All language subtitles for The Sandbaggers S1 E1 First Principles

Anything?

Just as you left it.

Come in, Willie,

I've got a query.

So have I, hang on.

Head of security.

It's D-Ops.

Mickey, Neil.

Am I on a random surveillance check?

Yes, well tell them they're not very good.

Front tails old hat, couldn't miss it.

Random check.

They might as well wave a placard.

I've just brushed mine as well.

Oh yeah?

They're checking me as well.

No, they're not.

They wouldn't dare break that rule.

Which?

They can't put me under surveillance

unless they tell the Deputy Chief,

and they can't check a
Sandbagger unless they tell me.

Wonder if it's the KGB planning

to put a woman alongside me.

More likely to be MI5 again,
using us to train their recruits.

Well, let's make sure.

I want to teach them a lesson

Shall I get Jake to back-trail them?

Yes, tell him to pick up your shadow,
see where it belongs

Thanks.

The Norwegians?

Must be using us for training value.

The damn cheek.

Diane.

[Diane] Yes.

Get on to the
Scandinavian desk will you,

ask if the Norwegians have
got a station chief in London?

I checked before I came up.

And?

It's better than that.

They've got a new Chief of Service.

He's here in London at the moment.

Man called Torvik, Lars Torvik.

Well, that's what it's all about.

He's testing his agents
on a foreign station.

Mickey Mouse time.

Yes, well somebody better point out
this isn't Disneyland.

Please sit down, Mr. Burnside.

Thank you.

It is a great pleasure to meet you.

But also a disappointment.

Oh?

Yes, your officer
spotted his follower.

Exactly.

I apologize.

That's not good enough, Herr Torvik.

My officers have more to do than check out

the antics of a NATO ally.

Ah, yes I know.

But you belong to the
oldest and most respected

secret service in the world.

I have charge of a rather newer,
and less professional one.

Well, there are only
4 million people in my country,

Mr. Burnside, and very
few of them want to be

intelligence officers.
Even fewer are capable of it.

I do have similar problems.

But in a much more efficient service.

These things are relative.

Oh yes, but we have great
need of practical training.

And I thought that if my men could remain

undetected by your Willie Caine.

Caine?

Caine, Landy, Denson.

The three man special operation section.

For a fledgling service,
you're quite well informed.

Ah, it's jealousy, Mr. Burnside.

I would give my right arm
for your three Sandbaggers.

Yes, well they spend most of their time

shovelling paper from in tray to out tray.

But they're there, ready and capable.

And I cannot even bring
my station officers

up to standard, let alone
form a special section.

Well, these things take time.

You've recognized the weaknesses,

that's halfway to rectifying them.

But not by playing games with SIS.

No.

We have an operation in Norway today.

A very big one.

Maybe we could do a deal.

What sort of deal?

If I pass the results to
your intelligence directorate,

would you help me with
operational training?

I can ask.

Who would approve it,
your Chief of Service?

C.

The deputy chief.

Matthew Peele.

The Norwegians?

Well, I'd rather they came
to us than went to the CIA.

I thought you were
very matey with the CIA.

Not to the extent of sharing mistresses.

But the Norwegians?

What have they got?

Two men and a reindeer?

Something like that.

Could you spare anyone,

to play schoolmaster?

Assuming the intelligence
boys think it's worth it?

A Sandbagger?

Well, Sandbagger Three is in Hong Kong,

but the other two are just pushing paper.

Did Torvik say what this
wonderful operation entails?

Seemed impolite to ask.

Well, let's wait to see
what he has to offer first.

But I wouldn't get too excited about it.

No, sir.

And Mr. Lars Torvik is being
escorted up from reception.

Torvik?

Mmm.

All right to get him up, wasn't it?
-Yes, but don't offer him coffee.

I have more to do than philosophize
on the theory of intelligence.

Indeed.

Mr. Torvik, sir.

Mr. Burnside, it is good of you

to see me at such short notice.

Something bad has happened.

My operation in Norway, it has gone wrong.

How?

We had an aircraft full

of classified monitoring equipment,

of scientists, and engineers,

flying along the border with Russia.

But I thought you kept
clear of that border.

Normally, yes of course,
but we had special permission.

Hard won, I may say.

[Neil] What was the aircraft doing?

Radar fingerprinting.

Hmm?

Well, pulse repetition rate

and duration of pulse scanning rate--

Yes, I know what it is.

But there?

There is the naval base at Murmansk.

The missile submarine base at Severomorsk.

Exactly, an area sensitive
enough for the Russians

to shoot up a Korean
airliner that over flew it.

Mr. Burnside, the Russians
did not shoot down our plane.

It crashed.

Where?

Somewhere inside the Russian border.

So, the Russians have got it.

We do not think so.

The aircraft suffered a heavy bird strike,

and lost lateral control.

The pilot radioed in code that he was

headed Southeast, but could not turn.

So, he dived the plane to treetop level

to escape the Russian radar.

And then, he would've flown
on over Russian territory

till he could find a place
to make a forced landing.

[Neil] Or not.

No, we know that someone survived it.

We had one short burst screech
signal from the aircraft.

Then you got a fix.

Unfortunately not.

We were monitoring on one station only,

but we do have a line of bearing.

[Neil] Putting the aircraft where?

In very wild country.

There is a good chance that the Russians

do not know it is there.

Well, it won't remain
undetected for long.

There are too many Russian
planes in the area.

Yes, I know.

And Mr. Burnside, we must
get those scientists out,

and blow up the plane
and all its equipment.

Meaning that without proof, the Russians

won't make too much of a fuss.

That is what my government hopes.

Then forgive me, but instead of relating

all of this to me you shouldn't you

be mounting a rescue operation?

I want you to mount it.

I beg your pardon.

Well, you know the
standards in my service,

I have no one capable of it.

Well, what are you suggesting?

That you send in an aircraft.

Low and fast in, low and fast out.

Losing speed only to parachute an agent.

Well, what's the agent supposed to do?

Well, he must assess the
situation as he finds it,

and make his decisions then.

And if all goes well,
he can mine the plane

with delayed charges,

then lead out the scientists over land

and back across the border.

Say it quickly enough,
it sounds almost possible.

Almost.

Caine.

Now, he would have a chance.

Caine?

Why, he is an ex-paratrooper, is he not?

Trained in escape and evasion,
and survival techniques.

Above all, he's a
Sandbagger, special agent.

Sandbaggers don't have magical powers.

You're asking me to
parachute one of my officers

into the Kola Peninsula to bring out

an ill-assorted bunch of scientists,

some of whom may be injured,

over land through an area
crawling with Russian troops?

This is not a national
issue, Mr. Burnside.

It's a NATO one.

You know the northern
flank is indefensible.

If we give the Russians the least excuse

to cross that border--

Well, what will you offer in return?

I'm sorry?

To get government approval to put

a Sandbagger into Russia,

I'll need to be able to convince them

that you could do a
substantial favour in return.

But what can I do?

We have nothing.

That is why I mounted this
operation to get something,

anything to trade.

Well, then we can't help.

Your deputy chief, or C.

Neither of them would look at it.

There is the diplomatic approach.

My ambassador is seeing
your Foreign Secretary.

The answer would be the same.

The CIA.

You're wasting time.

Time better spent in trying to get

to those scientists yourself.

Then, I will rely on the approach

to your Foreign Secretary.

[Neil] I wouldn't.

Well, thank you for seeing me.

I'm sorry.

Diane.

And the Kola Peninsula of all places.

I'm somewhat relieved that
we'd never get approval.

Although, when the
Russians find that plane,

there's gonna be one hell of a noise.

Not our problem.

It's everyone's problem,

any time the Russians want
to stroll across that border.

Damned irresponsible of the Norwegians.

Not really.

I mean, if they don't prove themselves,

make some sort of active contribution,

they're gonna get left
in the lurch someday.

