Original subtitles

Well, that should get somebody's attention.

Lucky to get away with a 2:1.

Yeah. So was I actually.

Now that's what a stared first degree looks like.

You got one too, didn't you Dad?

No actually, I'm a man doomed

to be surpassed by his daughters.

Let me let me.

- Don't squidge. - Just look Sophie.

This is a wonderful day.

Hello Fred.

Harry.

In the flesh, though that flesh be older.

Ah, this is my family. My wife Helen.

Darling, this is Harry... - Pearce.

Pearce.

Pleased to meet you Mr. Pearce.

How do you do.

Activate me?

You knew this would happen someday.

Oh, but Harry, but that was, it was 20 odd years ago.

24 years.

It was bravado saying yes to you.

I didn't take it that seriously.

I did. Young MI5 officer.

You were the first sleeper I recruited.

I never heard from you again.

We never contact sleepers 'till we wake them.

Ah, no, no. Ah, whatever it is you want me to do, no.

My life's set.

Nobel prize winner.

But did you really deserve it?

What the hell are you suggesting?

The work that won you the Nobel,

your discovery of the chemical imbalance

between neurons in the brain.

That basic research came from nerve gas experiments

at Porton Down which we made sure you were given.

What, you're saying MI5 manufactured my whole career?

We opened doors for you,

and to your credit, you barged right through them.

That was the agreement.

We'd help you become an expert in your field.

And if we ever wanted to call on your expertise, we would.

What am I, Faust?

I sold my soul to the devil for my success.

Sold your soul

to your country. What's wrong with that?

Are you coming to our party too?

Yes, please.

The explosion destroyed an entire floor

of a residential block in the East End of London.

Footage taken by an eyewitness,

and from security cameras on the estate,

shows the impact of the blast.

Due to the extent of the damage,

the building faces demolition.

The remains of two people who were in the flat at the time

of the explosion have not yet been identified.

No one else was injured by the blast,

but, as a precaution, neighboring shops-

Mom, where's Dad?

He's upstairs still talking to that vile man.

I thought maybe you'll ask me to do something.

At first. I was prepared for it.

Then as the years went by, I... forgot.

Pity's name Harry, I retire next year.

You're one of the most famous chemists in the country.

People will believe you've done it.

- Done what? - Made Red Mercury.

Red Mercury is a scientific impossibility.

It doesn't exist. - There are rumors it does.

Yeah, I've heard all that stuff.

It's poppycock, science fiction, right?

It's meant to be an explosive trigger,

that can fire a nuclear reaction in plutonium.

Incredibly efficient and totally impossible.

Is MI5 reading comics or what? You can't believe this.

I don't. But there are others who do.

What others? School boys on the net?

Serious people.

What do you mean, terrorists?

Yes. And you are going to pretend to make it,

and sell it to them.

This is laughable.

No, it's a deadly serious operation

of vital importance to national security.

You can't make me. Go away.

What is going to happen is going to happen.

What do you mean?

Well, first you're going

to get a visit from the police.

Go back into the woodwork, you spook.

With pleasure.

I've been in a cell all night. No explanation.

No solicitor. I'm saying nowt without a lawyer.

Oh, so you're saying nowt too? Right.

Put that thing on. I wanna make a protest.

Am I in England?

My name's Michael, this is Sally, John.

- Hi. - Hello.

We'll give you backup

throughout Operation Fly Trap.

I told Harry Pearce I'm taking part in no operation.

Don't you think you owe it to the service

to at least let us brief you.

Really?

What, after he had policeman drag me out of my house

in front of my family and friends?

All right, brief away.

An explosion took place yesterday

in Mortimer Street, EC22. We caused it.

That bomb on the news. Two people died.

That's just the top story for public consumption.

So no-one died, it was a big lie.

No. The big lie is the bottom story,

which we put out as a rumor.

Left wing magazines, the net.

I had no idea lying had

such a complex molecular structure.

What's the bottom story?

It's at the two dead bombers-

- Who never existed. - Yeah.

Had an accident handling Red Mercury.

- Red Mercury is a myth. - But plutonium isn't.

Five weeks ago, some kids playing

at the back of a house in Fullham found this.

One of them took it home,

and three days later this happened to him.

Radiation burns. He's critical.

