Secret Agent (1964–1967): Season 1, Episode 1 - Yesterday's Enemies - full transcript

The evening edition, Mr. Brett.

Thank you, Mary.

Is there anything else you need?

No, you run along,
-I'll lock up.

You won't forget you have
a classified letter to file?

I'll lock that up too.

Goodnight, Mary.

Goodnight, Mr. Brett.

Write the things that thou hast seen

and the things which are,

and the things which
shall be hereafter.



Good evening sir, how are you today?

Hot, lounge whisky, please.

Thank you, George.

Morning, Admiral.

You wanted to see me.

15 minutes ago, Drake.

I'm sorry, I was with the medical officer.

Something wrong with you?
-No, a routine checkup.

That could have waited
until you'd seen me.

I thought you'd prefer me to
dress before I reported, sir.

Well, just make sure that
you're not 15 minutes late

for your plane this afternoon.

Where to?

Beirut, we have a lead on
the opposition organization



that's operating out there.

The name's Brett, John Brett.

A British business man
working for one of the

Middle East oil companies.

He handles a lot of
classified information.

We've recently discovered
he's been passing it

to the opposition.

How did you get onto him?

We intercepted some of
their intelligence reports

containing details of our oil
interests in Saudi Arabia.

We traced the leak back to Brett.

Naturally we've known for
some time that the opposition

had been active in Beirut,

but this is our first positive lead.

Now if you handle this properly, Drake,

it's an opportunity to
uncover the whole network.

Sounds like a big job.

Oh?

I assume you'll give me
a proper team to work with?

Haven't I always given
you adequate support?

I sometimes think that you

overestimate my capabilities, sir.

You need have no fear of that, Drake.

You will have the full resources

of the Beirut station at your disposal.

Mrs. Dutton is in
charge, have you met her?

Arthur Dutton's widow, no.

You will this evening.

You've been invited to a party
where you'll be introduced

as a visiting journalist.

Mr. Brett will be one of the guests.

Do you realize, Mr. Drake,

that within a few decades
all the known oil reserves

In the world will be
completely exhausted?

Every petrol engine in
the world, every jet,

every diesel will have to come to a halt.

Their tanks will be dry, mark my words.

The country that controls the
last productive oil fields

will be able to dictate
terms to all the others.

Which country will that be?

Well, it won't be England,
I can tell you that.

Hello Mary, enjoying yourself?

Very much.
-I want you to meet

Mr. Drake, my
secretary Mary Wilson.

How do you do?
-Hello.

Oh hold it, don't move, either of you.

Just stay exactly as you are,
no that's absolutely perfect.

You're the stranger I've been looking for.

Mr. Drake, Mrs. Curtis.

How do you do, now
wouldn't he be perfect, Mary?

Wouldn't he be
absolutely marvelous?

Mr. Drake, are you a quick study?

What does that mean?

Mrs. Curtis is producing a play.

Yes, Love From a
Stranger, do you know it?

Most exciting.

Cecily Harrington, that's
Mary, falls in love

with a handsome stranger and marries him

and then finds out that he's a murderer.

He peroxides his hair.

Oh Mr. Drake, the part was made for you.

Don't you think you could learn it in time

because we open next week.

I'm afraid not.

Oh, oh Mary now, do
persuade him darling,

use your charm. I'm sorry, I'm no actor.

Do you want to
be stuck with Willie Harris?

I don't want to play the part at all.

Now Mary.

I'm sure Willie will be very good.

Oh he'd be terrible of course.

Can you imagine him
with his hair peroxided?

Well, just look at him.

Hello!

Do hope he didn't
hear what I said.

He's Second Secretary to
the Embassy, you know.

But I mean, what I mean is he
doesn't look like a murderer.

Now does he, Mr. Drake.

Do I look like a murderer?

Oh, you're fascinating.

I'm sure Mary could
succumb to you instantly,

couldn't you, darling?
Let me get you

another drink.
-Oh, please don't bother.