(phone ringing)

And they know it.

Peele.

[Man] Is Mr. Burnside there, please?

Yes, indeed he is.

Did you want to--

[Man] I have Sir Geoffrey
Wellingham for him.

Oh, Sir Geoffrey, himself.

Well, just a...

[Sir Geoffrey] Wellingham here.

Is that you Peele?

Oh, good afternoon, sir.

[Sir Geoffrey] Good
afternoon, how are you?

Very well, sir, thank you.

[Sir Geoffrey] I would
like, however, to speak

to Neil Burnside.

Ah, Burnside is with me now, sir.

Just hold on a moment.

Your ex-father-in-law taking the trouble

to track you down to my office.

Burnside.

[Sir Geoffrey] Neil, I wondered if you

could come to see me.

Well I'll come over
now, if it's convenient?

[Sir Geoffrey] As soon as possible.

Right.

He wants to see me urgently.

What about?

He didn't say.

You know, I'm not very keen

on this direct line
between you and Wellingham.

He sent for me.

I know.

But he is the Permanent
Under Secretary of State.

He should talk to C.

or me.

Maybe you could marry his daughter.

That is not very funny.

No, it wasn't funny for me either.

Cup for you, Neil?

[Neil] No thanks.

Oh, while I remember,
important things first.

I have a message for you from Belinda.

Yes?

She's found some old
notebooks of yours in her attic,

from your time in the Marines, I believe.

Do you want them back?

[Neil] No thanks, she can ditch them.

Right.

The Norwegians seem to have got themselves

a bit of a problem.

Rather a nasty one.

Yes, I know about it.

Oh?

How?

Torvik came to see me this lunchtime.

[Sir Geoffrey] Who?

The chief of their intelligence service.

Ah.

And what did you tell him?

That we couldn't help.

Oh, that's a pity.

[Neil] Sorry?

We want SIS to carry
out the rescue operation.

In the Kola Peninsula?

There isn't another one, is there?

Well, I don't think there's a chance.

Oh, of course there is.
Remember that Korean airliner?

It had been overflying Russian territory

for over an hour before
the Russians detected it.

That's why they overreacted.

I'm talking about putting a Sandbagger

in there and expecting
them to get out again.

Neil, you have a
Special Operations Section

for special operations.

By definition those must occasionally

embrace an element of danger.

I have a Special
Operations section to give

covert action capability
to the UK government,

not the Norwegians.

Look, I don't understand.

Why should we take that kind of risk?

Put Anglo-Soviet relations in jeopardy,

and get nothing in return.

Who says we get nothing in return?

I spoke to Torvik.

About intelligence.

There are other considerations.

I can tell you that the Norwegians

did not expect something for nothing.

And even so, the Foreign Secretary

drove a very hard bargain.

Tell me more.

You know about the
British Nemesis missile?

Medium range air to air thing.

Yes, I've read about it.

The Americans have a similar
weapon called War Bonnet,

at the same stage of development.

Yes.

If SIS does the Kola job, and quickly,

the Norwegians will buy Nemesis.

If SIS refuses, they'll approach the CIA.

And offer to take War Bonnet instead.

Good, let them go to the CIA.

War Bonnet's probably a
better missile anyway.

Neil, you are aware that
there's a world outside

the four corners of your headquarters.

Sorry?

The British aerospace
industry is in desperate trouble

over Nemesis through no fault of its own.

There's insufficient R&D money,

and the whole project is
in danger of collapse.

Yes, but I don't think--

Thousands of people
could be put out of work.

In an area which already
suffers high unemployment.

That wouldn't make the
government at all happy.

The Opposition's making enough capital out
of the situation as it is.

Well, I don't think it's my job
to keep the government in office.

No, but it is your job to
carry out its instructions.

While protecting my Sandbaggers

from political exploitation.

This isn't a political
argument, it's an economic one.

Look, sir I am sorry if
people are put out of work.

Just as sorry if Nemesis collapses,

but I'll be even more sorry if one

of my Sandbaggers gets killed in Russia.

