Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983): Season 1, Episode 8 - Endgame - full transcript

[stately jingle]

[soft violin music]

[bell tolling]

- [Narrator] In
the summer of 1918,

Sidney Reilly was in Moscow
plotting the overthrow of Lenin,

who had signed a
separate peace treaty

with the Germans
at Brest-Litovsk.

Reilly was one of a dozen
like-minded Allied officers

who were determined to
remove the Bolshevik leader,

but he was the only one to
consider placing himself

at the head of a new government.



His plan was to persuade
the Latvian troops,

who garrisoned the Kremlin, to
deliver Lenin into his hands.

In return, he
promised them that he,

with the help of the British,

would liberate Latvia
from the Germans

and guarantee its
independence after the war.

But while his negotiations
with them dragged on,

the Cheka, the newly founded
Bolshevik secret police,

led by Felix Dzerzhinsky,
were hot on Reilly's trail.

- Natalia.

- Good morning, Sidney.

[Natalia screaming]

[dramatic music]

Sidney!



Sidney!

- They took Natalia, we
should leave right away.

[suspenseful music]

[gun firing]

[family screaming]

- It's the next floor!

- We got everything?

- Well, except for the money.

- Get it!

Sidney--
- Get it!

[gun firing]

- For God's sakes, Sidney!

[guns firing]

[glass shattering]

- [Dagmara] A rich corpse buys
nothing but his own grave!

- [Reilly] For God's sakes,
Dagmara, they're English notes!

- Why don't you just admit
you're tight with money?

- [Reilly] Why
don't you admit that

for one moment you've
lost your nerve?

[gun firing]

- [Woman] Stop your
nonsense and go!

- You asked for the latest news?

She'll give it to you.

She was in his bed
till this morning.

- A slight exaggeration.

- They let you keep your coat.

Put it over this
one, she needs it.

- [Natalia] Sonya.

- You're a friend of Dagmara's?

- Yes, I'm Natalia Chekolova.

- This is Elena Petrovna
and I am Marie Friede.

- [Natalia] I know.

- What was all that about?

- Sidney Reilly was
staying at our apartment.

They raided it this morning.

I was arrested.

I think he and Dagmara got away.

When did she get here?

- Last night.

- She needs a lot of warmth.

She always slept on
the stove at our place.

[knocking]

- Who is it?

- [Lisveta] Lisveta.

- How was the journey?

- [Lisveta] Awful, the
Cheka are everywhere.

- And Petrograd?

- Disgusting.

Hundreds of arrests.

There's a commissar in
charge called Uritzsky.

He's threatened to shoot
anyone with a posh accent.

The whole town's going
around talking like that.

And how is it here?

- Well, they got
almost everybody.

Most of the women are in
prison and they shot the men.

- So that leaves us.

- What's the poster for?

- Target practice.

- Morning, sir.

- Morning, Berzin.

What's the position
at Archangel?

- No more allowed in
since the first party.

- So how many is that?

- 600.

- 600?

- That's what Cromie says.

- Must be the advance party.

- No, that's all that
are coming ashore.

I agree with you.

It's an act of
unbelievable folly.

What about Savinkov?

- He can only hold out
for a few more days,

without reinforcements
he's finished.

He planned his rising to
coincide with the landing.

- Good morning, gentlemen.

- [All] Good morning, Ilyich.

- Only 600, isn't
that good news?

- Nevertheless,
the damage is done.

The Czechs have
seized Kazan and there

are reports that
Savinkov is on the move.

- Don't believe that.

Savinkov is a spent force.

The Czechs are a
different matter.

- Ilyich, this is your
schedule for the next month.

- You heard that gentlemen,
for the next month?

There is an optimist.

Colonel Berzin?

- Sir?

- I want to be kept informed
of the situation at Kazan

and I want a report on
the position at Archangel.

- [Berzin] Yes, Ilyich.

- It refers here to the Congress

of the Metropol
Hotel on Thursday.

It says that Berzin will be
responsible for security.

- That's right.

- But this is a Cheka duty.

- The Latvians look
after my security

on party occasions, Felix.

