(gentle orchestral music) (light, bouncy orchestral music) (people chattering) (bouncy orchestral music) - His Excellency, the Imperial German Ambassador.

And representative of Blohm and Voss, Admiral Heir Hans Schroeder.

- [Narrator] In 1904, the Russian battle fleet was sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Six years later, the czar ordered the building of a new fleet, which would be the equal of any in the world.

This, the Russian Naval Program of 1910, was hailed in Europe as the arms sale of the century.

The British sent to Russia Basil Zaharov to represent the British firm, Vickers.

The Germans sent Admiral Schroeder to represent Blohm and Voss.

And with keen competition expected from the French and the Americans, the stage was set for a commercial war of unprecedented ferocity.

- You've not met my wife before, Nadia, this is Basil Zaharov .

- Madame.

- How do you do, Mr. Zaharov?

- I don't envy you your duty, standing about in drafty corridors, unless of course you are interested in warships?

- I am interested in their crews, Mr. Zaharov.

I do hope that you are designing a proper accommodation.

- Of course, madame.

The well-being of the men is a basic consideration.

- Otherwise, they'd throw their officers into the broilers.

(laughing) - Ah, which is one of the reasons why I suggest that they should always be oil fiber.

(laughing) - Witty girl, St. Petersburg is full of them.

- She's very lovely.

I'm surprised that Reilly isn't here.

- Sidney Reilly?

- He is in St. Petersburg, isn't he?

- Uh, afraid we're not talking to Reilly at the moment.

He's taken up with the Germans.

- Mr. Zaharov, it's a privilege to meet you, sir.

- This is Stubbs, one of our commercial men.

- Mr. Stubbs.

- We were talking about Reilly, Stubbs.

- Well the man's a traitor, motivated only by money.

- Reilly is never motivated by money.

He is interested in money, that is quite a different matter.

(laughing) I think we ought to have white ensign on it, don't you?

Just to show them which is ours.

- [Narrator] Zaharov was right to be concerned.

Reilly had come to Russia two years earlier and taken a job with a German shipping agency.

It was widely assumed that he had broken with the British secret service following the conclusion of the D'Arcy affair, for which he received small credit.

Now, with the aid of his lawyer and friend, Shasha Grammaticoff, he had become an established figure in St. Petersburg society, where he was well placed to serve his new masters.

(man clearing throat) - Of course.

- Keep away from the fire my dear fellow, you'll take up all the heat.

For god's sake!

Did anyone order, do we need it at this time, can't it wait?

(sizzling) - Thanks.

- Your cards, please.

- Four of hearts, 10 of spades, one, two, three kings.

- No!

(clearing throat) - I will accept a note, Count Lubinski.

- You expect me to pay!

- Unless you wish to continue.

- Never, never again.

- Would you fetch the Count a pen?

(deep, mysterious music) - You can obtain the money from my partner, Evan Mendrovovich.

On Monday morning.

(dramatic music) - Well gentlemen, you've seen the opposition in there.

Formidable, hm.

- I don't think you should be too impressed, your excellency.

We're competing against each other all the time, it's like a traveling circus.

Tokyo, Athens, Istanbul.

- But this is the biggest order in modern times.

There's enough work her to keep British yards open for many a year.

- The bethel cruisers are the star items.

If we win that order, the rest will follow.

- And you're reasonably confident?

- I'd be more confident if I know what Reilly was up to.

- You're not coming to the Massinos?

- No sure, humble attaches like myself do not get invited to such functions.

- Well, thank you for coming along Stubbs, we'll see you tomorrow.

- Was there some particular reason for going on to Massino's?

- No but Reilly will be there.

- I was hoping for an early night.

(people talking and laughing) - Countess.

My dear Count Massino, I'm so grateful to be invited, to be able to discuss with all these experts the qualities of the modern warship.

- I should go, if I hear one more word about warships, I shall be sick.

(uplifting orchestral music) Is Basil Zaharov coming?

- He's been invited.

- Jan please, introduce me.

- (laughing) You seem anxious to make an impression.

- My dear fellow, the man is a legend.

(uplifting orchestral music) - [Shasha] Ever watch a man blow his brains out, Sidney?

- Yes, once.

- Do come over and tell me if this one's doing it right.

He's got the telephone in one hand, revolver in the other, and no one in the room is paying the slightest attention to him.

- I don't understand why Mendrovovich was not invited.

- He's a Jew.

