Original subtitles

BELL RINGS

SHUTTER CLICKS

ALARM RINGING

I think I'll have a little more milk this time, eh?

That's Hyderabad green-tip tea.

Do you like it? - Yes, I do.

There's not too much in the larder.

This is fine, thanks.

Anyway, it's my fault for coming uninvited.

You're always welcome, Mrs Gale, you know that.

You know, it's an ironic theory of yours, Steed,

that arming for World War III is the sole security against it.

So long as the arms race goes neck and neck.

I don't think anyone would dare start another war

and risk the reprisal.

Annihilation by return of post.

Someone will certainly try.

History is full of people who've tried to get away with it.

We can't go on arming forever.

HE SIGHS

- Biscuit? - No, thanks.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Excuse me.

TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING

Steed.

Go ahead, 238.

64035?

I'll be right there.

What will it be?

- I'm sorry, I've got to go. - Nation calls, eh?

Er, will you get on with the tea and chocolate biscuits?

Thank you very much.

I'll give you a lift if you like.

Well, all right, but we must hurry.

You haven't got time to put that on.

- Yes, I have. - I'll take a taxi.

It's Sunday, you'll have to walk to the corner of Horse Guards.

This really is very urgent.

Now, will you please get a move on? Thank you.

All right. Now, er, Phoenix Square.

I'll take a quick cut through Buckingham Gate.

I didn't say where we were going.

No, you didn't, did you?

- But you knew? - Yes.

- Is that why you came to tea? - Mm-hm.

You knew about that phone call.

Yes.

And you sat there eating my chocolate biscuits?

The boot's on the other foot for a change, Steed.

How does it feel?

- Er, we better go. - One other thing.

They asked me to give you a lift.

That's all I know.

I wonder why they want me.

So do I.

DISCO: 'The war minister will make the decision for the use

'of retaliatory weapon codeword Brutus.

'He will, at the same time, state if the weapon

'will be used to its first, second or third impulse.

'Paragraph.

'As the third impulse is comprehensive,

'it will be used in conjunction with operation codeword Wishmake.

'Paragraph.

'Of course, the decision for the use

'of retaliatory weapon codeword Brutus

'will continue to be automatically governed

'by the functioning of plan codeword Immortal.'

Excuse me, Gale and Steed are at reception zone.

- Good evening. - Good evening, Mr Steed, Mrs Gale.

- Good evening. - May I have your passes, please?

Thank you, sir.

110262.

Yes, that's the one, Mrs Gale.

Will you go to identification, please?

I think you know the drill, Mr Steed.

MACHINERY WHIRRING

Remarkable.

- Thank you, Mr Steed. - Thank you.

- Mrs Gale. - Thank you.

Now we take the lift. It's just over a quarter of a mile.

- To walk? - Down.

DISCO: 'The amendment to operation code word Wishmake

'will immediately negative the 3rd and 27th paragraph.'

Excuse me, Gale and Steed have just cleared reception.

What's at the bottom of here?

Nutshell.

Thermo nuclear, underground, target zone, shelter.

The seat of government for World War III.

This is where everyone hides when the push comes?

No, not everyone, I'm afraid. Only the top people.

The deeper you go, the safer it gets.

The bottom floor is reserved for the best people.

The civil servants get off at the 43rd floor.

Ladies underwear, boots and shoes, toy soldiers.

Well, where are we?

I don't know. I haven't been this low before.

I usually get off at the 18th floor.

WOMAN: 'Will you turn left, please, and walk to Command Central.'

Command Central? How did she know we were here?

Big Brother is watching you wherever you go. Come on. There.

And, also, in view of the imminent NATO meeting,

we must consider this development

a matter of gravest national urgency.

DISCO: 'Yes, that covers it. Grade it personal for the minister,

'and top secret cryptics.'

What now?

'I think you better go and meet Steed and Mrs Gale.'

Where the devil are we now?

I vote we sit down and shout for help.

This place is like a rabbit warren. - You can do as you, please.

HE CHUCKLES Here comes one of the bunnies.

- Would you come this way, please? - It'll be a pleasure with you.

What's happened? - Something we thought never could.

Disco's waiting to give you the details himself.

- Disco? What's he doing here? - Who is Disco?

Director of Intelligence, Security, and Combined Operations.

The man we never meet.

I don't understand. What's going on?

I think you'd better wait and hear the whole story from Disco.

Ready? - Lead us in.

Steed and Mrs Gale, sir.

Good evening, Steed. Good evening, Gale.

Good evening.

We're handling an emergency.

You've been brought here because I'm borrowing you both

for a major assignment.

Mrs Gale, we don't usually allow members of the public in here,

but since this is an emergency, we've had to waive all protocol.

What happened?

Someone has stolen Big Ben.

And before either of you is tempted to say anything funny,

I don't mean that overgrown piece of clockwork in Parliament Square.

BELL RINGS

Well, do you know what this is?

The National Security Archives. I didn't know they were built here.

It was built here because this was thought to be

the most secure place in Britain.

- Was? - Yes.

This is Security Officer Venner, who's in charge of internal

Nutshell security and operations. - How do you do?

You'll have a chance to discuss the matter

in a few minutes.

Steed, tell me, what do you think of the security here?

I thought it was just about impenetrable.

Yes, you would think so, wouldn't you?

Nevertheless, it's just been penetrated.

Come here.

This machine is a sort of filing cabinet

where top-secret data is stored on microfilm.

Early this morning,

someone got in here without authority,

used the correct sequence pattern on these,

and copied Big Ben.

What is it?

The name means Bilateral Infiltration,

Great Britain, Europe and North America.

It is a document which lists all known double agents

on both sides in the Cold War.

In hostile hands it can deal a death blow

to every allied agent operating

on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain.

Needless to say, if we fail to get it back,

we face a large-scale national disaster.

That's only half the problem.

The other half is worse.

Who are they?

Called Steed and Mrs Gale, Cloak and Dagger Department.

We've got to give them all the help we can.

This crime wasn't the direct result of foreign espionage.

It was an inside job. - Treason?

Big Ben's existence was known to less than 30 people.

They're all senior members of National Security.

One of them must be a traitor.

Any suspects?

Thirty of them.

That's why we need you, Steed.

As undercover man, you stand the best chance

of nailing the culprit.

While the document's recovery by you is still consistent

with the needs of security.

Sounds like a tall order.

It is.

You'll be working inside the National Security machine

with an absolute deadline of 1100 hours tomorrow.

Any more questions? - Yes.

If Nutshell's only entrance wasn't used,

how did the thief get in?

That's one of the things you'll have to find out.

Where do we start?

Is that photograph through from the lab yet?

- MAN: 'Yes, sir.' - All right. Bring it in.

We may be able to start you off on a good lead.

We've got several infrared photographs

taken by the automatic alarm system.

This is the first half dozen, sir.

The rest will be through in about half an hour.

See that copies get to Venner, Central Security, will you?

Yes, sir.

What's the result? Any good?

Rather unexpected. Even you might be surprised.

Three.

One.

She's right. Two.

Three.

JOHN: Well, well, well.

DISCO: Anyone recognise her?

CATHERINE: I've never met her. Steed?

No, I haven't met her.

Not the sort of face you'd forget.

Well, she's obviously not one of our people,

only someone employed by the traitor.

You tackle Special Branch, Steed.

Mrs Gale can check with Venner, Central Security.

Both get back here as soon as you can.

Right.

By then we may have a lead on how she got in here.

- Well, what do you think? - Of our chances?

No, this place.

Fascinating...

..and frightening.

Reality and daylight seem a very long way away.

Yes, yes, yes. Now, you get back to Venner,

and I'll go to Special Branch.

Hey, Steed, how do I get out of here?

You pick up the phone on the wall, you dial nine,

and you ask where you are. It's awfully simple.

- Thank you. - Oh, by the way.

Er, if you are free by nine, come and have a drink, OK?

You're too kind.

ELEVATOR BELL DINGS

Trouble is, Mrs Gale, all we've got is a photograph

instead of a name.

Our system works better the other way around.

On Sunday evenings, Miss Campbell and I

are the only two people on duty here.

It's going to take time, Mike.

- No joy from features index? - No.

- How urgent is this? - It's not. It's emergency.

We'll just have to do it the hard way.

Would you like to start on B21?

Would you like to help? - All right.

If nothing comes of it, we'll just have to hope my colleague's

doing better at Special Branch. - Hmm.

Well, I think we'll start about here.

All right.

Bet she's out of there in two minutes.

I thought that you would be here half an hour ago.

I'm very sorry, got tied up. I was unavoidably detained.

Did everything go all right? - Just.

You didn't warn me about those bells.

HE CLUCKS TONGUE

Do you want to make a bet?

Five pounds.

All right.

HE CHUCKLES

- How do you feel? - Fine.

