07x05 - On the Brink

[bunniefuu]

We recently uncovered
a man we misplaced in Moscow.

Oscar is dead. I know he's dead.

I've missed you. I have to go.

There is someone who was working
with Hugo Prince at the time.

Connie. You and he were
quite close, weren't you?

Hardly knew him. Somebody has been
talking to the Russians.

The Kremlin is attempting
to destabilise this country,

which is a stepping stone
on Russia's path

towards becoming the world's
first energy superpower.

'The Bank of England
has today ceased to prop up
the financial markets,

'sparking fears the reserves
have reached a critical low.

'Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Gillian Calderwood,

'defended Britain's
financial prospects.'

'I believe Britain
is weathering the storm.

'The worst of the credit crunch
is now behind us.

'There are no more losses to uncover,
no more grounds for runs on banks.

'So my message to the British public
is to have confidence in us
and confidence in themselves.

'Together, we are putting Britain
back on track.'

'The spectre of rising inflation
is haunting the world's
leading economists.'

'Companies that sent out
a consumer consensus say
that confidence is weak,

'and there have been some statistics
showing that spending
in the capital is now weak.'

'Economic growth is slowing, fears
of stagflation, stagnant growth

'combined with accelerating
inflation...'

'Inflation is now well above
the Government's target of just 2%.'

Chancellor, you've met
Francis Denham,
Chairman of Highland Life Bank.

Chancellor. Thanks.

The reason we've asked you
here today

is this man. Alexis Meynell, one of
the richest financiers in the world.

City legend is he made his first
big deal with a huge bet against
airline stocks, the morning of 9/11.

As the second plane
ploughed into its target,
Meynell made £15 billion.

Since then, he's become the world's
biggest financial vulture.

If an economy is weak,
he preys on it.

'Higher inflation
means bigger bills.'

'The banks have made
unwise lending decisions
that were taken overseas...'

'..the downward part
of that boom-bust cycle

'that we can expect to see...'

His method is to start runs
on banks, spreading rumours

that a bank's in trouble, causing
depositors to withdraw their money.

He then places a bet
that the value of the bank's
share price will collapse.

While others lose everything,
he walks away with millions.

Insider trading. On a vast scale.

We know his target's Francis's bank,
Highland Life.

But he's too clever
to leave a trail of evidence.

So I've sent my section chief,
undercover, to find some.

'..that's leading the fall in
the housing and property prices,

'which makes us all feel
a lot poorer.

Minister, this man is dangerous.

Meynell's bully tactics could cause
the whole economy to collapse.

Now he's here. No mobiles, please.

'It's the end of a super pool
that has lasted since the end
of the Second World w*r.'

We need you to do exactly as we say.

You need to freeze Meynell's assets
before he tries anything.

I can't, without hard evidence.

This is the worst crisis
for 80 years.

If Meynell starts a run on Highland
Life or any other bank, millions
of people will lose everything.

I really think this is a...
Minister, my bank holds a million
and a half mortgages,

two million savings accounts.
I can't let Meynell threaten those.

We'll get you the evidence,
but you'll have to freeze
Meynell's assets.

Jenny Hunter. Chandler Rouse.

Meynell is obsessively cautious.

But we were able to turn
one of his managers.

Soon after that, Asset called
to say that he needed to meet.
We never saw him alive again.

Your office
always sends me Helen Webster.

Helen had to take personal leave,
but she's passed me the file

and I'm fully up to date
with your tax situation.

Asa...Get Miss Hunter a desk.

This belongs to us.
We see everything
that goes in or out on it.

All UK tax issues
are your responsibility.

Any questions, don't talk to
the other managers, come straight to
me or Alexis. Glad to be on board.

Yeah...

He burnt out.

Asa, check Miss Hunter's credentials.

Meynell doesn't allow
mobile phones in his office.

We've had to improvise a way
of getting information in and out.

Take care, Francis.

Thanks, Harry.
I knew I could count on you.

We'll work this out.

It's time.

Can I get some coffee? Sure.

A double macchiato with skimmed milk
and a shot of hazelnut syrup.

Ben got a coded alert from Ros.
Meynell's about to do something.
This is it.

He's released a rumour
to unsettle the market.

Tell Gillian Calderwood
we'll find proof it's him.

'One of the High Street's
leading banks is rumoured to be
on the brink of collapse.

'City workers arrived
at their desks this morning
to find an anonymous email...'

Minister, Lucas North. I assume
you've seen the latest?

Yes. And I have Francis Denham
with me.

We've just issued a statement
denying the rumour.

Classic Meynell. Anonymous e-mail
containing untraceable allegations
against a major bank.

If you can steady the City's nerves,
our officer will prove
that this is sabotage.

She'd better hurry. In 10 minutes,
the market will go haywire.

We've got to freeze his assets. Jo,
I need you to get a message to Ros.

We need proof that that e-mail
came from Meynell - now.

What do you mean, you've frozen
all account transfers?

Everything I have is with you.
You must let me!

'The chairman Sir Francis Denham
joined the Treasury

'in condemning the anonymous
e-mail rumours as malicious lies.

'He insisted his bank was not hiding
bad debts or sub prime losses
and remained in good health.'

Thanks.

OK, everybody, here we go.

- 'One of the High Street banks is
on the brink of collapse.'
- Highland Life is dropping.

'City workers arrived
at their desks this morning...'

Chancellor, my officer is working to
prove that Meynell is launching

these rumours, but you must deal
with what's happening now.

He's right.
We know what he's trying to do.

You have to calm the market, show
some confidence in Highland Life.

We need 10 billion to show
the market the economy's too strong
to be hurt by rumours.

The Treasury lent 150 billion to
High Street banks this year. Anything
more, we'll be shutting schools.

You have to do this, Chancellor.
It'll cost 10 times as much
if the bank collapses.

There's no other way, Gillian,
you have to step in.

Come on.

Do something!

Every penny I've saved
is with Highland Life. I'm done for.

You're doing
the right thing, Gillian.

'Unexpected relief for Highland Life
shareholders today with the surprise

'announcement that the Treasury is to
back confidence in the troubled bank
with an extra £10 billion.

'The Treasury are attempting to
quell rumours that Highland Life are
sitting on huge undeclared debts.'

Those b*stards.

Francis Denham, you have friends
in high places.

Excuse me, Alexis, I need you
to sign this authorisation
so I can put together the return.

I'm assuming we don't share
the Government's confidence

that Highland Life's troubles
are rumours?

We don't, and we're right.

But if they're willing to match us,
we'll have to re-think.

We've already put 8 billion
into this. We didn't think
they'd stretch to that.

If you're sure Highland Life's
in trouble, it doesn't matter
how far they go.

They can't lie to the market
indefinitely.

My thought exactly.

Double our position.

We can't do that! You heard me.

They're willing to go to 10, we go
to 16. They go to 16, we go to 32.

We don't stop until they run out!

If the price keeps recovering,
we are destroyed!

Come on, Asa,
where are your ba*ls, eh?

Where are all your ba*ls?

Now, this is what we do.

We are the forces
that drive this market.

This is us versus the establishment.
Our truth versus their lies!

Yes?

Put me through to the brokers.

Alexis would like you to double
our position against Highland Life.

That's right, 16 billion.

Just do it, please.

'House prices could tumble
by as much as a third.'

'A hundred, or even
two hundred billion.'

What's happening now? The price
is crashing! This is him again.

This is Meynell trying to show
he's big enough to move the market.

But you have to match him.

The only way to stop this
is to show you're not scared.
You can't back down.

Not now we've come this far.

Gillian?

I'm sorry, Francis.
There's nothing left.

You're abandoning me?

I can suspend trading in
Highland Life shares for 24 hours.

The whole thing will start again
tomorrow. My bank will be ruined.

There's nothing else I can do.
I simply don't have the money.

Now, we wait.

'Fresh concern for
the two million homeowners
with Highland Life mortgages,

'with news that the Government
has suspended trading shares
in the troubled bank.'

Comes to something when you leave
for work in the morning

after 30 years in the service
and find yourself manhandled back
by your own side.

If I suspect you of being part
of a possible security breach...

Security breach?! ..then I have
to exclude you from the grid and
deny you access to communication.

Let's let them get on with
their job. I think we both know
the outcome we're hoping for.

So far, everything
about her seems fine.

She's got glowing references
wherever she's been.

Almost too perfect.

So...where were you
before Chandler Rouse?

Different places. I spent quite
a long time in the Cayman Islands.

The Caymans? Then you must have
come across Freddie Vincent -
of the Equity Partnership?

Oh, yeah, everybody knows Freddie.
Great, why don't I e-mail him?

I think he's in town. He's due
at an event I'm holding later.

If you wanted to catch up with him,
you could come too. Alexis?

Yes?

Sounds lovely. Why don't you see
if his partner's around?

Alexis! They've blinked!

Quickly, turn it up.

'It seems that despite their wish
not to be dictated to by what
one insider described

'as false and malicious
rumour-mongering,
the Treasury decided

'it had no option except to freeze
all trading on the bank's shares.

'This can only be
a temporary measure.

'Pressure remains on Highland Life
to open its accounts and prove that
it's not hiding undisclosed losses.

'That pressure will intensify
once trading resumes
in its shares tomorrow morning.'

So...we were right.

Yes. But I didn't have to put
eight billion on it.

All right, playtime's over.
Let's get back to work.

Alexis? You forgot this.

Where are you going? Guilty habit.

I'll come too.

Only be a minute.

METAL DETECTOR BLEEPS

It's these earrings.

'The Governor of the Bank of England
wrote to the Chancellor,

'explaining why inflation is so high
and what's being done about it.'

She's got Meynell with her, we'll
have to improvise. So what's next?

We settle up, or stay in and hope
the price keeps falling?

I've got them in sight.

You're very inquisitive, aren't you?

I am about tax, yes.

Well, what happens next

is that we watch
Gillian Calderwood wriggle.

Allow me.

So you don't mind if Highland Life
collapses, taking half
the banking system with it?

Are you seriously asking me to
feel sorry for a politician who'd
sell us all for a thousand votes?

For fat cat board members
raking in enormous salaries
for doing absolutely nothing?

Ah! It's empty.

I never drop litter.

She's made the drop.

What's Francis Denham doing here?
Jo, be quick!

Jo, make the drop!

Jo, get out - Denham's behind you!

Are you scared?

I've come to ask you to stop
what you're doing.

Look at you, you pathetic,
self-interested little man.

You played the market
and now you've lost.

Even if I've made mistakes, millions
will suffer if my bank collapses.

People who don't deserve to. They
were your responsibility, not mine.

Please...I'll do anything.

Don't touch me!

Now, I have work to do.

Shall we?

Malcolm, do a search.

Anything relating to Highland Life.
I need something to shut him down.

Jo, everything all right?

Fine. We had to improvise,
but Meynell didn't notice.

It's found nothing.

This can trawl incoming, sent
and deleted items for keywords
and related variations.

It's found nothing.

Whatever sabotage e-mails he sent,
he didn't do it from this account.

Right, I think it's time I paid
a visit to Meynell's office.

'Harry Pearce, please leave
a message.' Harry, it's Francis.
I need to see you. Usual place.

The situation is worse
than I admitted, a lot worse.

I'm afraid I may have destroyed
everything.

No, we found nothing, sir.

Thank you.

So, is that it? Is this over now?

Harry, I don't know what theory
this is part of, or what
you've got on your mind...

Do you want to know
what's on my mind, Connie?

You and Hugo Prince.

But then,
you barely knew him, did you?

If I lied to you about Hugo Prince,
it was because it was private.

Then you don't deny that you had
a long-standing affair with him?

I know what you're implying.

But unlike you,
Hugo knew when to stop.

Whatever time we had, he didn't
spend it talking about work.

How sweet. It's true.

And I might even believe it,

if it weren't the case that
there's no other explanation.

For what? What did he tell
you, Connie, about operations
he and I worked on together?

Nothing, Harry, nothing.

What did he pass to you?

Harry, I don't deserve to
be talked to like this.

What did he pass to you? Harry...

Don't! Because whatever it was,
I will not allow you to jeopardise
the operation he and I worked on.

Fine.

Do you want to see it?

Do you want to see the only thing...

Hugo Prince ever gave me?

I was summoned to his hospital bed.

I thought it might be for
some declaration of love,

or a meaningful token by which
I could remember what we had. But...

of course, that wasn't Hugo's way.
All I got was a pat on the bum
and this tacky souvenir.

Harry!

I promise you, I've never
seen that before in my life.

'Hello, Harry, it's Hugo.

'If you're listening to this,
it's because there's been a breach.

'I think you'll know
what I'm talking about.

'And if that's happened, then
I know my relationship with Connie
will have placed her under suspicion.

'That's why I've left you
this message.

'Because I want you to be sure that
at no time did I ever mention
to Connie,

'or pass on to her, anything
relating to the matters we worked on.

'Though I never told her, Connie
was the most precious thing to me.

'Maybe the most precious thing
of all.

'And I know my selfishness caused her
enough harm while I was alive.

'And I couldn't bear to leave her
vulnerable, now that I'm going.

'I hope you understand.'

It's all right, Harry. I understand.

I know you had to do it.

ANSWERPHONE: First new message.

'Harry, it's Francis,
I need to see you. Usual place.
Message deleted. Next new message.

'Harry, are you there?
Please call me back...
Message deleted. Next new message.

'Usual place.
Please, I need to speak to you...
Harry, please return my call.

'Harry?

'Please, Harry, please!
Call me back, call me.

'I need to speak to you...
End of messages.'

Francis?

Francis!

'Concern has been expressed today
that the apparent suicide of Highland
Life president Francis Denham

'may signal a tragic turning point
for Britain's economic outlook.'

'Lucas, we have a problem.'

Francis Denham is dead, suicide.
There's something he wasn't
telling us. Get to Ros, fast.

'Anxious members of the public
queued for hours today

'trying to withdraw their savings

'from the troubled high street bank,
Highland Life...'

HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

Alexis, if she's distracting you,
get rid of her.

She's not distracting me.

This is not the time.

She intrigues me.

Delivered in person.

Pete...

Thank you, darling.

There was nothing on the SIM card,
the Treasury are going crazy.
People are trying to withdraw money.

Calderwood says that they don't have
enough funds to save the bank. We
need to prove what Meynell's up to,

so you'll have to get closer to him.
A lot closer.

The last person we said that to
ended up face down in the Thames.

Well, that last person wasn't you.

Thanks for your concern, though I'm
not sure you pitching up here as my
boyfriend is going to help.

Come on, Ros, you know what men are
like. It's all in the challenge.

Alexis, this is my partner, Pete.

Fiance Pete, hi. Sorry,
I'm still not used to saying that.

Oh, you don't wear an
engagement ring either.

Well, we haven't been out
to choose one yet.

You know, I don't normally allow
visitors into my place of work.

Oh, I'm sorry. I just popped in
because I work around the corner.

Where would that be?
At what some might call a proper
bank, Zurich International. Right.

Then you'll have received
my invitation to the little
fundraiser later?

Well, my PA doesn't always pass on
social stuff. It's not social.

I'm launching the British arm of my
charitable foundation.

And I know Zurich take
philanthropy very seriously.

Well, in that case,
how can I refuse?

Good. Shall we?

See you later.

That guy who just came in,
I recognise him.

I don't think it's from the City.
Dig.

Find out everything you can.

'The close of yet another turbulent
day for the market saw Highland Life
share prices at an all-time low,

'amid concerns
for the troubled bank's future.

'We've got less in the basket,
we have to make, basic cuts.

'There are widespread reports
that inflation is up...'

You need to countersign the return.

No problem.

City shorthand. Basically, Meynell's
switching position on Highland Life.
This morning, he was betting

that the value would go down. Now,
he's taking billions to buy back in.

Where's he getting so much
capital from? Who knows?

What if it's a trap?
Even it is, we have to walk into it
to find out what's going on.

APPLAUSE

Thank you. Now, it's hard to sell
charity to the City at the moment.

Most of you probably feel we should
be on the receiving end of it.

But it's easy to give
during the good times.

It's now,

in the uncertain ones,

that we can prove that we're
serious about helping others.

I set up Freshwater many years ago
to help people in real need,

people who aren't going to be
concerned by the collapse of a bank.

They don't have bank accounts.

They don't have clean drinking water.

You have to give it to him.
He's got something.

They don't have food on the table.

They don't have roofs over their
heads. They have none of the things
that we take for granted...

Who's that?

Asa Darlek.
Meynell's right-hand man.

So, as someone once said... There's
something familiar about him.

..sell a man a fish
and he eats for the day.

Teach him how to catch it,

and you ruin a great
business opportunity.
LAUGHTER

But as someone else
more eloquently put it,

"Give me your effing money...now!"

APPLAUSE
Thank you.

Give me one minute with him.

Jenny. Very good. Thank you.

"Sell a man a fish." Hmm.

Why quote Karl Marx
to a room full of bankers?

Well, nobody understood
capitalism as well as Marx.

Because he wanted to destroy it?
Oh, no,

because he knew
it would destroy itself.

Pete, glad you could make it.
Oh, well, I'll go anywhere
for a glass of champagne.

I love these events,
the City pretending it cares.

I'm not sure everyone
shares your cynicism, Pete. Come on,

this is just one big tax dodge
for you, isn't it?

Whatever you say, Pete.

Champagne, sir?

I'm sure Jenny'll sort you out.

Allow me.

Erm, come and meet a few people.

What's going on?
I'm fine. I slipped.

OK, I'm going to Meynell's office.

I'll call you once I'm in.

I think I know what happened.

And if there is a problem,
you need to talk to Harry.

I'll return it.

HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

Hello. 'It's Ben. I'm looking at
some of the stuff on Meynell's
hard drive.'

There seem to be a lot of loan
agreements, but they're between
Highland Life and another bank.

Can you see which?
LIFT BELL RINGS

Ben, which bank?
Can you see a name?

PHONE GOES DEAD
Ben?

Ben?

Ben?
'Lucas, the bank's name is Salma.'

Salma?

That's a Russian bank.

Where is he, by the way? Pete.

He had to go back to the office,
he has a presentation tomorrow.

Goodness. How industrious.

And, erm, what are your plans,

for after this?

Thanks for coming
at such short notice. It's OK.

Here's the FSB file
you asked for on Salma.

Asa Darlek?
Youngest son of Vanya Darlek, head o
the Solsnetskaya crime syndicate.

So the Russian Mafia
are behind Salma...

and Meynell?

According to our information,
that's where he gets his
money from, to trade.

Darlek was staring at me. He must
have recognised me from Moscow.

Thank you.

Lucas, I need to talk to you.
It's important.

I'm in the middle of an operation,
I can't do this now. Don't use me,
Lucas.

Unless you know you can give me
everything.

'Falls in house
and property prices...

'Negative equity... Bad times...
People like me, who've earned
enormous amounts of money

'and should be safe in this
downturn...' Lucas. It's a demand,
from Salma to Highland Life

for total repayment of their loans.


So Denham was lying. Highland Life
should have collapsed months ago.
The only thing keeping it afloat

were loans from a Mafia bank.
My life savings...

gone. Lucas?

My office.

I have a confession to make.
I'm afraid that when I told you
I'd never heard of "Sugar Horse,"

I was lying.
And I need you to remember

everything that happened at the time
that it was mentioned.

Why? All I can tell you is that
Sugar Horse is the most important
network in the history of MI5.

And now, it's been compromised.

Do you know what they were doing
to me when it was mentioned? Yes,

and I still need you to put yourself
back there.

Who was present? Any details
that might... I was tortured
for 17 days continuously!

Lucas... Was Sugar Horse the reason?

I'm certain it was. But now, you
want me to just put myself back
there without telling me

anything about what I was tortured
for? Lucas... Don't you dare

try any of your sanctimonious
"good of the nation" crap on me!

There are limits to what
you can ask of people, Harry,

even in our business.

I'm sorry. And by the way,
if I were you, I'd talk to Jo.

You probably haven't noticed, but
she's in trouble over what happened,
a lot of trouble.

'I think tomorrow could be
a crucial day for Highland Life.
The banking system may collapse

'if there are any
other financial scandals.'

Well, this is it, I'm afraid.

I've never really done "home."

The only place I ever liked living
was a squat I shared at the LSE.

Is that where you developed
your taste for Karl Marx? Oh, no,

I knew about him
a long time before that.

My father's real name was Menlasch.
He's Czech.

He smuggled us out of the country
when the Russian tanks moved in.

August 1968.

Now, it's your turn.

How did you become who you are,

Jenny Hunter?

My father was an accountant.

It seemed like a sensible option.

Hmm.

But that's not true, is it?

I mean, you're not really sensible,
are you?

How do you know?
There's a look you have.

Oh, I see it from time to time.

It's a look that tells me,

you work inside a system,
but you're not part of it.

Is that how you were, at the LSE?

No, I was a hero,
a genuine relic of the Prague spring.

The campus Trotskyites adored me.

They must have been
very disappointed when
you switched sides.

Yeah.

My father used to say that for five
minutes, everything seemed possible.

Real freedom,

real equality,

the Socialists' dream
within their grasp.

And then the tanks rolled in.
Yes, they did,

but that's not what broke his heart.

No, that was going back,
after all those years, after...1989,

and seeing that the famous liberation
had in some ways made things worse.

McDonalds in Wenceslas Square,

homeless beggars
outside luxury hotels.

That's what k*lled him.

And that's what drives me now.

You never switched sides.

I've spent half my life...

..with people who think
I'm exactly like them,

waiting for the moment
when I can take them down.

How? Tomorrow morning,
I'm going to release information

that will either destroy
the banking system,

or force the British Government to
admit publicly that it is bankrupt.

Either way,

Capitalism will be revealed
as a busted flush.

And the debt-fuelled consumer
nightmare it's created
will finally...

..finally come crashing down.

So...
PHONE RINGS

Excuse me.

Hello. Where are you?
In my hotel room.

Well, it took me 15 phone calls
and a lot of sweeteners, but I found
out who Jenny Hunter's boyfriend is.

His name is Lucas North.
He works for MI5.

[HE SCREAMS]

You're working against me.

Yes, but you're right, Alexis.

The system is rotten, the system
I work in, but am not a part of.

You do know what they did to the last
man who went against me, don't you?

You don't want to harm me, Alexis.

You need me.

You need someone on the inside,

to help you to achieve the things
you've been talking about.

Prove to me that I can trust you.

One of Meynell's mafia pals
recognised me at his function. How?
Russia. His name's Asa Darlek.

Son of Vanya Darlek. Head of the
biggest crime syndicate in Moscow.

Highland Life owes him and
their pet bank Salma 65 billion.

Denham must have tried to trade
his way out of trouble
and got himself into deeper debt.

He turned to Salma
for illicit funding.

Which Meynell knows about and is
now using to bring down the bank.
What a mess.

Poor Francis.

How much did you know? Francis
told me he'd found emergency funding

I had no idea
it was the Russian mafia.