You know, I really think he's going to pull the trigger.

- I think money has changed hands in these placings.

Shmarid Crosey got himself placed beside the Grand Duke.

And Bethlehem Steel set between the Minister and the Imperial Franc.

- Well that's hardly surprising, old boy, there isn't a nobleman in Petersburg who hasn't been bought by one of the big companies.

- Still, it disappoints me that people of this quality can talk business over a table.

- There's only one thing these people don't do over a table, and that they do under it.

Hello.

(gun firing) (people screaming) (people talking excitedly) - Hello.

Madame, your husband has shot himself.

Yes.

I, I'm sorry to say I, yes, he's dead, God rest his soul.

(phone clicking in receiver) - Come with me.

- I thought I heard a shot.

- Basil, allow me to introduce you, Baron Formick, Basil Zaharov, I don't think you've met.

- No we have not.

- It sounded like an Egram, 652.

- Yes, a very popular model.

My dear fellow, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance.

- Please, excuse me.

(people chattering) - Was he an acquaintance of yours?

- No.

I think my husband knew him slightly, he was a vain man, not without wit.

But it appears to have deserted him tonight.

We haven't met before, have we?

- No, I'm Sidney Reilly.

- I'm Nadia Massino, thank you Mr. Reilly, I'm most grateful.

- My darling, what happened?

- Gunnerhoff just shot himself.

- Look, I think you ought to lie down for awhile.

- Oh, no, no, no, no, no, let's get out of here, let's go to Panina's, I want to get drunk.

- [Count Massino] I can't leave my own party.

- Of course you must go.

- Goodnight, sir.

- Goodnight, Basil, I'll see you tomorrow.

- Goodnight.

Do you know the countess?

- [Sidney] No.

- She's a very lovely lady.

How's Margaret?

- Last I heard, she was in Munich.

- That was three years ago.

She's back in London, you know.

- What are you doing here in St. Petersburg, Basil?

- Well just a brief visit, dear boy.

- The Navy contracts?

- Someone has to lay the groundwork.

The British government picked me.

- Don't they always.

- Well the more difficult tasks they do tend to lay at my door.

- And the more profitable.

- Before I came out here, I asked Cummings about you.

He was most evasive, he always is.

You fell out.

- I haven't worked for the British since the D'Arcy business.

We had a difference of opinion.

So I decided to come back to my native land and make my life here.

- The perfect answer, direct, simple, and incontrovertibly true, I don't believe a word of it.

- You always had a low opinion of me, Basil.

- On the contrary, how much are they paying you at this German shipping firm you work for?

It is German, isn't it?

- More than Cummings ever did.

- How would you like to make some real money?

I need someone to look after our sales office here while I'm in England.

- No.

- Why not?

- I want to make my own fortune, Basil, not yours.

- Let's hurry in, gentlemen.

- All right, put him down here.

Careful.

- What was his name again?

- Gunnerhoff.

- I don't believe we met.

- Well you have now.

- Goodnight, gentlemen.

I'm leaving for London tomorrow night, but I shall watch your progress here with great interest.

- Bon voyage, Basil.

- Until next time.

- You know Zaharov?

- I used to.

- Renew your acquaintance, old boy, the man is worth millions.

- (muffled) he is.

(horse hooves clopping) What do you make of our Minister of Marine?

- What, Massino?

First class fellow, old boy.

Charming, civilized, almost European.

Married to Nadia, you know she's the only woman in Petersburg who doesn't wear a corset.

Apart from these little scampy.

(women laughing) (all laughing) - Is it true he's a trained engineer?

- Oh yes, no one's going to pull the wool over his eyes.

He knows a great deal about warships.

- Has he got any money?

I mean behind all those aristocratic titles.

- You know, I don't know.

He possibly owns half the Ukraine, but I doubt it.

He lives as if there were no tomorrow.

(lively music) (crowd applauding) (lively music) (crowd clapping rhythmically) ♪ Bring me the glass that's full ♪ ♪ Like a summer flower ♪ ♪ Breathing out perfume ♪ ♪ Let us drink a toast to such a dear ♪ ♪ To such a rowdy (muffled) ♪ (Lively music) (crowd clapping rhythmically) (crowd cheering) (somber orchestral music) - It was just the last straw, really.

(Nadia crying) (horse hooves clomping) (dog barking) (birds chirping) (dog howling) (door bell ringing) - Good morning.