My back is covered in bruises. Oh, look.

Mm, yes. Now you're the talk of Nutshell.

So I should be.

I practised crawling in and out of drainpipes for hours.

It's the best I've ever done. - Especially the escape.

Yes.

Forty seconds.

- They've got your photograph. - Yes, I thought so.

That spooky camera scared me for a moment.

HE CLUCKS TONGUE You've got one minute, Steed.

He's not doing too well, is he?

No. It's the crisscross behind the knees

that always gets him. MUFFLED GRUNTING

- That's a tough one, you know. - Hmm.

- When are you leaving? - Do I really have to?

That was the bargain. Now, they'll be looking for you in half an hour.

- And you're going to tell them? - That was the plan.

Flight's booked and I'm all packed.

Good.

I want the microfilm.

HE VOCALIZES A BEAT

MUFFLED GRUNTING

Jason says that he wants more money.

Are you quite sure it's not you that wants more money?

No, of course not.

I don't mean to be mean, Elin,

but your Swiss bank manager's little heart

has already been sufficiently gladdened.

Look, Steed, Jason told me to pass the message on to you.

It has nothing more to do with me. - I'm extremely glad.

You did pretty well for an entrance and an exit.

- Yes. - 40%? Pretty good cut.

HE GASPS

What did Jason tell you, 30%, 25?

HE CHUCKLES

Maybe even 20?

Oh, it's very charming that you're still taken in by a man.

I can give a word of warning.

Jason's not gonna change.

Well, how's my fiver getting on, eh?

MUFFLED GRUNTING

- One minute, 40. - Oh, yes, quite right.

It's the crisscross behind the knees. I should have known.

You tied him up.

Your time is up, Steed, two minutes.

You're not even trying. MUFFLED GRUNTING

He's not gonna get out of there, is he?

No, Steed.

Look, how long has he been doing this escape business?

Oh, about six months.

He's a student and wants to earn some pocket money busking.

Busking? My dear old fellow, you won't do no good

on Leicester Square on a Saturday night.

Huh, the dusk guard will get you. All right, I'll get you, come on.

HE CHUCKLES There you are.

And you can add it to the rest. - Thank you.

Was only joking, have a drink for me on the Switzerland flight.

- I will. - Good luck.

Thank you.

When do you see Jason again? - Tonight.

- Then I wish you the good luck. - Thank you very much.

Where's the microfilm? - I don't have it.

Come on, now.

Jason took it.

Mm-hm, put you onto asking more money, eh?

Yes, that's right.

Hiding behind a woman's skirts. Just like Jason.

Where is that microfilm? - I told you, Jason took it.

You're my favourite escapologist. The best in the business.

I've just learned that you've also got the cutest little face.

Where's that film?

Do you want me to find it for myself?

- All right. - Thank you.

Two toothbrushes? Oh.

Yes, I brought some things for the flight.

There you are, Steed.

Thank you very much.

You did put it in a safe place, didn't you?

You better be going. I'll give you 25 minutes.

That's enough. Goodbye, Steed.

Goodbye, my dear.

Don't spend it all in one shot, will you?

Ooh.

I've drawn a blank with the girl. What about you?

- Nothing. - Susan?

That's the last one.

Well, I could have sworn I've seen this girl before.

Well, if you did, it must have been somewhere else.

Yes, we'll try the other sections

and let you know if they come up with a lead.

Sorry we haven't been more help.

I'm afraid it was rather a waste of your time.

That's all right. It's not your fault. Thanks anyway.

- To your right, Mrs Gale. - Well, thanks for the coffee.

What's the big panic?

- The girl broke into here. - What?

Copied one of our secret operations files.

How'd she get in?

That's the trouble. We don't know.

Bill?

What can I do for you, as if I didn't know?

The usual.

Why is it always so urgent? You'll kill yourself running up here

every time you want to make an outside phone call.

I hope he's worth it.

So do I.

Oh, hello, Alex? - Alex?

Whatever happened to old... - Shh.

Yes, it's Susan.

Look, I'm sorry, I can't make it tonight.

Something's happened.

Well, you know the girl who was going to sell me that flat?

She's given it to someone else.

Patience, my dear Mrs Gale.

That's the secret of all good security and intelligence.

It's just like fishing.

You've got to contain your excitement

to achieve maximum security.

For your information, Steed, my patience is running out.

The fact that I'm helping you at all

throws a doubtful light on my intelligence.

That last little bit made sense, though.