The street was evacuated,

the public told that it was a gas leak.

But expert analysis later concluded

that a quantity of plutonium

had been discovered in the basement.

There was some sort of accident,

and whoever was responsible had fled.

Plutonium.

A terrorist organization in London

are trying to make an atomic bomb.

Puts cozy family parties into perspective, doesn't it?

The er, technical people have gone over

the bits and pieces we found.

They conclude that whoever is behind this,

are having trouble making a trigger to set the device off.

So who's doing this?

- We don't know. - You don't know?

Well, none of the groups that we are monitoring

has access to nuclear material.

These people are off our radar.

- We're blind. - Good God.

We staged the explosion in the East End

to create a rumor in the terrorist underground.

Red Mercury has been made.

The perfect trigger for an atomic bomb,

is up for sale, by you.

But even if it were possible to make this vile material,

I'd never sell it to terrorists, never.

Why would anyone think I would?

Your gambling habit?

You owe Park Lane Casinos, PLC £600,734 and 42 pence.

I've never been in a casino.

You do the GGs too, and the dogs.

And your wife doesn't know it,

but you've taken out a second mortgage on your house,

where you have the papers to prove it.

Your latest bank statements.

As you can see, your two savings accounts are cleaned out,

and your current account is pretty rocky.

£11,052.

Your cover has got to be perfect.

You're selling the Red Mercury

to extricate yourself from a desperate position.

That's why we've made it look like you've been questioned

under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

You can do this.

We'll be with you every step of the way.

Catch these bastards, you'll be a hero.

If I don't, what will happen?

Well, we made you, we can destroy you.

Your reputation will be mud.

Sign the Official Secrets Act.

Stand back, thank you.

This man has been helping us

with our inquiries on a serious matter,

but no charges have been brought,

and he's not under arrest.

That is all I can say at this stage.

Was it Red Mercury?

I'm sorry, I have no further comment at this stage.

Well, you've really rearranged the furniture in his life.

Great guy.

He's an idiot. He lived a lie, and now he's paying.

Well, I'm back on the Birmingham nightmare.

We could do with you on our boat.

- Excellent. - Danny! Time to hit the wife.

In the garden!

They're, they're actually

in the garden watching us.

Oh, Fred, talk to me.

Helen, you've got to trust me.

You were arrested in front of our children.

They just wanted to interview me, that's all.

Yeah, about an explosion in which two people died.

You are all over the news.

Fred, tell me what this is.

Don't answer that.

I've gotta read over tomorrow's lecture notes.

Hello?

- Mrs. Roberts? - Yes?

I'm ringing about your Visa card.

Oh, yes.

Joint account with your husband?

I'm afraid there's a problem.

Problem?

If I could take you through some security.

Do you have your account details to hand,

from your password, could I take-

The account ending 662-

£600,734 in debt.

I'm afraid charges will be levied

for exceeding your overdraft.

What was the point of wrecking the wife?

Ah, a test.

If he tells her about the gambling debts we're on.

You approve?

You are a gamekeeper on this op.

Yes, I am. Aren't I?

Tell me, Fred.

Tell me.

I, I gamble.

Yes. Yes! Game on. We're game on.

Where are you going?

- Watch for flies. - Okay, great.

When would you gamble?

I'd tell you I was in a faculty meeting.

And you'd be at the casino?

And the card being over its limit.

Oh, no, no, no. You've not touched-

not the Nobel money and the girls' trust funds?

- It's going to be all right. - Oh Fred.

If you love me at all,

then tell me what it is you've got involved with.

I gave up my career for you?

The children, this house.

And then after all these years, you suddenly-

Look, just get away.

I beg you. I, I, I can't bear the sight of you.

I'll, I'll go to Aunt Julie's house in Leeds.

Good.

All right?

Yeah, I'm, yeah.

How's Fred Roberts bearing up?

He's playing the cover story to his wife. He's hooked.

No, I mean, how's he bearing up emotionally?

Erm, I, fine. I don't know. Yeah. Good. Fine.

Tom, this is a vital and a dangerous operation.

Are you happy running it?

You mean am I up to running it,

after what happened with Herman Joyce?

Why wouldn't I be?

Good then.

Tom,

did you put another team on the house?

