Smiley's People (1982) s01e02 Episode Script

(BOTTLE CLINKS) - Are you a burglar, dearie? | - I'm afraid not.
Just a visitor.
- Still, it's nice to be fancied, isn't it? | - Very gratifying.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Bobchik Bobchik! Bobbie! (MAN WHISTLES) If you've anything for flat 6B, | I can save you the climb.
- Miller.
V Miller.
| - Miller, Miller, Miller, Miller Miller.
Thank you.
- Bywater Street, Chelsea.
| - Right, sir.
- Would you make that Hampstead, please? | - Which part? The Heath.
If I may assist my brother in his task? No, thanks.
Not necessary.
It would be my satisfaction and no trouble to me.
No, thank you.
Many thanks.
Moscow Rules, Vladimir, old friend.
Straight & Steady Minicabs? I'd like to speak to Mr Lamb, please, | one of your drivers.
Excuse me, this is not a personal call.
I want Mr Lamb to drive me, | and nobody but Mr Lamb will do.
Tell him I'll need him for a couple of hours or so.
| My name is Sampson.
Sampson with a P.
South End Green.
Outside the bus shelter.
(SMILEY) "General, | some men are watching my house.
"I do not think they are your friends or mine.
"This morning, I had the impression | they wanted to kill me.
"Will you not send me your magician once more?" (REGGAE MUSIC) - Straight & Steady? | - Sampson with a P? Would you please switch off the engine? | I'm a private detective.
I expect you get a lot of us and we're a nuisance, | but I'd be happy to pay for a bit of information.
- Oh, yeah? | - You signed a receipt yesterday for £17.
Do you remember who your fare was? Tall party.
Foreign.
White moustache and a limp.
- Old? | - Very.
Walking stick an' all.
Where did you pick him up? Cosmo Restaurant, Praed Street.
10.
30.
Morning.
- Where did you take him? | - Charlton.
- Charlton in south-east London? | - A church off Battle of the Nile Street.
- Asked for a pub called The Defeated Frog.
| - Frog? - Frenchman.
| - Did you leave him there? - One hour wait, then back to Praed Street.
| - Did you stop anywhere else? Once at a toy shop going.
| Once at a phone box coming back.
Party bought a wooden duck on wheels.
| Yellow job.
Phone call was local.
- How do you know? | - I lent him 5p.
Then he comes back | and borrows two 10p's for in case.
- You can tell your firm I didn't turn up.
| - I'll tell 'em what I bloody like.
(DRIVER) Have you tried to use a phone box | in London? Awful! You just can't do it.
Coins jammed in 'em.
(TRAFFIC DROWNS OUT WORDS) And repatriation.
That's another thing.
| I'd send 'em all back.
They shouldn't be here anyway, I don't think.
(TRAFFIC DROWNS OUT WORDS) Cheers.
- Hello, Mr Brownlow.
How are you? | - Hello, sir.
How are you? How's Lady Ann? She's very lucky.
I've bought her a present.
Could I pop it in your safe for the day | and collect it later? - It doesn't tick, does it? | - Only in wet weather.
I adore the bag! (RINGS DOORBELL) (WHISTLING KETTLE) (KNOCKS LOUDLY) Mrs Craven? Stella? Stella? It's me.
Max.
(CHILD) Hello.
- Where's Villem? | - His name's William.
Get that straight, Max.
William Craven.
That's his choice.
| British to the core.
- Not Estonian.
Not Russian.
British.
| - I want to talk to him, Stella.
I'm not asking him to do anything.
| I may be able to help him.
I've heard that one before! He's out.
- He's gone to work where he belongs.
| - Then what's his lorry doing outside? - He's gone to the depot.
They sent a car for him.
| - Then who's the second cup for in the kitchen? - He's got nothing to do with it.
| - More, more.
More.
Ssh.
Villem.
It's me, Max.
I have to talk to you, please.
Then I'll go and leave you in peace, I promise.
Perhaps if you made that tea? You're not talking to him alone | and charming him off the tree again.
- It's about Vladimir.
| - I know.
They've been ringing half the night.
- Who have? | - "Where's Vladimir? Where's Vladi?" What do they think William is, Jack the Ripper? | He hasn't seen him for God knows how long.
- (CHILD WHINES) | - Beckie, darling, do be quiet.
I'm not usually like this.
- Who was asking for him? | - Mikhel.
Who else? Remember Mikhel? Freedom Radio ace, prime | minister designate of Estonia, betting tout.
Half past midnight, while Beckie's | cutting a tooth, the bloody phone goes.
It's Mikhel, doing his heavy-breathing act.
| "Vere's Vladi? Vere's our leader?" - Why was he so worried? | - Vladi owed him money, I expect.
50 quid.
Probably lost it on a horse together, | one of their many losers.
"Look, Mikhel," I said, "he's not here.
| We're not hiding him in the attic.
"We haven't seen him since Beckie's christening.
| Haven't heard from him.
"William's just in from Hamburg.
| I'm not waking him.
He needs sleep.
" - So he rang off? | - Did he hell! He's a leech.
"Villem is Vladi's favourite," he said.
| I said, "What for? The 3.
30 at Ascot? "Look, Mikhel, go back to sleep.
" (DOOR SLAMS) William's right out of this now.
He's not political, | not slimy.
He's got over his dad being a martyr.
He's a big boy.
| He can stand on his own two feet, right? - I said right? | - Hello, Villem.
Hello, Max.
How are you doing? | That's the way, huh? I gather you've already heard | the news about Vladimir.
News? What news, please? He's disappeared.
His friends have been | ringing you up at unsocial hours.
(VILLEM) Friends? Old émigrés.
Drink tea.
Play chess all day.
| Politics.
Talk crazy dreams.
Mikhel is not my friend, Max.
But Vladi is your friend.
Vladi was your father's friend | before you.
Brothers-in-arms.
Sure.
Vladimir, he was my father's friend.
| His good friend.
Also, of Beckie, the godfather.
But not for politics.
Not any more.
| Me, I am William Craven.
I got English home, English wife, | English kid, English name, OK? - Also, English job.
| - A good job.
You know how much I earn, Max? We buy house.
Maybe a car, OK? When did you last see him, William? Who, Max? See who? - I don't understand you.
Please.
| - Tell him, Bill.
- When did you last see Vladimir? | - Long time, Max.
- Weeks? | - Sure.
Weeks.
- Months? | - Months.
Six months.
Seven.
At christening.
He was godfather.
| We make a party.
But no politics.
- And not since? | - No.
What time did William get back yesterday? - Early.
| - As early as ten o'clock in the morning? Could have been.
I wasn't here.
| I was visiting Mother.
Vladimir came down here yesterday by taxi.
I think he saw William.
| On his way, he bought a toy.
The taxi waited an hour, then took him | back to Paddington where he lives.
Vladi is of Beckie the godfather.
Stella don't like him, | so he must come here like a thief.
Vladi is an old man.
Who knows when he sees | his Beckie again? He is friend of family.
Not of this family, he isn't.
Not any more.
He was friend of my father.
Comrade.
| They fight together Bolshevism.
So he bring to Beckie a toy.
Why not, Max? - You said you bought the bloody thing yourself! | - Stella don't like him.
Is afraid we make more politics.
| So I don't tell Stella.
She visits her mother in hospital and while she is away, Vladi makes | a small visit to see Beckie, say hello.
Why not? Stella, listen to me.
| So Vladi don't get home last night.
I am so sorry but it is not my fault.
| Max, Vladi is an old man.
Lonely.
Maybe he finds a woman once, OK? For this, | he was pretty famous, I think.
Why not? And before yesterday? You saw Vladi yesterday.
He came by taxi and brought | a yellow wooden duck for Beckie.
On wheels.
- Sure.
| - Very well.
But before yesterday, not counting yesterday, when did you last see him? Monday.
I see him Monday.
| He ring me.
We meet.
Sure.
Oh, William! (PHONE RINGS) I want you to go.
I want you to walk out of here | and never come back.
Please, Max.
Now.
I'm afraid Vladi's disappeared for good, William.
It's in the papers.
He's been shot dead.
The police will want to ask you questions.
I have to hear what happened | and tell you how to answer them.
(VILLEM) Bozhémoy! For the others, I give nothing.
For Vladi, everything.
I love this man.
After the death of my father, | Vladi become father to me.
Sometimes I even say him, "My father".
Not "Uncle".
"Father".
Perhaps we could start with Monday.
With the first meeting.
(SMILEY) And the safety signal? The signal which says, | "I am not being followed".
Was Hamburg newspaper from yesterday.
Oh, Bill.
Bill, you stupid bloody fool.
(BECKIE WHIMPERS) Why didn't they just put it in the bloody post, | whatever it is, and be done with it? - And it worked? The handover worked? | - Sure.
It work fine.
Vladi took the negatives | like they were sacred from a church.
- In their envelope? | - Sure.
Yellow envelope from Kodak.
He look at them slowly, one after another, | till he find the one he is searching for.
- Just one? One negative? | - Sure.
- One frame or one strip? | - Frame.
One small frame.
35 millimetre.
Like Agfa automatic I have.
And on your journey, | all the way home from Hamburg, you never once thought to look? Was secret, Max.
Military secret.
(STELLA) He wouldn't.
He's too straight.
Was Soviet spies.
They kill Vladimir.
| He know too much.
- So do you.
So do we all.
| - That's all he said? Just "Max would believe"? Nothing else? Nothing about the value | of what you've done, for instance? Nothing about there being other proofs, | for instance? Nothing.
No more.
Nothing to explain how he communicated | with Hamburg and set up the arrangements? Whether others of the group were involved? | Please think.
So, whom have you told this to, | William, apart from me? - Nobody, Max.
Nobody.
| - He hasn't had time.
Do you think Vladimir told anybody? | Anybody you know of, that is.
From the group, only Mikhel, | which was necessary, but not all, even to Mikhel.
I ask him, "Vladimir, who knows I do this for you?" "Only Mikhel, a very little," he said.
"Mikhel is my friend.
| But even to friends, we cannot trust.
"Enemies I do not fear," he said, | "but friends I fear greatly.
" Whoever may get in touch, | the police, the group, anyone, they know all they need to know.
Vladimir came yesterday | to bring Beckie a present.
He found William here.
They strolled | in the garden, talked old times.
End of story.
- Were you here? | - If they ask, yes.
I came with the bad news.
Did Vladimir mention Hector? - Of Hector nothing.
| - So he didn't mention him? William said he didn't, for Christ's sake! Did you bring anything else for Vladimir? Apart from what was in the yellow envelope? | A present perhaps? Something he liked | and couldn't afford in England? Cigarettes.
On boat.
I buy him French cigarettes as gift.
| Gauloises, Max.
He like very much Gauloises.
| No tax.
No filter.
Sure.
And the £50 he had borrowed from Mikhel? - I give back.
Sure.
| - All? All.
Cigarettes was gift.
Max, I love this man.
For my father, I love him.
You haven't been talking to anyone | on the other side of the business, have you? Anybody who might help get rid of a tiresome | old man who's making a bore of himself? No? Well, well.
I've reached an age | where I'm allowed to ask, you know.
You're out of date, Max.
| Whatever it is you're doing, sooner or later, one side or the other | will have to stop.
You're like the group.
Is there anything you can't tell me in front of him? No.
Did anyone else ring apart from Mikhel? A wrong-number call even? Ring, then ring off? Did anyone come to the door? | Market researcher? Religious evangelist? - Canvasser? Anyone? | - No one.
And you were visiting your mother | in hospital yesterday? Yes.
I hope she gets better soon.
Stay away, Max, all of you.
Whatever | happens, however bad it gets, we're us now.
He's grown up.
We don't need a vicar any more.
(MOTORBIKE STARTS UP) It seems I do.
Good news, madame.
The X-rays show | that nothing is broken, nothing is displaced.
You have a few lacerations and bruises, | but that is all.
You are free to leave.
Madame I have friends.
They are good people, but rough.
| They give no privacy, no quiet.
We women, sometimes we need calm.
You understand? I understand, but it is difficult.
Give me one night here.
This is not a hotel but you may stay.
You are very kind.
(SOMEONE TYPES UPSTAIRS) Max! You came.
I am glad! I had hoped but I did not dare to expect.
