The Capture (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - Imposter Syndrome - full transcript

Ms Bello claims the affair
happened four years ago,

while the MP was visiting Nigeria.

Those are the guys
I saw getting into the grey van.

To tell you the truth, I'd rather
avoid this place altogether.

Not easy when half your clients
are in the same building.

Actually, Mr Knox,
I came to ask for your help.

I see.

The mask.

Control to Kilo 1.

Gemma, Operation Vanguard is
compromised.

The seventh floor is down.



Vanguard needs a new home.

You accuse me of sabotage, and...

...and now you want my help.

China's going to lose the facial-rec
bid. The US are waiting in line.

We carry the same burdens.
Guilt and regret.

If you want to give yourself
the best chance,

you'll free yourself of them.

In an exclusive interview,

we speak to Victoria Bello
from her home in Lagos.

This isn't about facial rec -
this is about me.

I beg your pardon, Mr Turner?
I said, I hope you're proud,

forcing my family away
from their home.

He looks like you.

What? Victoria Bello's son, Amandi.



I've been looking at him.

What are you talking about?

Free Shaun? As in Shaun Emery?

Your paternity test has come back
negative - you must be delighted.

Why do you think she made those
claims? I understand.

Some people will go to desperate
lengths to jump the queue.

Mr Knox, do we have a match?

Yes.

Nikolai Mirsky.

PHONE RINGS Hello?

ISAAC: Hello, Isaac.

DOOR BUZZER

This program me contains some
violent scenes and strong language.

DOOR BUZZER

DOOR BUZZER

REPEATED BUZZING

Room service.

What the fuck is going on?

Isaac, Isaac,

this place is rigged with cameras -
please don't do anything silly.

This is nice at least.

Presidential Suite.

Apt.

You, er, you might want
to put some clothes on.

Start... talking.

Yeah, I'm not supposed
to do that, mate.

I'm just here to get you.

To get me? £11 for pistachio nuts?
Are you having a laugh?

So help me God, I will throttle you
with my bare hands.

I don't care how many cameras
are watching.

What the hell were you doing outside
my door pretending to be me?

What? But... Pretending to...?

I guess they're just, you know,
just trying to get in.

Who? Who? Who's trying to get in?

Look, I need you to know, mate,

I honestly had no idea
this was going to happen.

Aliza, she is completely
in the dark. I only found out

the truth of it myself last night.
I haven't slept a bloody wink.

You know, I would find it
a lot easier to open up

to you if you unclenched your fists

and stopped looking
like you're about to hit me.

It's probably why they asked me
to get you.

People look at me and think I can
handle myself, but the truth is

I am a bloody coward.
Rhys, shut up. Shut up.

Just SHUT UP and listen,

cos I won't say this again.

Who are THEY?

Well...

PHONE RINGS

RINGING TONE
SHOWER RUNS

Bathroom's free.

SHOWER RUNS

The real question here is did the
Home Office knowingly

obstruct Victoria Bello's
application?

Daddy!

DOOR OPENS

Yes!

ISAAC CHUCKLES

Oh, hello. Hello. I missed you.

Hey.

So, um, it's safe to come back home,

whenever you're ready. There's
no press outside. It's all over.

Are you coming home, Daddy?

Um, well, Daddy has to go back
to London.

But I'll be back as soon as I can.
Yeah? Go and get your things.

Come on. Come on.

So, you saw it? The result?

I thought there wasn't
going to be a paternity test.

You said they were going to fake
the results.

It's the right result, Simmy.

What's up?

Well, if she was making it all up,

why did the Home Office hold back
her application?

That's exactly
what I intend to find out.

Right?

ELECTRONIC BEEPING AND WHIRRING

TRAIN PASSES

Make yourselves at home.

The bottom floor's all yours.

As long as you stay
in your allotted zones,

everybody will get along just fine.

You see the latest video release
of your protegee?

You showed me.

Last night? Mm.

I'm talking about this morning.
We got the red flag.

Don't you get updates
from Chelten Ham?

Cheltenham.

It's a bit like cereal,
only it's called Free Shaun.

Or I might go more esoteric,
like The Bus Stop.

What are you talking about?

Free Shaun? As in Shaun Emery?

What are you talking about?

Free Shaun? As in Shaun Emery?

She knows she's being watched.

Nothing changes.

We continue as planned.

It's your rodeo now.

