All language subtitles for The Avengers S03E22 1080p WEB DL H264 BTN_track3_[eng]

BUTCHER: Number two and seven
is only for the lady.

Oh, good morning, sir.

JOHN: Good morning.

How are you off for venison?
- Venison, sir?

Well, we don't get much call
for that, sir.

However, if you'd like to come
with me through the back here, sir,

I might be able to oblige you, sir.

This way, sir.

Erm, how much exactly
would you be wanting, sir?

- It's quite a large party.
- Oh, yes.

- Good morning, Alice.
- Good morning.

How many guests are you having, sir?

- We aim to seat 18.
- Eighteen? Oh, yes.

Of course, we'll have to cut
all the fat off and bone it and...

That is quite enough of that, Steed.

All right, listen to this.

MAN: 'Dossier 03-11-24.

'Sharp and O'Brien, British subject.

'26th of January, 1959,
defected to Aburain.

'Assumed Aburanian nationality.

'May '59,
appointed head of Radio Aburain.

'June '61, Minister of the Interior.

'September '63,
head of military operations.'

Sharp arrives 11:00, December 17th,
for 72 hours.

You are in charge of security.

- Ah, you got my message.
- CATHERINE: Obviously.

- I've been doing the shopping.
- Obviously.

I take it it's about Andrew Sharp?
- Obviously.

I've been working all night.
HE SIGHS

Most of these papers are saying

he shouldn't be allowed
into the country.

You can hardly blame them.

As far as they're concerned,
he's still a traitor.

As far as I'm concerned,
he's still a traitor.

Hmm.

Maybe, but he visits this country
under diplomatic immunity,

and we have to treat him

as a responsible minister
of a friendly power.

Even to the point of doing
an arms deal with him?

The British government
have invited General Sharp,

as he now is,

to purchase arms for one reason.

Simply that we don't want him

to do a better deal
with anyone else.

Thinking that in return
for a few tanks and guns

he'll promise not to look elsewhere?

- That's the idea.
- Where do I come in?

Well, I have to make arrangements
with Special Branch,

airport police concerning
the arrangements.

I thought that you might
go to the Embassy and Sharp's hotel

and see how everything
is at that end.

Why can't you go?

Well, they may be suspicious.

They know my face
from a little bloodbath

on the border about four years ago.

There will be
a repeat performance here

if you don't soon
put this meat in the fridge.

Oh! I don't know why I go on dealing
with this butcher.

Ironic, isn't it?
Here we are protecting a man

five years ago we were trying
to get rid of.

- Who, the butcher?
- No, Sharp.

They tried to kill him
more than once

and lost, oh,
a few good agents in the process.

Steve Rayner, missing,
presumed dead.

Mark Charter, killed in operations.

Ah. I wonder what they'd think now.

HE EXHALES

TYPEWRITER CLACKING

I'd like to see Mr Quilpie.

- I'm afraid Mr Quilpie's busy.
- It's urgent.

- Your number?
- SO 11127.

What name was it, sir?

Er, Charter.

But you can call me Mark.

JOHN: This afternoon, Mrs Gale
is meeting with the ambassador

about the arrangements,
security arrangements

within the Embassy.
- QUILPIE: Right.

And I've laid on with the police for
a special police escort for Sharp

all the way from the airport.
- Good.

- Excuse me, sir.
- Yes.

There's a Mr Charter to see you.

Only one Charter I know.
Mark Charter, and he's dead.

He's not, sir.

He's in my office.
- What?

Morning.

We thought you were dead.

I know.

It's upsetting, isn't it?

QUILPIE: All right, Alice.

We heard
you'd been sentenced to death.

- I was.
- And executed.

No. They changed
their nasty little minds

and kept me alive for questioning.

For five years?

They only questioned me
for five months.

What about Steve Rayner,
is he alive, too?

Rayner's dead. I was the lucky one.

- Lucky?
- Well, up to a point.

- How did you get out?
- They released me.

- When was that?
- Last night.

Why did they let you go?

I'm afraid
I didn't have time to ask.

You better tell us what happened.

Well, about midnight on Wednesday,
one of the guards woke me up.

First time
they'd bothered me for years.

There was a lieutenant with him,
read a message from the Palace.

I thought it was going to be
an execution order.

Well, they gave me a suit,
bundled me into a car,

and put me aboard the first
available flight for London.

What's the matter?
You look as if you'd seen a ghost.

I must say, you're very casual.

I suppose you realise
that officially

you've been dead for five years.

As far as I'm concerned,
so have you.

If we'd known you were alive,
we'd have done something about it.

Yes, of course you would.
Don't worry about it.

What happened to Rayner?

Rayner's dead.

You told us that.
I want to know how.

Pneumonia.

- You're sure?
- Of course.

They never found out
the true purpose of your mission?

To kill Sharp?

No, they had to rig up our trial
with a lot of phony charges.

Have you, er...

..have you read today's papers?

You mean about General Sharp
coming to London?

He's gone up in the world,
hasn't he?

Is that all you're going to say?

What do you expect me to say?

Five years ago,
you wanted Sharp killed.

I volunteered, and I failed.

