I?
Well, I'm not so stupid to believe
that you're a real tick anyway.
If you are, produce your papers
or your badge or whatever it is.
My, my, my... -Alright, lightkeeper
I'll answer for this lady. She's alright.
Well, if it comes to
that, what about you, sir?
How do I know you're
a real naval officer?
Alright, sir. Sorry.
Well, let's get busy.
Yes, but what at? -I'm going
to talk to the Merry Fern. -Huh?
Oh, I see.
You're going to warn them.
Mm-hmm.
-Good for you, sir.
I can't place the
North Stake lighthouse.
The sound seemed to
come from over there.
It's getting thicker, Mr. Owen.
We ought to be beside them by now.
Call Captain Pearce. -Yes, sir.
Both on duty?
Yes, sir. I didn't think it was worthwhile
when we were docking in a couple of hours.
Just as well, Mr. Mason.
Cigarette? -Yes, sir.
We haven't sighted the
North Stake light yet.
I want you both to keep a sharp
lookout. I'm beginning to wonder.
Excuse me, sir. There's
something coming through.
It's a call for us, alright, sir.
perhaps it's the station.
Take their message. It
may be important. -Yes.
Well? -Mr. Owen's compliments, sir.
Would you please come up on deck?
Mason, bring that message to me on deck.
-Yes, sir.
Young Bob will be
done in a moment.
What are you going to do about
him? -That's your lookout.
You keep an eye on
him. -Very good, sir.
Got them. -Great.
-Yeah, come again.
That's the captain's
brother, isn't it?
Put an extra lookout forward,
another in the crow's nest.
Very good, sir. Below
there. -Aye-aye, sir.
Got an extra man in the crow's
nest and an extra man forward.
Get on to it. -Funny. I wonder
why Bob hasn't come down.
Bob? Are you there, Bob?
Bob?
Hey, Bob?
Claff?
Another light on the cliffs.
What? Just a minute.
Look.
Oh my God. -It's the phantom
light, the one they all talk about.
Then it's true, it's really true.
Don't be a fool.
That's not the phantom light.
That's the wrecker's light,
and we've got to put it out.
Get Sam Higgins, quick.
Gone.
-Damn.
Sam, the phantom light's
on the cliffs. -What?
Come on.
He's coming.
Oh, are you alright?
Get this, quick.
-What?
Blimey, it's locked.
It's from my brother. Is this all?
-Yes, sir. I couldn't get him back.
God! It's us. Our light's out.
Bob? Bob?
Can you hear me?
Silly roust.
Good luck, sir. -Thanks.
Take the strand. -Right away,
sir. -All set? -Yes, sir.
Good luck.
Got it? -Yeah.
Now steady, sir. Slowly.
-Right. Alright let her go.
Yeah.
Here. Don't worry about him,
miss. He won't be found ground.
Come on, let's
have another go. Come on.
Quick, shove your
shoulder a bit.
Lighthouse. Starboard bow, sir.
That's better.
Mr. Owen, ring below.
Tell MrCarthy we've sighted the
north stack then head her up.
Very good, sir.
What is it? What is it? -The light.
North Stake light is out.
The North Stake light, out?
Tell the coast guard.
The phantom.
Ahoy.
Ahoy.
You are sure it was on the cliffs
that you saw the phantom light,
the cliffs up there? -Yes, hurry.
On to the lifeboat.
That is on the cliffs nearby
where the coast guards are.
Ahoy.
Hurry you there. Yes, it is
the phantom light I tell you.
Stay you there a moment, sir.
Nice lightkeeper I am. -You
can't help it. -Can't help it?
Best excuse we all
make when we fail.
If a man's worth his
salt, he oughta help it.
And here's me with 25 years
service come Michaelmas.
Sitting here while a gang of Wreckers
plays tag in me own lamp room.
What am I doing, I ask
you? Twiddling my thumbs.
I wish I could twiddle
them for you, Sam.
Give me his gun.
What is it? -Whatever it is.
Claff!
My God.
They've smashed it.
Where are they?
Where's Bob? Go and see
if you can find them.
Don't let them see you.
Here, take this gun.
I've got to get the emergency tanks
going. I must get the lights going.
Listen, he's not far off
now. -I can't see anything.
Neither can they, thanks to this
fog. -Carey, I don't like it.
Why not? -These
others. -Ah, halfwits.
It's dangerous.
What about my 50 quid?
You'll get it when the Merry
Fern is on those rocks.
Carey, how did he get here?
I'll tell you I'll pay you when the
company collects the insurance.
Company be damned,
you're the company.
You promised me
my money tonight.
Close the door quietly. Don't let
them see you. Don't let them hear you.
I've got to fix the lamp.
[Yelling]
Light's gone out. -Pull her
stern. Warn the starboard
Those guys have done it.
They've got that light out.
Wait.
Higgins?
-Mr. Higgins, quick.
What's up? -Higgins?
Hello... -Higgins, I want this
door opened. -Oh, you do, do you?
I'm not in the habit
of being kept waiting.
Well, what are you going to do
about it? -I've got the boy here.
Helpless,
and very near the edge.
Don't mind me, Mr. Higgins.
Don't you open that door.
I'm a merciful man, Higgins.
My profession makes me so.
But if you don't open this
door in five seconds -
Alright, wait a minute.
Quickly. You go and
light the lamp. -Me? -Yes.
It lights like an oil burner.
Turn up the jet at the side.
Quickly,
Alright, sir, just come in.
Alright.
It's a bit stiff this here lock.
-Higgins?
Alright, sir, just coming.
Now then, hands up?
Pull her stern;
hard at starboard.
Where the devil are we?
Wait a moment, Mr. Owen. We're
just off the North Stake Branch.
Bring us around again.
Warn the engine room.
That was a near one.
-You're right, sir, it was.
So you thought you'd
got me, didn't you?
Give me that gun. -Let
go. Let go, I tell you.
Damn you.
They must be in the lamp
room. Come on. -Aye'.
They're up there. -Where's Alice?
Stop him. Stop him.
Carey?
Come out, Carey, it's no use. I know
what you've done, but you can't escape.
You'd better give up.
Carey?!
Signal the lighthouse. Say
all is well. -Very good, sir.
Hey, you, wipe your nose
and get back to duty.
The Captain says it's
alright now.
I bet you got the wind
not fogs, didn't you?
Blimey, what a night.
The End