All language subtitles for The Sandbaggers S2 E3 - Decision By Committee

Here you are.

Departs 0205 local.

Middle of the night.

Yeah, well you were the one who said
you wanted the first available flight out.

What is it?
-707.

No movie?

At least you're in
first class, aren't you?

I'll be in the back with the
buckets-and-spade brigade.

You should complain.
-We do, constantly.

Could I have a lager please, a cold one.

Our firm is not quite as
well funded as yours is.

What is your crazy system?

I mean you go first class outbound.

So we arrive fresh at the job.

But you come back economy?

Because nobody gives a damn
about the state we come back in.

So if you happen to be hurt.

You bleed.

All over the guy sittin' next to ya.

What's the routing?

Uh, it starts in KL, Kuala Lumpur,

stops in Bangkok before it gets here.

Bahrain, Athens, Amsterdam--

I asked for a flight home,
I mean not a world tour.

Spend another night in Colombo.

And have Ross accuse
me of taking a holiday?

Is that all?

If I stayed, Burnside
would do me for desertion.

Come.

Morning, Neil.

Good morning, sir.

What's the news from Sri Lanka?

Good, sir.

The conference ended without incident, and
all the delegates have departed Colombo.

So much for the
tip-off about the Iraqis.

Well, all the tip said was
there would be retaliation

for the arrest of the Iraqis
in London and New York.

It was our idea they might
hit the Colombo conference.

Caine on his way back?

Yeah.

He couldn't get on the Air Ceylon flight,
for VIPs and their attendants.

He's coming back tonight.

I did say it was a waste of time.

The CIA didn't think so.

They sent Karen Milner.

Now, sit down Neil.

Reason I wanted to see you.

I've written your annual report.

Yes, sir?

I felt obliged, in light
of your recent conduct,

to say a few things therein that...

I'd rather have left unsaid.

Understood, sir.

You've demonstrated all too clearly

that you're still prepared

to take the law into your own hands.

To freelance.

I'd accept that.

Although I think there's a
fine line between freelancing

and the exercise of initiative.

Perhaps.

But the days of the independent
operator have gone, Neil.

These days, the-rule is
decision by committee.

Decision after proper reference upward.

There's not always time for
decision by committee, sir.

Then you must make time.

Your habit of running a private service

can only make your masters nervous.

Yes, sir.

And they won't promote
someone they can't trust.

Are you saying I'm not
recommended for promotion?

You're not in the zone yet, are you?

You've done what, just 18 months as D-Ops?

What's in the recommendation box, sir?

I'm not obliged to tell you that, Neil.

No, but I would like to know.

Promotion in ordinary course.

I see.

Change your ways, and it'll go back

to an early promotion recommendation.

But rather too late.

Sorry?

Well I can think of at
least three other people

at my stage who must have earlies.

Yes, I'm afraid this is
going to put you behind

a couple of your contemporaries.

But my hope is that you'll take it as a...

An incentive to come into line.

One cannot always run
an operations directorate

off a set of wall charts, sir.

I appreciate that.

But you must appreciate

that your masters do not trust you.

Cannot trust you, not while you
treat the other directorates

and authority as irritants and idiots.

No, sir.

All right, Neil.

Change your attitudes
and I'll change my mind.

Which will change your reports.

Thank you, sir.

So you got any other
ideas on the Iraqis?

No, but I still think
they'll try something.

Where'd the tip come from?

Baghdad station.

Saying that there would be repercussions

over the arrest and conviction
of the Iraqi terrorists.

Against both Britain and the USA.

I'm surprised they didn't
try the Colombo conference.

Too obvious, maybe.

Well anyway, they probably
won't hit both of us

at the same time.

More publicity from two separate strikes.

Talk about getting hit.

You OK?

Yes, I'm all right.
-Yeah, it sounds it.

I had my annual report
this morning from Peele.

Oh?

I've been recommended for
promotion in ordinary course.

Which is the kiss of death at my stage.

Did he give any reasons?

I don't toe the party line.

Well, you can overcome one bad report.

How?

I'll tell you, by agreeing
to decision by committee.

To what?

It's Peele's new phrase.

Does that really screw you up?

Well there can only be
one deputy chief at a time.

And the Intelligence Director
is more senior than me,

with a whole string of earlies.

Anyway, I can't run the Ops
Department like a supermarket,

either I do it my way or I get out.

So do it your way.

If I do that I don't get promoted,

I end up as head of station
in Greenland or something.

I think I'll quit.

Oh come on Neil, don't be stupid.

Why not?

I'm tired.

I've got eye strain, hyper--

Hypertension, headaches, yeah I know.

Well, you sure don't help yourself.

Like doing what?

Look Neil, the reason
you're such a kick in the tail

is you got nothing else.

Just the office, the job--

I know what you're gonna
say, you needn't bother.

Well why don't you live a
little, go out to the movies.

Have a few dinners--

You know the answer to that.

I don't want to talk about it.

Yeah, all right all right.

I got to get going.

Well, if you ever need me,

you know where I am, OK?

This is mine.

I know how the peasants felt

at the gates of Versailles now.

You're down there, sir, on the left.

If you hear any hammering
noises, it'll be me,

building a guillotine in the lavatory.

Scuse me.

(telephone ringing)

Burnside.

Sam Lawes, sir.

We've had confirmed reports
of an airliner hijack

and we think that Willie
Caine is on the aircraft.

Who are the hijackers?

We don't know, sir.

The hijacking happened
30 minutes out of Bahrain

with the aircraft bound for Athens.

First report was at 0415 Charlie.

Do we have the new destination for it?

Well not yet, sir.

It's Malaysian World's Flight 505.

originated KL, stopping at
Bangkok, Colombo, Bahrain,

Athens, Amsterdam, and London.

Did any of the conference
delegates board at Colombo?

Well they shouldn't have, sir.

According to Willie's last report,

all the delegates went
out on earlier flights.

Then why the hijack
and who's doing it?

Right Sam, get on to Number 10, the FCO,

and the Ministry of Defence.

Find out if they know of any passengers

who could be of interest to hijackers.

[Sam] Roger, sir.

Ring Ross at his home, ask
him to talk to his people

about important Americans.

And try to get a
confirmation out the airline

that Willie is on board.

[Sam] Well that's in hand, sir.

All right, get a control
allocated, bring in Mike Wallace,

and you better alert the Deputy Chief.

[Sam] Sir.

I'm coming in.

Good morning, Mike.

You controlling, Bruce?

Yes, sir.

Any more news?

None of it good, sir.

Willie is on the aircraft,

and the hijackers are Iraqi terrorists.

So they are Iraqis.

But why that particular plane?

No joy on that, sir.

Duty ops officer.

Yes, he's here.

Hang on.

Jeff Ross is in reception,
sir, will you see him here?

Yes, send someone
down for him, will you?

OK, he's cleared to visit the Ops room,

but I'll send down a runner to escort him.

I'll go.
-Thanks, Mike.

Tom?
-Sir?

Will you set a zone
clock to Bravo, please?

Duty ops officer.

Roger.

Copy all traffic, immediate
precedence, Ankara station.

Turkey?

Istanbul. Sir?

The hijackers have ordered
the plane to Istanbul.

Maps, Bruce. Turkey, Istanbul,

and a ground plan of Istanbul
International Airport.

Roger, sir.

D-Ops.

Take a signal to Ankara station.

Phone it through, personal from me.

Request you send your Number
Two to Istanbul soonest.

Have him open a direct line to you

from international airport.

Keep me informed by phone,
even minor developments.

Got that?

Thanks.

You know sir, it's a Malaysian plane

with a mixed Malaysian
and Australian crew.

So if the Iraqis are
doing what they promised

and putting the screws
on us or the Americans--

There's got to be a
VIP among the passengers.

Yes, sir.

Hijackers made any demands yet?

Not that I know of, sir,
but It'll be for the release

of their jailed colleagues, won't it?

Yes, but jailed where,
New York or London?

Depends whether the
VIPs are American or British.

Let's hope their British.
-Sir?

Our first concern's Willie, isn't it?

Well yes, sir.

Well if it's a British VIP,
our government will lead.

And they might just
take account of the fact

that there's an SIS officer on board.

And if the VIP's an American?

The US government will lead
and we can't influence them

one way or another.

Oh, here's Mr. Ross now, sir.

Hello Jeff, grab a chair will you?

They're diverting the
aircraft to Istanbul.

Well, Turkey's better than Libya.

I suppose you didn't get
anything on the passengers.

I'm only interested in one passenger.

Karen Milner.

Yes, of course, she'd
have met up with Willie.

Willie's on board?

I take it we're trying to
get a complete passenger list

out of the airline.

Well, they promised one to
the FCO as soon as possible,

sir, and the FCO desk
will get a copy to us.

Good.

Duty ops officer.

Ops room.

Ah, he's busy at the moment Colonel,

I'll pass you to Mr. Burnside.

Sir, MOD link.

Burnside.

First class?

Right, thanks.

The aircraft's carrying the
Chief of the Defence Staff

and the Chief of the General Staff.

Returning London from a
defence sales presentation

in Kuala Lumpur.

Damn it, I was hoping they'd be ours.

Yes, I guessed that.

Are they first class, sir?

[Neil] Mhmm..

Malaysian government
must have paid their fares.

Do you think the passengers
are pre-seated in KL?

Should be, they usually
are on long-haul flights.

That's in hand, sir, the passenger list

has the seat numbers alongside

and we've asked for a
plan of the aircraft.

Good.

What did you get, Sam?

The aircraft's ETA
Istanbul is 0620 Bravo.

That's about an hour from now.

Daylight soon after it lands.

Can we found what the ground temperature
is likely to be at Istanbul?

We have that, sir.

Probably be about 24 degrees
Centigrade during the day,

and perhaps 15 or 16 at night.

Well that plane's gonna be hot as hell

once they shut down the air conditioning.

Won't help tempers, will it?

Sure won't.

Duty ops officer.

Certainly, sir.

Deputy Chief's in, sir,
would like to see you.

Oh, right.

Want to come and referee?

Well I'm not doing any good down here.

Look, keep on the FCO desk

about that seating plan, will you?

[Sam] Sir.

(door knocking)

Come.

Ah, morning Neil.

Morning, sir, you know
Jeff Ross of course.

Ah, yes, how are you, Mr. Ross?

Lousy. How are you, sir?

Do sit down.

Shall I get some extra cups.

Uh-uh.
-Thank you, sir.

Brought this from home.

Margaret seems to think
we'll be here for a week.

I asked Jeff to join us

because he has a share of the problem.

Both Caine and Karen
Milner are on the aircraft.

I'm sorry to hear that.

And CDS and CGS are also on board.

Ah, so that's what it's about.

You can stand by for demands

to release the jailed
Iraqis against their lives.

Yes, quite clever of them.

We thought they'd strike at
a British or American target

and they go for a Malaysian plane.

I knew they'd be more subtle

than to go for the Colombo conference.

Yes, well the plane's due
to land in just over an hour.

We should get more details then.

Yes.

Well we can monitor events of course,

but it's a matter for the
Prime Minister, really--

Is it?

With Karen and Willie on board?

Yes, that's a good thought.

Two special operations
officers already there--

No sir, that's not what we mean.

You can't expect them to make a move.

Course not, they're unarmed.

Seated apart, probably
unable to communicate?

Seated apart?

The CIA has the courtesy
to send its officers

first class at end of mission.

Yes well it's hardly the time

to debate that old chestnut, Neil.

Point is, Mr. Ross, SIS is
simply a spectator in this game.

And the issues involved are rather larger

than the safety of one
SIS and one CIA officer.

Not to me, sir.
-Nor me.

Oh come now, in any other circumstance

we'd be urging the
government not to acquiesce.

Well, maybe we still should.

But Willie's a government officer,

just like the two defence chiefs.

But that's what I'm saying, Mr. Ross.

The defence chiefs, Karen
Milner, Willie Caine,

any other British or American nationals,

they're simply pawns on
this particular board.

Pawns?
-Afraid so.

Well I'm not accepting that.

What can you do?

Create a hell of a lot of trouble.

And they're asking for the release
of the Iraqi terrorists?

Immediate release.

Those held in New York as
well as those held here.

What lever have they got
on the US government?

Public opinion.

Plus four American nationals on board.

Important?

To their relations and friends, yes.

As far as we can determine,
there are five hijackers,

four men and a woman.

The woman and one of the men are German,

the other three are Iraqis.

What's the threat?

To shoot CGS at 1800, CDS at 2000,

and to blow up the aircraft at midnight.

How the blazes did they get on board
with guns and explosives?

God knows.

The terminal at Bahrain was very busy
when the aircraft was there.

So the security check
would have been hurried.

All we'd asked was
particular attention to be paid

to British and American aircraft.

How many British nationals are on board?

14, including children.

Children...

There's a DOPC meeting in
Downing Street at 10:30.

Are you attending?

I've been invited, for what it's worth.

But there'll be no decisions there,

the Cabinet will have to
thrash it out in the end.

Well I hope they don't
take too long about it.

Yes.

On the other hand, you can't expect them

to rush into a decision.

No.

Well I'll be in the Ops room, sir.

