Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

(gentle orchestral music)

- Something the matter lady?

- No no it's alright.

Turn left here.

- Eh?

- Please turn left.

- But that's the wrong way.

- Please do as I say.

- Oh you're paying.

What now?

- Turn left, then left again.

- And then?

- To my address.

- Bit round about innit?

Here what was all that about?

- Did you see anyone follow us?

- Eh?

- A car, just give me a pound.

- Not that I noticed, thanks lady.

Can't see anybody can you?

Boyfriend trouble is it?

- Good afternoon Mr Palfrey.

- Good afternoon Mr McKenzie.

- Another umbrella?

- Well I thought I might look at a walking stick.

- Certainly for country use I imagine.

- Well you know everyday.

- Well the ash are very popular of course but the--

- I've often wondered about one of these.

- Sound investment.

Would it be essentially for sitting on or general purpose?

- Oh, eh, general purpose I suppose,

walking, occasionally sitting, that sort of thing.

- Well I think we have just the article

if you care to try this one for comfort.

Course one would normally be wearing

rather different clothing.

- That would effect it?

- Oh certainly sir, one's perception of it in say,

stout waterproof, would be quite different from the

city Crombie you're presently wearing.

- Yes I suppose so.

A bit low.

- Yes well this one is adjustable for height.

And as you see sir it's made in Britain.

- Ah, yes, yes that's much better, yes I'll take it.

- Good sign sir, you'll find it most satisfactory.

Shall I wrap it sir or will you take it as it is?

- [Palfrey] Oh I'll take it as it is.

- [McKenzie] Be on your account?

- [Palfrey] Eh yes.

- Ah good afternoon sir may I help you?

- I was looking for some sort of a hat.

- Ah yes any particular style.

- Have you any caps?

- Yes sir, step this way.

I should say you're a size seven.

- I'm sure you'll find it a most satisfactory purchase.

- Thank you Mr McKenzie.

- Good day sir.

- Mr McKenzie.

- Yes.

- That gentlemen, his name isn't Palfrey by any chance?

- Yes it is Mr Benedict, one of our regular customers.

- I think I've come across him in the past.

- Oh really sir.

Oh he left his paper.

(man humming)

(talking in foreign language)

(phone ringing)

- Hello.

Hello, hello?

(breathing on telephone)

(phone ringing)

Yes?

(breathing on telephone)

Who is this?

Say something.

(speaks in Russian)

(phone ringing)

- McNair.

- [Woman] Yelena Mishkinova.

- You should not use this number except in an emergency.

- Why'd you think I called it is an emergency.

I need help, I may not have much time.

Calm down, what's happened, what's the matter?

- I think they've found me, I think they know where I am.

- [McNair] Nonsense.

- It's not nonsense, look I tell you I'm being watched.

- Alright just keep calm I'll look into it.

- [Secretary] Yes sir?

- Bring me the file on Yelena Mishkinova.

- [Secretary] Right away.

- And get me Special Branch on the secure line.

(phone ringing)

- Yes?

I had almost given up.

Now I understand, is everything alright?

Excellent, I am to congratulate you of your last delivery.

We are very pleased.

Well I look forward to that,

we will of course show our appreciation the usual way.

Good, don't take risks.

Until the next time.

- What's the plan?

- Oh good you're back.

- What's the flap?

- Our mistress is unhappy.

- That really breaks my heart.

- Yes I'll forget you said that.

She feels there's been one leak too many.

- So she'd better ask the boys in Curzon Street

to do something about it.

- Unfortunately they haven't got very far.

- Still looking for the submarine logbook are they?

(laughing)

- That's not funny Blair.

How was your week off?

- Good sport, I did a lot of shooting.

Wasn't as rusty as I thought.

- Yes you like shooting things don't you.

- Given the opportunity.

- I'm afraid while you've been away

they've queried your last month's expenses.

- Again?

- Well you do keep forgetting,

no cabs if there is a bus route.

No overnight meal allowance

in the Metropolitan Police district.

Overtime on surveillance--

- To be approved beforehand, no gratuities to informants

without prior authority.

- [Palfrey] Absolutely.

- National security on the cheap.

- [Palfrey] Well there it is I'm afraid.

- Now if we worked for the KGB--

- I fear the Coordinator thinks some of us already do.

- Oh welcome back, hit anything?

Sorry to interrupt Mr Palfrey but the Coordinator's been on

and she'd like to see you at 3:00 p.m. if that's convenient.

- One has a choice?

- She'll be back then from Downing Street.

She's having a sandwich lunch with the PM.

- On expenses.

- She says it's rather important.

- Yes of course.

- Also Mr Palliser has been in touch, he's with FCO.

- I wish you wouldn't throw abbreviations at me.

- Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

- Ah yes of course.

- He'd like a chat if you could spare a moment.

- What about?

- It's a personal matter.

- Ah you see Blair, sandwiches in Downing Street,

personal problems with the Foreign Office,

aren't you glad you're back in the fold?

- [McNair] Yours?

- It comes with the furniture.

- You haven't done badly have you?

What with comforts of home.

- [Yelena] It's hardly home.

- For a defector Miss Mishkonova you've done very well.

You owe the British tax payer quite a debt.

- I'm paying it back with interest.

- Are you now?

You still insist somebody is threatening you?

- Yes.

- I've checked with Special Branch, they've drawn a blank.

- Then you don't believe me.

- Well let's put it this way,

you can't give me any sort of description.

- No.

- In fact you haven't spotted anybody.

- No.

- Actually nothing has happened has it?

- Yes the phone calls.

- Wrong numbers.

- They're not wrong numbers, they do not even ask

what number it is, they say nothing and hang up.

- It happens every day.

Anything else?

- Yes I feel it, somebody knows who I am, where I am.

- Not much to go on is it.

- Mr Palfrey said to tell you

the moment I'm worried about something.

- Quite right too, of course you're nervous,

but really you're perfectly safe.

Your address is unlisted, your phone is ex-directory,

you have a new name, a new identity.

Nobody has the faintest idea where you're living.

- [Yelena] You want a list?

- A list, what list?

- Of defectors who were perfectly safe

with secret addresses and false identifies

who have had accidents, fatal accidents.

- In other countries, not in Britain.

- Really?

- You really must give us a little credit you know.

We keep an eye on these things.

Every defector who's been given a new identity

is protected by this section.

We keep tabs on everything including you.

- I would like a bodyguard.

- My dear woman you don't know what you're asking.

Do you know what it would take to give you

round the clock cover?

Four men full-time, I mean do you know what that would cost?

And just because you're nerves are a little on edge.

- I am not neurotic, I know what I'm talking about.

- Of course I never even thought it.

- At least one thing.

Can I have a gun please for protection?

- A gun, no I'm afraid that's out of the question.

We're very particular about firearms in this country.

I really don't think I could get authorization.

- I see.

- [McNair] Sorry.

- And what if I'm right, if there is somebody after me,

what do I do?

- I wouldn't worry, but of course if anybody does bother you

just dial 999.

- I'm very grateful Mr Palfrey, I know how busy

you must be.

- Oh you said you had a problem,

problems are my business Mr Palliser.

- Actually you're my last court of appeal.

- Really?

- Remember the Benedict Inquiry years ago?

- 1972, yes I do.

- I was cleared of course

there wasn't a shred of evidence against me.

MI5 gave me a completely clean bill.

- So why do you bring it up again, why resurrect it?

- Because they're looking for scapegoats.

Snooping everywhere trying to find

who's leaking information.

Mr Palfrey I'm no fool I know I'm on their suspect list.

- Well you were officially cleared.

- The joke is I may have been cleared but Benedict

didn't do my career any good.

I should've been an Ambassador by now.

Washington, Bonn, who knows.

Instead I'm still stuck at my desk.

- We civil servants are often not appreciated

by our masters.

- Time is running out for me, then I thought of you.

- I'm not sure I understand.

- You play a very special role in security.

You're not just a house detective.

- No.

- I think there's still a cloud over me.

A word from you in the right place and the slate is clean.

- But you've got your security clearance,

you have access to classified documents, they trust you.

- A stickler stays.

The Benedict Inquiry's long been discredited

but my name is in the report.

Yes I was cleared, but it's rather like law in Scotland,

not proven.

I want more than that, I want not guilty.

- What did Benedict allege against you?

- He had nothing, he took two and two and made seven.

Read my file it's a farce, I think he made most of it up.

- Why should he do that?

- Because he's crazy.

- Do you notice anything Mr Palfrey?

- New hairdo?

Flowers very nice.

- No, no, no, no I thought you were so observant Mr Palfrey.

- Oh!

- Signed by herself.

- Very good likeness.

- I shall always treasure it.

- I'm sure madam.

- Mr Palfrey something has come up

I want you to give it your full attention.

- I have quite a full workload at the moment.

- Yes well clear your desk, delegate, this takes priority.

I want you to make yourself immediately available.

- What is the problem?

- Blackmail Mr Palfrey.

Blackmail pure and simple, Downing Street won't have it,

I won't have it, steps must be taken.

Do you understand?

- Not quite, who is being blackmailed?

- We are, the Government is, it's quite outrageous,

you must do something about it.

I don't understand what's happened to people.

Where's the loyalty, trust, integrity?

Little snippets of girl typists steal documents.

Civil servants leak secrets.

One can't rely on anyone anymore, except you Mr Palfrey.

- You mentioned blackmail.

- And can you imagine the man even got the OBE.

You do recall the Benedict Inquiry?

- How interesting, that's the second time today

his name has come up.

- Oh?

- Unimportant Madam.

- Well Benedict claimed that our intelligence establishment

was riddled with traitors, double agents.

He had no evidence of course, no proof,

just allegations and rumors.

And now out of the blue Mr Benedict is blackmailing us.

- But he retired seven years ago.

- He threatens to make his report public.

He has waited long enough for us to act, he says.

- He's still subject to the Official Secrets Act.

- It means publicity, we can't afford that,

it mustn't go that far, we have to stop him.

Lean on him, do it any way you like

but you must save the Government embarrassment.

- Embarrassment?

- But of course, Governments must never be embarrassed.

You do understand?

- My job is security, not saving faces.

- Your job is to protect the State,

the interests of the State.

Downing Street will be very grateful.

- You mean I might even get an OBE?

- You've had your instructions from the top.

Persuade Mr Benedict of the error of his ways.

Deal with it any way you like but shut him up.

- I just caught them in Central Registry.

There are only three copies of the report,

each one numbered.

- And they're all accounted for?

- Under lock and key in the archives.

- Of course copies can be made of copies.

- Benedict named six suspects.

- Yes that was three years ago.

Since then three have died of natural causes

and one was killed in a car accident on the M5.

- How convenient.

- They were retired, drawing their pensions,

and people do have car accidents.

- Garforth, Palliser, are they still around?

- Yes I met Mr Palliser.

- Garforth's in the intelligence secretariat.

Palliser has a good record.

Both were cleared after Benedict's report.

Why is Benedict resurrecting all this stuff?

What's he after?

- Vindication I suppose.

He spent three years putting pieces together,

sniffing out clues to see a pigeonhole ignored and wasted.

He felt he had a mission, to clean up the service.

A dedicated man Blair, don't underestimate him.

- You think there's something more to all this?

- Maybe.

- When you see maybe like that.

- Yes?

- I cancel my engagements.

(clock ticking loudly)

(phone ringing)

- Yes?

- [Man] Yelena Mishkinova, you see there is no point

in hiding under a false name.

A traitor will always be found.

You have been betrayed Yelena.

There is no escape, you'll be dead in two days.

(doorbell ringing)

- [Palfrey] Yelena, it's me Palfrey.

- Thank God you're here, I thought you'd never come.

- You should I'm never far away.

- Go through.

- You must forgive me Palfrey I started to think.

- What did you start to think?

- That I have become, what is the word, expendable.

That maybe even you, I began to ask myself,

maybe it's a game and I'm being used.

- It's no game.

- [Yelena] You see Palfrey

if I can't trust you I'm finished.

- Then trust me.

- I'm sorry please excuse me I think they're getting to me.

I talk nonsense.

Would you like a drink?

- Oh dear, 51 minutes too early for me, but you go ahead.

Tell me did you recognize the voice at all?

- No I was half asleep.

- Well not to worry we can play it back to you

any time you want.

- Play it back.

- Well you know your line is monitored we record everything.

