5 Fingers

On October 18, 1950...

...a member of the

British Parliament...

...addressed a question to

the Foreign Secretary.

This book purports to be a

true account of espionage...

...written by a former

German military attach...

...it reveals the most

astonishing details of a case...

...occurred within His Majesty's

Embassy in Turkey in 1944...

...and in which hundreds

of top secrets...

...including plans for the invasion...

...of Normandy were stolen and

transmitted to the Germans.

Has an inquiry into these

fantastic charges taken place?

Measures have been

taken to prevent any...

...future lapse in security.

However, it must be regretfully

admitted that, in substance...

...the story to which the Honourable

Member refers, is a true one.

To be exact, our story

began on March 4, 1944.

It was a day

of gruelling fighting...

...in the Second World War;...

...but the sun was shining

serenely on neutral Turkey.

The very same evening,

on March 4, 1944...

...a Turkish minister held a

reception for the diplomatic corps.

The place, Ankara, the

capital of neutral Turkey.

If Excellency will excuse me, I

have suddenly acquired a headache.

I've had mine for some time.

Perhaps from standing too much?

From listening too much.

Wagner makes me ill.

Herr von Papen, I hope your

country appreciates you.

You are the only unpredictable

German I have ever met.

I cannot remember when I've seen

a lady as beautiful as you...

...eat as heartily as you.

Just a little more

of the salad, please.

No one admires Turkish

food more than I.

Still, the prospect of dining from

a buffet at a diplomatic reception...

The number of actual

dinners I eat these days...

...is equal to the number of

receptions to which I am invited.

Champagne?

- I have beer, thank you.

I have often wondered, Countess.

Why did you leave Warsaw?

Bombs were falling.

I felt I was in the way.

Then why did you come here?

You and your late husband...

...had lived so long in England,

you had friends there.

Being bombed in London is not...

...more attractive than

being bombed in Warsaw.

But you could have returned

to your own country, France.

As the impoverished widow of

a pro-German Polish count?

It would have required

courage. I have none.

You could have counted

upon our protection.

I understand you are now

protecting my estates...

...and all of my possessions

in Poland.

Who has them?

Field Marshal Goering. I believe.

Bon appetite, madame.

As always, I have enjoyed it.

Herr von Papen.

- Yes?

Herr von Papen, I need money.

These must be difficult

times for you, I know.

Please don't be diplomatic for

just a moment. You can help me.

Nothing would please

me more, if I can.

I want back what belongs to me.

Unfortunately, there is a war.

- After the war.

I can give you every assurance.

But in the meantime, I can be of

service to you, to Germany...

...if I can prove my worth.

Afterwards it would be easier.

How would you go proving it?

Loan me the means to live

again here in Ankara.

Advance it to me. I can more

than make it worth your while.

You, of all men, must know

what a fund of knowledge...

...a clever hostess can became.

- Countess Staviska...

...are you suggesting that the German

Government set you up as a spy?

I am suggesting that

I can earn my keep.

It's a sordid, unrewarding business.

Sordid but not unrewarding.

In terms of money, perhaps.

What other terms are there?

I'm sorry. I'm afraid

it's quite impossible.

What am I going to do, then?

Call upon your friends.

I have none that I want.

And those who want to be

quite frankly cannot afford it.

I beg you pardon.

- Yes?

Excellence, the British

Ambassador had just driven up.

So soon?

Perhaps we can talk longer

at the next reception, madam...

...and it's my turn to arrive for

the last half of the evening.

One thing about being a neutral.

I can come early and stay late.

And perhaps continue our talk

with the British Ambassador?

Herr Moyzisch, do not look at me

as if you had a source of income...

...other than your salary.

Excellence.

- Yes?

The Countess Staviska.

- What about her?

I based upon something

she said to me...

...I have reason to believe

she needs money.

You, too, Moyzisch?

I assure you that it wasn't I,

Excellence, who approached her.

However, it occurred to me...

- No.

She has many friends,

access to many sources.

Definitely not. Goodnight, Moyzisch.

- Goodnight, Excellence.

Don't shout. Take me to your office.

- What do you want?

Let's get out of this light.

Don't be a fool, Moyzisch.

This is the opportunity

of your lifetime.

Choose right now...

...you can be the envy of the

German Foreign Service...

...or you can go through

life as a diplomatic valet.

After all, what if I were a thief?

What could I steal from you?

First, let me warn

you not to breathe...

...a word of it to anyone

but your chief.

My life will depend

upon your discretion.

A responsibility I do not

choose to accept.

You have no choice. Your

life will depend upon it, too.

State your proposition.

- Very well.

Certain British documents

classified as Most Secret...

...have come into my possession.

Military and political documents of

utmost value to your government.

I am prepared to sell them.

The price is 20,000 pounds.

English pounds sterling.

20,000 pounds. Who are you?

I am a spy, obviously.

And your life work is espionage?

Not exactly.

But I have spent a lot of my

life preparing for this day.

No spy in history has ever been

paid 20,000 pound for any information.

No spy in history has had

to sell what I have to sell.

Besides, spies are notoriously

poor businessmen.

They are patriots, frustrated

liberals or victims of blackmail...

...whose emotional

involvement weakens...

...their bargaining position and

destroys sound business judgements.

Would you consider it sound business

for the German Government...

...to pay 20,000 pounds

to an unidentified amateur...

...for a set of so-called

'secret' documents?

Not so-called. Not secret.

Most secret. Top secret.

I am sure they are.

And now I have more

serious matters to attend to.

I'll have an attendant show you out.

Moyzisch.

It appears I must think

for both of us.

Inform von Papen of my offer.

Naturally, he'll check with Berlin.

I'll give you 3 days to

consider my proposition.

On March, 7, at three

in the afternoon...

...I'll telephone you and ask if

you've received a letter for me.

I'll call myself Pierre.

If you say no, you'll

never see me again.

If you say yes, it'll mean

you have accepted my offer.

But I must have more information.

- Lf you accept...

...I'll return at ten

o'clock that evening.

You'll then receive two rolls of film,

with photographs of the documents.

I will receive from you the

sum of 20,000 pounds...

...in English bank notes

of small denominations.

Should you approve

of my first delivery...

...you can have more.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes