Secret Agent (1964–1967): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Galloping Major - full transcript

My dear friends, in two
days' time you will be

casting your votes.

Some of you for the first time.

Yes, sir?

Oh, I wondered if you could
oblige me with some change.

I want to make a telephone call.

A local call, sir?

I'm afraid I have only English money.

Our hopes, our future lies in democracy.

But now that we have won democracy-

Here we are, sir.



Thank you.

The call is about accommodation,
would you happen to know

the best hotel in town?

Now, that is a question.

I would recommend this Chingura Palace,

but that is a difficult name
for a foreigner to remember,

so I will write it down for you.

You should be comfortable there.

Good.

Give them the reins of power

and they will ride roughshod over us.

I would go there straightaway, SIr,

what with the coming elections.

We have a lot of visitors to the town.



Yes, sir, go there right away.

Thank you.

Our good friends of the West

Come in.
-And of the east are

all too ready to help us.

Here, take this loan, they say.

Nice fellows, take all you want!

No strings attached.

You wish to see me?
-Just a minute.

But there are ropes and cords with which

they want to bind us.

Dr. Manudu tells us that these loans-

Perhaps you'd like
me to come back some other time.

No, please, wait.

Sit down, please.

Well, we know better, don't we?

Prosperity, we want that, yes,

but not at the cost of our liberty.

It is tragic to think that
we could use the

democratic process of the ballot box

to vote away our new-won freedom.

Mr. Drake.

That's right, although
I'm Major Sullivan while I'm here.

Of course.

You can rely on me to preserve your cover

as an officer and a gentleman.

May I ask where you fit into this setup?

I'm head of security.

My name is Kassawari.

Well then, I'll be working under you.

Wouldn't you like that?

I don't mind.

The prime minister's given orders that

you're to have a free hand.

Personally, I think it unnecessary to

import an agent from London.

Ours but to do our die, Mr. Kassawari.

Since this attempt on his life,

the prime minister
sees a plot around every corner.

Whatever happened
to the would-be assassin?

He escaped.
-Very convenient.

The prime minister believes, as you know,

that Dr. Manudu,
the leader of the opposition,

is preparing to overthrow
the government by force.

What do you believe?

In two days' time, we hold
our first general election.

79% of the population
will have the opportunity

to choose between the prime
minister and Dr. Manudu.

And the prime minister is likely to win?

The prime minister is an austere man.

He went to Cambridge.

He believes
that factories are more important

than bread and circuses.

Dr. Manudu, on the other hand,
would like everyone

to have a car, and a TV set.

That sounds a vote-catching program.

It would seem that he has a good chance of

being legally elected.

Why wreck it by plotting to

overthrow the government by force?

The African electorate is
as fickle as any other, Major.

The prime minister's
convinced that Dr. Manudu

is not willing to trust
the judgment of the people

in a fair fight.

Oh, hello.

The prime minister's finished.

Oh, those lights.

Mr. Drake, will you please come through?

Thank you.

Mr. Drake?

The prime minister, sir.

Prime minister?

I find these cloak and dagger methods

rather childish, Mr. Drake.

However, it would be very difficult to

preserve your cover
as a visiting British major

if you were seen to be having a

private conversation with me.

Of course.

However, it is very good to meet you,

and it was very good of
Whitehall to send you so promptly.

They think very highly of your,

how should I put it,
ability to prevent trouble.

I often think that my
ability to get into trouble

is a better way of putting it.

Tell me, you are aware of my fears?

Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, and many people

seem to think that's all they are, fears.

Is there any proof that
the man who shot you

has any political affiliations?

No, no, not yet.

But my instinct, that's very
Important for a politician,

tells me that my situation
is a very dangerous one.

This Dr. Manudu is a very
ambitious politician.

From what I've heard, he seems to have

the country's interests at heart.

Lip service, sir.

Are you certain that
he wants to seize power?

Democracy in Africa is
only skin deep, you know.

Dr. Manudu may pay token
homage to the constitution,

but I've known him for years.

Should he come to power, I
assure you we'd find ourselves

quickly living in a police state.

Excuse me, Mr. Drake.

The burden of office, you know.

In fairness, I must say that I feel

your own security people could
have handled this situation.

You do?

Is there any other reason
for wanting me out here?

Well, no.

Except perhaps, if there
is going to be trouble,

I wanted your government
to know the truth

of what's going on here.

I'll see that they know
it, Mr. Prime Minister.

Very well.

Good luck, then.

Thank you.

Where do I find you in case I
want to get in touch with you?

I'm the news editor
here, that's my cover.

Use this number, it's my private line.

All right.

And now if you'll be
kind enough to inform me

of the geography of this town.

Dr. Manudu, for instance,

where does he keep his court?

Dr. Manudu?

He lives at a house at the
end of this street here.

Union Street.

Is that you, Major?

Hello, Mrs. Manningham.

I hope your room's comfortable.

It's fine, thank you.

Can I offer you a glass
of sherry before lunch?

That would be very nice.

Oh, splendid.

Now, oh dear.

I seem to have run out of sherry.

You can't rely on servants these days.

Would a little drop of - gin

Splendid.

I'm afraid we
haven't got any ice.

The refrigerator's gone
wrong again, you know.

Africa, you understand.

Now.

Here.

Oh, I wonder if I might
have something in it?

Something, oh, yes, of course.

Now, let's see, I did
have a drop of tonic.

Ah, here we are.

Oh, I do hope that's not too much.

Thank you.

Would you care to
sit out on the terrace?

Henry always liked to sit
out there before luncheon.

As a matter of fact,
I must be cutting along,

Mrs. Manningham, I'm rather late.

Oh, it's so nice to see a
uniform in the house again.

My late husband looked so
splendid in his regimentals.

How he would've hated this country today.

Africans everywhere.

They were here first.

Oh yes, living in mud huts and doing

their funny little dances.

We brought them civilization, Major,

and now they turn around and
bite the hand that fed them.

Have you ever considered
returning home, Mrs. Manningham?

This is my home, Major Sullivan.

Yes, indeed, of course.

Um, thank you very much.

I'll see you this evening.

How happy I am to
have a man in the house

now the elections are coming!

Are you expecting trouble?

Well, how can one tell with that

Dr. Manudu living opposite?

Manudu?

In that house over there.

Ah, well, it's nice
to have distinguished neighbors,

isn't it?

I never feel at ease
living near Socialists.

But he's not a Socialist, is he?

He's just the leader of the opposition.

Henry always said that was the same thing.

Ah, yes.

Yes, indeed.

Thanks once again.

See you this evening.

Until this evening, Major.

Bye.

Hello, Drake.

Or Major Sullivan, I suppose I should say.

You have a good flight?

Yes, fine, thank you.

Tell me, how many people are aware of

the secret of my identity?

Oh, only me,
as far as the army's concerned.

I received a coded signal
about it from London,

which I deciphered myself.

And by the way, I really
must congratulate you

on your service record.

As far as the rest of
the army are concerned,

you are here to
investigate the possibility

of establishing a joint services
training area in the bush.

Well, I don't know if you feel like

a little social life
tonight, but the Lasalles

are giving a party.

That's, uh, Pierre Lasalle,
the Belgian financier?

Yes, yes, I suppose
London told you about him.

In the days when this used
to be a British colony,

his mining group were the real money men.

Yeah, why would he stay on?

I don't know.

I suppose the same reasons I do.

You get used to a place.

After all, what would I do I in England?

Live on a colonel's pension
and lose money chicken farming.

No, I like it here, I
keep out of politics.

I leave that to you chaps.

Tell me, is there any
chance that Dr. Manudu might

attempt to overthrow the
prime minister by force?

Oh, no no no no no, not at all.

No, he'd need arms and men.

