Original subtitles

Two and seven is only for the lady.

Oh, good morning, sir. 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,

might be able to oblige you, sir.

This way, sir.

How much, sir, exactly would you be wanting, sir? It's quite a large party.

morning, Alice.

How many questions do we have, sir?

We aim to take 18.

18? Oh, yes. Well, of course, we'll have to cut all the fat off and bowl it, and

that is quite enough of that, Steve.

All right, listen to this.

Dossier 03 -1124. Sharp, Andrew Bryan, British subject.

26th of January, 1959, defected to Aberrame. Assumed Aberranian

59, appointed head of Radio Aberrame. June 61, Minister of the Interior.

September 63, head of military operations.

Sharp arrives 1100 February 17th for 72 hours. You are in charge of security.

How have you got my message?

Obviously. I've been doing the shopping.

Obviously.

I take it it's about Andrew Sharp.

Obviously. I've been working all night.

Most of his papers are saying he shouldn't be allowed back into the

Well, you can hardly blame him. As far as they're concerned, he's still a

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

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 arm and 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 than 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

their arrangements. I thought perhaps 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, uh...

A little bloodbath on the border about four years ago.

There'll be a repeat performance here if you don't still put this meat in the

fridge. Oh!

I don't know why I've gone to dealing with this butcher.

How wrongly, doesn't it, dear? We are protecting a man five years ago we're

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.

I wonder what they'd think now.

I'd like to see Mr. Quilpy.

I'm afraid Mr. Quilpy's busy. It's urgent.

Your number?

S -O -double -one -one -two -seven.

What name was it, sir?

Uh, Charter.

But you can call me Mark.

This afternoon, Mrs. Gale is meeting with the ambassador about the security

arrangements within the embassy.

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.

There's 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?

All right, Ellis.

I heard you've been sentenced to death.

I was.

And executed.

No, they changed their nasty little minds and kept me alive for questioning.

For five years?

No, 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?

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

Tell us what happened.

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

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.

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've seen a ghost.

I must say, you're very casual. I suppose you realize that officially

been dead for five years. As far as I'm concerned, so have you.

Charter, if we'd known he was still alive, would you have done something

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

What happened to Rainer?

Rainer's dead.

You told us that. I want to know how.

Nemanja. You sure?

Of course.

You 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, uh... 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, being in prison has its compensations. You owe me five years'

plus overseas allowance. I'll settle for a round figure of 15 ,000 pounds.

Excuse me, sir.

You're sitting in my chair.

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 gentleman is sitting in my chair.

Sorry, Mr. Edwards.

This has always been Mr. Charter's chair.

Jenkins, I... If you say so, Jenkins. I really can't understand why.

The place is going to the docks.

Thank you, Jenkins.

Pleasure to have you back, sir.

Although we heard rumors... All untrue.

So I see, sir.

Will you have your usual?

Thank you, Jenkins.

Well, I'd like to roam for a couple of days with a bath, if you can manage,

I'll do my best, sir.

May I talk to you?

Hello, Steve.

I'm very sorry to disturb you in the sacred precinct, but...

Whatever word? What about?

Sharp. Look, 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 a... 48

hours. Also got to do with me?

Quite a bit. I'll come.

Hasn't it occurred to you what a coincidence it is that your release

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.

Did they brainwash you at all? 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, Steve. He gave an interview

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. Our ambassador, Mrs. Gale, is just leaving.

Ah, Mrs. Gale. Are you both quite satisfied with the arrangement?

Yes, I think so.

The hotel? Everything is in order. I chose the penthouse suite for the

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.

If I'm sure, Mrs. Gale, for the door.

Oh, excellent.

What do you think will happen now?

Your guess is as good as mine.

What did you make of Mrs.

Gayle?

Charming. And perfectly genuine.

I hope so.

Let's open our charter.

Thank you. Right, sir.

Alice, where are you?

Coming, sir.

The accounts people are still trying to sort out your file, Mr. Charter, but in

the meantime, here's most of them. Thank you.

