Original subtitles

[Man #1] YEKATERINA ORLOVA.

KATYA?

[Man #2] NEVER HEARD OF HER.

[Man #3] THE PATRONYMIC'S BORISOVNA.

KATYA BORISOVNA ORLOVA.

HAVE A THINK, BARLEY.

DON'T KNOW A KATYA.

NEVER SCREWED ONE, NEVER FLIRTED WITH ONE,

NEVER PROPOSED TO ONE, NEVER EVEN MARRIED ONE.

WHAT IS SHE, THE USUAL FAT-ARSED FRUMP?

SHE VISITED THE BRITISH COUNCIL'S

AUDIO FAIR IN MOSCOW...

EXACTLY A WEEK AGO.

[Man #4] AUDIO FAIR?

CASSETTES--

BOOKS OF THE BLOODY FUTURE.

SO WHY DIDN'T YOU GO?

I CAN GO. I CAN NOT GO.

I'M MY OWN MAN.

OF COURSE, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

[Man #5] CRAP, BARLEY!

YOU RENTED A STAND,

YOU BOOKED YOUR HOTEL, YOUR FLIGHT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOW UP?

I HAVE A BOARD.

I HAVE FAMILY SHAREHOLDERS.

THE FIRM'S HAVING WITHDRAWAL PAINS AT THE BANK,

IF IT'S ANY OF YOUR BLOODY BUSINESS.

IT IS.

TELL ME SOMETHING.

DO YOU KNOW NIKI LANDAU?

EXCUSE ME.

DO YOU KNOW MR. BARTHOLOMEW SCOTT BLAIR?

[Barley] YEAH, I KNOW NIKI--

SHORT-ARSE, POLISH, COCKNEY SALES REP.

GOES AT IT LIKE A RABBIT.

BARLEY? SURE, I KNOW BARLEY.

THE OLD ESTABLISHED HOUSE OF ABERCROMBIE AND BLAIR--

PUBLISHERS, DRUNK OR SOBER.

A GENT, ONE OF THE BEST.

I MUST SPEAK TO MR. SCOTT BLAIR.

IT IS VERY URGENT.

HE'S NOT HERE, DARLING.

BUT HE WAS NOT HERE YESTERDAY.

MR. SCOTT BLAIR NEVER CAME, DARLING.

HE'S ABSENT, AWOL...

ELSEWHERE, NOT AMONG THOSE PRESENT. SORRY.

[Barley] IRRITATING LITTLE SOD.

QUITE FOND OF HIM, REALLY.

I HAVE AN IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPT FOR HIM.

IT IS FOR MR. BLAIR...

ONLY FOR MR. BLAIR.

I'M TRYIN' TO MAKE A LIVING, HERE.

I'M NOT MAKIN' IT FOR MR. SCOTT BLAIR, LOVE HIM AS I MAY.

[Man #3] MIGHT ONE INQUIRE

WHY SHOULD SHE ASK NIKI ABOUT YOU?

[Barley] I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW HER.

[Man #4] SO YOU KNOW NIKI, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW KATYA.

OH, NOW YOU'RE GETTING IT, OLD BOY.

HUH!

IS THAT SCOTCH OVER THERE?

HELP YOURSELF.

HOLD EVERYTHING.

OK.

YOU MUST BE VERY KIND AND...

HELP ME.

A RUSSIAN FRIEND OF MINE

HAS WRITTEN AN IMPORTANT NOVEL.

ITS MESSAGE IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF MANKIND.

NICE.

IN SPITE OF GLASNOST,

MY FRIEND'S NOVEL CANNOT YET BE PUBLISHED...

IN THE SOVIET UNION.

MR. SCOTT BLAIR HAS UNDERTAKEN TO PUBLISH IT...

WITH DISCRETION.

OH, DON'T WORRY, DARLING,

WITH ABERCROMBIE AND BLAIR, YOUR FRIEND'S BOOK

IS GUARANTEED TO APPEAR IN CONDITIONS

OF TOTAL SECRECY.

IF YOU LOVE PEACE...

PLEASE...

TAKE THIS TO ENGLAND TO MR. SCOTT BLAIR.

IT IS A GIFT OF TRUST.

IT IS BETTER THAT YOU SMILE.

EXCUSE ME?

SMILE.

THIS IS ANGLO-SOVIET CULTURAL EXCHANGE.

WE SMILE, WE EXCHANGE CULTURE.

LOOKING SCARED IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

GOT IT IN THERE?

THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR YOU.

YOU MUST BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SMILE.

WE SMILE. WE KISS-- FORMAL RUSSIAN KISS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW WE'VE DONE IT. YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME

AN OFFICIAL FAREWELL GIFT FROM...

OCTOBER PUBLISHING

ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FAIR,

AND I AM GIVING YOU...

SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS FOR CAREFUL DRIVERS.

WOULD YOU, UH...

LIKE A NICE DINNER OUT SOMEWHERE?

IT IS NOT CONVENIENT.

THANK YOU.

[Man #1] YOU CAN'T THINK OF ANY REASON

WHY A RUSSIAN BOOK EDITOR CALLED KATYA ORLOVA

SHOULD RISK HER NECK

TO SEND YOU A MANUSCRIPT?

BARLEY?

WHO SAID...

"RISK HER NECK?"

I DID.

MUST BE QUITE A BOOK.

IT IS.

MAY I SEE IT?

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE LETTER.

OH.

[Man #1] "PERSONAL. FOR MR. BARTHOLOMEW SCOTT BLAIR...

"URGENT."

WE'D LIKE TO FIND OUT

WHY A WOMAN YOU DON'T KNOW

SHOULD SEND YOU A LETTER BEGINNING--

"MY BELOVED BARLEY,"

AND SIGN HERSELF, "YOUR LOVING K."

SHE'S POTTY, CERTIFIABLE.

[Barley] WHERE IS THIS MANUSCRIPT?

[Man #1] THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

LIKE HELL IT ISN'T!

SHE SENT IT TO ME AS A PUBLISHER.

IT'S A BLOODY SIGHT MORE MINE THAN YOURS.

PLEASE CALM DOWN.

IT'S IN SAFE HANDS, BARLEY.

THE MANUSCRIPT WAS IN 3 NOTEBOOKS.

WHEN NIKI COULDN'T FIND YOU IN LONDON,

HE HAD THE SENSE TO BRING THEM TO US.

[Man] THE FIRST NOTEBOOK IS, OF COURSE, WORTHLESS...

SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING.

OH?

PEACENIK MANIFESTOES,

SLOGANS, POEMS, QUOTATIONS.

IT HAS SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL INTEREST, MINISTER,

INSOFAR AS THE WRITER SOUNDS--

[Officer] ABSOLUTELY BARKING.

WOULD YOU SAY?

IT'S NOT A MEDICAL TERM, SIR.

UNSTABLE, PERHAPS.

AS FOR NOTEBOOKS 2 AND 3?

GENUINE SCIENCE...

WRITTEN BY SOMEONE WHO'S IN THE BUSINESS.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THE BUSINESS?

DESTRUCTION PATHS, PAYLOADS, AIMPOINTS,

BIAS, RATE OF BURN,

TRAJECTORIES, TELEMETRY.

OF COURSE, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOW

THAT IT DESCRIBES A TRUE STATE OF AFFAIRS.

WHAT THE HELL DOES IT ALL PURPORT TO DESCRIBE?

IN A NUTSHELL...

THE SOVIET STRATEGIC CAPABILITY

FOR WAGING NUCLEAR WAR.

ADDRESSED TO "BOOZY" BARLEY BLAIR.

WELL, IF IT'S STRATEGIC,

WE CAN'T EVALUATE IT

WITHOUT THE AMERICANS.

SO IT'S THEIR BABY, NOT OURS.

THROW SCOTT BLAIR TO THE AMERICANS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T FOUND HIM YET.

EUREKA!

WE'VE GOT HIM! HA, HA, HA.

A LISBON BANK ACCOUNT, MY DEARS!

WE'VE GOT HIM.

LISBON.

WHY DID YOU RUN AWAY?

[Barley] RUN AWAY? I OWN A FLAT HERE.

WHY LISBON, BARLEY?

WHY LANGLEY, BOB?

YOU BROUGHT A WOMAN.

WHAT THE HELL IS IT TO YOU IF I BROUGHT A WOMAN,

A MAN OR A FUCKING MUSCOVY DUCK?

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOURSELF IN LISBON, BARLEY?

WELL, I WAS HAVING A DRINK...

UNTIL I WAS INTERRUPTED.

HA, HA, HA!

MR. BLAIR?

EH?

I BELIEVE I'M ADDRESSING

MR. BARTHOLOMEW SCOTT BLAIR.

YES? CORRECT?

YES.

WELL, MY NAME IS MERRYDEW. I'M FROM THE EMBASSY.

WE'VE RECEIVED A RATHER URGENT MESSAGE FOR YOU

OVER OUR LINK.

ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME SOMEONE'S DEAD, OLD BOY?

NO, THAT WOULD BE CONSULAR,

I'M COMMERCIAL.

WELL, I NEVER KNEW AN HONEST DEBT

THAT COULDN'T WAIT TILL MONDAY, HMM?

LOOSEN YOUR GIRDLE, MERRYDEW.

HAVE A DRINK WITH THE UNWASHED.

I SAY, BLAIR,

THE MAN'S THE QUEEN'S EMISSARY,

FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

[Clears throat]

UGH.

OH, HAVE THEY MOVED THE EMBASSY

OR ARE YOU HIJACKING ME?

WHAT'S GOING ON, TUBBY?

I'M COMMERCIAL, STRICTLY COMMERCIAL.

MR. BLAIR, SIR?

MY NAME'S NED.

I'M ABOUT TO MOVE THE GOAL POSTS.

THERE'S NO URGENT MESSAGE.

THERE'S NO CRISIS IN YOUR AFFAIRS BEYOND THE USUAL.

I'M FROM BRITISH INTELLIGENCE.

COME AND MEET THE OTHERS.

THIS IS CLIVE.

THIS IS WALTER.

OVER HERE IS BOB...

WHO IS ALMOST FAMILY.

MEET BARLEY, EVERYONE.

HELLO, BARLEY.

PROUD TO KNOW YOU, BARLEY.

I'M THE ODD MAN OUT HERE.

I WORK FOR THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY,

WHICH, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW,

IS BASED IN LANGLEY, IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

LET'S HAVE SOME FUN.

LET'S DO SOME GOOD.

NOW, ISN'T THAT JOLLY?

SO, WHERE ARE WE ALL OFF TO?

NICARAGUA, CHILE, IRAN?

OR ARE WE JUST ASSASSINATING SOME LOCAL NUISANCE?

DON'T RANT.

SIT DOWN.

PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL US WHAT THIS LETTER'S ALL ABOUT.

RECOGNIZE THE HANDWRITING?

READ IT SLOWLY.

TAKE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, BARLEY.

SHE'S BARMY.

WHO IS SHE?

YEKATERINA ORLOVA.

KATYA?

NEVER HEARD OF HER.

THE PATRONYMIC'S BORISOVNA.

KATYA BORISOVNA ORLOVA.

HAVE A THINK, BARLEY.

I DON'T KNOW A KATYA.

NEVER SCREWED ONE,

NEVER FLIRTED WITH ONE,

NEVER PROPOSED TO ONE, NEVER EVEN MARRIED ONE.

WHAT IS SHE, THE USUAL FAT-ARSED FRUMP?

SO, SHE WROTE YOU A LETTER

SIGNED, "YOUR LOVING K,"

AND YOU TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW HER.

I TOLD YOU

I NEVER MET THE HAG. SHE'S OFF HER TREE.

SHE WASN'T EVEN THERE.

WHERE?