You are responsible for
all other engagements.

I thought that was understood.

- Now you know I have
reservations about the Latvians.

Especially now the
British are landing.

They're quite
capable of changing

sides and handing you over.

- Felix, you're not a soldier.

Soldiers do not think that way.

[knocking]

- These are the casualty figures

on the social
revolutionary revolt.

- Thank you, Colonel.

- Replacements are on
their way from Petrograd.

- Thank you.

- They won't be acting alone.

They'll be supported by
every military mission

in the city; American,
French, British.

- British?

- [Felix] They'll be leading it.

- Get me proof.

- At seven, Lenin leaves the
Kremlin for the Metropol Hotel.

- With an escort?

- A Company.

B Company will remain,

occupying headquarters
and seize the telegraph.

- Yes, now you understand the
importance of the telegraph?

We can control
Russia from there.

So the prime objective is the
capture of those machines.

- Yes.

Then, A Company will arrest
Lenin and the other leaders

as soon as they
reach the Metropol.

- Good.

- It will require rehearsal.

Suspicions are
bound to be aroused.

- Go ahead, by the
time the Cheka have

found out what you're up
to it will be too late.

- We have three days.

- Is there any word
on Marie Friede?

- I'm told she's in good health.

- I'm mainly concerned
about the hostages.

They'll shoot everyone in the
Lubyanka if we're not careful.

- They will have to be warned.

[chanting]

- [Narrator] Following
his agreement

with the Latvian regiment,

Reilly turned his attention
to the Russian church.

Their support was vital if
his plan was to succeed.

- Cigar?

- No, thanks.

- Article five,
Archbishop Tykkhon

to be named regent
of the new nation.

[coins clattering]

It will unnecessary to
give me official status.

Let it be an understanding.

You merely announce on the
morning of the liberation

that members of the new
government will call

upon the Primate of Moscow
and ask for his blessing.

That will suffice.

Article six, the lives
and properties of

all Bolsheviks shall be
guaranteed under the law.

How are you going to do that?

We know that within
days the whites

will come in and
sack the city and if

they're delayed Savinkov
will do it for them.

- That is why I want to be in
control before they arrive.

- Will you excuse us?

- How's it going?

- A bit of a snag, old boy.

The characters who
are advising him

are asking for hard currency.

- Since when?

- Ten minutes ago.

Something's up.

[bell ringing]

- [Reilly] Where do we get
something harder than this?

- I have been told
that the czar is dead.

He was murdered at
Ekaterinburg by the Bolsheviks.

- I'm sorry.

- His family have
also been shot.

The reign of the
Romanovs is over.

[bell tolling]

Article seven.

[knocking]

- Yes?

What is it, Smidchen?

- [Smidchen] It's Thursday's
duty roster for the Metropol.

The guard's been changed.

It's headed by Major Anders.

- Anders?

- A close friend of
Colonel Berzin, sir.

- Where have you been assigned?

- To the depot.

You'll also observe the
guard's been handpicked.

They're not even drawn
from the same platoon.

- Thank you, Smidchen.

You're a Latvian.

What would you do
in this situation?

- Felix, I want you
to go to Petrograd.

Uritzsky's losing his grip.

I can't go, Congress
starts on Thursday.

- Cancel it.

- Why?

- Because I'm absolutely certain

that some attempt will
be made on your life.

- But you have no proof.

- None.

- Who saved me from the
Socialist revolutionaries?

Who stormed the post office?

It was Colonel Berzin
and my Latvians.

Who leads the fight against
the Czechs at Kazan?

More Latvians!

Anyway, I can't.

It will look as if I'm
giving in to pressure.

- Then postpone it, if
only for a fortnight.

- If you can't deal with it now,

what difference will that make?

- It'll give them
time to make mistakes.

And remember they
made their plans,

passwords rehearsed,
last orders given?

- Very well.

The All-Russian
Congress of Soviets

will be postponed until
the 6th of September.

- Thank you.

- For what?

- For taking my advice.

- After the 6th you
go to Petrograd.

You heard that?

- Yeah.

- Can you cope?

[laughs]

What about my engagements?