Well, if there's nothing else, I'll start spending some of this. I'll try

keep it clear. I would like it back in a few days' time for a proper debriefing.

Oh, yes. I wrote this out last night. It's a full report of everything that

happened. Oh, good.

What are you going to do now?

I thought I might buy a car, go to the country for a few days, do a bit of

fishing. If you want a car, you might try this address. It belongs to a friend

of mine. She has a sports car. It's pretty good, and she needs to sell.

you. You're welcome.

I'll see you around. Where are you staying at the moment? At my club for a

days.

You'll contact me when you break your report. All right, sir.

Bye. Goodbye, Mr. Charlton.

Alice, Alice, Alice.

Get this typed up in index, will you? Yes, sir.

Now, Mrs. Gale, remember your friend who had a car to sell?

Is it still the same?

Good. Look, will you collect it and bring it round to my flat tonight? I'll

explain later.

Well, Stephen, what do you think? It's a pretty remarkable story.

Which is the true story, his or theirs? Charters, I think. If he had escaped, as

the Aberranians 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.

Has anyone ever come back from a place like that completely unbroken?

Mrs. Gale? That's right.

My name's Charter. I've gone about the car, you hope, is that?

Oh, you must be the man's steed phone. 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? Five hundred. Right.

Well, wouldn't you like to try it out before we make up your mind?

I mean, the M1's quite close to here. You could try it out on there.

What's the M1?

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.

Excuse me, just a thing.

to sale?

Apparently. What a strange man. Who is he?

Oh, didn't he announce himself?

Yes, he said his name was Charter.

It would be the Charter mentioned in the sharp fire by any chance.

Very same.

I thought he was supposed to be dead.

So do we, but he's not. He escaped from a jail in Abbey Reign yesterday.

An extraordinary coincidence.

Yes, isn't it?

Oh, that smells good.

Actually, it's hot pot. Listen, why didn't you sell him the car yourself?

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

That's the point.

You realize, of course, he hasn't driven a car for about five years.

I shouldn't worry about that.

He isn't going very far.

Going to be away long, sir? Going to the country.

Morning. Going to be away for a few days.

Well, keep your room aired then this time, sir. Thank you, Jenkins.

Thank you, sir.

I can't stress too strongly, Steve, how important it is that there'll be no

disturbances. No street marches, no picking the embassy.

Yes, sir, great. A very bad impression in Whitehall.

Yes, if you don't succeed, then it doesn't happen. Yes, sir. I've arranged

Special Branch about General Sharp's meetings with the Prime Minister.

Oh, good.

Excuse me, sir.

I think you ought to read this.

What is it? It's part of the report.

The last paragraph.

Good, sir. All right, Alison.

And in acknowledging responsibility for failing to kill Sharp in 1959, I

undertake to rectify the situation at the earliest possible... Rectify the

situation?

It's his charter's way of saying that he received an order from us in 59, he

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

He's here to kill with not.

So your return rocked Whitehall to its foundation. They took it very well,

really, 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

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 Stephen to your deaths.

It was just a figure of speech.

If I thought...

Stephen had died for nothing.

Did you see much of him?

At first.

We showed a cell together, and 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.

cost me five years in prison.

It cost Stephen his life.

Yes.

Mark, why do you want this list?

I told you I just want 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. Anyway, I thought most of them had gone back to live in France.

Yes, they have.

How's the writing going?

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

Life's going.

It didn't pay terribly well, but it helped with Dean'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? Yes, you remember, the place we had in Sussex.

Oh, yes.

Yes, I'd love to. Oh, I'll give you the address. Just a minute. We'll write it

on here, would you? Oh, all right.

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

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

Thank you. Now all you need is the key.

Well, I'd 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.

I just thought I'd tell you.

Thank you.

I see Mike Linden's running a garage.

Yes, he's had it for some time. I'll look him up first.

My car needs a service.

Well,

bring Mrs. Galen to see you.

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

We'll get around to you as quickly as we can.

Yes, sir.

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

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

Carter's car is at the... Hey, are you there?

You there?

Have you quite finished?

Ah, there you are. Charger's car is a pretty distinctive make.

We should alert Special Branch. Best work his way of finding.

All right, all right.

He must admit, Steve, 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 give a hell of a serious decision.

Yes, I do.

Sharp will be here as a 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?

Who knows? Who cares?

After five years in an Aberranian 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, Steve. Doesn't it even interest you, his reason for

doing it? 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. Well, 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.

Look, come along. I'll explain the whole thing to you in the car. Mr. Quilby

awaits us.

After you.

Yes, sir?

Mike Linden.

That's right.

Mark Charter.

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

Oh, yes, I remember.

Helen gave me your address.

Helen who?

Helen Rayner.

Yes, she would.

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 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 friend, 20 years ago.

Just because we could have fought together then doesn't make us buddies

But those were the good old days, Mike.

Well, I hated them.

I wanted to live in peace.

20 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 re -sprayed? That's my business.

And that's for changing the number of plates.

All right, I'll do it. No, thank you very much. But only because I need the

money.

Found 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. Well, it's not as I remember

it. Cancer.

What? Permanent agency for national security and counterintelligence. It's

hot end of the line.

Well, it's pretty cold.

Good morning, Alice.

Morning. Mrs. Brisket, Mrs. Gale, Mrs. Gale, Mrs. Brisket. How do you do? It's

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.

Alice?

Yes, sir?

Is Mrs. Gale here yet, and where the devil's steed?

They just arrived, sir. Well, send them in, girl. What are you waiting for?

The furor's all merry and bright this morning. Not one of our happy foods. To

hear is to obey. Thank you very much indeed.

Oh, by the way, could you ask Bob to put a pound of sausages on one side?

Certainly, Mr. Steed.

And a couple of dozen chin bones.

They're for the doctor.

Come along, Mrs. Gale.

Ah, Mrs. Gale.

Good morning.

We appreciate it only being you here in exceptional circumstances.

Steve has outlined your problem to me.

Could no one anticipate the Charter might do this? I mean, is there no

repatriation unit somewhere we could have had medical tests? That's not what

we're here to discuss, Mrs. Gale. What I want from you is a detailed description

of that car as it was when you last saw it.

According to Steve, 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?

Well, you have special qualifications, Mrs. Stitton. Today you have the

advantage of being an outsider.

I thought you couldn't risk involving outsiders.

How do you suggest I go about it?

You got that list from Record, Steve? I picked it up this morning. This is a

list of Charter's wartime contacts. It's not so much, but it's the only lead

we've got.

In the meantime, Steve, I want you to break the news to the Aberranian

Do they have to be told?

Yes, they do.

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

Why? An unfortunate little experience with their ambassador before Aberranian

independence. Do you remember that? Oh, yes. Well, what about the feminine

approach? What do you say, Miss 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, Steve, 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'll be a complete security guard on sharp.

from his time in these airports.

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 Southwest

London.

Our ministry feels that in view of Charter's disappearance, we should

consider cancelling General Sharp's visit. That's out of the question.

The flight's already left Abelrain, 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

is vital.

I see. Presumably your people will strengthen the security arrangements.

Yes, we've already 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.

I'm...

Gail is

just leaving.

Have her followed.

Why?

Just to make sure that her visit here was perfectly genuine.

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

I suppose you realize the implications.

Oh, too well.

I learned my lesson during the Revolution. One should never trust the

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. What do, my dear?

I'm looking for a car.

Well, 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 Vogel Prentice.

Oh, it's pricey. A bit out of my range.

I owned one until yesterday. Then I sold it to a man called Charter.

Really?

Well, don't you know him? He's a friend of mine.

Should I?

He often talks about you. I understood you were in a resistance together.

It's possible.

There are others in London who fought together in France during the war. And I

don't remember anybody named Charter.

