Secret Agent (TV Series)

Don't Nail Him Yet (1964)

Patrick McGoohan: John Drake

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dian : [as Dian & Rawson enter her flat, they're startled to see John Drake, who's now standing in the centre of her room]  Who are you?

  John Drake : Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, begger man, thief. Have you got a light?

  Dian : What are you doing here?

  John Drake : Ask him he knows, don't you Rawson?

  Dian : Do you know this man, Denis?

  John Drake : I'm more of a ghost to him than a man. He's praying that I disappear. He's praying that this is a nightmare, and that he'll wake up. Come on Rawson, and put yourself together - tell her about me.

  Dian : Well, who are you? Has he done something wrong? Are you a policeman? Do you have a warrant to be in my room like this?

  John Drake : Yes - he has done something wrong, no, I am not a policeman, I do not have a warrant- I could never be a policeman I couldn't stand the regulations, I'm like you, I work outside the law.

• John Drake : 'The Complete Works of Ernest Dowson'. The complete works... he didn't write very much, did he?

  Rawson : Poems aren't vegetables, you don't buy them by the pound.

  John Drake : Courage is catching, or is it the drink. You know, I'm not familiar with the works of Mr. Dowson. It's hardly surprising is it?

  John Drake : 'Ernest Dowson born 1867, died 1900'. Didn't live very long, did he? Ah! Here's something that's really very appropriate. 'They are not long, the days of wine and roses:/ Out of a misty dream/ Our path emerges for a while, then closes... ' I wonder where the microdot's at.

  Dian : What's wrong with you? Are you mad?

  John Drake : You don't know anything about microdots do you?

  Dian : I think you're crazy!

  John Drake : And you weren't going to post this book out of the country, were you?

  Dian : You talk nonsense! Denis has been promising to lend me this for sometime. I was simply going to read it and give it back to him!

  John Drake : You deny any knowledge of microdots?

  Dian : I don't know what you're talking about!

  John Drake : Then I'll tell you. These pages can be photographed by a 35mm camera, the negative reduced in size through a series of lenses until it is no bigger than a full stop! Shall I go on?

  Dian : I know nothing about photography.

  John Drake : Fortunately, Rawson does. He has all the equipment. Do you remember the time that you passed out? I wondered why the door of your bedroom was locked. Fortunately you carried a key ring in your pocket.

  Dian : But, all this has got nothing to do with me! I don't know anything about Denis's private life.

• John Drake : And this book that Rawson just brought you, is it valuable?

  Dian : It's worth a few shillings.

  John Drake : Mmm, Rawson brings you a book of poetry. How charming.

  Dian : I see nothing exceptional in a close friend doing that.

  John Drake : 'Close friend'? Not a lover?

  Dian : You can interpret that any way you choose.

  Rawson : [laughing]  That's good, I like that. 'Lover.' Ha! That's marvelous.

  John Drake : How about that, Rawson, are you her 'lover'?

  Rawson : You heard her. You can interpret that any way you choose.

• Rawson : She's as plausible as you are, you know. Oh, she can talk too! She made me feel important. She made me feel strong. She pretended to be interested in the same things... until she got me to commit myself.

  Dian : Don't get hysterical, Denis.

  John Drake : You'll have 15, maybe 20 years - alone. And she? She'll leave you to it.

  Rawson : You're so clever, aren't you? Both of you. You're so damned clever. But, you're quite so clever...

  Dian : Be quiet! This is what he wants!

  [she slaps him] 

  Rawson : What 'he' wants? Huh. You shouldn't have done that, Dian. You really shouldn't have done that.

  [Rawson walks to mirror on wall] 

  Rawson : You see this, 'Mr. Anonymous,' this... mirror, mirror on the wall? That's what you want!

  Dian : [Dian attempts to stop him, but, Rawson pushes her aside]  Denis!

  Rawson : You press one corner, and it comes away from the wall. It comes... it comes away from the wall! It comes away from the wall!

  [Rawson smashes the mirror which shatters, revealing a transmitter] 

  Rawson : I've cut my finger.

  Dian : Yes, it's a radio transmitter. It's 150 watt output, high frequency band... and you won't find a makers' name.

  John Drake : I had to make sure.

  Dian : It's quite simple, isn't it? Merely doing your job. My turn to lose. Let's get it over with as quickly as possible.

  [Lucas enters with a gun] 

  Dian : Fortune is like the English climate - changeable.

  Lucas : Had any luck with Jane Austen?

  John Drake : As you can see... none at all.

  Dian : You said you'd be back an hour ago.

  Lucas : I know, but, I got delayed.

  Dian : Never mind the explanations.

  [Lucas hands Dian the gun] 

  Dian : Check him. It's all over. We'll have to leave the country.

  Lucas : What should we do about him?

  Dian : Oh, yeah... what are we gonna do about you? We can either kill you, or take you with us.

  John Drake : My passport's in order.

  Lucas : We'd better get rid of him.

  Dian : No. He comes. He might be useful, in case he's got someone watching the house. Get through to the airfield. Have the tanks ready for takeoff at 8. Internal flight; Glasgow...

  Rawson : Dian, l-let me stay? We could settle up, and I could take my chance. Dian, please, please listen to me!

  Dian : No! I won't listen to you! You'll answer for your behaviour later.

• John Drake : And your business is books, old books, incunabula.

  Dian : You're very well informed. I also specialize in fore-edge painting.

  Dian : [after Drake picks up a small book]  Oh oh please be careful. That's priceless.

  John Drake : [picks up a larger book]  And this, is this valuable?

  Dian : Very valuable. It's part of a Douay Bible.

  John Drake : A bible? Hardly the sort of thing for a good *Marxist* to be dealing in, is it?

  Dian : [flashes a look of having a nerve struck]  Look! I don't know what kind of establishment, if any, you represent, but I do resent this treatment!