RINGING TONE

PHONE RINGS

RINGING CONTINUES

Did you obstruct Victoria Bello's
application, Mr Turner? Is this

a crisis for the Home Office,
Mr Turner?

Mr Turner,
do you believe the media now?

No hoodie today, Zac?

I have every faith
in the Home Secretary.

He has my full support. Thank you.

SHOUTING

"Every faith in the Home Sec"?
What are you up to?

Where is Gill today?
I'm not his private secretary.

But you are on the server, aren't
you? How are you enjoying policy,

by the way? I only ask cos you spend
most of your time

seemingly checking my numbers.

Which are spiking higher than ever,
by the way.

Congrats on that. So, what's this?

The old band back together again?
What goes on tour

and all that jazz? Cos I'm in.
If you'll have me,

whack out the old...
IMITATES ELECTRIC GUITAR

Rhys, could you...?

I was just asking Aliza
why she's been tracking my stats.

Good question.

What do you expect?
I've always been Team Zac.

To be fair, that is true. Even when
I was fired, you answered my calls.

I tried you - it wouldn't go
through. Yeah. Fucking Vodafone.

But then again,
maybe it was just a decoy

to avoid doing what I actually asked
you to do, which was to dig up

Victoria Bello's paperwork
and check for concerns.

I thought that part of the story
would just... go away.

The front page news?
Yeah, in The Guardian.

Everyone else has gone
with "Lying Bitch", essentially.

Anyway, none of it seems
to be doing you any harm.

Aliza, there's going to be
an inquiry

and none of us are safe.
If the Home Secretary himself had

a hand in obstructing
Bello's application,

it's going to come out.
So, if you know anything,

Aliza, you need to share it.

I've been calling you all day.

I-I-I've been in Salford, so...

I saw you.

BBC Breakfast.

I assume that was you?

Yes. So, look, I'm just on my way
to see the Home Secretary, so...

On your way to becoming Home Sec,
according to Twitter.

I need to speak to you.

Gregory Knox came through.
The unmasking.

We have a name. Nikolai Mirsky.

Russian ex-military.

I know. We need to get this to SO15.

Except I can't explain how I came by
it, so I suggest it comes from you.

Me? At the time of the attack,
you were Security Minister.

You had clearance
to any number of operations.

All you need to do is say
you can't reveal the source.

I-I-I don't know.

It sounds a bit like faking evidence
to me.

What?

You've taken the footage,
manipulated it,

now you want to hide where it
came from.

For use as intelligence,
not evidence.

HE SCOFFS
Now you sound like a true believer.

This is a visual on
a Russian state-sanctioned killer.

We need to act.
We're the only ones that have it.

ISAAC SIGHS

Look, I know we have other battles.

But we can't expose Correction
while we're under attack by

a foreign power.
We need to win this one first.

Khadija heard your recording.

The Home Secretary
discussing Correction.

You mean Khadija Khan,
who interviewed Victoria Bello

and claimed the Home Office
obstructed her application?

Isaac, the deal is still intact.

What deal?

Somebody got to you.

Didn't they? I don't know
what you're talking about.

Jesus Christ! I'm not recording!

I'm sorry, Detective, but I think
I've given you enough of my time.

You can talk to me, Isaac. You can
trust me. Don't lie to me!

You really think
I need to take this shit from you?

You know how I know it was
you... on BBC Breakfast

and not your deep-fake?

You touched your cross.

You run your thumb over the cross on
your neck chain when you're anxious.

No, I don't.
It's my job to notice things.

Your deep-fake's never done that.
Only you.

You're all right, Isaac.

Not that kind of politician,
like you said.

Whatever's happened,

whatever they've threatened you
with, I can help you.

We can get through this.

Who was it?! Who got to you?!

Garland? The Home Secretary? Who?

You have a case to solve.
I have a job to do.

Other battles, like you said.

So why don't we just get on with
it and go our separate ways?

PHONE VIBRATES

Carey. Ma'am. I thought you'd
like to know, comms are back up.

We're rolling out new units
to all ops.

What about the camera network?

Secure. Vanguard has a new base.

Or I could bring the comms to you?

That is... if you're back at work?

Meet me in an hour.
Where do you want me, ma'am?

Broadcasting House,
three o'clock, sharp. Yes, ma'am.

Thanks to the intervention
of our US partners,

Operation Vanguard is now secure.