Neil, I don't think you've
yet quite grasped the position.

You and I are debating this strictly

under the old powers act.

However, at this very moment,

the Foreign Secretary
is in Downing Street,

the operation has the
Prime Minister's blessing,

and a directive is winging its way to SIS.

Talk about shooting first,
and asking questions after.

Good luck with it.

If you don't like it, go and talk to C.

C's a diplomat.

He's not going to oppose the government.

Neither am I.

Look sir, I need your support.

C has only been in the job a short time.

I've been Director of Operations
for less than six months.

It is your experience which
gives weight to your opinions.

My opinion is that we
should carry out our orders.

You're always prepared
to do favours for the CIA

without government approval.

Yes, but this proposal's madness.

Ours not to reason why.

It's the do or die bit that I question.

Then, go down the
corridor and talk to C.

No, it does seem madness.

Then, let's say so.

I don't think we can.

But sir, the government is using SIS,
for political purposes.

That is a matter of interpretation.

Were it not for the
Nemesis missile bribe

no one would give a damn
about the Norwegian plane.

Neil, in the final analysis,

it doesn't matter what the
government's motives are.

The directive is a simple instruction,

to get on with it.

We're instruments of
government, nothing more.

Tell that to my Sandbaggers.

No, you tell it to the
Sandbaggers, they're your section.

And before that, I think
you'd better contact Torvik.

Get the Norwegian input.

Yes, sir.

And Neil, I do appreciate the problems.

Let me know if I can help.

Thank you, sir.

It must be somewhere on that line.

But the aircraft could
be 20 miles off it,

even 100.

Yes, the dropping plane
must fly down the line

till the pilot see the crash,

then parachute the agent in.

That's what you think.

Sorry?

I'll borrow this map,
take it back with me.

Yes, certainly you won't
be too long, will you?

When will Caine be ready to go to Norway?

When the mission's planned.

Mr. Burnside, we must not waste time.

Herr Torvik I never waste time.

I think this is just
about the craziest idea

you've come up with.

Willie, it's not my idea.

Okay, what do you think?

Well, for a start
you're gonna have to send

all three Sandbaggers,

in case there are injured
men to be carried.

You can have Jake, Alan's
gotta stay in Hong Kong.

Yeah, you don't want to
write off the entire section

in the Kola Peninsula, do you.

(knocking)

Before we do anything else--

Jeff Ross is being
escorted up from reception.

Can you see him?

Well, that's all we need
CIA problems, as well.

I'd swap this for
anything the CIA might have.

Right.

Mr. Ross, sir.

Hi Neil.

Hello, Jeff.

Willie.

Oh, Diane.

Make an appointment with Wellingham,

as soon as possible, will you?

Yes.

You catch us at a moment of panic.

Yeah, I can tell.

Geography lesson?

No, we're planning our holidays.

Malta's good for holidays.

Any special section effort available?

No.

Nothing like a straight answer.

No, the thing is we've
got a little job in Malta.

And, as you guys like to think
you still own the place--

Can't take it, Jeff.

Well, I can offer a load
of goodies in exchange.

We're committed.

And I suppose it's safer to tell you why.

Ask your lot to keep away
from the Kola Peninsula

for the next day or two.

Yeah, okay.

Can I give 'em a reason?

The Norwegians have lost a spy plane

somewhere inside Soviet territory.

We're gonna try and recover the crew.

What do you wanna do a
crazy thing like that for?

Yeah, we're asking the same question.

Well, my Maltese problems
just pale into insignificance.

Yes, well we're too polite to ask
you to do the same thing.

But Diane will see you back to reception.

[Jeff] I think I just left.

Wellingham at 4:15.

Oh Willie.

[Willie] Yeah.

Send me a postcard.

He's got a sense of humour
like the Marquis de Sade.

[Neil] Okay, now what do you think?

Before we go in, I
think someone had better

find out exactly where the plane is.