- Because you don't trust me.

- Because we want to protect you.

- I can see that.

- Come and sit down.

- That is why they know my secret number,

my secret address, my secret identity, protection.

- Yelena, it will be taken care of.

- By your Mr McNair no.

I tell you something I hate McNair.

He's he's insufferable, useless, dial 999, he says.

Palfrey I need protection.

- Will you calm down and leave it to me?

- You know you have a traitor somewhere, a double agent.

Someone who knows the arrangements and gave me away.

The voice said so.

"Yelena you have been betrayed."

- I wonder why, I mean why tell you.

- What am I to do?

- The hardest thing of all I'm afraid, nothing.

- Mr Palfrey, Miss--

- Yes that'll be all girl and close the door behind you.

- Madam.

- Oh not bad, aren't you cramped here Mr Palfrey?

- Well you assigned this office to me Madam.

I was perfectly happy in Mayfair.

- Did I?

Oh yes.

Who are these?

- Eh subjects involved in the Benedict report.

These four named as double agents are all dead now.

- Good.

- We still have Garforth, Intelligence Secretariat,

and Palliser of the Foreign Office

and this is Benedict, OBE.

- A fine rogue's gallery.

- Well if indeed any of them are rouges.

- The reason I'm here, do please sit down Mr Palfrey.

- Thank you.

- The reason I'm here is because you haven't reported to me,

I have been waiting, Downing Street has been waiting.

What has been happening?

- Madam you only told me yesterday.

- Action this day, that should be the rule.

I expected you to get going immediately.

I expected to find a report on my desk

first thing this morning.

Why the delay?

- Madam I really must be left to run my own section

in my own way.

- Mr Palfrey do you realize what is hanging over us?

A storm cloud.

If this man makes his allegations public

a lot of questions will be asked.

Why was no one arrested, why was no one charged.

It could very awkward.

- As a matter of fact we have another problem.

You remember the woman defector.

- What woman defector?

- Yelena Mishkinova, we've given her sanctuary

for services rendered.

- Well?

- The KGB appear to have found her.

It could be quite serious.

- You're wasting your time on her?

- She'd had a threatening phone call.

- What we have Special Branch for Mr Palfrey.

MI5, the Anti-Terrorist Squad.

Drop this matter immediately,

concentrate on what's important,

deal with this Benedict man, clips his claws,

do you understand?

I don't want to hear that you're doing anything

except this assignment.

All resources are to be mobilized, that is an instruction.

Do you want me to minute it?

- Oh I don't think that's necessary.

- Good I shall expect your report first thing.

Good day Mr Palfrey.

- I thought Madam was in rather a temper.

- Oh no Caroline it's just her natural manner.

(thumping)

(door creaking)

- Easy, very easy now.

- You?

- Just put that thing down gently.

Never hold a gun when your hand is trembling.

- What are you doing here?

- [Blair] Protecting you, Mr Palfrey's orders.

- You got a key?

- Let's just say there's no problem getting in.

I do wish you'd put that gun away.

- He didn't tell me,

Mr Palfrey didn't say you'd be here.

- There's a lot Mr Palfrey doesn't say.

Don't be silly.

Where did you get that anyway,

I thought you didn't have a gun, not according to McNair.

- That's right I didn't, but I have acquired one.

- [Blair] Where?

- There's always a way as long as one can pay.

- Tell me more.

- Do you people really expect me to sit here

like a clay pigeon waiting to have my head shot off?

- May I?

Please I'm interested in guns.

Well well well, a Makarov 9mm.

Replica, very nicely made, very convincing,

until you need to use it of course.

- Just what are you here for to protect me

or to interrogate me?

And why did you break in when I was out, why?

- I'll tell you why, to make sure nobody does just that.

Hides in here and waits for you to walk in.

You should've listened to Mr Palfrey.

He'll make sure nobody breaks your neck.

Tell me, have you got any eggs?

- Eggs?

- Yeah, since we're all cozy I wondered

if you were any good at making an omelette.

- What are you talking about?

- Dinner, nothing fancy, something we can fix here.

An omelette shouldn't be much trouble should it?

Now I'm very partial to a Spanish omelette,

or maybe you can make me a Russian one.

Never had a Russian omelette.

- Good morning Mr Benedict.

- I wondered when you'd turn up Mr Palfrey.

- I hope you don't mind my coming unannounced.

- Actually I've been waiting for you for days.

- Really.

It must be lovely here in the summer.

You're a fortunate man Mr Benedict.

- But you didn't come to discuss my garden.

- That's true.

- You know I like burning things.

The smell of the bonfire in an English garden.

Something very special.

You garden much Mr Palfrey?

- Only in the sense that I spend my time uprooting weeds.

- I suppose you'd like a glass of sherry?

- What a good idea.

- [Benedict] Familiar faces eh.

- [Palfrey] Your private portrait gallery?

- [Benedict] A constant reminder of the enemy in our midst,

our Judas syndrome.

- Philby, Blunt, Burgess, McLean, Blake.

They're ancient history, why bother?

- You've come to talk me out of it haven't you.

- Talk you out of what Mr Benedict.

- Blowing the gap.

- I wonder what good it will do after all these years.

But it will cause a lot of pain to innocent people.

- For God's sake Palfrey why do you think I'm doing it.

The cancer is growing we're riddled with it.

I sniffed out the traitors I named names,

and what did Whitehall do, hushed it all up,

they gagged me, protected the guilty.

- All the people you named were investigated.

Nothing was found, they were cleared.

- It's been one long cover-up and now it's going to stop.

You wait 'till the newspapers really get going.

There'll be such a row Whitehall will shake

in its foundations.

- I wonder, isn't it just that you want to be vindicated?

- Don't you understand, I am a patriot.

I want to make this country safer,

to protect us against the traitors.

- Where's your evidence, your proof?

- For God's sake Palfrey isn't it self-evident.

The other side knows everything, the smallest details

about our security, about our day to day operations.

They even know where we hide their defectors,

names, addresses, phone numbers.

- How do you know that?

- Oh I know what I know and what's going on.

You know I haven't lost touch.

- You mentioned defectors, which defectors.

- You know as well as I do the Russian journalist.

How do you think he was lured back to Moscow?

And that woman, what's her name, Yelena.

All betrayed, fingered by the moles.

- Tell me more.

- That's it over to you,

get them out of the woodwork Palfrey.

I'm going to light the fuse, that's all, you do the rest.

- You're still subject to the Official Secrets Act.

- Oh don't make me laugh, it's the last thing they can risk

having me standing up in court shooting my mouth off.

Well that's why they sent you isn't it?

- No actually our little talk is quite unofficial.

- Oh of course.

- Suppose you're wrong, can't you let it rest.

- If I didn't know your reputation Palfrey

I would say you were part of the cover-up

the way you're talking.

- You know what some people might say?

- What?

- That you're obsessed.

Obsessed with the people you suspected,

and frustrated because years of hard work

have produced no result.

- What if I am?

- Obsession and frustration are dangerous qualities

for an Intelligence Officer.

(laughing)

- I thought you were smarter than that Mr Palfrey.

- It would be useful if I were, I'm sorry,

but thank you for all your help.

- My help?

- Oh Mr Benedict you've no idea how helpful you've been.

Now I mustn't keep you.

- Mm, I hope you found your new stick satisfactory.

- How do you know it's new?

- I saw you at Luxfords the other day.

- And you were after a cap I think.

- Yes and I found one that fits.

- Good day to you sir.

Mr Garforth?

- [Garforth] Speaking.

- Good morning, my name is Palfrey.

I'm sorry to--

- [Garforth] What?

- Palfrey, I'm sorry--

- [Garforth] Oh like the horse.

- Like the horse, quite.

I'm sorry to trouble you--

- [Garforth] I'm at your service.

- Oh good, Mr Garforth I'm with the Home Office--

- [Garforth] Oh right next door.

- That's right, I was wondering if we could meet

for a little chat?

- [Garforth] When?

- Oh any time that suits you.

- [Garforth] Well can't we talk now?

- Well actually I'd rather not discuss it over the phone,

you'll know how it is, one never knows who's listening.

Absolutely.

- [Garforth] Well where can we meet?

- Well anywhere you like.

- [Garforth] How long will it take?

- Shouldn't take long.

- [Garforth] Next week alright?

- Next week, well actually I'd rather it was a bit sooner.

We could get it over with quite quickly--

- [Garforth] I'm awfully tied up.

- Yes I know you're busy.

- [Garforth] Annual report.

- Yes of course.

- [Garforth] I could manage 10 minutes tomorrow afternoon.

- Oh good.

- [Garforth] Say Queen Mary Steps one o'clock?

- Yes that would do admirably,

well goodbye until then Mr Garforth.

He seems rather reluctant to have a little talk,

wonder what he's hiding.

Anything new on him?

- Not much really,

Mr and Mrs Garforth went abroad earlier this year,

a week's holiday in Vienna.

- Ah, I hope they enjoyed it.

- Yes Mr Palfrey, only Mrs Garforth wasn't Mrs Garforth.

- Oh Caroline.

I think we'd better keep that to ourselves.

- I have here a report from Nichols of Special Branch.

- Ah yes Nichols.

- What was that?

- Eh nothing Madam.

- It's a very grave report,

it says that his surveillance people have noted that

Blair spent the night with that Russian woman

Yelena whatever her name is.

Is that correct Blair?

- Yes Madam.

- Have I got this right, you spent the night with her?

- Correct Madam.

- Well Mr Palfrey, Blair works for you,

what do you have to say.

- There is a slight inexactitude in Mr Nichol's report.

Blair did not spend the night with the lady,

he spent it at her flat, a considerable difference.

- Who else was there?

- Um Blair and Miss Mishkinova.

- No one else?

- Blair spent the night on the sofa.

- He was alone all night in that flat with that woman?

A Security Officer in a highly compromising position

with a rather doubtful female.

- Not position Madam, situation.

- Nothing at all happened.

- And what exactly were you supposed to be doing there

all night?

- Protection duty Madam.

Staying close by to ensure her safety.

- That's Special Branch's job.

- Oh a double precaution that's all.

- And how did you and this lady occupy yourselves?

- She cooked me an omelette.

She's quite a good cook Madam.

- I think it's outrageous,

I've a serious mind to suspend you.

Didn't you realize the implications?

- [Palfrey] Madam.

- Yes what Mr Palfrey.

- It was on my orders.

- Your orders?

- In view of the woman's fears I instructed Blair

to stay in the flat all night to reassure her.

- [Madam] Alone?

- Yes Madam.

- You surprise me Mr Palfrey, you of all people.

- Do I Madam?

- Alright Blair, in view of the fact

that you were carrying out orders I will overlook

this imprudent action.

Doesn't appear to be quite what I suspected.

And as for you Mr Palfrey.

- Madam.

- I hope you will think twice before allowing

this sort of thing to happen again.

- I will think twice.

- Very well then.

- Ah the weather certainly seems to have cheered up.

(laughing)

- Is that always start an interrogation,

talking about the weather?

- Oh nobody's been interrogated Mr Garforth.

- No?

- When Mr Palfrey the spy hunter asked to have a chat.

- Spy hunter oh whatever gives you that idea?

- I've been through it remember, I've been investigated,

checked, vetted, filleted more times than I can remember,

all because of the bloody Benedict report.

I can smell a security check a mile away.

- You were completely exonerated.

- But everybody remembers.

There's Garforth who was suspected by Benedict.

- You were in good company if that's any consolation.

Sir Henry Urquhart, head of MI5 included.

All wrongly suspected, all cleared subsequently.

- The man was crazy, talk about seeing reds under the bed.

- Did you know Benedict personally?

- I met him a couple of times

when we were both at Leconfield House.

They should've put him in the loony bin.

- Why did he pick on you all?

- If you stayed late at the office you went on his list.

If you went for long walks in the park by yourself

that was suspicious.

If you locked your desk you went on the list.

God help you if you had a girlfriend on the side

or were seen in a left-wing bookshop.

- Well sometimes these things can be pointers.

- Oh don't be ridiculous Palfrey they prove nothing.

A real spy keeps his nose clean,

he doesn't do anything suspicious.

His life is a model of primitive.

Like Philby.

- I must remember that.

- Anyway, why is all this being resurrected?

- If the papers got hold of this report

and printed the names of the old suspects

what will you do?

