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Black Bag (2025)

Pop Goes the Weasel?! Thriller & Mystery Movie Collection.
(Psychological/Film Noir/Mystery/etc.)

Moderators: Maskath3, GabrielAlejo2341, sidolanters, Maskath3, GabrielAlejo2341, sidolanters

Black Bag (2025)

Post by bunniefuu »

(lively chatter)

GEORGE:

I'm here to see Mr. Meacham.

-(ice rattling)

-(lively chatter)

("Polyrhythmic"

by Phil Kieran playing)

(music continues louder

downstairs)

(music and chatter fade)

(siren wailing in distance)

MEACHAM:

You were right, George.

We have a traitor in the house.

There are five names on there.

Your wife's one of them.

Why is that?

You asked me

to look at everyone.

I looked.

She has the security clearance,

she has the motive,

and she has the capability.

I had to put her down.

How long do you think

you'll need?

Give me two weeks.

If Severus is deployed

as intended,

thousands of innocent people

will die.

Okay. One week.

If it is Kathryn, do you

really think you can do that?

How's Anna?

(inhales sharply)

Still mad.

-I'm sorry.

-I made a mistake, that's all.

She just can't let it go.

She will, eventually.

Yeah?

Some things really are best

swept under the rug.

I just wish

it wasn't so f*cking easy.

To cheat.

For us.

Mm.

Not everyone aspires to

your flagrant monogamy, George.

If you'd like Anna

to be less angry,

you might consider going home.

Good luck finding the rat.





-(steam hissing)

-(water bubbling)



I can feel

when you're watching me.

Sorry.

-(zipper zips)

-I like it.

GEORGE:

I understand this is not

the casual dinner you'd prefer.

Yeah. It's an unusual group.

Data scraper, two agents

and the in-house shrink.

What are we hunting this time?

Severus.

And you think

one of them took it?

Possibly.

Hmm.

It's been a while since

we had a traitor to dinner.

At least knowingly.

We shouldn't be discussing this.

No, probably not.

I would've thought

you'd start with polygraphs.

I wanted to try something

more elegant first.

What's on the menu?

Fun and games.

Will there be

a mess to clean up?

With any luck.

-They suit you.

-Mm.

No, you spent too much.

It's boring how much

you think about money.

It's terrifying

how much you don't.

Avoid the chana masala.

Contains a healthy amount

of DZM 5.

Darling, you may not

dose our guests.

One of them is a liar.

I want to know which.

I never thought

it would happen

With me and the girl

from Clapham

Out on the windy common

That night I ain't forgotten

When she dealt out

the rations

With some

or other passions...

-Matthew.

-Hello, sir.

I want to settle up

for the table by the door.

-Of course.

-And I'll have a double Jameson.

Straightaway, sir.

I know they're not

that much older, really,

but I kind of feel like

I'm going to my parents' house.

If-if they weren't divorced

and didn't hate each other.

STOKES:

Well, here's what I know.

You don't get invited

to dinner twice

if you say no the first time.

But why now?

With 24 hours' notice?

And why us?

We all work together.

Two couples in the same field.

It's not that much of a reach.

So you believe

this was just spontaneous?

I'm assuming so until I see

reason to believe otherwise.

You and Freddie sitting

across from each other

after what just happened?

That could be read

as provocative.

Freddie's fine.

Right?

(chuckles):

How should I know?

Ask the shrink.

Whose idea was it, do you think?

-George or Kathryn?

-STOKES and CLARISSA: George.

-Sorry, sorry. So sorry.

-For f*ck's sake, Freddie.

I mean, you booked the table.

You're the one that wanted

to meet beforehand.

I am absolutely at fault,

I admit it.

And Dr. Vaughan,

were she allowed to say so,

would claim

there's a certain hostility

in my chronic t*rd.

But in order

to make it up to you all,

I have paid the bill

and tipped like a gangster.

Oh, come on.

We are celebrating

James's well-deserved,

meteoric ascent

through the ranks.

Cheers.

-Shall we?

-Right.

Wait.

I was hoping for some pointers.

I mean, how shall I behave?

Praise his cooking, and

I promise all will be magical.

(doorbell rings)

-KATHRYN: Hello.

-FREDDIE: Kathryn.

-Hello.

-On time and everything.

-Come in.

-Thank you.

Oh, shall I take that?

No, I'll take it to the kitchen.

Come in.

Yes, it's cold, isn't it?

-(chuckles)

-Hello.

-Lovely to see you.

-All right.

-I should take your coat.

-Wow. -Thank you.

This is, um... beautiful.

(chuckles):

Oh, yeah.

The joys of

not having children, hey?

(Clarissa laughs)

-What would you like to drink?

-Rum.

-Rum.

-Mmm.

-'98 for the table.

-Right.

Oh, yes, lovely.

(chatter continues

in other room)

Should we get this over with?

I get it, why you went with him.

-Yes?

-James is the smart play.

Young, aggressive and--

How shall we say it?

Uncompromised.

I'd always hoped

it would be you.

I drink too much,

I f*ck too much,

and I owe more than I'm worth.

The pills are becoming

a problem as well.

I'm so glad I can

confide in you, George.

I need to change.

KATHRYN:

Oh, give them a break.

Most of NCSC is 25-year-olds.

They were just mucking around,

trying to zero-day

a central router.

They didn't know

they'd brick the whole system.

Wait. Syria 2012?

That was you?

-That was us?

-I don't know.

I don't work

on that side of the house.

That op was tight.

I've read that string.

It's a very sexy piece of code.

STOKES: Mm. It was all fine

till little Eddie Snowden

decided to call everybody out,

said it was a f*ck.

It shut Assad's a*s right down,

didn't it?

How many civilians died

as a result?

Greater good.

Yeah, I don't find

amorality attractive.

Then give up either your

profession or your sex life.

-I give it two weeks.

-(snickers)

Optimistic.

CLARISSA:

Did you get hell from oversight?

-Nothing I couldn't handle.

-Oh, please.

The committee f*cked with

Kathryn exactly once.

Half of them lost

their assignments.

'Cause that's what

bad b*tches do.

(polite chuckling)

Chana masala is fantastic,

by the way.

Absolutely delicious.

-ZOE: Mm.

-Thank you.