And as far as this country's concerned,

the only effective fighting
force is the army I command.

I'm sorry to sound Blimpish about this,

but they really are a fine body of men.

Best in Africa.

Loyal?

Well, they're loyal to
the government in power.

The army takes no part in politics.

Come!

Ah, Julius, come in, come in.

This is Major Sullivan.

Major Sullivan, Colonel Nyboto,
my senior African officer

and commander of our crack regiment.

From what the general tells me about you,

it's possible we were at
Sandhurst about the same time.

Not unless I was peeling
potatoes in the cookhouse.

I was commissioned from the ranks.

Oh, really?

I have many friends
in the British gunners.

I expect you know Major Appleby.

What, Sandy?

He's a great friend of mine.

He's at Aldershot now, isn't he?

Oh, no no, he's commanding
the Second Regiment

of Heavy Artillery in Aden.

Oh yes, I think I heard.

Julius, would you like a drink?

Not for me, sir.

How about you, Major Sullivan?

No thank you, sir.

No?

Well, I expect you'd like a bath

before we show you how
the other half lives.

You're fixed up in your
quarters all right, are you?

Yes, I'm fine, thank you.

Good.

Well, I suggest we meet here about nine,

and I'll take you around
to meet Mr. Lasalle.

I hope you will find time
to come out on my yacht

while you are here, Major.

That's very nice of you, but I don't know

whether I'll be able to.

Oh, come, looking for a training ground

is not going to take you all that long.

You're very well-informed.

Hangover from colonial days.

People still have the
illusion that information

is of interest to me.

You take the new situation
very philosophically.

I've always thought that power was one of

the hardest things for people to abandon.

Perhaps some people
never entirely abandon it.

They merely wield it under another form.

Your firm lost a great
deal when independence came,

didn't it?

Major Sullivan, for 34
years, my company returned

an annual dividend of 700%.

I think we can bear our
losses with fortitude.

Losses or temporary setbacks?

You have a sense of
humor, I'm glad about that.

You're the second person to tell me that

since I've arrived.

It's nice to think
that Mr. Kassawari and I

have some point of agreement.

Kassawari?

Oh, that TV fellow.

Always running around, oh, Suzanne!

Come and meet our new arrival.

My dear, this is Major
Sullivan from London.

Major, may I present you to my

beautiful English wife, Suzanne.

How wonderful to meet a fellow countryman.

Well, I'm not really, I'm Irish.

If you will excuse me.

Suzanne, look after our visitor.

Are you out here for long, Major Sullivan?

I'm not sure.

Is your visit military or political?

Military, I'm just
a simple soldier, ma'am.

Oh, good, I'm a simple woman.

I get so bored with politics.

But you find other amusements?

Don't you ever get bored?

I don't know, I haven't been out here

long enough to find out.

Well, we must make sure you never do.

I know what it's like.

I would have thought
that with your husband's

vast interests, that you would have, uh--

Oh, my husband never confides in me.

In the evening, if he
wants to talk business,

he sends me to the movies.

Oh, well, um-

You should complain to
the War Office, you know.

Oh?

Pierre was looking for
you on the army list.

Did you know they'd left your name off?

Hello?

Oh, it's you.

Need my help?

All right.

Meet me in half an hour.

I'll be there.

Why, Major!

Oh, please don't think I'm pursuing you.

I've called to see Mrs. Manningham.

Good morning, Suzanne.

Good morning, my dear.

Brought back your Agatha Christie.

Oh, you shouldn't have
troubled, but I'm glad you did,

because it's a long time
since I've seen you.

So now you have Major
Sullivan staying with you.

Lucky you.

Mrs. Manningham's was recommended to me,

and I thought it would be more comfortable

than staying in barracks.

Oh, but of course, and
what a charming street

to live in, anyway.

I always thought Dr. Manudu showed

very good taste in living here.

Ah yes, Dr. Manudu.

I liked it a lot better
when Charlie Bosenquet

lived over there.

Oh look, it's Colonel Nybota.

Hello, Colonel!

Madame Lasalle.

I've just discovered Major
Sullivan is staying here.

Good morning, Major.

Morning.

I've been telling him about
his very eminent neighbor.

Perhaps you'd like
to meet your neighbor.

I don't wish to impose.

No imposition.

Have you got a moment now?

That would be nice.

Til this evening, Mrs. Manningham.

Madam Lasalle.

Come in. -

This is Major Sullivan,
the British officer

I was telling you about.

Oh.

I find he lodges with Mrs. Manningham.

A neighbor, how nice.

Do you play bridge, Major?

I'm afraid not.

What a pity, we have
some interesting games.

So I've heard.

Will you stay to lunch?

Oh, that's most kind of you.

Regrettably, I have a previous engagement.

Before you leave our country, anyway.

I hope we can get better acquainted.

So do I, Dr. Manudu.

When will you be leaving the country?

When my job is done.

Ah yes, of course.

You will see a real change
in our politics here

before you go, Major Sullivan.

Yes indeed, the elections.

Do you hope to win?

I have no doubt of it.

Then you must be a very happy man.

I wish I could be.

While Mr. Kamunga, our
prime minister, is in power,

it is not difficult for
him to play the democrat.

And you feel that if
he loses, he'll try to

hold onto his position by force?

I know he will.

So you must be prepared for the worst.

I'm glad that I am a soldier
and not a politician.

But forgive me, I'm
keeping you from your work.

It's been a pleasure.

It is always good to know one's neighbors.

You must feel free to come over and

borrow a cup of sugar any time.

Thank you.

Major Sullivan?

That's right.

Then you're welcome.

Yes?

The Major's here to see you, Charlie.

Thank you, my dear, that will be all.

Thank you.

What did you make of Dr. Manudu?

You've been having me watched.

No, but I do keep observation
on the doctor's house.

They tell me Colonel Nyboto's
a frequent visitor there.

Yes, it's him that I'd
like some information about.

The colonel seems to
have a foot in both camps.

Perhaps he's deceiving
one to help the other,

perhaps he only wants to be certain

of being on the winning side.

Of course,
he has a regiment at his disposal.

I understand they're on exercises.

He believes that
barrack room life saps energy,

so half the time he keeps
them in a state of readiness

away in the bush.

Very convenient.

I'd like to look at them.

I too would like to know
what goes on up there,

but I doubt if the colonel will allow it.

He generally insists on
accompanying visitors himself.

Then we won't ask his permission.

I'll just let him know that
I'm playing tennis tomorrow.

Major Sullivan?

Yes.

Orders from headquarters.

You must report there immediately.

My man will show you the way.

I was told to report here.

Oh, yes.

Go and see the adjutant, will you?

Ah, Major Sullivan.

Mm-hmmm.

The colonel wishes to speak to you.

That him coming in
just now in the chopper?

Would you wait over there, please, Major?

Everything all right?

Carry on.

Good morning, sir.

This is a restricted area, Major.

No one is allowed here without
a special pass signed by me.

Sorry, Colonel, I had no idea.

How did the tennis go?

My partner didn't turn up, so on impulse,

I decided to come out and
take a look at the camp.

Impulses are commendable
in wartime, Major,

but often frowned on in times of peace.

What did you think of Dr. Manudu?

I was very surprised.

Surprised?

I'd been led to think that he was

a sort of local demagogue.

Demagogues usually exist
in the eye of the beholder.

Perhaps one shouldn't make up one's mind

on a first, brief meeting.

A very sensible attitude.

Anyway, now you are
here, I'm sure you'd like

to see what we can do.

Next time, perhaps you'd be good enough

to inform me of your plans in advance.

Certainly.

My congratulations, Colonel.

I don't think there's
much that could stop them.

No, they'd make short work
of any uprising, all right.

You listen too much to bazaar gossip.

