That which enables a wise ruler and a good general to strike, to conquer and to attain goals beyond the reach of ordinary mortals is... "PRIOR KNOWLEDGE" Sun Tsu (Fifth Century B.C.)
In the modern world, this "prior knowledge" is synonymous with "Secret Sevices" Novelist call it... "ESPIONAGE"
NIGHT FLIGHT FROM MOSCOW
The president will see you now.
Mr. And Mrs. Vlassov
Flight 302 to Moscow
Gate 3
M. Alexei Federovitch Vlassov
Second Secretary of the USSR Embassy.
Yes, in Paris.
He's asking us for protection
His wife is in the departure lounge.
He's afraid they may force her to leave.
I must ask you to give me your passport.
Someone from the Foreign Affairs is on his way.
The First Secretary of our Embassy too.
I'm the airport director. My assistant.
The Soviet Embassy gentlemen are here.
He won't talk.
Sir, we still have 48 hours.
He didn't sleep last night.
He won't sleep much tonight.
He'll be less lively in the morning.
Sir, I'd like you to listen to someone.
Tell your story.
I just did.
Do it again.
Your name.
My name is Santelli.
I work at the airport Duty Free Shop.
He bought some cognac this morning.
I say it all?
A piece of paper was in his 100 franc note.
He dashed into the police office.
Here's the message, sir.
Call 265.7460 immediately.
The US Embassy
Alexei Vlassov seeks political asylum.
She called of course.
You can forget your 48 hours.
The US Embassy will be on our backs...
unless you go to the "wrong" Embassy.
Let me handle it.
Tavel! Play it soft
The Soviet Embassy
I understand, Mr. Minister
May I emphasize that once again
Foreign Affairs ignores our imperatives.
Vlassov is a big catch.
I submit, but deplore it.
Where are you, Tavel?
In front of the Soviet Embassy, Sir.
Come back.
Immediately!
3 minutes more, he'd have cracked.
You wouldn't have got much.
France can't afford such a defector. Belgian Customs
Frau von Streilitz!
The Master's horse!
Herr Lepke!
The president will see you now.
Here are Vlassov's two presents.
I've been put in charge of this agency
until the Berthon inquiry is over.
My presence here is temporary.
And I count on your help in this matter.
Report on nuclear sub defects from Deval.
We appreciated...
his work on arms sales to Africa.
The Djebel case?
Excellent
For our next meeting
Sirius will contact you in the usual way.
Amazing, no?
Not really
That was the last act.
It starts in here.
During the German occupation, 1942-1944
Berthon works for Nazi propaganda.
At the Liberation - a trial.
Berthon was tried for high treason
After the second hearing
he'd had it.
"Soviet Secret Service link revealed."
"Pro Nazi Berthon risks his head!"
At the last minute, a miracle-witness:
Gribowski
Says: 'defendant was a member of my network...
The Resistance'
Three years later
we find Gribowski again
listed as a Soviet agent
Your conclusion?
If you were Gribowski, sir,
what would you have said to Berthon?
Remember that we had Vlassov
Berthon made me take him to the Soviet Embassy
to make him talk
What do you think, sir?
I think you have replaced Berthon.
To avoid any misunderstanding
I want to make my position clear.
I've been married 23 years and have 4 kids.
A plain happy marriage.
My wife is a country girl.
Her father has a vineyard.
For 23 years a perfect housewife...
devoted only to her family.
She knows absolutely nothing of Secret Service matters.
Yet today if you sent for me to say:
Your wife's been a Soviet agent for 23 years.
I'd reply without hesitating:
That's quite possible.
It would only be after the investigation
and if it were totally negative
that I'd let myself think it unthinkable
for anyone to suspect my wife.
I had the choice of a regional post in St. Lo
or reorganizing this office.
I should have chosen St. Lo.
You have a lot of work ahead of you.
I am Tavel, Branch Chief
Thank you for coming, Mr. Deval.
I had an appointment with M. Debecourt
He'll see you in a few moments.
Forgive us for putting you through this.
Through what?
It won't take long.
It's better if I leave you alone.
I'll see you afterwards.
M. Debecourt is expecting us.
M. Deval, you're one of our top defense men.
This film with your daughter could not have been sent to us
by our German colleagues
However, two years ago, your colleagues
tried to blackmail me.
Your daughter goes to Hamburg for one reason.
The Germans recruit our Number 3 defense man.
I'd have done the same.
It was then that
you turned to Berthon for help?
I knew him.
Wasn't it natural?
It is less natural that you contacted him privately.
We have no record of your request.
What did you expect?
A press conference?
Berthon promised to keep it quiet.
What could be better for you and for me?