I was waiting for you nevertheless.
| I waited all day until now.
He loved you, Max.
| You were the best.
He said so always.
You were his inspiration, his example.
- I'm sorry, Mikhel.
I'm really sorry.
| - As we all are, Max.
As we all are.
Inconsolable.
But we are soldiers.
Elvira loved him also very much.
- He was a brother to her.
He instructed her.
| - Elvira? My wife, Max.
Who do you think did it, Mikhel? Was he betrayed? Max, you know as well as I do who did it.
| We are all at risk.
The call can come at any time.
To the Bolsheviks, we exiles remain | enemy number one.
Anathema.
Where they once destroyed our culture and | our churches, where they can, they destroy us.
And they are right to be afraid of us.
| One day, we shall defeat them.
They could have killed Vladimir years ago.
| Why choose this particular moment? Unless Vladi was up to something, | unless he provoked them in some way, which he might well have done, knowing him.
- Who can tell? | - Well, you can, Mikhel, if anyone can.
Don't tell me he didn't trust you.
Our leader was a secretive man.
| This was his strength.
He had to be.
It was a military necessity.
But not towards you, surely? | Come.
You do yourself an injustice.
Even towards me.
| At the end, even towards Mikhel.
He came to see me one evening.
I was asleep upstairs.
| He gave the special ring on the bell.
- "Mikhel, I need £50.
" | - When was this? 12 days ago.
One week last Monday.
He never before has asked me for money.
From his manner, I am able | to discern immediately this is an official affair.
"General," I say to him, "you are making a conspiracy.
| Tell me what it is.
" He shakes his head.
"Listen," I say, "if this is a conspiracy, | take my advice, go to Max.
" He refused.
"When I have landed the big fish | I am hoping for, "then I will go to Max and claim our expenses | and perhaps many things besides.
" In my wallet, I had £50.
That day I had made a successful investment.
- I give them to him.
| - That was very good of you.
It was my duty.
From the heart.
I know no other law.
And this approach to you, this request | for operational funds, it came out of the blue? There'd been nothing before to tell you | he was up to something big? Some months ago perhaps two, he received a letter here, to this address.
- Did he receive so few? | - This letter was special.
- Who was it from? | - It was from Paris, Max.
A long letter, many pages, handwritten.
Addressed to the general personally.
| Not to Mr Miller.
To General Vladimir.
Most personal.
I pressed him.
He told me it was a military secret.
(PHONE RINGS) (MAN) Are you waving or are you drowning? Yes.
Put me five each way.
Did he say any more about the big fish? - Please, Max? | - The big fish.
The operation he said he was planning.
| I wondered if he enlarged on it in any way.
He asked for some maps.
I was in two minds whether to tell you this.
| You were his vicar, but you are not of our cause.
But as I trust you, I shall.
- Maps of where? | - Street maps.
City plans.
Danzig.
Hamburg.
Lübeck.
Helsinki.
The northern seaboard.
- He telephoned.
| - Elvira, we are having a conference here! To Hamburg.
It was special call.
| You owe him for this call.
£2.
80.
You owe him.
- How do you know that? | - He asked operator to call him back.
And you were present while he did that? (SOBS) She is distressed, Max.
Forgive her.
| She has no discipline.
But he did telephone Hamburg.
| Do you happen to know the number also? How could we? He told us nothing.
He was entirely secretive.
(THROWS DOWN COINS) She tells me nothing, Max.
- She is deranged with grief.
| - So what was your last contact with him? Yesterday afternoon he calls me.
| I haven't heard him so excited for many years.
"I have been fishing," he said, "and I am happy.
| Stay awake.
I will be with you at 11.
" He never came.
- To life.
| - To life.
- Odd.
| - What is odd, Max? He asked for me.
Always Max.
He loved you, Max.
Like we all do.
He never asked for Hector.
| Never his postman.
Why not? That was always the procedure in the old days.
First the postman, then the vicar.
Why did he cut out Hector? - Hector was no good for him.
| - Oh? He told me, "Our good postman Hector is like the City banks.
"When it rains, he takes away the umbrella.
" Well, well.
It seems we've all betrayed him | somehow or another, doesn't it? - Not I, Max.
Never.
| - Really? But you had such good reasons, I'd have thought.
Envy.
Money.
A woman.
That is wicked talk, Max.
I never loved any woman like I loved Vladimir.
Not even her.
The Circus has no stake in this.
That's official.
He was shot and robbed.
End of story.
And I never came here, Mikhel.
You make the smallest fuss, we'll stop your subsidy for ever.
You'll have to RELY on the horses.
(MUSIC: BACH PRELUDE ON PIANO) (MUSIC HAS STOPPED) Oh, my Lord, yes.
(DOORBELL RINGS) (DOORBELL RINGS) George, old friend.
There you are! - Hello, Oliver.
| - Tried you earlier.
No answer.
In the neighbourhood.
Saw the light.
You got back all right, I trust? Where from, Oliver? Cleaning house? Late for that.
Um Got some bits for you.
I felt I owed you an apology.
| We parted on a sour note.
I was brusque.
Well, how are things? You are done? Finished? The Home Office rang me.
They've had the | pathologist's report.
The body may be released.
Early cremation recommended.
I thought perhaps if I gave you the name | of the firm handling things you could pass it on to those concerned.
- I'll get a pencil.
| - Unattributably, of course.
Who the devil's Olearius? A 17th-century explorer.
- Oh? Where did he explore? | - China.
- Good chap? | - Do you mind leaving that alone, Oliver? It's not mine and it's worth half | the Gross National Product.
- You were talking about undertakers.
| - Oh, yes.
Sutherland's the firm.
Local chap.
Heath Street.
Hampstead.
27.
Have you got that? Want me to repeat it? - I think I have it, thank you.
| - Now, George, we have a date, you and I.
A seminar on marriage with no holds barred.
I've cast you as my elder statesman here.
There's a very decent trattoria near me, and I shall treat you to a slap-up dinner | whilst you give me of your wisdom.
A Friday, say? All right, Friday? | Gives us the weekend to sleep it off.
Friday would be fine.
And you found nothing, hmm? No snags, hitches, loose ends? It was a storm in a tea cup, was it, | as we suspected? What about the phone bill? What phone bill? I asked you for a breakdown of traceable calls | from the Baltic Library and Vladimir's flat.
Oh, you mean these.
Yes, of course.
Reason I came.
Slipped my mind.
- Anything else? | - No, I don't think so, thank you.
Funny about children.
Beggars keep you awake when they're there.
When they're not, you can't sleep.
Don't you think you ought to try all the same? | You look whacked.
Yes, I suppose I am.
Busy day.
Well, cheerio, then.
I won't have a drink.
- Best to Ann.
Out, is she? | - Yes, she's out.
What, gallivanting? | Some woman's thing? Good works? You'll find plenty of cabs in the King's Road.
| Take care of yourself.
She never did that, you see.
Mine, not yours.
Never had any girlfriends.
I'd have a late session at the office, | Cabinet hoo-ha I'd come home | - Good night, Oliver.
(OTTO LEIPZIG) Kirov betrayed me in Tallinn | when we were students many years ago.
He thinks I don't know this.
| Now this fat pig spies for Moscow Centre.
Two nights ago, in my new apartment in Paris, | la rue du Bac, Kirov and I, we get real Russian drunk.
| You know, vodka, champagne, vodka.
And then he started talking.
"Who is this Karla?" I asked him.
"Is she beautiful? Shall we sleep with her?" He laughs at me.
He thinks I'm ignorant.
"Karla is not a woman!" he says.
| "Karla is a cover name for a man.
" Max, he is the most cunning fox | in the whole of Moscow Centre, this Karla.
(VLADIMIR) So listen, then! | Listen to how we know that Kirov is Karla's man.
(OTTO) Karla has asked him to find a girl.
One he can use, Max.
Max, help us.
Give us resources of the Circus.
| We return to Paris tonight.
And we find the girl.
| And the girl will lead us to Karla.
I know it.
And you, too.
I can read it in your face.
(SMILEY) I would need proof.
(MAN) Guten Abend.
Blaue Diamant.
| Guten Abend.
Blaue Diamant.
Guten Abend.
Blaue Diamant.
Antworten Sie, bitte.