Topaz Page #7

I am just trying to clear up

a discrepancy for my article.

What discrepancy?

You see, sir, it is our information

that the head of the Russian

NATO desk, Boris Kusenov,

has defected

and is now in Washington.

But we are also informed that

you claimed Boris Kusenov is dead.

Could you clear up this discrepancy?

This is not a newspaper interview.

No.

But I wouldn't mind publishing it.

- Who sent you?

- My father-in-law.

Who is he?

Andr Devereaux.

He sent you

because I don't know you.

And because I am a journalist.

I can probe.

There is nothing to probe for.

Your mission has failed.

Oh, no, sir. This cannot be escaped.

Boris Kusenov is alive and has stated

you are his direct contact.

The Americans have NATO

documents that you gave to him.

With your name on them,

your initials on them,

even notations signed by you.

Those documents can be on the desk

of the head of our government

in eight hours.

I do not think I have failed.

What do you want of me?

Information.

And in return?

You'll be given time to disappear.

We know you will be welcome

elsewhere.

I am not going to talk to you.

Will you talk to Devereaux?

May I call Devereaux?

Yes.

Call him.

He must come here.

I'll talk to him here.

Alone.

Understood.

Yes?

Hello, Michle.

Let me talk to Andr quick.

Andr. Listen. It's done.

Yes.

Alone?

Well, stay until I get there.

Then you can wait for me outside.

Franois!

- Franois!

- What is it?

I think we have been cut off.

Jarr, Jarr...

There it is.

There is no answer.

Something has happened.

- I am going over there.

- I am coming.

- No, you stay.

- I am coming with you!

Here you are.

Good, his car is here.

He must still be upstairs.

Oh!

What's the matter?

Look... Look...

Jarr!

Michle, is that you?

Franois?

Sit down. I'll get you something.

- What's the matter?

- Franois!

What's happened to him?

What's happened to him?

He disappeared.

He went to do a job for me.

What kind of job?

To interview a man

in our government named Jarr.

He was working for the Russians.

Oh, Andr!

Franois!

- Be careful!

- What is it?

To be honest, I have been shot.

Just a little.

Come on, sit down.

- Maman!

- No, wait, Michle!

It's nothing, I promise you.

It hurts a little bit.

I don't even think it's bleeding.

- What do you mean, not bleeding?

- Get some alcohol.

We haven't got any.

Eau de cologne is alcohol.

And a bandage.

Is the bullet in? Let me have a look.

No, it just grazed you.

I told you it's nothing.

Nothing!

You disappear, it's nothing!

- Could I have some whisky?

- Here, cognac.

Thank you.

What happened?

I don't know. I was talking to you

on the phone, remember?

Then I heard Jarr let some men

into the apartment.

And then someone must have

hit me on the head. Feel that.

- Oh, my God!

- Yes.

Then the next thing I knew I was

sitting in a car between two men.

They stopped to make a phone call

because they didn't know

what to do with me.

They thought I was still unconscious.

When the car door opened,

I jumped out and ran.

There were two shots.

You might have been killed.

Did you go to Jarr's apartment?

Yes, he is dead.

Dead? Shot by those men?

They made it look like suicide.

A window was open and his body

was lying in a courtyard.

Who could they have been?

Messengers from Columbine,

the head of Topaz.

Why?

I must have shaken Jarr

at that lunch. He became a risk.

Then Columbine

must have been there, too.

Yes.

But... who?

- It hurts.

- Can't be helped.

Don't you think

we should get a doctor?

No, not yet.

It may involve us with the police.

I just remembered.

I might get involved.

How?

My sketchbook. I left it there.

No, I brought it away with us.

- Here.

- Thank you.

Look, Michle.

A portrait of a dead traitor.

If you had arrived later

you would never have seen him.

Come and lie down.

I will get you a blanket.

Oh, Andr.

There is one thing I didn't tell you

that is important.

When the men stopped to phone,

just before I got away,

I heard one ask the other

for a phone number.

It was Babylon 8583.

- You are sure?

- I am positive. Babylon 8583.

I can have it tracked down

in no time.

You don't have to trace that number.

It's a small house,

hidden away on the Left Bank.

Jacques Granville.

Horrible...

Horrible!

- Mr Ambassador, how are you?

- How do you do?

Good to see you again,

Mr Ambassador.

Anything on Topaz?

Who's running it?

Jacques Granville. A friend of mine.

- A friend?

- Yeah.

Up till ten o'clock last night.

But I can't nail him down.

No proof.

I brought this old picture along.

It will help you recognise him.

He is bound to be at your meeting

with our people this afternoon.

That poses a problem for us,

doesn't it?

- How can we tell the French -

- Mike!

Thank you. Take care.

Gentlemen,

would you be kind enough

to take your seats at the end?

What do you suggest we do?

It would be best to tell them

right away.

Gentlemen, one moment, please.

Look, Jacques, I am very sorry.

The Americans would rather

that you are not present.

There isn't time to explain now.

I will explain later.

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