Original subtitles

- Marie... - What are you doing here?

She's the one they were looking for.

The old StB bloke showed me her photo.

PREVIOUSLY

We were hit by a car a few days ago.

Viktor disappeared.

Have you considered that he might have disappeared on purpose?

- Where are the passports? - Whose passports?

- Where was it? - Same place as yours.

In my colleague's safe.

So she must know what happened to him.

So Skala's an agent.

Maybe that's why the deputy took the case off me.

What?!

Hello? Who is this?

Alexandra is dead.

There could always be someone behind you.

In any case, you have to disappear immediately.

Stay out of it, or you'll be very sorry indeed.

I'll give you something that will broaden your horizons.

Take a closer look. It's your boss.

Our old mugs.

How old were you? Five, six?

When you wanted to piss me off you'd say H wasn't for Hanka but for hag.

And you told me M was for moron.

Moron Marie.

Take the stupid passport and get back to the airport.

Don't be a moron.

Aren't I, though?

When I only find out after 12 years that Viktor was almost married when we met.

Who knows what all else he forgot to tell me.

You knew?

How could I have known?

It just doesn't surprise me all that much.

Look what I found in his things.

Stupid me, I thought we'd come back here because of me.

Jesus Christ...

It's a permit to the army base in Ralsko. The Russian one.

I know.

And he told me he had to go see somebody in Mimoň.

A former colleague or something.

Where did he get it? What did he want to do?

I don't know, that's what I have to find out.

- You mean you want to go there? - Yeah.

Are you crazy?

You go straight back to the airport and to London.

Don't screw around here.

So I guess you won't lend me your car then, eh?

Sorry.

Go on then.

Go there, get yourself arrested.

Jana's coming back tomorrow with the baby, it'll be perfect timing.

Hanka...

THE SLEEPERS

It's me.

Viktor?

Viktor?

- Hello. - Hello, where to?

To Usti, please. First class.

Vlasti?

Here, I brought you a bread roll.

You have to eat something, come on.

- Why? - Here you go.

- It doesn't matter anyway. - None of that, come on now.

Hang on...

Come here.

There you go, nice and easy.

Shouldn't I call the ambulance?

It's better now.

Don't call anybody.

I was already in hospital and they sent me home.

We both know why.

And now you're afraid of ending up here by yourself, aren't you?

And me...

I spent my whole life shut up in this house alone.

Vaclav, I have to ask you something.

- Can't it wait? - I don't think so.

Look...

Why have you been making a fool of me all this time?

Skala. I'm talking about him.

What?

Where did you get this?

You were a teacher in that orphanage.

He was there as a kid and you as a teacher.

Why didn't you tell me?

Why was this photo cropped in the file?

So that you wouldn't be on it?

- What's going on here? - Where did you get this?!

From the guy who used to work Skala. Patera. May I?

You've known Skala since his childhood. You've known each other all these years.

So I don't get why you don't seem to care what happened to him.

Or do you know what happened to him, Vaclav?

Vlasti?

Vlasti!

Come here.

- Do you have her? - I have her.

I'll call the ambulance.

Vaclav, I came by car, come on. By the time an ambulance gets here?

Careful, Vlasti.

May I?

- Please do. - Hello.

We'll be at grandma's soon.

You could have left that here. I would have watched it for you.

Thanks.

I'll might just have to go again soon.

I know how it goes.

It may be a Vernam cipher.

Each letter is shifted up or down the alphabet by a randomly chosen number.

In practice that means replacing the letters with completely random letters.

Random? But the text makes sense.

Yes, because most of it is just ballast. Only certain characters are important.

- Fine. So how did you get around it? - Well, I didn't.

That's what I'm trying to say.

A Vernam cipher is unbreakable,

that's been recognised since 1949.

Or it can be just a signal.

A pre-arranged signal, not a cipher.

As soon as the recipient receives the letter, he knows what to do.

Yes, but then how can we be sure it's a coded message in the first place?

We can't, that's the thing.

Maybe it's just a letter.

I hope I can rely on your...

If she finds out I'm helping you, I'm screwed.

Helping me?

You are helping yourself.

You're the one who wants to leave this shithole

and I am the one who can arrange it.

So don't concern yourself with that woman.

Excuse me...

Where is the Prague castle?

Give me that photo, Honza. And get away from this.

I'm asking you.

First tell me what's behind the whole thing.

Why can't you just leave it alone?

Let it be.

That's what everyone in this country does.

Let things be, even when they're awful.

I always thought you were as sick of it as I was.

But Vaclav, I guess I was wrong, eh?

What are you doing here?

Get in.

Get in.

I'm a British diplomat.

I have full immunity.

Do you have any idea what the consequences of this will be?

This is a joke.

What does your husband do?

Husband? Teaches Russian.

- In school. - In school?

Nice job. I'd prefer that.

But...

