Ep6 | The Second Soldier

"This series contains strong language and violence. It is fiction. Resamblance to reality is coincidental. This is barehunt." "Previously on barehunt." "Is it the fucking Russian president? Alex?" "Could be. Who knows?" "Who knows? Who fucking knows?" "Plausable deniability." "Clack the fucking minds now, wait!" "Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, get down!" "I was gonna give one to Ram, but I don't know how he'd feel about having a Saint-Rounder's neck." "Here, Shawnee Boy. You deserve this man." "I want you fucking Saint Michael Archangel's shit!" "We believe with high probability that Duffy is enacting an operation to eliminate the target named Tiberius." "And who is Tiberius?" "The president of Russia." "What? What then call it off? Duffy is unreachable." "Just contact Musaka." "It's likely that he has progressed to the next stage of his operation." "In China, where he will carry out the operation." "Sargent McDuff, this is your prime minister, Miriam Bran. I have sent you this representative to deliver my instructions." "You are to head immediately to our embassy in Beijing with my representative. Your dedication to your country is invaluable and not something I wish to diminish." "But circumstances have changed politically since your departure." "The conviction brought against you will be appealed and condemned. Your name cleared the moment you arrive back on British soil." "Your rank and role within our armed forces will be reinstated by the Ministry of Defence." "I and the people of this country thank you for your service." "I look forward to seeing you shortly, Staff Sargent." (Music) "Peekaboo." "Three." "What's up?" "I've got 'em." "Take 'em. Carry." "What's up?" "Let me beg." "Coffee Chichee." "He showed no signs of concern getting into the water." "We had worked on these types of drills across multiple terrains in scenarios, not just in Changbai." "What informed of the purpose of the water tunnel?" "I informed them beforehand of the purpose of the water tunnel." "It's about combat, water, and confidence." "We lay it." The physical task is fast, moving through the confined space loss submerged, then removing and replacing kit while underwater. Mask removal and recovery underwater. Five key skills that will stick with the soldier for a good 20 years. One, panic control. Two, breath discipline. Three, claustrophobia resistance. Four, task completion under hypoxia. Five, drowning prevention. (Clears throat) "Thank you." "Thank you." "That's all right." "The debrief has concluded." "Okay." "He's smiling." "Yes." "We all have a smile, are we?" "Did something not translate?" "Zambia." "Yeah." "Zambia." "Breatherly." "We're still watching this video today." "Is this you?" "He wants to know if the man in the video is you." "Ah, yes." "Me." "Sit down." "In Zambia." "In Zambia." "In Zambia." "Inversion from the Congo." "Chah." "How many I kill, yes?" "Yes." "I believe eight." "Eight." "Bah." "We'll cover CQB." "CQB?" "Close quarters battle." "And the need for MFV." "MFV." "Maximum fucking violence." "The most dangerous violence." "MFV." "Jesus Christ." "This was an idiot in the prison at the Zambian military facility in Indola." "Just on the border with the DRC." "Duffy was stationed both there and in Lusaka." "Providing high level training for the. " "Shinwa! Shinwa! Shinwa! Shin!" "Ghostly meat." "For the one." "For the Zambians." "That's. " "That's the end of the footage." "It's still going." "You can keep watching if you want." "Beed killed every single one of them." "So. " "Right." "When was this?" "We think seven weeks ago." "And are they giving us any. " ". any indication at all of when exactly. " ". he ceased his work with them?" "They won't tell us anything." "Yeah, sorry. Why?" "Why the. " "Why are we being pissed about by Zambia?" "They're protecting their relationship with Beijing, Prime Minister." "Yeah, well, they're fucking up their relationship with London." "Prime Minister, can we just lay out. " "Yes, hi. Is Hugh there?" "We go in too hard on these." "And we are not taking disrespect from sub-Saharan Africa." "I'm sorry, but we're not. Hugh." "Right, Minister?" "What leverage do we have over the Republic of Zambia?" "Oh, goodness. I wasn't expecting that question." "So sorry. Just good to say this." "Procedural, deep rich, I suppose. Plenty, Prime Minister. Why do you ask?" "Like what, exactly?" "Well, we obviously hold voting power at the IMF." "No, unilateral. Not IMF. Anything on aid?" "I wouldn't know that for certain, but the debt. " "Yeah?" "Well, Zambia defaulted on its Euro bonds in 2020. The debt was restructured through the UK." "English law governs the bonds, so all payment agents trust these." "The city makes Hugh find out what can be done to break their economy to pieces." "Prime Minister, I really do think that we should. " "We'll hit them where it hurts and see if they still can't tell us anything." "Prime Minister, I will advise in areas where our intelligence is strong, but I must also advise. " "In areas that could