You've been up to something fishy all day.

I think it's time you explain what.

What's the matter, don't you trust me?

Any reason why I should?

Yeah, you might be doing a great service to the nation.

I might be helping

to sell the nation down the river, for all I know.

How did you suddenly get that idea?

How would I know

if you were working for a foreign power and not the government?

HE CHUCKLES You wouldn't, would you?

Now, that's a very interesting question.

And for the moment, it'll have to remain academic.

HE CHUCKLES

No luck with the girl, I'm afraid.

So I hear.

- You have anything else to go on? - Not yet.

I'm waiting to hear from Steed.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Probably him now.

Hello, Steed?

I'm just leaving Special Branch.

I found the girl.

Yes. She's got a work permit at the Aliens Department.

Her name is Elin Strindberg.

Swedish cabaret artist.

Lives at Marquisette Street off Tottenham Court Road.

Top floor, Number 5.

You better get someone round there right away.

All right, Steed. We can handle it now.

But you get... get back here as fast as you can, Disco wants you.

Steed's made a breakthrough. He's found the girl.

She's Elin Strindberg, a Swedish cabaret artist

working on the top floor of Number 5,

Marquisette Street, West 1.

Hmm. Well, I'll call my office and tell them to stop...

I'll do that.

You concentrate on getting hold of the girl.

Once she is roped in, this thing is good as finished.

Go on. Get round there as fast as you can.

Huh, Marquisette Street.

Number 5.

SHE GASPS

Central Security, please. Message for Susan Campbell.

We've found the girl, so you can stop looking. Thank you.

- Bill. - Don't tell me. She's here again.

- May I? - Yes.

Hello. Yes, it's me again.

Look, you've got to do something. I must have it.

Well, why should somebody else?

She's at Number 5 Marquisette Street on the top floor.

Yes, West 1.

Now, won't you do something?

Please?

All right.

All right, darling, listen, I'll see...

All right.

Bye.

THEME MUSIC PLAYING

HE SIGHS

Nationality could be almost anything.

No maker's name. No serial numbers.

Nothing to indicate its origin at all.

How did you find it?

When I learned the girl was an escapologist,

I started thinking about the Nutshell's air supply.

There must be a bottled supply of air here for use in wartime.

DISCO: That's right. There is.

In peacetime there's no reason to use it.

So I guessed that somewhere in the system

there must be an ordinary ventilator shaft

leading up to the outside air.

And when I got back I asked Anderson here to follow it up,

and he found this. - Whereabouts, Anderson?

One of the old cellars under the War Office, sir.

You can reach it through one of the underground flue escapes.

It comes out beneath the Victoria Embankment.

All right, Anderson. What about the girl's death?

Well, she was killed by a bullet from a .38 Richard & Carr revolver,

which is standard issue for general security.

I know that. Go on.

The revolver was fired from a distance of about 7ft.

The bullet chipped the sternum, entered the right ventricle,

and came out between the fourth and fifth ribs.

Unconsciousness must have been immediate.

She'd have died between one and two and half minutes later.

Oh, I, er, searched the girl's changing room afterwards,

but whoever killed her must have got there first.

No sign of the microfilm and no material leads.

Well, the only thing we have to go on is this.

Apparently, the girl had a visitor earlier this week.

Publicity photographer saw her talking to a, erm, boyfriend

when he took this picture.

You can't see much from this.

No, you can't see it yet.

We're having this corner blown up in the lab.

The enlargement should be here in a few minutes.

Good. Now, what about Steed? Where is he?

That's a good question.

If you already knew who the girl was,

don't you think you should have told Disco?

Or at least me.

I had to be sure about what had happened.

What will they do to her when they catch her?

They won't.

Why not?

Because she's on her way to Switzerland.

Helped, no doubt, by you.

Yes, as a matter of fact.

Steed, what is going on?

What do you mean?

Even for you, aren't you behaving rather oddly?

What do you mean by odd?

You've been working very hard lately.

Could you be overdoing it?

Nothing like overdoing it for making one feel younger.

Well, you don't look any younger.

Thank you very much.

Does it bother you?

In your kind of work you have to live on your nerves.

You get energy, all right, but it's paper thin.

There's nothing beyond it. - I appreciate your concern,

but I'm afraid I have an appointment.

With Big Ben?

Stick around and you'll find out.

Excuse me.

Oh, clumsy me.

I think she's all right. Let's check. Hold on.

Yeah.