We know...
Berthon intervened with Felson who had set up
the operation against you.
They worked very closely.
So what?
What did Berthon ask from you in return?
Nothing at all, you're joking!
Send for him immediately!
Report on nuclear sub defects from Deval.
We liked his work on arms sales to Africa
The Djebel case?
In about a week...
"The mystery case of Lucien Berthon"
"Why was he suspended?"
"The truth, Berthon!"
"Berthon case and French Counter-Espionage"
"Authorities silent on Berthon case"
"High official implicated in spy scandal"
"Lucien Berthon speaks on radio tonight"
You're tuned to Europe Number 1
G. Leroy presents the Europe Evening debate
Our guest, head of French Counter-Espionage,
Lucien Berthon
whose job it is to keep silent
is now ready to speak.
Dial Alma 9000 and he'll answer you.
The first calls are already coming in.
Is what's happening political revenge?
Nothing is happening to me.
I thought you were suspended.
That is not correct.
No sanctions have yet been taken.
Let me put the question differently.
Did you Minister approve this broadcast?
Call Anjou 2830
and ask the Minister.
I won't bother. You've answered me.
You can still try. Next call.
You're on, Mr. Slimane.
Weren't you in Lyons at one time?
During the Algerian war?
Correct.
You conducted interrogations?
Correct.
My name is Yaced Slimane.
From your office I was taken to the hospital.
Do you remember me?
Not particularly.
Lyons was 15 years ago.
I remember very well.
This is not a question.
Have you a question to ask?
No question.
That's all I can say about Ben Barka.
And now a commercial.
We'll be back with you shortly.
Next question.
Any personal contacts with Soviet agents?
Indeed.
Every time I catch one.
Now over to Gilles Delarue
Our London correspondent.
We've just had a bulletin linking
our debate with the latest news.
Go ahead London.
After the German suicide wave,
after the Berthon case in France,
England has her own spy scandal.
The news exploded tonight.
Two foreign office high officials
Burger and Lane have defected to the East.
British Intelligence is trying to track their route to Moscow.
It is likely the investigation will center on Paris.
Authorized circles hint that only
British Intelligence and a French agent
knew Burger and Lane were suspected.
They were about to be arrested.
Who tipped them off?
This is the big question here.
This is Gilles Delarue from London.
My question is short: What do you think?
If what we heard is true...
You doubt it?
This is not what I mean.
If Burger and Lane were tipped off
either by a French secret agent
or a British Intelligence person
that makes several thousand suspects.
Let's wait for the inquiry results.
We hope you'll comment on the results for us.
That was our last question.
Our time is up now.
Tomorrow the President of Matra
will discuss the Le Mans race.
Thanks for being our guest at Europe Number One.
It worked out rather well.
I think so. Thank you.
Do come to my office for a drink.
So you were here.
I tried to reach you all morning.
Your office sent for me.
What will they ask me?
They'll ask you...
about me.
How I lived, the people I saw
If you were my mistress.
Just tell them the truth.
I can't do that!
He'd divorce me.
We stopped seeing each other 5 years ago.
I'll say we met at...
They know.
Don't worry it won't leave their files.
It's addressed to Mr. And Mrs. Walter.
He must come too.
If you don't do something, my life's over!
What can I do?
I can't do anything.
Was it true about the Algerian?
He's going home. Tell Ducourneau.
That's a real break!
Ducourneau.
We're finished.
That's a real break.
We're finished.
Don't speak.
Give me your number.
I'll ring back in 5 minutes.
S.C. E?
Something in English on the wire tap.
He must know he's been tapped.
He cut the call short.
He's calling back 833.0590.
Police Headquarters?
What's the address for 833.0590?
It's urgent!
We just heard you... it was very good.
My phone's out of order. May I use yours?
It's from Le Bourget airport.
We'd get there too late.
He's been contacted. A meeting. Stay close.
All right.
Put me on to your operator.
Do as I tell you!
A police customer wants you.
Listen carefully:
The Bir Hakeim Bridge
heading toward Passy.
Got it.
Bir Hakeim Bridge, headed for Passy.
Motor running.
This isn't ajoke, huh?
Do as you're told!
Check if your rear doors are unlocked.
He jumped into a cab headed the other way.
What cab company?
G7 Taxies.
This is the Police!
Haven't you any cars left?
The driver who took a fare on Bir Hakeim.
I know. Hold on.
He must've switched off his mike.
Keep trying.
What do I ask him?
His destination.
He won't switch it on til his fare's over.
Was he a fake cop?
Something like that. Keep trying.
At last!
Where are you headed?
I'm free. I took my fare to his car.
There he goes!
That's it for tonight.