Slow Horses
Season 5 – Episode 6
Episode Title: Scars
Original release date: October 29, 2025
Plot: Tara holds the Libyan embassy hostage and demands to Taverner that the terrorists are paid £100 million in lost oil revenues and given safe passage out of the UK. If the government do not comply with the demands in 1 hour, the terrorists will commence the last step of destabilisation by attacking a place of worship. Due to it being a Sunday, there are too many busy religious targets across London, so Taverner decides to pay the ransom. The money is wired to an offshore account managed by Peter Judd, who had been renting it out to the terrorists for months. Tara is abandoned by Farouk and the other terrorists, who still intend to commence the attack despite receiving the ransom, although one of them flees. Standish and Lamb’s interference prevents the Dogs from causing a scene at the embassy, and Tara is recaptured. Coe identifies that Jaffrey’s Abbotsfield memorial service at a multi-faith centre is the most likely target. River, Coe and Shirley rush to the memorial and hastily evacuate the crowd. Hearing that Jaffrey is still inside, Farouk and another terrorist decide to attack him instead of the crowd. Shirley kills he other terrorist, but Farouk holds Jaffrey at gunpoint. River and Shirley’s arguing distracts Farouk, giving Coe enough time to discreetly stab him to death. After a conversation with David, River realises that one Libyan was not accounted for, meaning another attack is imminent, so he rushes to protect Whelan. The remaining terrorist chases Whelan with a gun, seeking revenge for his role in Libya’s collapse, but River arrives in time to kill the terrorist. Although Whelan considers River for promotion, he plans to blame the attacks on Slough House and shut it down, following a scheme by Judd. Lamb responds by playing Gimball’s tape, blackmailing Whelan into keeping Slough House intact, accepting full blame for the payment add resigning immediately. Whelan complies and Taverner takes over First Desk; she agrees to release Ho but objects to promoting River to Regent’s Park. As Lamb relaxes, he takes off a sock to reveal a severely scarred foot, indicating that he was the torture victim from his earlier anecdote.
* * *
Slow Horses – S05E06 – Scars| Full transcript
[sirens wailing in distance]
Why is it taking so long to get our system back online?
There’ll be reasons.
Well, that’s rather defeatist, isn’t it?
We’re supposed to be impregnable.
I have three questions.
How, why, what the living fuck is next?
And no answers.
Afraid heads are going to have to roll.
[people chattering]
Fuck.
[Diana] Why is there a countdown?
It just appeared.
We don’t know why. Not the best answer.
[Claude] Well, it’s not an answer.
[sighs]
Isn’t there some kind of, uh, anti… antivirus software that you can use, or maybe like a backdoor patch?
I don’t think shouting out random words you found at the bottom of emails is going to help.
Thanks.
Um, okay, okay, Duncan.
What about… what about a reboot?
What, you mean turn it off and on again?
[chuckling] No.
Unless that would work. If we do that, would that be any good at all?
You can’t turn it off.
They can’t do anything right now.
Claude, why don’t we give them some space?
You should never have inputted that code she gave you.
You should never have let her leave the building.
I was only trying to stop Libyan terrorists from rampaging through the fucking capital.
She wanted you to let her go.
What are you talking about?
She… She was terrified.
I had to convince her. I…
When Ho allowed her to access the database, she stole your file, Claude.
She played you. You’ve been profiled.
You’ve been honey-trapped.
[stammers]
[Roddy] You and me both, bro.
You didn’t stand a chance.
She’s a female me.
That’s why I fell in love with her.
[Duncan] Okay, um, good news, bad news.
There is a way to reverse whatever they’ve done…
Great.
…but not before the countdown ends.
[chuckles] I’m so embarrassed for you.
[knocking on door]
[agent] Sir.
Yeah?
The Libyan ambassador’s on line one.
In his own time.
I only made the call fucking hours ago.
Thank you.
Thank you.
[clears throat]
Ambassador.
Mr. Whelan. [breathing heavily] My sincere apologies on behalf of the Libyan government.
I have just been made aware that a dissident group of security operatives are responsible for the terrible events of the last few days.
[Claude]
Yes, well, I’m sure that we can trust you to do your very best to help us find them.
You can speak to one of them now.
Um, what, sorry?
This is the vulnerable young woman you spoke to earlier.
Remember? You were right.
I am stronger than I thought, with reserves of strength I was not even aware of.
Who the hell are you really?
