Cobra (2020) s02e06 Episode Script

Water may douse the flames,
but who controls the water?
Think before you drink.
(GLASS BREAKING)
Francine Bridge made a
categoric statement that she
Well, to be fair,
it's probably cleaner
than the water where she comes from.
There's a Firestorm meme
doing the rounds.
Our candidate in Kent has retweeted it.
That tiger ride's going smoothly then.
You didn't put me in this seat
to fight clean
and you know it,
so stop being hypocrites.
I've been speaking to my equivalent
at the American Embassy.
The imagination boggles.
- What's he like?
- She!
Does anybody see what's happening here?
- We do see but
- It's one thing after another!
Death by a thousand cuts.
Justice.
(SCREAMING)
I mean, they're not even
asking for anything!
You asked me to come
and work for you once.
Come and work with me.
I've lost her loyalty.
She's a fucking mole.
- You're fired.
- No, I resign!
Cerberus. The multi-headed dog
that stands at the gates of Hell.
Get me the Prime Minister.
He's about to do the news conference.
Stop him.
Dostoevsky was held captive
in a rat-infested fortress
subjected to a mock execution
shipped off to a
brutal prison camp in Siberia,
with a sadistic maniac in charge
who lashed men
for sleeping on their wrong side
in bed.
There's a correct side?
Apparently Jesus
slept on his left.
Is it helping?
Not being Dostoevsky
(SIGHS)
Yes.
Cool.
Are you going to bed now? It's only
It doesn't make much difference,
to be honest.
OK. See you later.
Mmm.
(INHALES DEEPLY)
(NEWSREADER) As Government sources
dismiss press reports
of Robert Sutherland
being "burnt out",
the Prime Minister abandoned
a press conference
at Number 10 Downing Street.
They say he has been
suffering from dizziness
after a minor illness.
We believe that the Cerberus code
is part of a massive
critical infrastructure hit
of which the water supply in Kent
was just a starter.
They might come all at once
or in waves.
But we do know it's massive.
So we don't know
if Cerberus is the Chinese
or the Russians?
Well, like our own attacks
on the Iranians,
it could easily be a joint enterprise.
There are no identifiable
command call-backs
that we can find in the code.
Now, normally,
a virus would need to refer back
to a controller
who might tell it to start, stop,
destroy yourself.
But here there's nothing.
There may be no way of stopping it now.
- Fraser?
- So
we've ranked the targets
of a general
critical infrastructure attack
into a top five
but it's not exhaustive.
One
a few, or
all of these.
We can't sit around and do nothing.
They could bring down planes,
black out the entire country,
cripple the water supply.
They've already had a good go at that.
How do we end this?
In a face-saving way.
Increase our retaliations.
See, that is not going to work
Division 45 was created for
precisely that reason, wasn't it?
We've boasted about
our offensive capacities.
The Americans have made it very clear
that they are not going to help us.
So we do it without them
Well, I have to admit
when I was Home Secretary
I'd always have a bit of a snooze
when people banged on about
the danger of cyber-attacks.
- Sorry
- (CLEARS THROAT)
Is it a time for joking?
Um (CLEARS THROAT)
- In all fairness, Prime Minister
- I do not need
a translation service, thank you.
I've already sacked one traitor.
Anyone else considering
- acts of disloyalty
- Piffle!
Anna Marshall wasn't disloyal.
That's a category error, Robert,
which is frankly rather disappointing,
from a man who never
tires of reminding us
that he studied Philosophy at Balliol.
And don't give me
the Scottish stare either.
You're from Stirling!
Not Drumchapel.
I think it's a matter of record,
I never saw eye to eye
with Anna Marshall.
She's the kind of
ghastly liberal snob who thinks
her cleaning lady's a loyal friend,
rather than a reluctant wage slave.
Misplaced loyalty, yes,
unbearably sanctimonious,
Christ, yes!
But she was never disloyal.
I'm afraid, Prime Minister,
I'd have to agree with
the Foreign Secretary on that one.
The loyalty bit, anyway.
Not the cleaning ladies
For what it's worth.
Well, let me enlighten you
on that, Fraser.
It's worth nothing.
It looks as if all that's left
is to banish Kent to France.
Get a grip, man
(FOOTSTEPS)
(DOOR OPENING)
(DOOR SLAMS)
He's losing it.
You went in too hard.
Bugger that!
He's the bloody Prime Minister!