AT PEREDELKINO.

IT'S A SOVIET WRITERS' VILLAGE.

THEY VALUE THEIR WRITERS, EH?

THE ONES WHO BEHAVE GET THEIR OWN DACHAS.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A GUEST.

WHEN WAS THIS?

3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO-- ONE OF MY TRIPS.

BUT THERE WASN'T ANY KATYA.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I WAS BRILLIANT.

YES?

OH, YES.

HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD

BETWEEN LUNCH AND DINNER.

I WAS FLYING.

I BELIEVE IN THE NEW RUSSIA.

YOU MAY NOT, BUT I DO.

20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS JUST A PIPE DREAM.

TODAY, IT'S OUR ONLY HOPE.

WE THOUGHT WE COULD BANKRUPT YOU PEOPLE

BY RAISING THE STAKES IN THE ARMS RACE,

GAMBLING WITH THE FATE OF THE HUMAN RACE.

BARLEY, YOU WON YOUR GAMBLE--

NUCLEAR PEACE FOR 4O YEARS.

OH, RUBBISH! WHAT PEACE?

ASK THE CZECHS, THE VIETNAMESE,

THE KOREANS. ASK THE AFGHANS.

NO, IF THERE IS TO BE HOPE...

WE MUST ALL BETRAY OUR COUNTRIES.

WE HAVE TO SAVE EACH OTHER

BECAUSE ALL VICTIMS ARE EQUAL...

AND NONE IS MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.

IT'S EVERYONE'S DUTY

TO START THE AVALANCHE.

HEROIC THOUGHT, BARLEY.

LISTEN, NOWADAYS, YOU HAVE TO THINK LIKE A HERO

JUST TO BEHAVE LIKE A MERELY DECENT HUMAN BEING.

AND DID YOU BELIEVE THIS NONSENSE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I BELIEVE IT WHEN I SAY IT...

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE THERE.

HAH.

YOU'RE TAKING A LEAK IN SOME

FILTHY PUBLIC URINAL...

AND THE MAN IN THE NEXT STALL LEANS ACROSS

AND ASKS YOU ABOUT GOD OR KAFKA,

OR FREEDOM VERSUS RESPONSIBILITY.

SO YOU TELL HIM BECAUSE YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE YOU'RE FROM THE WEST...

AND BEFORE YOU'RE FINISHED SHAKING YOUR DICK,

YOU THINK, "WHAT A GREAT COUNTRY."

THAT'S WHY I LOVE THEM.

AND THEY'RE VERY FOND OF ME.

ANYWAY...

LATER, WE TALKED ABOUT JAZZ...

AND I PLAYED SOME.

WHAT, SOMEBODY HAD A SAXOPHONE?

WHAT ELSE? DRUM KIT?

RHYTHM SECTION?

[All improvise jazz music]

[Jazz music continues]

[Jazz music continues]

HOW MANY WOMEN WERE THERE?

3 OR 4, BUT NO KATYA.

BUT THERE WAS SOMEONE, WASN'T THERE?

YES...

THERE WAS SOMEONE.

SOMEONE WHO IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE ALL HERE, YES?

MAN OR A WOMAN?

NAME?

CHRIST! THE WAY YOU PEOPLE COME ALIVE...

WHEN YOU SMELL BLOOD.

[Crash]

[Louder crash]

[Ice clinks]

THEY CALLED HIM DANTE,

AS IN INFERNO.

THE OTHERS SAID THAT HE WAS ON HOLIDAY--

A DRINKING HOLIDAY.

WORKED IN SOMEPLACE WHERE DRINKING WASN'T ON.

EVERYONE DEFERRED TO HIM.

HE NEVER SPOKE, HE JUST...

GOT DRUNK AND STARED.

STARED?

MMM.

AT ME.

DID DANTE ARRIVE ON HIS OWN OR WITH OTHERS?

I DON'T KNOW.

KEEP GOING.

THEN I DECIDED TO GIVE THEM ALL

A REST FROM WONDERFUL ME.

LET THEM TALK RUSSIAN FOR A WHILE.

THERE'S A GRAVEYARD A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS

UP THE HILL.

IT'S A PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE.

[Speaks Russian]

[Man] "IF THERE IS TO BE HOPE...

"WE MUST ALL BETRAY OUR COUNTRIES."

AH, DANTE, OLD CHUM.

COME TO PAY YOUR RESPECTS TO OLD BORIS, HAVE YOU?

BORIS PASTERNAK.

DO YOU THINK HE KNOWS

THAT PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO READ HIM AGAIN?

"ALL VICTIMS ARE EQUAL.

"NONE IS MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS."

YES, WELL...

SOME WRITE BETTER THAN OTHERS.

"HOW SWEET IT IS TO HATE ONE'S NATIVE LAND,

"TO DESIRE ITS RUIN...

"AND IN ITS RUIN,

"TO DISCERN THE DAWN

"OF UNIVERSAL REBIRTH."

PASTERNAK? NO.

PECHERIN, AN EARLIER POET.

PECHERIN UNDERSTOOD THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

TO LOVE YOUR COUNTRY

WHILE HATING ITS SYSTEM.

[Barley] HA. IF YOU SAY SO.

I LOVE MY COUNTRY.

I LOVE IT, TOO--

YOUR COUNTRY.

AND I'M REASONABLY FOND OF MY OWN.

TO SAVE IT, PERHAPS IT'S NECESSARY

TO BETRAY IT, YES?

BECAUSE YOU AND I, WE LOVE TRUTH.

WHO ARE YOU, DANTE?

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

I AM A MORAL OUTCAST.

OH, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO MEET A WRITER.

AND WHAT SORT OF RUBBISH

ARE YOU TURNING OUT NOW?

LIES.

I'M THE LIE.

REALLY?

YOU SPOKE THE TRUTH.

PROMISE ME THAT YOU'RE NOT A SPY,

AND THEN I WILL MAKE YOU A PROMISE...

IN RETURN.

I'M NOT A SPY.

ACTUALLY, NOT MY LINE.

YOU'RE NOBODY'S SPY? HEH, HEH!

NOT EVEN OURS?

DANTE...

I'M GETTING A BIT JUMPY, TO BE HONEST.

I'M NOBODY'S SPY, HUH?

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

HOW ABOUT CHESS?

OH, CHESS. IN CHESS THERE ARE NO LIES,

BUT IN MY GAME, LIES ARE EVERYTHING.

WHAT GAME IS THAT?

THE SOVIET KNIGHT IS DYING INSIDE HIS ARMOR.

YOU ARE IN DANGER ONLY FROM OUR LIES.

I COMMIT THE LIE EVERY DAY.

I LIE EVEN TO MY MASTERS.

SO PROMISE ME

THAT IF I EVER FIND THE COURAGE

TO THINK LIKE A HERO,

THAT YOU WILL ACT LIKE A MERELY

DECENT HUMAN BEING, RIGHT?

OH, DANTE, LEAVE ME OUT, WILL YOU?

HEY, YOU CANNOT REJECT ME,

BECAUSE I'M STRENGTHENED

BY YOUR REJECTION.

SO PROMISE ME.

WHAT THE HELL AM I PROMISING, FOR GOD'S SAKE?

PROMISE.

ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU EVER MANAGE TO BE A HERO...

I'LL BE A...

DECENT HUMAN BEING.

OK?

PROMISE?

I PROMISE.

HUH.

WHY DIDN'T YOU COME TO US?

I KNOW WHY.

YOU PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND.

DON'T KNOW BECAUSE DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

I'M SORRY, BUT I'M AFRAID

WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR RATHER SERIOUS HELP.

[Distant siren wails]

[Barley on tape] THEN I ASKED HIM,

"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO BE PROMISING?"

[Walter on tape] WHY DIDN'T YOU COME TO US? I KNOW WHY.

YOU PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND.

DON'T KNOW BECAUSE DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

WHO THE HELL IS THAT?

WALTER?

HE'S A CHARACTER.

[Clive on tape] I'M SORRY, BUT I'M AFRAID

WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR RATHER SERIOUS HELP.

THAT'S IT.

AND THE NOTEBOOKS?

THE NOTEBOOKS DON'T MESH

WITH ANY PREVIOUSLY KNOWN DISINFORMATION ARTIST,

CON MAN OR INTELLIGENCE PEDDLER WE KNOW.

OUR PSYCHOLOGY AND HANDWRITING GURUS

TRIED TO FAULT THEM.

AND?

THEY FAILED.

TRY HARDER, RUSSELL.

[Projector clicks]

NO.

[Click]

NO.

[Click]

NO.

NOT EVEN A "PERHAPS" OR A "MAYBE"?

NO.

NOT EVEN A TICKLE, OLD BOY.

THEY'RE NOT IN DANTE'S CLASS.

ALL RIGHT.

[Projector clicks]

[Barley] IS THAT KATYA?

THAT'S HER.

YOU REMEMBER HER NOW?

NO SUCH LUCK.

CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE.

WE DIDN'T CHOOSE YOU,

DANTE DID.

BECAUSE I WASN'T A SPY.

WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO BUILD THE BEASTLY ROCKETS

OR PUSH THE BUTTON,

ONLY TO HELP IMPROVE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENEMY.

AND IF THE ENEMY TURNS OUT TO BE A FRIEND,

WHERE'S THE HARM?

I THOUGHT WE WERE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE

CHUMS TOGETHER NOW.

OH, MY DEAR LORD.

BECAUSE THIS YEAR IT SUITS THEM TO ROLL OVER

ON THEIR BACKS AND PLAY NICE DOGGIE?

BECAUSE THIS YEAR THEY'RE ON THE FLOOR ANYWAY?

YOU NINNY!

ALL THE MORE REASON TO SPY

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF 'EM.

KICK 'EM IN THE BALLS

EVERY TIME THEY GET TO THEIR KNEES.

WELL, THAT'S WHERE I DISAGREE.

I'LL BACK MY RUSSIA AGAINST YOURS ANYTIME.

AAH, I'M SORRY, NED.

NO GO.

[Foghorn sounds]

BLOODY WOMAN.

I MUST HAVE GIVEN OFFENSE.

SHE HAS A POINT.

WORRY ABOUT DANTE.

HE REACHED OUT FOR YOU.

WOULD YOU RATHER THROW HIM TO THE AMERICANS?

DON'T BE FOOLED BY BOB'S YALIE MANNER.

THE YANKS WILL TAKE DANTE, PUT HIM ON A SPIT

AND HAVE A BARBECUE.

HOW WILL YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF?

I DON'T LIVE WITH MYSELF.

IN FACT, I TRY TO GIVE MYSELF A WIDE BERTH.

I'M OFFERING YOU A FRESH START

AND A FAT CHECK.

HA, HA, HA.

NEVER MIND THE MONEY.

BARLEY'S FAR TOO GRAND.

THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WRITE IN FOR, BARLEY--

THE CHANCE TO BE AN ACTIVE PLAYER

IN THE DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

YOU LIVE IN A FREE SOCIETY,

YOU'VE NO CHOICE.

ANY DECENT CHURCH

WOULD HAVE BURNED YOU BASTARDS YEARS AGO.

YOU'RE A FOOL TO USE ME.

I LET PEOPLE DOWN.

[Telephone rings]

[Telephone rings]

[Whistle blows]

[Woman] ABERCOMBIE AND BLAIR.

IS IT THE OFFICE OF

MR. BARTHOLOMEW SCOTT BLAIR?

YES, BUT HE ISN'T IN AT THE MOMENT.

CAN I HELP

OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE?

NO. THANK YOU.

IT IS A PUBLISHING MATTER.

I WILL TELEPHONE AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

[Ned] CROWDS ARE GOOD, IF YOU KEEP MOVING.

OPEN SPACES ARE GOOD.

TALKING IN THE STREET IS OK...

IF YOU HAVE TO.

NEVER, NEVER TALK IN A CAR

OR IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM,

EXCEPT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR MICROPHONES.

IF YOU'VE READ ANYTHING ABOUT

PLAYING THE RADIO OR RUNNING THE TAPS,

FORGET IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE SOURCE IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW.

AND THE STAR DECIDES

WHETHER TO MAKE THE MEETING OR ABORT.

THIS IS FUN.

IS THAT WHY YOU KEEP IT SECRET?

DID YOU SPOT OUR WATCHERS?

THE TRAMP RAIDING THE DUSTBIN,

THE WOMAN WITH THE WHITE SHOES,

AND, OF COURSE, THE MAN WITH THE TRACKSUIT.

YOU SCORED NIL

OUT OF A POSSIBLE 12.

THE LESSON IS...

YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

IF YOU NEED TO WRITE SOMETHING DOWN,

USE A SINGLE SHEET OF PAPER

ON A HARD SURFACE.

IT LEAVES NO IMPRESSION.

HOW MANY SUCH SURFACES

CAN YOU SEE IN THIS ROOM?

WELL, INCLUDING THE WINDOW SILL...

4.

7.

THIS IS OFTEN EASIEST.

THEN WIPE IT CLEAN, RUBBING HARD.

[Ned] THE ISSUE IS "WHY?"

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ALL THE TIME.

IF WE TRUST THE MOTIVE, WE TRUST THE MAN,

AND WE CAN TRUST THE MATERIAL.

WHY DID DANTE PICK ON KATYA?

WHY DOES HE PUT HER LIFE AT RISK?

WHY DOES SHE LET HIM?

IS SHE A SPY?

IT'S VOICE-ACTIVATED, SIR.

I KNOW ALL THIS. I'VE HAD IT UP TO HERE.

I JUST WANT TO GET IT DONE. WHAT'S THE HOLD UP?

IT'S EVERYTHING WE EVER WANTED

TO KNOW ABOUT THE RUSSIANS

AND WERE AFRAID TO ASK.

SOUNDS LIKE THE POT OF GOLD.

SOUNDS LIKE A CROCK OF SHIT.

SOME UNIDENTIFIED WALK-IN

IS TELLING US THAT THE RUSSIANS ARE WAY BEHIND?

THEY CAN'T HURT US.

WE CAN PULL IN OUR HORNS.

WHO THE HELL'S GONNA SELL THAT STORY ON THE HILL?

RUSSELL?

COULD TURN AROUND AND BITE US RIGHT IN THE ASS.

LET THE BRITS RUN WITH IT FOR A WHILE.

DANTE IS THEIR SOURCE, AND, UH...

SCOTT BLAIR IS THEIR PROBLEM.

[Brady] I'LL GO WITH THAT, RUSSELL, BUT...

I WANT JOE AND LARRY WITH THEM IN LONDON.

FRIENDLY OBSERVERS, OK?

YOU'LL DO US PROUD, BARLEY.

[Ned] I BOUGHT YOU A PRESENT.

IT'S NOT TO KEEP, JUST TO SNIFF.

[Barley] AM I SUPPOSED TO BE OFFERING TO PUBLISH IT?

OFFER HIM ANYTHING HE WANTS.

SAY ANYTHING YOU NEED TO SAY TO KEEP HIM WITH US.

EXCEPT THE TRUTH?

BON VOYAGE, BARLEY.

[Ned] COME BACK WITH THE GOODS ON DANTE,

STARTING WITH HIS REAL NAME,

AND I'LL GET YOU A KNIGHTHOOD FOR LITERATURE.

THE RUSSIA HOUSE.

[Car horn honks]

BARLEY SCOTT BLAIR.

ABERCROMBIE & BLAIR?

LONDON? THE PUBLISHERS?

I BELIEVE YOU KNOW NIKI LANDAU.

[Katya] YES.

WELL, NIKI WAS VERY INSISTENT

THAT I SHOULD GIVE YOU A CALL.

HOW DO YOU DO?

HOW DO YOU DO?

I'LL TELL YOU WHY I'M CALLING.

I'M HERE IN MOSCOW.

AND NIKI'S SENT YOU ABOUT A TON OF TEA.

WELL, A COUPLE POUNDS.

I HOPE YOU LIKE TEA.

I WAS WONDERING IF, UH...

WE COULD ARRANGE A HANDOVER?

[Katya] A "HANDOVER"?

DO YOU EVER ESCAPE FOR LUNCH?

YES, OF COURSE.

WELL, HOW ABOUT TODAY?

I'M AT THE UKRAINE HOTEL.

THAT WOULD BE CONVENIENT.

GOOD. MARVELOUS.

I'LL BE OUTSIDE FROM 12:30 ON.

HOW WILL I KNOW YOU?

OH, LISTEN, I'M EASY TO RECOGNIZE.

I LOOK LIKE A LARGE, UNMADE BED

WITH A SHOPPING BAG ATTACHED.

[Door closes]

WE'RE OFF.

HI.

HELLO.

YOU'RE KATYA, OF COURSE.

YES.

AND YOU MUST BE MR. BARLEY.

YES, INDEED. THE SAME.

WELL DONE.

WELL, UH...

WHERE SHALL WE GO?

I-I BROUGHT YOU STUFF FROM NIKI,

BUT, UH, I'LL CARRY IT.

HOW DID YOU RECOGNIZE ME, MR. BARLEY?

WELL, NIKI SAID YOU WERE

RUSSIA'S ANSWER TO THE VENUS DE MILO.

OH.

THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

I WAS NEARLY ARRESTED HERE, 3 YEARS AGO.

THEY SAID I WAS PHOTOGRAPHING A MILITARY SUBJECT.

AND WERE YOU?

NO.

A SOLDIER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND.

OH.

THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE THEIR PICTURE.

[Bells chime]

OBVIOUSLY, I RECEIVED THE MANUSCRIPT.

I WILL TAKE YOU TO WHERE WE CAN HAVE LUNCH.

IF YOU DO NOT MIND, I WILL FIRST BUY SHOES.

SHOES? MMM.

TODAY THERE IS A SHIPMENT OF SHOES.

WITH PERESTROIKA,

THERE IS EVEN LESS AVAILABLE THAN BEFORE.

OH, REALLY? I THOUGHT THINGS WERE IMPROVING.

EVERYTHING IS CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT.

PERHAPS DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE NOW STEALING.

I DON'T KNOW.

KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN, NO? HEH.

COMPLAINING IS OUR NEW HUMAN RIGHT.

GLASNOST GIVES EVERYONE THE RIGHT

TO COMPLAIN AND ACCUSE,

BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE MORE SHOES.

[Katya] TELL ME ABOUT YOUR

NEW RUSSIAN BOOK.

OH, YES, THE BOOK. HEH, HEH.

WELL, MY PROBLEM IS THAT, UH...

I DON'T KNOW THE AUTHOR'S REAL NAME,

LET ALONE WHERE HE GETS ALL HIS INFORMATION FROM--

LEARNED HIS CRAFT AND SO FORTH, HMM?

I DO NOT REGARD SUCH PERSONAL QUESTIONS AS APPROPRIATE.

SOME WRITERS CAN ONLY WORK IN OBSCURITY.

YOU KNOW PUBLISHING.

IF A FELLOW'S WRITTEN...

ABOUT THE HILL TRIBES OF NORTHERN BURMA,

WELL, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO KNOW

IF HE'S EVER BEEN FURTHER SOUTH THAN MINSK, HMM?

ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT BOOK...

AS THIS ONE IS.

DYNAMITE, IN FACT.

THE AUTHOR WAS INSPIRED

BY CERTAIN OPINIONS OF A BRITISH PUBLISHER

CONCERNING WORLD PEACE.

YOU THINK HE'D LIKE TO MEET THAT PUBLISHER AGAIN?

IT IS NOT KNOWN. THIS CAN BE ESTABLISHED.

I WOULD SURE LIKE TO MEET HIM AGAIN.

HOW LONG ARE YOU STAYING IN MOSCOW, PLEASE, MR. BARLEY?

7 DAYS...

MRS. KATYA.

[Music plays]

[Music continues]

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

WITH MY CHILDREN.

CHILDREN?

HOW MANY?

I HAVE A BOY AND A GIRL.

THEY ARE 8 AND 9 YEARS OLD.

IT IS NOT RELEVANT.

WHAT DOES YOUR HUSBAND DO?

IT IS NOT IMPORTANT.

IS HE A PUBLISHER, TOO?

NO.

IS HE A WRITER?

NO.

A COMPOSER?

A COOK?

IS HE A DRESSMAKER IN VLADIVOSTOK?

[Laughs]

HIS FACTORY PREFABRICATES HOUSES

FOR RURAL AREAS.

WE ARE DIVORCED,

LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN MOSCOW.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO RETURN

TO MY CHILDREN NOW.

OH, ISN'T SOMEONE LOOKING AFTER THEM?

WELL, RING UP.

TELL THEM YOU'VE MET A FASCINATING MAN

THAT WANTS TO TALK LITERATURE TO YOU ALL DAY.

I AM SORRY, I CANNOT.

WELL, LOOK, WE--WE'VE HARDLY MET.

I NEED TIME.

I'VE GOT 10,000

ENORMOUSLY SERIOUS THINGS

TO DISCUSS WITH A BEAUTIFUL RUSSIAN WOMAN.

I DON'T BITE, I DON'T LIE.

HAVE DINNER WITH ME.

AT LEAST SHOW ME SOMETHING OF MOSCOW.

IT IS NOT CONVENIENT.

THEN GIVE ME YOUR HOME NUMBER.

IT IS NOT CONVENIENT.

WILL YOU CALL ME THEN?

PERHAPS.

WHEN?

PERHAPS I-I SHALL CALL YOU LATE TONIGHT.

NO, NOT "PERHAPS."

I SHALL CALL YOU.

YOU FORGOT TO GIVE HER THE TEA.

MR. BLAIR, SIR?

WICKLOW?

EXCELLENT MORNING'S WORK, SIR.

NO PROBLEMS.

OH, BY THE WAY,

YOU WERE ASKING WHY SO MANY RUSSIANS

USE THE WORD "CONVENIENT."

IN RUSSIAN, IT'S "UDOBNO,"

BUT IT ALSO MEANS "PROPER."

HEH. A BIT CONFUSING, REALLY.

YES, IT IS, INDEED.

[Technical officer] WE HAVE AN INTERIM, SIR.

KATYA LEFT HER OFFICE, TOOK A TAXI,

UNKNOWN DESTINATION.

WE HAVE IT COVERED.

[Telephone rings]

DA.

[Speaks Russian]

[Speaks Russian]

BARLEY, WELCOME TO MOSCOW, MY DEAR CHAP.

ALIK.

WHY DO YOU LOOK SO HEALTHY?

WHY HAVE YOU NO HANGOVER?

ARE YOU IN LOVE? HEH, HEH.

HOW DID YOU KNOW, ALIK?

MEET LEONARD CARL WICKLOW,

OUR NEW EDITOR OF SOVIET BOOKS.

ALIK ZAPADNY OF VAAP--

THE ALL-SUFFOCATING SOVIET

COPYRIGHT AGENCY.

HOW IS BARLEY PAYING YOU, MR. WICKLOW?

OH, RUSSIA'S TOP OF THE POPS THESE DAYS.

WE ONLY HAVE TO MENTION TO THE MONEY BOYS

WE'RE THINKING OF BUILDING UP A RUSSIAN LIST,

AND THEY THROW MONEY AT US.

HAVE YOU A SALES FORCE

OR ARE YOU STILL RELYING ON DIVINE INTERVENTION?

AND HOW ABOUT TRANSLATORS?

ON FICTION, WE'LL USE OUR OWN

AND TAKE ANOTHER 5 PERCENT ROYALTY.

HOW'S THAT?

WE'LL CONSIDER IT.

NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

WE DON'T HAVE THE MARGIN.

EXACTLY.

WELL DONE, WICKLOW.

[Yuri] JESUS, BARLEY!

YURI!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

YOU'RE A MONTH EARLY FOR THE BOOK FAIR.

YURI, I WANT YOU TO MEET LEN WICKLOW,

OUR RUSSIAN SPEAKING SPECIALIST.

HELLO.

ARE YOU A SPY?

ONLY IN MY SPARE TIME, SIR.

JESUS, I LIKE HIM.

OH, THANK YOU.

SIT DOWN, FRIEND.

LET'S DEAL DIRECT, OK?

TO HELL WITH THOSE ASSHOLES AT VAAP.

STAY AWAY FROM THEM, ESPECIALLY ZAPADNY.

I DON'T SAY HE'S KGB.

ALL I SAY IS HE NEEDED SOME DAMN GOOD FRIENDS

TO GET HIM BACK INTO CIRCULATION.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

CHEERS.

[Speaks Russian]

OH, BARLEY.

I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.

SOME OF THESE WRITERS

HAVEN'T YET BEEN TO JAIL,

BUT I'M WORKING ON IT.

I'LL MAKE THEM FAMOUS IN THE WEST,

EVEN IF IT KILLS THEM.

[Telephone rings]

IT'S ME.

DO I DISTURB YOU?

DEEPLY.

COME OVER.

[Children yell]

YOU INVITED ME

TO SHOW YOU MOSCOW TOMORROW, I THINK.

I DID.

WHERE DO I SEND THE GLASS COACH?

I HAVE THE TAPES

AND I'VE NEVER HEARD SUCH PUSSYFOOTING AROUND IN MY LIFE!

BARLEY HAS GOT TO TELL KATYA,

"NO MORE GRETA FUCKING GARBO."

AND DANTE BETTER SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT.

I'M BEING PELTED WITH CRAP IN THE STREETS OVER HERE.

ALL RIGHT, RUSSELL. MESSAGE UNDERSTOOD.

BROCK!

RUSSELL'S METAPHORS ARE BECOMING RATHER SCATOLOGICAL.

SIGNAL PADDY AT THE EMBASSY.

I WANT HIM TO TALK TO BARLEY.

[Train approaches]

UH, WE'RE THIS WAY.

[Barley] I HOPE YOU LIKE CHURCHES.

IN RUSSIA, WE DON'T ASK THAT.

IT IS NOT CONVENIENT.

AH, I THINK YOU MEAN "PROPER," NO?

"PROPER?" MMM.

NYET. HM. "CONVENIENT."

NOW YOU KNOW WHY HARDLY ANYONE COMES UP HERE.

MIND YOUR HEAD.

ONE MORE TO GO. THIS WAY.

THIS IS JUST LIKE SCHOOL--

DEAR OLD,

BLOODY OLD SCHOOL.

WHO IS THAT MAN DOWN THERE?

OH, HE'S MY EDITOR. HE'S, UH, KEEPING LOOKOUT.

[Clive] ARE WE READY?

THANK YOU, BROCK.

WHY IS AN EDITOR KEEPING A LOOKOUT?

OH...

DO YOU DRINK THIS STUFF?

NO.

ME NEITHER.

[Coughs]

WHAT'S DANTE'S REAL NAME?

HUH?

WHO IS HE?

DOES HE TEST THINGS?

IS HE A PHYSICIST? AN ENGINEER?

IS HE ARMY?

DOES HE LIKE ICE CREAM?

DOES HE LIKE THE MOVIES?

IS HE ONE MAN? IS HE 2?

IS HE A GROUP?

WHY DON'T YOU JUST START TALKING

AND LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES?

COME ON, KATYA...

YOU STARTED THIS, I DIDN'T.

COME ON, IT'S ME, BARLEY BLAIR.

I DO JOKES,

I DO BIRD NOISES, I DRINK.

I'M A FRIEND.

WHO IS HE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I MAY TELL YOU.

WHAT DID HE TELL YOU TO TELL ME?

WHATEVER IS NECESSARY,

THAT I SHOULD TRUST YOU.

HE WAS GENEROUS. IT IS HIS NATURE.

WELL, WHY DID YOU SEND ME THE BOOK

IF YOU DIDN'T TRUST ME, HUH?

IT WAS FOR HIM THAT I SENT IT.

I DID NOT SELECT YOU,

HE DID.

OH.

HE IS MY FRIEND.

IS THIS WHAT YOU USUALLY DO FOR FRIENDS?

SMUGGLE THEIR MANUSCRIPTS OUT TO THE WEST?

RISK YOUR LIFE, YOUR CHILDREN?

DOES HE UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES?

DOES HE CARE?

HE IS RECONCILED.

ARE YOU?

OF COURSE.

AND YOUR CHILDREN?

IT IS FOR THEM AND THEIR GENERATION.

HE IS INSPIRED BY THE NEW OPENNESS HERE,

BUT HE KNOWS THAT NOTHING WILL CHANGE BY ITSELF.

AND YOU AGREE?

YES, AND SO DO YOU! YOU SPOKE FOR HIM!

IT IS FOR YOU WE ARE HERE!

THAT'S WORTH A DRINK.

HE IS NOT A SOLDIER,

HE IS A SCIENTIST.

HE IS A PHYSICIST.

HE IS ALSO QUALIFIED IN ASPECTS OF ENGINEERING.

ENGINEERING.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, GENTLEMEN.

WHERE WAS HE TRAINED?

HE WENT TO THE LITMO.

AFTERWARDS, TO POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

AT THE UNIVERSITY.

WHAT'S THE LITMO?

LENINGRAD INSTITUTE OF MECHANICAL AND OPTICAL SCIENCE.

WRITE THAT DOWN, FELLAS.

LITMO IS THE LENINGRAD INSTITUTE

FOR MECHANICAL AND OPTICAL SCIENCE.

HE WAS EXTREMELY BRILLIANT.

AT 14,

HE WON A MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD.

MATHEMATICS?

MMM.

WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL,

THEY WERE THE PEOPLE I COULDN'T STAND.

[Chuckles]

NATURALLY, IF YOU ARE NOT SO INTELLIGENT,

YOU WILL BE JEALOUS.

[Bells chime loudly]

[Pigeons fly]

FROM UNIVERSITY, HE WENT TO AKADEMGORODOK,

THE CITY OF SCIENCE AT NOVOSIBIRSK.

HE WAS...

LIKE A METEOR THERE.

IS THAT WHERE YOU MET HIM?

[Laughs] NO...

IN LENINGRAD.

I WAS A CHILD--

A GREAT INTELLECTUAL OF 16.

I MET YAKOV AT THE CLUB.

YAKOV?

YAKOV IS DANTE?

YES, YAKOV.

FIRST NAME YAKOV.

JACKY!

WE MET AT THE CLUB OF SCIENTISTS.

IT WAS AT A CLOSED SHOWING

OF A FOREIGN FILM.

IT WAS BY GODARD.

A BOUT DE SOUFFLE -- BREATHLESS.

I WENT WITH MY FATHER.

AND, UH, WHAT YEAR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT NOW?

1968.

YOU REMEMBER '68?

THE PARIS STUDENTS AT THE BARRICADES,

AMERICAN STUDENTS AGAINST VIETNAM,

AND FOR US IT WAS

CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

YAKOV SAID THAT...

THE RUSSIANS WOULD NEVER STOP

THE EXTRAORDINARY REFORMS HAPPENING THERE.

IT WAS THE START OF A NEW AGE.

HE HAD COME BACK TO LENINGRAD TO BE A PART OF IT.

FROM WHERE?

FROM THE MILITARY.

THEY HAD SEDUCED HIM WITH PRIVILEGES,

MONEY FOR HIS RESEARCHES.

THEY HAD CORRUPTED HIM.

HE HAD...

COME BACK TO LENINGRAD

TO RECOVER HIS INNOCENCE.

HE WAS BEAUTIFUL.

NOT LIKE A SCIENTIST, LIKE A...

ARTIST.

SO YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.

[Laughs]

HE WAS MY FIRST LOVER.

IT WAS THE SAME NIGHT

THAT THE TANKS ENTERED PRAGUE.

THERE WAS NO MORE INNOCENCE ANYWHERE.

YAKOV SAID THAT INNOCENCE WAS A DELUSION, AND...

A FEW WEEKS LATER,

HE RETURNED TO THE MILITARY.

I DID NOT TALK TO HIM FOR MANY YEARS,

UNTIL LAST YEAR, WHEN

HE MET A BRITISH PUBLISHER...

WHO SPOKE TO HIS HEART.

NEXT DAY, YAKOV TELEPHONED ME AT THE OFFICE.

HE...

HAD DECIDED WHAT HE MUST DO.

HE NEEDED MY HELP.

IS HE ALONE IN THIS?

DOES HE NEED ANYONE ELSE'S HELP?

NO.

NONE OF HIS DRINKING FRIENDS?

[Katya chuckles] NO.

HOW CAN YOU BE SO CERTAIN?

BECAUSE I AM CERTAIN THAT

IN HIS THOUGHTS, HE IS COMPLETELY ALONE.

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH HIM?

PLEASE?

I MEAN, UH, DO YOU LIKE HIM...

AS WELL AS LOVING HIM?

DOES HE MAKE YOU LAUGH?

HMM?

I BELIEVE THAT YAKOV

IS A GREAT AND IMPORTANT MAN WHO IS

TRYING TO RESTORE HIMSELF

AND CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT ME.

OH.

JESUS CHRIST, MOTHER OF GOD.

IT'S SAVELYEV.

YAKOV YEFREMOVICH SAVELYEV.

[Bell chimes]

[Barley] DID HE MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT, UH...

FALSIFICATION OF RESULTS?

[Pigeons coo]

HE TALKS ABOUT THE GREAT LIE.

EVERYTHING IS...

PART OF THE GREAT LIE.

AH.

GO ON.

ARE YOU PART OF THE GREAT LIE ALSO, BARLEY?

WHAT?

[Laughs] I THINK I AM ALSO

ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS.

OH, OF COURSE.

ASK.

ARE YOU MR. BARTHOLOMEW SCOTT BLAIR?

OH, FOR GOD'S SA--

ARE YOU?

YES.

ARE YOU A PUBLISHER?

YES.

ARE YOU A SPY?

NO.

ARE YOU ALONE IN THIS

OR WERE YOU SENT BY OTHERS?

[Walter] ANSWER HER.

I'M ALONE.

WHOO!

JESUS FUCK!

I'M ALONE, AND THAT'S THE GOD'S TRUTH.

[Bell chimes]

NEVER BEEN MORE ALONE.

YAKOV SAID HE WILL MEET YOU IN LENINGRAD

IN 4 DAYS FROM NOW.

HE HAS PROPOSED 3 PLACES AND 3 TIMES.

HE WILL...

KEEP ONE OF THE APPOINTMENTS,

IF HE CAN.

GOOD.

[Champagne cork pops]

RECONSTRUCTION...

OPENNESS...

HE'S GOING TO RECONSTRUCT THE BALANCE OF TERROR

AND OPEN THE ULTIMATE CAN OF WORMS.

SAVELYEV?

MY GOD, IF DANTE'S SAVELYEV,

YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT.

YES, WE DO-- TROUBLE.

[Telephone rings]

YAKOV SAVELYEV'S THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD OVER THERE...

[Scientist] AND HE SAYS IT'S SHIT?

THE SOVIET THREAT'S ONE BIG LIE?

AND LOOK AT THIS.

BULLSHITTING THE KREMLIN TO SAVE THEIR ASSES.

HONOR IS DUE, NED.

[Ned] RUSSELL, I NEED YOUR MONEY

AND YOUR LOVE.

I WANT AN AMERICAN PARTNER FOR BARLEY

AND I WANT HIM IN LENINGRAD ON FRIDAY.

I HEAR YOU, NED.

I'LL GET RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

IF HE SAYS THEY CAN'T HIT NEVADA ON A CLEAR DAY,

YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE IT, AND BE JOYFUL.

JOYFUL?

MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS COME TO THIS TOWN WITH CONTRACTS

TO BRING PEACE AND PROSPERITY

TO THE ARMS INDUSTRY FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

BUT HOW THE FUCK DO YOU PEDDLE AN ARMS RACE

WHEN THE ONLY ASSHOLE YOU GOT

TO RACE AGAINST IS YOURSELF?

[Telephone rings]

[Rings]

[Bangs on shower]

THE NIGHT TRAIN TO LENINGRAD.

I MAY HAVE MENTIONED

MR. POTOMAC BOOKS,

MY NEW AMERICAN PARTNER.

WELL, HE'S DOING LENINGRAD,

AND HE SUMMONED ME FOR A POWWOW.

"POWWOW?"

I THOUGHT YOU KNEW ENGLISH.

POWWOW IS NOT ENGLISH.

YOU MUST SIT DOWN.

SIT DOWN? WHY?

IT IS OUR CUSTOM.

BEFORE A LONG JOURNEY, FIRST YOU SIT DOWN.

WELL, I'M LYING DOWN. WON'T THAT DO?

WELL...

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SIT ON YOUR LUGGAGE

AND SIGH A LITTLE AND CROSS YOURSELF.

HOLD EVERYTHING.

OK.

[Sigh]

I WAS MORE COMFORTABLE LYING DOWN.

ARE YOU COMING BACK TO MOSCOW?

NO, NOT THIS TIME.

I HAVE TO FLY STRAIGHT BACK TO SCHOOL.

SCHOOL?

UH, WORK. ENGLAND.

STUPID EXPRESSION OF MINE.

[Laughs]

I HOPE I DIDN'T BORE YOU LAST NIGHT.

YOU DID NOT BORE ME.

OH.

PERHAPS NEXT TIME,

I'LL MAKE A SPECIAL JOURNEY

JUST TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF.

I WISH YOU A GOOD JOURNEY, BARLEY.

I'LL MISS YOU.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW SOMETHING, SCOTT.

THIS LITTLE COUNTRY IS ON THE MOVE.

I SMELL HOPE HERE.

I SMELL CHANGE. I SMELL COMMERCE.

AND WE ARE BUYING OURSELVES A PIECE OF IT.

I'M PROUD.

PROUD.

08:00 HOURS-- BARLEY AND WICKLOW

HAVE ARRIVED IN LENINGRAD.

CHECKED IN AT THE PRIBALTISKAYA HOTEL.

[Ned] GOOD. WE'RE ON SCHEDULE.

BARLEY'S GOT 3 CHANCES TO MAKE CONTACT.

NOW IT'S UP TO DANTE.

[Car horn honks]

YOU WANT TO SELL ME SOMETHING?

CIGARETTES...

SCOTCH, DRUGS...

CURRENCY?

NO, THANKS. CHEERIO.

YOU GET LOST?

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WHY DON'T YOU TRY IT?

ONE DOWN, 2 TO GO.

[Clientele speaks Russian]

WHERE ARE YOU, DANTE?

SIR.

EXCUSE ME, SIR,

BUT I THINK WE ARE ACQUAINTED.

GOOD GOD!

THE GREAT DANTE, AS I LIVE AND BREATHE.

WE MET AT THAT WRITERS' PARTY

IN PEREDELKINO, REMEMBER?

THE ONLY 2 SOBER PEOPLE THERE.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M VERY WELL.

WELCOME TO LENINGRAD.

YOU CAN WALK A LITTLE?

IT IS SAFEST TO KEEP MOVING.

YES, THEY TOLD ME THAT.

BARLEY'S MADE CONTACT.

[Cheers and claps] ALL RIGHT!

HE'S DONE IT!

[Barley] UNFORTUNATELY, HE COULDN'T FIND ME,

SO HE GAVE IT TO OUR AUTHORITIES--

PEOPLE OF DISCRETION, EXPERTS.

YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME.

NOBODY'S BETRAYED YOU.

I TOLD YOU.

YOUR MANUSCRIPT WENT ASTRAY,

THAT'S ALL.

OUR AUTHORITIES ADMIRE YOUR BOOK,

BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW IF IT'S TRUE.

THE BEST WAY WOULD BE...

FOR YOU TO TALK WITH THEM.

[Dante] YOU CAME TO TELL ME YOU REFUSE TO PUBLISH ME?

DANTE, YOU'RE GOING TOO FAST.

RUSSIA HAS NO TIME.

WHEN THE ICE IS THIN, YOU HAVE TO WALK FAST.

TO LOSE TIME IS TO LOSE EVERYTHING,

AND THEN WE ALL SLIDE INTO THE GRAVE.

SO BE IT.

I WILL BE THE FIRST CORPSE.

AND KATYA SECOND. WHAT ABOUT HER?

SHE ALSO CHOSE.

IF WE ACT TOGETHER,

WE WILL SURVIVE TOGETHER.

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN YOUR WORDS AT PEREDELKINO?

I'M NOT THE MAN YOU THOUGHT I WAS.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMIND ME

THAT MAN IS NOT EQUAL TO HIS RHETORIC.

OUR NEW PEOPLE TALK ABOUT OPENNESS...

DISARMAMENT, PEACE.

YEAH.

WORDS.

DO YOU LIKE GRAVEYARDS, BARLEY?

LOOK.

HERE IS OURS IF WE FAIL.

CHOOSE A MONUMENT.

[Crowd chatters]

[Camera clicks]

LEAVE KATYA OUT.

GO WITH THE EXPERTS AND LEAVE HER OUT.

I SHALL WISH A BOOK JACKET THAT IS ONLY LETTERS.

NO SENSATIONAL DRAWINGS, YES?

DANTE.

KEEP CORRECT ACCOUNTS.

SEND THE MONEY TO A DESERVING CAUSE.

DANTE.

WHAT IS THE MATTER? ARE YOU AFRAID?

WELL, OF COURSE I'M BLOODY AFRAID.

HERE...

THE REVOLUTION STARTED.

IMAGINE THIS PLACE ON THAT DAY

WHEN THE BATTLESHIP AURORA FIRED THAT BLANK SHOT

WHICH SIGNALED THE REVOLUTION.

[Camera clicks]

THE NEXT REVOLUTION SHALL BEGIN

WITH A FEW GENTLE PHRASES...

OF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH.

OR MAYBE...

WITH SOME OF THE JAZZ...

YOU PLAY SO BEAUTIFULLY.

YES.

A LITTLE SIDNEY BECHET.

IT'S TIME.

[Clock tower bell chimes]

[Bell chimes]

[Telephone rings]

DA.

[Speaks Russian]

I'VE GOT A PRESENT FOR YOU.

THEY ASKED ME TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

IT TELLS YOU HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM.

I'LL TRY TO--

HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING?

THEY ARE AGAINST YOU

AND AGAINST ME.

THOSE ARE NOT THE DECENT PEOPLE.

WELL, HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW

WHO THE DECENT PEOPLE ARE ANYMORE?

COME TO ENGLAND, THEY'LL SMUGGLE YOU OUT.

AND THEN YOU CAN TELL THE WORLD EVERYTHING YOU WANT.

YOU ARE WEARING GRAY TODAY, BARLEY.

MY FATHER WAS SENT TO PRISON

BY A GRAY MAN.

HE WAS MURDERED

BY MEN WHO WORE GRAY UNIFORMS.

GRAY MEN RUINED MY BEAUTIFUL PROFESSION,

AND TAKE CARE...

OR THEY WILL RUIN YOU, TOO.

WILL YOU PUBLISH ME...

OR MUST I START AGAIN

FOR MY SEARCH FOR A DECENT HUMAN BEING?

NO.

I'M WITH YOU.

I BELIEVE YOU ARE RIGHT.

[Sniffs]

I DROPPED ANOTHER NOTEBOOK INTO YOUR BAG.

THROW YOUR FRIENDS A FEW BOOKS.

PUBLISH ME.

BARLEY, WELCOME BACK.

NEDSKY, WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING?

I AM THE RED CARPET

AND THE BUNTING AND THE BRASS BAND.

OH, YOU GOT THE NOTEBOOK.

GOOD STUFF, WAS IT?

THE BEST.

YOU'RE THE HERO OF THE HOUR.

YOU'RE A STAR.

WHERE'S WALTER?

OFF WITH THE BOY SCOUTS?

WELL, HE'S OFF THE JOB, I'M AFRAID.

HE SENDS HIS LOVE.

[Brady] THE 4th NOTEBOOK IS A DEAL BREAKER.

IT'S COME-TO-JESUS TIME FOR BOTH SIDES NOW--

THE HAWKS AND THE DOVES.

THE AGENCY HAS GOT TO GET OFF THE FENCE, RUSSELL.

[Jazz music plays]

ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD, AND ALREADY A CLASSIC.

FEEL THE WEIGHT OF ALL THE EXPERT OPINIONS.

IS THERE A CONCLUSION?

CLIVE, THERE IS A CONCLUSION.

DROP IT DOWN THE TOILET...

AND YOUR GUY WITH IT.

NED?

IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK, RUSSELL?

WHAT I THINK?

WELL, EXPERT OPINION HAS IT

THAT THIS NOTEBOOK WAS WRITTEN VERY QUICKLY

OR VERY SLOWLY,

BY A MAN OR A WOMAN

IN ANGER OR IN JEST.

THE WRITER WAS RIGHT-HANDED OR LEFT-HANDED,

HE WAS A SCIENTIST AND A NON-SCIENTIST.

WHAT I THINK?

FOR EXPERTS, THERE'S NO TOILET DEEP ENOUGH.

GOOD FOR YOU, RUSSELL.

THE TROUBLE IS...

A LOT OF HIGHLY PAID FAVORITE SONS

ARE IN GREAT DANGER OF HAVING THEIR

RICE BOWLS BROKEN AND GOING HUNGRY

ALL ON ACCOUNT OF THESE GOD DAMN NOTEBOOKS!

THE RUSSIAN MILITARY EFFORT IS STALLED,

THE AMERICAN MILITARY EFFORT IS STALLED.

THEIR ROCKET MOTORS SUCK INSTEAD OF BLOW,

THEIR ICBMs CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF THEIR KENNELS,

THEIR SCIENTISTS CAN'T DO SOLID FUEL FOR SHIT!

OUR CUSTOMERS DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT.

JESUS CHRIST.

DID I HAVE TO COME ALL THIS WAY TO TELL YOU THIS?

AND YET, HERE YOU ARE.

AND YET, HERE I AM.

CLIVE, NED, I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I AM AN HONEST-TO-GOD GLASNOSTIC.

I WAS BORN A GLASNOSTIC.

MY PARENTS ARE OLD GLASNOSTICS FROM WAY BACK.

MY CHILDREN WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO BE GLASNOSTICS,

ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT DANTE...

IS A SOURCE FROM GLASNOST HEAVEN.

I CAN'T LOOK AWAY.

HE'LL INVADE MY SLEEP.

AND FOR THE REST OF MY FUCKING LIFE,

I'LL BE HEARING HIM SAY,

"RUSSELL, YOU HAD IT IN YOUR HAND.

"NED GAVE IT TO YOU."

HONOR IS DUE, NED.

YOU WON'T REGRET IT, RUSSELL.

YOU MIGHT.

I WANT TO MEET YOUR MR. BARLEY...

IN THE BACK ROOM WITH THE LIGHTS IN HIS EYES.

[Russell] MR. BLAIR,

YOU HAVE ALL THE ATTRIBUTES--

GENEROSITY, WIT,

COURTESY,

SANG-FROID,

SAXOPHONE AND RECKLESS FOLLY.

SO...

WHAT IN THE HELL TAKES YOU TO RUSSIA

EVERY 5 MINUTES?

YOU, UH...

BUYING PROPERTY OVER THERE?

THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

FUCK WHETHER IT'S A FAIR QUESTION,

JUST TELL US THE ANSWER.

I LOVE THE PLACE.

IT DRAWS ME.

IT'S SUCH A SHAMBLES.

THEY TRY SO HARD FROM SO FAR BACK.

POOR BUGGERS.

THEY JUST WANT TO BE LIKE US.

THEY HAVE THIS HUGE HEART AND...

HUGE IGNORANCE.

AND THEY ALWAYS KEEP THEIR WORD.

[Russell] UH...

ACORNS!

THEY'RE GATHERING ACORNS

AND MAKING COFFEE FROM THEM.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE.

MR. BLAIR...

WE ARE BUYING A PICASSO,

OK?

YOU DON'T MIND AN OCCASIONAL METAPHOR

NOW AND THEN, DO YOU?

NOT AT ALL.

GOOD.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE MY METAPHORS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT...

ANYWAY,

EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS BUYING THE SAME PICASSO.

IT'S, UH, VERY RARE.

MEDIUM-RARE, WELL-DONE, WHAT THE FUCK?

THE BOTTOM-LINE QUESTION IS, "DID PICASSO PAINT IT?"

AND YOU'RE THE MAN WHO IS SELLING IT TO US.

[Barley] IT IS NOT MY PICASSO, RUSSELL.

IT IS NOT MY PICASSO,

AND I'M NOT SAYING IT IS A PICASSO.

AND FURTHERMORE, I'M NOT SELLING IT TO YOU.

AND LASTLY...

I DON'T GIVE A FUCK WHETHER YOU BUY IT OR NOT.

QUINN IS ARMY FROM THE ANUS UP.

HE LIKES PLAIN ANSWERS.

I'LL TELL BARLEY.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY HOMOSEXUAL EXPERIENCES, MR. BLAIR?

JUST THE USUAL ADOLESCENT HAND-HELD JOB.

SAME AS YOURSELF, I SUPPOSE?

HAS THIS MAN BEEN FLUTTERED?

WHAT'S THAT?

LIE DETECTOR.

NO, COLONEL, HE HASN'T.

YOUR BACKGROUND IS FAIRLY LIBERAL,

ISN'T IT, MR. BLAIR?

BACKGROUND?

YOUR FATHER.

NO.

MY FATHER HATED LIBERALS.

HE TOOK THE COMMUNIST LINE, MAINLY.

[Man] YOUR FATHER DIED 8 YEARS AGO?

YES.

WHICH IS ABOUT THE TIME YOUR VISITS

TO THE SOVIET UNION BECAME PRETTY REGULAR.

[Barley] I HADN'T MADE THE CONNECTION.

[Man #2] HAVE YOU FORMED ANY CONNECTION,

HOWEVER BRIEFLY,

WITH ANY PEACENIKS, DISSIDENTS

OR OTHER UNOFFICIAL GROUPS OF THAT NATURE?

[Sighs]

YOU MEET ALL SORTS--

JAZZ PEOPLE, BOOK PEOPLE.

THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION.

I'M SORRY.

WELL, LET ME TURN THAT AROUND AND ASK YOU

WHETHER YOU'VE MADE ANY CONNECTION WHATSOEVER

WITH ANY PEACE PEOPLE IN ENGLAND.

HUNDREDS, I SHOULD THINK.

YOU'D HAVE TO STAY INDOORS TO AVOID THEM.

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY MUSICIANS

YOU'VE FRATERNIZED WITH

WHOM YOU WOULD DESCRIBE

OR WHO WOULD DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS ANARCHISTS?

AH, THERE WAS A TROMBONE PLAYER.

WILFRED BAKER WAS HIS NAME.

HE'S THE ONLY JAZZ MUSICIAN I CAN RECALL

WHO WAS COMPLETELY DEVOID OF ANARCHIST TENDENCIES.

[Man #2] DO YOU DISAPPROVE OF THE ENGLISH

SOCIAL STRUCTURE, MR. BLAIR?

ABSOLUTELY.

GIVE ME AMERICA EVERY TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. BLAIR.

[Barley] NOT AT ALL.

BUT YOU SEEM

TO GO TO RUSSIA RATHER MORE THAN YOU COME TO AMERICA.

YES...

BECAUSE I PREFER RUSSIA.

IT'S AS CORRUPT AS AMERICA, BUT...

THERE'S LESS BULLSHIT.

[Billiard balls clack]

HE ACTED LIKE A MAN WHO'S GOING HIS OWN WAY...

WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

I'D SAY HE BEHAVED LIKE SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

I'LL BUY THAT.

OH, RANDY...

MR. BLAIR LIKES TO HAVE A BOTTLE OF SCOTCH IN HIS ROOM...

AFTER HIS CRICKET.

[Barley] VERY GOOD. THAT WAS NEARLY A 6.

[Russell] MR. BRADY, BARLEY.

LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE DONE A FINE THING, BARLEY.

ANYBODY SAY "THANK YOU" ALONG THE WAY?

NO.

DID I READ SOMEWHERE YOU ONCE PLAYED

IN THE GREAT RAY NOBLE'S BAND?

AH, A BEARDLESS BOY IN THOSE DAYS, BRADY.

HA, WASN'T RAY THE SWEETEST MAN YOU EVER MET?

RAY WAS A PRINCE.

DID YOU EVER PLAY CHESS WITH HIM?

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DID.

WHO WON?

I DID.

HA, SO DID I.

[Katya speaks Russian]

[Man] CLOSE YOUR EYES, PLEASE.

NO UNDUE EXCITATION OF ANY KIND.

ALWAYS ANSWER TRUTHFULLY.

[Katya speaks Russian]

[Children speak Russian]

ANSWERS TO BE "YES" OR "NO" ONLY. MERV?

IS YOUR NAME BLAIR?

SCOTT BLAIR.

IS YOUR NAME SCOTT BLAIR?

YES.

[Camera clicks]

[Clicks]

[Barley] NO.

[Man] I AM BEING BLACKMAILED.

NO.

I AM BEING COERCED.

YES.

BY THE SOVIETS?

NO.

[Merv] I AM OPERATING IN COLLUSION WITH THE WOMAN

KATYA ORLOVA.

NO.

YES.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HOLD IT.

DON'T BREAK THE RHYTHM, MR. BLAIR.

WE HAVE PEOPLE DO THAT ON PURPOSE

JUST TO SHAKE OFF A BAD QUESTION.

I AM OPERATING ON BEHALF OF THE SOVIET UNION.

NO.

IN COLLUSION WITH KATYA ORLOVA.

NO.

I AM THE LOVER OF KATYA ORLOVA.

NO.

I AM MOTIVATED BY MY LOVE FOR KATYA ORLOVA.

NO.

GET RID OF HIM, CLIVE.

HE'S WRONG FOR US.

PUT IN A PROFESSIONAL, ONE OF OUR PEOPLE.

IF DANTE'S A GOOD BOY, HE GETS THE JACKPOT. I'LL SEE TO IT.

$1 MILLION'S NO PROBLEM,

$10 MILLION'S EVEN BETTER.

THAT WAY, DANTE'S A TRAITOR

OUR PATRIOTS CAN UNDERSTAND.

DANTE WON'T DEAL WITH A PROFESSIONAL.

HE WON'T BE BRIBED OR THREATENED.

HE'S STRAIGHT. DO YOU REMEMBER STRAIGHT?

NOBODY HIRED US FOR OUR BROTHERLY LOVE, NED.

[Brady] RUSSELL.

BRADY?

CLIVE?

IS THERE A SEAT ON YOUR PLANE?

OF COURSE.

[Ned] BARLEY!

BARLEY!

YOU'VE WON!

YOU'VE BEATEN THEIR WHOLE APPARATUS.

THERE'LL BE NO TURNING BACK NOW.

WELL DONE, NED.

JOLLY GOOD SHOW.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, ISN'T IT?

TO GO BACK TO MOSCOW...

TO SEE IT THROUGH?

3 CHEERS FOR OUR SIDE.

BLAIR STAYS...

AND LANGLEY ARE TAKING OVER THE CASE.

THEY'RE PREPARING SHOPPING LISTS

TO BE GIVEN TO DANTE.

IT'LL BE THE LIST TO END ALL LISTS.

A GRAND-SLAM QUESTIONNAIRE--

PENTAGON, DEFENSE, STATE,

PERSONALLY ENDORSED BY THE PRESIDENT.

YOU MADE THEM A PRESENT OF MY JOE?

WELL, THE ROLE OF THE RUSSIA HOUSE WILL BE RESPECTED.

RUSSELL VALUES THE LINK.

WE'RE TAKING OVER BARLEY'S RESETTLEMENT AND HIS PENSION, NED.

YOU GAVE AWAY MY JOE FOR HIS PENSION?

WE'RE ON THE SAME BLOODY SIDE, AREN'T WE?

[Clive] GOD, THIS IS A LIST OF QUESTIONS

THAT COULD UNLOCK ALL THE SOV MILITARY SECRETS

AND WIN THE ARMS RACE AT A STROKE.

[Ned] OR LOSE IT.

I DON'T LIKE LISTS, CLIVE.

LISTS TELL YOU TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM.

[Bob] I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY OUR FACILITY.

[Clive] BLOODY MARVELOUS.

BLAIR'S TAPES ENCRYPTED,

BOUNCED BY SATELLITE TO LONDON AND DECRYPTED,

ALL IN MINUTES.

[Beep]

[Barley] OH, VLADAMIR!

AHA! DO YOU KNOW MY PARTNER, J.P. HENZIGER?

NO, YOU DON'T? YOU SHOULD.

LEONARD WICKLOW, MY ASSOCIATE.

JACK HENZIGER.

SPIKEY! DON'T TELL ME THEY LET YOU IN AGAIN.

AREN'T YOU BANKRUPT YET, BARLEY?

NO. CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR.

HERE YOU GO. PARTY ON THURSDAY, LIVE MUSIC.

HEY.

UH...

A BIT EARLY IN THE DAY, EVEN FOR ME, GEORGE.

UH, LEONARD WICKLOW, J.P. HENZIGER.

BROUGHT YOUR SAXOPHONE, BARLEY?

BUT OF COURSE. HOW DO YOU DO?

ALIK!

A CORDIAL INVITATION FROM POTOMAC-BLAIR...

TO A PARTY ON THURSDAY.

SO WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT IN LENINGRAD?

COME ON, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT LENINGRAD,

DO YOU?

I'M SORRY I DISAPPEARED. HERE.

IF SHE WAS YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL,

I FORGIVE YOU.

IT IS SO GOOD, BARLEY.

REALLY, IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WELCOME TO MOSCOW AGAIN. WELCOME TO THE BOOK FAIR.

TO HELL WITH THE BOOK FAIR.

[Speaks Russian]

IT IS TOO BEAUTIFUL TO WEAR.

[Church bells chime]

[Pigeons coo]

SHE IS ASKING,

"ARE YOU MARRIED?"

NO.

NOT AT PRESENT,

BUT TELL HER THAT...

I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO OFFERS.

[Child speaks Russian]

[Whispers Russian]

[People speak Russian]

[Man speaks Russian]

WHAT'S HE SAYING?