Someone who grew up in a country ruined by your arrogant intervention.
You left us with years of horror.
Nothing can justify your slaughter of 11 people.
I need to speak to someone in authority.
Guess what?
You’re speaking to the head of MI5.
Yes, I know.
You kept telling me when I was a trembling girl you were trying to impress.
And since then, we shut down your computer system and humiliated your leadership.
Yeah, I guess we could say we blinded our enemies.
Put Diana Taverner on.
Taverner.
Unless you give in to our demands, when the countdown on your screen ends, the final item on the destabilization strategy… you know, the one created by you and inflicted on many of your colonies… will be carried out.
What are your demands?
[Tara] £100 million.
Compensation for years of lost oil revenues to be paid into a Cayman Island trust called Albion Holdings.
Which is a fraction of what we are owed.
Call me when you have it.
Relax. You’ll get out when we’re paid.
Bye.
They want 100 million before that countdown ends, or they will carry out the remaining action on their list.
Uh, what’s… what’s the last action on the list?
Attack a place of worship.
[Claude] Right.
But it’s-it’s Sunday morning.
Jesus fucking Christ.
How are we gonna find her?
[“Strange Game” playing]
[phone buzzing]
[groans]
[sighs]
[grunts]
[buzzing continues]
[grunts]
[sighs deeply]
[sighs] Diana.
We lost Tara.
You knew she’d play Whelan, didn’t you?
I had my suspicions.
Which were confirmed once I read his file.
His, uh, psych profile screams “daddy savior complex.”
Uh, I-I’d have given you a call, but I thought you’d enjoy watching him make a complete and utter fucking tit of himself.
They issued any demands yet?
She just called from the embassy.
Free passage and 100 million in lost oil revenue.
[scoffs]
Well, they might have a point about our behavior, but they trousered most of their oil money and spent the change keeping their people down.
They’ve crashed our systems and given us an hour, which ends at 10:06.
Otherwise they attack a place of worship.
Oh, Sunday morning.
They’ve timed it well.
[grunts, sighs]
I guess you’re just gonna have to pay the money.
[line disconnects]
[Flyte] Ma’am.
There are around 2,000 churches across London.
If you add in mosques, synagogues, temples and multifaith centers, we’re looking at over 5,000 potential targets.
Yes, but, um, Muslims don’t worship on a Sunday.
I’m right in thinking that, aren’t I?
Well, I’m… I’m Sikh.
Um, well, let’s assume it’s churches, shall we?
High-value targets.
Uh, St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey.
[Diana] They already have protection.
If we throw everything at St. Paul’s, and the attack happens elsewhere, it’ll look like we were rushing to protect the landmarks rather than the people.
Okay. We shut ’em all down.
And how are we gonna get people to stay away from every London church in the next 40 minutes?
There’ll be absolute chaos.
Call in the Met.
We don’t have enough armed police.
Okay, then we call in the army.
[scoffs] In 40 minutes?
Ma’am, the Treasury have verified the Cayman Island trust where the money’s to be paid.
It’s linked to this company.
Jesus Christ. Right. Get him in.
He’s already on his way.
[Diana] Keep him out of sight.
I’m sorry, why are we checking where they want the money sent?
We’re not gonna pay it.
I think we should have the option.
You need to call the PM now.
Get it cleared.
[scoffs] Give in to terror?
He won’t hear of it.
Well, then, you are looking at a second Abbotsfield.
Send the Dogs down to the Libyan embassy.
If this goes without bloodshed, we shall escort her and her team to the airport.
If it goes the other way, I want them to be ready to storm the building.
[River]
Shouldn’t we be, you know, doing things, like trying to track the Libyans ororor Roddy’s girlfriend?
Oh, she’s at the Libyan embassy.
What, so it was a state-sanctioned op?
[grunts] No, I doubt that.
She forced her way in there ’cause she knows
that we can’t go in and drag her out.
[phone buzzing]
[Jackson grunts]
That Grandpa?
No. Yes. How did you know that?
Well, if it was of operational relevance…
[sighs] …you would’ve taken it, and you’ve got no personal life so it must be him.
H-How’s he doing, by the way?
Uh, not great, no.
He’s picking up on what’s happening from the news, but he’s getting it slightly jumbled.
Don’t say anything.
[sighs] About what?
About him getting confused, okay?
I know that you two had your differences, but just leave it there.