potentially harm our ability to gather that intelligence and act upon it." "The Tiberius operation simply cannot leave this room." "I hadn't planned for it to do so, Mel." "I don't recommend that approach to put pressure on the Zambians." "You don't?" "No." "I agree." "What?" "I'm not playing nice. Sorry, not a chance." "What Mel is saying is that Pilgrim won't shoot it." "He set up this plan knowing exactly how our relationships with these countries work." "Right?" "We put pressure on Zambia, they tell China." "China, they know that we want Duffy back. It fortifies this whole thing." "How do we want him? How do they keep him?" "I disagree." "So, Adi's got something here. The pretext to make this complicated for us." "Duffy was dismissed on sexual assault charges. I suspect fabricated." "Why?" "It's about the perception to Beijing, to be anti-Western, anti-British democratic liberal order." "The more we chase him publicly, the more the Chinese see him as an asset and as someone they can trust." "He'll be on a tight leash with the PLA. If we give them reason to trust him, even more so, his leash gets longer and longer." "Right, look, I mean, I can see a world where we don't tell the Chinese. I can see that. But we have to tell the Russians." "We are absolutely not telling anyone." "Excuse me?" "This is where I've got to protect our capabilities to gather intelligence unimpeded." "Yeah, Mel, I don't know what that means, okay?" "The Kremlin will get involved, whether we want them to or not. If they have a national security threat that's been borne out and nurtured in the UK, then they will put it back." "Then they will put it down in the UK." "There is precedent." "Plenty. Nova Choc. Polonium. Back on UK streets. Again." "You know the date of when it will happen, this Tiberius operation?" "Yeah, 3rd of September." exactly a year after the crash. What were they thinking? Coincidental, I think. The parade in Beijing in commemoration of victory over Japan. The only guaranteed public appearance of the Russian President. He was at the core nation summit with me in Budapest. As planners weren't to know that. It had to be pre-determined. So we've got two months. That's right, Prime Minister. How did we learn this? Did we break open the Tiberius file? Mouse team got CCTV footage of Sir Pilgrim outside an office in the city. He consulted with some defence, intelligence and geopolitical experts before he put it together. The kind of rough plan to get a soldier into China comes from a book. A book. The beer bones, yes. Multiple plans were explored by the team from doing it in Moscow to Vladivostok to Beijing. And we got this information, how? Arrested them? Yes? The experts and the author? That wouldn't be possible. They were under the impression they were war gaming. War gaming? Yes, strategic modelling. Sure. I think we find a way to get them on trial. Prime Minister, one is teaching a NATO defence college in Italy. The author is in Washington, where he works with arms, manufacturers. That would involve bringing them back here in front of the whole world for someone we can't even charge against them. That's not your call, it's mine, understood. Understood. To these men, these plans were simply feasibility studies, Prime Minister. It's very normal in the field of intelligence. We have to come back to the central concern in our counteroperation. It cannot be known to anyone, anyone at all. What do you suggest, Mel? We mirror the tactic. Pilgrim Mur knew the game, and the players, and their traits. Britain's current place on the world stage is not her strength, so how did he build his plan? What are Britain's strengths? Intelligence, ingenuity, ops. Oldest and best intelligence services in the world, birthed the idea. An above-class creative industry inspires the concept with the first rate services field to develop it. And then, execution. Highest trained, most sophisticated elite troops on the planet, British special forces. The best he could find. Mirror the tactic. Get a plan. Get a soldier. Yes, Prime Minister. I'm out. Hi, Sarah, are you okay? Yeah, good, yourself. Oh, yeah, can't complain. Just heading into a meeting, Mel, can I call you back? I need you at number ten. Right, you must do a second. No, I'm tracking down Grant as well. He's here. Hang on, what did he mean there to special forces for? You'll find out. Hi, it's Grant here. Grant Carson, his phone's off. Yeah, it's because he's part of a tour group with the scouts. No, I know, I saw him earlier, but where is the two right now? It's just here, I think. No, look, they're out there in the garden. Right, thank you. And in this garden, in May, but does anyone know what happened? Well, you're in here. Grant, hey, Mel, can I grab you? Is it a quick one? I got this scouts tour and they're getting a picture. It won't be quick, no, but it's important. It's in the conversation in this very garden. Right, um, hour. Cobra. Yeah, Cobra. I didn't include this place in the tour. Before we begin, this discussion is classified at the highest level, extreme sensibility, potential