The Tailor of Panama Page #7

themselves silent?

They're a life-force, not an embassy.

Fishermen...

...small farmers, peasants,

have-nots, penniless students.

People we wouldn't

entertain in the woodshed.

So why should we support them, Henry?

Because if we don't,

someone else will.

Because the Silent Opposition is

the new Panama in the new millennium.

And getting in with these chaps...

...is the sweetest, cheapest

way of saving the canal.

Do you think personally,

this Abraxas is...

...presidential material?

Scotty.

Abraxas is world-class.

Courageous...

... unsullied, incorruptible.

A man to dream of

when you're shaping nations.

But Abraxas can't go it alone.

He needs our support now.

If U.S. Military assistance

is guaranteed...

...Abraxas and his forces will

launch an attack on the government.

They'll commandeer the radio stations

and the Canal Administration Office.

Subject, of course,

to advance payment...

...for arms, equipment

and medical supplies.

How much?

The sort of money you boys

leave under the plate, Elliot.

- How much?

- Twenty million dollars.

Elliot, may I say a couple

of words, please?

I'm only a rookie at heart.

I don't know too much about the ins

and outs of politics, but I know this:

I was the last American

commander in Panama.

I had the task of taking

our men out of there.

Only retreat of my career.

Broke my heart.

There is a missing star

on our flag, gentlemen.

Looks to me that God has

given us a second chance here.

Yes?

Sir.

Encrypted.

It went over like ninepins.

Asked for 20 and guess what?

They beat me down to 15.

I'm on my way.

Press play, Andy.

Teddy! Teddy!

Why are you hassling Mickie and Marta?

What are they up to this time, Harry?

What are you up to?

Spin me one of your stories.

You stay away from them or else.

How could you f***

that faceless half-breed?

No, no. Relax.

You're a disgrace to that suit, Teddy.

- Hey.

- Louisa.

- There's something I must tell you.

- Okay.

Lou.

- I need to talk to you.

- Okay.

Hello?

Marta?

Yeah, it's Louisa. I can't hear you.

I'll get... Okay.

It's for you.

It's me.

Oh, Harry. I need you. Please come.

It's Mickie. He...

Marta?

- I've gotta go.

- So it's Marta?

- All this time, under my nose.

- No, you don't understand.

Oh, come on, Harry. Please.

Be a man.

- Well, if you love her, go.

- Yes, I do love her.

But I've never made love to her.

Get out.

Get out!

Harry.

Harry!

Oh, sh*t!

Washington has agreed

that as we have the contacts...

...that we should undertake

the financing and arming...

...of the Silent Opposition.

And it's been agreed that that task

be undertaken by an older hand.

By myself, in fact. And on

a more formal basis than hitherto.

I dare say that'll come

as a bit of a relief to you, Andrew.

Equipping an army, tedious business.

Not the sort of task

for your mercurial brain.

Best left to us humble

planners and plodders, eh?

It's fine in principle, Scotty.

Just one snag.

They won't talk to anyone but me.

I think you'll find that,

however shy they are...

...they'll talk to a candid friend...

...who has $15 million

to spend on them.

Wouldn't you say, ambassador?

You know, for quite a while

I was skeptical...

...about this extraordinarily

silent opposition.

And I always thought that Mickie

Abraxas was just a harmless drunk.

Funny how wrong you can be.

Andy may have a real problem conjuring

up one of these people for you.

Afraid so, Scotty.

You could put it like this:

If you don't go through me,

there is no Silent Opposition.

It doesn't do to be too possessive.

We must be brave and wean them off

the Osnard teat, my boy.

Might I offer myself

as a go-between, so to speak...

...to verify Andy's dispersal

of these funds?

Kind of you to offer, ambassador.

Perhaps so.

Meanwhile, Andrew can brief me

on the details.

We have a lot to catch up on, eh?

Whiskey till the small hours

in the privacy of your abode...

...is indicated for Osnard

and Luxmore, I believe.

- Sure.

- Excellent, gentlemen.

Andrew, I take it you have

a secure safe in your apartment?

Absolutely, sir.

Fort Knox.

Ambassador.

I'll get my files.

- You are getting out, aren't you?

- Possibly.

Too early to say.

You'll have to, won't you?

I mean, there is no

Silent Opposition, is there?

- Who told you that?

- You did, just now in the meeting.

You made it all up, didn't you?

What are you talking about?

I think you're the wickedest

human being I've ever met.

That was the attraction, wasn't it?

How about a farewell f***?

Here in the office.

A knee-trembler.

You know, I think I'm cured.

Excuse me, Francesca.

A private word with Andrew.

He's all yours.

My duty is to inform

the Foreign Office of this...

...travesty.

How much is your duty worth?

- Two million.

- One.

- One and a half.

- One and a quarter.

Done.

Andrew.

Good night.

You got a lovely little family, Harry.

Only one thing can spoil it.

- What's that, Uncle Benny?

- The truth, Harry.

That's the honest truth.

Esmeralda?

Esmeralda.

I'm going out. Watch the children.

Marta!

Marta!

Oh, God!

I'm not imposing on you, am I?

You're not imposing

on me in the least.

Who the devil's that?

Buchan 2. We got trouble.

When I get her into

the other room, get out.

In the lobby,

give the concierge a dollar.

He'll get you a taxi to

the El Panama Hotel. Get a room.

A taxi? At this time of night?

I don't speak Spanish, Andy.

I'm unarmed.

Life is cheap here.

You can handle it.

You're a field man, aren't you?

What about the bags?

I'll guard them with my life.

Believe me.

Louisa.

- Something on your mind?

- What the f*** have you done?

What is all this bullshit

about Abraxas and Delgado?

Don't worry. It's nothing.

It's crap. It's all a game.

- Where's Harry?

- Harry's okay.

- I'm gonna take care of Harry and you.

- Get your f***ing hands off me!

Get off me.

Relax.

We both know why you're here.

Yeah.

Sh*t! You...

What have you gotten Harry into?

Harry got himself into this

with his own ludicrous stories.

When the Americans take back their

canal, it'll be down to him, not me.

When?

When?

Get out of my way!

I killed him, Marta.

I killed him with my bullshit.

He said the police were after him.

He said:

"Tell Harry I'm sorry."

And I didn't finish his suit.

It would've given him

back his dignity.

He wouldn't have shot himself in it.

He was always going to do it.

He was just looking

for a good enough excuse.

Shall I close his eyes?

You must go now, Harry.

Go, Harry.

Yep.

Harry, my man, where have you been?

Louisa was here. I think she thought

I was leading you astray or something.

Jesus.

I see. Go on.

So we have to stop all this, you hear?

Mickie knew nothing about it.

You know and I know I made it all up.

It's too late for that, old boy.

Out of our hands.

A case of life imitating art.

Bit of a setback, sir.

It's Mickie Abraxas.

Bullet through the head.

Suicide.

Setback? Setback? On the contrary.

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