I understand your prime minister

thinks there's more to it than gossip.

The prime minister is
a very imaginative man.

And yet someone tried to kill him.

An isolated incident.

Of course, it's none of my business, but-

Of course.

There's a lot of unrest in
the new African countries.

Take a hypothetical case.

Supposing someone tried to
overthrow your prime minister.

What would your hypothetical
someone overthrow him with?

Two shotguns, some spears?

Remember what
your poet Belloc said, Major.

Whatever happens, we've got the Maxim gun.

And they have not.

You know, you made quite
an impression on my wife.

I seem to have made an
impression on a lot of people

since I arrived here.

A tribute to your character, Major.

Tell me, how are you
getting on in your search?

For a training ground.

It's a big country. It's er,
difficult to know where to start

I hear that you and Colonel Nyboto

didn't exactly hit it off on manoeuvres.

Oh, I'm sorry, there I go again.

The habit of being
well-informed dies hard.

I wish I was half as
well-informed as you are.

Why, is there something
you wanted to know?

Yes, whose side you're on.

Ooh, that Anglo-Saxon directness.

How it puts us wily Continentals to shame.

I can put it more deviously,

if it would make you any
happier, Monsieur Lasalle.

Oh, please, my little joke.

Well?

I am on my side, Major.

Does that answer your question?

And you give your loyalty equally

to the prime minister and Dr. Manudu.

My loyalty is to my shareholders.

A rule that has enabled
me to live for many years

in modest luxury.

You intend to protect your luxury.

Frankly, yes.

And my shareholders.

Unfortunately, the prime minister and I

do not seem to see eye
to eye in this respect.

So you, uh, wait in the wings?

Dr. Manudu is a capable
and far-sighted man.

We enjoy mutual confidence.

I like to think that,
should he come to power,

oh, you are too good for me.

Now, may I invite you to dinner?

No, thank you, not tonight.

Thanks for the game.

The galloping major, always on the move.

Is anybody there?

Oh, I didn't know you were
sitting out here, Major.

Hello.

It was such a lovely
evening, I thought I'd take

a breath of fresh air.

Very sensible.

I thought I heard a noise.

Maybe it was the crickets.

Oh yes, they are noisy
little brutes, aren't they?

Yes.

Goodnight, Mrs. Manningham.

Goodnight.

I do believe you've been
getting into mischief.

What are you doing here?

I thought you might like
to take me to a movie.

I'm sorry, I'm busy.

I think I may be able to help you.

I doubt it.

You don't seem to be
making a very good job

of helping yourself.

I slipped.

And the next time you might fall.

Major, what are you doing here?

I'm here to find a training ground,

and when I've found it,
I shall return to London.

Oh, we know you'll return to London.

The question is whether
you'll be sitting in a seat

or lying in a coffin.

Madame Lasalle. Oh, Suzanne.

Madam Lasalle, I think
we'd both be much happier

if you went away.

You know my husband and Dr. Manudu

are very close friends.

Sounds reasonable.

Well, I think my husband is backing Manudu

in a more practical way than
just giving him moral support.

Do you?

Goodnight.

I do wish you'd take me to a movie.

Goodnight.

Ah, there you are.

You've just saved me from
an unfortunate brief.

Oh no, don't get up, please.

Um, did you know that Colonel Nybota

and Dr. Manudu are very friendly?

Good lord, yes.

Well, they're both from the same tribe.

And it's worse than Burke's Landed Gentry

when they get going on tribe over here.

Anyway, apart from that, why
shouldn't they be friends?

General, the elections
are the day after tomorrow.

Now, if Dr. Manudu is planning something,

then he must act within the next 36 hours.

I assume that the only really
effective fighting force

is your army.

You've no need to assume.

So that anyone who
wanted to short-circuit

the democratic process would have to

have control of that army.

Well, you've answered your question

before you've even put it.

If Dr. Manudu needs it, can he get it?

