03x06 - Episode 6

[bunniefuu]

The government has been threatened

with an act of extreme violence

targeted at 10 Downing Street.

Damocles was developed as

part of the Saladin programme.

We have to get what

Nate knows on record.

Listen to me. Ellie wants to help you.

You brought them here. They got

into your phone, you stupid b*tch.

Death merchant!

We believe these are

the parties responsible.

- Special bloody Forces?

- And he is the father of Polly Wright.

- He was a bloody fool to make it public.

- But a new Prime Minister

could take a firm position that

Saladin is an imperative asset.

Against my explicit directive,

Condor Aerotech paid the f*cking ransom.

A thumb drive was delivered

to our embassy in Shirasia.

For all Samir's promises, these

are plans for a fresh campaign.

I will not be forced to

choose between you or the job.

You cannot stare down

everything we're facing

and just say, "f*ck it, let's dance."

You told me your son was k*lled

in a live-fire training exercise.

- It was a Condor tank, wasn't it?

- Get out of my office.

Something's really filed

your teeth right down.

Hard to snarl with a gobful

of f*cking stumps, isn't it?

Argh!

Cry for help, try anything brave,

I sh**t you in the head, understand?

Sit.

Sit down.

- What do you want? What do you want?

- Sit.

You lost your boy. Dundrennan.

Is that why you aimed there?

- Salt in the wound?

- Salt in the wound?

Foreign Secretary approves arms sales.

Condor Aerotech arms sales.

Is that how you honour him?

Don't touch that.

How dare you talk to me about honour.

You steal, threaten, extort

I don't give a sh*t about the money.

Do you want it back? Huh?

Go on, take it.

We didn't pay you.

Never intended to.

It was Condor. Behind our back.

Who even runs this f*cking country?

If it isn't the money

what do you want?

I tried to tell you, in your

gleaming chariot, by the memorial.

Your pamphlets?

Against weapon sales?

But you're a mercenary.

I took whatever work I could after

It isn't hard for a man to lose his way.

Out in the Peninsula, we were

hired to train the Shirasians.

Condor a*tillery.

I saw the w*r crimes your

government shrugs off.

For convenience.

But you're not stupid, Sergeant.

- You know how the wheels turn.

- Oh, I do.

See, when I was a boy, my old

man took me to the memorial.

Taught me what it stood for.

Honour. Sacrifice.

The price of freedom.

Have you asked yourself if he'd

be proud of what you're doing?

What I ask myself is what the f*ck

that monument is doing in Whitehall

'cos the only sacrifice you're

willing to make is honour itself.

The only freedom that matters

to you lot is the free market.

All I did about it was

wave a few pamphlets.

You're right to sneer.

So was my daughter.

I'm sorry about what happened to her.

Sutherland happened to her.

Sutherland's government.

So you'll

blow up Downing Street?

No.

Roddy and Finn were right. I

I just want somebody better in it.

I want Sutherland out.

His resignation tomorrow morning.

His admission of guilt, of hypocrisy

of venality

of dishonour.

Or

Damocles comes home.

I appreciate everyone

attending at such short notice

and it goes without saying

everything that passes within

this room is strictly confidential.

I'd hate to send anyone

to the firing squad.

I've found myself

repeatedly in the Cobra room

contending with one

crisis after the other.

And it's become increasingly clear to me

that at the root of all these crises

is the leadership of

Robert Sutherland himself.

The Prime Minister's judgement

has been irrational and compromised

since his delinquent daughter stepped

off the plane to throw in her lot

with a group of eco-t*rrorists.

And who knows how long the PM's been

cavorting with his Chief of Staff.

Dysfunction at Downing

Street, upstairs and down.

On top of which, I'm informed

he's on the brink of trashing

our critical investment and

strategic relationship with Shirasia.

Abetted, I might interject,

by extremely poor

counsel from the Deputy PM

whose own judgement I

can no longer support.