- Sidney Reilly for Mr. Stubbs.

- He is expecting you, sir.

- [Sidney] Thank you.

- Mr. Reilly, sir.

- Morning, Stubbs.

- I have been recalled.

- Why?

- I don't know.

- Who will replace you?

- No one.

- Is there anyone I can count on here?

- No.

Maybe the doctor, McGilvery, he's sound.

Otherwise-- - What about Massino?

- The Count sir, is an old Herovian, that's about all I can say for Massino.

I'm afraid you'll be on your own.

- Before you burn everything old boy, I need some information about an Evan Mendrovovich.

He's president of an import agency, Mendrovovich and Lubinsky.

I also want to know about a newspaper owner called Boris Souvorin, ate breakfast at Cooper's.

- Come on, Sidney, I'm hungry.

Gentlemen, may I introduce Mr. Sidney Reilly.

Sidney, this is Evan Mendrovovich.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- And Boris Souvorin.

- Welcome.

- How do you do?

- Your name is known to me.

- Uh, watch it old boy, I am his lawyer you know, careful what you say.

(laughing) - I'm acquainted with your partner, Count Lubinsky.

- Oh, that is the connection.

- Uh, by the way, Boris, when he's awake, runs the most established newspaper in Petersburg.

- What business are you in, Reilly?

- Uh, shipping.

- Excuse me.

My chair.

- Very well, so sorry to bother.

- Another table.

- [Boris] Oh come on, Count Lubinsky, there's room for us all.

- Not for him.

- For god's sake, let's have no melodrama, it's breakfast.

- A seat at this table is by invitation only.

- Well then I have invited him.

- And I do too.

- But I have not.

And that is the rule about breakfast at Cooper's, is it not?

- You want to make an issue of this?

- Are you speaking as my host or as my lawyer?

- Ah, we'll find another table.

Demetri, another table, please.

- Sure.

- Gentlemen, bon appetite.

- Pleasure, Mr. Reilly.

- I've had enough of your back-handed friend, Mendro.

- Why don't you join them?

- We are partners.

Although I see you so rarely that I sometimes forget.

- Well don't you forget, don't.

You need me, without my protection you would not last 10 minutes in this town.

(men laughing) - How much do you owe him?

- You'll find out in due course.

- The note is on the firm.

- Mm-hm, well you be careful, he's not all he seems to be.

- Hello.

Hello, yes, I've been down to the warehouse, and I can confirm that the wagons were delivered.

No, no, no, no, the northwestern goods are at Moscow.

Yeah, goodbye.

How can you lose four brand new wagons each 20 meters long?

- I would have thought it would be quite easy, Russia's a big place.

- You're right, and we have 8,000 miles of track between here and Vladavoster.

8,000 miles, and those made me rich.

- I'm glad you feel that way because I have here a note signed by your partner, Count Lubinsky, for 70,000 rubles.

- 70,000.

He didn't tell me it was for that kind of figure.

Ah, the man will have ruined me, eventually.

He's bleeding me dry.

- Why don't you replace him?

- With whom, another aristocratic drunk?

And moreover, the new drunk would have to be more powerful than the old.

Because, Count Lubinsky will make it his business to take his revenge on me.

- My dear fellow, you are one of the most successful businessmen in St. Petersburg.

- Yes.

And I am well off sir, as you are.

And when the next program comes around my business could be taken from me.

That is why I need friends at court like the Count Lubinsky, he's my insurance and he knows it.

- He's not my idea of insurance.

Tell me, now that the railway's built, have you ever thought of perhaps going into the marine business?

Importing warships, for instance.

- (laughing) I know nothing about the marine business.

- I don't wish to flatter you, but I can think of no one more suitable than you to represent the big German yards.

- Yes, I don't think you realize the difficulties that it entails.

- On the contrary, I've made a precise study.

- Mr. Reilly, what exactly are you asking?

- I can bring you the business of the Blohm and Voss naval yard in Hamburg.

They are favored for the battle cruiser contract, you must know that.

- Yes, and what do I have to do in return?

- Sack Lubinsky.

- And.

- Bring me in as your partner.

- Mr. Reilly, I have a license to import railroad stock.

Get me a license to import warships and then we'll talk business.

(gun firing) - It is out of the question, Sidney.

(gun firing) Russian bureaucrats do not give licenses to railway men to start selling battleships.

It would set a precedent.

It would cut through 100 years of corruption.

It would confuse people, nobody'd know who to bribe anymore.

There is not the slightest possibility of Mendro getting a marine license.

(gun firing) - Won't be easy, but it's not impossible.

- In what cellar did you collect that grime, may I ask?

- The boilers of a German cruiser.

122 nautical miles in five hours, burning less than 70 tons of coal.

That's quick going.

And, it's better than anything Zaharov has to offer.

- So how do we get Mendrovovich his license?

- One applies pressure at the top.

- Oh yes, what do you mean, Massino?

- Through his wife, Nadia.

She's in love with me.

- You (laughing loudly) my god.

You're a cold bloody bastard.

- 2 1/2 percent of five billion, that's what the cruiser contract would bring in.

Why it's enough to furnish this place.

(laughing) - I have never known a scheme more likely to overreach itself, Sidney.

You are playing with people who love you, for that reason, they're behavior is likely to prove unpredictable, yet you are cold bloodedly setting out to manipulate them like pieces in a game.

Incidentally, what about you, are you in love with her?

Uh, I must declare an interest here, old boy, I'm in love with her myself, you know.

Still, it would be something if we pulled it off.

- For one thing, Zaharov would be humiliated.

Surely that's worth achieving in itself.

- Ah yes, I was coming to that.

He won't let you get away with it.

He's planning to spend a million out there just oiling the wheels.

Receptions, conferences, bribery, blackmail, and when necessary, a little barbershop brutality.

- I know how Basil works, but what I want to know is Shasha, are you in with me?

(slamming) - With both feet, old boy.

But Sidney, you deviate by just one degree either side of your course, and I'm going to blow your head off.

(gun firing) - An air race.

- It was Reilly's idea.

- Sounds splendid.

- Splendid?

It will inflame the city, and liven the season, and make us rich.

- Is there anyone in Russia who can fly these machines?

- No, but we shall all learn, shan't we Reilly?

- It's not too difficult, I'm told.

- Where do we get the machines?

- Well we'll import them, along with the mechanics and the instructors.

It sounds expensive, but Reilly showed me the returns from the Rheems meeting last year.

It was financed by the champagne industry and they made a profit.

- And what part do I play in this venture, Mr. Reilly?

- You must be our patron.

- Yes sir, that is the point of our visit.

Will you accept the presidency of the St. Petersburg Aero Club?

- I should be absolutely delighted.

(chuckling) - To Massino.

- To Massino.

- Massino.

- And his most beautiful countess.

- And to the St. Petersburg Aero Club, long may it flourish.

(dramatic music) (glass shattering) (bells tolling) - [Admiral] Yes.

- Commander Cummings, Admiral.

- What do you want, Commander?

- I have a message.

From St. Petersburg.

From Reilly.

- Ah, Reilly.

- This card.

(bell tolling) - Weather brightening, hopefully something soon.

How long has he been away?

- Just over two years.

- Tell me, did it float up the Thames in a bottle?

Or is the post from Russia just a trifle slow?

- [Cummings] I just thought you'd like to know.

- Know what, Commander?

- That he sent us a card.

- I shall cherish it.

Hopefully something soon.

- Shasha has asked us to his lodge for holy week.

- Will Reilly be there?

- I suppose so.

- Do we have to go?

- I like him.

He's a sound chap, not like some.

We had a fellow in today criticizing a crozae design.

Yet he didn't have one word of French.

How can a man, by just a 30 page prospectus, in a language he doesn't understand, and then have the nerve to criticize it.

- Well I don't want to go.

- For heaven sake Nadia, if you don't want to go, we won't go.

We can all go to the batcher and shoot the pig.

- All?

- The three of us, you, me, and Reilly.

I want to pick his brains.

All right, we'll add Shasha.

- Why do you persist in pointing me in the direction of Reilly?

What sort of perverse pleasure do you get from it?

- Are you attracted to him?

You're in love with him.

- Why don't you ask me if I'm in love with you?

- I'm asking you if you love him.

(somber, dramatic music) - I don't know, I am just trying to keep out of his way.

- Well, I don't believe in running away from things.

- You are not me.

- If it weren't him, it would be somebody else!

(horse snorting) (birds cawing) (horse whinnying) - What about the horses?

- We'll leave them here.

- And the rifles?

The rifles, we are going against pig.

- No rifles.

Pistols.

- (laughing) Pistols, against wild pigs?

You don't really think a pistol's going to stop a pig?