Come on.

Syria's hardly the worst thing

we've ever done.

I once outed my kid's teacher

as a pedophile

-just to get him fired.

-Oh. -(Clarissa laughs)

Figures.

Turns out the guy's

eight-year-old had a rash.

Guess he shouldn't have

emailed those pictures.

That is uniquely loathsome,

Freddie.

You hand me an angle, I play it.

New teacher gave Matty an "A."

-Don't f*ck with SIS dad.

-So we're all horrible people.

Is that what the point is here?

I prefer to say "complex."

And what's wrong with

"patriotic"?

Come on, most of us

are sick as sh*t.

Nobody can lay a glove

on Oedipus over there.

What, you all don't know

about that?

-Careful, Freddie.

-It's common knowledge.

Well, that's for him, not you.

It's all right.

But thank you, darling.

FREDDIE:

See?

-George can handle it.

-Handle what?

Little Georgie surveilled

his own father.

Ouch.

Oh, my.

FREDDIE:

Well...

(slurring): Daddy was

an inveterate cheater.

Rarely if ever kept it

in his pants.

But he was senior service,

and he was,

shall we say, careful.

When half your life's

in the black bag,

how's little civilian wifey

ever gonna have a prayer

of knowing where

you're sticking it?

-That's crass.

-So was Thomas Woodhouse.

And his boy didn't like that

one bit.

STOKES:

So what happened?

FREDDIE:

George got the goods on him.

On video.

Played the tape one

Sunday night at a family dinner

I would have paid money

to be present at.

George torched Daddy's marriage

and his career at the same time.

Who will ever hire a field op

who's bested by his own kid?

I don't like liars.

You are so rock and roll.

That must have been

deeply traumatic.

How old were you?

Thirty-seven.

Oh.

Did your father not know

what you do for a living?

KATHRYN:

Oh, no, he knew.

Thomas just thought

he was very good.

George was better.

I hear you've never been beaten

in the chair.

You're like some kind of legend.

Is it true?

No one can lie to you?

Better not to find out.

Well, when are you gonna

poly me, George?

Sorry.

FREDDIE:

Of course, what came after

can hardly be blamed on George.

KATHRYN:

I think that's enough.

The man had been depressed

for 30 years.

Freddie, it ends.

-Right now.

-CLARISSA: Shut the f*ck up

when you talk to people,

Freddie.

I have a game.

We go around the table and

each of us makes a resolution.

The way you might at New Year.

Some personal issue

that needs to be addressed.

"I resolve to quit smoking,"

for example.

FREDDIE: Oh, this is some

groundbreaking sh*t, George.

But we don't make

the resolution for ourselves.

We make it for the person

to our right.

STOKES:

I'm not sure that's a good idea.

I'm certain it's a terrible one.

FREDDIE:

Are you joking?

KATHRYN:

I don't believe he is.

-I'm in.

-I'm getting another bottle.

This is a new one.

Brand-new.

(laughter)

ZOE: Well, I wasn't aware

the agency would track that,

but I'll, um...

I'll keep it in mind.

Thank you, George.

So, when you say

"erotic fiction..."

Leave the poor woman alone.

I don't need defending.

I like a dirty story.

It's not a crime.

I believe it's my turn.

Yeah?

Okay.

"I resolve to--"

Wait, I'm speaking

in his voice, yeah?

Okay.

"I resolve to do my best

to finish second

whenever possible."

-(snickers)

-Or once, even.

Once would be

a refreshing change of pace.

-Sing it, sister.

-Trust me,

one day, you'll be thrilled

to finish at all.

CLARISSA: You are so

full of sh*t, Freddie.

Note taken.

You'll be begging me to stop.

Oh, what every woman longs for.

An endless, abrasive experience.

-(Stokes scoffs)

-Let's move on.

My turn.

This one's for you, right?

Okay.

"I resolve to figure out

this old man obsession of mine."

Oh.

I figured that one out

a long time ago, hon.

Young men bore the sh*t

out of me. (laughs)

I mean, you, you know,

you haven't done anything.

You haven't been anywhere.

All you want to do

is invite me over

to watch you play video games.

(Zoe laughs)

Oh, God.

Did I get that one right?

ZOE:

Second date:

Call of Duty: Pacific Theater.

-(laughter)

-KATHRYN: Well, this has been

-absolutely delightful.

-FREDDIE: I may be old

and wizened, but at least I know

how to book

a decent restaurant, Major.

-It's Colonel.

-Colonel Xbox.

-Okay.

-Major Minecraft.

f*cking hilarious sh*t, mate.

Promise you'll go down on him

while he plays Zelda

so he can die a happy

little soldier, won't you?

CLARISSA:

Shut the f*ck up, Freddie.

FREDDIE:

What is your problem tonight?

CLARISSA: You know,

the real problem with old men

is the miserable,

suffocating fear of death.

I mean, it's there, so...

so they can feel it,

and they are quite literally

pissing themselves with fear,

which I-I suppose explains

their pathetic, priapic lunging

at anything that moves.

I'm wondering if perhaps

you've had enough to drink.

But it's my turn now, right?

I get to speak

for Freddie now, right?

"I'm gonna stop f*cking her."

Well, I'm afraid I can't,

gorgeous.

I am powerless before you.

Not me.

Her.

Is this some sort of prank?

This is why you can't

date SIGINT.

They're all f*cking insane.

It would appear...

it would appear my young friend

and I might benefit

from a private conversation.

I'm not going anywhere.

I am...

You know, maybe on Monday,

the two of you

could find a few minutes

to come by my office.

We could sit down and then...

-I'm not going anywhere.

-My God, you are an infant.

-It's not the issue.

-You're psychotic.

Pathological.

I have indulged

your constant need for support

and encouragement

and reassurance

and f*cking paternal engagement

for a year and a half now,

and I'm sick

to f*cking death of it.

He left.

I'm so sorry

Daddy walked out the door,

probably because

he didn't love Mummy,

but maybe because

he became so hopelessly bored

with your needy,

constant demands

that he figured getting out

was better!

And that is a sh1tting tragedy,

but it happens.

It happens, and you move on!

That's what

a healthy human being does.

You are a perversion of

what a man is supposed to be.

-KATHRYN: Stop it.

-You are a diseased creature

who has spent

the last 20 years of her life

running in frantic circles,

trying to compensate

for a so-called tragedy

that is quite possibly

the most boring story ever told,

and I've had it with you.

I hate you.

I hate you so f*cking much!

I have slept with no one but you

for the past year and a half,

you sweet f*cking lunatic!

No one!

And, my God,

how I regret it now.

Get some help!

And stop spraying your sickness

on the rest of us,

on the loyal, faithful,

decent men

who have only tried to love you

as well and as truly

as they possibly could.

GEORGE:

The Zetter Hotel in Clerkenwell.

I beg your pardon?

That's the hotel you prefer.

Normally, Mondays and Thursdays,

easiest for you because

it's the department meetings

and you can slip away.

Your lover pays with

a credit card in her own name.

I assume you split it in cash,

but that's immaterial.

As is her name.

The junior suite with city view

is your favorite.

I don't like liars.

STOKES: f*cking hell!

Wait, don't move it.

Don't move it.

Don't f*cking move it!

-ZOE: Okay, I got it. I got it.

I got it. -That is the most

boring thing you've ever done.

-(laughing) -Hands down.

-Stay still. Stay still.

STOKES:

Look at me. Look at me.

-(Freddie laughing)

-All right, I'll swap you.

-ZOE: Okay.

-Give me the arm.

I wonder if it's possible

you went just a bit heavy

on the DZM 5.

I may well have.

Did you see

what you needed to see?

I don't know yet.

That was the rock.

Now I watch the ripples.

Leave the rest.

I will.

Just give me two minutes.

KATHRYN:

Leave it.

GEORGE:

I will.

KATHRYN:

What does it do?

What does what do?

KATHRYN:

Severus.

GEORGE: I'm afraid

that's in the black bag.

KATHRYN:

Want me to guess?

No.

Dirty tricks, malware,

meant to disable a government.

Why would you say that?

KATHRYN:

Hmm? Oh, Severus Alexander.

You know, the Roman emperor

whose, uh...

uh, assassination

led to 50 years of civil w*r.

If you like.

You know what I like. Hurry up.

George.

Sorry.

Come here.

If you were in a situation,

if you needed my help...

I do need your help.

Scratch my back.

-Wouldn't matter what it was...

-Please stop talking.

I would do anything for you.

Would you?

Yes.

Anything at all?

Yes.

Would you lie?

Yes. But never to you.

That's sweet.

Would you lie to me?

Only if I had to.

-Would you k*ll for me, George?

-Yes.

-Would you?

-Yes.



(sighs)

I'm going to bed.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Maybe this weekend?

Someplace nice.

Don't stay up too late.

(sighs)

(clears throat)

(sniffs)



The f*ck?

(gasps)

(grunting)

(grunting)

(gasps) Wait, wait, wait.

Phil? Phil?

(pours coffee)

I thought maybe a movie

this week.

Uh, I'm out of the country

Wednesday, back Thursday.

Maybe tomorrow, then.

Sure.

Is anything playing?

I hear Dark Windows is good.

Dark Windows.

Don't know that one.

Should we see it?

Love to.

Where are you off to

on Wednesday?

Black bag.

Right.



(quiet chatter)

George Woodhouse.

Forgot my badge.

Can I get a temporary?

Proper badge protocol

is essential, Mr. Woodhouse.

Never happen again.

-(quiet chatter)

-(phones ringing)

(door lock beeps)

-Great party.

-Glad you could make it.

Fingers still work.

Look, I know she's crazy

as a f*cking loon,

but she makes me happy.

My whole life,

all I've done is do for people,

Susan and the kids.

I get nothing but hate for it.

Clarissa expects

exactly nothing.

Okay.

You've heard about Meacham?

He's dead. Coronary.

-When?

-Last night.

-I just saw him.

-People always say that.

Little young for a

heart attack, don't you think?

Yes.

Do you know

what he was working on?

No.

I need to see Kathryn.

She's got Stieglitz in there.

You might want to...

STIEGLITZ:

...all here, the task at hand,

to fully express

those needs and desire to you

over the last month and a half.

But have I seen it? Do I...

Sorry to interrupt.

Why would your key be in my bag?

Found it on the closet floor

and thought it was yours.

They all look alike.

My bag's by the desk.

I need my key back by 1:00.

Two minutes.

You okay?

I just heard about Meacham.

Terrible.

Anything else?

-No.

-(door lock beeps)

Grab yourself something on

the way home, if you don't mind.

I might stop off at the lake.



(door lock beeps)



Zurich?

47.3701 north,

8.5411 east.

(door lock beeps)

Sorry. Running behind.

ZOE:

Mm-hmm.

Can you go a few minutes late?

If we don't do 45,

I can't clear the mandate.

Uh, I make that 2:06.

Fine.

(phone vibrates)

Uh, sleep remains inconsistent.

I take two-point-five to

three milligrams of lorazepam,

the first at 8:00,

the second at 11:00

and the third in the night.

After the first nightmare.

You're still having them

every night?

Yes.

Um... the herbal sleep A*DS

leave me groggy,

so I-I discontinued,

and zolpidem is at most

an every-other-day option.

More than point-five milligrams

two days in a row

produces unmotivated rage

the next morning.

And three or more days

in a row... (chuckles)

...things get even uglier.

What?

I just-- I-I think that's

an extremely careful report.

How so?

Uh, lorazepam

three milligrams or below,

zolpidem below

20 milligrams per month,

and the herbal, that's...

that's ashwagandha, right?

-Yes.

-Yeah. Yeah.

I think those amounts

and dosages

are just under

my reporting requirements.

And you know that.

And you feel it's duplicitous

for me to want to avoid

involvement in psych services

reporting chains?

As I said,

I-I think it's careful.

I'm the head of sig ops;

of course I'm careful.

Well, that's not the goal

in here.

The goal is

to satisfy the mandate

so I can get back to work.

Why on earth are you sleeping

with Ramrod Jimmy Stokes?

-He's beneath you.

-Let's keep this professional.

Professional?

You came to my home.

You drank, you ate,

you talked about your sex life.

What in God's name is

professional about that?

Maybe it was

an observational visit.

I've had it up to my eyeballs

being watched by

every single person around me.

Oh, yes, by all means,

write that one down.

Paranoid ideations.

Buy me another mandatory

six months.

You know, I always know

when you're arriving.

Because the aroma of hostility

wafts in ahead of you.

Oh, well, that's the first

interesting thing you've said.

How are things with George?

The other day,

Arthur Stieglitz told me

that my devotion to my marriage

is my professional weakness.

That my feelings for George

are a gaping wound

through which

any idiot can attack me.

He told me I want too much

and that I cannot have it all.

I'm going to have his job.

(chuckles):

You watch.

Is he right?

If a situation presents itself,

would you choose your marriage

over everything else?

I value loyalty.

To what?

You were raised Catholic,

weren't you?

Hmm? Mm.

Never mind. You were.

12 years at St. Anthony's

in Blackpool.

Yeah. Did they tell you

you were a bad little girl?

Oh, is that why

you like erotica?

Because it's naughty.

It's against the rules.

Says everything you can't.

Yeah. Oh, I bet you go

for dirty talk, too.

I'll report

you completed the session.

-You can go.

-Why?

This is just getting good.

Zoe Vaughan, nice Catholic girl

from the North,

just wants to help people,

wants to talk about

their problems.

Come on. Why us?

I'm curious about people.

And right now,

I'm curious about you.

(sighs softly)

Zolpidem.

After three days, you said

"things get even uglier."

-I get moods.

-What kind of moods?

-Dark.

-Suicidal?

No.

Panicked.

Over money still?

Despite all evidence

to the contrary?

Well, I'll not end up

like my mother.

That's the first interesting

thing you've said.





(reel clicking)

If Severus is deployed

as intended,

thousands of innocent people

will die.

When are you gonna

poly me, George?

(reel clicking)



(clicking continues)

sh*t.

Sorry.

I know I'm intruding.

A situation's come up

that I think falls

outside our usual

reporting parameters.

If you prefer,

we could use a SCIF.

Go on.

-It's awkward.

-Preamble noted.

Our financial people have been

working with HMRC,

running a sweep of banks

in tax haven countries.

They routinely run

ID scrapes past us

for non-insignificant balances,

in case one of

our persona IDs is used

to open an offshore account.

Never once has been.

This time, they got a hit.

What's the fake name?

"Margaret Langford."

DOB and name match

an SIS-generated passport

from 2008.

-Who registered it?

-Scrubbed in '09.

Search old case files

for the name and date of birth.

Also scrubbed.

She's a nonentity post-2009.

-Thumbprint?

-None required.

It was just before Phase II.

What bank holds the account?

Asia Trust & Capital.

Obscure choice.

It's what I would've picked.

Facial rec on surveillance cams

outside the bank

the day the account was opened.

That was eight months ago,

and Myanmar's non-co-op.

Sometimes if you know

who to ask...

If it's Myanmar, how do we know

about the account at all?

Well, somebody got jumpy

and transferred the money

out of there when it looked

like there'd be another coup.

We got a hit on the

incoming SWIFT at the new bank.

-Where?

-Raffenkalt/Suisse AG.

Zurich.

Zurich?

That mean something?

How much is in the account?

Seven million.

Pounds.

So one of our people stole

a straw man identity

and has been paid

seven million pounds under it.

Yes.

What?

"Margaret Langford" was used

a handful of times

by a SIGINT op in 2008

before discontinuance.

Used by whom?

Your wife.

I see.

I see.

As I said, I thought this was

outside our normal

reporting parameters.

-Who else knows?

-No one.

Leave it with me, please.

James.

Was the money deposited

in increments or lump sum?

Lump sum.

Someone sold something

extremely valuable.

WOMAN (on-screen):

Alice?

(suspenseful music playing

on-screen)

Alice, are you here?

Alice?

-(thump on-screen)

-(audience gasps, screams)

Richard, what are you doing?!

RICHARD (on-screen):

What? I just opened the door.

-Where's Monica?

-She's gone to get help.

-(bird screeching, dog barking)

-(audience gasps, screams)

(Richard and woman scream)

(Richard and woman laughing)

WOMAN (laughing):

You should've heard yourself.

RICHARD: I hate birds.

Give me the torch.

WOMAN:

I like the torch.

Use your phone.



Trout?

-Vendace.

-Oh.

-Been saving it.

-Delicious.

Is it a difficult catch?

Next to impossible.

When will you be back?

-Oh, tomorrow, late.

-(papers shuffling)

Don't wait up.

I hate the distance.

Well, we're pretty good at it.

It seems grotesque.

What's asked of a person.

(phone ringing and vibrating)

Oh, sh*t.

Bon voyage.

Or Gute Reise.

Love you.

(car door opens)

(car door closes)

("To Love" by Suki Waterhouse

playing over speakers)

To love, to love, to love

(dish clatters loudly)

(panting softly)

(whispers):

sh*t.

Oh, how lucky we are...

(gasps, sighs)

What the f*ck, George?!

Am I in trouble?

Not at all.

So what's up, man?

I understand, uh, you and

Freddie are still together.

Yeah.

Isn't that a bit awkward?

Because I pinned his hand

to the table with a steak knife?

That comes to mind.

He forgave me. I forgave him.

You know? The hand thing

kind of evened us out.

(chuckles):

Okay.

George, you come to

my apartment at 11:00 at night

asking about my relationship.

I'm not shocked, and I'm not

even sure I'm saying no,

but are you actually doing this?

Uh, no.

Then what do you want? (scoffs)

You have MOD imagery oversight

in Building 321

on one of the 64 eyes.

For a minute there,

I thought you were human.

I need a brief Keyhole redirect

tomorrow morning,

and it needs to be

un-logged and unrecorded.

I don't even think

that's possible.

It is.

There are brief periods

between satlink handovers

where a satellite could be used

for another purpose

without detection.

I've done it, in Ratcliffe.

But this one

has to be unofficial.

Why would I do

something like that?

I would consider myself

in your debt.

What does that get me?

Privacy.

I have personally never found

ecstasy use to be

a compromising factor.

But combined with

multiple sexual partners,

-(scoffs softly) -it would

be of issue, to Freddie.

His infidelity is one thing,

but yours...

Freddie's old-fashioned.

-You're a b*stard.

-It's important.

What if I love him?

