Conspirator Page #6

They have promised me that.

I don't understand.

I don't understand.

You will understand, Linda.

Naturally, I don't expect you to

change your whole political attitude.

I haven't got a "whole

political attitude".

We don't have to decide

anything now. We can talk it over.

I can convince you.

A traitor.

Like ..

Like ..

Just remember you are my wife.

Just believe in me. Never breathe

a word of this to anyone. Ever.

You must promise me that.

Well, it doesn't really matter

whether you promise or not.

You see, Melinda.

No-one would believe you.

No-one.

You must try and eat something.

Just a little bit of toast?

I couldn't, Broaders.

Then let me telephone the Major.

Oh no. No.

If I could only get out of this house.

If I could only walk for hours.

Well, then let me come with you.

No thank you, Broaders.

I think I'll be better off alone.

Why, Miss.

Ah, Mrs Curragh.

Good evening, Lucy.

Is Miss Joyce upstairs?

No, Miss. She's out for the evening.

Out for the evening?

Of course.

Is there anything I can do, Miss?

No. Thank you, Lucy.

It's quite alright. Goodnight.

Goodnight, Miss.

Linda.

Where were you?

A walk.

Just for a walk, Michael.

I've been waiting for you.

I thought we might have a little talk.

I was thinking that if you

are more composed now ..

I owe it to you to try to explain.

You owe it to me to try to understand.

Can you do that, Linda?

Listen .. and try to understand?

I'll try, Michael.

I'll try.

You don't know how it was in Dublin

in those days, right in the thick of it.

The secret meetings, the shades

drawn, the lights turned low.

Those great men all talking at once.

The party, lost the battle in Ireland.

But I learned.

I used to sit on a footstool

by the fire and listen.

They didn't even notice me then.

But they noticed me, I tell you ..

When I drilled with them in the

rain in the wild Wicklow hills.

Think of it, Linda.

I was only fifteen then.

And drilling with the best of them.

That was summer.

At the end of it, I had to go back to

my father who didn't even like me.

But I'd learnt to keep secrets.

Important secrets.

I used to laugh to myself because

he didn't know what I was thinking.

Have I made you understand, Linda?

Have I made you understand any of it?

No, Michael.

I can't understand you.

I can't understand any of it.

All I know is it's wrong, and I hate it.

And me? You hate me?

You must give it up.

If you don't, I swear I'll find

some way to stop you.

I'll leave you. But I'll find

some way to stop you, too.

You would turn me in?

Is that what you're thinking?

Oh, give it up, Michael. Give it up.

We'll never mention it again.

We'll forget it ever happened.

Never think about it.

So I must choose?

My whole life up to now .. for you?

My whole life for you ..

Well, there can't be any doubt, Linda.

No doubt about which I choose.

I love you, darling.

You will give it up?

I give it up.

Oh, Michael.

It's all over, darling.

It's all over.

"My duty to the party requires

that I report a development."

"My wife has learned

the nature of my work."

"My comments on the situation are .."

"One."

"My wife's discretion is assured

by her personal loyalty to me."

"Two."

"She believes that I have

resigned from the party."

"Three .."

Now there is a lady of the house,

I hope things will be different.

Last year he gave away

all the ducks that he shot.

And I was hoping you

would think of me, ma'am.

Because you see, the meat

ration doesn't go very far.

I'll see to it that we bring back

everything they shoot, Broaders.

You will love it up there, ma'am.

Every year when the Major comes

back he looks like a new man.

He says that the air in

Norfolk is truly a tonic.

But I wish ..

I wish I were going further.

Further?

You won't find any better air

anywhere than in Norfolk.

It really is a tonic.

Now, I think that's just about full.

Thank you for doing it for me, Broaders.

I hate to pack.

Most people who travel hate to pack.

I love it.

But I never go anywhere.

Now I think that's just about full.

Hello, darling.

Well, everything is all set.

We pick up Colonel

Hammerbrook in the morning.

Hugh and Raglan are

driving up themselves.

Tonight I'll get all my kit ready.

You'd better get your

kit ready now, Michael.

Tonight you're going to have to go out.

You see ..

This came for you.

What of it?

I know what they mean.

I can't trust you, Michael.

I've made up my mind that you

must resign your commission.

It's the only decent thing you can do.

And the only decent thing a wife

can do is to behave like a wife.

Don't meddle in things

you don't understand.

You are going to resign?

I will. I will.

But these things take time.

You have to give me time.

Just don't make it too much time.

I tell you these postcards

must be stopped.

They are stupid. Dangerous.

They're responsible for this situation.

I am glad you realise a need for greater

care in the work you are doing, Major.

Why shouldn't I realize it? Why?

Before the war, during the war.

Perhaps you may have forgotten,

but we are still in a war.

A cold war.

I have not forgotten.

Good.

Because then I don't have to remind you

that wars are fought with ruthlessness.

And self-sacrifice.

I'm always ready to make sacrifices.

Then you must know that

no personal consideration ..

Or domestic inconvenience

should stand in the way.

As a soldier, Major ..

You know there are

always casualties in war.

Casualties?

What are you driving at?

Here are the orders from Radek, Major.

The Bureau directs that your wife ..

Must be done away with.

Then I withdraw from the party. Now.

Do you hear me?

I withdraw from the party.

In order to dedicate your life

to the party and to the struggle.

One does not resign, Major.

You know that.

You swore to be bound

by an iron discipline.

To follow orders wherever they led you.

One never questions the party.

One never questions.

Never questions.

Yes, Major.

You are the one who is

going to liquidate her.

You alone are responsible

for the present situation.

Radek feels it is essential that you

should demonstrate your fidelity.

But I don't .. I don't have to

demonstrate my fidelity.

Let him recall my past work.

To suggest such a move now is to panic

in the face of imagined dangers.

There's no reason for getting in a panic.

There is no reason to get into a panic.

We are not in a panic.

Report to Radek that

I've received his orders.

Hello, Parish.

Mrs Parish.

This is Mrs Curragh.

Good to see you again.

I never dreamed the next time I saw you

Major you'd be bringing a wife with you.

Welcome to Portonwick farm, ma'am.

Thank you, Mrs Parish.

You look around now and I'll

go and get on with the dinner.

They pretend they come for the shooting,

but I think they come for the eating.

George .. take them bags upstairs

and don't stand talking, now.

I never heard George say two words.

Well I have and it's scarcely worth it.

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