Vladimir Putin himself
couldn't compromise it.

CHUCKLING

Although this remains
a UK counter terrorism operation,

inside this building
you are in US territory,

and you will operate in accordance
with US laws,

regulations,
and standard operating procedures.

Our hosts will be on hand at
all times

to support us through
any, uh, cultural differences.

Connor here will be leading a
support team

of technical operatives, alongside
someone many of you will be

acquainted with already,
our very own DI Phillips,

who's been on secondment here
for the past six months,

and I'm pleased to say
hasn't picked up the accent.

CHUCKLING

Um, I know you're all
still reeling from

the tragic loss
of Detective Sergeant Patrick Flynn,

Specialist Firearms Officer
Jason McKenna

and Specialist Firearms Officer
Lee Bradbury.

But the way to... hon our
our fallen colleagues...

...is to catch the scum
that took their lives.

Thank you, sir.

As Commander Hart said...

Is he going to maintain
his stiff upper lip?

I think I see it quivering.

...with a much wider range

of intelligence-gathering tools
at our disposal.

Now, given the urgency,

we've begun analysing existing data
from the operation,

and we've uncovered
a few truffles already.

Danny? Sir?

A long time since
you called me that.

I just wanted to say thank you.

That was the team talk
we all needed.

It's the last one
you'll hear me give.

I stopped by the Commissioner's
office this morning.

Handed in my 7-28.
You're resigning?

After Vanguard, I'm out.

Don't worry, Gemma.

I didn't give the real reason.

I'm in the middle of a meeting.
I've got about two minutes.

Did you have to interview her?

I beg your pardon?

Victoria Bello.
Was that really necessary?

SHE SCOFFS Last time I checked,

I'm not required
to justify my editorial choices

to the authorities. We're not living
in a police state yet.

Well, I hope it was worth it. Cos
Isaac Turner is now out of the deal.

What, because of that? Oh, please.

You do not understand. I understand
perfectly. I will call Zac myself,

show the requisite humility.

It's a dance.
You'd do well to learn the steps.

Learn this!
I was with Isaac Turner an hour ago.

He wouldn't even admit we had a
deal! He doesn't trust us,

and that is your fault.
Lower your tone.

I don't let anyone raise their voice
at me off camera.

I am not anyone!
You have fucked it up, Khadija.

For all of us!

I thought we said three o'clock?

I'd rather be early - always.

How much did you hear?

Nothing.

I brought your comms.

And I thought you'd
want to know there's a new lead.

Take me to the new base.
I'll follow.

After the presentation,

the Home Secretary will make
what he promises will be

a short announcement,

and the Security Minister will take
questions from the press.

APPLAUSE

Britain's border security
will soon be bolstered

by a digital layer of protection,

provided by a company
who count among their clients

the US Pentagon.

All of us who value the security

and sovereignty of our nation

will value the support
of Clear Horizons AI. Thank you.

Care to make a statement about
Victoria Bello? Have you spoken

to Isaac Turner today, Home
Secretary? Did anyone

at the Home Office obstruct

Victoria Bello's application,
Home Secretary? Thank you.

This is where the magic happens.

Tom. What have I missed?
Lots, by the looks of things.

Well, that's what comes of skipping
the briefings.

We can't hold the class up
just for you, Carey.

I've been on compassionate leave,
so...

...be compassionate.

No time for compassion.
Not in the middle of a manhunt.

Who's the target?

A Russian National. Nikolai Mirsky.

We've got every facial-rec system
in the UK looking for him

and every ANPR looking
for his van.

Do we, um, do we know the source?

I mean, how did he get on our
radar?

You think they'd tell me?

How are you feeling, Rachel?

Ma'am. Just getting up to speed.

I appreciate you coming back
to work so soon,

after the experience you've had.

I'd rather... keep going.

Rest when you're dead.

Can I show you something?

Frank, I felt DCI Carey should be
briefed on the ongoing developments.

Welcome to America.

Is that...? The hospital.

Staff entrance.
The night of DS Flynn's murder.

I thought whoever did this took over
the camera network completely?

This section of the briefing
is sensitive.

Understood.

Every state has its own style
when it comes to subterfuge.

Its own telltale signs.

The Russians, for instance,
very sloppy. Online and off.

They hacked SO15, but it appears
they didn't consider our...

...auxiliary network.