That's the way it goes, isn't it?

Anyway, er, being in prison
has its compensations.

You owe me five years' back pay,
plus overseas allowance.

I'll settle for a round figure,
£15,000.

- Excuse me, sir.
- CHARTER: Mm?

You're sitting in my chair.

Oh, I'm afraid you're mistaken.

I've had this chair
for more than five years now.

Ah, a new member.

- I say, Jenkins?
- Yes, sir?

This, erm,
gentleman is sitting in my chair.

Sorry, Mr Edwards.

This has always been
Mr Charter's chair.

- Jenkins, I...
- MAN: Shh.

If you say so, Jenkins.

I really can't understand why.

The place is going to the dogs.

- Thank you, Jenkins.
- A pleasure to have you back, sir.

Although, we heard rumours.

All untrue.

So I see, sir.

Will you have your usual?

Thank you, Jenkins.

Oh, I'd like a room
for a couple of days

with a bath if you can manage it.

I'll do my best, sir.

JOHN: May I talk to you?

Hello, Steed.

Very sorry to disturb you
in the sacred precinct.

MAN: Shh.

I want to have a word with you.

- What about?
- Sharp.

My dear old fellow, I've only been
in this country ten hours.

I'd appreciate some time on my own.

Sharp is due here in...
HE SHUSHES

..48 hours.

What's that got to do with me?

- Quite a bit.
- How come?

Hasn't it occurred to you
what a coincidence it is

that your release
after five years coincides

with the announcement of Sharp's
first visit to this country

since you were sent to kill him?
- Yes, it's a coincidence.

MAN SNORING

Did they brainwash you?

It was all fairly routine
grade two interrogation.

Who ordered your release?

- The president, I think.
- Not Sharp?

The lieutenant said his instructions
came from the Palace.

General Sharp
is the head of military operations.

You were his responsibility.

That's true.
I don't see what you're getting at.

He gave an interview in the press
this morning

saying you overpowered your guard,
stole a military vehicle,

went over the frontier,

and stowed away
on a plane to London.

Well, Mrs Gale, I think
that takes care of everything.

How many are there
in his personal bodyguard?

Three.

Oh, Ambassador.
Mrs Gale is just leaving.

Ah, Mrs Gale.

Are you both quite satisfied
with the arrangements?

Yes, I think so.

- The hotel?
- Everything is in order.

I chose the penthouse suite
for the general.

It makes security easier.

And the entire staff
has been screened.

Good. You're quite happy?

Yes, I hope everything
goes according to plan.

Good day, Your Excellency.
- I'll show you out, Mrs Gale.

Brian, show Mrs Gale to the door.

Oh, excellent.

What do you think will happen now?

Your guess is as good as mine.

What did you make of Mrs Gale?

HE CHUCKLES

Charming.

And perfectly genuine.

I hope so.

That's all for now, Charter.

And thank you.
- Aye, sir.

Alice, where art thou?

Coming, sir.

The accounts keeper
is still trying

to sort out your funds,
Mr Charter,

but in the meantime,
here's most of them.

Thank you. If there's nothing else,
I'll start spending some of this.

Try and keep a clear head.

We'd like you back in a few days'
time for a proper debriefing.

I wrote this out last night.

It's a full report of everything
that happened.

- Good.
- What are you going to do now?

I might buy a car,
go to the country for a few days,

do a bit of fishing.

If you want a car, try this address.

Belongs to a friend of mine.
She has a sports car.

It's pretty good,
and she needs to sell.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

QUILPIE: I'll see you out.

Where are you staying at the moment?
- At my club for a few days.

We'll contact you
when we've read your report.

Right, sir.

Bye.
- Goodbye, Mr Charter.

QUILPIE CLEARS THROAT

Alice, Alice, Alice.

Get this typed up and indexed,
will you?

Yes, sir.

Mrs Gale,
do you remember your friend

who had a car to sell?

Is it still for sale? Good.

Will you collect it,
bring it round to my flat tonight?

I'll explain later.

Well, Steed.

What do you think?
- Pretty remarkable story.

Which is the true story,
his or theirs?

Charter's, I think.

If he had escaped as the Aburanians
would have us believe,

he'd surely have told us.

On the other hand, their president
can have a good many

dozen reasons for concealing
the truth.

Yes, but being in jail can do
some funny things to a man's mind.

Yes, well...

Well, five years, he's the only one
who's ever come back

from a place like that
completely unbroken.

DOORBELL RINGS

- Mrs Gale?
- That's right.

My name is Charter.

I've come about the car
you have for sale.

Oh, you must be the man Steed sent.

Come in.
- Well, thank you.

- Would you like a drink?
- No, thanks.

I'm afraid I can't stay very long.

I'll take you down now
and show you the car.

Is that it outside, the convertible?

- Yes.
- How much do you want?

- £500.
- Right.

But wouldn't you like to try it out
before you make up your mind?

The M-1 is quite close to here.
You could try it out on there.

What's the M-1?

SHE CHUCKLES
Don't you know?

No, I'm afraid I've been overseas.

You must have been away a long time.

It's a motorway.
It runs from London to Birmingham.

