The 39 Steps - Synopsis

At a London music hall, Richard Hannay is enjoying a performance by Mr. Memory when sudden gunfire causes chaos, sending the audience into a frantic retreat. Outside, Hannay is approached by a mysterious foreign woman who insists on accompanying him to his flat. Introducing herself as Annabella Schmidt, she confesses that she was the one who fired the shots—creating a distraction to evade two men pursuing her. Annabella is a British government spy, determined to prevent critical military secrets from leaving the country. She warns the skeptical Hannay about a dangerous conspiracy, masterminded by an enemy agent with a distinctive feature: a missing part of his right-hand finger. To thwart their sinister plans, she must reach a crucial contact in Scotland.

Later that night, Hannay is startled awake to find the woman collapsing onto him, a knife lodged in her back. As she takes her final breath, she clutches a map of Scotland, with a remote village marked upon it. Realizing the danger he now faces—and knowing the police will suspect him of her murder—Hannay grabs the map and flees. To elude his pursuers, he disguises himself in a milkman's uniform and slips away undetected. Just moments ahead of the enemy agents, he reaches King's Cross Station and boards a train bound for Scotland. Upon arriving in Edinburgh, he discovers that the woman's body has been found in his flat, and the police are hunting for him. As officers search the train, Hannay attempts to evade capture by pretending to be a woman's lover, but she betrays him, forcing him to make a desperate escape.

Successfully deceiving the police into believing he has left the train, Hannay reaches his destination and begins his journey toward the village. Along the way, he encounters a stern and devout crofter. Disguising himself as a itinerant labourer in search of work, Hannay inquires about a big house and if an Englishman lives there. The crofter mentions a professor who has settled in the next village—someone Hannay assumes must be the contact Annabella spoke of—but with nightfall approaching, reaching him will have to wait. Begrudgingly, the crofter agrees to provide lodging in exchange for payment. However, his trust in Hannay wavers after spotting him in conversation with his young wife, Margaret. Later that night, Margaret notices the glow of approaching headlights and rushes to warn Hannay, but her husband, suspecting betrayal, follows close behind. Hannay attempts to buy his silence with five pounds, but when the police arrive, it seems the crofter will turn him in—until Margaret intervenes, allowing Hannay to slip away through the back, concealed in her husband's coat to mask his distinct jacket.

Hannay arrives at the professor's house to find a lively party underway. The professor leads him into his study, where Hannay recounts his story. However, the truth quickly becomes apparent—the professor is the very man with the missing finger. Without hesitation, he draws a gun and fires at Hannay.

Fortunately, the bullet is halted by the hymnal tucked inside the crofter’s coat, sparing Hannay’s life. Seizing the opportunity, he rushes to the local sheriff for help, only to find his tale met with skepticism. With no other choice, Hannay makes a daring escape from the office.

With the police hot on his heels, Hannay slips into a political gathering, where he is mistakenly assumed to be the guest speaker. Thinking on his feet, he delivers an impromptu yet stirring speech, but his moment of triumph is short-lived. He is swiftly apprehended, identified once again by Pamela—the same woman who earlier exposed him on the train.

The pair are bundled into a car, supposedly en route to a police station in Inverary. However, as the journey unfolds, it becomes clear they are heading in the wrong direction. Spotting an opportunity when a herd of sheep obstructs the road, Hannay seizes the chance to escape—dragging a reluctant Pamela along with him, still handcuffed to his wrist.

The pair arrive at a boarding house, where Hannay persuades Pamela to play along as an eloping couple to avoid suspicion. Skeptical of his claims, Pamela remains unconvinced—until she catches sight of the two agents relentlessly pursuing him. As she listens in on their conversation, the truth finally dawns on her—Hannay’s story was genuine all along.

When Hannay awakens, Pamela reveals that she overheard the men discussing a secret meeting at the London Palladium. Furious that she hadn't woken him sooner, Hannay wastes no time—they immediately set off for London. While Hannay makes his way to the Palladium, Pamela heads to Scotland Yard to inform the authorities. However, the police dismiss her concerns, stating that Scotland Yard has reported no missing documents. Frustrated, she leaves, unaware that the officers have decided to trail her, hoping she will unwittingly lead them to Hannay.

At the Palladium, Pamela takes a seat beside Hannay, with the police trailing closely behind her. Scanning the audience, Hannay spots the professor seated in one of the boxes. When Pamela informs him that no papers have been reported missing, he is puzzled—but his suspicions remain when the compere introduces Mr. Memory. Suddenly, Hannay realizes that he holds the key to the entire conspiracy.

Determined to uncover the truth, Hannay urgently asks Mr. Memory what the 39 Steps are. Before he can complete his answer, the professor fires a shot, silencing him. The police seize the professor, and backstage, Hannay and the officers manage to extract the stolen military secrets from the dying Mr. Memory.