If he can't cut it,
he should make way for somebody who can.
(CLEARS THROAT) Well
as Home Secretary
I shall continue to
chair the meeting.
Protocol suggests you are correct.
Right. My top priority
- is to secure and protect
- (FADES OUT)
(KNOCKS)
(SIGHS)
Come to tell me you agree with them all?
No.
Good.
I need time to find
a replacement for Fraser.
You're not going to fire Fraser.
High Chaparall?
You remember it?
Linda Cristal played Victoria Cannon.
You're my new Chief-of-Staff.
No thanks.
Maybe I should reappoint Peter Mott
just to play
pointless games of one-upmanship
with Archie.
A tale told by an idiot all right.
You're angry because Archie
kicked your arse for a change
and I understand how that must hurt.
But I'm not here for chit-chat
or quotations.
My job is strictly National Security.
Would you like me to update you
on our strategy?
Oh we have a strategy? Oh good.
You have instructed me to be proactive.
I'm sorry, I
Yeah.
I'm just not used to people
carrying out my instructions anymore.
(DRINK BEING POURED)
Heracles.
Killed Cerberus.
Now we can run around
trying to protect everything
from power stations
to air traffic control centres
but in the end it's like chasing
a hundred cats at once.
If you do want to up the ante
don't bother with any more
symbolic targets.
You have to play very dirty.
With what?
With Heracles.
You know
characters from Greek mythology
are all very well and good
when it comes to scary
operational names but
It's a bit more than that.
It's malware designed
to confuse and disable
missile defence systems
around the world.
Cyber-war works like any other war:
it escalates,
very fast.
If the attack vectors
aren't controlled properly,
or if it extends
beyond the prime target
this war could escalate in ways
we can no longer contain.
Senior Cabinet sources
have muttered about instability
within the Sutherland cabinet
after the rumoured sacking
of his closest adviser, Anna Marshall.
This has still not been confirmed
by Downing Street.
Meanwhile, here in Kent,
the election remains on a knife-edge.
And Francine Bridge
accuses her Tory opponent
of trying to stoke a fake culture war
and Roger Hawkins continues to flirt
with the Firestorm conspiracy website.
Back to you in the studio.
It's all gotten very ugly.
Look.
(NEWS CONTINUES IN THE BACKGROUND)
Did Hawkins put this out?
I don't know if he printed them
but his people are distributing them.
Right, well, I'll speak to his people,
'cause I can't believe
they'll sanction this kind of stuff.
I can. It's more siren now
than dog-whistle.
(TELEVISION NOISE CONTINUES
IN THE BACKGROUND)
What's happening with Anna Marshall?
She resigned.
I heard she'd been fired.
- She resigned.
- Right.
The police have been in touch
with me about security.
Right. How many is it this time?
Rape or death or both?
God.
Two hundred and seventeen.
Four credible. One very credible.
A group calling themselves J23,
who have formed out of the remnants
of National Spirit, have sworn
to prevent Kent
from having a Black MP.
Of course they didn't
actually say 'Black'.
I can't stay at home
- while I'm in London.
- No, sure, sure.
We'll get you a flat.
I'm gonna stay with Anna.
It's two hours' drive
from the constituency.
Yeah, but what about the Press
I mean
I think we've got bigger things
to worry about, don't you?
("Lately" BY CELESTE & GOTTS STREET PARK
PLAYING)
(SATNAV) Your destination is
one point five
miles away.
At the next junction
turn right.
Turn right.
(MOTORBIKE REVVING)
(GASPS)
- (CAR HORNS BEEPING)
- (TIRES SCREECHING)
(GASPS, PANTS)
(GASPS)
- (SEATBELT CLICKS)
- (SHRIEKS)
(PANTING)
(EVERYTHING BECOMES MUFFLED)
- (WHIMPERING)
- (MAN) Are you alright?
(MUFFLED VOICES)
(VOICE MUFFLED BY HELMET)
Why did you run?
It's a one-way street, love.
You can't be turning the wrong way
down a one-way street.
Yeah, I know.
Well, why did you then?
My sat-nav
It-It told me
I know you!
No Hold on
Can I get a selfie?
Oh, no No
Hiya.
You alright, madam?
No. I've had an accident.
(NEWSREADER) Highways England
has issued an urgent traffic alert,
warning drivers that
accidents are occurring
due to faulty motorway ELS Satnav data.
Motorists are urged
not to begin any journey by road
until further notice (FADES OUT)
So, it's started.
