Spooks s06e02 Episode Script

The Virus: Part 2

Mehan Asnik.
Zaf's already reported he's dropped off the radar.
- That's because he's coming here.
- And not for the shopping.
Strain E-34.
Incubates in 18 hours.
After that the carrier coughs up blood.
He infects anyone he comes near.
I think your guy in Tehran just blew open a case of it.
We know that Asnik is carrying a highly contagious virus.
Oh, God If we don't find him soon, that pathogen will spread across London.
They were ambushed.
Both Asnik and Zaf were taken.
A snatch squad.
Well equipped, well trained.
I'm going to find Zaf.
I'm going to find Asnik, and after that, we sit down, you and I, and we work out who did this to us.
Don't! He'll infect everyone he passes, we won't be able to control him.
You'll be killing thousands of people.
It's finally happened.
After 300 years, a plague is on the streets of London.
Asnik! Asnik! This man needs help.
Porter, chair! Doctor! Let's get some here, please.
Quickly.
We need to get some chest X-rays done.
He's haemorrhaging.
We need to get him into resus quickly.
OK, let's go.
Keep the mask on.
It'll help you breathe.
Yeah, thanks, Malcolm.
I can see it now.
Wait.
Plague Don't let that man go any further.
This hospital's under quarantine.
Get security to seal all the doors.
Make sure nobody leaves the building.
Get me Harry.
- How are you? - I'm fine.
- Where's Asnik? - In isolation.
He's got about an hour.
Maybe less.
Open the door now! What about these people? What's the mortality rate? Mortality's 94 per cent.
But over a limited number of infection cycles.
Virus goes off like a bomb, kills as many people as possible, then it quickly mutates.
Leaving the targeted area safe for invasion.
Adam.
The average incubation period for this virus is 18 hours.
You were infected two hours ago.
No matter what happens today, in 12 hours you will be on this quarantine ward.
That's in excess of half a million people dead inside a week.
We have to assume Zaf and those mercenaries are infected with the plague.
OK, we're in.
Angus Leonard.
Here he is.
There are a number of properties in Leonard's name.
- Shell companies.
- Garages, lock-ups.
At least six of them all over London.
There's a secure location in one of Leonard's company names.
A machine tooling business a quarter of a mile east of where Adam was injected.
Clear! - Clear! - Clear! Clear.
This way.
Oh, Zaf.
Six of them.
And there were only five mercenaries.
A shot through the skull, soaked with accelerant and burned.
Their bodies were fused together.
It'll take Forensics time to separate them, let alone identify them.
Until we're sure Zaf was one of the bodies, we have to concentrate on this.
This is all Copenhagen's work.
He planned for the virus to be released in Iran, not here.
He's just clearing up after his own mess.
- Whoever he is, we track him down - Anyone who came within 6 feet of Asnik is a potential carrier of this disease.
in quarantine.
How many more did he pass in the street? We have to locate and identify them.
Get them in here before they become contagious.
It's only two hours since the outbreak of what St Edwin's hospital will only confirm is an infectious tropical disease - Just enough to lure them back.
- But not scare them away.
OK.
Asnik was kicked out here.
The good Samaritan picked him up here.
This is their route to the hospital.
These people passed within transmissible distance.
Pending identification, they've been given numbers.
Reassign resources to the facial recognition software.
We need those IDs as soon as possible.
Jo, can you liaise with SO19? Sure.
as a precaution to report for tests.
We have until midnight before the home secretary imposes a national quarantine.
It doesn't matter.
Either we control this thing right now, or it wins.
Harry, the virus was released in Tehran half a day before it reached London.
Perhaps they're closer to solving the problem.
Maybe Ana's heard something.
She knows who you are, Adam.
The woman hates you.
Hate's good.
I can use hate.
OK, our first hit.
Vector 45.
Karen Dugan.
Born Ipswich, 1963.
- Karen Dugan? - Yeah.
Could you come with us, please? No, I'm going to hold.
Please get back to me straight away.
I need that information now.
What's the position? SO19 and the Met have picked up Another 20 will be in quarantine within the hour.
- And the others? - All security departments have got cell numbers and credit card details.