- They can't, it's top secret, the Official Secrets Act

and all that.

- But supposing someone leaked it

and your name was published?

- I'd sue the bastard right into hell for libel

and call you as my first character witness.

- [Palfrey] Then let's hope that won't be necessary.

- Julian, fancy seeing you here.

- Ah, hello Betty.

Em Betty this is a colleague, Mr Palfrey, Betty Scott.

- Hello.

- Nice to meet you Miss Scott.

Well if you forgive me I'll push off.

- I thought we still--

- Oh no no I have everything I need.

Please excuse me Miss Scott.

- You know sometimes Betty

I wish you were a bit more discreet.

- What's the matter Julian,

are you ashamed of having a girlfriend?

- Oh don't be silly, people talk that's all.

- Stop sounding like a civil servant.

- Yes well that's exactly what I am.

- Come and buy me lunch, somewhere discreet of course.

- Of course.

- Hello Miss Francis, get your pictures Blair?

- Him and her, I wonder if Mrs Garforth knows about her.

- Oh my God, you and Caroline

are terrible puritanical sometimes.

(phone ringing)

- Yes?

Excellent, they will be very happy

to have the next delivery so soon.

True, any problems?

Palfrey, now be very careful he's a most dangerous man,

a rattlesnake.

No do not underestimate Mr Palfrey.

I'm glad to hear that

you are far too important to take risks.

Well don't be foolish you know the arrangement.

If necessary we can have you out of the country

in a couple of hours.

Alright, then carry on, the usual place.

And good luck.

- You know Blair, there's a certain neatness to all this.

- Instinct?

- Yes.

- Never distrust it.

- No you're right, I'll be at my club.

- The investigation has been reopened Mr Palliser.

- By whom?

- Me.

- Ah.

- Why did Benedict name you as a mole?

- Ambition, Benedict wanted to prove

he was smarter than any of us.

- [Palfrey] Why?

- To take over, to become top man, head of SIS.

The fact that he nearly ruined six people didn't matter.

All he got was an OBE and a pension.

That's a joke.

- And yet one can't help wondering, can one.

If there was a grain of truth.

- You've got the files Mr Palfrey.

The full investigation, you have your answer there.

- [Palfrey] Indeed.

- But you're not convinced, being you.

Tell me something, how does one prove a negative?

I mean, it's easy enough to prove that people are guilty.

How does one prove one is innocent?

- That's exactly what I keep asking myself Mr Palliser.

How does one?

- You know they're watching us.

- I can't see anybody.

- I don't mean now I mean at work, weekends.

I think they're probably tapping the phone.

- Who?

- Palfrey's lot.

- Palfrey?

- The man you met at lunchtime yesterday.

- Oh him.

- Remember.

- I thought he was such a mild little man.

- Palfrey a mild little man, do you know who he is?

Grand inquisitor, can't trust him an inch,

he's as devious as hell.

- Julian why should they be watching you?

- Because they're looking for a traitor.

Somebody who's handing over secrets.

- But why you?

- Because I handled secret documents and--

- Yes?

- Oh I don't know.

- I think you're imagining things.

- You know they even took a picture of us.

Yesterday with Palfrey, I saw one of his faceless goons

having a picnic photographing us.

- So are you afraid they'll send a print to your wife?

As a matter of fact I thought Mr Palfrey looked rather nice.

Julian, coming in?

- Okay.

- Eh what's going on Mr Palfrey?

I understand you've requisitioned five surveillance teams?

Five, do you understand how much manpower that is?

- It takes a lot of people to keep an eye on my suspect

and you told me to requisition or--

- [Madam] Yes but five teams.

- I'm dealing with a very slippery customer.

- Who is your suspect?

- [Palfrey] I will make my report in due course.

- Now Mr Palfrey.

(blowing into phone)

- [Palfrey] This line's terribly bad I can hardly hear

a word you're saying.

- I said I want your report now.

- Do forgive me Madam this line is quite impossible.

May I call you later?

- Mr Pal, Mr, oh really.

- Good morning Mr Benedict.

- You're making a habit of this Mr Palfrey aren't you?

Dropping by unannounced.

- I do apologize I happened to be in the neighborhood.

- What do you want?

- Just to clarify one or two things.

- You'd better come through then.

- Won't take long I promise.

As a matter of fact you can breath a sigh of relief,

this is my last visit.

May I?

- I am rather busy Mr Palfrey.

- [Palfrey] Oh I know Mr Benedict,

I know very well how busy you are.

- What does that mean?

- It came to me in the bath.

Do you ever have flashes of inspiration

in the bath Mr Benedict?

It suddenly struck me that, if for example, the KGB

wanted to kill a defector they'd hardly warn him first,

or her, wouldn't you agree?

And something else, they're all Russian aren't they?

She's a Russian, they're Russian,

why threaten her in English?

Actually you don't speak Russian do you Mr Benedict

I looked up your file.

Bit of German, French, Spanish, no Russian.

A great failing in our intelligence service,

so few of us speak Russian.

I beg your pardon I digress.

The threatening phone calls you made were meaningless,

purely for effect to convince us

we were riddled with agents.

- But we are Palfrey, we are.

Alright I did it as a public service to wake people up

to make them realize what's been hushed up.

To prepare them for my expose.

- You mean to make us think we have a traitor in MI5

who knew Yelena's address, to start a witch hunt.

- Oh if that's what you call it.

The traitors will be exposed if the climate is right.

Fleet Street will do a good job.

- Fleet Street won't do a damn thing Mr Benedict.

They won't touch a crank with a barge pole.

A loony who makes anonymous phone calls posing as a Russian.

Who would take you seriously?

Fortunately there is one person who does.

- Who?

- I do Mr Benedict.

- I'll have that please.

Please.

It's all over for you Miss Scott.

- [Betty] You're making a big mistake.

- No lady, you've made it.

- What do you want?

- I've told you.

- Tell me again.

- Names, dates, places, times.

You've got five more minutes

and I'll be back at quarter past.

Either you tell me what I want to know

or I'll make the choice for you, when and where.

Think about it.

(phone ringing)

- You are very late is anything wrong?

- [Blair] Good afternoon Mr Zoltan.

Were you expecting a call on this number?

- How are you Mr Zoltan?

- I do not know you.

- We have a friend in common, Betty Scott,

she's told us all about you.

- Excuse me.

- I'm afraid you'll be coming with us.

- You cannot do this I'm a diplomat, you see diplomat.

- Yes it does appear to be a diplomatic passport

however we obviously have to check that it is genuine

so I regret you'll still come with us.

- This is provocation.

- It is also the end of your stay in Britain Mr Zoltan.

- This isn't my club.

Have to be a gentlemen.

- Have we met?

- In a manner of speaking.

You're Garforth aren't you?

- Sorry I don't know you.

- You're waiting for Mr Palfrey.

- As a matter of fact I am.

- Here he is now.

- Oh don't get up.

Not been here before have you Blair.

- Dirty Dick's in Battersea's more my style.

- Since we're both members Garforth

I hope we can do this in a civilized manner.

- What's this all about Palfrey?

- Oh come now, for an intelligence man

you're not a very intelligent man.

How long have you been betraying your department

in return for Miss Scott's sexual favors?

- You'd better be very careful Palfrey.

- Afraid we can't stay for tea, pity, alright let's go.

- Where?

- Outside.

- Outside what for?

- Well good heavens man we can't arrest you in here,

this is a gentleman's club.

I'm very fond of Rachmaninoff.

(classical music)

- [Yelena] I know, why do you think I put it on?

You could've told me what was happening.

I was terrified I thought they'd get me.

I couldn't get hold of you.

- But next time trust me.

- This man Garforth, he was investigated too wasn't he?

How did he slip through?

- He lived by Palfrey's second law.

The safest place for a spy is amongst other spies.

- What is your first law?

- That stays my secret.

Will you ever go back to Russia?

- Why do you say that?

- [Palfrey] No particular reason.

- Mr Palfrey always has a reason.

- You know what I think we ought to go and have some dinner.

There's a new place in Chelsea.

- I have much better idea Palfrey.

- Really?

- Why don't we stay here and get cozy?

- We have to eat some time.

- I make you an omelette, I'm very good at omelettes.

(music reaches crescendo)

(gentle orchestral music)

(dramatic music)