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turning to page one
Detective Nock and Sergeant Staehl walk through Manchester, away from the police station.
SGT. STAEHL
... So are you going to catch this
mysterious thief who hasn’t
actually stolen anything?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Alan Turing is a suspect in a
robbery but they won’t share a
thing with the police?
SGT. STAEHL
“Suspect”? I distinctly recall
writing his name next to the word
“victim.”
Nock looks around, paying no attention to Staehl. He sees something (which we don’t) in the reflection of a shop window.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Will?
SGT. STAEHL
Yes?
DETECTIVE NOCK
I’m terribly sorry about this.
Suddenly, Nock PUSHES Staehl, hard.
Staehl, reeling, is very, very confused.
SGT. STAEHL
What?
Nock responds by PUNCHING Staehl across the jaw, sending him to the ground.
People on the street TURN and STARE.
Nock RUNS away down the street —
Staehl starts CHASING AFTER HIM —
— They each DODGE PASSERSBY, who are all staring —
— Until Nock suddenly CHANGES DIRECTIONS and SLAMS INTO A PEDESTRIAN —
— The Pedestrian and Nock TUMBLE TO THE GROUND.
The two SCRAMBLE, and then exchange a look: The Pedestrian is... Concerned.
The Pedestrian STRUGGLES TO HIS FEET and RUNS OFF.
Nock stands dusting himself off as Staehl catches up to him —
— And PUNCHES NOCK IN THE JAW.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Oww! Would you stop it?
SGT. STAEHL
What is wrong with you?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Here.
Nock hands a BILLFOLD back to Staehl.
SGT. STAEHL
... Whose is this?
Very confused, Staehl LOOKS THROUGH the billfold.
SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
... That man you knocked over! You
stole his billfold.
Nock shrugs.
SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
... Oh. Bob?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Yes?
SGT. STAEHL
There’s a photograph of you.
Staehl shows Nock the billfold’s contents: A PHOTO OF NOCK, PAPERS WITH NOCK’S ADDRESS, PERSONAL DATA.
SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
That man was following you.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Has been for awhile now.
SGT. STAEHL
Good God... Your home address, your
district, your... Bob, there is a
letter here from the Foreign
Office.
Staehl shows him: The letter, stamped with the Foreign Office seal, instructs that the bearer be granted access to all records concerning one “ROBERT NOCK”.
FEMALE PEDESTRIAN
(approaching them)
— Are you two all right?
SGT. STAEHL
(to Pedestrian)
Bugger off.
She LEAVES, offended.
SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
Why are you being followed? We have
to call this in.
DETECTIVE NOCK
(looking at the letter)
I think I might have a better idea.
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