Right.

What have we got?

Well these dots represent the
positions of the passengers,

sir, there's blue for everyone

except the two defence chiefs,

Ms. Milner, and Willie.

They're the red.

Ah yes sir, the CGS, the CDS,

Ms. Milner, and Willie.

Our two in aisle seats.

They were late bookings on it, sir.

Nothing to do with that.

Survival instinct.

First to the loos.

All right.

Presumably the aircraft's shut down now.

Yes, sir.

But they can still communicate
with the outside world?

Yes sir, through the tower.

One of the flight deck
radios runs off a battery.

Is the station Number Two there now?

At the airport?

Yes, sir.

(baby crying)

Excuse me.

Can you give me the time?

No talking!

OK?

(baby crying)

Get on to the SPT.

Ask the Colonel to come and
see me soon as possible.

Take him...

Couple of hours.

Right, say a meeting at two o'clock.

And tell him I'd be grateful

if he doesn't advertise his presence

in the building too much.

Not on the sixth floor, at least.

You'll get into trouble again.

Willie's the one who's in trouble.

Yes, sorry.

Anything else?

(telephone ringing)

PA to D-Ops.

On his way.

C is back from Downing Street, wants you.

Right.

Tell Sandbagger Two to
stay in the building.

Right.

Best I can tell you is
that the Prime Minister

now knows that we have
an officer on board.

And one from the CIA.

But isn't much interested?

Let's say it's not his primary concern.

Is there any indication
of what they're going to do?

No, the Cabinet's meeting now.

Well, I hope they don't take
those time limits as gospel.

(telephone ringing)

Yes?

Put him through.

Yes?

Very well, I'll come round now,

and I'll bring Mr. Burnside with me.

Foreign Office?
-Yes, Wellingham.

I wonder what Wellingham
feels about all this,

after Belgium.

Having been a hostage, you mean.

Yes. Sandy, bring my
car around will you?

I don't know.

He's never talked about it.

At least not to me.

Does Caine have a girlfriend?

Not a regular one, sir.

His mother lives in Salisbury.

But they're not releasing
details of passengers,

so I think it's better she
doesn't hear from us either.

I agree.

Has the Deputy Chief spoken to
you about your annual report?

Yes, sir.

I'm afraid that I felt
obliged to endorse what he said.

I understand, sir.

But do you understand
the criticism, Neil?

I think so.

I believe in using my initiative,

the Deputy Chief prefers
to do things by committee.

You're far too
intelligent to interpret it

as crudely as that.

Look Neil, I'd have you as
my Deputy Chief tomorrow.

And for 360 days of the
year, but for the other five,

the days when you decide to
double deal and bend the rules--

You'd get nervous.

Not nervous, terrified.

We give our directors
a great deal of power

and a great deal of responsibility.

And as Deputy Chief I'd have more power

and even more responsibility.

That's exactly,

that's what Matthew was
trying to get across to you.

You can't have the power
without the responsibility.

And you mean I'm irresponsible?

Not as you see it, I know.

But we're answerable to
the government of the day.

You can't have the tail wagging the dog.

But you've got to allow the dog to bark.

To bark, yes, but it must
bite strictly within the rules.

You want to go around
taking lumps out of people

and hoping that no one will notice.

I don't know, sir, that may work

for the Ministry of Ag and Fish,

but I doubt it'll ever work

for the Operations Directorate of SIS.

And what about the great British public?

How do you think they'd
feel about a secret service

that played to its own rules,

independent of the
government they elected?

The great British public?

They couldn't care less about SIS.

But if they ever did, they
would demand a service

that's dedicated to one
thing and one thing only.

That's the destruction of the KGB

by whatever means available.

Means that justify your running
a dirty tricks department?

Well the KGB's a
dirty tricks department,

the whole lot of it.

Equally, it's answerable
to the Central Committee,

and we must be answerable
to our government.

Let it set the policy, make the decisions.

Yes, well let's see how quickly it can
come to a decision about this hijack.

I doubt if Wellingham's tidings

are going to be all that glad.

Yes, and you must be
anxious about Caine.

That's our principal
interest, of course.

Well, because of that,

I thought I'd let you
know how matters stand,

as I see them, in any event.

The government is caught, badly.

The Prime Minister has announced publicly

in a number of forums that it is our policy

to stand firm against
terrorism, whatever the cost.

And thus, if they do give in
to the terrorists' demands

and release these Iraqis from prison,

they'll be accused of
reneging on a stated policy.

Encouraging hijackers.

On the other hand, if we do stand firm,

then CDS and CGS could
certainly be killed,

and possibly everyone else on board, too.

So what's happening?

The Cabinet's still in session.

Trying to decide which way to jump.

Well I hope they're
considering the possibility

of an Entebbe-type raid.

That came up at the DOPC meeting.

Wasn't greeted with enthusiasm.

No.

The feeling is that after
Entebbe, and Mogadishu,

that terrorists must half
expect a counterattack

and be well prepared for it.

But the SAS is acknowledged to be

the best anti-terrorist
squad in the world.

Without their advice at Mogadishu--

Indeed, but remember that
all but one of the terrorists

were killed at Mogadishu.

This lot must know they
haven't a chance, either.

And if they're going to be killed...

They might as well set off the
explosives as soon as the shooting starts.

Just that.

Anyway, there's a further complication.

The Turks have warned
us, and the Americans,

not to mount a raid on the airport.

Warned us?

We're their NATO partners.

Even so, they feel, understandably,

that the plane is on their soil

and they should deal with it.

And they don't want to be seen to be

rescued from the situation

by armed raiders from another nation.

Image building.

Well, a bit of that too, I should think.

But they have an argument,

the plane is neither British nor American.

Do we know what the.
American attitude is?

They don't want us to give in.

The President is convinced, personally,

that to release these terrorists

could only encourager les autres.

Well that's very noble of the President.

He's probably never heard of a CIA officer

called Karen Milner, nor a
sandbagger called Willie Caine.

And if
Caine wasn't on board?

But he is on board, sir.

And there's an unwritten
law in the Special Section

that if a sandbagger gets in trouble,

someone will go to his assistance.

That's hardly relevant in this instance.

It's relevant in every instance, sir,

because if the sandbaggers
stop believing it,

they'll begin
to hold back in crisis situations.

Well, as far as this crisis
situation is concerned,

those are the facts as I know them.

Thank you, Geoffrey.

You'll keep us informed of
any further developments.

Of course.

Neil?

I do appreciate your anxiety about Caine.

Let's hope it all ends happily.

Yes sir, let's hope so.

Your unwritten Special Section law.

Yes, sir?

You feel very strongly
about it, don't you.

I have to.

Willie will be sitting
out there quite calm.

Sure that I'll be moving heaven and earth

to get him out in one piece.

And if nothing comes of it?

Assuming he gets back...

He'll never believe it again.

I can't mobilize SAS on my own, sir.

I was thinking more that
you had a second sandbagger.

And not much I can do with him.

It wouldn't be a one-man operation.

Besides, he isn't briefed,

and the last flight of the day is at 1420.

Then you had considered it.

Yes, I considered it.

Until I realized there
was nothing he could do

when he got there.

I don't think there's
anything you can do, either.

No?

No, I know.

(speaking foreign language)

(speaking foreign language)

Stay in your seat.

I want to go to the toilet.

All right.

You will leave the door open,
so that Aziz can see you.

Is that necessary?

Everyone else has done so.

But only gentlemen have been until now.

I said you will leave the door open.

Stop.

I'm going to the lavatory.

Use the ones at the front.

They're in use.

I said stop!

You will wait until the
others have finished.

I can't wait.

Now make up your mind, buster.

I can go aft, or I can pee here.

Only it's gonna smell.

(baby crying)

What are you doing?!
-Going to the lavatory.

I have permission.

I have told you!

Keep him quiet.

(door knocking)

Yes, sir?

Mike, you did Entebbe-type
training in SAS?

Some, yes, I wasn't on
the first team, though.

What's the minimum number of men

required to attack that 707?

SAS, you mean?
-Assume so.

Well, ideally--
-Not ideally, the minimum.

To attack something the size of a 707

you'd need to get in 3 men simultaneously.

Just three?

Well not for the operation, sir, no.

That aircraft's sitting with
its doors open for ventilation

but without any stairs to them.

So the attackers would have
to use portable ladders,

say two men to each ladder,
that's six, nine altogether.

And ideally?

30.

30?

Well there should be a backup wave

to go in immediately after the first lot.

Marksmen stationed around the
aircraft, explosives team,

drivers, vehicles to get
the passengers away quickly.

But you couldn't get anyone
close to the aircraft before nightfall.

And they're due to shoot
CGS at 1800 their time.

But not Willie.

Willie'll be OK until they
blow the aircraft at midnight.

10 o'clock our time.

Yes.

It's getting very tight, sir,

Istanbul's four and half hours away.

SAS would have to leave here

before half past five this evening.

I know.

What happens if the terrorists
close the doors at night?

No problem, you attach limpet grenades,

blow the doors off.

It's feasible, isn't it?

Yes. It's also very dodgy.

Less dodgy than waiting to
see what happens at midnight.

Is that what the
Cabinet's proposing to do?

Oh, I don't know.

They're just sitting over
there burbling at each other.

But I think we'll get weaving.

Anything I can do, sir?

No. I'm gonna see Ross

and I've got the Colonel
coming at two o'clock.

The Colonel, you'd use
the Special Projects Team?

Why not, there are 16 of
them, they belong to me.

Yes, but they're not SAS.

SAS doesn't belong to me.

Can't you get them, sir?

The Turks won't let them in.

May be a way of fixing that,

that's why I'm going to see Ross.

Sir, the,

the SPT, sir, it worries me.

I mean they aren't trained in hijacks.

It's a very specialized subject.

It takes four and a half
hours to fly to Istanbul?

Yes.

Then you'd have four and
a half hours to teach them.

(woman praying)

And I'm telling you Neil,
the Turks won't let you in.

So put the screws on them.

Who?
-You. The CIA.

With what?

You fixed the Cyprus
invasion for them, didn't you?

Oh, come on.
-Didn't you?

Come on, wait a minute.

They got into Cyprus, we
got the Greek junta toppled

because of it, both sides
got what they wanted,

the slate's clean.

Then trade on their good will.

What the hell do you
want me to do, Neil?

What do you want?

You want me to call up the
Turkish prime minister?

Well I'm sorry, I don't know the guy.

Don't you want to get Karen out?

You know god damn well
I want to get Karen out.

Then phone your director,

have him ring your president
at the White House.

How is it gonna help Karen

if I'm relieved for
being mentally disturbed?

Well your president can
then ring the Turkish--

And our president has
already said he won't support

an infringement of Turkish sovereignty.

Anyway, your whole plan's crazy.

Willie wouldn't think so.
-Well he might.

I sure wouldn't want your
Special Projects Team

bursting in there, waving guns around.

It's marginally better than

having a plane blown up beneath you.

Maybe they won't blow
up anybody, I don't know,

maybe they won't shoot the defence chiefs.

But maybe they will, and
I'll tell you something,

if they shoot CGS at 1800,
I want a plane taking off

one minute after, loaded with armed men.

Wait a minute, what plane?

British Airways--

Oh yeah, I get it, SPT's
gonna hijack one at Heathrow.

Look, one more flip
remark from you, Jeff--

Buddy, you haven't got a hope in hell.

You haven't got Turkish
permission to land,

and you haven't got an airplane.

Hell Neil, you haven't even got the SAS.

I have got SPT instead of SAS.

Yeah, that's terrific.

I'll pressurize the whole of Westminster

into giving me an aircraft.

And if I have to, I'll send
my station chief around

to knock on the Turkish president's door

and say the plane's just landed.

Except it won't even take off, Neil,

if the two governments
haven't agreed beforehand!

How many times have I gotta tell you!

Look Jeff, when those
terrorists landed this morning,

they didn't ask for the plane
to be refuelled, still haven't.

Which can mean only one thing,

they're gonna keep to their deadline.

Well, maybe they'll
extend--- Not this lot.

This is same gang that
gunned down an El Al crew

in a London street, shot it
out with the French police

in the middle of Paris.

There you go, all the more reason

not send an untrained SPT up against 'em.

Well maybe we'll get a miracle.

All I know is that SAS has
been at Instant Readiness

since first thing this morning.

All they need's one word.

Yeah, one word.

Which they'll never get.

It's no good Neil, the battle was lost

before you even began it.

Well what's the alternative,
we go to the Hilton,

have a few drinks?

Guess we just sweat it out.

That's what Willie and Karen are doing.

OK, have you examined your
own motives for all of this?

Meaning?

Well, I don't know what's
going through your head, Neil.

But it could be that
I've lost four sandbaggers

in the 19 months I've been D-Ops.

Oh come on, I didn't say that.

Well why not say it?

My predecessor lost one in six years.

OK, so you had a couple of tough breaks.

My god if it's that close to
the surface of your mind--

It's always close to the
surface of my mind, Jeff,

but that's not why I'm doing it.

Look, I was a sandbagger for
seven years under three D-Ops.

I never doubted for one moment

that they would go to the wall for me,

put their careers on
the line, pull strings,

and if necessary, cut throats.

Willie must expect the same from me today.

And I'm damned if I'll let him down.

The Colonel's here.

Good.

Get me an appointment with Wellingham,

say for half past two.

Today? You'll be lucky.

Well say there's been
a major development

in the hijack operation and
I need his advice, urgently.

I'll try.

And ask for C's car to
take me over, will you?

Right.
-Send him in.

Would you come this way, please?

Thank you.

Colonel Gaines, sir.

Thank you. Hello, Ben.

Sorry to drag you from your
country seat, sit down.

That's all right, Neil.

Nice to see you.

Nasty business, isn't it?

Yes, you're up to date?

Just been to the Ops room.

Intrigued to know what my part can be.

Well I'm gonna push hard for SAS

to do an Entebbe-type raid
before midnight in-zone tonight.

Yes.

Well if there's any snag
on that, on SAS involvement,

I'll offer the Special Projects Team.

But we're not trained for it.

Well my Sandbagger Two's ex-SAS,

he can brief you on the way.

Send us to Moscow to
blow up a few bridges.

Ask us to start a riot.

Tell us to sink a Russian
carrier at it's moorings.

No problem.

But I don't know the interior
layout of a, a 707 isn't it?

There's a plan in the Ops room.

What about equipment?

We haven't got stun grenades,
any of the specialized stuff.

Then get it quickly or do without.

Why should there be
a snag on SAS, anyway?

Because the Turkish government

won't agree to a rescue operation.

And?

Well at the last minute our government

might allow us to put in a
unit without Turkish agreement.

And if it becomes a scramble,
and there's any form of delay

on SAS, at least I can get the SPT away.

To fight the Turks as
well as the terrorists.

The Turks won't fire on a
British plane, we're all NATO.

And they do get a sizeable
amount of aid from us, anyway.

It's madness, Neil.

Look, I'm not overjoyed by it.

But I've got to keep open
every possible option

until half past five this evening.

But I don't think you
appreciate the dangers.

You can't just pick up any unit

and turn it into an Entebbe
squad after a half-hour lecture.

You're not any unit, you're
the Special Projects Team

of the Secret Intelligence Service.

But we're not SAS.

Why do think the Germans have GSG9?

The Israelis have the Sayeret?

The French have the GIGN?

The Italians have the
Squadra Anti-commando?

Because you need experts in that field,

men who train for day in and day out.

What you're saying is you're damn good

at the summer exercise, but the
real thing's another matter.

Now that's unfair.

It's unfair that CGS will die at 1800.

That CDS will die at 2000.

That everyone else on that aircraft

will be blown to pieces at midnight.

I know that.

Then get on the phone and
get your team mobilized.

To go where?

Get a holding position
somewhere to the west of London,

where you can get to
Heathrow or Brize Norton

without wasting a second.

Is that an order, Neil?

Yes Ben, that's an order.

Follow him to the lift,
see if he goes up or down.

The Colonel doesn't look happy.

No.

I'm gonna make waves over in Whitehall.

Go for SAS.

Much better, sir.

Yes.

Up. Sixth floor.

I shouldn't blame him, but I do.

C's car is outside,

Wellingham's cancelled an
appointment to fit you in.

Who was it with, the
Charities Commission?

Good to see you, Ben.

Take a chair.

Well, what brings you to town?

Neil sent for me.

Oh, I thought he'd be...

Not about the hijack?

Sir, I like Neil Burnside.

I think he's a damn good
Operations Director.

Yes?

I don't like going over his head,

but I'm responsible for
the lives of my team.

Of course.

I want you to give me an order, sir.

That for the rest of today at least,

the SPT is not to be mobilized

without your specific
and personal approval.

What's he trying to do?

Rescue his sandbagger.

And I admire him for it, but--

But how could he use the SPT?

As a fallback option,

if for any reason he can't get SAS.

A raid, do you mean?
-Yes, sir.

But he hasn't got clearance for a raid.

No, but he's trying to get it.

How?

I'm not sure.

I know what he's doing and I
can applaud it, but...

All right, Ben.

Don't mobilize your team.

Thank you, sir.

I feel somewhat disloyal.

You shouldn't.

Sir.

Peele here, I want to talk with C.

(door knocking)

It's urgent, I'm told.

Very urgent, sir.

We've got about two and a half hours

to get SAS on their way to Istanbul.

To do what?

Take the aircraft before
it's blown to pieces.

If you're telling me
something new, it escapes me.