He was the sharpest mind in the building. After me.
Now you’re gonna say something horrible.
Something unutterably vile about him being an embarrassing shadow of his former self.
I don’t have to. You just said it for me.
This isn’t helping.
I–
What are we going to do?
And don’t say, “nothing.”
[chuckles] There’s nothing to do.
These guys are bloody good and they’re fucking ruthless.
The Park can’t protect every church in London.
Well, then they will have to pay the money.
[River] And what happens if they don’t?
Then there’d be a massacre.
At a random church in London?
This is a nightmare.
[Jackson] Maybe not that random.
There is one place of worship I can think of.
Although, it would only occur to a complete and utter fucking psychopath.
You think he knows which one?
Shit.
Wait, w-where are they going?
Abbotsfield.
Abbotsfi… There’s already been an attack at Abbotsfield.
Which they are commemorating at a multifaith center shortly.
You can’t just say shit like that and then just sit there and do nothing.
I’m not doing nothing.
I’m sending my best agents.
And you.
May I ask why I’ve been summoned here then made to wait on the stairs like a member of staff?
When you came to visit me the other night, you mentioned a group of disaffected Libyans wanting compensation for lost oil revenues.
As of now, we have 25 minutes to pay up 100 million to stop a Libyan group from attacking a church.
I have no knowledge of any of this.
It’s an extremely fractured country, and in my limited experience, every fucker you meet is on the take.
The people you’re dealing with may be part of a completely separate group.
The payment has to go to an offshore trust where you are a director.
In that case, fuck, shit, bugger and yes, it seems it is the same people.
I will never do business in the Middle East again.
They love to haggle, and they have a tendency to go completely fucking crackers.
Why do they have your details?
There are two accounts.
One to distribute funds to them once they’ve come in, minus my commission.
Nothing in that one at the moment, obviously.
And the other?
[inhales deeply] They’ve paid me a nominal fee for the last three years.
Recently they intimated I wasn’t doing enough,
hence my visit to you.
And when you say “nominal,” you mean…
All told, a couple of hundred grand.
Which I will declare in due course.
Why are they dragging me into this insanity?
It makes me look terrible.
Because you took their money and did nothing and they want to show what a corrupt mess this country is.
Getting paid through the former Home Secretary is a very good way of doing it.
When this comes out, we will all look terrible.
[Claude] Prime Minister, I’m afraid it’s highly unlikely the attack can be prevented without paying.
No. No, I’m as disappointed as you are.
Um… [stammers]
[sighs]
Twelve minutes, sir.
Well, Taverner’s left us with no choice.
Mmm.
They didn’t give us an hour to stop the killing.
They gave us an hour to find the money.
We have been outplayed.
[access panel screeches]
[line ringing]
[phone rings]
We will pay. But I want your word the attack will be called off.
And I want your word we’ll be allowed to leave the country.
[Diana] Cars will be arriving shortly, ready to take you to RAF Northolt.
But safe passage is only guaranteed if you and all your team leave to ensure there is no further violence.
Oh, and also, none of this ever comes out.
I can imagine you must feel humiliated, huh?
Unpleasant, isn’t it?
Do you agree to our terms?
I’ll stand them down, and they will return to the embassy shortly.
Any more violence, and those men in the cars will not be taking you to the airport.
They will be taking you down.
There’ll be no more violence.
Transfer authorized.
So I see.
[sighs]
[phone buzzes]
[Tara, in Arabic] They paid. We did it.
Get back to the embassy.
They’re going to fly us out of here.
You’re starting to believe your role.
You’re a recruit.
Not the one who gives orders.
What are you talking about?
It’s over.
Not for us.
[Tara] Listen.
If you do anything else, they’re going to storm the building.
[line disconnects]
[phone clatters]
Get ready.
Did they pay?
So?
Why should that stop us?
And this?
What about this? Huh?
I want them to pay in blood, like the blood I saw spilled.
They smashed our country then went back to their lives, leaving us with the horror of war.
They must feel the same horror.
Maybe next time they will think twice before they start a war and walk away.
[breathing heavily]
Where the fuck are you going?
Look.
You pick your target, and I will pick mine.
Guys, enough innocents have died.
The last blow should fall on the people that caused the war.
I’m only going to spill the blood of the guilty.
As justice for my family.
What about you?
Come on, bro.
[sighs]
[in English] Don’t know how you can eat at a time like this.
[sighs]
Is that vegan?