Yes, well I hope
Wellingham's in a good mood.

I don't know about that.

Look sir, if we use
the dropping aircraft

to spot the wreck,

It'll have to go in low and slow.

[Sir Geoffrey] Yes.

It'll have to fly
straight down the line,

a steady predictable course.

Easily detected.

And more easily intercepted.

But if we can pinpoint the crash position

in advance of the drop,

well then we stand a fighting chance.

Explain why.

Well, one, the dropping aircraft can fly

a random course, avoid interception.

Two, we can drop the Sandbaggers
smack on top of the crash,

and so cut down the time
they're actually on Soviet soil.

And three, most important of all,

if we know exactly where
they're starting from

we can pre-brief them for an escape route.

Give them compass bearings to get round

Soviet installations, military positions.

So, you want the RAF
to do a low-level photo

recce right up the line,

get the precise location of the crash

and picture of the terrain?

[Neil] Exactly.

RAF aircraft penetrating
Soviet airspace for a few photos.

Well, they could do it with a Jaguar.

I mean, in and out before
the Russians could blink.

Different ballgame, Neil.

It's one thing to put a secret
service agent into Russia,

quite another to send in a fighter plane.

Well, the RAF have get to go in anyway

to drop the Sandbaggers.

The Norwegians won't
provide a dropping aircraft?

I hadn't asked them, I want the RAF.

Why?

Because if we use the RAF,
the agents, and the aircraft,

are being tasked from a common source.

[Sir Geoffrey] So?

So, there's less chance of a foul up.

If we use a Norwegian aircraft,
it'll have to be briefed

by the Norwegian Air Force,

by the Norwegian Intelligence Service,

as well as by SIS.

RAF won't be happy about it.

Then, they can join the club.

All right, I'll see if I can get
approval from Downing Street.

And I'll get you a meeting with the RAF.

This evening?

Yes.

Vice Chief of the Air
Staff, I should think.

Now, this is Pat Spencer Smith,

who's the Assistant Chief
of the Air Staff operation.

How do you do, sir?

Do sit down, Mr. Burnside.

Thank you.

Well, this is an unusual problem.

[Neil] Yes, can you cope with it?

One way or another, given
the necessary permissions.

Pat.

The low-level Jaguar
recce is simple enough,

in fact, there should be a Jaguar

on its way to Norway now to stand by.

But the parachute drop's another matter.

I appreciate that.

The scientists were briefed
to remain with the aircraft,

were they--

All standard procedure.

Good, good.

Now, our masters are
not at all keen to use

an aircraft with military
markings for the actual operation.

The Jaguar can take its chances,

but parachuting chaps into Russia--

It's a long way on a bicycle.

(laughs)

Well, don't worry we've
been on to British Aerospace,

and they're quite prepared to help.

What sort of aircraft?

An HF-748, best aircraft in the world,
for this sort of job.

All right, but RAF crew.

No, British Aerospace
will provide full crewing.

As part of the cover story.

It'll be their demonstration aircraft.

In northern Norway to
do cold weather trials,

could develop a compass error.

A slim enough story,
I know, but better than

having a military airplane
on the front page of Pravda.

(phone ringing)

Excuse me.

Yes, put him through, please.

Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

Yes, understood.

You're on.

We'll get written
confirmation this evening?

Thank you very much.

The Jaguar will make
its run at first light.

(jet engine roaring)

That could have been the
dropping plane with the agents.

When are you going to learn?

To plot an escape route, we need to know
the exact position of the crash.

It seems to me you're more concerned

with your Sandbaggers
then those scientists.

Well, you bet your life I am.

The aerial photos are on
the way back to us now.

As soon as we get them,
we'll plot an escape route.

Then, the Sandbaggers will brief and go.

To jump when?

As soon as possible.

Today?

Tomorrow.

If it's bad weather
tomorrow, then the next day.

I said as soon as possible.

The scientists were still
there when the Jaguar

overflew them this morning.

Which means they are in a remote place,

and the Russians still
don't know about them.

Yes, but at any moment--

We're going as fast as we can.

Very well, Mr. Burnside.

I know you are doing your best.

And I appreciate it.

Yes, well I'll keep in touch.

Please do.

And how far inside Russian territory?

About 50 miles.

What do you think?

I think there isn't a hope in hell.

But I can ask for a diversionary
tactic on the border.

Troop movements?

Well, the border is
say 80 to 90 miles long,

as soon as we fix where
we're going to take them out,

we can ask the Norwegians to
move up troops to another part.

Well, we've got to try to pull
the Russians out of their path.

You won't get NATO troops
moving up to that border.

It's a very strict rule.

Low profile on the northern flank.

The whole of Westminster
is treating us like lepers.

You're a lot worse off than lepers.

They get some sympathy.

Yes, well I'll be in the ops room.

(machines tapping)

(phone ringing)

And they've got to be
low on food and water.

We'll have survival
ration packs for them.

Rations, what are we
Meals on Wheels, as well.

All right, what's all this?

Mission planning's
recommended escape routes, sir.

Why are they doglegged?

To avoid Russian
military positions, sir.

They've gotta go nor-nor-west
to make the border.

But if they go direct, they'll
hit a military camp here.

And if they go too far north,

there's a defended
radar installation here.

So, they've gotta pass between the two.

Putting 30, 40 miles on the journey.

Some joker's idea of a scenic route.

Willie.

Weather and terrain, Tim?

Well, it could be
quite bright, a bit cold.

Starts tundra becomes moorland

Should manage three miles an hour
if the scientists aren't hurt.

Night travel only.

No sir, straight push.

We reckon that darkness
may give the Russians

less chance of spotting them,

but more chance of them
running into the Russians.

I'll buy that.

If there are Russians around,

I wanna spot them on the horizon.

Agreed.

Carry on, Brian.

He'll be unarmed.

Jump as instructed by the air crew.

Equipment in a separate canister.

I don't think there's any
point in trying to establish

cover on the ground once you
have the scientists in tow.

Well, we'll say we're
on a nature ramble.

or a lunatics' outing.

They'd have to believe
that, wouldn't they?

Right, Sandbagger One to see me .

on completion of briefing, please.

You're gonna have your
unmentionables torn off.

Good, I'm just in the
mood for a punch up.

Get Herr Torvik of
the Norwegian embassy.

Right.

Well?
-Well, what?

You're my lead Sandbagger.
I don't expect you to behave

at briefings like a spoiled child.

All right, you jump out
of a plane tomorrow morning.

I did my time in the section,

and as far as I can recall,
I didn't sulk about it.

How many times did you
parachute into Russia?

Look, if you've got
mission twitch you stay--

If I didn't have mission twitch on this,

I'd be a right idiot!

Yes, yes, I know.

Why should I spend the rest of my life

in a Russian jail because of some missile.

Because Wellingham says this
country needs the Norwegian interest.

Both Nemesis and War Bonnet
are on the point of collapse.

Yeah, the one that keeps going will get

orders from every NATO country,

make a lot of money.

When I'm being soled I'll remember that!

I rang the Norwegian embassy.

[Neil] Yes!

Herr Torvik's gone.

Been recalled to Norway.

Wonderful.

He pressurizes us to go in, when we do,

he's pushed off to see the wife.

He didn't mention it when
I saw him this morning.

I've got to get to
Norway myself, haven't I?

Anything you want done?

No, I've turned off
everything in the flat.

Cancel the milk?

[Willie] I never do that.

Might give somebody up there ideas.

Good morning.

Did you sleep all right?

Well, could've laid on a couple
of Scandinavian blondes for us.

First time I've been to Norway.

Yeah, well let's hope it isn't the last.

How do you feel?

Sick.

Thank God for that.

[Willie] Huh?

I thought it might've
been something I ate.

[Sir Geoffrey] Ah, Neil,
sorry to bring you across so early.

That's all right, sir.

Difficult to talk on the phone.