You can access the real footage?

We can recover it

from a covert signal
embedded in the time code.

It's kind of like scratching
the oil paint off a canvas

to reveal the pencil drawing
underneath.

Stop me if I'm... getting too
technical.

So, de-correction, then?

Eventually we'll recover
all the footage from the attack.

But, for now, our focus,
Todd, is this.

Nikolai Mirsky.

I-I thought Isaac Turner's
witness statement said

the killers were
wearing face masks.

Like I said, sloppy.

Result. Intelligence on the suspect
is patchy.

Facial rec points us to
a private security firm in Belarus.

Russian black ops,
by any other name.

Do we know if the suspect's
still in the UK?

They hacked the feeds at Heathrow
last time - they could do it again.

The manhunt is under way, Rachel.

I'd like you to run something else.

DC Tan is briefed
and making progress,

but this requires the leadership
of someone fully conversant.

What does, ma'am?

The criminal case
against the suspect.

We need an evidence dossier,

robust enough to put in front of
a judge.

The more evidence we can compile
against Nikolai Mirsky the better.

Understood.

You know the way back.

I appreciate the chance to speak,
Home Secretary.

I imagine you can guess what this
is about.

Uh, well, let me see. You told BBC
Breakfast I failed to deliver.

You told reporters I have
your full support.

So, at a push, I'd guess you were
trying to steal my fucking job?

So, I should have said
you don't have my support?

You'll be saying the department
needs a breath of fresh air next.

You're fucking me over, Isaac.

Have the decency to look me
in the eye while you're doing it.

You can hardly blame me for leaving
the department

acutely aware of its shortcomings.

Not to mention our unkept promise
of firm but fair immigration.

Oh, don't quote the manifesto at me.

You weren't even elected
when we wrote that.

After all I've done for you.

Go on.

No, what did you do for me,
Home Secretary?

Take a wild guess.

I mean, I thought I was selected for
government by the PM?

But if you had a hand in making me
Security Minister, Home Secretary...

I'm not talking about making
you a minister.

So, what are you talking about?

I'm talking about that girl.

Victoria Bello?

Unless you have others
that I don't know about?

I told you, that was all lies.

You told me that a few days ago.

That application hit my desk
six months back.

Sorry, hit your desk? Why yours?

Why don't you ask
your private secretary?

Aliza?

She came to you?

Yep. All flummoxed,
convinced it was real,

convinced that love child was yours,

and convinced, as I was, that
it would be the bloody ruin of you.

And then, so you...?

The file found its way
to the bottom of the pile.

Got lost. Drowned in a sea of
bureaucracy.

You're welcome.

So, that's how it's done, is it?

And all that
because you assumed it was true.

Don't be so bloody supercilious.
Are you really that surprised?

No, Home Secretary,
I'm not surprised. In fact,

it's exactly what I thought.

I just needed to hear you say it.

What do you mean? To say what?
What are you talking about?

Don't walk away from me.
Don't you...!

What is that?!
Are you recording this?!

Are you mad?! Recording the Home
Secretary without his consent!

That is a breach
of national security!

I will have you stripped

of every clearance level there is,
you little prick.

It's insurance, Rowan,
in case you try to deny it.

Deny it?! What are you talking
about?!

Why are you doing this to me,
Isaac?!

It's nothing personal.

QUIET CHATTER

Is it possible to embed a video
in time code?

You don't do small talk,
do you, Carey?

How's your day going, Tom?
Not bad. How's yours?

Good.

Is it possible to embed a video
in time code?

I think you mean a time code signal
in audio, don't you?

Nope. I mean what I said.

Well, then,
you're talking bollocks.

That's your technical assessment,
is it?

Yep.

I don't suppose it's possible
to recover a signal

from a hacked feed either, is it?

Like scratching the paint off
a canvas to reveal the drawing.

What are you talking about?

Nothing.

Ma'am. The suspect's name was used
to rent

a storage unit in Clapham two years
ago. It might be a dead end -

the storage company is
no longer in business,

but do you want me to head down
there and take a look?

No, you stay here. I'll go.
Yes, ma'am.

PHONE VIBRATES

Hello? It's me.

What phone are you calling from?
Have you left yet?

Yeah. Just now.
I'm right here. Why?

Good. I need you to do something
for me.

Look, in the bathroom,
there's a laptop.

Hi.