Would you excuse me?

Now you promise to
come back to us, don't you!

Yes, of course.

Oh Mary, if only I were younger.

Oh, say when.

When? - Hmm?

Oh, you must be Drake.
-That's right.

I'm Archie, World Press Agency.

Yes, I know, you're my host.

oh yes, yes, oh yeah.

I'm a great admirer of your work.

Really, that's extraordinary.

One gives 'em what they want.

Well, we must get together some time.

Oh, oh, oh, Catherine, Catherine dear,

would you look after Mr.Drake
while I circulate?

It's getting to be a good party.

Yes, it is indeed.

I do apologize, Mr. Drake.

What for?
-My husband.

I'm afraid he was well
underway before you arrived.

You must meet him sometime.

I'd like to, he's a
very good journalist.

Well, come and have
dinner with us one evening.

Give him a chance to make amends.

That's very kind, thank you very much.

He's forgiven, then?

Nothing to forgive.

Jo, love!

Go and have a drink.
- Yeah.

Hello Jo.
-Oh, I'm so glad you--

Do you know Mr. Drake?

Um, no.
-John Drake,

Jo Dutton.

Hello.
-How do you do?

Edwin seems to have got the party spirit.

Excuse me, will you?

I'm so late, I'm sorry.

I was caught up at the office.

Where can we talk?

On the terrace.

Did London brief you?

Yeah, John Brett of all people.

I can hardly believe it!

Is he a friend of yours?

I thought he was.

Pity you didn't know him better.

Are you sure about
this, have they got proof?

Look, he was given
some marked information

that turned up later in an
opposite intelligence report.

Well, what are we to do?

Well, tomorrow he's going to

receive some more classified material.

I want to know exactly what happens to it,

now that means a 24-hour watch.

I shall want two of your
men to work shifts with me

and another one to monitor
his phones and his mail.

Two of my men?
-Mm.

Mr. Drake, I haven't
got one man available.

Didn't London brief you?
-Yes, they told me

I had to give you every assistance.

But I can't give you men.

Look, I've got six agents.

One of them's in hospital
and the other five

are out on other assignments.

You'll have to recall two of them.

Alright.

It may take a couple of days.

Mrs. Dutton, I need them tomorrow a.m.

Then you'd better get
them flown out from London.

But we need local men for a job,

what kind of organization
do you run here anyway?

Well you try running a
local station sometime.

I can't just pick up the phone and ask

for what I want like you people.

Oh no, I've got to refer
everything back to London

and then if I'm lucky I get

half of what I want a week too late!

Now you've told me what you can't do.

Yes.

Tell me what you can.

Well, when I'm short
of men I sometimes manage

to weed them out of Captain Attala.

Who's he?

Head of Lebanese security.

We have no liaison with the Lebanese.

Oh, I have.

It's an unofficial arrangement.

They may not be our
allies but at least he's

a friend of mine, I'll introduce you.

I don't know you,
I don't know anything about M9.

I'll introduce myself.
-Right.

So you are not a journalist, Mr. Drake.

No, thank you.

And perhaps you are not an investigator

for the Board of Trade either.

I assure you, Captain,

I mean my London office will confirm it

if you think it necessary.

I would have thought it's a matter

for the British Intelligence Service.

Yes, but he hasn't been
giving away military secrets

or anything of that sort.

Only trade secrets.
-Yes.

To the East.
-I'm afraid so.

You British, you never cease to amaze me.

But you mustn't take him as typical.

Oh, no no, it is you who
are typical, Mr. Drake.

A British subject has contact

with an Eastern espionage system.

So what do the British government do?

They send out a member of
the Board of Trade.

David and Goliath, it's ridiculous.

The great tradition of the amateur.

What will your country do,
Mr. Drake, in this modern world.

But I'm a fully qualified investigator.

I completed the course
at our training center.