Oh, I see.
OVEN TIMER RINGS

Excuse me, just a second.

Well, did you effect the sale?

Apparently.

What a strange man. Who is he?

Oh, didn't he announce himself?

Yes, he said his name was Charter.

It wouldn't be the Charter mentioned
in the Sharp file by any chance?

The very same.

I thought
he was supposed to be dead.

So did we, but he's not.

He escaped from a jail
in Aburain yesterday.

- An extraordinary coincidence.
- Yes, isn't it?

Oh, that smells good.

Actually, it's hot pot.

Why didn't you sell him
the car yourself?

It belonged to a friend of yours.
I didn't think he'd trust me.

That's the point.

You realise, of course,

he hasn't driven a car
for about five years.

I shouldn't worry about that.

He isn't going very far.

Are you going to be away long, sir?

- I'm going to the country.
- EDWARDS: Morning.

I'm going to be away for a few days.

I'll keep your room aired then
this time, sir.

- Thank you, Jenkins.
- Thank you, sir.

I can't stress too strongly, Steed,

how important it is that
there will be no disturbances.

No street marches,
no picketing the embassy.

Yes. It'll create
a very bad impression in Whitehall.

For your own sake,
see that it doesn't happen.

Yes, sir.
I've arranged with Special Branch

about General Sharp's meetings
with the prime minister.

Oh, good.

- Excuse me, sir.
- Mm.

- I think you ought to read this.
- What is it?

It's Charter's report.

Erm... the last paragraph.

Good. All right, Alice.

"And in acknowledging
responsibility

"for failing to kill
Sharp in 1959,

"I undertake to rectify
the situation

"at the earliest possible..."

Rectify the situation?

This is Charter's way
of saying that he received

an order from us in '59.

He acknowledges it...

..and he still intends to...
to carry it out.

He's here to kill Sharp.

So, your return rocked Whitehall
to its foundations?

They took it very well, considering.

- Considering what?
- Considering their embarrassment.

- Why? What did they say?
- Nothing much.

You send a couple of agents
to their deaths,

and five years later,
one of them walks into your office.

There's not a lot you can say,
is there?

What do you mean?

Well, they presumed I was dead.

No, I don't mean that.

I mean about sending you
and Steven to your deaths.

It was just a figure of speech.

If I thought
Steven had died for nothing...

Did you see much of him?

At first.

We shared a cell together,
then they separated us.

I only saw him once after that.

- How did he take it?
- Not too well.

He tried to escape
a couple of times.

He said he'd kill Sharp
if it was the last thing he did.

I wish he had.

That mission was a complete failure,
wasn't it?

It wasn't a roaring success.

It cost me five years in prison.

It cost Steven his life.

Yes.

Mark, why do you want this list?

I told you,
I just wanted to look up

a couple of
my old wartime contacts.

Why? You never bothered with any
of these people after the war.

I never had time, I guess.

I thought most of them
had gone back to live in France.

- They have.
- How's the writing going?

Oh, quite well.
I'm on my fifth book.

- On the Resistance?
- Mm-hm.

Nice going.

It doesn't pay terribly well,
but it helps with Steven's pension.

There you are.
- Thank you.

What are you going to do now?

I thought I might go to the country.

Have a rest for a few days,
somewhere quiet.

Would you like to go down
to the cottage?

Cottage?

You remember,
the place we had in Sussex.

Oh, yes.

- Yes, I'd love to.
- All right.

I'll give you the address.
- Just a minute.

Well, write it on here, would you?

- Oh, all right.
- I've got...

Oh, that's all right.
I've got one here.

Hazel Cottage.

I haven't been down there for ages,
but it should be all right.

Near Selsey, Sussex.

There you are.
- Thank you.

Now all you need is the key.

Oh.

Well, I better be off.
- Already? You've only just arrived.

I'm sorry, there's one or two things
I've got to do.

Mark?

Yes?

You know Sharp's coming to London,
don't you?

Yes.

If there's anything you need,
any kind of help,

you can always rely on me.

Yes, I know.

There's nothing, really.

All right.
I just thought I'd tell you.

Thank you.

I see Mike Lynden's
running a garage.

Yes, he's had it for some time.

I'll look him up first.

My car needs a service.

Well, I'll bring Mrs Gale in
to see you.

She'll give you a full description
of the car then.

QUILPIE: 'All right, get her
round here as quick as you can.'

Yes, sir.
DOORBELL RINGS

Hold on a minute.
There's someone at the door.

DOORBELL RINGS

Oh, come on in, Mrs Gale.
There's someone on the phone.

Charter's car is a...
Hey, are you there? You there?

HE WHISTLES

HE GROANS

- Have you quite finished?
- Ah, there you are.

Charter's car
is a pretty distinctive make.

We should alert Special Branch.
Quickest way of finding him.

All right. All right.

You must admit, Steed,
it's a rather ironic situation.

What?

The nation's top security outfit
moving hell and high water

to try and track down
one of their own agents.

I don't think you realise
how serious this is.

Yes, I do.

Sharp will be here as the guest
of the British government.

If anything were to happen to him,

it would be embarrassing,
to say the least.

And probably the end
of the arms negotiations.

What interests me is why Charter
still wants to kill Sharp.

I mean, what's his motive?

HE SIGHS

Who knows and who cares?

After five years
in an Aburanian jail,

maybe he doesn't need a motive.

Yes, five years could be enough.

Isolation, mental disorientation,
delusional obsession.

Can we skip the psychology?
Sharp is due here in 48 hours.

Doesn't it concern you
that Charter might be sick?

He looked all too healthy
this morning.

He's one of your own men, Steed.

Doesn't it even interest you,
his reason for doing this?

It's irrelevant.
The reason he'll give us

is one he's already given.
-Which is?

The reason he'll give in court
when we bring him to trial.

He is going to kill Sharp
because in 1959 we ordered him to.

Doesn't that rather prove my point
that he can't be well?

And why should he warn you?
He must know you'll stop him.

Maybe he thinks we can't stop him.

That's ridiculous.

It's much more likely
to be a revenge.

After five years in prison,

he probably wants
to get his own back

on your security machine.

Precisely. He knows everything
we do in advance.

Haven't your methods changed
in the last five years?

That is not the point. Come along.

I'll explain the whole thing
to you in the car.

Mr Quilpie awaits us.

After you.

DOORBELL RINGS

Yes, sir?

Mike Lynden?

That's right.

Mark Charter.

Charter?

Don't you remember me?
Normandy, '43.

Oh, yes. I remember.

Er, Helen gave me your address.

- Helen who?
- Helen Rayner.

Yes, she would.

Er, look, Mike...

I need some help, Mike.

I wonder if you could
respray my car for me?

- For free, I suppose.
- Of course not. I'll pay.

In cash.

- When do you want it done?
- Immediately. It's urgent.

Look, I'm very busy.

I just can't drop everything
for you.

You would have done,
my dear chap, 20 years ago.

Just because we fought together then

doesn't make us buddies now.

But those were
the good old days, Mike.

Well, I hated them.

I wanted to live in peace.

Twenty years is a long time,

and I don't like
to be reminded of it.

I'm sorry.

If you are interested,
name your own price.

- Why do you want it resprayed?
- That's my business.

And that's for changing
the number plates.

- All right, I'll do it.
- Oh, thank you very much.

But only because I need the money.

A pound of the usual, please.

What is the usual?

Anything from shank ends
to prime topside.

But you can't cook.

Eh?

Where are we?

The Robing Room at Lambeth Palace.

Oh, it's not as I remember it.

- GANSCI.
- What?

Government Agency
for National Security

and Counter Intelligence.

It's our hot end of the line.

Well, it's pretty cold.

- Good morning, Alice.
- Good morning, sir.

Miss Brisket, Mrs Gale.
Mrs Gale, Miss Brisket.

- How do you do?
- Pretty impressive place, eh?

It's all right.

- Mrs Gale's a vegetarian.
- Oh, dear.

The likes of modern butchery
have little appeal for her.

QUILPIE: Alice?

Yes, sir?

Is Mrs Gale here yet?
Where the devil is Steed?

They just arrived, sir.

Well, send them in, girl.
What are you waiting for?

I fear he's all merry
and bright this morning.

Not one of our happiest moods,
I'm afraid.

To hear is to obey.
Thank you very much, indeed.

Oh, by the way,

could you ask Bob for a pound
of sausages and one side?

Certainly, Mr Steed.

And a couple of dozen shin bones.

- They're for the dog.
- JOHN: Come along, Mrs Gale.

- Ah, Mrs Gale.
- CATHERINE: Good morning.

You'll appreciate
we'll only bring you here

on exceptional circumstances.

Steed has outlined
your problem to me.

Could no-one anticipate
that Charter might do this?

I mean,
is there no repatriation unit,

somewhere where
he could have had medical tests?

That's not what we're here
to discuss.

What I want from you is
a detailed description of that car

as it was when you last saw it.
According to Steed,

it belonged to a friend of yours.
- Yes.

Why don't you get
the description from her?

- We can't involve outsiders.
- I see.

Well, is that all
you brought me here for?

No, we want you to trail Charter.

Why me?

You have special qualifications,
Mrs Gale.

You have the advantage
of being an outsider.

I thought you couldn't risk
involving outsiders.

HE CLEARS THROAT

How do you suggest I go about it?

Did you get that list from records?

I picked it up this morning.

This is a list of Charter's
wartime contacts.

It's not much,
but it's the only lead we've got.

In the meantime, Steed,

I want you to break the news
to the Aburanian embassy.

- Do they have to be told?
- Yes, they do.

I'm afraid
you'll have to count me out.

- Why?
- An unfortunate little experience

with their ambassador
before Aburanian Independence.

Do you remember that?
- Oh, yes.

What about the feminine approach?
What do you say, Mrs Gale?

Yes, of course.

Is there anything else you'd like me
to do while I'm about it?

No, I think that's all
for the moment. Thank you.

I'll see you out, Mrs Gale.

Let me know
as soon as you get anything,

and don't forget to give
the description of the car to Alice.

I won't forget.

