Secret Agent (1964–1967): Season 1, Episode 17 - The Affair at Castelevara - full transcript

You were not long in
Paris, Senor Ramero.

No, just the weekend.

Don't worry, Senor,
we won't tell your wife.

Senor Ramero, Senor Ramero.

Welcome home, Senor.

I wish we could all have
turned out to greet you

but you understand.

I am Manuel Vega, this is Pedro Cordova.

Shall we go.

When you are on the
losing side in a civil war,

it is better to try and
forget old comrades.



I may have known him well

but it was such a long, long time ago.

Things are on the move here,

we're fighting back, you will see.

No.

I've had enough excitement.

I'm an old man, I have come home to die.

Where are you taking me?

To your son's home.

But he lives on the Liatana.

No, Jose has moved to one

of these new blocks. The
Appartamentos, San Pedro.

This is it.

You'll find him on the first floor.



Number 18.

Senor Torres.

I'm sorry, you must be
mistaken, my name is Ramero.

Juan Ramero.

I don't think so.

You are too modest Senor Torres.

You should not shelter
behind a false name.

Why, uh, you are an important man.

Even our president has said

how much he wants you to come back.

Many of us have wanted to see you again.

You are a journalist?
-Yeah.

A friendly one?
-Impartial I hope.

I hope so too.

This is a Christian country
but we do not love our enemies.

Please remember that.

How long will you be staying, Mr. Drake.

Not after Wednesday.

Thank you.

What do you think you're doing?

I was just repairing the telephone, sir,

I shall not be long.

That's no part of a telephone.

Oh this?

Oh si Senor, this is
the most important part.

That's a bug my friend.

A bug.
-Yes, a bug,

and you planted it under that table.

You have only just gone out.

How was I to know you
were coming back so soon?

Supposing I was to break your neck.

Please, let us not resort
to physical violence.

I promise to keep my temper
if you, uh, put the gun away.

Gracias, Senor.

Let us behave in a civilized fashion.

You haven't been.

Ah.

This, oh.

Oh gracias, Senor.
-You've been following me.

You did not see me.
-All the way

from the airport.
-Oh no.

Now understand this clearly,

I am not without friends in this town.

If you don't stop following
me and planting these bugs

in my room, I will personally arrange

to have your throat cut.

But you cannot do that.
-Why not?

I have a family.

What's that got to do with it.

Look.

Here's, there it is, my
wife and the little ones.

And here's another one,
that's Margherita, there.

I took this one myself.

Very nice.

Yes, but you do not understand,

if I am killed, what will they do?

You do not think that I save
money from this business.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. um--
-Santos.

Fortunato Santos.

How do you do, Mr. Santos.

It is an honor to meet you, sir.

Oh, now, if you just
keep out of my way then,

um, everything will be all right.

I cannot do that, sir.

I have to put in my report
twice, every day and the tapes,

or I will lose my job.

Well in that case,

why don't you just tell
them that, um, you've quit.

I cannot do that, sir.

You see, my wife is in hospital.

What's that got to do with it.

Last night I could find no one,

I had to stay at home myself

and I should have been out on a job.

My, uh, previous client, he disappeared,

he's not been seen since.

One more time, I'm out.

Finito.
-I tell you what I'll do.

I promise not to disappear

and every day I'll give you a report

of everything I've done.

And then you can stay at home
and be with the children.

How's that?

No, it wouldn't do.

It would be most irregular.

Besides, they would find out.

What do you suggest.

So very difficult.

You'll have to let me leave this here.

I must give them the tapes.

Could be very embarrassing.

I will not notice.

You just run along and, uh,

we'll talk about this another time.

Your tea is here.
-Oh good.

Put it over there would you, please.

Oh, Mr. Drake?
-Yes.

Forgive me for coming up unannounced.

Oh good evening, Sir Duncan.

Oh, good evening.

Your telephone seems to be off.

Yes, yes, they're just fixing it now.

I think you will find
that it will work now, sir.

Oh it will, will it?

Well, thank you.

Beunas noches.
-Uh, good night.

May I offer you a drink?

Look Drake, there's been a change of plan,

and I'm more pressed
for time than I thought.

I have to make another call

on my way to this reception.

Some one who might interest
you as a matter of fact.

Would you care to come along?

We could have our talk in my car?

I'll be with you in a moment, sir.

Wretched plane was late, I um,

I still haven't unpacked,
after all my years

as a journalist I still haven't been able

to make a decent job of
living out of a suitcase.

Oh, before we go,

there's something
I know will interest you.

Oh where is it now, hm.

I'll read it to you, won't take long.