Then you'll help me.

But does that matter to you?

You know, the human part.

Does that-- do you care

about that?

Who am I supposed to be with?

Tell me.

Sorry, uh, it seemed rhetorical.

(stammers)

I can't date outside.

They don't understand.

And I can't date inside

because we're all f*cking liars.

You know, professional ones

with a perfect excuse

every time.

"Well, where were you

last week?"

"Black bag."

"What did you do on Friday?"

"Black bag." (chuckles)

When you can lie

about everything,

when you can deny everything,

how do you tell the truth

about anything?

How does that work?

How can that possibly work?

I don't know.

But you do know.

You do know

because it works for you.

And you're the perfect

f*cking couple,

and everyone knows it,

so tell me.

Tell me how it works.

6:30 a.m. tomorrow.

A few minutes early to be safe.

Is there a secure view site?

There's a lookdown SCIF

off the main 64.

Good.

Thank you for the wine.

You didn't have to come at me

like that, you know.

I would've done it

for you anyway.







(door lock beeps)

Ready for some treason?

That isn't funny.

Sure it is.

Where are we looking?

-47.3701 north,

-(typing)

8.5411 east.

CLARISSA: Okay. There's only

one good option there.

Very masculine Milstar

satellite up at 938 miles.

Ops arc isn't used much.

It's over Liechtenstein.

It's that one. Second row down,

third from the right.

About to hand off to a Gaofen-4.

GEORGE:

How long will we have?

CLARISSA:

Three minutes, 20 seconds.

Does he miss anything?

The major? Never once.

Ready?

-Wait.

-George.

No, George, I'm naked out here.

Are we doing this or not?

Go.

Handoff.

Zurich?

What the hell's in Zurich?

GEORGE:

Move in.

Closer. Same coordinates.

Closer.

Nice bench. Are we done?

Wait.

They're late.



You are one naughty husband,

George.

You asked how it works.

To be with someone

in this business.

This is how.

You each know what you know,

and you know what you'll do,

and you never discuss

certain things again.

I watch her.

I assume she watches me.

If she's in trouble,

even of her own making,

I will do everything

in my power to extricate her.

No matter what that means.

You understand?

My God, that's so hot.

(chuckles)

That's how it works.

It's the only way.

Can you get any closer?

Facial rec?

(typing)

Nothing?

Give it a minute.

(Clarissa sighs)

GEORGE:

Kulikov.

-One minute.

-Hang on.

Trying something.

It's a lipreading AI.

Still in beta.

Audio coming.

KATHRYN (over speaker):

The money's in place.

Do your f*cking job,

and I'll release.

She isn't selling.

She's buying.

KULIKOV (over speaker):

It's a complicated situation.

14 seconds.

-KULIKOV: You need to think

about it. -(audio distorts)

-Get them back.

-Yeah, trying.

-I've got to let them go.

-Get them back!

I've got to let them go!

-sh*t.

-What?

It's not responding.

-Get rid of it.

-I don't know what--

I'm trying. I--

Why the--

sh*t!



CLARISSA:

Did he see?

I don't know. Did you record?

It's automatic.

Go into the root files

and delete.

Keystroke logs, too.

Yeah, well, I hope

you got what you wanted.

If I'm going down,

you're coming with me.

I'll keep that in mind.

(door lock beeps)

STOKES:

I don't understand.

ZOE:

Which part?

All of it.

James, come on. How old are you?

Come over here.

What?

Come over here.

It's not that kind of visit.

What kind of visit is it, then?

The kind where I say we're not

seeing each other anymore.

And why not again?

(scoffs softly)

Because I don't want to.

What about the times we had

our little sessions, over there?

-You wanted to then.

-Yeah.

And now I don't.

You see, this isn't normal.

The way you're doing this,

just so you know.

And what we did in here...

None of this is normal.

No, it isn't.

You're as sick as your patients.

Possibly.

But there's no law that says

that therapists can't have

issues of their own.

-Are you seeing someone else?

-Yes.

(scoffs) f*ck me, you're cold.

Yeah, a bit.

Yeah, you're even cold about

whether or not you're cold.

I'm gonna clear your mandate

permanently.

I'll tell psych services

to recommend a psychiatrist

for any prescriptive issues

you might have in the future.

I told you things.

All your thoughts and feelings

are confidential.

Our relationship can just...

Yeah, I don't give a sh*t

about the relationship.

I'm over it. I got something

else on the side, too.

I told you operational things.

Are you referring to Severus?

I was drunk as hell.

Anything you told me regarding

Severus is also privileged.

That's great.

'Cause it'd be a real drag

to have to k*ll you.

I've never appreciated

that sort of humor.

Yeah, and I never liked that

about you either.

You know what you could use

in here?

A velvet Jesus

with eyes that follow you.

-You'd like that, wouldn't you?

-(phone ringing and vibrating)

It's duty desk.

Go ahead.

Thanks, Mom.

Yes?

When?

How long?

I'll be right there.

I got to go.

I left some things

at your place.

They're in a pouch at the desk

under your name.

I left it there this morning.

This is the best breakup

I ever had.

Seriously, I enjoyed myself.

Take care, Zoe.

You're a f*cking piece of work.

The major called.

We've got a breach.

It's me. Don't be a d*ck.

Come on.

Jesus.

(dialing)

(sighs)

You'll want to know about this.



Oh, no, no, no.



All right.

Let's get started.

Ms. Childs, would you please?

ANGELA: Okay, so this is

Vadim Pavlichuk,

the dissident Russian general

under house arrest

in Liechtenstein

for the past six months.

Pavlichuk's been known to be

working with a network

of exiled militarists for the

overthrow of the Russian regime

due to its mismanagement

of the w*r.

We've had the house on lockdown

for 24 hours since he arrived.

If Pavlichuk made a move,

we wanted to know first.

He has now made a move.

These are the heat signatures

in the house at 6:31 a.m.

Central European Time.

Seven unique sigs.

We then lost signal

with the house

during a routine

satlink handover for about...

-Three minutes, 20 seconds.

-Thank you.

Three minutes, 20 seconds.

When we regained signal

and ran thermals again at 6:35,

this is what we see.

There are now only five.

For the last two hours,

we've been accounting for

all the individual sigs.

We got all five

as they came and went.

None of them were Pavlichuk.

So the son of a b*tch

is out, hmm?

STOKES:

How could that happen?

How would he know the exact

timing of a satlink handover?

Well, f*cking exactly.

How could he know

unless someone here told him?

We look away, he takes off.

It was an operation.

Very precise.

Hmm?

There is a stranger

in our house.

STOKES: Have we picked up

Pavlichuk since he left?

He's good.

He's hunched over

in a black van somewhere,

off to malefact.

ANGELA:

Uh, well, our assumption is

that his right-hand former

lieutenant Andrei Kulikov

is en route to pick him up now.

Their intentions are unclear.

Kulikov had a meeting with

an unknown party in Zurich

this morning, so we're waiting

on visuals for that.

STIEGLITZ:

Mm-hmm. Keep at it.

Should we... (clears throat)

Should we notify CIA?

Oh, f*ck them.

I'm sick of being treated

like an ATM for intel.

And I'm certainly not

showing them our dirty linens.

If there's a traitor

in the house,

I want to know who it is

before they do.

This stays in the room.

You said the major was, uh,

(clears throat)

aware of the redirect?

Yes. I got a signal alert

and called him.

-He already knew.

-Hmm.

Have him reassigned--

somewhere lovely, the Bahamas.

Tell him it's a promotion,

effective immediately.

He travels tomorrow.

Can I ask, strategically,

why do we care

that Pavlichuk is out?

S-6 and below, please clear.



(door opens)

(door closes)

Severus.

We believe Pavlichuk has been

given a physical copy.

That's why we watched him.

If Kulikov manages to get him

back into Moscow with it,

well... (chuckles)

Mr. Smalls,

educate our colleagues.

FREDDIE:

Severus is a Stuxnet polymorph

we developed with NSA.

It has to be

physically introduced

to a nuclear reactor

to get past an air gap.

But once it's in, it can target

and melt down the reactor core.

It was a CYBERCOM op.

Why the f*ck would we make that?

Theoreticals. Capabilities.

It shouldn't have left

the building.

And we realized,

if we can do it to them,

-once the thing is out there...

-They can do it to us.

It was a good idea.

Hmm?

A meltdown would cause

political havoc.

For an enemy involved

in an endless w*r

and a teetering government,

they'd run dear leader

out of Moscow on a rail.

We'd be rid of the prick

once and for all.

We didn't do it...

(chuckles)

...but it was a damn good idea.

FREDDIE: It would appear

someone here felt the same way.

Mm-hmm. And redirected the eye

so Pavlichuk could escape

with the drive.

He's on his way to Russia now

to initiate a meltdown,

and it'll be our g*dd*mn fault!

Find the leak.

Methods won't be questioned.



(door closes)

(indistinct announcements

over P.A.)



This can't be good.

It isn't.

George ordered the redirect.

I helped him do it.



(indistinct announcements

over P.A.)

KATHRYN:

Thanks.

FREDDIE:

Kathryn.

(sighs) Jesus, Freddie.

Got a minute?

KATHRYN:

Does anyone else know?

FREDDIE:

No.

-Can you trust Clarissa?

-Not particularly.

-To keep it to herself, I mean.

-I think so.

She's fond of George.

She's concerned.

Whatever operation he's running,

he's in a very leaky boat.

If Pavlichuk gets back

to Russia, it's on him.

He'd get 35 years.

Is there anything you can do?

How was Zurich?

It was pointless.

He had nothing.

I don't know why I was there.

I spent the rest of the day

chasing down Gunther at FIS,

but he was useless.

Do you have any idea why

George would be watching you?

None whatsoever.

All right.

You be ready in the morning.

I need a night to think.

FREDDIE:

Okay.

KATHRYN:

Just you and me.

Yes?

FREDDIE:

Of course.

I believe I've been set up.

I think I have been, too.

By Freddie, of all people.

Why?

Well, he's playing me.

He thinks I'll take action

to protect you.

And he's right.

I will k*ll for you, George.

You know that.

Freddie stole Severus.

Ah, maybe, maybe not.

It's not really about that

anymore, is it?

Somehow it's...

...it's about us.

There's a plan.

And a counterplan.

One is using you to get to me,

the other, me to get to you.

Well, what are we going to do

about that?

Disrupt.

All of it.

Bait someone into

an overreaction.

Will there be another mess

to clean up?

Only if we do it right.







Wish you'd called sooner.

I didn't really have any gear.

GEORGE:

Hop in.

STOKES:

Fishing's not really my thing.

GEORGE:

Patience. All you need.

We'll be back in plenty of time.

It's easier to think out here.

(door lock beeps)

I need something.

Geofencing on Andrei Kulikov.

Last known is Zurich.

I want a moving trace

on his cell,

and I want it to be un-logged.

I'm not going to prison

for you psychos.

Oh, you're too far in

to worry about that now,

don't you think?

f*cking made for each other.

(reel clicking)

I'd like to set up

a series of polygraphs.

Today.

The usual room at Vauxhall.

Who did you have in mind?

Freddie Smalls.

Clarissa Dubose.

Dr. Zoe Vaughan.

Why her?

Freddie saw her twice a week

for the past eight months.

Leakage.

And I've seen her, too.

I know.

Put yourself down as well.

Transparency.

Anyone else?

Not for the moment.

So, that Swiss banking issue.

STOKES: I'd been meaning

to follow up with you.

GEORGE:

Of course one's mind

goes to a possible

Severus connection.

GEORGE:

That had occurred to me.

Had it?

It would appear to be linked.

Have you shared your suspicions

with anyone else?

Of course not.

But you still feel certain

of the identity

of the person who opened

the offshore account?

No.

No, that's the thing.

That's why I'd been meaning

to follow up with you.

Oh.

"Margaret Langford."

The passport name

that Kathryn used in '08.

Turns out there was

some sort of glitch.

It was repeatedly recycled

by the system,

passed around SIS for a decade.

There's at least a dozen uses.

40 or 50 border records.

Seems odd you'd miss that.

Yes.

Yeah, I'm kicking myself.

It was sloppy.

The point is...

it could've been anyone.

We're no longer looking

at Kathryn.

"We"?

You and me.

-(reel spinning)

-Whoa, whoa! Wh-What do I do?

Let him run for a minute.

(busy chatter)

Americano for Emma.

Thank you.

Live cell zone lock.

That's the trace log-in.

He's moving.

(American accent):

What is this, my birthday?

Can you get it approved quickly?

To keep Severus

from getting out?

Speed of light.

I'll owe you.

Really, why do you care?

It's a private agenda.

That's not really an answer.

One of our people

is compromised.

Drone strike resets everything.

Just Kulikov or am I taking

anybody else out with him?

It's a gift from f*cking heaven.

-Do you want it or not?

-Yes, we want it.

I'm just getting my arms

around the global.

He's traveling across Poland

for the next three hours.

Don't wait.

(siren wailing in distance)

-(quiet chatter)

-(opera music playing)

(sighing)

WAITER:

This is ikizukuri.

STIEGLITZ:

Thank you, Jimmy.

(sets down chopsticks)

What do you want? Hmm?

Ikizukuri is ill*gal in the U.K.

If you don't mind,

I prefer to eat alone.

You know, I can't see

all the corners,

but I can tell the shape.

And this, all yours.

(chuckles softly)

What could you possibly be

talking about?

Oh, please.

Your operation stops.

Right now.

Mm.

You're a little late for that.

-Yeah?

-Mm.

Ask for the CIA drone logs

when you get back.

How many would

a meltdown have k*lled?

10,000? 20,000?

What did you do?

Hmm?

Canceled your op.

(opera music continues)



You stupid son of a b*tch.

You cannot imagine

the damage you just did.

Mm?

Now, I don't know

who you enlisted to help,

but George has got

his teeth in it now.

-Mm.

-Have you seen him

when his jaws lock on something?

You'll rip yourself apart

before he'll let go.

(groans softly)

Eat up.

This ends with someone

in the boot of a car.

(chopsticks clink on plate)

If we could make this quick.

-Shall we?

-Be my guest.

(air pumping)

(Freddie sighs)

Is today Friday?

Yes.

Do you reside

in the United Kingdom?

Yes.

Is Frederick Alan Smalls

your true legal name?

Yes.

GEORGE:

Did you masturbate this morning?

CLARISSA:

Oh, good.

The embarrassing

personal questions start early.

Yes or no

whenever possible, please.

You know, I've been

looking forward to this.

Did you masturbate this morning?

No.

Didn't have time.

Are you sitting down?

Yes.

Are the lights on in this room?

ZOE:

Yes.

GEORGE: Are you now

in the City of Westminster?

No.

Do you enjoy toast?

Very much.

Yes or no.

Yes.

GEORGE: Have you ever physically

assaulted a significant other

during an argument?

Girl, you know I have.

GEORGE:

Again, yes or no.

Yes.

Enthusiastically.

GEORGE:

Do you wear contact lenses?

STOKES:

Yes.

GEORGE:

Do you smoke cigarettes?

No.

Are you seated at the moment?

Yes.

GEORGE:

Is it morning or afternoon?

Afternoon.

Can we go back to the EPQs?

They're more fun.

GEORGE:

Is your mother's name Quiana?

Yes.

When did you first

become aware of Severus?

What's Severus?

GEORGE: Have you ever failed

to support any child of yours?

Uh...

only emotionally.

Yes or no.

Yes.

Were you resentful that I

passed you over for the CI job?

-I'm f*cking human.

-Yes or no.

Were you resentful that

I passed you over for the job?

Yes.

Did you steal Severus

as a means of getting even?

(chuckles)

No.

GEORGE: When did you first

become aware of Severus?

About two months ago.

GEORGE:

How did you become aware?

Professional restrictions

prevent me

from answering the question.

How did you become aware?

Same answer.

Did a patient divulge

the information to you?

Same answer.

GEORGE:

Outside of w*r,

have you ever k*lled

another person?

Define "w*r."

Declared or undeclared conflict

between the United Kingdom

and another country

or non-state actor.

No.

Outside of w*r,

have you ever been

in a sh**ting, knifing or fight

where someone was

seriously injured?

Yes.

GEORGE: Have you ever

betrayed your country?

No.

GEORGE:

What is your relationship

with Dr. Zoe Vaughan?

FREDDIE:

Patient and social acquaintance.

Would you like to take a break?

I'm good.

GEORGE:

Is your middle name Beatrice?

No.

Is your middle name Beatrice?

No.

(air pumping)

Please answer the question

truthfully.

Is your middle name Beatrice?

Yeah.

Are you tightening your a**l

sphincter muscle right now?

Yes.

Have you read

Physiological Stress Response

and Polygraph Deception

by Weymouth and Coombs?

Cover to cover.

Yes or no.

Yes.

Will you please release

your sphincter muscle?

Sure thing, George.

Who asked you to plant

the movie stub

-in the wastebasket

in my closet? -What?

No one.

GEORGE: How many people are you

personally connected with

who were aware of Severus?

That question is

inappropriately operational.

How many people

are you personally...

George, you're CI.

You know I can't answer that.

GEORGE:

Did you steal Severus?

No.

Did you steal Severus for money?

No.

Did you steal Severus

for ideology?

What ideology?

Did you steal Severus

because of your ideology?

The question assumes

I stole Severus.

True or false: There is no God.

False.

How many sexual partners

have you had

in the last three months?

Two.

GEORGE:

True or false:

The greater good outweighs

immediate legal

or ethical limits.

Impossible to answer

without specifics.

GEORGE: Do you think you're

smarter than most people?

Georgie, I know I am.

Yes or no.

Yes.

Would you like

to come for dinner

at our home tomorrow evening?

Huh?

I need your help individually

to figure something out.

Can you come?

Um... (chuckles)

Yeah, sure.

Well, I had so much fun

last time.

GEORGE:

Yes or no.

Is this an order?

We'll expect you at 8:00.

Wait, what the f*ck

did we just learn here?

See you tomorrow.

You okay?

Just nerves.

(sighs)

Only one thing left to learn.

Will it go there?

That's what scares me.

It should.

(sighs)

I haven't had

this much fun in years.

What's with

the command performance?

Come in.

Work or social?

Yes.

STOKES:

I thought it was just me.

CLARISSA:

We all did.

So where's this f*cking dinner?

-I didn't cook.