Now, Steed, what additional
arrangements have you made

to cope with the new situation?

All available manpower
has been laid on

during the extent of the visit.

Twice the normal amount.

And there will be
a complete security guard on Sharp

from the time he leaves the airport.

Sharp's visit may be unpopular,
but it's vital if we're to maintain

a proper area of influence
in Southwest Asia.

Yes, sir.

Let's hope that
Mrs Gale exercises

a proper area of influence
in South West London.

CATHERINE: Our ministry feels that,
in view of Charter's disappearance,

we should seriously consider
cancelling General Sharp's visit.

That's out of the question.

Flight's already left Aburain,
Mrs Gale.

He'll be here at half past ten.

I mean, cancellation at this stage
would arouse considerable comment.

Our neighbours might look upon it
as a diplomatic rebuff.

- In any case, the visit is vital.
- I see.

I assume your people will strengthen
the security arrangements?

Yes, we've worked out another plan.

I'll be getting in touch with you
this afternoon.

Well, I know we can rely
on the British authorities

to take every precaution, Mrs Gale.

I'm sure everything
will be all right.

I hope so.

Thank you for seeing me,
Your Excellency.

HE SNAPS FINGERS

Brian, Mrs Gale is just leaving.
Have her followed.

Why?

To make sure that her visit here
was perfectly genuine.

It'll be interesting to see
where she goes to next.

I suppose you realise
the implications?

All too well.

I learned my lesson
during the revolution.

One should never trust the British.

Even when they're trying to help us?

Least of all
when they're trying to help us.

Hello. Are you receiving?

Oh, good afternoon, miss.
What can I do for you?

- Well, I hope you can help me.
- Well, I'll do my best.

I'm looking for a car.

I've got several nice models
around the back.

Come and have a look.

What price had you in mind?

Well, I'm looking
for a specific car.

- Uh-huh.
- A blue Vogle Prentiss.

Oh, that's pricey
and out of my range.

I owned one until yesterday.

Then I sold it
to a man called Charter.

Really?

Don't you know him?
He's a friend of mine.

- Should I?
- He often talks about you.

I understood you were
in the Resistance together.

It's possible.

There's a lot of us in London

that fought together in France
during the war,

but I don't remember
anybody named Charter.

That's strange.

Anyway, he's disappeared.

I don't think I'll be able
to help you.

He talked about
having the car resprayed.

That's why I thought
he might have come to you.

Well, he hasn't.

I haven't done a car like that
for months.

Well, if he does turn up,

perhaps you'd ask him
to get in touch with me, would you?

Yes, all right, Mrs Gale.

Thank you.

QUILPIE:
Immediate organisation of security

to prevent
such an attempt being made.

Stop. In view...

TELEPHONE RINGS

Quilpie.

What?

A court order?

I don't care if they want a bill
from the House of Lords.

There isn't time.

Well, use your blasted initiative.

Blasted...
- "In view..."

In view of the imminence
of the general's arrival,

the arrest of this man
should be regarded

as a matter of the gravest,
repeat, gravest, urgency.

All right, get that off right away.
- Yes, sir.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Yes?

I see. Thank you.

Mrs Gale is back, sir.
- It's about time. Show her in.

Oh, come in, Mrs Gale. Any luck?

The Ambassador absolutely...

Just a moment. Just a moment.

Prefix 1009, stroke three,
stroke eight.

All right, Mrs Gale,
what have you found?

The Ambassador absolutely refuses
to cancel General Sharp's visit.

I pointed out the danger
he might be in,

but he was quite adamant.

At midday, I left the embassy
and went to Lynden's garage,

Number 4, Chepston Mews.

Michael Lynden, the proprietor,

denied having seen Charter
or his car.

I think he was lying.

I noticed a spray gun there
that was wet,

and obviously been used
in the last 24 hours.

- What was the colour of the paint?
- White.

White?

That's not very much
like camouflage, is it?

- Is there anything else?
- No.

1009, stroke three,
stroke eight ends.

Alice, get on to Special Branch.

We think the car may now be white.
- ALICE: 'Yes, sir.'

Well, if you're right, Mrs Gale,

it shouldn't be
very difficult to find.

You think Charter
would risk leaving London?

I don't know.
We can't afford to take any chances.

I mean, he could be 100 miles away.

He could be hiding out
at the end of the street.

Has he got any family?

There's no next of kin.
We're certain of that.

Wait a minute,
wait a minute, wait a minute.

I suppose he could have gone
to see Steve Rayner's widow,

Helen Rayner.

Yes. Yes, I remember Mark Charter.

Of course I do.

The only thing
I can tell you about him

is that your people sent him away
with my husband

to die in circumstances
that were never explained

to anyone's satisfaction,
least of all mine.

So I don't see why
you've come to me at all.

Why have you?

Would it surprise you
to know that Charter's still alive?

Yes.

You don't sound very surprised.

You've seen Charter, haven't you?

Look, it's imperative
that we find him.

- Don't you know where he is?
- No, he's disappeared.

Why would he do that?

- Didn't he tell you?
- Tell me what?

He's going to kill Sharp.

Really?