Now, in about 15 seconds,

you'll have some jolly news.

Yeah, that's how they're disciplined.

In five, four, three, two, one.

DEVICE BEEPING

Oh, good old Sir James.

Despite of all that, dead on time.

Have you seen Anderson?

Yes, he's gone down to Security Office, I think.

Well, if anybody wants me, I'm just going upstairs.

I want to take a look at the ventilating shaft.

Right.

Here's a complete list of suspects.

Everyone who knew of the document's existence.

I don't relish the idea of questioning

some of these people.

Half of them are public figures.

And I think we better cross off this name at the top.

If we can't trust him, we can't trust anyone.

INTERCOM BUZZES

Command Centre?

MAN: 'Security here. The enlargements are ready.'

Will you put them up, please?

Now the question is, have we really got a photograph

of the man who killed her?

LAURA: We'll soon know if we have. It should be someone we recognise.

DISCO: Where's Venner?

Venner, get down here!

Alert memorandum.

Yes, sir.

To zones 12, 19, 18, and 60.

Secret supremest, priority Zenith,

1836-20-46-0-5-82.

That should do it.

Get that piped to Command Centre, operation code word Bismarck.

Yes, sir.

CATHERINE: Even if I knew where Steed had gone,

I don't think I'd tell you. As it happens, I just don't know.

So, that's where it is, hmm?

I don't think you quite understand the position,

so let me make it clear.

The fact that you are a colleague of Steed's means nothing to me.

I wouldn't discuss his affairs with anyone.

Well, for Steed's sake, Mrs Gale,

if you know what he's up to, you'd better tell us fast.

He's in trouble.

The longer you put it off, the worse it's going to get.

What kind of trouble?

Espionage.

He's up to his neck in it.

He's been up to his neck in that little game for years.

Oh, this time it's different.

Espionage isn't a game, Mrs Gale. It's a war, even in peacetime.

There are too many lives lost in too many dark places

for anybody to call it a game. - What's he supposed to have done?

Defected.

Defected?

Steed?

He wouldn't do that.

He would never do it in a million years.

I know exactly how you feel.

Those are famous last words.

But why?

Why should he do it?

Who knows?

He might have been blackmailed or brainwashed.

Simply cracked up under the strain from overwork.

He was acting very strangely this evening.

We already know about this evening. It's what happened earlier today.

What led up to it. - What do you mean?

Has anybody been to see him today? Anybody you didn't know?

A man called this afternoon called Jason.

Steed spent a couple of hours talking to him.

About what?

I don't know. I didn't hear what they said.

They were in the study.

Can you describe this fellow?

Yes, he was quite short, dark. He had an accent.

Slav, maybe.

If you heard his accent, you must have heard him say something.

Yes, well, just as Steed was showing him out

he said something about his winter coat.

Then he said, "I'll meet you at the airport."

No, he said M Field, 2am.

Wintercut Airfield. Here it is.

Used to be a Battle of Britain fighter station.

Hasn't been used for years.

Well, whatever happens,

we've got to stop that microfilm leaving the country.

I suppose that's the object of the exercise.

Why else would they be meeting at an airfield?

Anyway, there's no doubt about it, I'm afraid.

I've spoken to Special Branch and Steed never even went there.

He must have known about that girl all the time.

- Steed, of all people. - It seems unbelievable,

but the facts are all adding up, aren't they?

Well, they'll have to add up a bit faster.

The undersecretary is raising hell

and the top reaction has begun now.

Steed's rendezvous with Jason is at 2am.

What about Jason? Is he known?

Venner's in records now checking on that.

Sorry to keep you so long.

Have you found him?

Didn't take long to discover his real identity.

But we had to get on to some of the overseas stations.

That took a little time. - Who is he?

Jason's a double agent.

Big Ben Number 235... to be exact.

He was on the list that was photographed?

And if he's in league with Steed,

between them, they control a great deal of very powerful information.

I don't accept that Steed is implicated

in the way you suggest.

- How long have you known Steed? - You know as well as I do.

Can you really say you know him?

It's a necessary instinct for a man in Steed's job, Mrs Gale,

to conceal, even to deceive.

I think you know that.

Of course, in certain circumstances.

It's quite an impressive record, isn't it?

Jean Pierre Avalon, known as Jason.

Age 48 years and 2 months. Born, Berlin.

One time or another he seems to have worked for almost

every country there is. Sometimes two at a time.

There's more here. It's all in the same vein.

How do you know so much about him?