It's bloody mayhem out there.
What's happening?
They've attacked the
traffic control system.
Including sat-nav apps.
People are getting
a tonne of misinformation.
There are accidents
across the major cities.
Also the motorways are gridlocked.
They've put up fake speed warnings
of 30 miles per hour.
That's about normal
for the M25 isn't it?
(MUTTERS) Funny if you're getting
cut out of your car
What?
Who are you?!
- I'm Audrey Hem
- No!
I don't actually care who you are.
She works with me, leave her alone.
Carry on then.
Traffic lights, control centres,
sat-navs, the works.
- We need to prioritise the motorways.
- Agreed.
But who knows what they'll target next.
In some places the tailbacks
are already so bad
that we are going to have to organise
emergency relief deliveries.
Also
this.
Firestorm symbols are everywhere.
Where's the PM?
I don't know. He was informed, so
- We need to act.
- I know.
So?
Are you going to get the ball rolling?
I am.
I thought he was going
to shoot me, Anna.
I'm not surprised.
He just took a photo.
Until that moment,
all the threats had just felt
a bit unreal.
Apparently all the navigation apps
are buggered.
People are driving into rivers
and the wrong way
down motorway slip roads.
I once did that once actually.
One of those mad loopy junctions
with an Odeon
and a Frankie and Bennie's.
(SIGHS)
Is that one of ours?
I've never seen that.
Has he?
I don't think so.
Even Robert
Oh, who knows
Obviously, it has to be you.
Obviously.
This is in the national interest.
We can't have an absentee
Prime Minister.
One hundred per cent agree, Joseph.
Tell me something I already know.
He's using you as a stalking horse
and then he'll step over
your twitching corpse.
The long and the short of it, Motty.
I wish you'd stop calling me "Motty".
Joseph Obasi is not an enigma at all.
He is simply a man who has one thing
and one thing only on his mind.
- There's nothing wrong with that.
- Nothing wrong with it at all.
I'm all in favour of ambition.
He's allowed to be ambitious.
Very liberal of you, Archie.
And he's right.
We can't have
an absentee Prime Minister.
OK, you go and find a peasant girl
with a low bodice and an inviting neck.
I've got some thinking to do.
My President is rather busy with
events in the South China Sea
And if we deploy Heracles,
how do you think that'll affect
his job down there?
Don't do it.
We have no choice.
We would find a move like that
very concerning.
Not as concerning as we found it
when a substantial part of the North Sea
landed on Kent.
Oh, I'm sorry
I forgot
You don't like it when
I mention that little gaffe, do you?
I'll speak to the President again.
Make sure he understands
exactly what's at stake.
People won't be happy.
Happiness is overrated.
(DOOR OPENING)
Quick word?
Are you prepared for this?
Yeah
'Cause, uh
we may have to go right to the brink.
And cold wars can very easily
become hot ones.
- Is it three hours or five?
- Is what?
The time difference with Santiago.
Five.
When the clocks go forward.
(PHONE DIALLING)
He's going downhill.
Obasi is on manoeuvres.
Well, he's the one leaking on Robert.
I know!
Robert thinks it's me.
His head's not with us.
We can't survive this,
if he's not on top of his game.
He can't even sort out
this shitshow in Kent.
Obasi can sort out Kent.
He's had enough of Hawkins.
I'm off to Pixie Hollow!
Good morning, Anna.
May I come in?
You don't like me, Anna.
That's not exactly true
I know what you're going
to say but I get it.
I'm not everybody's cappuccino.
I was going to say:
"That's not exactly true:
'I detest you'".
Good.
But that loathing
which I assure you
is entirely mutual
shouldn't be based
on incorrect assumptions.
One of which is that
my self-deprecating humour
betrays a lack of seriousness.
The other assumption is
that I don't care about my country.
- Not true.
- Get on with it,
you vile old crook.
Robert's in a bad place.
Since your departure,
the cyber threat to our nation
has intensified.
You have to come back.
- I can't.
- If you don't,
Obasi will move.
And I will be forced to move with him.
You don't want to move?
Who knows Robert best?
In politics I mean.
Me.
You.
And after you?
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
OK.
Go and talk to him.
He won't see me.
He'll see you.
(FRONT DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
Do you think it was easy
for me to come here?
What's that old Nazi doing here?
(WHEEZING CHUCKLE)
Just planning a bit of genocide!