deniability. It is not to be monitored, not referred to on any device, no external reference at all. What I'm about to outline is compartmental. If you are not prepared to carry that burden, say so now. Good. Distribution is limited to the three of us and the Prime Minister. It does not exist outside this room unless I authorize that personally. Yes? Yes, yeah. We have a problem. Yes, Ni Hao. Hello, Daffy. Tao, how are you? Good. I have Liu Xin with me. Ni Hao. Ni Hao. Liu is the Wu Jing officer that you helped from the water tunnel. Yeah, I recognize him. Really, I'm very grateful that you saved my life. He thanks you for saving him. No problem at all. He's an officer. Police officer. Wu Jing. Wu Jing, right? Training for snow leopard. Snow leopard. Police special unit. Beijing, Wu Jing. From Beijing. The coach trained with special units in Changbao and Jilin. That's cool. Best of luck to you. Becoming a snow leopard. It's a mighty calling. But gotta hold on that breathing, yeah? Of course you want to. Liu Xin said that his training is finished. He will return to Beijing and to police. Because of the water, what happened in the water? Because of the water. What happened in the water? Because of the water, it's really, really chilly. Water training and the long range rifle. Maximum chip? Yes. I watched. I saw. I didn't know that was police units. Tao, Tao, can we? The guy that liked my Lusaka video. He's senior officer. Of Liu, yeah? He is. Yes. Not PLA. No, Mr. Daffy. Wu Jing. Snow leopard. Can I speak with him? Would that be okay? Um, Chan Chun. Professional. Humble. I have to say so. I greatly admire the progress of your men and their cause. Make sure they watch my video for close quarter training. For your cold weather drills that is training for the soul, we talked about confidence, bravery, hard work, and ultimately sacrifice for the greater cause. I want to also humbly offer training for the craft. Your men are good marksmen, but the range we're using here in Changbai, although it is open, very big across the plains, the fighting position is covered, and actually heated to around 20 degrees. The trainees are zeroing in there, which is fine for marksmen, but sniping that does not work. Zeroing a CS-LR-4 in those conditions, like today, to then deploy at -2 in the hills tonight. You're not firing the same rifle. No criticism or judgment. Just advice from a professional two professionals. Controlling a climatization. What works down in a warm range in Beijing doesn't work 3,000 meters up there. At night. I'm talking about cold-boar shooting, first round hits out to the kilometer. Hmm. Your team, Wu Jing, can ask the PLA, yes? And let's do it. White lights off, white lights off. Thank you. This is not just for your concealment. Your eyes have just spent the last hour adapting to these exact conditions. Your eyes are part of the rifle. Anything but red fill are up here. Anyone else cold? It's real world temperatures. And you could potentially be out here for 24 to 48 hours before taking your shot. So you need to be able to sustain yourselves out here like real snow leopards. The cold will also affect your accuracy. Firstly, cold hands. So consider your fine motor control when manipulating the rifle. Secondly, cold body. Your body will shiver and affect your hold. Release and follow through. Be mindful of that as you prepare your shot. Thirdly, it's cold board. Your rifle will be cold and the barrel will act differently to how it does warm. Understanding this is key to hitting your targets with that first round. Consider your breathing cycle, where at high altitude the air is thin, this will affect your breathing and the bullet impact point. What will also affect your breathing is your exertion. No one shoots fresh. You've hiked with equipment. Let's remove that variable with breath management. You're about to engage another human in combat, so in through the nose. Slow exhale. Bring your heart rate down otherwise you won't hit him. Now a test. You've all seen it on a warm board on the ranges in Beijing. What will happen now is you will each fire one round that a steel target 600 meters away across the valley. Your spotters will mark and record the fall of the shore, and it's stand up and awaken other instructions questions. Pilgrim said it was a feasibility study. Fuck you now. Keith, right now this is about the counter operation. Okay, Grant, the PM's Chief of Staff is going to allow you as head of UKSF to have an operator seconded from the MOD for a specific mission. Hmm, been done before. We can do it again. Operational control will shift to SIS. PM's office will handle the administrative control. We require a soldier of duffy skill level to enter China. Track him down and terminate the operation. You want to eliminate an elite British soldier in China? No. You're going to extract him. Tell me how we do that. Duffy's in Beijing now. He's in China. That's all we know. But we're expecting him to be in Beijing for September 3rd. Yeah. If he sticks to the outline of his mission, yes. We can get a man in there, sure. No problem. Grant, this is Syria. All right, it's fucking China. The kind of level of surveillance would there be on him? Well, former senior China strategist is here with us. Let's hear it. Right. Well, if you're picturing European Star domestic monitoring, get that out your head. He's a pen. Right. Let's contrast this, right? UK, for example, has sophisticated surveillance techniques within its borders, right? We've got cameras, then policing, and then agencies. But we have protocols and processes that have those independent of one another. The only override we might allow of that structure is if MI5 are in a pre-authorized domestic intelligence collection operation. That would have been signed off, right? China is not separate distinctions of public surveillance and civil protection. It is totally centralized. They run one integrated fucking system. Policing, counterintelligence, political security, the monitoring of foreigners, internal threat detection, they are all plumbed into every single data point and frame of audiovisual material detected within the infrastructure. If you're saying you want what, a diplomatic post, isn't it, right? Send a UKSF guy out under the cover of, you know, of a fucking, a security operator at Beijing Embassy Osama. Would that be the best route? Yes, I know. Yes, it'll get our man in the country, but they'll fucking swarm him. They will fucking swarm him. Everything he has, everything he says, everywhere he goes will be bugged and tracked. Again, not part of a data net that there's a question and pick through. This is live, real-time, counterintelligence ops, on-shifts covering everything he does. How did we know that? Well, eh, because I worked at the China SIS and they could do this 10 years ago and B, we have teams embedded in China now and they do fuck all. Because they're monitored so closely. Exactly. What about a standard British travel to China? Grant, you've got an operative in mind. I do. Well decorated, CV as long as we are. To match with Duffy, yes. Right. They'll know almost as much about your man as you do. So yeah, if your fellow jumps on a fucking love thanzor out to Beijing International, they'll know all about it. Second, he scans his passport, that's with the police and secret service. Deep packet inspection on his phone, probably from the moment he tries charging it, our pops onto a cell network. He'll go through fucking everything. We can protect his phone. He might be on a shield off buried there on it, but they'll piggyback on it and again, monitor real time. They'll scan his fucking eye movements through the camera. They'll see his keyboard there. Absolutely fucking everything. No phone then. Well, that placate you Mr. Boxel. Something tells me it won't. No, not no phone. No bloody operator getting into the country through official channels. They can't trek over the fucking border key. You're in a mirror of the approach and fucking double up, right? Let's get our man to go through the same route that Duffy did. Private contractor gig negative. It's too late for that. If that time frame of September is valid, right Mel? Right. Plus, we can't compete with pilgrims play on that one. Sexual assault dismissal is regrettably genius and reckless, in equal measure. That's why it'll work. The Chinese might do it once. They won't do it twice. Double up quick, I say. Think right, worst case scenario. We give the Chinese the shits for all their white eyes. White eyes being western non-Chinese contractors. Exactly. We spook him poison the whole well and Duffy comes back in the mess of that anyway. Double down. Double, double. What are we on about? Just wait, I've got pilgrim couldn't use the system so he had to use creativity. We need to do that. He said he wanted out the box. And that's what I've got. We get our man into a regional security advisor role at the British Embassy in Beijing. Well far enough is so now. PM will. Right. He gets into Beijing, diplomatic immunity through us. Never mind immunity, he'll be watching more than a fucking Kardashian Mel. Let me finish. We get a double. A double. A look alike. As close as we can get. Oh Jesus. Look, I've coordinated dozens of multi-agency operations and overseas classified deployments. I cough the skill of my men. That's the only variable that matters. I can't find two operatives with the required skill level that looks. No, no, no. The double is not UKSF. Pilgrim looked in literature for an answer. Let's stick to the arts. An actor. A fucking actor. Closest resemblance we can get. He flies commercial airline right to Beijing. He's backpacking or something. He loses his passport. Goes to the British Embassy. And switches with our UKSF operative. The tourist becomes the diplomatic appointee. And the diplomatic appointee becomes the tourist. Pause. Fucking, fucking pause. Chinese monitoring has arrived. AI enabled facial recognition. He's a look alike. And our tourist has a beard. That's great recognition. The monitor the way he walks. It's the fucking, it's the bollocks. Mel, it's