The answer on the diversionary tactic

is a firm and unequivocal no.

We did push, I promise you,

but there's a real fear that
the Russians would over react.

Yes, well I didn't have
very high hopes anyway.

One other thing, the
Norwegian ambassador came

to see the Foreign Secretary
yesterday with a complaint.

What sort of complaint?

Your friend Torvik
has told his masters that you're stalling.

Oh, but that's nonsense.

The aircraft will be leaving
for the drop within 10 minutes.

Does Torvik know that?

I sent him a message
through Oslo station

saying we hope to make
the drop this morning.

Hope to?

The airfield could be fog bound.

Anyway, he'll find out
because the 748 crew

will have filed a flight plan
with the Norwegian Air Force.

Who'll tell their Oslo headquarters,

who'll tell their
Norwegian foreign office,

who'll tell Torvik, eventually.

So what, I mean,
Torvik's just a spectator.

And a very upset one.

Look sir, I have more to do
than worry about his paranoia.

(engines whirring)

(phone ringing)

Burnside.

Duty operations officer, sir.

Message from Torvik through Oslo station.

Please cancel operation,

no further requirement.

Many thanks.

What?

Can we abort the mission?

No chance, sir.

They drop right now.

Send an abort anyway.

I'm coming down.

Diane, I'll be in the ops room.

Wait. Wait.

Right, got it.

From Jeff Ross, abort the job.

Coming to see you urgently.

Ross?

What the hell's going on?

Running aim, stand
up, prepare for action!

Red light on, stand by!

Green light on, go!

Go!

Go!

You okay?

Okay.

You get a fix where
the equipment went down?

[Jake] Yeah.

All right, I'll hide this garbage.

You get the canister.

Roger.

Did you abort the Kola mission?

Too late, they're already in.

All right Jeff, what's going on?

Okay, now look Neil,
I reported to Langley,

and I told them you were
backing the Norwegians.

Okay, and then some
bright young genius there

decided to offer CIA help to Torvik.

Well, Torvik declined and said
SIS had everything in hand.

But yesterday morning,
Torvik contacted the CIA.

Now, he said you were dragging your feet,

you just didn't wanna do the job.

Then, at the same time
the Norwegian ambassador

contacted the Secretary of State.

He said that if the CIA would come in--

The Norwegians would buy
the War Bonnet missile.

Yeah.

So, when are your lot going in?

They're in.

An hour ago.

What?

Terrific, isn't it?

They reckoned to have spotted the aircraft

from comparative satellite traces.

They went straight in there.

Got briefed on the run.

Neil, Neil, it all went through
our station chief at Oslo.

I swear to God I only just
heard about it myself.

It's how Caine hears
about that worries me.

[Jake] Maybe they're all inside.

It's not that long
since the 748 went over.

That should've got them
running about a bit.

If they've broken orders.

Hmm?

Decided to hoof it--

They saw the Jaguar.
They know we're on the way.

Your people went in when?

0840 local.

And they've mined the
plane on delayed charges?

[Jeff] Yeah, they will have.

And they're set for
between 45 and 60 minutes?

Willie and Jake.

If those charges are big
enough to destroy an aircraft,

they won't have any trouble splattering

my two all over Russia.

There's something wrong with this.

You stay here. I'll go.

You want me to go?

You should only volunteer
when you really mean it.

Somebody's beaten us to it.

[Jake] Russians?

No, they would've taken the
equipment out not blow it up.

Right, now look at the pattern.

Explosion on a timed setting,
the scientists long gone.

[Jake] It's the same brief as ours.

Ross.

What?

We told Ross to tell Langley.

Why would the CIA muscle in?

Oh God knows.

Well, they'll be slowed down with
the scientists, won't they?

They're gonna be heading Northwest.

We might catch them.

Well, we ought to try.

Give 'em a hand.

Why on earth did you tell
the CIA in the first place?

To avoid just this kind of snarl up.

And as I understand it, the
CIA were conned by Torvik.

