Hidden Agenda Page #8

You subvert it.

All right, let's be frank

with one another.

Illegal methods were used in an attempt

to bring down the Labour government.

But that's all in the past.

Do you think by scrutinizing

mistakes made...

you'll help restore

respect for law and order?

Don't play hide and seek

with reality, Mr. Kerrigan.

If you want to see the release of that

tape, and its contents made public...

go right ahead.

But first, consider the consequences.

Every agitator, every intellectual...

every bleeding-heart liberal

with his rhetoric about civil rights...

will seize on it.

Now, you say you defend the state.

So do I.

But Parliament and its institutions

are the state.

And anything that threatens

the government...

the rule of law,

the credibility of Parliament...

is a threat to the state.

Leave well alone, Mr. Kerrigan.

Let the historians discover it

in 50 years' time.

- Our duty is to protect Number 10.

- It wouldn't be published anyway.

Strictly speaking,

it's none of your concern.

It's an intelligence matter,

outside your jurisdiction.

- I don't accept that.

- Accept this...

What Alec and the others did

eight years ago was terribly wrong.

It wasn't just terribly wrong.

It was criminal.

It was wrong for the right reasons.

These were, and still are,

honorable men.

- They broke the law.

- We've agreed on that.

But tell me,

as a professional policeman...

don't you find that hardened criminals

often benefit from the restraints...

imposed on the police by the courts?

Absolutely, yes.

And when, to secure a conviction,

the police remove those constraints...

when, for example,

they illegally tap a phone...

to apprehend political terrorists

whose aim is to overthrow democracy...

is this ever justified?

It depends on the circumstances.

Let's be more specific.

In 1974,

the IRA blew up a Birmingham pub.

21 young people were killed.

162 were injured.

The police, your colleagues,

arrested six Irishmen.

They were subjected to

what is euphemistically referred to...

as "in-depth interrogation".

They kicked the hell out of

the murdering swine.

- And obtained a confession.

- Which held up in court.

Was that justified?

If they did that,

then they were out of order.

Tell that to the people of Birmingham.

The point I'm trying to make...

I understand the point

you're trying to make, Sir Robert.

That to maintain the system, the abuse

of power is sometimes necessary.

Yes.

It allows us to enjoy the freedom

of living in a free society.

A price the public are prepared to pay.

That's a dangerous concept.

But a realistic one.

You're forgetting one thing.

What's to stop Harris

from making copies of the tape?

Nothing at all, except without Harris,

there's no authenticity, no documentation.

Everyone would think it was an IRA fake.

And my investigation?

I have a solution

that is both effective and acceptable.

You have the culprits

that did the shooting.

Nail them.

It really is a gorgeous day.

You know, Ireland would be a lovely place

if it wasn't for the Irish.

Was Ms. Jessner with you

when you met Harris?

Yes.

I wonder why Harris chose Paul Sullivan.

Did you know, before she met him,

she lived with a Communist?

- No, I didn't.

- It was all rather sad.

A Chilean. She had an abortion.

There is something I want to show you.

Not very pleasant, I'm afraid.

Liam Philbin.

Served seven years in H-Block.

Suspected of murdering two policemen.

That's you making a contribution

to IRA funds...

unintentionally, of course.

These make my stomach turn.

Alec wanted to turn them over

to his newspaper friends.

I persuaded him not to.

Apart from the damage

it could do to your career...

I'm a family man myself, Mr. Kerrigan.

I know the harm this sort of thing

can do to a happy marriage.

Take them.

Who keeps the negatives?

Alec keeps them.

F*** you.

First, they threw the book at me.

Not in the national interest.

Violation of security.

Then...

this infantile,

laughable comic-book stuff.

Don't underestimate it, Peter.

I've been a policeman for 26 years.

I've never met anything like this.

If you go to Dublin,

see him, get the tape.

Neil would argue

it was used for intelligence...

and that it couldn't be admitted

in court as evidence.

So what are we left with?

The shooting.

Which is flameproof.

We have the statements...

Which we can make stick...

provided we make

no references to the tape.

Concession offered by Neil.

Jesus.

What does that make me?

I came here as the cop

that couldn't be bought.

- Nobody bought you.

- I've been manipulated from day one...

put through the hoop.

What happens if I choose

to take this to the limit...

to the powers that be?

What support would I get?

Too risky.

You blow the whistle,

when the shouting stopped...

they reach an accommodation...

you're finished.

You know, Tom, I think I am naive.

I've always believed...

that given half a chance,

the system would work.

Look, we've got the men

who did the shooting.

- Everything I've stood for...

- Our job's done.

No.

That's unacceptable.

I walk away from this,

it's a lifetime wasted.

They want this thing buried...

and if necessary,

they will bury you alongside it.

- But there was a conspiracy.

- What proof have we got?

- Neil admitted it.

- He'll deny it.

That conversation never took place.

Turn your back on this, Peter.

What about Ingrid Jessner?

What about her?

Not your problem.

This is all politics.

We have the men that did the shooting.

Are you willing to settle for that?

What else is there?

And if I persist?

Then you're on a hiding to nothing.

What about you?

- I'm a career policeman.

- So was I.

I'm sorry, Peter.

I'm not prepared to risk my future,

not in this.

Thanks, Tom.

You've just proved my point.

Listen, if a Mr. Kerrigan calls,

will you tell him I've left?

- Yes, certainly.

- Thanks.

Ms. Jessner?

I'm Mr. Kerrigan's secretary.

He asked me to give you that.

Any message?

- When's his flight?

- Mid-afternoon, I expect.

Thanks.

Echo 1 to Control.

- Go ahead, Echo 1.

- We're on the Dublin Road.

Are the others in place?

Yes.

Signing off now, Control.

Give it another minute,

then overtake her quite quickly.

I want to get ahead of her.

Come in, Echo 2.

Echo 2.

- Is everything all right, Echo 2?

- Yes, she's about 200 yards in front of me.

In a little while you'll see

a petrol station on your left.

You pull in,

and I'll take up the follow.

Echo 2...

she's making for the bridge.

I'm having trouble

gettin' through this lot.

Bang your f***ing horn, man!

- Where's Kerrigan?

- I don't know.

- That's no answer.

- I know, I don't know where he is.

Let's walk.

- You'll see that it's published?

- I'll try.

Don't let me down.

Trust me.

I do.

Where to, love?

- I have to hire a car.

- You want a car-hire place?

- Yeah.

- Which one in particular do you want?

- Any one in particular?

- No. It doesn't matter. You decide.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes