Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
George Smiley has been retired for about a year when he finds a friend from the Circus, his old outfit in British Intelligence, sitting in his living room. He is taken to the home of an advisor to the Prime Minister on intelligence matters, where he finds evidence that one of the men in the senior ranks of his old agency is a Russian spy. Smiley is asked to find him, without official access to any of the files in the Circus or letting on that anyone is under suspicion. With only a few old friends, his own powers of deduction, and secrecy as weapons, Smiley must unearth the spy who turned him out of the Circus.
- 1979-1979
- 1 season
- Acorn Media Group
- Drama, Suspense
- TV-14
George Smiley has been retired for about a year when he finds a friend from the Circus, his old outfit in British Intelligence, sitting in his living room. He is taken to the home of an advisor to the Prime Minister on intelligence matters, where he finds evidence that one of the men in the senior ranks of his old agency is a Russian spy. Smiley is asked to find him, without official access to any of the files in the Circus or letting on that anyone is under suspicion. With only a few old friends, his own powers of deduction, and secrecy as weapons, Smiley must unearth the spy who turned him out of the Circus.
Season 1 Episode Guide
7 Episodes 1979
Episode 1
Return to the Circus
49 mins
Control, the ageing head of British Intelligence (the "Circus"), sets up Operation "Testify": he sends secret agent Jim Prideaux to Czechoslovakia where he is to get the name of a Soviet spy (or "mole") inside the Circus. But Prideaux falls into a trap...
Episode 2
Tarr Tells His Story
49 mins
At the home of Sir Oliver Lacon, George Smiley listens to Ricky Tarr's story. He was dispatched to Lisbon a year ago when the local resident, Thufty Thessinger, requested assistance. A Russian trade delegation is in town and one member, Boris, is stepping out on his own at night to bars and restaurants. Ricky soon realizes Boris is a trained agent and as per standing orders, doesn't approach him. He decides to check his hotel room and there meets Boris' wife Irina. They are soon having an affair and she eventually tells him a great secret: there is a Russian agent, a mole, buried deep in the British secret service. George had similar concerns before his forced retirement and now Lacon asks him to investigate.
Episode 3
Smiley Tracks the Mole
60 mins
While Smiley checks on other former colleagues for details of what is known about the mole, his protégé Peter Guillam plays Burglar Bill by sneaking into the Circus and getting corroboration of Tarr's story and the details of Operation "Testify". Smiley also focuses on source "Merlin", a British spy in the KGB, and his "Witchcraft" material upon which the present heads of the "Circus" owe their positions.
Episode 4
How It All Fits Together
50 mins
Smiley and Guillam realise that Tarr has not told them the full story and that his presence in Britain is known to those suspected of being the mole. Smiley also reflects on an encounter he once had with Karla, Moscow Centre's leading strategist.
Episode 5
Tinker Tailor
60 mins
George Smiley calls on San Collins, ex-circus spy, who was the duty officer the night Jim Prideaux was shot. He confirms the events as George understands them and that Prideaux's good friend Bill Hayden is the senior officer who took charge of the case after all hell broke loose. George subsequently meets with Prideaux to get a firsthand account of what happened during the disastrous Operation Testify in Czechoslovakia. Prideaux confirms that it was a disaster from the start and was under surveillance almost immediately from the time he arrived. While under arrest, his interrogators knew as much about the operation as he did, including the meaning of "Tinker, Tailor".
Episode 6
Smiley Sets a Trap
60 mins
George Smiley continues his round of interviews this time meeting part-time agent and journalist, Jerry Westerby. Jerry had contacted Smiley after the Testify fiasco as he had an important piece of information for him. George was out of the Service by then and ignored the letter. Jerry's information confirms that Testify was a set-up. George now takes a gamble and takes one of Percy Alleline's senior men into his confidence. With his investigation now complete, it's time to lay a trap and Ricky Tarr is sent to Paris.
Episode 7
Flushing Out the Mole
60 mins
Now Smiley has set his trap, Peter Guillam sets up the safe house to record the evidence when the mole finally incriminates himself. After his arrest, Smiley proudly plays the tape to the rest of the Centre and allows them to organize the moles future. The next day, after softening up by the inquisitors Smiley visits the mole and hears the whole story.