- Well, for a start we could

reschedule your
speech at Michelson's.

What about Sunday?

- It's too soon.

- We can do it.

[thundering]

[smacking]

[crowd chattering]

- What do you want?

- [Reilly] Information.

- Who are you?

- Never mind who I am.

Just give the man in
charge that order.

- Wait here.

- [Officer] What do you want?

- I want details about the
prisoners names on that sheet.

Dates of arrest, charges
preferred and cell numbers.

- This will take some time--

- You've got five minutes.

[knocking]

- Yes?

Wait outside.

- [Officer] Very good, sir.

- I've got all the
details, except Friede.

She's special category.

Refer to Commissar
Dzerzhinsky, I've been told.

- Thank you.

- Your brother admitted
conspiring with

the British to subvert
the Kremlin guard.

He exonerated his fellow
officers from any involvement.

He was shot this morning.

Of course, there will,

will be those who will
seek to avenge him.

- Has the regiment
been informed?

- [Felix] No.

- You're afraid of
the consequences.

- We're prepared
to return the body

under certain conditions.

You must use the
authority you undoubtedly

have with the men
to see that there is

no reaction on their part
against the government.

- What you're trying
to tell me is that

there is going to
be an uprising.

That as a result
of this incident

the Latvian brigade
will be in its vanguard.

And you want me
to use that little

authority I have to stop it?

And in return you will
give me my brother's body?

Well, the answer is no.

- You might save a
lot of bloodshed.

We know what's going on.

Now, if you have any compassion

at all you should
let them know that.

- How can I?

I'm locked up.

- We'd let you go free.

I could have your papers
cleared within an hour.

Take her back downstairs.

- What was that all about?

- Just more questions.

- Has it been announced?

For when?

The 30th?

Was there any reason given?

There wasn't, huh?

No, no, just curious.

Yes, thank you.

Yes, you too.

- Robbie, I'm leaving
for Petrograd.

Hill and I are gonna pick
up some money from Cromie.

Now look, here's a list
of my agents who are being

held at the Lubyanka,
also some of George's.

Now if there's any
problem on Thursday,

I want you to see the
central committee.

Just bang this on
Karachan's desk

and tell him these
are protected people.

If they shoot this
lot, we'll shoot--

- They postponed the Congress.

[dramatic music]

Lenin's speaking at the
Michelson factory on Sunday.

The Metropol meeting's off.

- For how long?

- Till the 30th.

- Oh, my God.

Ten days.

I'm going to Petrograd
to pick up the money.

You keep your head down.

We'll see if we can
set this thing off.

And get her out of here, she's
another potential hostage.

- [Robbie] So am I.

- But you won't leave, will you?

- Not bloody likely.

- Yes, well, you be careful.

[crowd chattering]

- You've got the motor car?

- Yes.

- You've heard
about the Metropol?

- Yeah.

- And what do you think,
can we keep the lid on it?

- For 10 days, in Russia?

I doubt it.

I've spoken to Cromie.

Lockhart was right, they're
not sending in any more troops.

Some order from London.

- Well, that's
finished Savinkov.

- Yeah.

He had enough
ammunition for 15 days,

so even if we can
hold, he can't.

[snapping]

It's a damn bad show!

- You'd think they'd
set out to sink us.

- Maybe they have.

I wouldn't put it past them.

There must be a lot of people
in London who might prefer

to see anyone running
Russia but you and Savinkov.

What are you two in their eyes?

A secret agent and a
crazed ex-terrorist.

Even Savinkov's party,

the League for the
Regeneration of Russia.

Sounds like a hair tonic.

- Shut up, George!

- So what are you going to do?

[sighing]

- I don't know.

- Heard the news?

- Yes.

Everyone's ready to go.

I've even got the patriarch down

for a thanksgiving
service next Sunday.

Jerusalem church,
all the trimmings.

- We can still do it.

All we have to do is to
hold out for 10 days.

- The moment he leaves you must

make your way down these stairs.

You must reach the
boiler room before

he does and wait for him there.

And as he passes below you,

you must start
down these stairs.

As soon as you step off
you must stop thinking,

start counting, say a poem.