MATVEY ASSURES ME

LAPTA IS THE ORIGIN OF AMERICAN BASEBALL

AND YOUR ENGLISH CRICKET.

HE BELIEVES IT WAS INTRODUCED TO YOU

BY RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS.

IF THAT'S TRUE, IT'S THE END OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

[Chuckles]

[Bell chimes]

NOW, MY NEWS.

AFTER YOUR MEETING WITH YAKOV,

HE MISSED HIS NEXT PHONE CALL.

I WAS VERY WORRIED,

BUT NOW EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT.

YAKOV WROTE ME A LONG LETTER.

HE WAS ILL, BUT HE HAS RECOVERED.

HE WILL MAKE A SPECIAL VISIT TO MOSCOW

DURING THE BOOK FAIR TO MEET YOU.

HOW WAS HE ILL?

[Speaks Russian]

I, UH...

SORRY. UH, HEPATITIS?

OH.

I WILL READ IT TO YOU.

IT ARRIVED 8 DAYS AGO.

IGOR TELEPHONED AT MY HOUSE

WHO'S IGOR?

A TRUSTED FRIEND OF YAKOV.

HE TELEPHONED. HE SAID,

"I HAVE SOME MEDICINE FOR YOU."

"MEDICINE" IS A LETTER.

I THOUGHT HE DIDN'T HAVE

ANY TRUSTED FRIENDS EXCEPT YOU.

WHAT DOES HE DO, THIS IGOR?

HE IS A SCIENTIST, LIKE YAKOV,

AT ONE OF THE MINISTRIES.

WHAT DOES IT MATTER?

DO YOU WISH ME TO TRANSLATE YAKOV'S LETTER OR NOT?

GO ON.

HE IS IN A SPECIAL HOSPITAL, PERHAPS IN A SPECIAL TOWN.

WHAT TOWN?

SOME OF OUR TOWNS HAVE NO NAMES, EVEN TODAY.

ONLY POSTAL NUMBERS.

"MY DARLING KATYA..."

HE, UH, WRITES LOVE TALK.

I SHALL NOT TRANSLATE.

DOES HE USUALLY DO THAT?

HA! WHAT USUALLY? IT IS NOT USUALLY HE WRITES TO ME.

AH! NOW WE COME TO YOU.

"PLEASE TELL OUR GOOD FRIEND

"THAT I SHALL TRY MY BEST TO SEE HIM

"DURING HIS VISIT.

"I WILL BRING MORE MATERIAL.

"IF HE HAS A MESSAGE FOR ME, HE MUST TELL YOU."

DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE?

NO.

NO.

"TELL HIM TO BRING ALL FURTHER QUESTIONS,

"BECAUSE AFTER THIS,

"I DO NOT WISH TO ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

"TELL HIM HIS LIST SHOULD BE FINAL

"AND..."

UH, LIKE, UH...

"COMPLETE."

"COMPREHENSIVE"?

YES.

COM-PRE-HENSIVE.

COM-COMPREHENSIVE.

FULL MARKS.

[Giggles]

UH, HE SAYS, UH...

"PLEASE BRING A SAMPLE PAGE OF TRANSLATION,"

UH, "BUT IN PRINT, PLEASE, IF YOU CAN.

"TELL ME PUBLISHING DATES

"AND WHICH IS THE BEST SEASON."

UM...

"PLEASE MAKE YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR A TITLE.

"W-WILL THERE BE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK?

"WHO WILL WRITE THE, UH, DIGEST?"

UH, THE "BLURB."

"BLURB?"

YES, THE BLURB.

[Laughs]

BLURB!

THE BLURB!

OH!

[Speaks Russian]

AHH.

UH, IT'S A WAR WOUND.

THAT'S VERY GOOD. YOU MUST TELL HER.

YOU TELL HER.

FANTASTIC.

[Crow caws]

[Speaks Russian]

WHEN DO YOU SPEAK TO YAKOV AGAIN?

YOU CANNOT COME TO THE HOSPITAL, BARLEY.

I-IT IS NOT SAFE.

IF IT'S NOT SAFE FOR ME, THEN IT'S NOT SAFE FOR YOU.

HMM?

HOW DOES HE END HIS LETTER?

THAT IS NOT FOR YOU.

MORE LOVE TALK, HUH?

BARLEY, I THINK IT IS CLEAR TO A HEDGEHOG

THAT YOU ARE BEING A LITTLE CHILDISH.

WHICH HEDGEHOG?

WHY DOES HE WRITE LIKE THAT?

HE IS LONELY. HE EXAGGERATES HIS FEELINGS.

IT IS NORMAL.

YEAH...

IT'S NORMAL.

THAT'S IT! NO MORE! NO MORE FUCKING TAPES!

UNGH.

YES, I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

SOUNDS GOOD, EH?

FINAL AND COMPREHENSIVE LIST.

WHY?

HE'S NERVOUS. WHY NOT?

MAYBE I DON'T MIND THE LIST.

MAYBE I MIND HIM WRITING HER CHATTY LETTERS.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY'VE BEEN ILL.

MAYBE I MIND THE RED CAR AND THE WHITE CAR.

YOU SAW THE WATCH REPORT.

AND IGOR--

IGOR WHO? IGOR WHEN?

NED, NED, NED, NED!

IT'S EARLY DAYS.

WE'RE ALL JUMPY.

[Man speaks Russian]

KATYA! KATYA!

UH, DID YOU KNOW AGATHA CHRISTIE?

MATVEY IS CRAZY FOR DETECTIVE FICTION.

ALAS, AGATHA AND I WERE NEVER INTRODUCED.

UH, RAYMOND CHANDLER, DOROTHY SAYERS...

CONAN DOYLE?

[Katya speaks Russian]

LENINGRAD...

LENIN...

FAMILY.

FAMILY. DA.

[Speaks Russian]

WHAT'S HE SAYING NOW?

[Matvey] LENINGRAD...

[Speaks Russian]

HA, HA, HA!

HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE SIEGE.

THE GERMANS WERE 4 KILOMETERS FROM LENINGRAD

ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

[Barley] I LOVE YOU.

YOU CAN STILL SEE...

THE MARKS OF THE MACHINE-GUN FIRE

IN THE OLD BUILDINGS,

IN THE OUTSKIRTS.

I LOVE YOU.

ALL MY FAILINGS WERE

PREPARATIONS FOR MEETING YOU.

THE CITY REFUSED TO, UH...

ACCEPT, UH, DEFEAT.

SHOSTAKOVICH STILL COMPOSED HIS MUSIC.

IT'S LIKE NOTHING I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

IT'S...

UNSELFISH LOVE.

GROWN-UP LOVE.

YOU KNOW IT IS.

BARLEY, PLEASE.

IT'S MATURE, ABSOLUTE...

THRILLING LOVE.

YOU HAVE BEWITCHED MY FAMILY.

MY CHILDREN THINK ALL YOU BRITISH

ARE NOW SANTA CLAUS IN BEAUTIFUL TWEED CLOTHES.

THERE'S NO SANTA CLAUS.

NOBODY IS WHAT HE SEEMS, EXCEPT YOU.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY MY RIGHTS?

GO AND SIT DOWN.

I HOPE YOU ARE NOT BEING FRIVOLOUS, BARLEY.

MY LIFE NOW ONLY HAS ROOM FOR TRUTH.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

SHH!

[Pencil scratches]

I'M WITH YOU.

[Sighs]

I KNOW IT NOW.

A FINAL AND COMPREHENSIVE LIST.

ONE CHANCE...

THEN CLOSE DOWN.

WHY?

[Russell] I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD GET SOME SLEEP.

I DON'T THINK I'M TIRED.

OH, I THINK YOU ARE.

I THINK YOU'RE TIRED AS HELL.

[Clive] IF THE SOVS WERE PLAYING DANTE BACK AT US,

THEY WOULDN'T CLOSE HIM DOWN.

THEY'D KEEP HIM GOING FOREVER.

YOU WOULDN'T CLOSE HIM DOWN IF YOU WERE A SOV, WOULD YOU?

I MIGHT HAVE TO IF MY METHODS WERE RUSSIAN.

WHY?

BECAUSE DANTE MAY NOT BE PRESENTABLE ANYMORE.

HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE TELEPHONE.

HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE A SPOON.

HE MAY BE DEAD.

DANTE IS GOING TO PHONE KATYA

AT THE HOSPITAL TODAY.

IF HE DOES THAT,

WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP...

OR STAY OUT OF MY OPERATION?

[Katya whispers] WE MUST BE VERY QUIET.

IF THE CHILDREN COME,

WE MUST DRESS, AND WE MUST BE VERY SERIOUS.

I'LL TELL THEM I LOVE YOU.

I SHALL NOT INTERPRET.

CAN I TELL YOU?

IF YOU ARE QUIET.

WILL YOU INTERPRET?

YOU ARE MY ONLY COUNTRY NOW.

[Car horn honks]

SORRY I AM LATE.

[Click]

[Rings]

DA.

ARE YOU CONNECTED?

[Russell] BINGO!

WE'RE IN BUSINESS.

[Hangs up]

WHAT DID HE SAY?

TELL ME.

[Bob] THAT'S A NEAT FIT.

DANTE KEEPS IT SHORT.

[Ned] EMBRACING?

THEY'RE HAPPY.

WHY IS HE DRIVING?

[Johnny] MEN LIKE TO DRIVE WOMEN. HE'S A MALE CHAUVINIST.

[Ned] YOUR PEOPLE ARE SAYING HE'S STILL IN THE FLAT?

[Russell] YOU SEE WHAT I SEE.

[Click]

COME ON, COME ON. WHERE'S THE TAPE?

[Telephone rings]

OH, GERONIMO.

[Flicks switch]

[Door slams] HELLO, BARLEY.

[Paddy] WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CY'S LORRY...

OR TRUCK, AS HE CALLS IT?

[Barley] IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.

[Cy] HOW'D IT GO, BARLEY?

GOOD.

WELL, WE'RE BANG ON TARGET, PADDY.

THE MEETING IS ON.

DANTE'S COMING TO MOSCOW ON FRIDAY.

HE'S BORROWING AN APARTMENT.

THAT'S THE ADDRESS. WELL DONE.

WHAT TIME? 18:00.

GOOD.

ANYTHING UNUSUAL?

NO. NOTHING I COULDN'T HANDLE,

BUT KATYA'S NOT AS TOUGH AS SHE THOUGHT.

WOUND HERSELF UP A BIT, I THINK,

WAITING FOR THAT PHONE CALL.

BUT I GAVE HER A CUP OF TEA AND...

HELD HER HAND FOR A BIT.

WELL DONE.

[Clive] WELL DONE, INDEED.

[Jazz music fades in]

LEO, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOW'S OLGA? STILL EATING?

HOW'S YOUR DOG, BARLEY?

OH, ARKADY!

I HAVEN'T GOT A DOG, BUT WHY DO YOU ASK?

BECAUSE IT'S SAFER TO DISCUSS ONE'S DOG,

I WOULD SAY, THAN ONE'S FRIENDS.

GETTING CARELESS IN OUR EXCITEMENT, HUH?

THE INFORMANTS WILL HAVE A GOOD HARVEST THIS SEASON.

[Chuckles]

HELLO, BARLEY.

ALIK.

LOOK AT YOU.

[Jazz music continues]

HA, HA, HA!

KATYA!

ARE YOU WELL?

THANK YOU. I AM VERY WELL.

NOW...

WHO DON'T YOU KNOW?

[Microphone feedback]

[Band stops playing]

COMRADES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

TO YOU...

AND TO OUR NEW PARTNERSHIP--

WELCOME.

LET'S MAKE EACH OTHER FREE.

AND LET'S MAKE EACH OTHER RICH.

[Man] WE WANT BARLEY!

[Man #2] HEY, BARLEY!

COME ON, BARLEY!

[Crowd] BARLEY! BARLEY! BARLEY!

COME ON, BARLEY!

WICKERS, YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE PUBLISHER IN YOU.

WHEN THIS BUSINESS IS OVER, GO FOR IT.

[Audience claps]

BARLEY! BARLEY! BARLEY!

BARLEY! BARLEY! BARLEY!

[Applause fades]

[Bassist begins playing]

[Plays slow jazz tune]

[Jazz music continues]

[Beep]

[Ned] WHY ZAPADNY?

[Bob] NED...

BARLEY BUYS SOVIET BOOKS.

HE'S KEEPING HIS COVER IN TRIM.

[Click]

CALL IT OFF, RUSSELL.

YOU'RE NOT TIRED,

YOU'RE SICK!

PIXIE VOICES.

IF DANTE IS BLOWN, KATYA IS BLOWN.

WHY IS SHE STILL WALKING AROUND?

I DON'T KNOW.

OK, IF DANTE'S BLOWN,

WHO WAS ON THE HOSPITAL PHONE?

I DON'T KNOW.

IF IT WASN'T DANTE, WHY DIDN'T SHE TELL BARLEY?

AND IF SHE DID TELL BARLEY, WHY ISN'T BARLEY TELLING US?

I DON'T KNOW.

DON'T GIVE US HUNCHES, GIVE US FACTS!

YOU'RE THE ONE THAT BROUGHT US INTO THIS.

DON'T TRY TO JUMP OFF THE TIGER AT THE FIRST FUCKING STOP!

IT'S OVER, RUSSELL.

"DANTE IS STRAIGHT."

THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS AND I LOVED YOU FOR THEM.

[Clive] NED?

HE'S BLOWN.

WE HAD HIM...

BUT WE LOST HIM.

IT'S OVER.

AND MY JOE'S OUT THERE TELLING US

THAT HE'S BANG ON TARGET.

[Saxophone plays]

[Click]

[Paddy] THIS IS THE FLAT WHERE DANTE IS WAITING.

YOU'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR

THAT THE LIFT WAS WORKING THIS MORNING.

[Barley] 4th FLOOR, GREEN-PAINTED DOOR, BANG OPPOSITE THE LIFT.

RIGHT. THEN IN THAT CASE,

THIS WILL BE YOUR WINDOW.

NOW, WHEN YOU GET IN,

LET US SEE YOU AT THAT WINDOW.

GOOD.

JACK WILL WALK YOU HALFWAY,

THEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

TELL DANTE YOU WANT TO WALK OUT

WITH AS MANY ANSWERS AS HE CAN GIVE YOU.

THIS IS IT.

THE SHOPPING LIST.

YOU'LL HAVE TO TELL HIM TO WET THE PAGES.

AND THE QUESTIONS WILL FLOAT TO THE SURFACE.

UH, MAKE SURE YOU BRING IT BACK.

WE THINK THE WHOLE THING WILL TAKE 2 HOURS--

3 FOR LUCK.

TELL HIM YOU WANT A DATE FOR A FINAL MEETING

TO FILL IN THE BLANKS

AND WHEN YOU WANT TO LEAVE,

PULL THE CURTAIN.

WE'LL PICK YOU UP.

HOW'S THAT?

GOOD.

GIVE THIS TO NED, WILL YOU?

JUST IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

NOTHING'S GOING WRONG.

THAT'S IT OVER THERE--

SECOND FROM THE RIGHT.

YOU'LL BE FINE FROM HERE, BARLEY.

WELL, FINGERS ARE CROSSED, JACK.

CHEERIO.

[Whistle blows]

OH.

THANK YOU.

SIR, THE SHOPPING LIST--

IT'S ONLY QUESTIONS, ISN'T IT?

IT WOULDN'T TELL ANYONE ANYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

IT WOULD TELL WHAT WE KNOW

BY TELLING WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

AND IT WOULD TELL WHAT WE WOULD MOST LIKE TO KNOW.

IF THE SOVS GET THE SHOPPING LIST,

WE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE PUBLISHED THE DAMN NOTEBOOKS

JUST AS BARLEY PROMISED DANTE.

YES, I DO KNOW.

BARLEY'S MADE A DEAL.

HE'S KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO DANTE IN HIS OWN WAY.

AND HE'S TRYING TO SAVE KATYA.

HE'S GIVING THEM THE SHOPPING LIST.

[Russell] COME ON, NED.

[Ned] THE SOVS LET THE OPERATION RUN

BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING FOR BARLEY TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

JESUS CHRIST!

BROCK, SIGNAL THE TRUCK.

[Russell] DON'T! SIGNAL PADDY! ABORT.

DON'T!

[Beep]

"LOOKING GOOD!"

AND HE'S COMING BACK SMILING.

YOU CAN TAKE A LONG, LONG VACATION.

[Sighs]

MY JOE'S CROSSED OVER.

[Russell] HE WENT IN.

HE NEVER CAME OUT.

ABOUT 7 HOURS.

YES, SIR.

SHIT CITY, NED.

HONOR IS DUE.

WELL, FOLKS,

BETTER PUT THE CHAIRS BACK ON THE TABLES.

TILL NEXT TIME.

[Russian man] YEKATERINA BORISOVNA ORLOVA.

[Barley] YES. KATYA.

THE LETTER WAS SIGNED "KATYA"?

NO, JUST THE INITIAL--

"YOUR LOVING K."

AND BRITISH INTELLIGENCE

SHOWED YOU THE LETTER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LISBON.

YES.

AND THE LETTER REFERRED

TO YOUR FIRST MEETING WITH SAVELYEV,

WHOM YOU KNOW AS DANTE.

YES, AT PEREDELKINO.

BUT MRS. ORLOVA WAS NOT AT PEREDELKINO.

AS I KEEP TELLING YOU, I DIDN'T MEET HER--

PLEASE. ALLOW ME.

DID SAVELYEV ARRIVE AT PEREDELKINO

BY HIMSELF OR WITH OTHERS?

I DON'T KNOW.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK HIM?

UNFORTUNATELY, PROF. SAVELYEV IS DEAD.

HE BECAME VERY ILL WITH HEPATITIS.

A GREAT LOSS TO THE SOVIET SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY--

WE ALL MOURN HIM.

ME, TOO.

I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO WHAT I'VE SAID.

YOU HAVE THE SHOPPING LIST--

PAYMENT IN FULL.

[Russian man] YES...

THE CELEBRATED LIST.

WE HAVE A DEAL.

I EXPECT YOU TO HONOR THAT DEAL.

AS I'M TALKING ABOUT HONOR, NOT IDEOLOGY,

I'VE LEFT A LETTER BEHIND ME

JUST IN CASE THEY DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

[Russian man] TELL ME ABOUT THE LETTER.

[Barley] "DEAR NEDSKY,

"CHANGE OF PLAN, OLD CHUM.

"SORRY I COULDN'T LET YOU KNOW.

"I THOUGHT YOU'D BE ONTO ME, IF ANYONE WAS.

"BUT PERHAPS YOU TAUGHT ME TOO WELL.

"ANYWAY, DANTE IS BLOWN, AS YOU WOULD SAY.

"HIS LETTER TO KATYA WAS A FAKE.

"HIS PHONE CALL TO THE HOSPITAL WAS KGB CONTROLLED.

"BUT DANTE AND KATYA HAD WORKED OUT A CODE."

WHAT DID HE SAY?

TELL ME.

HE IS TAKEN.

YAKOV IS TAKEN.

"IF HE WAS CAUGHT, HE CALLED HER BY THE WRONG NAME."

HE USED THE WRONG NAME.

IF WE--IF WE ARE SAFE, HE CALLS ME ALINA.

IF...

HE'S CAUGHT--MARIYA. HE CALLED ME MARIYA.

HE WAS TELLING ME WE ARE DEAD.

[Sobs]

[Sobs]

GIVE ME THE KEY.

"SO THERE WE WERE.

"AND I WAS THINKING, 'WHY HAVEN'T THEY ARRESTED US?'

"IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO WORK IT OUT.

"BUT OF COURSE, THEY WANTED THE SHOPPING LIST.

"SO THERE WAS THE CRUNCH--

"TO SAVE YOUR PRECIOUS SECRETS,

"OR TO TRADE THEM FOR KATYA AND HER FAMILY.

"THE EASIEST DECISION I EVER MADE.

"AND IF YOU WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THE SAME,

"THEN YOU'VE LEARNED NOTHING.

"DANTE WAS RIGHT.

"THE GRAY MEN ARE KEEPING ALIVE THE ARMS RACE,

"WHICH NOBODY IS SUPPOSED TO WANT. HEH.

"IT'S ALL OVER FOR THE SECRETS GAME.

"YOUR DAY IS DONE, OLD BOY.

"PUBLISH AND BE SAVED."

I NEED TO BETRAY MY COUNTRY...

AND I HAVEN'T GOT MUCH TIME.

HA, HA, HA.

AND DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW

WHO TO GET IN TOUCH WITH.

JUST DO IT, HMM?

I WANT TO MEET THEM IN THE MORNING...

AND AGREE A CONTRACT.

AYE?

"I DID MY BEST FOR YOU, NED.

"BUT NOW I HAVE TO DO MY BEST FOR DANTE AND FOR KATYA."

SMILE.

YOU MUST SMILE.

THEY'RE WATCHING US--

YOUR SIDE AND MY SIDE.

WE'RE GOING TO BEAT THEM BOTH.

I CAN'T SAVE YAKOV--

NOTHING CAN.

BUT YOU'RE SAFE.

YOUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

UNCLE MATVEY'S SAFE.

I LOVE YOU...

AND I WON'T LET YOU DOWN.

"IT WAS MY FIRST GOOD CONTRACT--

"REAL PEOPLE FOR UNREAL ARGUMENTS.

"I GOT EVERYTHING I WANTED,

"DOWN TO A SAFE PASSAGE

"FOR WICKLOW, HENZIGER AND THE OTHERS.

"NO DOUBT THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY AT YOUR END,

"BUT YOU SHOULDN'T OPEN OTHER PEOPLE'S LETTERS.

"LOVE AND LUCK, BARLEY."

WHAT ABOUT RUSSELL?

RUSSELL'S A SURVIVOR.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT THE SHOPPING LIST

WAS REALLY A BRILLIANT DECEPTION

PLANTED ON THE RUSSIANS BY OUR CLEVER RUSSELL...

WHO ALSO STARTED THE RUMOR.

IF YOU CAN GET THE SOVS TO BELIEVE IT,

EVERYTHING'S BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

DANTE NEED NEVER HAVE BOTHERED.

AND BARLEY?

OH, BARLEY.

HE'S HOME FREE...

BACK IN LISBON.

IT'S NOT A LARGE FLAT, OF COURSE,

BUT BY MOSCOW STANDARDS...

WE'LL ALL SQUEEZE IN.

STILL BACKING YOUR RUSSIA, BARLEY?

WELL, WE'LL SEE.

YOU KNOW, I CHOSE THIS FLAT

BECAUSE I LIKE TO WATCH THE SHIPS COME IN.

I MUST HAVE KNOWN

THAT ONE DAY IT WOULD BE MY SHIP.

DO YOU THINK THAT KATYA'S GOING TO BE ON IT?

WELL, PERHAPS IT'S YOUR DUE.

IT TOOK SOME GUTS.

AND YOU SEEM TO THINK YOU DID THE DECENT THING.

GOOD LUCK, BARLEY.

KATYA!

BARLEY!

COME ON!

COME ON!

COME ON, KATYA!

COME ON!

RUN!