No, I asked for meat.
Yeah, but if that was meat, it would be bright pink.
[sighs]
Sausage rolls got a…
Yes, all right.
If you were coming out of that building, trying to lose the Dogs…
[inhales deeply]
…which direction would you head?
Do you think Tara’s going to try and escape?
Answer the question.
Um…
Uh, left. Left down that alley.
You said that they’ll all get free passage out of the country if she calls off this attack.
Well, she’s just a kid.
There’s no way she’s running the show.
Yes, her men should’ve been back here by now.
I don’t think they’re coming back.
I think she’s sitting in there realizing she never was in control of her band of psychos.
But you said we’re paying the money.
Well, look at what these guys have got up to in the last couple of days.
And I don’t think money is gonna quell their rage.
[car doors opening, closing]
[Jackson] Now Dogs are going in.
But innocent people could get caught in the cross fire.
Yeah, they’re in more danger from our trigger-happy muscle than they are from her.
We can’t just sit here.
Well, go on then.
What?
Go and knock on the door.
What? Me?
Yesterday, you physically assaulted the mayor.
I don’t know why you’re getting your knickers in a twist about knocking on a door.
Yesterday, I had no choice.
Oh, bollocks.
You get a real thrill from being in the action.
Probably it reminds you of the rush you used to get when you got absolutely arseholed.
[sighs]
Well, what am I doing after I knock on the door?
Telling her to follow you.
Unless she wants to get shot in the head.
[stammers] They’re not gonna shoot her out here, unarmed in the street.
It’s a different story if they go in the building.
And like you said,
innocent people could get hurt.
Guess I did say that, didn’t I?
[Jackson] That’s it. They won’t look twice at a harmless little old lady.
Cool.
[sighs]
[mouthing] Knock, knock, knock.
[Dog] Uh, sorry, ma’am. Embassy’s closed.
No, it’s all right. I have an appointment.
Ma’am, you are not allowed to be here.
[Tara] Who are you?
Yes, I’m MI5, let me in.
Step back from the building, please.
Let me in nicely or men with guns are coming in.
Okay, ma’am, I’m gonna have to remove you.
[door beeps]
[sighs]
[Dog sighs]
[pants]
[rapid beeping] So, how exactly can you help?
You’ll be perfectly safe if you put down that weapon and come with me now.
Why should I believe you?
You don’t have much choice, because if you stay in here armed, you could get hurt.
[gasps]
Open the door then. Go, open.
Update your hostage list.
Someone else just walked in.
[Dog 2] Eyes up!
[Tara] Back off!
No?
[Dog 2] Down!
Put the gun down!
You could have just walked out with me.
[Dog 3] Put the gun down!
And what? Back into the Park, huh?
Why would I want that?
[Dog 1] Put the gun down!
I told you to back off!
[Dog 2] Stop moving!
They’ll kill you.
[Dog 1] Put the gun down! Now!
I’m gonna shoot!
I’m not fucking joking, I’ll shoot!
[Dog 1] Put the gun down!
[grunts]
[gunshot]
[Catherine yelps]
[Dog 1 shouts]
[gunfire]
[panting]
[panting continues]
Déjà vu.
Come, hands up. Up, on your head.
[grunting]
Oh, come on. Cheer up.
I’d take prison any day over dating Roddy Ho.
Fuck you! [breathing heavily] [Dog 1] Lima, golf 57 to control.
We’ve apprehended the suspect.
We’re bringing her in now. Over.
[sighs]
You knew that was going to happen, didn’t you?
Yeah.
And like I said, she’s just a kid.
She was never gonna shoot ya.
Well, it didn’t feel like that. [panting] Come on.
I’ll buy you a lemonade.
[sighs] Oh.
Take the edge off.
[in Arabic]
More will die than in the first attack.
All of them will die.
[in English] The hour’s nearly up.
We need to get them out of there.
Yeah, but calmly. We don’t want panic.
They might already be inside dressed as mourners.
It’s what I’d do.
I still don’t have a gun.
Don’t worry. We’ve still got ours.
Oh, how’d that work out for Gimball?
[mourners]
♪ Till we have built Jerusalem ♪
♪ In England’s green and pleasant land ♪
William Blake wrote those words of promise over 200 years ago, but they continue to inspire and comfort today.
But for more contemporary wisdom that might give solace to our younger mourners, I reach for the words of Dominic Toretto in Furious 7.
“They say to live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.”
The lesson I take from both those sages, separated though they are by centuries, is that while London might not be “Londerful” today, it will be “Londerful” tomorrow if we channel–
Yeah, right. Everyone, up.
We need you to leave this building as quickly as possible, please.
What’s going on?
Sorry, we’re MI5. I don’t have…
Can you show them your… the badge?
Stand back.
Yeah, maybe you should’ve started with taking them aside.
Everyone, intelligence has come to light that means it’s best for you to leave right now.
So please do so from the back of the building.
No need to panic, everyone.
Just slowly, safely exit the building.
[River] Everyone, now please! Come on!
I mean it, now! Get out!
Everyone, come on, now! Please!
[alarm blaring]
What the fuck happened to “calmly”?
Hang on. What the hell is going on?
I’d only just started my eulogy.
Apologies, sir. I know, but we need to get you to leave the building now.
Whoa, whoa. All right.
Hang on. Is it a fire?
No, there’s not a fire.
Then why did he hit the alarm?
Yeah, good question.
[River] It’s a security threat, okay?
A security threat has come to light.
What kind of threat?
Libyan operatives are extorting the government for £100 million.
I can’t hear you.
Sorry. Can someone turn that fucking thing off, please?
[alarm continues, muffled]
[people clamoring]
In under a minute, we have to pay £100 million or a place of worship is gonna be attacked, and we have reason to believe it could be here. Please, just believe…
[alarm stops]
Oh, thank God. Did you get that?
Yes. You have reason to believe this place could be attacked.
Yeah, so please, let’s leave now.
But you don’t know for sure?
Intelligence is never 100% certain, sir.
[Zafar] What percentage would you put on this piece of intelligence?
That really matter?
Yes, I’m the Mayor of London.
If an attack was highly likely,
I should’ve been informed.
Well…
[River] Fuck. Not now.
[chattering]
Look, it really is not the time to argue about protocol.
Get Whelan on the line.
Seriously, I need him to leave now.
[in Arabic] We can get them outside.
The mayor is still here.
I was cheated out of killing him before.
We get him first.
Okay.
[speaks Arabic]
You distract his security team.
[grunts]
[in English] What’s your name?
My…
Uh, River Cartwright.
River?
Yes.
Claude, I’m here with River Cartwright, who’s crashed into the memorial service babbling something about a Libyan attack that none of my agents seem to know anything about.
Right.
Um, well, first of all, uh, apologies on that, Zafar. Apologies.
Um… [clears throat] …uh, y-y-you should have been kept in the loop on that, although in our defense, it has been a very fastmoving situation.
[clamoring]
[mouthing] Yes.
[Zafar] Was there gonna be an attack on the service or not?
Yes, yes, there was.
Shush.
To be honest, we had no intelligence either way that you were specifically under threat.
Of course, if-if we had received that information, then… then… then we would’ve intervened.
Now hang on, you did intervene. I’m stood in front of a load of your agents.
[Claude] Would you mind putting Cartwright on for me, please?
[breathing shakily]
Wants to speak to you.
Sir.
What the fuck are you doing?
We thought the attack was gonna be at Abbotsfield.
[Claude] Yeah, well, we paid them the money.
There’s not gonna be an attack anywhere.
And certainly not at Abbotsfield.
[glass shatters]
[person exclaims]
[gunfire]
Get out!
[grunts]
[groans]
[gunfire on phone]
[panting] Have you actually used one of those?
[stammers] You had the better angle.
Are you okay?
[River] Fuck.
[groans]
Shit.
[piano strings ringing]
How many have you got left?
Enough.
[Zafar panting, whimpering]
Shit.
Just give him what he wants.
For fuck’s sake, give him what he wants.
I want to get out of the country.
The deal still stands.
[Zafar] What deal?
With MI5. Safe passage.
Oh, you’re kidding, right?
You’re not getting safe passage.
You broke that deal when you opened fire.
Don’t say that to him.
Well, I’m not gonna lie.
I’d really rather you lied.
Let me out of here or I shoot your mayor!
No, not happening.
Yes, otherwise he’ll shoot him.
Do not aim for his neck.
We’ve established you’re a shit shot.
There’s other parts of him to aim for.
I’m going to walk out of here and I’m taking him with me.
No, we can’t let you do that.
Yes, you can.
Can you stop fucking contradicting me?