Just get to the
bottom of the stairs.

And as you fall in behind him...

- Bang.

- Just get him before
he gets to the car.

Whatever you do, don't
ask him a question.

One word and bang will
go your resolution.

- Bang. [laughs]

- Just remember
your dead comrades

and get him before
he gets to the car.

[engine revving]

[sighing]

[groaning]

[gun firing]

[doorbell ringing]

- Nobody's home.

[gun firing]

Get in!

- Park the car around the back.

That chap is not
going to go away.

[engine revving]

- A customary warm reception.

- A disgruntled critic of our
foreign policy, I suspect.

[gun firing]
[glass shattering]

There's another one up here.

- Savinkov?

- Yes.

I'm afraid he's been
crying all night.

Tears of rage.

- You bastard, you betrayed us.

- I did not betray you.

- There was no army.

- I know.

- What, I...

What I'll never forgive you for

is that we had
them in our hands.

With only just 10,000 men
we could have taken Moscow.

[crying]

Even now, all that
stands between us

and Moscow are the
local militias.

- We can still do it, Boris.

In 10 days' time.

- A palace revolt.

Without an army to back it!

- We have the Latvians.

And within a week
the Czechs will have

broken through at Kazan.

- Yes, Latvians,
Czechs, Japanese, Poles.

Where are the Russians?

I'll tell you where they are.

They're lying along
the railway track

from here to Yuroslav
slaughtered in the hundreds.

They're hanging from
the telegraph poles.

Their bodies choke the Volga.

While gangs of foreigners
decide the future

of their children
in London, in Paris

and Berlin and
Washington and Tokyo!

[crying]

- Within two weeks we shall
be forming our own government.

And I don't want you
to sit round here

between now and then
endlessly complaining!

You will be the war
minister in our cabinet,

so I suggest you get to Kazan,

which is where the action is,

and start to talk things
over with your friends there!

- We'll just pick up the threads
of what we've been through?

- You have 10 days.

- Let's hope that this time
you don't get it wrong.

[gun firing outside]

We'll do it.

- I've come for
the money, Cromie.

[gun firing]
[glass shattering]

You've still got it?

- Yes.

- I spoke to Olaf
before coming here.

We had tea at Golokayava Street.

He told me that
the Petrograd Cheka

have a wide knowledge
of what's going on here.

In particular, they know about
the safe and what's in it.

Now, unless you have
any firm idea about what

you want to do with it, I
suggest you give it to me.

I need the money, Cromie.

- It's Navy money.

- I hate to pull rank
on you, commander,

but I have orders from
the British Prime Minister

to do what I think is necessary
to remove Lenin from office.

Now, I need this money.

I need all of it
and I need it now.

- I'm sorry, Sidney,

but the Prime Minister
is not a Navy man.

You will have to
get an express order

from the director of
Naval Intelligence.

- Very well, then, let's get it.

We'll cable London this minute.

How long before we get a reply?

- If we mark it for the
Cabinet, about 12 hours.

- Good.

- Of course,

the peace in Brest-Litovsk
was a harsh one.

Of course, the
Germans took advantage

of the situation which
manifested itself there.

They've carted away
vast quantities of coal.

They've harvested our wheat.

They've dismantled
our factories.

Of course, we have not only
been robbed, but humiliated!

But the answer is not, I submit,

to go back to war, as so many of

our young people
would have us do.

Why should we send them to fight

an imperialist war when
our so-called allies,

these very capitalists who
urge us to attack Germany,

are landing troops in
Russia with no other

motive than to destroy
our revolution?

[crowd booing]

- What about our
comrades in the Ukraine?

- What?

- You are abandoning the
workers of the Ukraine!

- How can we have
a revolution unless

we defeat the German
army in the Ukraine?

- I know the argument
that we should continue

to oppose the German
military machine

bayonet for bayonet
and corpse for corpse

until German society
disintegrates the
way ours has done.

In this way, we are
told we shall act

as midwife to the
German revolution.

Well, I am a great believer
in the German revolution

and I believe that it
will happen very soon.