The very fact that we're all

here, exiled from our offices,

is testimony to Robert Sutherland's

abdication of law and order.

The man's a busted flush.

And if we fail to act he's

going to cost all of us power.

So I am calling, without delay,

for a vote of no confidence.

We're reviewing and enhancing

all residential security.

Well, that is a comfort.

Obviously the threat from

Goddard and the Damocles weapon

remains at the highest level.

He gave no indication of target?

Only that it wouldn't be Downing Street.

And we can take this man at his word!

Well, strangely, I

think we probably can.

He seemed almost

pathological about honour.

Well, he's wounded and alone.

We have units continuing

to go door to door.

Then find him because I will not,

under any circumstances, be resigning.

Even with a g*n to your head.

They had g*ns, Anna. I

told you he was a spook.

Eleanor James looked

into it and found nothing.

Then maybe ask why

she didn't look harder.

You have to bring him

in before it's too late.

He had two armed men after him.

- How do you know it isn't already too late?

- I think he got away.

- About an hour after I saw him, he texted Ellie.

- Saying what?

- "You lying b*tch. You've f*cked me. You'll pay for this."

- Charming.

And she will. Unless

you bring Nate Stevens in

and make him tell the truth about

what really happened at Godley Common.

Why am I discovering that

Nate Stevens was a hired spy

through the efforts of a demoted

shadow minister and my own daughter

instead of from my head of intelligence?

I had suspicions that

I was investigating

but, in the absence of

any tangible evidence

Suspicions you thought better than

to share with your Prime Minister?

I thought it necessary

to tread carefully,

given your personal involvement

with the matter in hand.

So you doubt I'm rational?

- I did not say that.

- Defence of the realm is your remit, correct?

- Yes.

- So who do you imagine you're defending it from?

Or are you defending

something else altogether?

- Prime Minister, I have been

- Send him in.

- Good morning, Ben.

- Good morning.

I'm pleased to announce your promotion.

Eleanor is stepping down.

Effective immediately.

She will brief you

on her way out.

Understood, Prime Minister.

Thank you, sir.

- Are you going to tell me I was wrong?

- I can't tell you it was right.

But it has to be someone

you trust and who trusts you.

Yeah.

Anna.

We need to talk.

We will.

Ellie's on her way in.

Anna.

Robert

it's all right.

It's Polly's dad, isn't it?

He's why everyone round

here's sh1tting it.

- He's a very dangerous man.

- Wouldn't you be if I'd been k*lled?

Of course I would.

Why didn't you come to me sooner?

Tell me about Nate?

I didn't think you'd help.

Why?

Because it's been so long

since you did what was right

instead of what seemed

politically advantageous.

You know, I'm

I'm better than you think I am.

I hope so, Dad.

This is Robert Sutherland.

Well, well, well.

Ellie's explained your situation:

what you need, what you know.

I'm prepared to provide

the former for the latter.

And I'm supposed to believe

you're any more trustworthy

than your daughter?

Well, I give you my word.

And, at this point, I don't believe

you've any option but to take it.

I'm listening.

Seems like my career in public service

may have come to an end after all.

Why don't I come in and um

we can talk it over.

I was employed by

Rhombus Strategic Services

to infiltrate and report

on the activities of the Planet

Resistance protest movement.

I'd done similar work for Rhombus

numerous times previously with

activist groups

both here and abroad.

Once I'd been amongst Planet

Resistance for some time,

I was instructed to provoke a desire

to escalate from non-violent tactics.

My attempts to this end failed.

During the occupation of Godley Common

I was provided with a

small incendiary device

that was meant to

damage the boring machine.

But nobody was meant to die.

They said it would

just wreck the machine.

Like an act of reckless ecotage

just enough to smear Planet

Resistance as criminals -

not activists but guerrillas.

- I didn't know about it.

- The client.

Who was the client?

Rhombus employed you, Nathan,

but who employed Rhombus?

I was never told.

But who had the most to lose

from Planet Resistance

obstructing Ultraline?

And most to gain from making sure

they'd never be a problem again?

Dan Goddard is turning himself in.

Says he wants to return the weapon.

Assessment is his

injuries are likely fatal.

Armed units are responding

now to the given location.

Approaching target flat.

- Bathroom clear.

- Bedroom clear.

No sign of suspect. Weapon located.

Where is he? You said he

was turning himself in.

Get clear now!

There's been an

incident at Whitehall.

What?

Disposal entering the target flat.

Get back!

The mortar has fired. Repeat. The

Damocles weapon has discharged.

Halt! Hands, now! On the ground!

Ground! Now!

On the ground!

Still no target lock on the mortar.

Suspect has locked

himself to the memorial.

What the f*ck is he doing?

No weapons found.

What's the target?

- What is it?

- Mortar locked, sir. Travelling inbound.

Incoming. Repeat. Incoming.

Get the f*ck out of there now!

Run.

Clear the area! Clear the area!

It's confirmed,

no fatalities: except Goddard.

The press are expecting a statement.

What do they want me to say?

This was the action of a deranged

individual, hellbent on destruction.

His circumstances cannot be seen

as any mitigation for this outrage.

Robert, this was an act of terror -

plain and simple.

And most importantly

we'll rebuild it.

I'm going to cancel Saladin.

I can't stop Samir

invading the Peninsula

but I can make bloody sure we

don't supply the ammunition for it.

You can take a stand of strength

but if it looks like you're giving

Dan Goddard what he wanted

It's not about what he wanted.

It's about what I want.

- Last night

- We don't have to do this

No, but you're right.

About everything.

We are facing a storm on all fronts

and I am going to

reap every whirlwind.

But I can only do what's

right if I'm in power.

We just cannot afford

I know.

I know.

I love you, Anna.

I love you with every beat of my heart.

But I still cannot fight

without you by my side.

You'll never have to.

But this has to come first.

Sir Richard, you're fully aware

that I've devoted my career

to the security and

prosperity of our great country

and the armed forces has no

more dedicated advocate than me.

But the situation we now face is

nothing short of a national emergency.

The Prime Minister's judgement

and authority are bankrupt.

The vile attack on the

remembrance monument

says everything about

his total loss of control.

And it's vital you're aware

Sutherland intends to abandon Saladin,

to burn down our strategic relationship

with King Samir's new regime.

And on his current trajectory, I

see no way Sutherland will approve

the defence budget increases

I've been pushing for.

There's no question these

are unprecedented times.

Any threats to national security

must, of course, be contained.

Our thinking precisely.

The point is, the party will dither

over launching a no-confidence -

unless they know categorically

the PM's lost confidence

where it counts the most.

Particularly in the light of

the outrage at the memorial,

I'm certain those rumours that

the Prime Minister is reconsidering

the UK's defence strategy and supply

of arms to the Shirasian regime

are baseless.

After all, it would be a

demonstration of VERY weak leadership.

Despite the classified

military files discovered online

suggesting an aggressive Shirasian

escalation in the Peninsula?

There's no shortage of

disinformation, is there?

We're looking into the possibility

the files are a fabrication

- of the Peninsula Resistance Front.

- But

This country stands

steadfast with its allies.

And I can assure you the

Prime Minister understands

that is the position of his

government and his party.

Minister, are you intimating the issue

has potential for significant rebellion?

You've interviewed me enough

to know I'm a straight talker.

I don't intimate.

Despite Nathan Scott's insinuation

there's no evidence of

engagement with Rhombus Strategic.

But the internal communications

from Ultraline make it clear.

The company knew about the risks

of drilling through Godley Common.

Knew about the risks but

wanted to maximise profit

and avoid losing money by re-routing.

So they decided to chance it.

They were already way over budget

and the next government

bailout was contingent on them

completing the link

through Godley on schedule.

So all of the protestors

against the construction -

Planet Resistance, the

people of Godley Common

all along they were right.

OK. The entire Metro

Ultraline cancelled.

Whatever's already been built,

we convert to local links

but the plug gets pulled today.

Hand these documents

over to the enquiry.

Archie thinks there might

be some French interest

in funding the Teesside project.

We divert the Ultraline

budget, fill in the gap.

We have to be prepared

for Ultraline to litigate.

Oh, do we?

Let them try.

Civilians, leave the

area. Move, move, move!

- Yeah.

- Gents, this way.

Form up!

This area is under military control.

What's the meaning of this?

Answer me.

I'm told they're holding a vigil.

Vigil?

I didn't clear this.

Why wasn't I informed?

None of us were.

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Everything you've

abjectly proven you can't.

Bringing back order, the

rule of law, authority.

You've lost the faith of the

police, of our intelligence

and, on account of your handwringing

over Shirasia, the military.

The time has come, Prime

Minister, for a reckoning.

You are making a galactic

mistake, Victoria.

No.

You - all of you - have

made nothing but mistakes.

Those soldiers outside

aren't just on vigil

for a monument desecrated on your watch.

They're on guard for the restoration

of a leadership worth the name.

They won't be going

anywhere until that happens.

You are out of your f*cking mind.

Oh, shut up, you

sanctimonious little puppet.

We all now know how much

you like his hand up you.

- I am the Prime Minister of this country.

- Prime Minister in name only.

I've had the numbers for

a no-confidence vote

and it's a f*cking landslide.

Your legacy will be

wholesale humiliation.

Or, if you'd prefer

to cauterise the gash,

give this burnt-out old gasbag his

long overdue ticket to a care home -

make me your deputy.

Then resign and hand me the premiership.

There's no way back for you, Robert.

The only question is whether

you fall on your sword

with some illusion of dignity.

Or whether I pull the trigger

on the disgrace and

dishonour you deserve.

I've informed the aides you'll need

the podium outside No.10 tomorrow.

He's made a full deposition.

You shouldn't have

tried to k*ll him, Zelda.

Clear up the mess, you said.

I've drawn up a contract.

How do we firefight this?

How indeed.

You know, my job is

was - defence of the realm.

Yours too, once.

But I find myself questioning

whether Robert Sutherland's

recent decisions

have become a legitimate threat to it.

I knew we still saw eye to eye.

And he's the one staring down a P45.

You misunderstand, Zelda.

I'm not here 'cos I want a job with you.

I'm here 'cos I want my old

job - my real job - back.

So no more games.

You know what I need from you.

Who asked you to hire Nathan Scott?

Are you going to tear it all down?

This. Everything I've built.

It was meant to be a

smear not mass m*rder.

We don't have to do this.

I do.

And I'm doing it.

It's confirmed.

She's turned most of the party.

Got the gaggle riled.

She'd probably win a leadership vote.

I don't know how

What are the angles here?

- What can I do?

- I don't know.

If she's got the numbers, I don't know.

- We can't just surrender.

- It's checkmate.

The only question is whether you

take your piece off the board

- Or she snaps it in two.

- No.

She can force me out.

But I'm not handing over the keys.

- Eleanor James. Wait.

- Oh, Christ.

Come in. Now.

Two years ago, during

the solar-flare blackout,

four Planet Resistance activists

broke into a Condor Aerotech factory

and vandalised a fighter

jet in one of the hangars.

They waited to be arrested,

then plead in court they were acting

to prevent a greater

crime against humanity.

- And the jury acquitted them.

- Which stuck like a fish bone

in Gerald Kendrick's gullet.

Condor regarded the judgement as

an extremely dangerous precedent.

So, they enlisted

Rhombus Strategic Services

to destroy Planet Resistance.

Godley Common offered the opportunity.

We have Rhombus on the hook.

I didn't want to make further

moves without your instruction,

official or otherwise.

Victoria Dalton's going

to destroy this country.

What's left of what it stands

for, what it should stand for.

Maybe you're right.

Maybe she has already won.

But if I'm going

I'm pulling down some f*cking pillars.

But I can assure you,

I have every confidence

and, indeed, assurance

that this recent era of

turbulent and erratic government

will imminently be shifting towards

a stronger and more stable executive.

One which will ensure

the Saladin contract

with our friends in Shirasia

can proceed swiftly and unencumbered.

Which will support, unwaveringly,

the role of Condor Aerotech

at the global forefront

of the defence industry.

Prime Minister. This is

Unexpected?

Yes, I imagine it is.

Apologies for the interruption,

I have some pressing business

with your chief executive.

If you could give us the room, please.

Now.

- With respect, Prime Minister

- Let's not pretend

there's anything even

resembling respect here, Gerald.

Take a seat.

This

this isn't what it

It is.

No need to explain what it'll do to you.

The company may recover.

Companies like Condor are

like c*ck, after all.

But you'll be hearing

about it from a prison cell.

Do you actually believe

you'll be in power long enough

to do anything about this?

- You're already finished.

- You're all back to front, Gerald.

You don't need to worry about

what I'll do if I'm in power.

It's what I WON'T do.

If I'm dragged out of the

door of Downing Street today

I might just mislay that

on the desk of every major

news outlet in the country.

You think Victoria Dalton

could shield you from that?

And who do you think would shield you?

Oh, Gerald.

What do you imagine I have left to lose?

You said if you're in power

what you wouldn't do.

Look

so long as I'm Prime Minister

I could make sure that

never sees the light of day.

You stay comfortably behind

your desk, I behind mine.

Your support, your sponsorship,

of Victoria Dalton ends now.

Victoria Dalton ends now.

If you have any interest

whatsoever in self-preservation,

you will do your absolute utmost

to ensure I continue

to lead this country.

Because so long as I remain in power

you, Condor Aerotech,

the Saladin deal

all remain untouchable.

I didn't think you had it in you.

Well, Robert.

I assume you've come to the

right decision for the country.

I have.

Please

You've put me in a position

where I have no choice.

I've spoken with Archie.

He's agreed to relinquish his

role as deputy prime minister

and I have written a

letter of resignation.

"Owing to recent pressures,

I hereby inform you

that I shall be resigning

both from my post

and from politics permanently

to devote my time to my family.

Sincerely, Victoria Dalton"?

- Do you think this is funny?

- I assure you I'm taking it very seriously.

And accepting it with immediate effect.

The fact is the party will dither

over launching a no-confidence,

unless they know categorically

the PM's lost confidence

where it counts the most.

What the f*ck is this?

I have the whole conversation.

All the conversations.

I had a very informative

chat with Gerald Kendrick,

a b*stard, but a clever enough

b*stard to keep insurance.

And he's come to the view he's

backed the wrong horse, Victoria.

And you remember what it's

like when a horse takes a fall.

What does that even prove?

Nothing.

Just idle chatter.

Private chatter, recorded illegally.

Ah! I'm pleased you

brought up illegality.

Because you might recognise these.

Eleanor followed the money.

The slush funds, the

kickbacks, the off-shores.

Quite the retirement fund you were

getting for pushing through Saladin.

And for the web of

other Condor contracts

you were so very eager to champion.

The military are

withdrawing from Whitehall.

The Defence Chief of Staff

has tendered his resignation.

He thought that was preferable

to court-martial or prosecution.

Now tell me, what's your

preference, prosecution-wise?

Look, Robert

- I know I've been

- Corrupt?

Despicable?

Treasonous?

You're finished.

Out of Westminster for good.

And if I ever hear one negative comment

coming from your poisonous

mouth about my administration,

I will see to it that your venality

is broadcast in sky-high writing.

And when you clear out your desk

I suggest you find

some f*cking Sellotape.

Hey there, my pass isn't working.

Oh, that is awkward.

I might've known.

f*ck you, old man.

Arrivederci, Mottie.

Do you think this is over?

By no means.

"Sad fossil" I think you said.