With credit, I may add.

How long was your course?

Four months, full time.

My men are trained for five years.

I'll put a 24-hour
watch on your Mr. Brett.

You go back to your hotel and relax.

I hope you enjoy your stay in Beirut.

I'll let you know if I get anything.

But I'd like to do my share of the work.

Hussein?

These will be your operators.

This is Kemal. How do you do?

And Hussein.

How do you do?
-A pleasure.

What's that for?

Kemal.

Didn't they teach you unarmed combat

at your special
training center, Mr. Drake?

Certainly did not.

Forgive me, I was curious.

You could at least have asked.

Actions speak louder than
words, as your poet says.

Supposing Hussein had
been an enemy of yours.

I'm very glad that he's not.

So let us get to work.

This is Mr. Brett's office here.

I'm sure the cleaning
staff can be approached

in the usual way.

Are you listening, Mr. Drake?

We have installed camera,
please switch on and check.

In order for this to reach
his office by the midday post,

it should have left London
Tuesday the 22nd, alright?

My do-it-yourself post office kit.

The afternoon post, Mr. Brett.

Ah.

There's a classified letter,

would you sign for it, please?

Yes.

Evening paper, Mr. Brett.

Ah, thank you Mary.

Anything else?

No, that's all I think, thanks.

Goodnight.
-Goodnight, Mary.

Switch off.

Alright, let's go.

Good evening, sir.

Usual? -Please.

I'll get you some fresh ice.

Thank you.

I wasn't expecting you, Mr. Drake.

Did he spill the beans?

Told me all he knows.
-What did he say?

A little less than nothing.

Well, we just wait, see
who collects the letter,

and he'll lead us to our man.

Has the letter been collected already?

Mr. Drake, this is a
matter for my government.

It also concerns my government.

Mr. Drake, as a member of
the British Board of Trade

you are always welcome here.

But I must ask you not to concern yourself

with matters that are
none of your business.

So your government has got cold feet.

My government must remain
impartial, can you blame them?

For sitting on the fence, no.

Then don't force me to deport you.

I'll try not to be an embarrassment.

Oh.

Thanks for waiting, Mrs. Dutton.

Your Lebanese friend is no friend at all.

Attala?

Oh, I'm sure you can trust him.

To look after
Lebanese interests, not ours.

Look, if you want to keep the initiative,

we'll have to move fast.

No one can move until
the letter's collected.

I think it has been.

We've gotta go and see Brett right away.

Ah Mr. Drake, this is my den, come in,

sit down, make yourselves at home.

Now what can I get you?

This is not a social visit.

Oh, must have a drink.

No thank you, I want information

and I know that you deal in it.

Write the things which thou
hast seen, and the things

which are, and the things
which shall be hereafter.

Revelations 1:19.

Your courier has talked,
your organization has blown

wide open, and I'm here
to pick up the pieces.

Jo, my dear, what is all this?

You'd better tell us everything.

Yes, unless you want to
be shipped back to England

to stand trial, you'll get 10 years.

But if you talk now, we might be able

to get the charges dropped.

Who are you?

Let's not go into that

but you'll have to help me.

Is this true, Jo?
-Yes.

Alright.

Whatever I did, it was done at the request

of the British authorities.

The British authorities.

They said I could be of service,

naturally I couldn't refuse.

How could you have been taken?

Who recruited you?

I was given very specific instructions

never to mention his name to anybody.

I mustn't even try and get
in touch with him myself.

Oh for goodness sake, John, you're,

you're in very serious trouble!

What was his name?

It was Edwin Archer.

Why did you give information to him?

If you don't know who he is,

I don't think I should tell you.

This is official, I'm ordering you to.

I don't understand what
you're accusing me of.

It isn't a crime to help
my own country, is it?

After all, Archer is in charge

of British Intelligence in Beirut.

Get this off to London right away,

would you please, Mrs. Dutton,

in code?
- Mm-hm.