Well, for the past 18 months he's been pretending to double

for one of our military outfits in Berlin.

Now, they've been stringing him along for their own purposes.

Now it looks as though the time has come to rope him in,

along with your friend John Steed.

There's more other stuff coming through, Mike.

You want it? - No. I think we've seen enough.

Right.

Convinced?

MOTOR WHIRRING

Steed?

Is that you?

MAN: Get him. He's alone.

Hey. All right.

This is the fellow, Jason, eh? Let's have a look at him.

Anything to say for yourself, Jason?

No, he's not gonna talk. We'd better search him.

He's a regular.

- Hmm? - Wallet with... about £300.

Going abroad without a passport, eh? That's a criminal offense, me lad.

- No sign of the document, eh? - Steed must be bringing it himself.

I wonder where they were going to take it.

Well, whatever it was, it looks as though

they were planning on travelling light.

AIRCRAFT APPROACHING

Listen. Hear that?

I can see him.

He's touching down over there. I can't tell what it is.

It looks like a seaplane.

Yes, it's a Kingfisher amphibian.

He'll start to panic. Sit out there and wait.

Huh? What do we do now?

JOHN: Just raise your hands, please.

Do exactly as you are told.

Here.

Thanks, Steed.

My wallet?

Throw it.

Thank you. - Get going.

Go on, what are you waiting for? Get going.

For you, of course. Look, you can't stay here.

Your life wouldn't be worthwhile.

We arranged for you to leave alone. Go on, get going.

- Have you gone out of your mind? - I don't think so. Why do you ask?

I don't think you quite know what you're doing.

- I do, perfectly. - You're going to be very lucky

indeed to get away with this. - I don't intend to try.

PLANE TAKES OFF

You realise the charge against you is high treason?

Is it really? I hadn't really thought about it.

Well, shall we go?

- You met Jason in Paris in 1961. - No.

We've got it on record, Steed. There's no point in denying it.

No point in asking.

It's all right, Anderson.

JOHN SIGHS

- Cigarette? - No, I don't smoke.

What about something to eat? Sure you're feeling a bit peckish.

That's unexpectedly civilised.

Oh, we have a very good canteen here.

We can send out, if you like. - Please, do.

That's right. Anderson, get the menu.

- And a wine list. - Yes.

HE GRUNTS SOFTLY A very promising fellow, there.

He doesn't even leave a mark. Good. Very good.

Now, Steed, you and I are in the same line

of business more or less, huh?

I don't like to see you like this.

Why don't you make things easier for us?

You realise that Jason's aircraft was intercepted and searched.

Now, as soon as you decide to tell us

exactly what really did happen

to the Big Ben microfilm, we can forget all this.

Now, what about it?

Oh, come along, old man. - Sorry.

- You're making my job very hard. - I know.

Oh, we'll get some food in him.

- Bring the wine list? - On the back.

My goodness me, so it is. What shall I have? Er...

Well, you've got quite a cellar here at the Civil Service.

I'll have the Pouilly-Fuisse there, and I'll have the roast chicken,

mushrooms, erm, new potatoes, and I'll have all the vegetables,

I think maybe a small salad, and possibly a brandy later.

I'll get that for you.

HE SIGHS

Now, where's that microfilm?

What microfilm?

- You paid the Strindberg girl. - No.

You deny that she microfilmed Big Ben for you?

Yes, I do deny it.

I'm not very well up in Nutshell morality.

Do you use the same needle system as up there?

Only for humanitarian offences.

And for crimes against Nutshell?

There's only one, endangering security.

There are different degrees, of course.

Is the punishment unique to Nutshell?

Yes.

Mrs Gale, if you want to know

what's going to happen to John Steed,

that depends entirely on how cooperative he is.

And if he's not cooperative?

That's not for me to decide.

You better start searching over there.

We don't even know if it's here.

Steed planted a dummy roll on Jason. It could be anywhere.

Get on and search.

Hey. Hey, look at this.

HE CHUCKLES

"RKJ to V Steed.

"Presented by the Bengal and Whintle Hunt 1892."

I better break the frame. He might have put the film inside.

Oh, come off, Steed wouldn't pull an old trick like that.

Do as you're told.

It seems a shame.

Such a nice-looking old boy.

Er, well.

Er.

JOHN CHUCKLES

Well, that's absolutely marvellous.

That looks terrific.

Hey, you don't get this sort of thing every day, do you?

Not this one. JOHN CHUCKLES

Well, I must congratulate you.