Then he has my blessing.

I can sympathise, Mrs Rayner,
but we must try and stop him.

Why?
SHE SCOFFS

Apart from anything else,
he's throwing away his life.

He knows the risk he's taking.

He can't hope to get away with it.

He must know we've alerted
the Aburanian Embassy.

Typical hypocrisy.

It won't save Sharp.

Look, you know where Charter is
and you've got to tell me.

Doesn't his life
mean anything to you?

I'm sorry, Mrs Gale.
I can't help you.

I hope he does kill Sharp.

Is that all you care about,
Sharp's death?

Yes, Mrs Gale, it is.

I think I can understand
your feelings, Mrs Rayner.

But doesn't it seem a terrible waste

when your husband died
in exactly the same cause?

No.

Sharp's death is all that
Mark's living for.

I'm not going to stand in his way.

You're a very vindictive woman,
Mrs Rayner.

I thought you said
you understood my feelings.

The loss of a husband, yes.

But not for murder or revenge.

You don't know what it's like
to be made a widow.

Yes, I do.

- I say, Jenkins.
- Yes, sir?

Isn't that the fellow
who was in here last night?

Mr Charter? Yes, sir.

Dashed odd.

Comes back after five years
and then disappears again.

Doesn't he like the place?

He told me he was going
to the country for a few days.

Waste of a good chair.

Bring me a gin and tonic.

Yes, sir.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Beadles. Good afternoon.

Can I help you?

Oh, yes, Mrs Gale.

No, I'm afraid Mr Steed
hasn't been in all day.

You're welcome.

Goodbye.

TELEPHONE RINGS

"Blistering barnacles."

QUILPIE: You're absolutely sure
about this, Mrs Gale?

Positive. That last address,
Hazel Cottage near Selsey, Sussex,

is in Helen Rayner's handwriting.

Then Steed was lying when he said
he got that list from Records.

Well, he must have got
the list from Helen Rayner,

which means he'd been there
before and not told us.

Doesn't sound like Steed.

Wish I knew what the devil
he was playing at.

- They found Charter's car, sir.
- Where?

Abandoned in a field
on the Sussex coast near Selsey.

Thank you, Alice. Any news of Steed?

Well, he's still not
answering his phone.

All right. Keep trying.

Well, Mrs Gale, can I interest you
in a trip to Hazel Cottage?

No.

No, I'm fine.
How's everything your end?

Mrs Gale? No, she hasn't,

but I'll certainly
keep an eye open for her.

Yes, I read the papers.
That should warm things up a bit.

Right. I'll ring you later on.

Bye.

ZULFICAR:
Memorise every feature of that face.

It belongs
to a highly trained agent.

I want this man,
and I want him alive

and in this room
before the end of the day.

That's all. Your car is waiting.

- Major Zulficar?
- Hmm?

Where are they going?

- To a house in Sussex.
- Sussex?

When we arrested Charter and Rayner
in 1959...

What's it got to do with Rayner?
He's dead.

Yes, of course,
I know that, but look at this.

It's a summary
of their interrogation records.

Look at the address given by Rayner.

- Well?
- It was a coincidence perhaps.

But this afternoon, Mrs Gale
paid a call on Rayner's widow,

after which she left for Sussex.

Couldn't all this have been
dealt with by the British police?

I thought it wiser
to get there first.

With soldiers?

It's a flagrant breach
of diplomatic practice.

In a situation like this,
we cannot afford to be diplomatic.

- Mrs Gale?
- Yes.

Of course.

You work for Steed.

It's all right.
I've come alone and unarmed.

- No reinforcements on the way?
- No.

In that case, Mrs Gale,
charming as you are,

I don't see
what you hope to achieve.

- Why are you doing this?
- What?

Signing your own death warrant.

Am I?

You can't hope to get away with it.

Sharp's bodyguard will be prepared
to shoot you on sight.

If they see me.

What brings you here, Mrs Gale?

Why do you still want to kill Sharp?

I was ordered to.

That was five years ago
in a theatre of war.

This is England, peacetime.

It's an entirely
different situation.

- Is it?
- What do you mean?

I don't think so.

General Sharp has people shot

simply because they disagree
with the president of Aburain.

Does that matter to you, Mrs Gale?

- Yes, of course it does.
- I intend to do something about it.

Killing Sharp is not the answer.

What do you suggest,

a public reprimand
from the leaders of democracy?

A vote of censure
of the United Nations?

They're the only arguments
for civilised people.

That's not the argument
of civilised people.

It's the argument of people
who can't do anything.

Be honest with yourself.

Why should you worry
what happens to General Sharp?

I'm not worried about Sharp.

I'm worried about you.

RUSTLING NEARBY

What is it?

My Aburanian friends
from the embassy.

Look, hide up there.

They won't want to leave
any witnesses alive.

- What about you?
- I'll bluff it out.

They may not know I'm here.
We could ambush them.

Good afternoon.

THEY GRUNT

GUN FIRES
HE GROANS

It was an accident.

He's still alive.
I'll call an ambulance.

We'd better get out of here.

Somebody will have heard the shot.
They're bound to.