Request for list of
information, Edwin Archer.

What a nerve, posing as a British agent

and employing Englishmen who think

they're working for their own country.

And call him up, get
him over here right away,

make it official, use any pretext.

I can't do that.

Look, I have to have him here

in the embassy on British soil.

He's no use to me out there.

I asked not to be disturbed.

Oh I'm sorry, sir.

Not at the moment,
I'm afraid, I'm tied up.

I'm very sorry.

They want me to deal with some documents.

That'll have to wait,
I must have him here

where Attala can't get at him.

But the embassy has
no power to hold him.

We'll worry about that
afterwards, just get him here.

Now look here, Jo.

Oh, Mrs. Dutton, what's
going on, you're needed.

There's a whole pile of queries

about those export licenses.

This is Mr. Harris, our
Second Secretary, Mr. Drake.

Hm, yes we've had a message about you.

We don't know what your business is

but I'm sure it can't be as
important as our export drive.

I'd be happy if you will
conclude it as soon as possible

and let Mrs. Dutton get on with her job.

We'll conclude all the sooner
if we're not interrupted.

Can you remember that this is an embassy,

and not a Fleet Street office?

You newspaper people have
given us cause for complaint

on more than one occasion.

I would prefer you to work somewhere else.

I shall expect to see you in 10 minutes.

Of course, Mr. Harris.

Alright, let's get on with it.

I can't involve the embassy.

Worried about your job?

Right now, Mr. Drake, you can have it.

Alright, I'll get him myself.

Mr. Drake!
-Hello.

How very nice, come in.
-Thank you.

I imagine it's Edwin you've come to see.

Yes, I was hoping that he'd be able

to help me with a bit of information.

Oh, I'm sure he'd be delighted to.

He was most ashamed of
himself after the party.

But then he always is.

Will you stay for lunch?

Oh that's very kind of you, Mrs. Archer,

I'm afraid I haven't time.

Alright, but dinner you are promised for.

Not tonight because
I'm afraid I have to go

to Dorothy Curtis' play,
I can't get out of that.

But what about tomorrow?
- Maybe tomorrow.

Depending on how

your work's going?
- Yes.

We'll make Edwin help you finish it, then.

Edwin?
- Yes, dear.

Mr. Drake to see you.

Thank you.
-Mr. Drake?

Oh yes, we met the
other night at your party.

Oh, oh I remember, yes.

Sit down and have a drink.

Not now, thanks.
-Oh, business?

Well, I was rather hoping
that you'd be able to help me.

If I can.

I'm writing a series of
articles on Middle East trade.

Mm-hm, who for?

Federators.

That's Dickinson, isn't he?

No, Gerald, Dickinson's
with International.

Oh of course, yeah.

And I was going through the
trade figures at the embassy,

I came across something rather odd.

I'd like your opinion on it.

To do with trade?

No.
-Huh?

In fact, I'd rather not discuss it

until you've seen the documents yourself.

Ah, you want me to go to the embassy?

Yes, you'll find them rather interesting.

What's in it for me?

It's a good story, I
could split it two ways.

No, I only do exclusives.

Oh, but this concerns you personally.

Concerns, you're being very mysterious.

I long to be enlightened.

It's a pity you've picked
such an awkward time,

because I'm so busy with all this stuff

and I must get it off for
the air mail collection,

by then of course the
embassy will be closed.

Ah, well, perhaps we
can come to some arrangement.

I know!

You go and copy out the stuff

and bring it back here this evening.

We'll have the place to ourselves.

My wife's attending one
of Dorothy's rehearsals.

Alright.

Alright then, and so
I'll see you about eight.

Fine.

I'm looking forward to your revelations.

Alright.

Just finished.

Edwin Archer, former agent M9.

Do you think he suspects?

Of course he does,
entered service December 1939,

specialized political subversion.