the best. Then we get the best actor. Once we've done the switch grant, how would our guy track Duffy? He'll go straight to Changan, haven't you? And make sure he gets accommodation as close as possible. Changan, the parade route. But why would Duffy be there before the kill? I've commanded SIS squadron since 9/11. I've commanded two SAS and SPS. It's a luxury male to command men operating at the peak. The very summit of what special forces professions can do. Duffy isn't just A professional. He's the professional. MOD made 20 million a year off his short term training gigs overseas alone. He won't be looking at this as just an operation. An operation that might get in court killed. If I know Duffy, he will be considering how his delivery will be judged in future. By his lads, by the Yanks, Delta Force, Mossad, he'd rather be tortured by Chinese police than doing in perfect job. Everything will be checked. Every method, route, eventuality, infill and ex-fil will be dry drilled. Our operative will go to Changan because Duffy will be, in his downtime, scouting the area relentlessly, over and over, familiarising himself with every nook and cranny. Right, right, right. We catch him doing that wrecky work. Our man spots him, closes him down, ends the operation. Exactly that. Get into the embassy, get him home. It needs to be a loser. What? This character you're coming up with that lands-inbergating a loser's passport. What do you mean by loser? China's monitoring in random, right? It prioritises diplomats, military attachers, journalists, NGO workers, tech execs, academics. They're a fucking crack in their cultural lens that we can exploit here. Okay, what's that? They're fucking snobbs. Mel, trust me, I'm married to one. They look down, almost repitty. The Laoi. Laoi, what's that? On the face of it, it means non-Chinese outside, but the connotation is kind of an air of failure. You know, we've broken soul, feel about it. A hopeless, wanderer. Spiritory emptied out by Western ways. Drunk, emotional, [BLANK_AUDIO] on discipline. Unkempt and bearded can help us too. Exactly. I mean, this stuff, you know, weirdos and that. We pick it up in our systems and scrutinise it, but they don't. They're looking for structured behaviour and discipline. All this stuff, erratic, bedraggled appearance, messy digital trail, it's a signal clutter. I'm not saying they'll pay you no attention, but that's your best chance. So, it's possible. It's possible. It's possible, right? We, erm, there is an agent out there, a coordinate Blackbird, I believe. We could connect him with her once the Embassy Switch is taking place. She's full of yarn, implied sex worker. If she links up with your operative, you might go away with what they're looking like, you know. Your lonely westerner paid for a companion. Exactly. She knows Beijing better than anyone. I'll have a look at where they can meet. Perfect Keith and Grant. Yes. We can be absolutely certain that your operator will be able to track and identify Duffy. Absolutely, sir. Validate that for me because we cannot get that far and fail to pull off the extraction. Why is this certain? Because the guy I have in mind fought alongside him. Oh, okay. Is he any good? Well, as of this moment Miss Murray, he's the best on British soil. Oh, I'm a senior NCO in the British Army 14. Yes, Sergeant Wade. I realise that coming across broken and sympathetic is the point to see her 14. Fuck me, man. Pissing your pants in Brecken. Now we've got piss coming out your eyes, haven't we? You need to wear a fucking bag or something because it's not fucking pouring out of you, isn't it, mate? Shall I ram a catheter up there and hang you by it? Little dangle by your dingle 14, ain't it? The fuck do you think you're talking too? No, no, no. Fuck you. No, no, me 14. How's that water treating you? Refreshing. Kind of like your old man, eh? Cold alone, eh 14. Tied a breeze block around his neck, I remember hearing. Room self in what river was it? What fucking river did your dad fucking drown himself in 14? Trent. Ah, yeah. I remember now, our little chat. When we sat down, I seen I see with a cup of tea, didn't we? We did. Couple of fucking custard creams in a catch-up, weren't it? Do you remember much else about that little chat? It was a while ago, weren't it 14? You haven't slept since then? How are the hallucinations going? Seeing big pink elephants with big pink cocks yet? Is it a cock or is it a trunk? Nice little fucking raw shak test, eh 14. No, nothing. Fortunately, you fucker. I do remember about you rambling on about moving to Heriford soon, special forces, interesting. No, does that mean the rest of your group of Heriford as well? No, shall I ask them? So, fuck stick! What did I say about fucking chur? No, no, no. Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! It's the origin weight. Hmm. DSF is the issue. Gen. Remain seat. Right. General Carson, sir. Sergeant Wade, reporting has requested. At ease. You're not in trouble. Is this an inspection, sir? No, Sunt. You are familiar with this man. You of course know how small Heriford is, General. I certainly am familiar with him, sir. Staff, Sunt, Tom McDuff. Yes, that's correct, sir. He brings a smile to your face, I see. Far from it, sir. I'm quite pleased, however, that he did receive punishment and court martial. For being a nonce, sir. Heriford indulges in gossip and chatter, does it, Sunt? Heriford, Paul, Brise, Norton, Caterick. He was all over the paper, sir, section assault. He was dismissed for sexual assault. He should be locked up, I hope, sir. He always liked his books. They'll be plenty of them behind bars. An unfavorable experience, working alongside him. Very much so, General. The man professed to be a stickler for detail, leading us often with a false sense of security. His nerdiness, forgive me, sir, was a cover, I believe, for a lack of now's an execution, which was often misguided, ill-advised and unusual by common practice. A preemptive manoeuvre of his nearly got me killed. The man by my side lost his life some years later due to injuries. MacDuff is a tough character, Sunt. He has his ways. His toughness was skin deep, sir. I received an apology out of him. An offer of appendent, sir. A little trite, I felt, sir, to offer appendent of St. Michael after such reckless actions. Did you accept it? I told him to go fuck himself, General Carson, sir. Sunt. Wade, a somewhat complex international situation as a reason. Regarding MacDuff, I'd like to run an operation briefing by you. I will preserve myself and be thought, to take the basis Danbo's poorest shape, that ever pennery, in contempt of man, brought near to beast, my face I'll grind with filth, blanket my loins, elfle my hair and knots, and with presented nakedness out face. The winds and persecutions of the sky, the country gives me proof and president of Bedland beggars who with roaring voices. There? Yeah, yeah. Thank you Charlie. We'll be in touch. I have something else, if King Lear is. No, no, no, I think admittedly you're off, but I don't think you're right at all. Not what we've mentioned. Okay? Okay. Step inside the land and dungeons, Madam. See the horrors, Bindi? Sorry, I'll go and change. Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. Someone was looking for you. Oh, who? She said it was about a role, said she'd wait for you in all by one. Really? Was it my agent? Like hard, I don't know, maybe. Okay, two minutes, I promise. Yeah, yeah, no worries. Feast your eyes upon the terrifying truth of this city boy. John, this bar? Yeah, yeah. Hi, I was told there was someone here that. Charlie Higgs. Oh, this is her, I think. Thank you. Hi, I'm Mel. Charlie, but you know that already, obviously. Yes, I found you on casting call directory. I saw some clips of the that animal kingdom motion capture. Yeah, a chimpanzee. Charlie Higgs is chimpanzee. Long time ago now, but I can still do that type of thing. That's great. Amazing, transformational skills. Thanks. It's not easy, but no, it's fun. So lucky to be involved. Very lucky. First, I want to ask, do you know who I am? I don't. Sorry. Should I? Okay, and what did your friend say about me? Did he see who I was? No. - Just said a woman. - Good, right. I will need you to sign this. - NDA, yes, no problem to open. - No, this is not an NDA. I have to make that clear to you. This is an acknowledgement of the Official Secrets Act. Now, before you sign it, I need you to confirm that you understand the legal obligations that place is upon you. And if Charlie, even if you don't sign it, this meeting and the presentation of these forums by me can create criminal liability for unauthorized disclosure. - I don't understand, sorry. Can I be arrested for just, for just saying this happened, yes, to anyone. And this is a crime indemnity, as you will be acting quite literally in this instance on their behalf. How long does, this says lifelong. The Official Secrets Act is a lifelong agreement. Prosecution, if breached, you will be imprisoned. Yes, if spoken of publicly, the government will deny your existence. That, Charlie, look at me a sec. Those are the downsides, but sign them. And tonight you get to uncover what's on this. That's a scratch card. A scratch card where a lucky winner could get themselves 250,000 pounds. I've got a good feeling it could be you. You still get to decline the job, but in order to hear about it, you have to sign. - I can still say no. - That's right, as long as it's just to me. Okay, done, done. Charlie, I need you to play a role, two roles, actually. Two. The first is, as yourself, an alternate version of yourself. You use Instagram a fair bit, I see. Tonight you will post the video of you uncovering your 250K on this scratch card. You will post of what you'll spend your winnings on, namely, traveling across Asia. Over the next couple of weeks, you need to document online a steady decline in your mental health, despite the winnings, and to talk of drinking again. - I, a couple of years ago, I decided. - I know. Do not shave your facial hair. Do not get a haircut. We will replicate your hair and your