I think we've got our first flies.

They look like a professional team.

The car had false number plates.

Surveillance team means serious organization.

We've got to know who these people are.

- Lift them and ask them. - No, no.

They can see we're crawling all over Fred Roberts.

That's what attracts them.

Our interest makes it seem like

Fred really can make the Red Mercury.

We keep babysitting.

And what about the family in Leeds,

Do we get them to a safe house?

No, I don't think so.

We have to leave the family

hanging out to dry, don't we Tom?

Yeah. That's the trap.

Good. Now we wait, we watch.

God, you'd think we'd burned a hole big enough

to get someone's attention, but nothing.

Nothing at all.

No.

Photograph them?

Yep.

Don't look like the local branch of Al Qaeda to me.

No. That's the trouble though, isn't it these days.

Anyone could be anyone.

- How do you think Tom is? - Oh,

let's not even go there.

How do you think he is?

Kind of sets

my teeth on edge. - Yeah.

Hello? Who's this?

Hmm. It's more press.

Hmm. - What?

Oh, I think he's spotted us.

No, can't have that. - I'll go.

No, I will. - No no no, I will.

Call of the wild, Zoe.

- Ahem. - Oh, she's mad.

I'm afraid it can't let you do that, sir.

And why not, miss...?

Are you accredited?

Agencie Presse Francais.

Why France?

Because I am French.

Well, actually I freelance there a lot.

In fact, I'm going to Paris this weekend. You could come.

Just give me the camera.

What are you, six? Five.

Five.

So what Thames House getting picky

about their glamour shots now are they?

The camera.

How will I get it back?

It'll be returned to Presse Francais tomorrow.

I tell you what, I could come into Thames House

tomorrow to pick it up if you like.

Just give me the camera.

Or what?

You'll karate chop my sensitive parts?

Be gentle with it. My camera is part of my body.

We'll submit it to routine tests.

For Red Mercury?

- Really? - Oh, come on.

This is what it's all about, isn't it?

Sites about Red Mercury are being pulled off the net.

You know you are just a fund of information, aren't you?

Yeah, I know. What's your name?

I mean, obviously gimme a false name.

Just one that I can think of.

It's Zoe.

Zoe. Is your real name as pretty?

Yeah.

Don't you wanna know my name?

No.

I'll find out your name and everything else about you.

Well you do that.

Turn around.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Result.

What's he done? What's all this about him gambling?

I don't know.

Tell me Mom. I want to help.

I don't think you can. Now go on, get inside, it's cold.

Helen, Helen. What am I doing?

Well, I see the molecular transfer of energy

is suddenly wildly popular.

I'm sorry to disappoint anyone who's here to be stunned

by details of my criminal career.

But in this lecture, we shall be considering questions

of solid absorption or selective absorption...

Where are they? Why don't they contact me?

They're waiting like we are.

I'm not good at this.

Nope, you're doing very well.

Oh, bugger. Resonance.

Right, I've gotta-

How do you live like this?

How do you deal with the fear?

You get to like it.

Destroy you though, won't it?

Perhaps.

You know what Nietzsche said?

If you look into the abyss, the abyss will look into you.

Pizza or lasagna?

Please yourself.

Will North. You really want to go out with this man?

Yes.

Takes a good snap,

he's obviously troublesome.

Then again, if he wasn't you wouldn't like him, would you?

Have you filled in your S24?

Permission for socialization.

Embarrassing form, but I'm glad you went through channels.

Thank you, Harry.

Any news on the op?

No, not yet.

Well, while we're waiting, you may as well live your life.

I'll try.

Thank you Harry.

27461 all clear.

You'll have to change that now, will you?

Yeah, because of you.

So, Zoe. What's your real name then, hmm?

It's Zoe.

- Yeah right. - Yeah it is.

William Regis North.

How did you know my second name was?

Oh, you've checked me out.

What have you had me vetted?

15 parking fines. Very naughty.

Well, next you'd be telling me that 5 searched my flat.

Oh wow.

We've demonstrated already,

that a layered distribution of active catalyst

is coupled

with a diffusion barrier.

Therefore, one has to conclude we are looking at a

novel biphasic process.

Admissible when cold, yet homogenizing when heated,

allowing isolation to take place.