Is the government going to
release the jailed Iraqis?

The Cabinet's still in session.

But?

The Americans won't give in,

and our government feels that
it can't lose its credibility

by succumbing to terrorists.

So CGS can die at 1800.

It's a possibility.

And the government doesn't give a damn.

Of course it does.

When then let's try and save the others.

With a raid.
-Yes.

It's been considered, Neil, at length.

And rejected.

Because of the Turks.

No.

The Turks couldn't get
negotiations off the ground.

Principally because these
Iraqis don't want to know.

Are you saying the
Turks would let in SAS?

Yes.

Well then why aren't they on their way?

Because there's a very good chance

that the terrorists could oppose it.

So what?

So, if we mounted a
raid and it went wrong,

after the successes of
Entebbe and Mogadishu...

Yes?

It would be disaster.

Politically.

The arguments are then turning on

what's best for the government.

Do they ever turn on anything else?

Is that really the way it's going?

Neil, whatever action
the government takes

on a hijack operation,

there's a risk of its
being the wrong action.

So it's best to do nothing.

Prevaricate, hope it'll all go away.

And leave themselves the
loophole of blaming the Turks.

And a good loophole, too.

Could you help me to get an aircraft?

What for?

I want to send
Sandbagger Two to Istanbul.

Can't you fix up an
HS-125 from Northolt?

I need something bigger.
-Why?

I want to send people with him.

Not the SPT.

Sir, this could be Caine's
last chance, his only chance.

The Cabinet has said no to a raid.

We don't have to tell the Cabinet.

I mean if it succeeds the Prime
Minister can take the kudos.

And if it fails?

Hot-headed Ops Director in SIS.

I can't be a party to that.

Sir, all you've got to do,

is tell C that the Foreign
Office clears my request.

It doesn't, it can't.

I can't sit on my
backside doing nothing.

Neil.

The government wants to oppose terrorism.

Wants to be seen to be opposing terrorism.

It can do that by raiding the aircraft.

I've told you, the risk
of failure is unacceptable.

Decision by committee.

I'm sorry?

Nothing.

Could I see the Prime Minister?

Don't be ridiculous.
-But you could fix it.

He's busy.

Doing what, composing a victory speech?

It will be a victory, in a way.

Not for Willie Caine.

And the defence chiefs?

You haven't pleaded for them.

I can't save them.

And I don't know them.

And the Prime Minister
doesn't know Caine.

(baby crying)

Sir Thomas Party.

Yes?

Stand up and step into the aisle.

Hurry up!

Kneel down.

Oh my god.

If you're going to execute me,

I'd like a moment to compose myself--

Kneel! Now!

Oh no.

Please god, no.

Oh my god, no.

No!

Go, Karen!

It's all right everyone, it's all over.

You bastards!

You bastards!

Bastards!

Thank you.

When will Caine be back?

Any minute now.

His plane was due to land at 1310.

Thanks.

You've fixed for him to avoid the press?

Yes, and Malaysian World Airlines

have agreed a press statement.

The terrorists were overwhelmed

by two of their sky marshals.

Who can't be
identified for security reasons.

Doesn't do the airline any harm.

Makes people think they
fly with protection.

I had to tell C that I wasn't amused

by your manoeuvring the SPT yesterday.

I wasn't amused by any of it.

Encouraged, though.

What?

It made rather a nonsense

of your decision by
committee idea, didn't it?

I don't see how.

The Cabinet's a committee,
the most powerful in the land.

And it couldn't make a decision,

it couldn't act to save that
aircraft and its passengers.

They were saved by two junior officers

using their initiative

and making the rules
up as they went along.

Different circumstances.

Here, the rules have to
be laid down, adhered to.

They're not rules at
all, they're excuses.

For what?
-For lack of action.

For clinging to the safe,
career-protecting system.

And I suppose you still
think you can beat it.

No, but I'm damned if I'll ever join it.

(door knocking)

Sorry.
-Come in, Willie.

Well done, Willie.

Jolly good show.

Thank you, sir.

You OK?

Yeah.

Karen?

Well look, I've got this pack to clear

in the next ten minutes.

I'll push off, get a
coffee and come back.

OK.

Small point of interest,
what was the plan?

Plan?

To get us out.

Oh.

The government were doing
their usual delaying trick.

But if the Iraqis had shot CGS at 1800,

the SAS would have been on
their way two minutes later.

I knew it would have to
be under cover of darkness.

Well, you needn't have worried.

I wasn't worried.

I knew you wouldn't let me down.