beard. - Replicate. - First, you will travel to Kathmandu, Nepal. You will enjoy an Everest mountain flight. You will go rhino spotting in Chitwan, visit the birthplace of Buddha, and enjoy yourself in downtown Tamil for a few nights. Then your itinerary takes you into China. You will visit the monasteries of Tibet, to the Jochen temple, and Patala Palace. If a couple of days to experience other things, if you wish, but on the 16th of July, you absolutely must board a flight to Beijing. - Okay. - And not long after arriving, you will take up your second role. No longer the traveling troubled actor, Charlie Higgs, but the security advisor and special forces operator, Sean Wade. - And he's made up. - No, he's real. You will meet him at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Shadow him for 72 hours before you fly out to Nepal. You will copy his mannerisms, his accent, and especially his physicality. The way he walks, the way he holds himself. - 72 hours. That's not easy. - Easier than a motion capture chimpanzee, Charlie, right? - So, hum. - So, I land in Beijing. - It was during a bit of late night reading, Mr. Speaker. The substance of which was this. Our core nation framework agreement. So, very, very light reading in this instance. This, oh, this is a good in this bit. Britain's potential economic benefits could scale by approximately 250%. Now, the Prime Minister might get upset again about my bluntness here, but what a lord of total nonsense. The potential could approximately. No substance, no data. He doesn't have any, because she's all performance and no policy. Britain wanted change. Well, we've got that, haven't we? Russia and America get the cash. We get the pennies and coppers. - Do you know what I'm doing? The leader of the opposition knows the fall of the House. We're not here for statements. He will ask a question. If it does not, he does not. The right hon. Gentleman will resume his seat. - Forgive me, Mr. Speaker. I, in all my excitement for the potential approximate, hopeful fingers crossed, scaling up. The Prime Minister has afforded us. I got carried away. The question I want to ask on behalf of the British people is, will Russian pharmaceuticals be injected into us by 2030 or 2032? - Prime Minister. - I'm honoured that the right hon. Gentleman was able to put down the Communist manifesto for five minutes before. Before picking up our core nation framework proposal, if he was reading closely, he would have noted that the framework extended to all areas of trade and commerce. This is not the European Union of Middle Powers. There is no yellow tape. These are big powers in their open, free, competitive market. Oh, I get a telling off for not asking a question. I think the Prime Minister deserves a telling off for not answering one. I'll answer for her, shall I? Man's planing, my wife says. Her daft deal instructs all public bodies to purchase, and I quote, preferred goods and services of strategic partners. Guess what, the Russians told our government to buy? It wasn't their oil. It wasn't their gas nor the US got that. No, the Russians are telling us to buy their drugs to inject into the bloodstream of the British people. And what else, military equipment, that they, that they would hold the kill switch for? That's why the Prime Minister did not answer because the two presidents tore her to pieces. He went to play with the big boys. Oh, and she's come back with no lunch money. And now, and now, he wants us to lend them more. Of course, it's misogyny. I think that's something we could explore, but a sense check out, at least. I could try that on Twitter, X. No, he's setting a trap. What if it didn't come through you? What if we start a signal to other female MPs we have? No, we're not doing that. I think Adi is wrong. I think the Russian thing is overripe, beginning to turn to rot. What's our counter on the medical deal? To the opposition, or to the Russians? Both. To the opposition, relax. Liberal hysteria. It's a multifaceted trade deal, many factors. To the Russians will tell them if they want to build our weapons, make our vaccines, I don't know. You've got to get something out of it. We've got to. Why do they want that? Prime Minister? Yes? You're going to get a call from the foreign secretary. Fish it through. Push what through? The issue he'll be questioning about. OK. Where are you? Got to all. We nearby. Wanna jump in and tell me what's going on? Sure. Scott, pull up outside MI6 and let Marmory in when she flags us down. We'll do, Prime Minister. Foreign set calling. Yes. I know. Hi, Zach. - Yes, Marine, with you. - Zack. - Prime Minister, Lionel Francis, an FCDO, reached out to me. There is a request for the Embassy in Beijing to process the accreditation for a regional security advisor. - Yes, authorize that. - Okay, but it's just, you know, Lionel is the ambassador out there. It's just he's a little perturbed by that. - Our embassies are not autonomous, Zack. - So just tentatively, I mean, I would just like to push back a little. I don't know if you know this is