Dismissed service June 1942 as unreliable,

classified security risk April of 1950,

proceed priority investigation
present activities,

repeat priority.

And now he's gone in
for private enterprise,

didn't you know he was
on the classified list?

Oh, I had no idea, there's
nothing about him on my files.

Somebody's head is going to roll for this!

An ex M9 man working for the other side,

what are the newspapers going to say,

what's Parliament going to say?

I can see them breaking out
in a cold sweat already.

Look, I shall want a room,
somewhere out of the way

where your friend Harris won't disturb us.

There's a storeroom in the basement.

Let's take a look at it.

You can't get back to the villa now,

it'll be too dangerous.

Tell you what,
I'll give you a couple of men.

Two of them reported back this morning.

We're not in London now, you know,

I take along my thugs.

Archer would bring his and
there'd be a pitch battle

in the town, Attala would like that.

We'd be on the first plane back to London

and the whole network
would go underground.

Well, would this do?

Yes, yes, this is fine.

Is there any other way down here apart

from the main entrance?
-Yeah, a side door

down that passage.

Alright, put your men on standby.

Let's hope we don't need them.

Alright.

How are you, come in now.

Good evening!

Right on time.

We've got the place to
ourselves as I said.

How about a whisky?
-Thank you.

You do your homework?

Yeah.

Can I see?

I got my answers from London.

Alright, what is it about our profession

that rubs off on the
person now as they do.

Bank clerks recognize
each other when they meet,

or schoolteachers, or grocers?

I must say the 1960s model is
very different from the '40s.

Tell me who is in charge of M9 now,

Briggs, or--?
- I didn't come here

to talk about the old faces.

No?

But let's talk about the network

that you're operating
for, British Intelligence.

How did you find out?

I wonder why we've never
heard anything from you?

I was saving it up.
-As a surprise?

You could put it that way.

Let's hear your version.

Well, you know I worked
for M9 during the war.

Until they chucked you out.

Oh, that's the old
story, personal jealousy,

departmental intrigue, somebody didn't

like me--
- wouldn't surprise me.

Well, my pride was hurt, I admit.

I mean, one resents injustice.

The department treated me very shabbily.

Anyway, as you know I've
done extraordinarily

well as a journalist.

I hadn't been here very
long before I found out

what was going on beneath the surface

and what a lamentable job
Mrs. Dutton was making of things.

So I thought I'd try
and see if I couldn't

do it a bit better.

Just to prove myself to London.

So I formed my own little
amateur organization.

And what about all the
information you've collected?

Show you.

It's alright, I haven't
got a gun in here.

That's it, the fat one.

Well now.

There's 10 months work in there.

In another two months I was gonna send

the whole lot to the department.

And the same stuff

has already been passed to the opposition.

Really!
-We have evidence.

Well, that must have been their agents.

You don't think I've got a
monopoly in the area, do you?

It's occurred.
-What for?

You're coming with me to the embassy.

You can't tell me what to do,

I'm a private citizen
in a foreign country.

And what are you afraid of?

I don't like being pushed about.

Then why the fuss?

I'm not going.

That amounts to a confession, you know.

You can't bulldoze me.

You going to stop me?
-I think so.

Alright, let's see who's bluffing.

Leon, Stavros!

Tell me.

How did you trace me, London?

I must apologize for my friends,

they're clumsy oafs but they get results.

How did you trace me?

London, you've been
classified as unreliable

ever since you got the sack from M9.

The Lebanese took one
of my men last night.

What's your arrangement with them?

Who are you working with,
Mrs. Dutton, who else?

Look, I'm not going to waste any time.

Now Drake, we don't want the
boys to do their stuff, do we?

Shall we try once more?

Who are you working with?

Board of Trade.

You're a fool, Drake.

Oh yes, darling, we'd love to come in.

Well, we won't stay, we will just pop in

for a quick drink.

And I'd love to see Edwin, and I,

I'd love to talk to him
about the play, too.