It weights two tons, it's faster than the train.

- It appeals to my sense of fair play.

That is suppose to be an English virtue.

- If it is, I'm never noticed it.

- Aim for the neck, and make it drop.

- Drop after how many shots?

- Well there's usually only time to fire one.

We move down the valley, towards the stream.

First Shasha, to his right, Sidney, to his right, Nadia, then myself.

Sensava the gamekeeper will take the high ground.

He alone will carry a rifle.

Maintain a steady pace, keep the person on your left constantly in view, remember that to your right, you're covered, or should be.

When we reach the start line, I will raise my hand.

That signifies that the safety catches may be taken off the weapons.

- You know Messino, I don't wish to be impolite, but it is quite obvious to me why your little weekend parties go unreported in the society columns.

Your guests never come back.

(laughing) They either die of exposure, get eaten by bears, or trampled on by pigs.

(laughing) (dog barking loudly) (horn blowing) (dramatic blowing) - Safety catches off.

(dramatic orchestral music) (dogs barking) (bold orchestral music) (dogs barking) (choppy, edgy orchestral music) (suspenseful orchestral music) (rumbling and gnashing) (suspenseful orchestral music) (birds singing) (bouncy orchestral music) (tense orchestral music) - Reilly.

- Nadia?

- I've fallen.

(tense orchestral music) I'm stuck.

(tense orchestral music) And I can smell pig.

(dramatic orchestral music) (growling and gnashing) - I'm gonna try and throw him this way.

(trees and brush crunching) (suspenseful orchestral music) Messino.

- [Count Messino] I hear you.

- There's pig in here.

I'm trying to draw him out.

- [Count Messino] Keep coming.

(grunting and snorting) (pig growling) (gun firing) (pig growling) (horse whinnying) (gun firing) (horse whinnying) (dogs barking) (men chattering) - Are you all right?

- Yes.

(light, gentle orchestral music) - Did Jan get him?

- Yes.

(uplifting orchestral music) - Put your hand in there.

(uplifting orchestral music) (thunder clapping) Oh!

- I shall be returning to St. Petersburg tomorrow.

- So soon?

- Yes.

You know, I had him in my sites.

It was touch and go whether I shot him, or the pig.

- Well Jan don't ever say you never had your chance.

(grimacing) - [Sidney Voiceover] My dear Cummings, it is likely that in the near future I will become the agent for the German shipbuilding firm of Blohm and Voss here in St. Petersburg.

Consequently, the way will be open for me to photograph the drawings of every German warship ordered for the new Russian Navy.

- I am therefore writing to ask whether you wish to take advantage of my situation here or not.

- Well of course we do, we want every damn thing we can get.

- There's just one snag, sir.

Reilly's scheme is dependent on the Germans getting the contract, and Zaharov is spending millions to ensure that they don't.

He wants the work to come here, and he has strong government support.

- You mean to say Reilly intends to sell the Czar a German Navy, and expects us to help him to do so?

The man's mad.

If it were ever found out that the Navy actually backed a plan to sell German capital ships to, it's treason, chaps have been shot for less.

- Should I pull him out, sir?

- Hm, what do you think, Fothergill?

- I don't think he'd come.

- [Admiral] What do you mean, he won't come, Major, he'll do what he's told.

- What I mean is, I don't think now is the right time to indulge in a trial of strength with Reilly, sir.

This is worth millions to him.

- You mean he's in it for the money?

- [Fothergill] Yes sir.

- My god.

The man is completely without principle.

- Well sir, what should we do?

- Well gentlemen, we appear to have run aground, and since reversing the engines won't get us off, we are just going to have to wait for the tide, are we not?

- You don't think this is something we ought to refer up?

- [Admiral] To the prime minister?

- To the king.

- No, not at the moment, thank you.

No let's just uh, wait and see.

- Ah.

What is he up to?

- I don't know.

(suspenseful orchestral music) - [Announcer] St. Petersburg!

- Pardon, Madame.

- [Announcer] St. Petersburg.

- [Margaret] Okay.

- Mrs. Sidney Reilly?

- Yes.

- I'm the porter from the Imperial Hotel, Mrs. Reilly.

Welcome to St. Petersburg.

Are those your bags?

- Yes, can, can you get them down for me?

- Certainly.

(boat horn blowing) - Oh, what lovely flowers.

Welcome to St. Petersburg, Basil Zaharov.

(traditional, flowing orchestral music)