Precisely.

That's why we can't stay here.

He'll live.
We'll phone the police later.

Now, outside, please, Mrs Gale.

We'll take the embassy car.
They won't be looking for that.

Where are we going?

Back to London.

General Sharp's plane
will be landing shortly.

I have no intention
of disappointing him.

Are you aware it's the only
weak link is the airport?

The moment when Sharp
steps out of that plane

before getting into
the armoured car.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Quilpie.

Oh, Mrs Gale, yes.

What?

He left you where?

All right, get round here
as quick as you can.

Charter's back in town.

But how did he get past
the police check?

He stole a diplomatic car
from the embassy guards.

Bayswater, Bays...

I wish I knew
where the devil Steed was.

I don't care how long it took you
to reach a telephone.

You should've notified
the British police.

Return immediately.

What happened?

They not only let Charter escape,

they even allowed him
to steal their car.

Not one of your
more successful operations, Major.

HE SCOFFS

What time is it?

Eight.

Sharp's plane will be landing soon.

We'd better prepare
for the reception.

How can we go on
with Charter still at large?

If he's as good an agent as you say,

he should be able to find
his own way here.

General Sharp and Mr Steed,
Ambassador.

Ah. Ah, General.

How do you do?

I hope you had a pleasant trip.

- Not bad. Do you know Steed?
- No, I don't...

It was a long time, Ambassador,
and a pretty hot reception.

- Oh. How do you do?
- How do you do?

Apparently, Steed's in charge

of the security arrangements
for my visit here.

Indeed? We've been dealing
with a Mrs Gale up to now.

Why wasn't I told about Charter?

Well, we...
we didn't want to alarm you, sir.

Alarm me? If I'd known,
I wouldn't have come.

Exactly, sir.

We've done everything
we can to ensure

your stay will be
a successful one, General.

- Mm. Steed?
- Yes, sir.

Do you know where Charter is now?

Not this very moment, sir,

but I don't think you have
anything to fear from him.

- What do you mean?
- I'm certain he's bluffing.

I hope you're right. Will you be
at the press reception later?

- Of course, sir.
- See you then.

Until later, gentlemen.

Well, well, Mr Charter.

So you finally managed to get here.

I trust you had a pleasant journey?

QUILPIE: In the light
of what you just told me,

I'm willing to overlook the fact

that you failed to report in
for eight hours.

- Do you have a match, sir?
- Match.

Thank you very much.

I had to let Mrs Gale
do the donkey work

in case either of us
were being followed.

Hmm. Yes, of course,
you may be right.

Ah, matches, old boy,
that's the way I got them.

- Oh, sorry.
- Thank you very much.

Still, it might be very difficult
to convince her.

Come into the fridge, there's still
one or two things to be done.

- Mrs Gale.
- JOHN: Miss Brisket.

I think you're wanted, Mrs Gale.

Oh, really?

Ah, Mrs Gale,
you made contact with the enemy.

I'm satisfied he means business.

And you're also satisfied
he's not sick?

He thinks he's trying
to rid us of a traitor.

I wish I could have persuaded him
to give himself up.

In the circumstances,
an understandably difficult task.

Eh, Steed?

What circumstances
are you referring to?

Steed, where have you been
for the last 12 hours?

You went to Helen Rayner's,
didn't you?

Where else have you been
without telling us?

I think we better be going.

The reception is in
less than a couple of hours.

I'll explain on the way home.
- It had better be good.

The list... Oh, never mind.

- He's here.
- AMBASSADOR: Good. Bring him in.

Charter, welcome to the party.

I understand you wish
to kill General Sharp.

You don't look the sort of man
who would kill,

just for the fun of it.

- I'll kill Sharp.
- For fun?

- Oh, no.
- As part of your job?

- No.
- Then why?

Revenge.

Revenge for Rayner's murder,
five years in prison,

and Sharp turning traitor
to his country.

Yes, admirable sentiments, I'm sure.

But when it comes to the point,

do you think
you'll be able to do it?

You're not on a Secret Service
mission now, you know.

You're in London,

on your home ground,
surrounded by the enemy.

I don't see how you can possibly
get away with it.

No, of course.

You're right.

Mr Charter, we'd like to help you.

I don't understand.

We want you to kill General Sharp.

- You want Sharp dead?
- Yes.

- Is this a joke?
- No.

When Sharp first came
to our country,

we welcomed him.

His knowledge was useful.
He was anxious to help us.

At the time,
we thought him indispensable.

But now? Now he's an embarrassment.

An Englishman
as Minister of the Interior.

Like a millstone round our necks.

In short,
the once indispensable Mr Sharp

is now dispensable.
- I see.

You appreciate we're deliberately
trying to embarrass your government,

and thereby break off
diplomatic relations?

Aren't you afraid I might inform
the Foreign Office of all this?

It's your word against mine.

What do you want me to do?

Fire two shots at the general

with a gun loaded with blanks.
- Blanks?

That's right, Mr Charter.
That's all you have to do.

You see,
we're not looking for a murderer.

Just for a scapegoat.

I'll be blamed?

Yes.

This embassy stands on
what is technically Aburanian soil,

so we have the right
to take you back

to our own country to stand trial.

No, thank you, I've seen
your legal system in action.

Ah, but this time
the verdict will be in your favour.

How very nice.
What do I do after the trial?

I can't return to this country.
- No.

How much back pay did you get
for your years in prison?

£15,000.

Mr Charter,
we'll offer you a house, a car,

and £50,000.

Who is actually going to kill Sharp?

- I am.
- When?

At the reception tonight.

All right. I'll do it.

Assuming Charter can get
into the embassy,

the reception's the most likely time
for the balloon to go up.

Lots of people about,
plenty of cover,

not to mention publicity.
- How will he get in?

- He's done a job like this before.
- Where?

Little town in France called Meaux.

Meaux?

- With an X.
- Ah.

He bumped off a Gestapo chief
inside Gestapo headquarters.

What happened to that car?

- What car?
- The embassy car.

Oh, he abandoned it
in the Bayswater Road.

The police returned it
to the embassy.

That's exactly
what he did in France.

He hasn't abandoned it at all.

He's simply hidden in the boot

and waited to be driven back
to the embassy garage.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Steed, yes?

You were right, Steed.

The butcher tells me that
Charter is definitely there.

So you won't be late
for the reception, will you?

We're just leaving.

All right, Cinders,
you shall go to the ball.

Hey, er,
what do you keep it in there?

Oh, in here?

Shall we go?

I should like to thank
the British government

for their hospitality,

and the British public
for their warm welcome.

I hope that the negotiations
I'm to have

with your prime minister
will be successful,

and will further the aims
of worldwide peace.

Your presence here,
ladies and gentlemen,

is encouraging.

I had anticipated

that my welcome
would not be so warm.

There are, I know,
many people in this country

who feel that my visit

should never have been allowed
to come about.

To these, I can only say
that I have come here

in the sincere hope
that bygones may be bygones.

No-one is more anxious than myself

to see a peaceful settlement
between our two countries.

We have had our differences
in the past.

But now,
we would like to bury the hatchet

and let bygones be bygones.

I consider it a great honour
to have been chosen

by President Arafat
as his representative

at the forthcoming
arms negotiations.

He feels, as I do,

that the quickest
and most obvious solution

to the threat of open invasion
or political infiltration

by our neighbour states

is to arm ourselves
not with weapons,

but with prestige.

The prestige of an alliance
with your government.

Shoot, man. Why don't you shoot?

Sorry to disappoint.
Nothing was further from my mind.

SHARP: ..acts of pending aggression.

But by proposing an agreement
with your government,

which would allow us...

There's really not much point
in that now, is there?

..without increasing in size,

and to call upon your forces
for assistance,

should it be necessary,

he feels that it will be
possible to maintain peace...

Not one of your most
successful operations, Ambassador.

That is why I'm here.

And I know

that the arms negotiations
will be successful.

PEOPLE APPLAUDING

TELEPHONE RINGS

Hello?

No, I'm afraid he's away
for the weekend.

What do you mean "good"?

Oh, it's you.

Yes, I remember, SO 11127.

Well, I don't think
Mr Quilpie would approve.

You have?

Tomorrow?

I'd love to.

The main entrance at seven o'clock.

Goodbye, Mr Charter.

Bye.

JOHN: Any luck with Miss Brisket?

Yes. It was those two tickets
to Covent Garden that did it.

I don't know where
I'm going to get them from.

Not to worry,
you establish a beachhead.

From then on, it's plain sailing.

Which is more than could be said
for the shark head.

Incidentally,
what's going to happen to him

when he gets back to Aburain?

Return to a pretty sticky reception.

Personally, I don't care.
He's no longer my problem.

- JOHN: Oh.
- Oh.

Ah.

Might this be the moment
to inquire who dreamed up

this elaborate scheme?

We engineered it between us.

It was really a question
of playing it by ear.

With me as the decoy duck.

Precisely.

Wouldn't it have been a good idea
to let me into the secret earlier?

Wouldn't it have made life
a lot easier?

Not really. See,
we figured that General Sharp

had fallen into disfavour
with the Aburanians.

They let me out in the hope
that I'd kill him for them,

thereby embarrassing
the British government

and giving the Aburanians
a golden opportunity

for withdrawing from the arms deal.

I still think you could have
let me know what you were up to.

In case the embassy thought that
we were playing a double game...

Which you were.

..someone had to behave
quite normally

and appear to be following Charter.
DOORBELL RINGS

Excuse me.
- CATHERINE: When I did find you,

I got the stickiest reception
in the world.

I'm very sorry about that.

Mr Quilpie.
It's a surprise. Come in.

Good evening, Steed.
Hello, Mrs Gale, Charter.

- Hello, sir.
- Good evening.

Just dropped round
to thank you all very much.

The arms deal has gone through,
and Whitehall is tickled pink.

And talking of pink,
I'll have a gin.

Of course, sir.

By the way, Alice asked me
to give you these.

Huh?

Oh! Two dozen shin bones.

QUILPIE: Oh,
she said they were for the dog.

I don't need to sharpen my teeth.

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