Thank you all very much.

- Um, Professor Roberts? - Yes.

I'm worried about the molecular structure

of the gas under minus 214 Celsius.

He's talking to a student, he'll be out in a mo.

Enjoy your lecture?

Really good, yeah.

I've just got one more question.

- Well. - Are MI5 running you?

We know they're watching you. They're all over the campus.

If this is some kind of adolescent

game you're playing, I suggest you stop.

I have the honor of being a messenger from

the Aleph Command.

We want to buy Red Mercury from you.

That is a very serious request.

We're serious people.

What happened in the East End?

I, I made a small quantity.

They ignored simple handling instructions.

But the Red Mercury was stable?

As much as it ever can be.

- You really have made it. - Oh yes.

The holy grail of terrorism.

If there was a Nobel Prize for war mongering,

I'd pick that up as well.

- How much do you have? - None.

- What do you mean? - I use the university lab.

I'm not gonna pop it into a test tube on a rack

at the end of the day, am I?

I want you to make us five grams.

You'll have to give me a lot of money for that.

$5 million.

I want my family's safety guaranteed.

Of course.

And I want to disappear.

The casinos of the world await you, Professor.

But if you are an MI5 trap,

be very afraid for your family.

♪ We know where they are ♪

10 Elmet Crescent, Leeds.

How'd you know that?

The revolution also has its spies.

Three days.

Er, how will you take delivery?

You'll get instructions.

Thanks for the advice, Professor.

Got him, there's something wrong.

Tell me Zoe, what's going on.

Tom, he's just standing there against the column. Tom.

All right, leave it to me.

They know where Helen and the girls are.

The student. Danny, Zoe. What's his name?

The student who talked to you. What's his name?

I don't know him.

I've got a visual. Do you want me to track him?

Tom, do I track him?

No. Back off. Back off. Repeat, back off.

Are you sure?

I've still got a visual.

Yeah, we can't risk it.

Let him think he got away with it.

Come on, I'll take you home.

Can't go home, can't go anywhere.

Must be a student somewhere. Probably a post grad.

I tried to ring Helen, the phone didn't work.

Tried her mobile, that didn't work either.

Is that you? - Yeah.

Don't you think of us as human beings at all?

Fred,

I know this is difficult for you,

but can we just go through exactly

what this young man said to you again please?

He wants the Red Mercury in three days.

He will let me know how it'll be collected.

Mike, what about my family? - That'll be all right.

Can you guarantee that?

- Yes. - Liar.

I can't go through with this.

Listen, we cannot stop this operation now,

you have to realize that,

the only way out now is to make it work.

What? I'm to go calmly into the lab,

and pretend to make more Red Mercury?

Yes.

You know, a really horrible thing.

I could almost enjoy this.

when I was talking to that young man,

I was this gambling criminal chemist.

I was this other self.

People in the field in a foreign country

have to do that for years.

And do they love it?

What, like you think you do?

No.

Oh, I warn you Fred, that way madness lies.

No you um, you have to put your real self in a box.

And only when you come home,

do you open up the box and say, hello real me.

What if the box got lost?

You'd have to reinvent yourself.

I think you lot are clinically insane.

No, I'm a professional.

Bollocks (Fred slurping).

Spy's gotta have a fatal flaw.

I think I'll make mine this.

He's asleep.

Look, I think we need to keep Fred Roberts happy.

I think we've gotta move his family.

You know we can't do that, Tom.

- He'll go to pieces. - Then lie to him.

I'm going to be sick.

Fred I've had your family moved.

They're in an MI5 safe house.

They're not in Leeds anymore?

No.

Why didn't you tell me?

Ah, security rules.

- So they're safe. - Yeah, they're safe.

Thank God.

Oh, oh, everyone. I've got him.

Lawrence Sayle, 24 years old.

Postgraduate chemistry student.

His address is in Bristol.

Well done Sam.

Disappeared?

We don't want to alarm you, Mrs. Sayle,

Lawrence is a brilliant postgraduate,

but sometimes students can be a little bit highly strung.

Not Lawrence.

Do you have any idea where he could've gone?

- Any friends, or? - No.

But he wasn't going anywhere?

No.

I mean if he was going back to Asia, he would've told me.

- Asia? - Yes, it sounds lovely.