Yeah, I will if you stop escalating a dangerous situation.
I’m on top of it. I know what I’m doing.
We’ve got a madman pointing a gun at a hostage.
I say let him do what he wants.
You see, that’s why you’re never gonna get out of Slough House.
[shouts]
[strains]
[gasps] Oh, shit. Shit.
Where… Where did you come from?
I approached him very, very quietly.
[Zafar panting]
You two… You two staged your argument to give him cover.
I get that, I get that. I get that now.
[panting] Fuck. [sighs]
Yeah, yeah.
[Zafar groans] It’s unorthodox, yeah.
But, uh, you just gotta, um, think outside the box sometimes.
[smacks lips] Don’t you?
[panting] Yeah.
[Flyte] We have accounted for all the Libyans.
Two were shot at Abbotsfield, and Lamb apprehended Tara.
What was he doing there?
I don’t know, ma’am.
[sighs]
[sighs]
We pay up and they attack anyway.
What a shit show.
You didn’t have a choice.
When they pick over the bones of this, you’ll be exonerated, ma’am.
[scoffs]
London rules will kick in.
[Flyte] London rules?
[Diana] If you were Service, you’d know that.
Moscow rules, watch your back.
London rules, cover your arse.
[phone buzzing]
[buzzing continues]
[sighs]
Claude Whelan, Peter Judd.
It seems both of us have a public relations problem visà vis our connection to events of the last week.
Might I propose a solution of mutual benefit?
Hiya. It’s me. It’s River.
[chuckling] Oh, my boy.
You all right?
Oh, you’re here.
Yeah.
[chuckling] Ah.
Oh. [breathes heavily] Oh, I’m so happy.
Me too. Yeah.
[stammering] I’m sorry about that phone call. Last night.
[stammering] I don’t think I was making much sense.
It’s fine.
Probably no help to you.
It’s fine. It’s fine.
Who was it?
The Russkies up to their old tricks?
No, um…
It was Libya.
[sighs, murmuring] Libya.
[bees buzzing] It was chaos.
Yeah.
I think that’s what they wanted to instill.
As a way of ransoming us.
And it worked because…
Well, we… we paid them the money but they, uh, attacked anyway.
[chuckles]
[buzzing continues] It looks like absolute chaos, but if you follow them you can see there’s a method.
Yeah.
I like to follow them individually.
Libyans?
What?
Bees.
Buzzy, buzzy bees.
Bees.
Strong work ethic, bees.
[clicks tongue]
Sting in the tail.
That’s what I was trying to remember last night.
[grunts] I’m losing my mind.
The unwritten rule.
[clicks tongue] What’s that?
Destabilization.
Yes, you see, if ever we were dealing with some really tricky buggers, we… we’d hit them when they thought it was over.
That’s what we call a sting in the tail.
Let them know who’s boss.
Yeah.
Well, that’s why they attacked anyway. Yeah.
[chuckles]
We weren’t always at our best, River.
You know?
But some of those colonies would’ve turned red, left to their own devices.
Still, you caught them all.
[intriguing music plays] Oh, I’m so happy you came.
You must tell me what you want for your birthday.
I know it’s a way off, but I… I can’t go to the shops, and I can’t work that computer you gave me.
I’d give you money if I could get to the bank.
Just have to make a call.
Yeah, oof course.
[suspenseful music plays]
There’s gonna be a sting in the tail.
Well, they did that when they attacked the multifaith center.
[sighs] So unless you’re telling me they are now fucking zombies, I don’t see the point of this call.
Shirley has a picture of three pairs of boots in the back of that van, but that’s four men including the driver, right?
You and Shirley got one of them after Roddy’s, and we got two of them at Abbotsfield.
So that means there’s one left.
Lamb?
[stammers] Yeah, I’m here.
Well, part of her dating Ho was to get a file.
[breathes deeply] I read it.
Who do you think deserves a punishment greater than utter humiliation?
[“Fall At Your Feet” plays on earphones]
[panting] That was pretty good.
[sighs]
Yeah, shook the dust off.
Got rid of today’s stress.
[exhales sharply] And you know what I’m gonna do tonight?
I’ll bloody well treat myself.
Crack open a nice bottle of Chalk Hills.
You got any plans, Jim?
[tense music plays]
Jim?
Jim, are you…
Oh, fuck.
Oh, fuck. Fuck.
[tense music swells]
Fuck.
[breathing heavily]
Sorry, Jim.