(IN GERMAN ACCENT) Rude Millennials
first on the ze list, I'm afraid.
Carry on clicking, Comrade
Change.org will come.
It's a critical situation, Anna.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR SLAMS)
(NEWS REPORTER)
Earlier I spoke to Francine Bridge
about a controversial leaflet
circulating in her constituency.
I have never suggested that Kent
should pay reparations for slavery.
It's an absurd invention
which is being used by a renegade
Tory candidate
who is clearly aligning himself
to be used by the same forces
who are behind Firestorm.
And who do you think that is?
I've no idea.
But I call on Robert Sutherland
to do the right thing.
- Great to see you, Joseph.
- Yes.
Let me show you the, uh
You're doing door-to-door
canvassing in Medwick town
and surrounding areas?
That's right.
The less traditional areas.
Traditional. Right.
And what campaign material
are you using?
Uh the leafletters
have a new batch
No, that's not one of ours.
- Whose is it?
- Uh
Independents against
Have your team handed any out?
Not to the best of my knowledge.
Roger, it's a moot point
whether you're a Russian
or just a useful idiot.
Yet I have supported you
- when others have not.
- I know. And I'm very
But you seem to be under
a misconception which is
sadly common
that I will dismiss
any allegations of racism
as political correctness.
Or that I think there is no such thing
as structural discrimination.
For the record,
neither are true.
OK, look,
the very fact that
you're here, proves
The very fact that I'm here
proves that one of the holders
of the three great offices
of State has come to visit
so show some damn respect.
Respect works both ways, Joseph.
On reflection,
I think it would be better
if I return to London
and inform the Prime Minister
of what I have found here.
Yeah, send him.
Send him, send Archie,
send Malcolm X if you want.
He's unavailable,
due to being dead, you
total chump.
Because I am going to win this election
with or without the support
of the leadership
who no longer represent
true Conservatism
and takes the knee
to George Soros
and the like.
"And the like."
Of course.
Full House, Roger.
I've seen enough.
If we suspend him now
We don't have a candidate.
If I were a betting man
- Which you are.
- Which I am.
I would expect Firestorm
to support him now.
It's the perfect outcome.
One they possibly planned.
If we suspend him
doesn't that increase
his chances of winning?
Yes. And then we have to figure out
- whose victory would be
- Who would be the bigger arse-ache.
And I'd suggest it's not
an embittered and vengeful crank
crawling back to Westminster.
Worked for you.
In fairness, Archie does not serve
- the interests of a foreign power
- Who asked you?
And while I went to work for him
because the only other choice
was political oblivion
he is 100% committed
to keeping you in post.
Unless you make it impossible.
I was unaware there was
even a debate on the issue.
Might I make a suggestion,
Prime Minister?
Why are you calling me "Prime Minister"
instead of Robert all of a sudden?
You're the one who calls me Robert.
What are you up to?
My suggestion would be to find somebody
who can act as a clandestine link
between us and the opposition
- to lance this boil.
- No.
Someone who is close to Francine Bridge
- and the opposition.
- No!
Well, that's a terrible shame,
Prime Minister,
because I assumed
you hadn't got your head
completely stuck
in the soup tureen of paranoia
from which you've been guzzling of late.
This is the last fucking time, Archie!
I've already asked her along
for a meeting.
(DOOR OPENS)
Archie!
I thought we agreed
Rookie error.
You don't want it?
I wanted to give Robert
one last roll of the dice.
Hopefully it's worked.
You think he still has it in him?
We'll have to see won't we.
But when Robert's firing
on most cylinders,
I would put my money on him
before anybody else.
Which is what I did.
ANNA: I did not
advise Rachel to go away.
I made the wrong call on Hawkins.
You made a call.
Your reasons for doing so
were understan
- I made the wrong call.
- Yeah, OK, you did.
We've never fallen out.
Yes, you were very angry once
when I was voted onto the ball committee
and you came bottom
because nobody really knew who you were.
I loved you.
- I just never ever dared to say
- Robert
(SIGHS)
It doesn't matter now.
Would you like me
to talk to Francine about a meeting
- with the Leader of the Opposition?
- Yes.
And you should address the nation
on the threat we're under.
Time for honesty with the people.
You're good at that.
OK.
(SNIFFLES)
(SIGHS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
You need to stop watching
and start acting.
Make them stop,
or you will share in the disaster.
OK.
Interfering with missile defense systems
in the middle of a geopolitcal crisis,
isn't the solution.