You guarantee
they won't print my name?

The clue is in the word anonymous.
Anonymous whistle-blower.

I'm afraid you've caught me
on the hoof.

Train was delayed
coming back from my conference,

and now I'm running late for
a dinner engagement.

I always seem to catch you either
coming or going. Time and tide.

Was that the Home Secretary's
conference? His big announcement?

Er, no. Different one.

They're here, aren't they?
Clear Horizons AI?

Yes, on the top floor.
US company, right?

Silicon Valley, of course.

But now they're taking over
the world, so to speak.

You must be delighted.

Your client winning the
UK facial recognition contract.

You mentioned half your clients were
in this building.

I'm assuming that includes them.

We don't get involved
with their commercial operations.

What do you get involved in?

I'm sorry, Detective,
but where's this going?

Surely you can see the problem,
Mr Knox.

You belong to an independent
advisory group.

You advised the government against
doing business with a Chinese firm,

whilst in the pocket
of their US rivals.

Looks like a conflict of interests
to me.

I assure you,
I'm not in anyone's pocket.

Tell me, what is it you do here,
exactly?

Your website mentions
political consultancy,

data analysis.

Sounds... vague.

I'd be glad to educate you,
Detective, but as I mentioned...

Half the social media companies
on the planet seem

to have an office in this building.
That's a lot of data to analyse.

But as I mentioned,
I don't have all evening.

How did you unmask the suspect
exactly? Nikolai Mirsky?

Well, you supplied the image.
You know which program we used.

Show me the process,
the working out.

That involves my technical team,
none of whom are here.

It's after hours.

Did you supply the image
to anyone outside this company?

You were quite clear about that.

See, you haven't actually answered
the question.

Is that something you teach
your politicians?

Am I under suspicion, Detective?

Increasingly.

Well, if you want to arrest me

for a conflict of interest,
go ahead.

That won't be the charge.

Suspect vehicle. Golf, X-ray,
six, six, Alpha, Echo Echo.

Pos ID. Coleman Street, Echo,
Charlie, four.

Vehicle heading north.
Bring it up. Let's see it.

Deploy armed units to the vicinity.
Prepare for tactical response.

The murder of Edison Yao and the
attempt on your life were designed

to send Isaac Turner
into police protection,

to keep him out of the public eye.
That's when this began.

What began? The onslaught
of disinformation and lies

that led us to believe
we were under attack from China,

that ended with UK facial
recognition being handed to America.

You have completely lost me.

I don't believe you.

I'm not continuing this conversation
until I have a lawyer.

What is it you don't want me
to see on that laptop, Mr Knox?

What?

You've been glancing at it
like a schoolboy who forgot

to delete his search history.
This is ridiculous.

SIREN BLARES

I can produce a warrant

to seize every computer
in this building within 20 minutes.

I'm afraid I've kept my dinner

companions waiting...
But at this point,

failure to cooperate will force my
hand. I employ corporate lawyers,

but not criminal ones, so I'd like
time to arrange representation.

Take one more step, and I will
have no option but to arrest.

Gregory Knox, I am arresting you
for obstructing a police officer

in the execution of their duty.
You do not have to say...

Where the fuck are you going?!

Do NOT make me add resisting
arrest to the list of charges!

Do not move.

Kilo 3 to all units.
Request urgent backup...

RACHEL'S VOICE: All clear,
all clear.

SHE GROANS

BEEPING

I hope you don't think of me
too unfavourably, Detective.

I'm not a violent person.

I've certainly never laid a finger
on a woman, as they say.

Present company excepted, of course.

Point is, I share the widely held
public-facing belief

that violence towards women
is abhorrent.

I say public-facing because online
it's a different picture.

You poll 100 university students -

"Is violence towards women ever justified?"

You'll get 100 emphatic noes.

But look at their Twitter feeds -

you'll find 10% to 15% have,

at some point or another,
sent death threats to women.

Just one of the countless incidences
of data providing

a clearer look at human behaviour
than humans themselves.

Ugh!

Suspect vehicle, check.
A501, Moorgate, north.

Lima Unit. Two minutes.
A501, City Road, south.

Mike Unit.
Two minutes. A5201, east.

Copy that.

SIREN BLARES

Just like old times.

Gregory Knox, I am arresting you for
conspiracy to murder,

perverting the course of justice,
grievous bodily harm,

assaulting a police officer
and resisting arrest.