But, if the price
for the creation of

the German revolution is
the destruction of our own,

then I believe we shall
stand accused in the eyes

of the Socialist world
of wanton carelessness.

We have been given a unique
historical opportunity

to forge a new
society on this earth.

It is our duty to take it.

[crowd cheering]

- Quiet!

On your behalf, I
should like to thank

the chairman of the committee
of the People's Commissariat,

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin for
addressing us here today!

[crowd cheering]

- [Lenin] Went quite
well, I thought.

- It was wrong to say that the
American workers want peace,

they're joining up
in droves over there.

- For all the wrong reasons.

- They may be wrong,
Ilyich, but that's no reason

for you to misrepresent them.

They believe that the
success of the revolution

depends on winning the
war against Germany.

- [Lenin] If that's
their position, I've
never heard of it.

- Sir?

May I put a question to you?

- Yes, my dear.

- How may we build
a new world when our

first act is to
compromise with the old?

- Compromise?

- By signing the treaty
with the Germans.

- It's not compromise,
it's common sense.

Is the car outside?

- Yes, yes, Ilyich,
we're on schedule.

- But when they
brought you the treaty,

when you read it?

- Child, I never read it.

- You never read it?

- Child,

I would dine with the devil

if I thought it would
safeguard our revolution.

Oh, child!

[gun firing]

[rattling]

[couple screaming]

- Get dressed.

You too, comrade.

- [Moura] Elena, Margaret!

How are you?

[women chattering]

[telephone ringing]

- British embassy.

- Sidney?

It's me, Lenin's been shot.

[dramatic music]

- Is he dead?

- No, but nearly, he's
got a bullet in the brain.

Now listen, they're certain
the British are behind it

and they'll be out
there within the hour.

They want Cromie and the money.

- What's happening in Moscow?

- There's hell to pay.

Hundreds of arrests, hostages
shot and an atmosphere

of total panic which
is spilling over here.

It's everyone for
himself, dear boy.

- Someone shot Lenin.

[dramatic music]

[fire crackling]

- This is your death warrant.

- What do I do?

- Sign it.

- [Guard] Not you,
you stay here.

[slapping]

- Please sign here.

[gun firing]

- Where'd you leave
the motor car?

- [George] The stables!

- Go out the back over the roof.

- What about these?

- They're not interested
in the ciphers, George!

- They could give
them to the Germans.

- Get the car!

[banging]

- The gentlemen from the
Cheka are downstairs.

Do I let them in?

- No, Jenkins.

See that the last of the
ciphers are destroyed.

[gun firing]

I'm not going.

- Look Cromie,
this isn't a ship.

You don't have to
go down with it.

- This is a British embassy

and it will be defended as such.

- Bricks and bloody
mortar, Cromie!

- Captain Reilly,

I have always considered
myself a levelheaded chap

with a distinct distaste
for the theatrical.

Therefore, it's
doubly unfortunate

that I have to go through
with this business.

But in the circumstances
I can see no alternative.

- Well, good luck, Cromie.

I hope you make it.

[dramatic music]

[guns firing]

[thudding]

- Is he staying?

- Yes!

[gun firing]

[crashing]

- Will he live?

- This is the last batch.

Do you want to check it?

There are persons of
interest on this list.

Former comrades.

And lovers.

- [Felix] Careful!

[somber music]

[machine gun firing]

- They just released
Moura, that's how I know.

- What about Lockhart?

- They're still holding him.

Your name is, of
course, prominently

displayed throughout the town.

Large sums of money are being
offered for your capture,

which we're told in the
newspapers, is imminent.

Though, in fact, it's
Lockhart as consul

who's named as the chief
villain of the piece.

- Where did that girl come from?

- Fanya Kaplan, social
revolutionist, was proven.

- I remember her.

Quiet, mousy.

A nothing.

[laughs]

- Well, she's cooked our goose.

- What's the news on Lenin?

- Oh, he'll live,

and he'll never quite be
the same again, they say.

- You know, I
thought I'd done it.

I really thought I
had it in my hand.

- You did, old boy.

[dramatic music]

[soft violin music]

[electronic jingle]