Edwin, oh I didn't
realize you had company.

Yes.

Hello Edwin, surprise,

surprise!
- Hello, Dorothy, dear.

Hello.

Oh Mr. Drake, well how are you Mr. Drake?

Delighted to see you.

You always make me believe you.

Edwin will tell you.

Well, what's going on?

I believe we've caught you up to no good.

When the cat's away, you
know what happens, don't you.

I invited Dorothy and Willie

back for a drink, Edwin.
- Oh now Willie,

now where is he, Willie?

Willie, where are you?

Oh now Willie, don't stand skulking, dear,

come on in!
-I can't get this

wretched stuff out of my hair!

He's hiding his head

in shame, now you know
Mr. Drake, don't you?

Yes.
-Yes, well.

I'm afraid I don't know
who these gentlemen are.

They're journalists, they
only speak Arabic, I'm afraid.

Oh.

You know Edwin puts me to shame.

I've lived 20 years in Beirut
and not a word of Arabic

do I speak, not one word.

Why even Willie here speaks a little.

I think that's probably all.

Well, aren't you going to
get Dorothy a drink, Edwin?

Yes of course, yes.
-Oh, how lovely!

Well, I'll have a brandy.

Oh and a very very small
wine for Willie, please.

Oh, I say!

You're driving.

Well, aren't you surprised to see us?

I am indeed, what happened?

We had to pack up.

Well, the electricians didn't turn up,

half the cast had been drinking,

and then Mary had hysterics
so we couldn't go on.

So Catherine asked us back here to

drown our sorrows.
-Thank you, Edwin.

Well, good luck to our play.

We shall need it.

Well, we must be off, drink up Willie.

Oh Mrs. Curtis, would you be kind enough

to give me a lift?

But of course, I should be delighted.

Oh thanks so much.

Well come along, we must be off now.

Goodnight, everybody.
-Goodnight, Edwin.

I'll see you out.

Could you pop out, please?

Oh, allow me to open the gate, here.

Well, we must continue this
conversation another time.

Yes, I'd like that.

Jolly good.
-Goodbye, Edwin.

It was lovely.
-Goodbye, dear.

Goodbye, Edwin.

Mrs. Curtis.
-Ah, there we are.

Now do tell me,
where is it you want to go?

City bar.

Edwin Archer's such a pet, isn't he.

Such a pet.
-Mm.

Where would you like to be dropped,

Mr. Drake?
-Thank you,

right here will do.

Here, oh dear,

what's the matter?
-I've gotta go back.

Well, how will you get home?

I've forgotten something.

Well, we'll wait for you.
-No, thank you.

Oh of course, I insist!
-No, it's alright.

It's my car I've forgotten.

Oh really, Mr. Drake.

How absurd.

Edwin.
-Ah-huh?

What's been happening here this evening?

Happening?

What's been going on?

Oh, Drake thinks he's onto a story.

But those two men.
-Yes, he brought 'em.

Strange friends he has.

I'm going up.
-Mm-hm.

Leon.

Hurry.

Stavros?

Stavros!

Stavros!

They taught you a lot in your

four-months' course, Mr. Drake.

Yeah.

Mr. Drake, you are asking
me for an extradition order

for Mr. Archer when it is you

who are in danger of being deported!

The Minister of the Interior has given me

specific instructions
regarding Mr. Archer.

In 12 hours he will be out of the country.

Where to?

Anywhere he pleases.

You know what will
happen, he'll head East.

That's very impartial of you.

Mr. Drake, you lied to me about

that special training center of yours.

Slight exaggeration, perhaps.

What plane are you putting him on?

Flight 247 to Baghdad.

I thought it best he
travel on a British plane.

That's very considerate.

Take-off time is 14:23,
you will find Mr. Archer

in seat three in the first-class cabin.

Thanks for telling me.
-Oh, Mr. Drake.

Whatever you do, I don't
want to hear about it.