It's uh, oh yes, it's a piece
from last Sunday's Globe

which I think you'll agree is
exactly sums up the situation.

Under the system of
proportional representation

on which it proposed to hold
elections of British Guyana,

there is no doubt

that whatever the result,
they will have brought

about a situation of unique interests

to the students of political theory.

Is there any special line I should take

with General Ventura?

Ah, don't forget that
he's Minister of Justice.

Does that mean that
he can reprieve Torres?

Oh no, no, no.

Only the President can do that.

But if Van Horn and I can persuade Ventura

to recommend a reprieve,

then the President may very well grant it.

Van Horn?

Are the Americans in on this?

Oh yes, yes, from the start.

Hello Walter.
-Good evening, Sir Duncan.

I'll let the General know you are here.

Thank you.

Uh, this is Mr. Drake
from Federated Press.

Mr. Van Horn.

Glad to know you Mr. Drake.
-How do you do, sir.

This is my assistant Mr. James Kemp.

Uh, Mr. Kemp.

Oh Walter, I jotted down a few pointers

since we last met, I've
got a copy for you here.

Oh, Thank you.

You've, uh, just arrived
in this country Mr. Drake?

Yes, this morning.

I've been here two months.

Oh, since Torres' arrest?
-Right.

Perhaps you'd be able
to put me in the picture.

Maybe.

The General will see you now gentlemen.

Oh here you go Walter.
-Mm-hm.

Ah, Mr. Drake?
-No, I will wait here, sir.

But I thought?

We'll give you more room to manoeuvre.

Well John, it's a long time.

Um, Cairo, wasn't it?

Why don't we, uh, work together this time.

It would make a change.
-Cards on the table?

You haven't got any.

I could help you to play your hand.

I don't like kibitzers.

We've only got til Wednesday.

Will you take orders?

I'm open to suggestions.

Well, maybe we'll get along.

The whole of the free world joins

in condemning this execution.

The communist world too?
-Maybe.

But that is not the point.

Mr. Minister, you must
consider the pressure

of public opinion.

We are a sovereign state,

this is purely an internal matter.

We do not accept advice or
interference from outsiders.

Let me put it to you bluntly, General.

If your government executes Ramon Torres,

then the negotiations
to admit your country

into NATO will break down completely.

I fail to see how the execution

of a criminal can affect
NATO's need for missile bases.

If your country becomes a member of NATO,

certain economic benefits will follow.

No, we cannot forget the
affair at Castelelavara.

He's a cold-blooded assassin.

But your civil war was 25 years ago.

We are not prepared to
barter our national honor

for a supply of washing machines.

We do not accept advice or interference--

How's it going in there?

Your people are wasting their time here.

The minister will not be persuaded, never.

Well, you, uh, heard what he said.

We're wasting our time here.

Right.

What say you we find a nice quiet place

for a drink and really
get down to business.

Right.

Sure, but right at the
end of the civil war,

Sir Ramon Torres was an area commander.

There was some kind of local uprising

at a place called Castelelavara.

Well he ordered hostages to be shot.

Important ones.

That did it.

A price was put on his head,

overnight he became
a national ogre, or hero,

according to which side you were on.

Ah, he was lucky to get away,

I wonder what persuaded him to come back.

That's a bit of a mystery,

he came in under false
papers, we know that.

There is some tale of him
wanting to die in his own land.

And if we don't watch
out, he'll get his wish.

But whether he made the first move

or whether he was invited

doesn't really concern us, he's here.

Well I think we should be concerned,

we don't know which way he's going to--

Now look, John, it's all set up.

I'm working to a brief,

you come in or stay out, it's up to you.

I'm working to a brief too.

What's yours?

Any means, including violence.

Practically the same as mine,

any means excluding violence.

What's your plan?

A snatch.
-Oh.

We break into the prison, rescue Torres

and hand him over to the other side.

They can have the credit.

Who's gonna do that, the Marines?

When the civil war ended,

the Republicans went underground,

I'm in contact with the movement.

They'll give me all the men I want.

Torres is still a big hero.

They'll do the dirty work,

we'll keep our hands
clean, everybody's happy.

I don't like it.
-Why?

These private battles are
liable to get out of hand.

If they move quickly
and do what they're told,

nobody need get hurt.

You know if anything
goes wrong it could turn

into a full-scale war.

You got a better idea?

I'd like to meet these
Republican friends of yours.

Okay, let's go.

That's our man.

El Ferro.

Who is this?

A friend.

A friend with words, a friend with money,

a friend with a gun?

Um, a useful friend.

The police are getting very active.

I think they know an attempt will be made.

They know?

Well they've doubled
the guards at the prison.

Well that won't stop us.