Not without removing me
and my senior officers,

who are all loyal.

How about Colonel Nyboto?

From what I've seen, his
regiment is highly efficient.

Well, that may be, but
they're miles away in the bush.

There are three other
regiments in barracks

right here in town.

If I brought you evidence
that Colonel Nyboto

was up to something, would
you take action, then?

You know, I think you
read too many thrillers.

In a year's time they'll
be putting me out to grass.

Colonel Nyboto is odds on
to take over my command.

Why should he jeopardize his chances?

Excuse me, sir.

I have to go at once, it's urgent.

It's from Kassawari.

Well, that's another fellow who's

always seeing daggers under every cloak.

Now don't let him fill your head

with a lot of silly ideas.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, sir.

Is Kassawari here?

Come in.

He must be on the terrace.

Kassawari was a snob,
and a very difficult man.

But he was a patriot,
and he was my friend.

I do hope that the police will apprehend

the persons responsible for this crime.

Tell me, do you think that Dr. Manudu

might have been behind this?

I've nothing to go on, but Kassawari

must have discovered something important

to send for me so suddenly
and so late at night.

If I were you, Mr.Prime Minister,

I'd go out as little as
possible before the election.

I am not going to allow
any thugs to intimidate me.

But it might make things difficult

if they were to kill you.

Well now, that's hardly likely.

Why not?

Well now, tell me,
what are you going to do?

I think it's time that
I had another little chat

with Dr. Manudu.

Well now, take care of yourself.

We don't want you following
in the footsteps of Kassawari.

And in the words of
another very great man,

I can offer you nothing but
blood, tears, and sweat.

Please forgive me for intruding, the door-

And I'm glad that you did, even though

you find my guilty secret.

Do you do any public speaking?

I find it an absolute torment,

no matter how much I practice.

Your victory speech?

One must be prepared.

Well?

Is this just a social call?

Did you know that Kassawari
was murdered tonight?

Who is Kassawari?

Head of state security.

Oh.

Who murdered him?

A person, or a group, who
might have discovered something.

Such as what?

That there is a plot to
overthrow the prime minister.

But a plot doesn't
necessarily mean bloodshed.

A bloodless plot is
acceptable then, is it?

There are possibly times when we,

when the democratic
process has to be removed.

You're an Irishman, Major Sullivan.

I'm sure you'd sympathize with that view.

That was to achieve freedom.

You already have it.

Mine is a poor party.

The prime minister has access
to a great deal of money.

And the thought of
five years in opposition

is not a happy one?

A politician's lifeblood is power.

However achieved?

Dr. Manudu, I--

I'm sorry, I didn't realize.

Major Sullivan is just leaving.

No more maneuvers, Colonel?

Evening.

All right, all right.

Morning.

You're an early bird.

Yes.

Full, please.

Hey, what's going on, man?

What do you mean?

Your people have been rolling past here

all through the night.

Then when they're all
past and we get to sleep,

you come and wake us up.

30 shillings, sir.

Thanks, there you are.

Keep the change.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Your pass, sir?

Your red pass, sir.

That's a movement order
signed by General Power.

I must have your red pass.

Read that order.

I am sorry, sir, no one goes through here

without a red pass.

But that's signed by the
general officer commanding.

I am sorry, sir.

All right, well, then I'll
go back and get the other one.

No, sir.

Just a moment, Major.

Tell Colonel Nybota that
Major Sullivan is here.

All on the move, eh, back to the city?

Major Sullivan.

You are under arrest.

I hope you've got a good
explanation for this, Colonel.

As a commanding
officer of this district,

I have no need to explain myself.

Furthermore, you were expressly warned

that this was a restricted area.

I have a pass for this area.

Has someone been forging my signature?

Signed by General Power.

May I see it, please?

Soldiers shouldn't mix in politics, Major.

No, they shouldn't.

Hey, you!

There's an old-fashioned
word to describe you, Colonel.

Traitor.