No-one thinks we'll go
through with it, do they?
No.
They think your PM is
and I quote:
"a dying bee
"crawling towards oblivion".
A dying bee.
Maybe.
But make sure they know that's when
you're most likely to get stung.
If they don't push the kill switch,
by 3pm tomorrow,
we will activate Heracles
with consequences that will knock
everybody off their balance.
Our American friends have found out
the next big cyber-attack
will be the economy.
The banking system,
all financial transactions,
credit cards
- How do we?
- We don't.
The malware is already
buried in the system,
sending back reassuring data
while preparing its chaos
once they detonate.
(SIGHS)
And the same will be true across
our entire infrastructure system,
including nuclear power stations.
The Prime Minister is going
to address the nation.
Then what do we do?
Then we check our hand
and adopt our best poker face.
ROBERT: I am speaking to you today,
because of the very grave situation
in which the country finds itself.
Late last night,
the latest in a wave of
serious cyber-attacks
was launched on our country.
This one involves
the disruption of our financial systems
and was designed
to bring our economy to its knees.
I'm afraid to say that
no-one will be able to use
any kind of cards for purchases or
withdrawing cash
and our intelligence shows that
this situation
is only likely to worsen
in the coming days.
Now this could involve
an attack on our
critical infrastructure,
the like of which
we have never seen before
and which could result in
further loss of life
catastrophic impacts
on the vulnerable,
and indeed,
the destruction of our economy.
And it is my firm belief
that what began as
"Operation Ruin Britannia"
is now a joint operation
between two hostile nations.
Are you listening?
Does he sound like he's crawling
into the long grass to die?
Unless we have clear evidence
that the kill-switch has
been activated in Cerberus
by 3pm today,
we will go to a new level of conflict
with dire consequence for everyone.
Including you.
Clearly though,
these cyber and information attacks
are part of an overall assault
which includes
a campaign of misinformation
extending to my own family
alongside interference
in our political processes
that has led to a crisis of faith
in those whom you should most trust.
As a result, one of our most
distinguished judges
was brutally murdered.
And there are still,
according to the security services,
credible assassination threats
against senior politicians.
Now as of today
I have suspended the party membership
of our candidate in
the forthcoming Medwick by-election
because of his involvement
in the Firestorm platform
which I believe is being
supported by Russian
specialist cyber-units
and for distributing racist propaganda.
Now, it is too late for us
to nominate an alternative,
so I call upon you
to vote for any candidate
so long as they are wedded
to the principles of democracy
and the rule of law.
Lastly,
I have this to say
to those who seek to bring
our country to its knees
whether that be in Moscow,
Beijing
or the capital of any hostile nation.
We may not be
the power we once were,
and perhaps that is why
we have been chosen for this
demonstration of brute power.
But we have a history
of continuing the struggle
when the odds are against us.
And I will stop at nothing
to end this
unprecedented
and completely unprovoked attack
against our country.
Cyber-warfare
is still warfare.
Just because it takes place out of sight
and without explosions
does not mean that it does not cause
extraordinary suffering.
And we will defend ourselves
by any means necessary
just as we would
if we were being threatened
by nuclear weapons.
We will undertake a struggle
of Herculean proportions
to defend ourselves
as a sovereign nation state.
- Thank you.
- Prime Minister!
(PRESS CLAMOURING WITH QUESTIONS)
(LOW MURMOUR OF DISCUSSION)
If I could just have everyone's
attention for a moment?
In this rather unprecedented time,
I'd like to welcome
the Leader of the Opposition.
Very grateful, Robert.
That was an excellent speech by the way.
Thank you.
Nice to have you back, Francine.
Alright no need for that.
So how does this stop?
What do they want?
We don't know.
It looks like we've reached a point
where the war is almost running itself.
So what do we do?
We have an offensive cyber capacity.
It involves interference with
missile defence systems.
It was developed by Division 45
of the Cyber Unit
with other countries
including Israel.
But we have modified
its attack vectors.
Modified
We have made it more of a shotgun
than a precise weapon.
Why?
Because if we unleash it,
it will have two consequences.
First,
it could give off false
missile alerts
Well, that's quite dangerous, isn't it?
That is quite dangerous.
What's the second consequence?
If we release it somewhat wildly
then it could fall into the hands of
smaller fish.
It could start off that
inadvertent hot war
we've been warned so much about.