It's strange.

Anyway, he's disappeared.

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

He talked about having the car re -spread. That's why I thought he might

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?

It's all right, Mrs. Gale.

Thank you.

Immediate organization of security to prevent such an attempt being made.

In view of... Coopy.

What?

A court order? Listen, I don't care if they want a bill from the House of

There isn't time.

Well, use your blasted initiative.

Blast him. 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. Get that off right away.

Yes, sir.

Yes?

I see. Thank you.

Mr. Gale is back, sir. It's about time. Sure.

Okay.

I'll come in, Mrs. Gale. Any luck?

The ambassador absconded. Just a moment. Just a moment.

Prefect 1009, stroke 3, stroke 8.

All right, Mrs. Gale. What did you find?

The ambassador absolutely refuses to cancel General Sharp's visit. I pointed

the danger he might be in, but he was quite adamant.

At midday, I left the embassy and went to Lyndon's garage, number four,

Mews. Michael Lyndon, the proprietor, denied having seen Charter or his car,

I think he was lying.

I noticed the spray gun there that was wet and obviously been used in the last

24 hours. What was the color of the paint?

White. White?

Doesn't sound very much like camouflage, does it? Is there anything else?

No.

1 -0 -0 -9 -stroke -3 -stroke -8 ends.

Alice, get on to special branches, gentlemen. We think the car may not be

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 a

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 sympathize, Mrs. Rayner, but we must try and stop him. Why?

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

Aberranian embassy.

Typical hypocrisy.

But 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. Gayle. I can't help you.

I hope he does kill Sharp.

Is that all you care about?

Sharp's death? Yes, Mrs. Gayle, 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

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.

For the loss of her 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, Jacob.

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

Mr. Charter? Yes, sir. Oh, dashed on.

Comes back after five years and then disappears again.

Doesn't he like the place?

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.

Beatles, 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.

You're absolutely sure about this, Mrs. Gale?

Positive. That last address, Haver Cottage, near Celsius, Sussex, is in

Rayner's handwriting.

And Steed was lying when he said he got that list from records.

What's more, he must have got the list from Helen Rayner, which means he'd been

there before and not told us. It's not like Steed.

I 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 Celsius.

Thank you, Alice.

Any news of Steed?

Well, he's still not answering his phone.

I'll keep trying.

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

No.

No, I'm fine. How's everything you're in?

Mrs. Gale?

No, she hasn't, but I'll certainly keep an eye open for her.

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

Right. I'll ring you later on. Bye.

Memorize 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's waiting.

Mr. Sufika. Hmm?

Where are they going?

To a house in Sussex.

Sussex? When we arrested Charter and Rayner in 1959... What's he got to do

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, that was a coincidence, perhaps, but this afternoon Mrs. Gale paid a call

on Rainer's widow, after which she left for Sussex.

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

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?

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 theater 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

Everain. Does that matter to you, Mrs. Gale?

Yes, of course it does. Well, 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 at the United Nations? They're the only arguments for

civilized people. That's not the arguments of civilized people. It's the

arguments of people who can't do anything.

Be honest with yourself, Mrs. Gill. Why should you worry what happens to General

Sharp? I'm not worried about Sharp.

I'm worried about you.

What is it? My Aberranian 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.

He's still alive.

I'll call an ambulance. We'd better get on 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 you.

You know, it's the only weak link in the airport, the moment when Sharp steps

out of that plane before getting into the armored car.

Kobe?

Oh, Mrs. Gill, yes.

What?

You left it where?

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

Sharp is back in town.

How did he get past the police check? He stole a diplomatic car from the embassy

guards. There's water, there's...

I wish I knew where the devil's steed was.

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

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.

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 Charterstall at large?

He's as good an agent as you say. He should be able to find his own way here.

General Sharpe and Mr.

Steed, Ambassador.

Ah, General.

How do you do?

Well, I hope you had a pleasant trip.

Not bad. Do you know Steed?

No, I don't think... 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 Mrs.

Gale up till 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.

Steed? Yes, sir.

Do you know where Charter is now?

Not at this very moment, sir, but I don't think you have anything to fear

him.

What do you mean?

I'm certain he's bluffing.

Well, I hope you're right. Will you be at the press reception later? Of course,

sir. See you then.

Until later, General.

Mr. Charter.

So you finally managed to get here.

I trust you had a pleasant journey.

In the light of what you just told me, I'm willing to overlook the fact that

failed to report in for eight hours.

To the match, sir. Thank you very much.

I have to let Mrs. Gale do the donkey work in case either of us were being

followed.

It's because you may be right.

But our matches, oh boy, that's the way I got them.

Thank you very much.

Still, it might be very difficult to convince her.

Well, come into the fridge. There's still one or two things to be done.

Mrs. Gale?

Mrs. 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.

Circumstances are an understandably difficult task, eh, Steve?

What circumstances are you referring to?

Steve, 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'd better be going. The reception's in less than a couple of

hours. I'll explain on the way home.

But it had better be good. Please.

No, no, no.

Here. Good. Bring him in.

Sir, 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?

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.

It's 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.

Of course.

You're right.

Mr. Charter, we'd like to help you.

I don't understand. We want you to kill General Sharpe. You want Sharpe dead?

Yes.

Is this a joke?

No. When Sharp first came to our country, we welcomed him. His knowledge

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

short, the once indispensable Mr. Sharp is now dispensable. I see. I 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

Yes, but this embassy stands on what is technically Aberranian soil, so we have

the right to take you back to our own country to stand trial. Oh, no, thank

I've seen your legal system in action. Ah, but this time the verdict will be in

your favor. Oh, 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.

I'll do it.

Assume Charlie can get in for the embassy.

The reception's the most likely time for the balloon to go up. Lots of people of

authentic colour, not to mention publicity.

How will he get in?

He's done a job like this before.

Where? A little town in France called Meaux.

Meaux? With an axe. He bumped off a Gestapo chief inside Gestapo

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.

Steed? Yes? You were right, Steed. The butcher tells me the 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, where do you keep it in there?

Oh, in here.

Here we go.

I'd 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.

For these, I can only say that I have come here in the sincere hope that

may be bygones.

No one is more anxious than myself to see a peaceful settlement between our

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 honor to have been chosen by President Arafat as his

representative at the forthcoming arms negotiations.

He feels as I do.

So the quickest and most obvious solution to the threat of open invasion

political infiltration by our neighbor 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 you. I'm afraid nothing was further from my mind.

Act of pending aggression.

But by proposing an agreement with your government... There's really not much

point in that now, is there?

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.

No, my freighter's away for the weekend.

You mean good.

Oh, it's you.

Yes, I remember.

S -O -double -one -one -two -seven.

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

You have?

Tomorrow?

I'd love to.

The main entrance at seven o 'clock.

Goodbye, Mr. Charter.

Bye. Any luck with this biscuit?

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.

Established a beachhead. From then on, it's plain sailing.

There's more than can be said for the shark case.

Incidentally, what's going to happen to him when he gets back to Aberyne?

Return to a pretty sticky reception at a rock, yes? Personally, I don't care.

He's no longer my problem.

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 area? I mean,

wouldn't it have made life a lot easier?

Not really. You see, we figured that General Sharp had fallen into disfavor

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

embarrassing the British government and giving the Aberranians a golden

opportunity for withdrawing from the arms deal.

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

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

Someone had to behave quite normally and appear to be following charter.

Excuse me.

When I did find you, I got the stickiest reception in the world.

I'm very sorry about that.

Mr. Quilpy is a surprise. Come in. Good evening, sir.

Good evening,

sir. Just want to thank you all. The arms deal's gone through and white wall

tickled pink.

I told him to think I'd have a gin. Of course, sir.

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

Huh?

Oh, two dozen pin bones.

You said they were for the dog.

I don't need to sharpen my teeth.