There were floods the year before last, we got sent to build housing units.

Last year it was construction sites...

My hands are covered in calluses.

Doesn't matter, we'll be home soon enough.

Home...

Shut up already!

I'm home right here.

Hand him this.

Could you stop here for me?

Not possible here. Later.

Later.

I thought you were in the big leagues now.

More like you are, no?

Oh, you mean the car. Yeah...

I'm just test driving it for a friend.

Right.

Well I've got a friend too, and he needs something.

You bet.

If it weren't for you, who knows where I'd be today.

Right where you are now, bro. One foot in the slammer.

- Alright. - My friend needs a Benz.

Or a Tatra, even a Volga, something big.

But only black. He wants to play bigwig.

- It's weird, I know. - Understood.

And he wants to keep the price down. So be a sport

and find me all the freshly busted up black cars in Prague,

so the hotshot has something to choose from.

And if the owner doesn't want to sell?

He will, I'm sure of that. He will.

But newly wrecked, that's important.

What if I find it in another colour? It could be resprayed?

No respraying. It's got to be an original.

Dokey-okey.

That's it.

OK.

"Dokey-okey", fuck's sake...

Thank you.

FRIENDSHIP IS ETERNAL AND UNBREAKABLE

Come with me.

My name is Susanne Clayton,

I'm a British diplomat and I demand that you release me.

They say men have a higher pain threshold,

but bear it worse.

While women feel more pain, but can handle it better.

Who knows?

Shall we find out?

But there is one thing I know:

Women are not suited for work in the secret services.

Because they may be able to sacrifice themselves, but they can never,

never manage to sacrifice others.

So it is true.

Bolsheviks really do love giving little speeches.

"Bolsheviks"?

Come, let's chat.

Tell me where Viktor Skala is

and what he was supposed to do here for you.

You're out of your mind. You're going to drug me? What is it?

LSD? Thiopental?

Oh, you know it?

Only theoretically. We don't use drugs.

Officially.

No, as a matter of principle.

It's not about techniques, it's a question of values.

And did it occur to you...

that maybe you just don't have the authorisation to use it

and others do?

My fingers have shrunk.

Our agent... There's a bit of provoking.

"Provoking!"

And what do you Bolsheviks do with provocateurs?

You lock them up.

Clinkety-clunk.

Not you personally.

The Czechoslovaks.

Is "provocative" a word? It sounds wrong somehow.

Like... "dog".

Don't listen, thank you.

Our incarcerated agent...

becomes a lovely, shiny martyr.

And the BBC, it’s loves martyrs.

Eats them for breakfast and then shits out lots of shiny press.

And the whole world looks on.

Everyone knows his name.

And when communism falls,

the new regime is going to need the odd martyr.

Czechs like martyrs.

And where is he now?

Where is Viktor Skala hiding?

Where's your agent? Where is he?

Shh... It's a secret.

I hid him.

It was a very safe place, but he's gone. Just...

disappeared, poof...

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly

I don't know why she swallowed a fly

Perhaps she’ll die

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider

who wriggled, and jiggled and giggled inside her...

"A martyr".

The bastard.

Go check outside.

I cast the net, it's bad.

Just the Flora garage. They have one hoity toity ride.

Newly banged up?

How much banged up? Where?

In the front, headlamp, blinker, windscreen refitted.

Oh, and you know what's interesting? The owner wants the old parts back.

For insurance reasons. I've never heard that before?

Me neither. Who's the owner?

- What? - Who's the owner?

Some tit, I guess.

FLORA GARAGE

What? You got an appointment?

I don't, but do me a favour, boss. Starter's acting up on me.

You'll have it done in a flash.

- Open it up then. - Thanks a lot.

You think I could take a look at that beaut over there?

Only from outside. She's locked anyway.

Sure thing, thanks.

- It was the spark plugs. - Aha.

- I get 200. - 200 is it?

You're not letting me off cheap. I don't know if I've got that much.

Then you've got a problem.

No, you've got a problem, mate.

I assume the Volga in the back is black market too.

No name, no papers?

Whose is it?

- He didn't introduce himself. - Well he had a face on him, didn't he?

Like... normal, I guess.

- Where'd you put the plates? - He took them with him.

He took them with him?

Alright.

You'll get me either on this number...

or this one.

As soon as the guy gets in touch, you'll call me.

And then we're gold.

Is that clear?

- Yes. - Fine.

And thanks for the spark plugs.

Fucking pick up, sis...

Are you alright? Are you hurt?

Smith.

Come in will you?

We need to talk.

Where you've been? What's going on?

It doesn't matter.

We need to talk about Gerald.

- Hey! What are you doing? - Hello.

I'm asking what the hell are you doing to my car?

Jones, sir. Maintenance.

I didn't order any maintenance.

Well, it's done automatically, sir. Servicing, cleaning...