Any of the vectors makes a call or fills their tank, we're ready.
What if they don't make a call? What if they don't use their credit card? Cards on the table.
We've got a problem.
Don't be offended if I suggest you may have the solution.
I wish I was in a position to be offended, but we both know I'm not.
We've got wild vectors.
Carriers we can't trace.
In 18 hours, the infection rate will explode.
Yesterday we flew a sample of this new guy to Washington, see exactly what we're dealing with.
And what I told you yesterday was correct.
It's of US origin, strain E-34.
And Saddam had someone cook it up a little, stir it around.
Russians maybe, Indians.
Hell, the French at a push.
We're working on a vaccine right now to see if we can retrofit the strain we've got.
The DNA sequence has gone to your guys at Porton Down.
But we need time.
We don't have time.
As international concern mounts, the government in Iran continues to maintain that a large chemical spillage was responsible for yesterday's Tehran explosion.
However, images obtained by the BBC appear to show emergency personnel in nuclear biological chemical suits with large numbers of body bags Not here.
Follow me.
Ana.
- Please sit.
- No.
This is Mehan Asnik.
Iranian.
Yesterday he arrived in England and brought something with him.
A virus that mimics pneumonic plague.
Iran acquired it as a weapon and somehow, God knows how, it got loose.
It's killing people in Tehran as we speak.
And now it's loose in London, too.
This is what it does, Ana.
- Look, Ana.
- Make the lie big.
Make it simple.
Keep saying it and eventually they'll believe it.
Well, not me, Peter.
- Adam.
Whatever you are.
- Iran acquired it as a weapon.
They wouldn't have done that without a fail-safe, a vaccine.
We believe it might be somewhere in the embassy.
This is your chance to save thousands of lives And what, now I'm to consider you noble?! You slept with me It's easy to be principled with nothing at stake - It's your chance to do what you believe in.
- Who are you to mention principles?! You lied to me! You used me! My body! Listen - It makes me want to throw up.
- People are going to die.
People who don't care much about politics or religion or any of the rest of it.
- "The rest of it"?! - This is your chance to do something! I'm not going to apologise again, because you're right, I'm a liar.
But I am going to ask for your help again.
I'll beg if you want me to.
Not if you were dying in the street.
I might be.
I spent time with Asnik yesterday.
I'm infected with this thing too.
It's all right, I'm not a danger to you.
Not yet.
I brought this thing back, Ana.
I didn't mean to but I did.
How long do you have? A few hours.
Liar.
- If you're lying, I'll find out.
- Lying? I don't have time to lie.
We have to find that vaccine.
In the face of continued accusations about the illegal manufacturing and transporting of chemical or biological weapons, the Iranian government has emitted strong denials however, a statement from the White House expressed grave concerns about the implications of this catastrophe and promised the sternest of responses What kind of country would allow this to happen? This was done to us, not by us.
And what is Tehran doing to help these people? Why aren't they administering a vaccine? There must be a vaccine.
They wouldn't be fools enough to buy the poison and not the antidote.
So many dead, and all you do is wag your finger.
His last known address was Parkgate Road.
So where does he work? - Malcolm, the unacquired vector? - 11 remaining.
- Adam, did the Iranians have the vaccine? - Not sure.
Wasn't Ana forthcoming? - Not yet.
It's too early to tell.
- We're still considering her an asset? Yes.
- Yes, we are.
- Where do we go from here? We may be too late to rein this thing in, but someone knows about a vaccine - and we have to find them.
- Actually, I have a suggestion.
Apart from the Americans who made it, we know of three countries capable of modifying strain E-34 and re-selling it to Iraq.
France, India and Russia.
So, one of these countries will have access to the vaccine.
And their top spies will know about it.
- How do we establish who that is? - By asking and forcing an answer.
What? We abduct and threaten spies from friendly nations? Yes.
That's a very dangerous precedent to set.
Once it starts, where does it stop? It won't be pretty.
We'll be leaving British agents open to reprisal attacks, both home and abroad, our entire network.
It'll be spy on spy.
If you want to agonise, then agonise tomorrow, 'cause unless we respond effectively to this situation now, we're going to have half a million dead Londoners on our conscience.