I don't want to be obliged to intervene.

Don't worry, you won't hear a word.

Perhaps when I get to London,

I'll hear the end of the story.

Oh you always know where

to find me.
-Oh indeed, yes,

I have some very good friends

in the Board of Trade.

Goodbye.

Your boarding pass please, sir.

Here.

Mr. Archer.
-Yes.

First class in the
front compartment, sir.

This is your seat sir, number three.

Thank you.

I hope you'll have a
very comfortable journey.

Thank you so much.
-You're welcome.

Oh, ah!

This man has had a stroke,

he must be taken to hospital immediately.

Are you sure?
-I'm a doctor.

I'll tell the captain.

Tell him to get an ambulance

and ask for immediate attention.

Yes, sir.

How is he?

Still unconscious.

They're sending an ambulance.

Hope it'll be in time.
-I hope so too.

Follow me, please.

There is a doctor on
duty at the airport, sir.

I'll catch a later plane,

I want to see that he
gets into safe hands.

I see.

It's lucky we had you aboard!
-Don't worry,

he's my responsibility now.

Thank you.
-Bye.

Drive for the embassy,
don't stop for anyone.

They've taken him, he's gone!

How's he feeling now?
-Wonderful!

May I have a cigarette?

What was that stuff you pumped into me?

Oh, just a little something
to steady your nerves.

Pentothal, I suppose.

Well now, do you feel like

telling us all about it?

Of course, switch 'er on.

Thank you.

I have seven agents who
supply me with first-class

military, economic,
and political material.

They think they're working
for their king and country.

They wouldn't be working for me otherwise.

Two of them are British,
then there are two French,

one Pole, and two Arabs.

Names?
-Don't rush me, please.

I've been running these
people for over a year now,

and we've built up a very
efficient little machine.

Now there's one thing I must emphasize.

This network belongs to me.

I created it and I control it.

The opposition have no hand in it,

they simply come to me for information.

Facts, Archer, I want facts.

Oh, oh, they have to be bought.

Look, you're not in business anymore.

On the contrary, I can
offer you a package deal.

M9 take over my whole
network as a going concern.

What's the price?

My freedom.
-No deal.

Check with London.
-I don't have to.

No, they'll jump at it.

A ready-made network and a chance

to penetrate the other side.

They'd be fools to turn it down

simply for the satisfaction
of putting me in the dock.

No, I don't think--

We'll take over your network

but without any strings attached.

I wouldn't talk.
-Look, we can be as tough

as anyone, you know,
we'll get it out of you.

I can call you on that.

My network operates on a
24-hour warning system.

By this time tomorrow,
they'll know something's wrong

and they'll go to ground.

It'll be a long time
before you can dig 'em out again.

Why don't you call London?

Mrs. Dutton, would you get that

on the air to London right away, please?

Catherine doesn't
know anything about this.

Why did you do it, money?

You wouldn't understand.

I'd like to.

Well, it all began when I was
up at Oxford before the war.

You know what it was like in the old days.

Were you in the party?

No, no, I wasn't
a member, I just sympathized,

lots of us did.

Well, plenty of fellow
travelers around in those days

and they seemed to be the only people

who were prepared to fight
Hitler and Mussolini.

No, we weren't Communists,
we were idealists.

Yet you sold your country's secrets.

No, no, no, that was long after.

After I'd been chucked
out of intelligence.

I don't think I did wrong, really.

At that time, idealism
seemed a little stupid.

East or West,
nothing to choose between 'em.

And both making a hash of the world.

Nothing mattered as
long as you were alright.

I knew you wouldn't understand.

teleprint so that you can read

Exchange authorized.

I knew they'd be reasonable.

But goods to remain in bond for 24 hours

pending confirmation of transfer.

You're keeping me here 24 hours.

That's so we can check
on your going concern

and make sure you tell us the truth.

Alright, let's get on to facts, then.