It might stop some of us.

You want to back out?

Ramon's life is more important than ours.

All I'm saying is--

Sh!

They say you were followed.

Did you see a lottery ticket seller?

Yes, the blind man in
front of the restaurant.

Is that him?

Yeah that's him.

No!

Are you an American?
-Oh, uh, British.

Why should we trust him?
-You trust me?

You have given proof.
-Try him.

Bueno, come with me.

No, no.

Take care of him.
-No!

Just a minute.

Give us proof.
-Not that way.

You said you were our friend.

Yes.
-He is.

Then this police pimp is his enemy.

Ah, he's nothing to do with me.

I am here to help Ramon
Torres and that is all.

I do not think he is a friend.

Come on now, let him.
-He knows too much.

He wont' talk.
-How can I be sure?

You had better put the guns away.

Police.
-Don't move.

Oh, Senor.

Senor.

Oh, oh, gracias.
Very nice. Thank you very much.

Gentlemen, good night.

Good night.

Beunas noches.

Oh, it's you.

Good evening.
-Good evening, may I come in?

Please do.

I hope my visiting you

at this hour is not an inconvenience.

A visit from you

at any hour could never
be an inconvenience.

Won't you sit down?

Now, uh, what can I do for you?

You are a very lucky man, Mr. Drake.

Am I?

Mr. Kemp tells us you
are reliable, but uh--

You don't think so?

We do not intend to take any chances.

I have some questions to ask you

Oh nice ones, I hope.

You are a foreigner here.

What do you hope to achieve?

Well, I didn't offer you a drink did I?

You would be wise to be frank.

The point I make is, we
have friends everywhere.

We will know exactly what you do.

And you don't want me

to do anything that you wouldn't like.

What are you drinking, Miss, uh.

My name is Maite.

Maite, I can offer you
some brandy or some wine.

A glass of wine, please.
-Glass of wine.

You know, you frighten me, Maite.

You are wise to be frightened.

Why did you not join us in our
plan to rescue Ramon Torres?

Because I don't think
that there was any plan

to rescue him.

I think that you're stringing Kemp along.

Stringing him along?
-Fooling him.

Why should we do that?

To keep him quiet and at
the last moment you pull out

when it's to late for him

to make alternative
plans to rescue Torres.

I do not understand you.

Oh, yes you do.

Friends met Torres at the airport

and took him to some apartments

where he was supposed to see his son.

His son has never lived there.

As soon as he arrived at the apartments,

the police arrested him.

Yes, it was a police trap.

Oh yes, it was a trap
all right, but who set it.

The police or his friends?

Now if it was friends, are those friends

of his also friends of yours?

Do you think we are informers?

Since his trial, Ramon Torres
has attracted more attention

to your cause than
anything else for years.

What a pity it should end.

Why save him.

Why not let him die a martyr
and cash in on that too.

That is a horrible idea,
you cannot believe it.

Why not?

To every one of us, Ramon was a great man.

A hero.

We were brought up on these
stories of his exploits.

He was a fable, do you think
that we would betray him?

Oh, you disgust me.

I may be wrong.

If I am, I apologize.
-You are.

Not that I hold any grief for Torres.

He murdered hostages did he not?

Only because the enemy had done it first.

General Ventura himself murdered his--

Let's not fight the whole
civil war all over again.

But it is so unjust.

Ramon only executed
those swaggering soldiers

in retaliation, not like General Ventura

with his own hand that shot
defenseless men and women.

And now, Torres is a criminal

and General Ventura is
Minister of Justice.

Just a minute.

Are you serious about
Ventura killing hostages?

I am always serious.
-Can you prove it?

I saw it!
-You weren't born then.

But I saw a film of it taken at the time.

What kind of film?

It was years ago, I was just a child.

It was horrible.
-Where did you see it?

A friend of my mother's,
he took it, a photographer.

He showed it to us.

Do you mean to say that it
shows Ventura clearly enough

on the screen to be recognized?

Oh, yes.

Uh, this photographer, is he still about?

Yes, he works at the Goya Cinema.

You know, projection is it?

Yes.

Maite Sanchez

Hi Mr. Drake.
-How do you do?

You know this little girl's mother?

No.

Well, well, what can
I do for you, Mr. Drake?

Well, uh--
-Mr. Drake is a journalist.

He's interested in Ramon Torres.

Ramon Torres, ah.

Que hombre. Eh?

What a guy.
-Yes what a guy.

Well, how, how can I help you?

You once showed me a film
of Castelelavara atrocity.

Maite tells me that you're a good guy.

I try to be.
-We all try to be.

Only some of us succeed less than others.

I still got that little
bit of film I showed Maite.

I saved it for many years now.

I always said to myself, Carlos,

one day the world will know the truth

about the Castelelavara Affair.

Maite tells me that you're in
a position to get world cover.

May I see the film?
-You'll see it.

You'll see it.
-Where did you get it?

It was all my own work as they say, huh.

I'm a cameraman.

You know Hollywood, Senor?

That was Hollywood.

I was a hotshot then as they say.

And then the sound came
and they put us into

glass-fronted boxes, ah, it was soulless.

So I went home to make big films here.

Spectaculars as they say.

Then revolution came.

And I went to war with my camera.

For the government of course.

Yes, of course.

Eh, it was Friday September 10th,

I was in Castelevara and one morning,

we woke up and the town was surrounded.

General Ventura, he marched in.

Set up headquarters in the town hall.

And some of the men of the
town, they got on the roofs

and they knocked off some of their polish.

The General, was he mad.

That morning he had them
take 50 civilian hostages.

I was in the cafe when they arrested me.

Your number's up my
friend, I said to myself.

They took me to the town hall,
straight into the General's,

You're Carlos Bisbal
the camera man he said.

He'd heard of me, I was famous.

You're on the wrong side, he said.

But don't let's talk about that now.

I'll teach you civilians
to snipe at my men.

You'll go to the big
square behind the hospital,

take your camera, I want pictures.

Next morning, the town
was surrounded again.

This time by the Republicans.

Ramon Torres, he marched
at the head of the column.

Ramon!

Come to the church!

This is no time for
church he said, my friend.

I've got some fighting to do first.

But he came.

And he saw them, lying there.

Husbands and sons and fathers.

Where is Ventura, he cried,

I'll have his tongue, I'll
tear his heart out alive!

But Ventura he had gone in the night,

all his staff was there,
all those pretty boys

with their gold and their polish.

He took them and set
them against the wall.

It was never forgiven, never will be.

Because these young gentlemen,
some of our oldest families.

But you will see.

If Ramon Torres is a murderer,

then General Ventura is, but you will see.

Senor Bisbal will take care of you.

I must go.

Give my love to your beautiful mother.

Well, the show will be over
in about 15 or 16 minutes,

then you will see the truth

of what happened that day at Castelevara.

Yeah.
-Maite.

It won't work, Senor.

We must find some other
way into the block.

No, there is no other way.

Look, if you've gone
cold on it then tell me

and I'll make other plans.

No, we are in this together.

Well, Maite, what did
Mr. Kemp's Inglese

have to say for himself?

He is okay.

We can trust him.

But your friend has some
very strange ideas, Mr. Kemp.

But I put him right I think.

What ideas?

That we did not intend to rescue Ramon.

That we want him to die.

What else?

He thought that Ramon was a bad guy.

So you put him right?

I took him to see old Bisbal at the Goya.

He is going to show him

what really happened at Castelelavara.

How is that?

He has a film of Ventura
shooting the hostages.

Is there still a copy of that film?

I saw it once.

General Ventura shooting hostages?

Of course.

Well then what are we
worrying about this for?

We use that film right, we
can buy Ramon's freedom.

Is that all?

It's enough.

This piece is the negative?

Si, negative.

I want that.

Well make good use of it.

Don't worry.

You see, in the foreground,

that's Ventura, our Minister of Justice.

What do you want?

Leave him alone, he
hasn't got the negative,

I've asked him already.

The film was made years ago, it's lost!

I see.

After you, Mr. Drake.
-Ah.

Well, I'm glad I was of
assistance to you gentlemen

in finding the film but don't
worry about the negative.

I should think one copy
should be perfectly adequate

for your cause.

You are not coming with us?

No, I just thought I'd stay here

and help Carlos to shut
up shop and then, uh--

I would like to have a talk with you.

Would you.

Yes, uh, tomorrow morning?

Tonight.

All right, if you insist.

You are most kind.

It is a cool night, did
you not have a coat.

Oh, it's all right, don't worry about me.

He says there is a coat
where you were sitting.

Hm?

Oh, yes, that's right.

I'll get it myself.

Senor Bisbal?

What's going on?
-Who are you?

This is Mr. Kemp, a friend of the Inglese.

What has happened to you?

They beat me and they took the film.

Why?

It appears that they do
not want the world to see it.

Then Senor Drake was right.

They do not want Ramon to live.

They would prefer him dead.

A martyr.

How can they be so stupid?

It's so heartless.

Well, but the Inglese, he got away.

And he took the negative.

And then one of them, he went

to that phone to call the police.

Collect John Drake, he said.

He's got a roll of stolen film

which might be a big
headache for the government.