Your canteen must be the rage of Whitehall.

Now, if I can find the, er... - Salt?

- Oh, there we are. - Anything else?

Well, I think that my glass is empty.

Hmm? Oh, of course. I'm sorry. Wine.

How's that? - That's fine.

This is a real little banquet after a hard day's work.

Got everything you want now, have you?

I'll just take one final check. Yes, it is delicious.

Right. Now, when you're ready to talk,

we'll let you eat it. Take it away.

All right.

I agree the evidence indicates that Steed is the traitor.

But how could he know enough about the security arrangements

to brief Elin Strindberg on her break-in?

You said yourself he was an outsider to Nutshell.

I said Steed had never had security of access information

authorised to him. - Well?

But he has visited Nutshell three times in the last year.

Steed is a highly trained man, trained to observe and deduce.

I believe him capable of discovering

enough security detail to brief the Strindberg girl.

SHE GASPS

I grant you Steed knows his job.

But why should he turn traitor?

Politics, ideology, money.

Perhaps something more insidious.

You could call it an occupational hazard.

Steed could be too good at his job.

So that he might look for other risks,

other chances to take?

Certainly. Vanity is a weakness of Steed's.

Yes.

So much so that he might not be able to resist the challenge

to try and outwit both sides.

The challenge might appeal to him,

but I don't think he'd accept it. He's too professional.

That's my other point. He's a professional.

Among other jobs, he's had to catch spies and he's good.

Mrs Gale, a good policeman must think like a good criminal

if he's going to catch him.

The thought processes of the hunter and the hunted

can be so related, almost interchangeable.

Only their motives distinguish them.

Steed has had to think like a spy.

Many times.

His behaviour recently has been untypical.

Yes.

He could be sick.

I mean, he carries great responsibility.

You take my point.

He's certainly under strain.

SHE GASPS

What I mean is medically it might be wrong

to assess his motives so categorically.

- Possibly. It's not my concern. - Well, it should be.

It's not my concern for the moment, Mrs Gale.

I want the Big Ben film,

and I believe Steed knows where it is.

Don't you?

Yes, I suppose he must know.

Our time is short.

Steed will have to talk.

VENNER: 'Seventh room is all metal.

'The floor, the chair, the walls, the ceiling.

'The prisoner's body will always be in contact.

'The metal carries an electric current,

'which can be controlled to an exceptional degree

'of sensitivity.

'For example, that was 95 volts.

'Of course, in time, the body will develop

'greater powers of resistance.

'In order to obtain the same effect,

'a larger number of volts will have to be used.

'That's right.

'You'll never be quite sure what you can touch for safety.

'You'll never know when, at what hour of the day or night.

'You'll never know how many volts you'll be in contact with next.'

- Like a cigarette? - I don't smoke.

Oh, of course. I forgot. Yes.

Then, coffee?

No, thank you. HE SIGHS

- Where's the Big Ben microfilm? - Sorry.

Where is it, Steed?

All right.

The principle is disorientation, isn't it?

Just as in brainwashing. - Yes.

The subject's mind can't prepare him for the shocks,

and therefore can't protect him.

He loses faith in his senses.

- And learns to unlearn. - And in the process, he talks.

Yes, I'm sure he does.

He'll ransack his brain for every single memory

in the hope of finding one he can cling to.

But it takes time.

It can take weeks, even months, depending on the subject.

Yes.

We know Steed is a professional.

He's trained to withstand pain.

And I'm sure he's trained to undergo this sort of treatment.

You're quite right, Mrs Gale.

The only hope is that Steed will crack.

Oh, you know he won't.

At least not in time for us to recover the Big Ben film.

Venner is a professional, too.

How long have we got, four hours?

Rather less.

I think I might be able to get Steed to tell us.

I mean, I think he might trust me.

Of course, it would help if I could promise him leniency.

You can promise him anything you like, Mrs Gale.

Coming after that, a sympathetic approach

from someone he knows might work.

We've nothing to lose.

- Venner? - 'Sir.'

Mrs Gale is going to talk to the prisoner.

'Yes, sir.'

Oh, Mrs Gale.

You've come to bring me some reading matter?

- How are you, Steed? - I'm losing weight.

Er, would you like to sit down?

I hardly think that Venner will give you the hot seat.

HE CHUCKLES

I've come to try and help you, Steed.

Helping me to help myself, huh?

You know, er, I know this.

It's an old dodge, mixing cruelty with kindness.