Only losers are traitors.

Lock him up.

Oh, I left my briefcase in the Jeep,

there are some cigarettes in it.

Do you want a smoke?

Yes.

Would you get it for me,

and put the Jeep in the shade someplace?

Right.

Today, you will become
the leader of your country.

Thank you, Nyboto,
but I wish I could have

done it some other way.

I hate to think what my
tutor were to think of me,

gaining power this way.

We will invite him out
for your inauguration.

You would be surprised how these liberals

manage to square their consciences,

when all the expenses are paid.

There will be no bloodshed.

A painless transfer of power.

And the prime minister?

Will be treated with the utmost courtesy.

We will certainly make
sure that he has enough

to live comfortably in his exile.

At 1100 hours, my men will take control

of the government offices,
the TV and radio stations,

the airfield, and
police headquarters.

The prime minister and
his supporters will be

in protective custody, then you will speak

on TV and radio as though
you had been legally elected.

I wish I had been.

I wish I had been.

What the-

No point in resisting, gentlemen.

Colonel Nyboto, you will
consider yourself under arrest.

You too, gentlemen.

You're a fool, General.

Come, Nyboto, this is no time for insults.

Gentlemen, I suggest we all sit down

and have a friendly talk.

There's very little to say.

On the contrary, there's a great deal.

Major, you asked me once
which side I was on.

May I now ask you the same question?

No one has the right to take
the law into their own hands.

This way, gentlemen.

Oh, hello, Suzanne.

Oh, darling Mrs. M,
I must see Major Sullivan.

Oh, let me see.

Is he here?

Yes, he's upstairs.

So sad he's going home.

Come in.

Major Sullivan, my
husband has been arrested.

Has he?

I'm very sorry.

Why?

It's none of my business.

Well, it must be, they say you were there.

Surely you know why.

I know nothing.

I told you, my husband
never confides in me.

I'm sorry, I have a plane to catch.

Oh please, I beg you, tell me.

He'd been conspiring with
Dr. Manudu and Colonel Nyboto

to overthrow the government.

It's not true.

I'm afraid it is.

But it can't be.

Why not?

Because he's a very good
friend of the prime minister's.

Looks like it, doesn't it?

But they were together only last night.

Where?

At our house, I went downstairs

and he was with the two of them.

Two of them?

The prime minister and Colonel Nyboto.

You don't believe me.

Excuse me.

I am a lenient man, Mr. Drake.

No, I've found that mercy
is a much more effective

winding sheet than revenge.

I shall appear on television and

inform the nation of the facts.

And then there should be no doubt as to

your success in the election.

Well, I would sooner
have won in a fair fight.

I think perhaps I should come with you,

Mr. Prime Minister.

There might be a hostile element.

Oh, I doubt that.

However, if you would like to come,

I would be most pleased
to have you as my guest.

You have done our nation a great service,

and I assure you I won't be
backward in informing Whitehall

that I owe you a great deal.

Thank you, I'll be
back in an hour's time.

Oh, by the way, when did
you last see Colonel Nyboto?

Colonel Nyboto, why?

Oh, it's nothing important.

General Power's asked me.

Oh, a week ago, perhaps.

And Monsieur Lasalle?

Not for some days.

Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.

Ah, Major.

Missed your flight?

No, sir, changed my mind.

How are things with you?

I've made some changes in the command

and sent the regiment back into the bush.

And the rest of the army?

Loyal.

I'd like permission to have interviews

with Lasalle and Colonel Nyboto.

"I - I'm afraid I can't help you there.

I've handed them over
to the civilian police.

Why did you do that, sir?

The prime minister
called me, I made orders.

And Dr. Manudu?

He didn't ask for him.

Why not?

Well, the doctor's got a lot of friends.

I think he felt safer
with him locked up in our barracks.

I'd like to see Manudu.

Yes, of course.

Come to kick a man when he's down?

Very un-British of you.

That depends.

How would you like to get out of here?