Here you are.
-Thank you.

Names, addresses, and code words.

Yesterday's enemies,
tomorrow's friends and vice versa.

I should be glad to get
back in the service.

You're not yet.

London will be realistic.

I've proved my worth.

And what is your business, Mr. Bertrand?

Charity organizer.

It's about your subscription
to the orphanage, Mr. Drake.

He'll be right up.

I'd like to talk to him in private.

Switchboard, no more calls to this office.

London didn't warn me you were coming.

Well, you know the old man

never let the right hand know
what the left hand is doing.

What do you want?

To get your man when
you've finished with him.

You're welcome.

Has he talked?
-Yes.

Satisfied?

They're checking on it now,
we'll know in an hour's time.

Want to see him?
- I'll wait.

What are you going to do
with him when you get him back?

That's what I've been
sent out here to discuss.

When you're through with
him, I'll take him home

and we can negotiate terms.

Funny, isn't it.

If he was some poor
miserable little crook,

you'd have nailed him by now.

Well that's life, isn't it, old man.

No Catherine, I'm not in Baghdad.

I'm here with Drake at the embassy,

I'll be home in about 20 minutes.

Yes, everything's fine, goodbye.

Shall we be seeing you tonight, Drake?

My job's finished.

Well, you were promised
a dinner, you know.

My apologies to your wife.

Oh, she'll be awfully disappointed.

Try and find a minute to
drop in on us before you go.

Bring Jo with you, after all
we are colleagues now.

You know the way, do you?

Yes, old man.

Turn here, never mind, you've missed it.

We'll take the next one.

Turn left.

Here, what's going on? Where are we going?

That was quick.
-Yes.

And successful.

Thank you.

Edwin Archer in road accident.

The car was found in
a deep ravine outside the town.

There was only one body in it.

You fixed this, didn't you Mr. Drake?

You and your friend Bertrand.

Now I know why you had to
talk to him in private!

You killed him!

No, Mrs. Archer, no.
-He knew something

was going to happen and
he was afraid of you!

Why was he afraid of you?

What had you got against him?

It was an accident.

It wasn't even his car!

It was a hired car!

Whatever happened was because of you!

Those men the other
night, he never came back!

And then the phone call.

I'm with Mr. Drake, he said!

I thought he was in Baghdad,
but he was with you!

Why is he dead, why?

I need to find out the truth
and if you won't give it to me

I'll go to every
journalist in this city

and tell them what I
know about you and Edwin.

They are his friends,
they'll ask questions!

They'll force an inquiry
to find out the truth!

There can't be an inquiry.

Your husband was a British
Intelligence agent.

He was working on an
assignment when he was killed.

Working with you?

Yes.
-What happened?

I don't know, we finished the job

and I thought he was on his way home.

Why did he say he was going to Baghdad?

To mislead anyone who was interested

in what he was really doing.

I can't tell you what that was.

Why should I believe this?

There will be a letter from London.

Official condolences.

You'll be able to read between the lines.

He should have told me.

How could he?

Was his work very important?

Yes.

I knew he worked with
Intelligence during the war,

but I never guessed he was still doing so.

He was a very good agent.

Sorry, Mrs. Archer.

Believe me, I'm sorry.

What you did Drake, was unpardonable,

and you know it.
-Sir.

You had no right to take it on yourself

to speak to the wife.

You broke your cover.

Should I have better spread
the story to the press?

Oh, you could have found some other way

of keeping her quiet.

I could have killed her.

If that's supposed to be humorous, Drake,

I find it in singular bad taste.

Why was Archer executed,
could have been brought back.

Could have stood trial.

Executed? He died in a road accident.

And that assassin of yours
had nothing to do with it.

Drake, you are forgetting yourself.

I wish I could forget.
-And that will be all.

Don't worry about
his wife,she won't talk.

Oh yes, we're taking care of that.

We've asked that her husband
be given a posthumous award.