In as much as Torvik panicked,

exaggerated everything, yes.

And Caine has no form of radio?

The idea was that as soon
as they'd use the explosive

they'd be carrying no
incriminating equipment at all.

It's not going to look very clever
on a report to the Foreign Secretary.

Even worse, sir, if Caine
and Landy are taken prisoner.

We have done exactly the right thing,

at exactly the right time at every stage.

Small consolation to the Prime Minister

if he's faced with an
international incident.

Oh, so that's it.

Yes, Neil.

That's always it.

They can't be that much ahead of us,

they had to do some planning.

I wonder if...

They can't have gone that way,

they'd run into the military camp.

See, they need to swing north just here.

If they know about the military camp.

They're on a straight
line for the border.

Smack into the Russians.

C'mon, let's close the gap.

C'mon, slow it down, fellas.

Well, we're gaining on them.

We're also gaining on the Russian camp.

Yeah, I know.

Right, you ready.

[Jake] Ready.

Down.

(speaking in a foreign language)

Poor bastards.

And they've done us the
greatest favour of all time.

What?

Well, we needed something
to occupy the Russians.

Got them all there.

The rescuers and the rescued.

It's not much further.

And if we go back, to the north.

It's still a long way.

It's a hell of a lot longer
where they're going.

Well, Neil I keep telling
you I've complained.

At great length.

And told them they
should've referred back?

They did refer back.
-Not soon enough.

Well, they thought you were out of it.

Then, why the indecent haste
to get into the Kola Peninsula?

In case you changed your mind.

Go on, elaborate.

It's political pressure.

Neil, the War Bonnet
missile is a complete mess.

We're overspent on development,

there's a problem with the warhead,

it's late in its production schedule.

And all the time your Nemesis missile just

keeps getting further ahead of us.

Neil, look, you've got no idea how

the U.S. government can screw the CIA.

No idea at all.

Look, Neil, let's just
hope they all get out, okay.

Well, we'll know tomorrow before noon.

[Jeff] How?

Because if they're not out
by then, they won't be coming.

I hate to tell you this.

What?

I reckon -- we're about seven miles --

Yeah.

inside Norway.

What?

(laughing)

[Willie] C'mon.

Both Sandbaggers are out undetected.

Oh, I am pleased.

Unfortunately, the CIA officers

and the Norwegians were captured.

Oh.

So, both of us went in,
but neither of us saved

the Norwegian nationals.

No.

So, we're all square with
the Norwegian government.

No, better than that.

We're in a position of strength.

[Neil] What?

Don't you see?

Our agents went in and back again.

So, if the Norwegians had stayed with us.

If we can back to them quickly

enough on the Nemesis missile--

Is that all you can think about?

Well, that's what it
was all about, Neil.

Let's not lose sight of first principles.

No sir, let's never do that.

Can you manage dinner this evening?

I'm sorry, I've got to
go to Oslo to see Torvik.

Now, tread carefully, Neil.

Remember, Norway is
still a very valued ally.

That's why Torvik and I have
got to understand each other.

My car is outside.

Yes, I'm going back on the same plane.

Then, what did you come for?

An explanation for a start.

I could not wait for
days while you did nothing.

The Americans were
willing to go in at once.

And a lot of good it did them.

One of these days you'll
have a special operations

capability of your own.

So, I've come here to tell you something.

Special operations doesn't mean

going in with all guns blazing.

It means special planning, special care.

Fully-briefed agents in possession
of all possible alternatives.

If you want James Bond go to your library,

but if you want a successful operation,

sit at your desk and think.

And then, think again.

I understand.

Our battles aren't fought
at the end of a parachute,

they're won and lost in
drab, dreary corridors

in Westminster, and hopefully in Oslo.

Yes, well thank you
for being so restrained.

You have a few minutes,

maybe we could take a drink together.

I've got nothing to celebrate.

Nonetheless, I would
like to buy you a drink.

Herr Torvik, if I had a
glass in my hand at this moment

I'd shove it down your throat.