A politician
has to learn to accept defeat.

Or turn defeat into victory.

I feel you are hiding
something from me, Major.

A man of my abilities
should not go unrewarded.

I'm sure the prime minister
will reward you handsomely.

Other people might reward me more.

The prime minister does
not make his broadcast

for one hour.

I'm open to suggestions, Dr. Manudu.

You mean, if I were to offer you more,

you will conveniently switch sides?

Why not?

I think the pickings
are bigger with you at the helm.

What do you say?

Get out!

You're in a prison cell,
not a palace, Dr. Manudu.

Even a prisoner doesn't
have to deal with scum.

One word and you're a free man.

I'm afraid the only word I can think of

might offend your ears.

Good.

Then I have another proposition.

Get out!

I think you might change your mind

when you hear what it is.

Oh, there you are, Major.

The prime minister will be ready to go

to the TV station in a minute or two.

Would you mind waiting outside?

Yes, of course.

Yes, of course. -

The nuisance of the tropics is

the sheer necessity of fizz.

The, uh, colonel's favorite author.

Belloc.

How clever of you to remember.

I used to be fond of
amateur theatricals in school.

I never could resist a gesture.

I'm sorry we couldn't take you
into our confidence, Major.

No thank you.

Politics are not a simple game.

Come, come, be a gallant loser.

Oh, I don't mind being gallant.

But I hate losing.

But you have not lost.

Last night you uncovered a terrible plot

to overthrow
the legal government of this country.

You'll probably be promoted.

Very clever.

Dr. Manudu looks like
winning the election,

so let us frame
the doctor, but even cleverer,

let the doctor frame himself.

Rather ingenious, eh?

Poor galloping major.

You know, sometimes my heart bled for you,

running around so busily.

How I longed to take
you into our confidence.

Well, we could hardly risk telling you

what we were up to from the start.

I suppose not.

It would have been a waste
of time trying to bribe you.

You could at least have tried.

Very well, gentlemen,
I admit that I'm beaten.

Not that anyone would believe
me if I tried to tell them,

and frankly, I don't care.

As you say, Mr. Prime Minister,

I've done the job that I
was brought out here to do.

Isn't it time you were
making for the TV studio?

You mean you still intend to come?

I wouldn't miss it for anything.

It's such a pleasure
working with professionals.

Well, Mr. Drake,
we shall certainly miss you

when you go back to London.

I certainly hope so.

I always like being missed.

This is the National TV Service.

Our next program follows in a few moments.

Well.

I think it would be better if you wait

until the very last moment.

No, no, I'd rather not keep them waiting.

Out of my way.

I think they are
concerned for your safety.

Safety?

What do you mean?

It'll be better if you wait.
-And now I have the honor

of presenting to you the leader of

the opposition, Dr. Manudu.

What is this?

Sorry I couldn't take
you into my confidence.

You made a deal with Manudu!

Politics are not a simple
game, Mr. Prime Minister,

or perhaps I should say
just plain Mr. Kamunga.

It is both a sad and happy occasion

that brings me in front of you today.

Sad because earlier today,
evidence was brought to me

of a plot to overthrow our government.

A military junta led by Colonel Nyboto.

But a happy occasion,
because our prime minister

was able to forestall it.

As soon as I was informed,
I went to the prime minister,

and I am proud to be able
to introduce you to him.

Hurry, you're on.

It's safe now.

Let Mr. Kamunga pass.

Oh, no, it's a waste of time.

You never can tell.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr.Kamunga, our prime minister.

My friends, it would be wrong of me

not to confess the
immense debt which we owe

to Dr. Manudu for his
patriotic and loyal service

in saving our country from anarchy.

However, of prime importance
is that you go to the polls,

cast your votes, and I assure you that

no matter which of us you choose,

he will serve you
to the best of his ability.

Ah, Mr. Drake.

That is true democracy.

If only all other countries
would behave like that

Yes. If only they would.