So let's go.
- How long before you're contagious? - Long enough.
Adam? Seven hours.
You want to start keeping your distance? No.
I need to be home, I need to see my children.
Sorry, love, no one's allowed to leave this area.
Come back and sit down over here.
- Excuse me I need to see my children.
- Come and sit over here.
They'll be fine.
I need to see my children.
Please.
Come here.
Come on.
- Did you come alone? - It's what you asked.
Why the secrecy? - I need your help.
- Just say the word.
It's the old spy's curse, Bob.
I find it hard to believe someone when I know, if I were in their place, I'd lie.
- Harry - I think you're lying to me.
I think if you don't have the vaccine, then you know where it can be found.
Of course you think that.
I wish you were right, I really do.
I know how to cover my ass, Harry.
If I had the vaccine, I'd give it to you.
My wife is with me.
She lives here.
I'm as scared as you are.
Somehow I doubt that's true.
Yeah.
What do you mean, a problem? Hey! You! What the hell is this?! You're about 89 kilos, aren't you, Bob? Don't worry, Bob.
You'll be fine.
In about an hour.
Do you have any experience in this line of work? I don't want to make it sound awful, but it's not for everyone.
I would not like my daughter to do this job.
I haven't just hopped off the haycart, Mr Kuznetzov.
- Then come to me now.
- Here? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Right here.
Right now.
- Do you want to undress? - Of course not.
I would like you to.
Excuse me.
Excuse me! - Yes.
- I think you dropped this.
No, I don't He knows.
Morning, Nirav.
How are you? Good.
Adam, is it? I'm going to ask you to come with me, Nirav.
Are you armed? No.
I am.
Look.
Stop.
Stop.
People have been separated from their families, taken from their work places and in some instances taken off the streets.
People are understandably scared.
So, Home Secretary, how do you respond to the reported Whitehall leak, which identifies this disease as an outbreak of MRSA? Well, obviously, there is a great deal of The MRSA was a fine idea.
Well done.
Come in.
Home Secretary, the Russian delegation is here.
Well, let's get on with it, then.
guess work and rumour, panic and confuse those families who are affected by this virus.
We have medical professionals working intensely on each patient and have insured that no one anywhere will be infected.
Huh! - You might have called ahead.
- Didn't want to spoil the surprise.
By which I can only assume my calls are still being monitored.
Ooh, this is what they give you to work with these days, is it? - Have you got a minute? - I'm busy.
It'll be a quick minute.
Make sure you wipe your shoes.
You too, Malcolm, come on, come in from the cold.
So, Harry.
Malcolm? How's the lovely Sarah? Sarah wasn't to be, I'm afraid.
You were always too good for her.
She had a second-rate mind and fat thumbs.
Perhaps she did at that.
And no new ring on your finger, Harry? Can't find one that fits.
Connie, I need your help.
And I suppose the Service thinks I owe it a favour? No, the debt is owed by the Service to you, it always was.
I know that.
As you've never failed to mention in all your many letters and phone calls.
Very well, then.
Let's get it over with.
Malcolm, I don't want you to see this.
Understood.
Thank you.
Bring them in.
One by one, please.
It was a bio-weapons research facility.
Back in the days when we called it germ warfare.
The MOD sold me the land cheap when I retired.
They like to have washed-up old spooks maintaining their more sensitive properties.
- Roomy.
- This way.
You've really lost it, Harry.
- Do you think for one second? - That I'll get away with this? Come on, Bob.
Do you think I care? And what exactly is that? It's blood.
Taken from the veins of a man who died earlier today.
What killed him, is a weaponized virus.
The virus is carried on the air in minute particles.
It's called aerosol distribution.
You breathe it in, you die, unless you've already been vaccinated.
Or have ready access to the vaccine.
If you do this, my operation will track you down and kill you.
Let's hope we both live long enough for them to be able to give it a try.
This is a guy who's so morally opposed to extraordinary rendition This isn't extraordinary rendition, Bob.
This is kidnap.
And torture.
You weren't a fan of that either.
We don't like to call it that these days.
Don't want to offend anyone.
- Jesus Christ, Harry.
- The vaccine, Bob.
Because we're almost done here.
Harry, don't do this.
Don't do this.
God! Oh, God.
You're too young to remember much about the Cold War.
My generation, we lived every day with the possibility of Armageddon.
End of the world.
The living will envy the dead.
Unlike some, I never had much taste for it.
Running a few hookers.
Lifting a little corporate intelligence.
I like the world like this.
Edik, what are you trying to say? There is something you should know.
Are you going to make me do this? I don't know anything about a vaccine.
Not good enough, I'm afraid.
But I can help, maybe, with your missing officer.
Zaf is his name, no? He claims a French surveillance team witnessed the bodies being burnt but that Zaf was led away.
He's lying, Ros.
- He knows something.
- He's a spy.
He's got partial information.
He's extrapolating.
Telling us what we want to hear.
It's a trap.
- They'll be down on you in five minutes.
- You're probably right.
But what if he's genuinely trying to buy his freedom, selling the only thing in his gift? I haven't administered the virus.
If Cuvier's telling the truth, we could find Zaf.
That could lead us to whoever did this to us.
Then we can identify Copenhagen.
God knows, we all wish Zaf was alive.
We want to deal with Copenhagen, but operational priority right now has to be this vaccine.
Harry? Since maybe six hours ago, Russia and Britain have been negotiating a price for the vaccine.
What? You really know nothing about it? Two choices, Edik.
My time is very short.
Either you tell us where the vaccine is, or we make you.
We don't want to do that, but we will.
Believe me.
The vaccine is already here.
If I help you, Russia will kill me.
And also you.
So? According to Kuznetzov, the home secretary's negotiating with the Russians to secure the vaccine.
That's good, isn't it? They're refusing to meet Russia's terms.
What terms? What could they be asking for with so many lives at stake? Something too big to concede.
What, I don't know and nor does Kuznetzov.
It's a cabinet-to-cabinet thing.
Red telephones, all the rest of it.
Politicians.
You're really in trouble this time.
I ordered the kidnapping and attempted murder of four spies, including a key man of the CIA.
And all to source a vaccine the government may have already got without deigning to tell its own security services.
Same old thing, eh? Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
So, what will you do? I can't risk my officers on Kuznetzov's uncorroborated word.
I've nothing up my sleeve.
You won't let them hear that.
I don't care how you feel.
To them, you're Harry Pearce, the still point of the turning world, and you won't let them see you like this.
The Russians might have the vaccine.
Whitehall might be gambling with British lives, so let's take control of this.
We take Kuznetzov at his word.
If he's lying we deal with it and look elsewhere.
If that falls through, we look elsewhere, and keep looking till we get the vaccine.
Agreed? They'll have your head, Harry.
Malcolm.
Connie.
Where are you? Harry's scared stiff.
Hush.
I need you to do something for me.
Oh, no, no, no.
Connie.
I would if I could, but today is not the day for asking.
I need you to sort out my security clearance.
It's suspended, you know.
I can't do that! Yes, you can, Malcolm.
All I need is, say, level 4.
Just to get me through the door.
A monkey could do that.
A monkey.
In about one minute I'm going to swan in to the Home Office.
If I don't have security clearance, they'll arrest me.
Get on with it.
Come on, come on, come on.
Please, please, please, please, please, come on.
Malcolm, I want details of the home secretary's confidential PA.
You mad old fool, you'll get yourself shot.
Maggie? Maggie Dibdin? - May I? - Er, yes.
Maggie, my name's Bernice.
I'm from Human Resources.
- I'm afraid you have to call home.
- Home? What's happened? - Nobody's hurt and Josh is all right - Josh?! He's fine.
Look, I know your boss is in and out all the time.
If you want more privacy to call home, please use my office.
- It's on the second floor.
Chop, chop.
- Yes, thank you.
- Where's Maggie? - I'm afraid she's been called away.
Personal emergency.
We've called for a replacement.
Do we? Have we met? Er Several times, yes.
Just let me know when the replacement's here the moment she arrives.
- And we need some more drinks, please.
- Absolutely.
- Stop the car.
- Why? What's wrong? Harry was right.
Zaf's gone.
He's gone.
Would he want you risking the operation for his sake? Do you think he'd want you risking yourself? You'd be out there all alone, Ros.
No support.
No back-up.
What happens if we lose the trail and we can't pick it up? Can you live with the thought of leaving Zaf in the field? I'm not sure I can, Adam.
I'm calling French intelligence.
It's the only lead we've got.
I need you.
I need you.
No, you don't.
Adam? - God, I'm sorry.
- Don't be.
We're in this together.
So I think it's maybe time to get the vaccine.
The home secretary has talked about the need for calm following the news of at least one death, with several more patients critical, as the MRSA crisis deepens.
Several hundred have been quarantined, but it's feared that the superbug has now spread into the wider population.
The health services have been forced to issue a list of symptoms the public should be aware of.
These include flu-like symptoms, respiratory discomfort, aching joints, a rise in body temperature, dizziness - You need to come with me.
- It's all right, I'm fine.
- We have to leave.
- It'll be all right.
- You need to go to the isolation ward.
- There's nothing wrong with me.
Tell Magritte, Yves hopes she's well.
Stay on this number.
What's going to happen? Let's get you on the bed.
What are my chances? The doctor's coming.
Can I see my family? John and the kids.
For 20 years the antidote has been buried in Highgate Cemetery.
But since this opportunity arose, the Russian operation in London has moved it.
All day the antidote has been passing from officer to officer.
Safe from detection and ready for quick delivery - when our terms are met.
- When you call it in, - they'll know something's wrong.
- Darling, I'm a senior officer.
If I order the vaccine brought to me, they obey.
- How long will that be? - Fast.
If they believe me.
If not, they kill us.
You have Yves.
You understand that I want him back.
- And you have Zaf.
- No.
No, we don't have Zaf.
So, I hear the CIA is very concerned for its man.
Bless.
I can't recall the last time an allied nation behaved in such a way to its own.
The repercussions don't concern you? The fallout? Spy versus spy? Not disproportionately, no.
Angus Leonard, the mercenary.
We've been watching him.
- Why? - Rumblings of a coup in French Polynesia.
Leonard was to lead it, we think.
This is your officer Zaf, yes? Do you know who your enemies are, Ros? Apparently today it's someone called Copenhagen.
Not today, now, this minute, but historically.
Do you know who your real enemies are? I've got a pretty good idea.
If that was so, you wouldn't need my help to find your officer.
Release our man, unharmed, tonight.
I'll give you what you need.
Give me what I need and we'll release your man.
Hm.
And now I suppose we'll have to wonder who wants what more.
You have my number.
Evidently.
Spacibo.
So wait for me here.
- What did you say to them? - Passwords, codes.
No pleasantries.
Put the box here.
Adam, the engine stopped.
I think they're coming back.
- You passed on an alert! - Hey, hey! I told you.
No lies, no lies! They must have been alerted to my disappearance.
I swear.
We're blown.
You take the vaccine.
I'll keep them at bay.
No.
You need to get the vaccine to the hospital and you need to take it as soon as possible.
Just go.
Go! Edik, I need your help.
- For both our sakes.
- What? - On your knees.
- Knees? Yeah.
You know what you are doing? Hey! Hey! Stop! You can shoot me if you like, but I'll take your senior officer with me.
- Actually, she's not lying.
- I swear to God.
- Where is the case? - I swear to God.
I swear to God.
You, go.
OK.
You took your time.
Now the gun, please.
What do you take me for? Moscow want a word with you, Edik.
It's curious what other operational secrets you might have given up.
What happened to the case? Stop the car! Stop the car! Stop the car! Drive! Drive! Just drive! I'm an Ml5 officer.
Take me to St Edwin's Hospital.
Malcolm, how soon can you get an armed response team to Jo's position? Not in less than eight minutes.
Get bodies down there, in numbers, as quickly as possible.
- Jo.
- Unfortunately, no.
Bring it back.
Bring what back? Bring back the antidote or she'll be shot.
I'm not coming back no matter what you do, so why do it? What's the point? - You have two minutes.
- I won't make it.
Five minutes.
- Five minutes at least.
- Two minutes! OK.
Look.
Don't do anything.
I'm turning around, I'm coming, please.
Just don't do Should I turn round? Just keep going.
You know he's not coming back.
He is coming back.
- How long till SO19 get there? - You're not turning back? No, Malcolm, I'm not turning back.
How soon? - SO19? - On their way.
- In time? - No.
Get me the home secretary.
One of my officers is about to die doing her duty, so use whatever leverage you have with the Russians - and get them to call off their dogs.
- How? By doing what? Say anything for now.
Agree a price, any price.
Just get them to stop.
I'm almost there.
- Time is up.
- Please don't hurt her, don't hurt her Don't kill her, don't - He's a cold one, your friend.
- The benefits of a public school education.
Nevertheless, I am sorry.
Alexi! Alexi! There is no need to do this.
Killing her doesn't help leverage the situation.
"Leverage the situation"?! You've been in London too long.
And you're not thinking like the field agent I know you are.
Please don't do it.
Think.
Use your brain.
- Don't presume to order me, Edik.
- I'm not! Listen to me.
- Shut up! - Just listen to me.
- Shut up! - Listen to me, please! I don't think so, Alexi.
Edik? Edik? Edik! I said, I don't think so, Alexi! Are you OK? Go to the hospital.
You need to check in.
I'll get help.
So close, huh? Pretty close.
John.
Thank God.
- You OK? - Still here.
You? Still here.
Jo It was a difficult thing to do.
But it was the right thing.
Oh, I know that.
I just wanted to see if you'd say that to my face.
She's scared.
It's frightening knowing we'd all make the same choice.
I'm hungry.
I can't remember the last time I ate.
- I could cook.
- Yeah, right.
- What? I cook.
- I know.
Come back to mine.
I'll throw something together.
If I can find anything in the fridge.
It's Ana.
It worked, then.
She's an asset.
- Yeah, I suppose so.
- You know you can't trust her.
You can't trust her, because she's in love with you.
- I wouldn't call it that.
- Call it what you like, Adam, It makes her unpredictable.
- Just be careful.
- I'm always careful.
Take the call.
Ana.
Yeah.
Me, too.
Of course.
That'd be great.
I'll let you know where.
Bob.
I'm sorry.
See you around, Harry.
Proof of what the government considered to be acceptable British casualties.
Thousands of people dead, if you hadn't found that vaccine.
Which means you've got them where you want them.
For five minutes.
Now, the, er The men who were in my boarding house We got them out how we got them in.
They'll never know where they were.
You're safe.
Besides which, Connie, you're no use to me stuck at the back of beyond, feeding the geese and mucking out the pigs.
I need you where you belong.
Back on the Grid.
I'm long past all that.
No, the Service has already chewed me up and spat me out once.
Never again.
You can consider that history permanently and officially erased.
I need you, Connie.
Malcolm needs you.
I don't want some cold-eyed, fast-tracked postgraduate on the Grid.
I need someone I can really, really trust.
Well.
I'll give it my urgent consideration.
100 patients were taken in to be treated for the virus, many have since complained about their treatment in quarantine.
All have now shown a full recovery.
The home secretary expressed This is a dead end.
The French don't know where Zaf is anymore than we do.
We know it wasn't Zaf's body on that bonfire.
- What? - I've just heard from Forensics.
The sixth body we thought was his? It wasn't.
It was a vagrant's, shot in the head to make up the numbers.
Whoever's got Zaf, I think they're keeping him alive.
I'm going to follow up the Magritte lead.
See if it leads to Copenhagen.
- Have you spoken to Harry.
- Harry'll nix it.
You know that.
Go.
I'll cover you for 24 hours.
After that it becomes official.
I know.
Thanks, Adam.
Take care.
Ow! Shit.
Shit.
Shit.
One more incident with Iran's fingerprints on it, we won't be able to restrain the Americans.
A cargo plane's come down at the American base at Halesworth.
Local reports of a collision.
Witnesses describe an object, maybe a missile.
- That wasn't my doing.
- Bob, we're close to the edge here.
Let me enlighten you.
The British bombed your train.
- Where's Ros? - Following a lead on Zaf.
You wanted to find out where your friend Zaf is.
Zafar Younis is already dead.

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