I think the days of suggesting
nuclear subs with no weapons are over.
And I think when the country
is under threat,
as it is,
it is the duty of any
reasonable opposition
to support the government in its task.
Thank you, Chris.
Anna will coordinate with your office
over that other small matter in Kent.
Unfortunately this new J23 group
have issued further threats
with regards to violent interventions
in the election.
We're increasing security
and I'll be briefing both of you
once our main problem is out of the way.
Watch out.
I may not give her back.
We'll see.
Obviously we wouldn't actually do it?
Release Heracles?
I have been asked before:
in the event of a nuclear attack
would I push the button.
And your answer is clearly
"yes", because
Well
That's how deterrents work.
Would you?
Would I push a button (SIGHS)
that incinerated millions of men,
women and children?
(SIGHS)
I'm afraid sighing
doesn't really cut it.
- Hegel
- No.
No, I don't think philosophy
There's always a place for philosophy.
And I think there's a
genuine dialectic
- when it comes to
- Would you push the button?
If you saw a nuclear missile
headed towards London?
(SIGHS)
You know what I'd do.
I'm heading over to Labour Party HQ
and then down to Kent with Francine.
But you'll come back.
What do you think?
Hi.
(KNOCKING)
They've detected the Cerberus virus
in a nuclear plant.
It's been lying dormant
and harvesting data.
When is our deadline?
Thirty minutes.
(LOW HUBBUB OF DISCUSSION)
Currency's taking a massive hit.
Stock exchange suspended.
No timestamping possible
on any transactions
makes it impossible.
We are heading for
total financial collapse.
You are aware of the risks?
This has the potential
to start World War Three.
It will destabilize
anti-missile defenses
around the globe.
How about the Americans?
Have we heard anything?
A sign of any sort?
Nothing.
So the idea is
to make it less of an election,
more a referendum on democracy.
Yep. Agree with that.
Tolerance.
Wishy-washy.
Well, we can toughen it up
but we need to make sure
you sound reasonable
next to Roger.
That shouldn't be too difficult.
What's wishy-washy about tolerance?
I'm just saying better words,
that's all.
Don't give yourself a hot flush.
- How many bloody times
- They're not a joke!
I know, I'm sorry.
Don't do it.
We need a signal, Kelly.
We need a sign!
This is not the time to light a fuse.
You're piling pressure on both players.
They have to send an immediate message
that it's over
or we go active.
(PHONE RINGING)
Yeah?
Thank you.
That was the Governor
of the Bank of England.
The pound is in total freefall
and all their systems
are compromised by Cerberus.
They can't do a thing.
We're heading for the buffers.
Stand by, Eleanor.
He said to stand by.
Well, go on then,
if you want to get past!
(MOTORBIKE ENGINE REVVING)
(HOLLOW THUD)
Did he just hit your car?!
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Activate Heracles.
Do it now.
Get out, get out, get out!
- What's going on?!
- Get out!
No, I know him! He's safe.
He's one of Eleanor's.
- Go, go!
- Get out, get out!
Miss, clear the vehicle!
- (DEVICE BEEPING)
- Go! Go!
- (BEEPS)
- Wait!
There's a change in the pattern.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Timestamping's back to normal!
The transactions are clearing again.
They've blinked.
There's a kill-switch.
(ALL SIGH WITH RELIEF)
(SIGHS)
(SIRENS WAILING)
(NEWSREADER) With both the US
and the Chinese fleets
pulling back from the brink
in the South China sea,
there are hopes that
the cyber threat to the UK
has also diminished.
The Prime Minister, Robert Sutherland
- had this to say earlier.
- Mum!
Assassinations
electoral interference
false alerts
and lastly,
an all-out cyber-attack.
(DRILL WHIRRING)
The aim?
To create such chaos
that it would destroy our democracy
and show the world what damage
can be inflicted
without the need for missiles.
I am pleased to tell you tonight
that the threat appears to have receded,
thanks to the efforts
of our own cyber defences.
We should be in no doubt however,
that there is no room for complacency.
For next time,
the consequences could be far worse.
Tonight, I must also express
my outrage at another terror attack
on a parliamentary candidate,
Francine Bridge,
who has fortunately survived
without major injury.
The life of my colleague and friend,
Anna Marshall, however,
hangs in the balance.
Anna
represents the best traditions
of our country,
tolerance,
decency,
and a desire to serve
the national interest.
I hope
you will hold her in your prayers,
as I do.