Where in Asia?

It's called Kyrgyzstan.

I think he's got a girlfriend there.

Look.

Would you like a cup of tea?

- Very much, thank you. - Thank you.

Danny?

Chocolate biccies?

Ah, Mrs. Sayle, um.

We have some very bad news for you.

Y Division have translated the cards for us,

now they're all signed, "Aleph Command."

They're in two groups.

Some make up a mini terrorist handbook.

How to handle detonators, explosives.

The others are ideological.

They look forward to the overthrow of Saudi Arabia,

and the establishment of the House of Islam,

with a caliphate in Baghdad.

Al-Qaeda's stated aims.

These postcards?

They were sent from several towns in the Fergana Valley.

A number of Al-Qaeda personnel

are known to have settled there

after the Americans moved into Afghanistan.

I've seen this postcard thing before.

How do you mean?

The Syrian Secret Service use it.

This Aleph Command, I think it's something new.

I think it's operating like us,

surveillance teams, trade craft.

You mean it's like a terrorist MI5?

Yeah. We've activated our sleeper,

they've activated theirs. Lawrence Sayle.

Okay, this would be my opinion.

We let Lawrence contact Fred,

but don't pick him up until the money's paid.

Criminal evidence is the key.

The family in Leeds, put special forces on the house,

but out of sight, this is about waiting. Wide awake.

Hello Professor.

These are the details of how to access an account

in the Cayman Islands.

The money will be in the account one hour

before I collect tomorrow night.

- Can I check that? - Oh, they'll pay.

They're honorable,

and we want to collect it from you personally.

We are tearing this man apart.

We're putting his family at terrible risk.

We've got a special unit 500 yards away, ready to go.

It was his choice to be a sleeper.

Exactly, he knew what he was doing.

No, I don't think he did then. I don't think he does now.

There's part of him that wants to play the big bad spy.

What your point?

My point is that the service is exploiting him.

We're crucifying a man here.

- Fred Roberts, or you? - What?

Nothing.

I think we should cancel the operation.

Why?

We're asking this man to walk off a cliff.

What is the matter?

I don't have faith in the operation.

Then you don't have faith in yourself.

What?

Fly Trap is working better than we dared hope.

We've flushed out a vicious terrorist group.

Have we?

Our only lead is a set of postcards.

Have we found their base? No.

Do we know when they'll contact Fred again? No.

It's like we're running a hen house

waiting for a fox to call.

The university lab is one huge flypaper.

Exactly.

So we're using Fred Roberts like bait.

- Of course. - Well what are we?

We're just automatons, scared to wake up.

Tom, when did you last sleep?

I'm relieving you for eight hours.

Go home, have a glass or two of decent Medoc or whatever.

Sleep, and be back in the morning.

Right.

You're doing a brilliant job.

We're going to have a great success.

Yeah. Yeah.

Adam, when Tom's left the grid,

would you come in here please?

Looking very unstable.

Oh, Mike. - Hey.

We've got to leave.

- What? - Your family is

still in Leeds.

You told me you had them in a safe house?

It was thought that if we move them,

the Aleph Command would know

you were working for us. - You bastard,

I trusted you.

- I'll take you to them. - I, what?

And then you can all go somewhere really safe.

I I, I don't know.

Professor, you and your family are at terrible risk,

now I'm in charge of this operation,

and I'm closing it down.

I want you to come with me now.

What is this? Some kind of crisis of conscience?

I thought you left all that in a box.

Please, I must do this for you.

Come with me, I'm begging you. Now.

All right.

Maybe he took the Professor home.

No, no sign of him at the house.

Have they snatched him or what?

I saw this happen to someone at GCHQ.

What happened?

Their conscience exploded.

An exploding conscience, Tom? I don't think so.

Three agents in the field got killed.

- Danny? - I think Ruth may be right.

Right about what?

Fred, I have to get you outta this.

Maybe I don't want to get out of it.

You don't realize what lengths

the security service will go to.

War on terror. It's changed the way they think.

- Look, Mike. - My real name's Tom.

Peeling the onion, are you?

Layer after layer of lies. - Yeah.

He's in a pool car, he's trashed the tracking device.

It's Tom.

He went through four speed cameras, he's on the A roads.