from SIS, and at no point have we met with the NCAA to discuss this Prime Minister, and I just think, you know, it coming out of a clear blue sky. - It has been discussed at the top level, and you are to give clearance for the new diplomatic posting. - We shouldn't know the way around espionage, Miriam. - No. - Zack, do it. - Yes, yeah, yes, Prime Minister, we'll do. - Oh, good. - Yes, just sorting something out regarding security staffing in Beijing. She's there. - You all right to jump out? - Of course. - Hey, Steph, oh well done on the half marathon. - Thanks, man. - I'm so amazing. - Hey, Robo. - Miss Mori. - What have I just authorized? - Our extraction plan of our rogue. - Of Tom McDuff, yes. - Let's hear it. We've chosen our highly skilled special forces individual. His name is Sergeant Sean Wade here. - Well decorated. Scott, could we isolate the conversation, please? - Of course. - Is he as skilled as McDuff? - Close. - Close will have to do. - He will be hired as the new regional security officer at the British Embassy in Beijing. And because of that appointment and the immunity that comes his way, the Chinese will watch him like a hawk. - MSS and PLA? - Yeah. - SSF. - Yep. - So how do we circumvent that? - We send in a second Sean Wade. An actor, Charlie Higgs, here. - He's pretty bloody close, isn't he? So you're sending in a double? - Higgs will enter China, NOC. - Non-official cover, just regular entry. - Correct, the narrative is already underway. - Guys, guys, I'm. Welcome to your fucking shake, I'm a. Okay, I literally. Everything, oh my god. Everything has so shit lately, I bought a scratch guard, like an. - We arranged this. - All the shop scratch guard. - Yes. - I scratched it off. - Good for Charlie. So we fly him to Beijing. - Can you see that? - Well, Nepal first, then Tibet, then Beijing. Traveling, sightseeing, very good. - How? - Eats into our lead time, though. A risk we have to take. He lands at Beijing Capital International Airport. He will be bearded, unkept, but cash rich. He will arrive at customs, declare his cash, collect his baggage, tear up his passport and cash, and flush them. Panicked alone, and without documentation and Beijing, Charlie will head straight to the British Embassy who will help him out. Charlie Higgs enters, Sean Wade leaves. Higgs shaves, cleans up, and takes the security post. Wade becomes the broke bearded backpacker. He'll be stationed with an agent working out there. - Right, okay. The eyes remain on the diplomatic appointee, not the Shabby tourist. - Yes, permanentster. We are exploiting a Chinese cultural stereotype of the troubled Western soul. Very good, very good. If you need to discuss it, it's Operation Caligula. I hope I don't have to. - Let me just, hi, Hugh. - Okay, Prime Minister, regarding an aggressive fiscal package to hit the zambians with. Now what we've arranged is we're going to, yes, Prime Minister. - Thank you for your help, but call it off. - Do you? It's everything all right. - It's fine, thanks again, Hugh. - Yes. - So we get weighed in. How do we extract Duffy? - The consultants that played along with Pilgrim have very little idea of the technicalities of what would happen in Beijing for the kill. And that, even if he were alive, would be true for Pilgrim Moore. The architecture of the actual kill itself is being handled and planned by Duffy. He's more than capable and has several months out there to put it together. - But he's going to do it at the parade, surely. - That's most likely, yes. So weighed will, under the cover of the backpacker, Mr Higgs, survey the ground of the parade. It is of high probability, Prime Minister, that someone of weighed's ability and know how will spot Duffy. He should be in the vicinity, planning his kill. These men know each other, they train together, they fought together, weighed knows exactly how Duffy will think. - That's good, that's very good. But they can't lock horns right there in Beijing. - Which is why I need you to record a message with me now to Duffy, telling him to stand down. Don't allow to an operation, don't talk about aborting or ceasing activities. A heartfelt, telling him you're grateful for his service, but to come home. Come home and have your charges dropped, your role reinstated. The Chinese won't understand it, if they locate that video, he will. He will know that Operation Tiberius must be terminated. - Hmm. - Ready? Ready. - Sergeant McDuff, this is your Prime Minister, Miriam Bran. I have sent you this representative to deliver my instructions on behalf of the British government. You are to head immediately to our embassy in Beijing with my representative. Your dedication to your country is invaluable and not something I wish to diminish. But circumstances have changed politically since your departure. The conviction brought against you will be appealed and condemned. Your name cleared the moment you arrive back home for your school, your rank, and your role within our armed forces will be reinstated by the British government. (dramatic music) (dramatic music)