Ten minutes ago,
I had a phone call from Asa Darlek.

If we don't repay the 65 billion
that Highland Life owes Salma,
as soon as the markets open tomorrow

he and Meynell
will issue a statement revealing the
extent of the bank's debts.

Highland Life's share price
will go through the floor,

ruining investors and destroying
public confidence for ever.
Our economy will be in tatters.

Your only choice is to come clean
before they do.

Admit to how much trouble
Highland Life is in

but say you'll guarantee every
deposit and mortgage they hold.
I can't do that.

If I try anything like that,
I will bankrupt the UK.

Millions of people's lives
will be ruined if our
banking system collapses.

Our only hope is that
you can find some way to solve this
without paying Salma.

PHONE BUZZES

Yes? Where are you?
'Meynell's hotel room.'

Are you all right?

Yup. 'Can we continue with the
operation?' I think so.

'Put every penny you have
into Highland Life.'

And be ready with a statement
saying that you will step up
and back the bank.

I'll tell Meynell you're going to
do the opposite and he'll be forced
to switch position. It'll ruin him.

I'll see you tomorrow. Yeah.

In the office.

Is she insane? No.

It's a fantastic bluff.

We catch him out and we ruin him.

And you make enough money
to rescue both the bank
and all its depositors.

You are suggesting insider trading
to save the British economy?

You've already told us you can't
afford to pay Meynell or come clean
and face the consequences.

So, if he trusts Ros, he's ruined.

But if he doesn't,
the country's ruined.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Then I think we have no choice
but to put ourselves in her hands.

The risk is too big... We have
to wait until the markets open.

I suggest you record a
public statement explaining
what's happened.

This is Lucas North in Section D.

I'd like everything you've
got under the code name
"Palomnik"

or "Pilgrim". Eyes only.

RADIO: Good morning,
it's six o'clock.

"And we've got a crumbling housing
market... Speculators are driving up
commodity prices...

"This is a vicious
downwards spiral."

Not long till the markets open.
Is everything set up?

Ros should be with Meynell in a
minute. If he trusts what she tells
him, he'll give his brokers

the orders to switch their position.
Then you can release your statement.

I think I've found a way
of recovering my money.

I've got some information.

Just make sure everything's ready.

I don't suppose any of you have
thought about what happens if Ros
can't get him to do this? She will.

I got the impression
you could do with a hand.

What's she doing here?

Asa, I'd like you to leave us alone
for a moment.

You know who she is.
You don't need to talk to her.

Just a minute.
Alexis, she's MI5. Please.

No, not this time.

I didn't think you'd come back.

I came to finish what we started...

..to achieve the things
you talked about last night.

What if I still don't trust you?

Well, if your FSB friends gave
you my name, they'll have told
you how I joined the service.

How I've always had doubts.

I just thought you had
an appetite for betrayal.

The system's failing, Alexis.

The change you want has to happen.

What's she talking about?

Don't worry, Asa.

You'll get your money.

But I'll get what I want, too.

See, it doesn't really matter
why you're here.

Because I can't lose.

If the Treasury pay out,
then I bankrupt the country.

If they refuse, then I release
information that destroys
Highland Life,

taking the British economy with it.

Look, I don't know what you're
talking about. And I don't
know what she's talking about.

But I have a business deal here
and I want my money.

You told me that the Treasury
would never refuse, that they
would have to pay out.

Whichever way it goes, I guarantee
that you will get your £65 billion!

No, he won't.
Not if MI5 pre-empt you.

Right now, I know you're deep
inside Highland Life because you
expect the Treasury to pay out.

But if they release a statement
explaining what happened,

then refuse to,

you'll lose everything.

And they will,

because they have no choice.

You have to switch position, Alexis,

you have to bet against the bank
and expose Highland Life's
debts before they do.

Why should I believe you?
I've had enough of these games.

We're going to do this my way.
Call them.

You heard him.

Call MI5.

Five minutes till the markets open.
PHONE RINGS
Hello?

Harry, this is Ros.

Ros, what's going on?

I'm with Alexis Meynell
and Asa Darlek.

I hear you're intending not to
pay out and release a statement
letting Highland Life go down.

I thought you might like to know I
have a g*n pointing at your
officer's head.

If you do that, I will k*ll her.

Ros, are you there? You have


The money's invested the way you
said. I have to release that
statement!

Ros? Ros, can you still hear me?

'Ros, can you hear me?'

You have 15 seconds
to cancel the statement and pay out,

or I will k*ll your officer.

Ros, are you there?

You have ten seconds.

'Ros, are you there?'

Harry, there is no g*n.

Release the statement
because there is no g*n.

You little b*tch!

Release the statement.
Release it now!

Switch our position,
put everything against the bank!

Sell Highland Life. The Government's
abandoning Highland Life.
That's it, you're out of time.

No!

ROS! "Breaking news just in. We're
going to our Westminster studio,

"where the Secretary of State
for the Treasury..."

You all right? Fine.

"The Treasury feels it has no choice
but to offer the Highland Life bank

"all possible financial assistance
and support.

"The bank and its depositors
are safe."

Ros! "So, my message to the public

"is to have confidence in us
and confidence in the
Highland Life bank."

Ros!

I'm fine, Harry.

BEEPING

The Highland Life price is rising,
Meynell must have lost everything.

You know this system is rotten.

It has to change.

I have a duty to the British state.

You have a duty
to make things better.

You two should work out more.

I just wanted to protect
what I have. I don't need...

Malcolm. Ros.

Yup?

I need to report something.

I've made a lot of money
out of our operation.

It's insider trading.
I have to give it back.

You've given enough
over the years, Malcolm.
Don't you think you deserve it?

No, but... I find dealing
with reports really boring.

Well done.

Going back to Meynell's hotel room
without back-up. I'm not sure many
people could have done that.

For a non-existent g*n,
it made quite a bang.
Has anyone spoken to Jo yet?

No, I'm just about to.
I think I should do it.

That might be best.

PHONE RINGS

Hey. This just arrived for you
from downstairs. Thank you.

Oh, and Ben. Get onto personnel,

tell them that Elizabeta Starkova
is no longer to be used as an asset.

Sure.

How are you, Jo?

It's Boscard.

Wherever I go, Boscard's there.

That's impossible.

I need proof of where he is.

I need to know what the Service
did with him.

Adam realised that your memory
of events was imperfect.

He took a decision in the interests
of your recovery.

Who k*lled him?

You did. The work you and I do
is always going to be tough.

Much tougher than Harry
and Lucas can ever know.

Which is why you and I have to be
much tougher than them to do it.

He r*ped you, Jo, you k*lled him.

I'm assuming no-one will ever
find out about this.

It's taken care of.

Thank you for telling me.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Lucas. Come in.

Harry, I was angry last night.
That's understandable.

When I got home, I couldn't sleep.

So I wrote down a few things
and it prompted a memory.

When I was meant to be out cold,
I kept hearing a word repeated,

"Palomnik".

It's Russian for "pilgrim".

I thought it might be the
name of an operation or an
asset that betrayed me.

So I checked it out and the only
link seems to be to an MI5 officer.

He was quite senior but he's been
retired for a while.
May I see the file?

I think he runs some sort of second
hand shop in South London now.

Harry, you all right?

The old team.

I will expose the identity of
a mole within MI5, a traitor.

I'm stuck with a terrified teenager
while an MI6 renegade runs amok.

You really do live up
to your reputation.

Please tell me nothing's
going to happen to him.

He tried to k*ll me.
Everything's going to be fine.

It's the possible arrows from within
I'm concerned about.

The world's watching the summit.
I don't want any surprises.

Bringing the Mitchell case in house.

They've listened to every word
we've spoken.

Your choice is relatively simple.
It's me or them.