"Gobful of stumps", wasn't it?

I am the full-fanged f*cking megalodon

of these black waters.

And wherever you go, whatever

you try to be, little minnow

best you skitter from my jaws

till the end of all time.

If you please, Officer,

toss this one back.

I can always find him if I'm peckish.

Robert, are you sure that

this is the right thing?

I have no choice.

I gave Kendrick my word.

So long as I'm Prime Minister

all of this stays buried.

And my word is my word.

You know what to do with this.

And, Anna whatever comes

I was only ever strong enough

for any of it

because of you.

Well, let's not get all sentimental.

Good afternoon.

It will have escaped no-one that

this has been a challenging time -

for the country and also for my family.

It has been the greatest

privilege of my life

to meet such challenges during

my time as Prime Minister

of this great nation.

But I believe the time is

right for me to stand down

from leadership of the

country and from my party.

I spoke to the King earlier and

informed him of my resignation.

Every departing Prime Minister

must leave with regrets

of work left undone

of promises unfulfilled.

He's f*cked me.

But the promise most

imperative to me right now

is to be the best father

I can be to my daughter,

a young woman of whom

I am immensely proud

and who has faced her

own share of challenges.

Archie Glover-Morgan will

lead in a caretaker capacity

until a new Prime Minister is selected.

Now I wish to give my thanks

to you, the British people.

It has been my honour to serve you

and I have sought to do

so, no less at this moment,

with honour.

Thank you.

In the aftermath of what

can only be described

as incendiary allegations,

I'm joined by Francine Bridge.

Allegations? Try revelations.

That an arms conglomerate and

a corporate intelligence firm

conspired to destroy a

peaceful protest movement,

orchestrating the catastrophe

at the village of Godley Common.

Planet Resistance have, of

course, been fully exonerated.

From what very nearly stood as a

monstrous miscarriage of justice.

I welcome the government's

decision to place under review,

and hopefully rescind,

the Civil Disturbance Bill,

which represents a naked

affront to democracy.

Speaking of democracy, will you

comment on the growing rumours

you now have your eyes firmly on

the leadership of the opposition?

My focus has always been the same:

on making this country

a better, fairer place.

Prime Minister, you're

due in the Cobra room

Instruct the Home Secretary

to chair, would you?

Certainly, sir.

- You did cauliflower cheese!

- Of course.

Mum said you'd bring out the big g*ns.

How is your mum?

Good. Yeah, she's um

she's joined a new chambers, so

- Rebuilding and all that.

- That's great. I'm really pleased for her.

Would you like a glass, Ellie?

They said in the shop this was

a particularly good Chilean.

Yes, please. I'd love some.

Good afternoon, sir. Go in, won't you.

Thank you.

This is unexpected, Prime Minister.

I do apologise for the intrusion,

but this won't wait.

Take a seat.

- Glass of wine?

- I don't drink on the job.

Any more.

Although

an Apalta Carmenere

maybe just a finger.

Thank you.

I'll keep this brief.

The odds are we're going to be facing

Francine Bridge across the floor.

She's fresh, hungry

dangerous.

No offence.

And the party needs a

leader with the proven stones

to take her on and

keep her out of power.

I don't want the job, Robert.

I'm too long in the tooth.

And the fact is there is nobody

better equipped for it than you.

Archie.

- I retired.

- That doesn't mean it's over.

Let's just say there's been

some corrective briefing

over the whole VD business

and a very substantial

number of colleagues

now realise the error

of their judgement.

If you toss your hat back in

the ring, you'd have the numbers.

And whatever your other

reasons for refusing may be

this shouldn't be one.

If you go in together, openly

you've nothing to hide any more.

Think about it.

Whatever your decision, I'll respect it.

Delicious.

I'll show myself out.

Let's have lunch.

Robert

did you have any inkling

that this might ?

For what it's worth

and I can't quite

believe I'm saying this

I'd vote for you.

f*ck it.

Let's dance.