So what's he doing?

He's taking the Professor to his family,

then he'll try and make them disappear.

- Is that a guess? - A certain guess.

He's wrecking this operation.

What's the situation at the Leeds house?

There are still two Aleph Command men watching.

Tom's just gonna go blundering in there.

When he arrives with the Professor,

special forces go and lift everyone out to safety.

No, sorry Harry, but let's try and save this op.

How long till they get to the Leeds house?

Yes, but I wanna go on with what we've started.

No, you don't realize.

I realize a nuclear bomb could go off at any time.

We're not in control, the operation will go pear shaped.

They'll chew you up and they'll spit you out.

Bloody hell!

What's going on?

They'll do anything,

I told you, I told you.

Get out. Get out.

I'm so sorry, Fred.

Professor Roberts, can you go with these officers please?

He's not going anywhere.

- Professor! - I'm collecting his family

and I'm taking them to safety.

- Tom, this is all wrong. - Turn up to the house,

and the terrorists will know

the Professor is working for us.

What's the matter with you, Tom?

What's the matter with me?

I've woken up to this job. That's what's the matter with me.

I'll go back. I want to finish this.

- Thank you, professor. - They're right.

They will leave you with nothing.

I think the Professor knows his own mind.

No, he doesn't, because we've pressured him,

and we've threatened him. - Oh just stop it.

This is your operation, Tom.

Why are you wrecking it?

After everything we've been through together, please.

You owe this to us.

Don't make me do something I can't go back on, Tom.

You're a free man. You're a free man.

You don't have to do this.

I want to. I've made my choice.

No Fred, I am begging you, please don't.

I am decommissioning you, Tom.

Ah, don't be ridiculous, Harry.

You are no longer an officer of the Service.

Danny, Zoe. Come on.

Just leave.

Come on, back me up.

How exactly can we do that?

Because we understand each other, we always have.

Not anymore.

Zoe!

I'm really sorry.

Are you armed?

I mean, I would've armed myself.

Don't get caught with a gun, Tom.

Not again.

Take him back.

Do you understand?

No, sorry.

Oh, five!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

- That's it? - Oh yes.

It is written,

"As for those that have done evil,

evil shall be rewarded with like evil."

That's right, isn't it, Lawrence?

Chili powder mixed with the little oil.

You've been had, Lawrence.

It's a sting called Operation Fly Trap,

and you've been well and truly stung.

Now it's your go.

Whatever you say, I won't betray my brothers.

We've got all the money paid to the Professor.

Do you think your brothers will be pleased,

when they know that they're $5 million

is safe and snug in the British Treasury?

You're going to be ours, Lawrence.

Your compadres in Leeds?

Answer me. - Yes.

Ringing to check you've got the Mercury?

Have an agreed time?

If you tell them you have the stuff,

they'll leave the area, yes?

And if you don't?

Look at me.

If your brothers move against the Professor's family,

special forces will shoot them dead.

I want to save lives.

You take your phone out,

and tell them you've got the Mercury.

Take your phone out.

Phase two, now.

Hi! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Stay down, stay down.

It's all right, calm down,

everything's going to be all right.

You'll be fine, everything's going to be all right.

What's going on?

Helen? Helen? You and the girls, are you all right?

Are you hurt?

No, no. We're here.

So it's worked. I am so, so sorry

I ever got you into this.

What?

I did it for MI5.

- MI- - I made them a promise,

years ago. I was what they called a sleeper.

I don't know who you are.

I don't know why you did this to us.

I did it for the country.

You did it for yourself,

because it was exciting.

Helen?

Helen?

It can be hard for the people around us.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She'll, yes.

Mike or Tom. What's gonna happen to him?

Sorry, Professor. Classified.

Everybody safe, Fred's family?

What about Lawrence Sayle?

You get him?

You can't, of course, you can't tell me.

I'm a member of the public now.

You are.

I envy you. - I doubt that.

No, I mean,

if this thing is really leaving you.

The spy thing?

The urge to be secret.

To give a false name, lead a false life.

You'll get the really very generous special pension.

Payoff, for rogue officers, yeah.

You won't be disciplined, Tom.

Thanks for that.

And of course you realize we'll never meet again.

Yeah.

Good luck in the real world.