What a rat.

Drake?
-Yes.

Kemp, I'm at the cinema,

my friend Ferro has ratted to the police.

What's he told them?
-They know you have the film.

Hold on a minute.

They've just pulled up
outside, I'm on my way.

Contact me at Sir Duncan's.

Drake!
-Good evening, Sir Duncan.

What is it?
-The police are after me.

Police?
-They'll be here any minute.

What in heaven's name have you been doing?

That is what they're looking for.

Keep it in a safe place.

What is it?

A sure and certain
reprieve for Ramon Torres.

If what's on the film ever
becomes public property,

General Ventura is finished here,

in fact, I would say that he's--

Now not so fast, Drake.

Two wrongs don't make a right you know.

I'm a senior member of
the Diplomatic Corps.

And Torres or no Torres,

if you think that Her
Majesty's government is going

to be party to criminal blackmail

by the use of sordid,
pornographic evidence.

Now just a minute, Sir Duncan.

A thousand apologies for
disturbing you, Sir Duncan.

I think you have a Mr. Drake here?

Yes.

May I have word with him?
-Yes of course, sir.

Won't you come in gentlemen?
-Yes.

Mr. Drake, this is a very
embarrassing situation.

When a national of a friendly power seeks

to act in an unfriendly
manner, what are we to think?

Oh, just forget all about it.

No, that will not be possible.

You have a roll of film, Mr. Drake.

Roll of film?

Uh, would this be it Colonel?

Without doubt, Sir Duncan.

Thank you.

I'm sorry about this.

Drake here is a splendid
chap I assure you.

It's just that his crusading
zeal as a journalist you know.

Of course, we understand.

The Minister of Justice
is particularly interested

in this--
-Oh, say no more.

Let sleeping dogs lie, eh.

There's far to much of this
sort of thing now a days.

Even my own government, not so long ago.

Precisely.

Now if you will allow us to deprive you

of Mr. Drake's company,
you'll come with us.

Good night, Sir Duncan.

Oh, good night, and thank you very much.

Thank you.

Oh, Mr. Kemp.
-May I come in?

Yes.
-I waited until they'd left.

Drake told me he'd be here.

Uh, can I have the film
please, Sir Duncan.

No you can't.

But I have to get it to
the airport right away.

I've given it to Colonel Montes.

You what!

Now what did you do that for!

Because I will not have Her
Majesty's government mixed up

in this sort of affair.

But this is General Ventura.

What was this film?

How did you intend to use it?

Mr. Drake, you have missed
the last flight to London.

We will put you on the
first flight in the morning.

Hello Drake, I, uh,
I made it just in time.

Oh, good.

Good evening, Mr. Kemp.

What is it you were just in time for?

Oh, uh, forgive me.

I didn't know you were here.

No, or perhaps you
would not have come, huh?

Well, I'll say goodnight to you boys.

No, no, just a moment, you
are forgetting the envelope.

This is addressed to Mr. Drake.

It's nothing, it's just a receipt.

A receipt, huh.

May I open it?

Oh yeah, be my guest.
-Thank you.

It's an airline dispatch receipt.

But this is for a roll of film!

Oh yes, that's right, I had the negative,

he had the positive.

Control, control!

To late I'm afraid, Colonel.

The plane is halfway to London and now,

I think you can take
me to General Ventura,

I'm sure he'd like a little chat

when he knows what was in that film.

What is the deal?

The, uh, reprieve of Ramon Torres.

The machinery of law cannot be changed,

even Sir Duncan has begun to realize that.

But perhaps you could
have a word with your,

uh, President or something of that sort.

Oh, he would never allow it to be thought

that he had given way to
pressure of foreign opinion.

So, you're looking forward

to be made a public
disgrace of, the scapegoat.

Of course not.

But the reprieve is just not possible.

Then you'll have to find some other way.

What do you suggest?
-It's your problem.

There have sometimes been escapes

from the prison at Santa Christina.

It's time there was another.

It'll have to be convincing.

Could be stage managed.

I don't want a scandal
any more than you do.

And what guarantee do I have

that you will return the film to me.

I can't leave the country
without your permission, can I?

When?

Tomorrow night.

While they are playing the Pastoral

and The Brahms Fourth, allow about 1Hr 35m

and a couple of minutes for the applause.

Prisoners applaud?

Well they say they're aficionados.

I'll be back here just before 10.

Okay.

Oh, I'm on.

Sh.

Oh, you're late.

His Lordship was held up at the tailor.

This way sir.

Good evening my Lord.

That's mine.

His Lordship's.

This is the final call for flight 508.

Come back soon, my Lord.