-We have a game.

Ah, sh*t. Really?

I don't think I'm willing

to submit to this.

And here's how it works.

We go around the table

and George will ask

each one of you a question.

And if you get it wrong,

you lose.

This is inappropriate.

And the loser

doesn't get up from the table.

-For f*ck's sake.

-Are you out of your mind?

The two of you, I swear to God.

-I'm leaving.

-Sit down.

FREDDIE: You are cordially

invited to an evening

of fun and games

with George and Kathryn.

That's a new rug.

KATHRYN: Anyone who'd prefer

to answer the questions

in front of an OSRAC committee

is free to go.

Why is there a new rug?

You're disturbed. All of you.

Do you realize that?

You're sick!

I mean, you just f*ck

each other, literally,

and back and forth

and back and forth.

Is there one normal person

inside that

entire f*cking building?

Fine!

I've got nothing to hide.

Then we'll start with you.

When did you first

sleep with Freddie?

Oh, that's just gross.

Sick.

My apologies.

That was ungentlemanly

but necessary.

Dr. Vaughan is the woman

Freddie's been meeting

at the Zetter Hotel

in Clerkenwell.

FREDDIE:

You m*therf*cker.

ZOE:

Seven or eight weeks ago.

-GEORGE: Thank you.

-STOKES: Is that a joke?

With him? Why?

GEORGE:

Manipulation.

She thought she'd need

something from him eventually.

Ah, come on. Don't be a prick.

Isn't it just possible...

No, it isn't.

He's right.

GEORGE: After the redirect

was discovered,

you alerted Dr. Vaughan,

didn't you?

Yes, that's right.

You'll want to know about this.

I need you to do something.

I am putty in your hands.

What is it?

KATHRYN: So, you told me

about the redirect,

knowing that I would take

action to cover for George.

He's traveling across Poland

for the next three hours.

Don't wait.



Yes.

GEORGE:

Clarissa.

What the f*ck do you want?

Only to congratulate you.

You're the best manipulator

of the polygraph I've ever seen.

-I didn't lie.

-I know.

You didn't need to.

You had nothing to do

with any of it.

Was it your idea to plant

the movie ticket so I'd find it

or someone else's?

What movie ticket?

Did catch my eye.

Not so hard to do,

given my profession.

The hell are you

talking about, George?

Was Stieglitz the one

who came to you with the idea

of stealing Severus?

That would make the most sense.

To destabilize Moscow,

to implicate Kathryn,

who threatened Stieglitz,

and to move me out of your way.

Three birds, one stone.

Somehow, you removed

the Severus malware

from the building.

But you got excited

about your plan,

you drank too much

and told Dr. Vaughan about it.

What you didn't know

is how profound

her religious beliefs are.

STOKES:

You're turning on me

to cover up

your own treasonous actions.

GEORGE: The kind of beliefs

that would not permit her

to allow the deaths of tens

of thousands in a meltdown.

STOKES:

This is a fantasy.

This is all one of

his f*cking fantasies.

It's why I had

a hard time at first.

It wasn't one plan,

you see, it was two.

Separate but interlocking.

Working for and against

each other.

You manipulated me

so Pavlichuk could escape.

And you and Freddie

did the same with Kathryn

so she would have him k*lled

to bail me out.

Causa et effectus.

Isn't that right?

You two make it almost easy.

The only thing you give a sh*t

about is each other.

For the record, I knew.

I did it anyway

because it needed doing.

And you had me lured to Zurich.

I thought I was

buying back Severus,

but you made it look like

I was selling.

GEORGE: You opened the account

in Myanmar yourself,

didn't you?

This is all conjecture.

GEORGE:

Turns out

Myanmar does cooperate.

You just have to know

who to ask.

Razman still owes me.

(Zoe gasps)

Severus was a good plan.

I'd do it again,

ten times out of ten.

It was a decent frame,

and it would have ended

the f*cking w*r!

It was right, it was brave,

and it was noble.

Which one was the reason

you k*lled Meacham?

Because it was right

or because it was noble?

Because it was necessary.

I never told you all

the name of the game.

What's the game, Kathryn?

"See Who Picks Up the g*n."

-(g*n racks)

-For f*ck's sake.

Come on, George.

What? You take me out

in handcuffs,

you say your bit,

I say mine, then what?

You still go down.

Maybe she doesn't, but you will.

You got nothing-- nothing hard.

You got suspicions,

hearsay and pillow talk.

And, you know,

your recorded confession.

Shall we discuss the terms

of your surrender?

STOKES:

You're bluffing.

You should've k*lled me

on the boat, George.

-(two g*nshots)

-(shells clatter on floor)

(Zoe gasping)

(Kathryn sighs)

Now, I don't mind

what you two did.

You saved lives.

But don't ever f*ck

with my marriage again.

ZOE (softly):

Okay.

(Kathryn sighs)

GEORGE:

Freddie. Table.

FREDDIE:

Darling, we need the rug.

(panting)





(scanner beeps)

-(elevator bell chimes)

-AUTOMATED VOICE: Ninth floor.

Doors opening.



-(button beeps)

-Lift going down.

Doors closing.

Terrible about Stokes.

-So strange.

-Mm.

Disappearing like that.

It's a very dangerous

line of work.

Mm, I'll say.

Given all you've accomplished,

maybe it's time to consider

stepping away, Arthur.

Feet first.

-(elevator bell chimes)

-AUTOMATED VOICE: Second floor.

Doors opening.

Any way you like.

AUTOMATED VOICE:

Lift going down.

GEORGE:

He's completely rattled.

Fantastic.

He won't be able to sleep

for a whole month.

He wasn't rattled.

He took credit

for the whole thing.

The CIA is lap dancing

all over him.

It's a fiction.

He won't be able

to keep it up forever.

And Stieglitz bores me.

Let's... let's talk about you.

Why didn't you just ask me

about the movie ticket?

Hmm? See if I was lying?

Faith.

You'd never be that sloppy.

A movie stub. Please.

Well, exactly.

It's almost insulting.

-I knew you'd never lie to me.

-Only if I had to.

Obviously.

(Kathryn gasps)

One thing.

The, uh, seven million pounds

Stokes put into

the Swiss bank account?

Still there.

Oh. Is it?

(music ends)