It’s just it doesn’t end up in some Czechoslovak garage

where they might... install something, if you get my meaning.

Alright, fine, but stop now, alright?

I'm done anyway, I'll just beat the mats...

No, nothing else! Just get lost.

Susanne?

Pack it up and send it home.

Order a full analysis.

You wish to file a complaint with the Czechoslovakian foreign office?

We should make it clear we don't expect this kind of behaviour, sir.

The only action I expect from the Czechoslovakian authorities is

that they will very shortly be throwing you out on your ear.

I think, sir...

Even if they don't expel you, you cannot now complete your mission.

A fact which I have already made clear to your head of department.

- Please let me... - No.

In politics, delicacy is all.

We are living in a time of great change.

And the form that change takes will depend in large part

upon our relationship with the Soviets and their allies.

You will therefore leave Czechoslovakia within 24 hours.

- Sir, I must... - That will be all, thank you.

Berg.

It's me, Flora Garage.

He's here.

Dammit, I told you to call when he got in touch, not once he got there.

He didn't get in touch, he just showed up.

Stall him.

How?

He just left. Just now! You must have passed him.

- What? - Here's his plate number.

At least something.

Fuck.

That lady was snooping around by the ambulances.

This is risky business.

And I had to divvy up with the driver?

So I think you should add a little more.

Money, I mean.

Actually, I'd recommend you do that.

What are you playing at, doctor?

You're up to your ears in this.

You are absolutely not in a position to blackmail anyone.

You already got yours.

And if you feel like it wasn't enough, then we can do this differently.

Is that clear?

You can stand down. I'll drive her.

I'll make sure she doesn't miss her flight.

- I was supposed to take... - I'm sorry.

Did you not understand something?

It's fine, let him drive.

You won't believe me, but I do feel bad about this.

Really.

Women really aren't cut out for this line of work, are they?

What are you going to do now, Miss Deputy Control Attaché?

After such an enormous cock up...

There are more than enough specialists on Eastern Europe.

Czechoslovakia is Central Europe.

Yes, that's what they like to think of themselves here, isn’t it?

You lot think that when communism falls,

suddenly everything is going to be very different.

And won't it?

No. Nothing’s going to change.

Because we were never actually fighting communism.

What, then?

Russia.

And Russia is staying put.

Russia's not ready for change.

- They're still living in the past. - No.

They're much better prepared than you think.

Perhaps better prepared than we are.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Hey. - Anything new?

No, fine, nothing.

Normal stuff.

Have you got the file?

I want to return it tomorrow.

Honza?

So you didn't.

- No. - Brilliant.

- Fuck, Honza, I told you I need... - Listen...

Bring it tomorrow, do you understand?

- You said you wanted it for a day. - I know.

You were just going to check something and...

What do you say we go somewhere?

- "We"? - Yeah, why not?

I thought we were supposed to be a secret.

Every secret gets out at some point.

Let's just hope it's not the secret that's the nice bit, you know?

Can I make a call?

Vlach, yes?

Honza. Will you be home a while?

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

Come over then.

OK.

You're leaving again?

I've got to do something.

But I'll be back.

And I'll stay the night.

That is, if you'll let me.

What do you say we go out when we're finished?

- Here you go. - For a film or a concert...

Thanks.

Do you know how much laundry I have left to do?

The washing machine washes the laundry.

Oh, there you go, I forgot.

Good thing I've got you.

Look, here she comes.

I've got the plate number, Vaclav.

The car that hit Skala.

I'll pull it off the registry in the morning

and we'll find out.

You're off duty, they won't give you anything.

I have friends in traffic. There's always a way.

Have you told anyone about it?

No. I'm waiting to see what you tell me.

Or I can leave it be, like you wanted, not make a fuss... But you know what?

But first you'd have to tell me the truth.

What happened and what all is behind this.

What the fuck, do you think I'm completely stupid?

First you make up a story about the deputy dumping that case on us

"nothing on paper", off the record... All bullshit.

The deputy was utterly clueless. He'd never heard of Skala in his life.

Do you know what I think, Vaclav?

That this was all some solo gig of yours from the start.

But then the dumb Englishman spilled the beans

and said Skala was theirs on the wiretap.

You knew the game was up and wouldn't let me work on it.

"It stinks", you said. It probably does stink, doesn't it?

"Someone else is on it", you said. No one's on it.

You just killed it.

So no one would get to you through Skala.

How long have you been working for the Brits?

What, do you think I'm going to fucking turn you in?

I'm trying to help you!

But you have to tell me.

Do you realise the world of shit you're in?

Do you even hear me?

Didn't you ask for a drink the last time you were here?

I'm driving.

You said you've got friends in traffic.

If they catch you, you can call them.

I'm sorry, Honza.

The main thing is that they not find you out.

Otherwise there's nothing left to do but hope this regime falls really quick,

before they have time to lock you up.

That'll be the neighbour.