CATHERINE: 'Then let's try common sense.

'Tell me what's happened to the Big Ben film.'

JOHN: 'No.'

Look, you're a prisoner.

You can't escape,

and you're going to be tried as a traitor.

You know what that means. - I know indeed.

You can't owe any loyalty to these other people.

Oh, I don't know.

Well, even if you do, they can't help you now, can they?

I suppose not.

If you tell us what's happened to the film,

I can promise you leniency. - Promises?

Disco would agree.

Disco is the last person I'd believe.

What do you want then, money?

And a chance to spend it.

- I think it could be arranged. - Oh, Mrs Gale.

Your faith in human beings even now delights me.

Steed, please tell me what's happened to the Big Ben film.

Sorry.

Well, that's that then. - Yep.

Venner?

MUFFLED CRIES

- Are you all right, Mrs Gale? - Yes, thanks.

I think you'd better go back to the Command Centre.

Put your hands up.

VENNER: 'All right, close the door and wait outside.

'Sit down.'

- You're not hurt, are you? - No, I'm all right.

I'm sorry I wasn't successful.

I'm sorry you were subjected to that.

Is there anything else you'd like me to do?

No, thank you. You'd like to go home, I think.

Yes, I would.

Laura will see you to Access.

There'll be no need for the checkout process for Mrs Gale.

LAURA: Very good, sir.

You will be informed if we get Steed to talk.

Thanks.

No, sorry.

We're being very patient with you, Steed.

I don't think you have any conception

of what can be done to you. - I've got a pretty good idea.

I guarantee I'll be able to surprise you.

STATIC NOISE

Short circuit.

- These new-fangled gadgets. - No. It's all been arranged.

Our whole system's knocked out for 30 seconds.

We can talk freely for that time only. £30,000.

- Fifty. - Done.

- Get me out of here? - Three minutes after 21:00 hours.

You know the way to 50 sector? - Yeah.

I'll keep the corridors clear. You'll have to dodge the cameras.

- I can manage that. - I'll meet you at 50 sector.

- What do we do then? - I know the way to be used

should Disco ever have to operate plan Wishmake.

- Fair enough. - Where's the Big Ben microfilm?

CLOCK CHIMES

TELEPHONE RINGS

Yes?

Is it? Right. Well, I'll find it.

I'll see you at the usual place.

Right. Bye.

If you'll tell me what it is you're looking for...

HE GRUNTS Perhaps I can help.

Could I have a cross-check on this straight away, please?

Yes, of course.

Get upstairs. Contact Alex.

Not until the agreed time...

I remember it coming through. I think it's in here.

It's just that we've almost done it.

You've almost done it.

Such a long time before I could trust Steed.

He could have been playing a double game.

But when Mrs Gale passed him that gun,

I knew I had to take the risk.

Do you know he asked for £50,000 just like that?

Make me sick.

I never expected him to sell his soul to the highest bidder,

betray Nutshell just for the money.

I'll go contact Alex.

Let's hope he's got the film.

Erm, yes, it's here.

Do you want me to put it through? - If you would, please.

- How did Steed escape? - It's all arranged.

BELL RINGS

Alex isn't there. He's here.

I wouldn't if I were you.

DISCO: 'OK.'

CATHERINE: 'Disco? Disco?

'Go on, Alex, speak up.

'Alex?'

ALEX: 'It's bad.'

All right, guards, I'll take over now.

Thank you very much. - All right.

DISCO: 'Arrest now.

'Arrest now!'

VENNER GRUNTS

GUARD: Freeze!

What did Steed tell you about Jason?

Jason had heard of a plan hatched inside Nutshell

to steal Big Ben.

Being a double agent himself, he was concerned and told Steed,

for a price.

Steed reported this to security?

Yes, and nothing happened.

Elin Strindberg had been engaged to do the robbery,

so Steed paid her a bit more.

And got possession of the film, which he used as bait

to force Venner to show his hand.

Which he finally did.

Certainly took his time, of course.

Steed, you haven't handed over the microfilm.

I haven't got it.

Ring 306, will you?

There isn't any microfilm of Big Ben.

- What? - Never was.

Couldn't trust Elin Strindberg any more than Jason.

So I put, er, exposed negative in their little camera.

Well, what did Jason get, then?

Oh, look at that, one of me at Deauville.

Quite delicious. Heavy day at the casino.

I think the rest were of you, my dear.

Astride a donkey on the beach at Bognor Regis.

SHE CHUCKLES

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