Suspect vehicle turning west.
Ropemaker Street. Out of range.

Oh, no, stay on him!

Repeat, out of range.
Blind spot, 50m.

I want every border feed
where I can see it.

And I want every armed unit in
London deployed to that vicinity.

CLICKING

SHE GROANS

Agh!

What is this?

If I were you, Detective Carey...

...I'd run.

Where's your phone?

Where's your phone?
Where is it?!

TABLET BEEPS

Ugh!

This terminal is not in service.

LIFT DINGS Doors opening.

This terminal is not in service.

Proceed to car H, to the left rear.

LIFT DINGS Doors opening.

BEEPING

PANICKED BREATHING

Shots fired. Shots fired.
Target down. Target down.

Shots fired. Threat neutralised.

Target down. Repeat. Target down.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

KHADIJA ON TV: "Nothing to see
here," says Rowan Gill.

But an anonymous Home Office
whistle-blower claims

Gill had direct involvement in
the interference

of British passport applications,

including that of Victoria
Bello's.

So, can he cling on
and endure another scandal?

Or is the Home Secretary losing
his grip?

Thank you.

CLAMOUR

MUSIC: Theme from Newsnight

PHONE VIBRATES

PHONE BUZZES
DOOR BUZZER

PHONE BUZZES
DOOR BUZZER

Rhys, shut up. Shut up. And listen!
Because I won't say this again.

Who are they?

Well,

you know our... consultants.

Our c... What, Gregory's lot? Truro?

I mean, we did consider
several alternatives.

As I recall, you were the one
who made the final decision.

We hired them a year ago.
What's the problem with them?

Not to be pedantic,
but we didn't hire them, did we?

They offered their services
for free.

Which, now I think about it,
should've raised some alarm bells.

I thought they just crunched data
and helped us reach voters?

It's more the way they do it.

I mean, it's bloody clever.
They are the dons of data.

You can't blame yourself
for wanting to work with them.

Truro Analytics?

They're the ones who've been trying
to destroy me? All this time?

They, er, haven't been trying
to destroy you, mate.

Well, what the fuck have they
been doing?

You really ought to get dressed.

They, er, want to show you
something.

I'm supposed to take you down,

er, stairs. Sorry, that was...

Why? What the fuck's downstairs?

As I understand it,

some sort of conference.

MUSIC: Breath Of Fresh Air
by Clement Marfo

♪ I've seen faces
Lifted weights up off the floor

♪ I've had highs and I've had lows

♪ I've got business I ain't closed

♪ I've read pages
I've got words to say

♪ It's time you got to know

♪ I'm on a high, so get down low

♪ Yeah, it's time
to start the show. ♪

Esteemed friends,
honourable colleagues,

it is my privilege to present
to you this morning

the very latest developments
from the digital frontier,

where big data and politics
intersect.

Thanks to our clients in
social media,

Truro enjoys access
to an unparalleled wealth of data,

allowing us to track the activity

of approximately half

the internet-using population,
worldwide.

MURMURING

The songs they listen to
when they're sad,

the food they order
when they're lonely,

triggers that make them happy,
angry,

depressed or suicidal.

Billions upon billions
of data points,

feeding one extraordinary,
ever-refining algorithm

that is demonstrably

the most successful predictor
of human behaviour to date.

But you know that.

LAUGHTER

What you may not know is

how Truro's algorithm is at work

on the art
of political electioneering.

JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYS

Meet Alfonsi Guruli.

CHUCKLING

A political candidate
in need of a campaign.

Last summer, inspired by
a wave of optimism across

Georgia's burgeoning democracy,

Alfonsi decided to run
for Mayor of Tbilisi,

the capital city.

The candidate had no experience
or media training.

Um...

Just the kind of challenge we were
looking for.

What the fuck is this? Sh!

So far, Alfonsi had sought
to promote himself as a family man,

a down-to-earth local

who understood the hopes
and dreams of the electorate.

COW MOOS
LAUGHTER

Yet his poll ratings refused
to rise.

LAUGHTER

At Truro, we set our algorithm
a goal -

to turn Alfonsi's fortunes around.

NEWS JINGLE PLAYS

TRANSLATION:

An alternative portrait
of Alfonsi emerged.

Perhaps the squeaky-clean candidate
wasn't clean after all.

His opponents attacked.

Guruli must face the public
and explain himself.

Finally, the mayoral hopeful
had an audience.

A chance to get his message across.

GASPING

Alfonsi's supporters were
baffled.

But the algorithm had seen
what they couldn't.

Online, the data revealed
a different Tbilisi.

Here was a city at war

divided over a number
of burning issues.

Looking deeper, data revealed

exactly which issues caused
most concern,

which news stories literally kept
the locals awake at night.

The silent majority

had suddenly been spoken for.

"The real people of Tbilisi"
began to trend,

spawning a movement, a base.

CHANTING: Alfonsi! Alfonsi!

Alfonsi was a rising star of
the populist right.

Or so it seemed.

STUDIO AUDIENCE LAUGHS
Alfonsi Guruli.

LAUGHTER
APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

LAUGHTER

Scores of people
appeared on social media,

insisting he had always been

a strong advocate of gay rights.

The Alfonsi Guruli THEY knew
was no bigot.

A new narrative began to take shape.

Alfonsi was a savvy politician,

playing the orthodox right
for votes.

And the real REAL people of Tbilisi
knew that.

LAUGHTER

Truro's AI had created
a political campaign

for a polarised world...

...in which every different
sub-section of the electorate

is sold a version of the candidate
they can vote for.

Today, Alfonsi is Mayor of Tbilisi,

elected with 65% of the vote.

CHEERING AND WHOOPING

Perhaps next time we meet,

Truro's algorithm

will have decided the fate
of a British MP.

Or even PM.

APPLAUSE
MUSIC PLAYS

♪ I'm ever so confident
I'm reppin' for my continent

♪ Not looking for a compliment

♪ When I break through
I'm coming to America

♪ Tearing down the barriers
and reppin' for my area

♪ Now I'm surrounded by a dream team
Sitting on top of the league

♪ Supporting the grand vision I see
Spotlights on me, riding lyrically

♪ Cos I float like a butterfly,
sting like a bee... ♪

So, what, that's supposed to be me?
I'm an Alfonso?

Alfonsi. Al...

You made me an advocate
of racial profiling.

Yeah, I'm sorry about that.
It's the algorithm.

Every action suggested
by the algorithm

moves you one step closer
to where you want to be.

Where do you want to be, Isaac?

I don't need a program
to figure that one out.

What ambitious politician
doesn't want the top job?

ISAAC SCOFFS

I can only imagine the impact you'll
make when you finally get there.

But, goodness,
I'm getting ahead of myself.

The road to Number 10 is long.
Years of work.

We need to be patient.
Do as the algorithm says,

step by step, heart to heart,

and we'll get there in the end.
You're mad.

Look at where it's got you already.

A critical stage in your journey is
within your grasp.

Home sec, baby.

You actually... you actually believe
this shit?

You think that data witchcraft can
decide who runs the Home Office?

It can decide who runs the country.

Consider Home Secretary
your gruelling audition.

Fuck this.

After everything you've put me
through. And my family...

I should be ramming your head
through that wall.

And yet you're not.

Your popularity is on the rise,
Isaac.

While poor Rowan Gill's...

Well, there's work to be done.
Your trusty spad will fill you in.

Sorry, what, you expect me
to collude in this fuckery?

I-I thought you didn't need me
anyway?

You built your own version
of me. Who, Digi-Zac?

I've enjoyed working with him,

but I'm thrilled you're ready
to take over.

The hell makes you think
I'm going to do that?

Why, the algorithm, of course.

The algorithm sees the world
in all its complexity.

The algorithm understands you, me,

and every segment of our society

better than we understand ourselves.

And it predicts, Isaac Turner,
that you will comply

with this campaign just as soon
as it brings you success.

For with success comes power.

And with power...

...you can do all the good
you've ever dreamt of.

Cars are outside when you're ready.

Catch some shuteye on the way back.

We need you fresh-faced
for the press.

I didn't say anything.

What?

I didn't say yes.

You didn't say no.

PHONE BUZZES

Hello? What ya watching?

Home Sec looking silly?

All seems to have gone rather well,
don't you think?

So...

...what do you say? You in?

Yes.

Wonderful.

I'll be in touch first thing.
Sleep well, Isaac Turner.

It's been a long,
discombobulating day.

But everything's falling perfectly
into place.

Every little thing.

SHE GASPS

HANDCUFFS CLICK