[brakes screech]
[doorbell ringing]
[softly] Come on, come on.
[mutters]
[exclaims] What?
Where are the keys?
Where are the fucking keys?
[engine revs]
This is Claude Whelan.
Who? First Desk.
I’m the First Desk, you moron.
Throw it!
Do you know who I am?
Uh…
No.
I’m someone who suffered.
Because of a keystroke you made.
[scoffs] I literally have no idea what the hell you’re talking about. IZlitan, 2011.
Right. Yeah.
You left us to gangsters and militias, and you did not arm us against them.
Listen, I… I was just paid to give opinions, is all. That’s–
Your opinion as a long-term forecaster was that an investment in Libya was poor value.
Because whether it stood or fell, it did not affect the security of the United Kingdom.
Your opinion…
[breathing shakily]
Your opinion became policy.
How’s that opinion looking now?
Not great.
Listen to me.
You’re obviously upset.
But I’m…
[inhales sharply] I’m…
[breathing heavily] Please.
Just think of my… think of my wife, please.
I am.
She can feel what I did.
At least she’ll have a body to bury.
[dog walker] Come back, Pip!
I never found my father.
[dog barking]
[dog walker] Come on, Pip.
[barking continues]
[tense music swells]
[dog walker] Sorry about that.
He’s very friendly…
Oh, my God!
[barking continues]
Fuck.
[panting]
[grunting]
[gunshots]
[panting]
[breathing heavily]
Is he dead?
Yes, I can do my job.
Thank fuck for that.
[River] Fuck.
A good job.
[breathing heavily]
How’d you find me?
I went to your house and your wife said you’d be running around here.
You met my wife?
Yeah.
Yeah, and what’d she say?
That you’d be running around here.
Yeah.
Yeah. Listen, thank you. Thank you.
Yep.
Actually, come here. Thank you.
Thank you, thank you so, so much.
I won’t forget this.
You know, I’m just, um…
I really need a drink.
[bell rings]
[news reporter] More details have emerged about the shooting yesterday on Primrose Hill. Whilst police have not released the identity of the gunman, the incident is not believed to be drug-related.
He’s waiting in your office.
[clears throat, sighs]
That’s why I’m in here.
He’s First Desk, Lamb.
And this is a big win for Slough House.
You wanna piss him off and throw that away?
You giving me career advice?
I’ve actually done the job you play at.
I’m just saying.
I did save his life.
So?
So it’s an opportunity.
For who?
Everyone.
You think you’re going back to the Park, don’t you?
Aw, bless.
You don’t want me here, and I don’t wanna be here.
Suits us both.
You can leave anytime you want.
That’s the whole point of Slough House.
Not sure how you missed that.
I’m not leaving the Service.
But I shouldn’t be in Slough House.
‘Cause I’m really fucking good.
And you know that.
[sniffles]
You know, it’s not the hope that kills you, Cartwright.
It’s knowing it’s the hope that kills you, that kills you.
[grunts]
Beppe, he’ll get this.
So I’ll get the bill and you’ll ask him?
[sniffles, sighs]
[sighs]
If it comes up.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[sighs]
This is Louisa. Leave a message.
[phone beeps]
Hey. It’s, uh… It’s me.
Um…
[smacks lips] I know I’m supposed to be giving you space or whatever, but, uh…
Well, I actually don’t have anyone else to call.
‘Cause it’s, um… [clicks tongue] Well, it looks like I’m leaving Slough House too.
[footsteps approaching]
[Jackson breathing heavily]
Hello. Didn’t know you were here.
Yes, you did.
[panting] Yes, I did.
We gotta get that fucking lift mended.
[exhales heavily]
[Claude] You enjoying this, are you?
Eh, not particularly.
Oh, but go on. Do your bit.
[grunts] I imagine you worked it all out.
You practice in front of the mirror, or do you find it hard to look yourself in the eye?
Sc… Do you mind? Could you not…
Could you not do that here, please?
This is MI5 property, after all.
[ashtray clatters]
Fuck MI5. My gaff, my rules.
Yeah, about that.
Um…
Not anymore, I’m afraid.
[sighs] Oh, really?
Mmm.
Your gaff, as you term it, is no more.
[chuckles] Thing of the past. Literally.
One understands that you’ve been allowed to run this place under sufferance because of, uh…
Well, because of what you’ve done for the Service.
But you know, there are lines.
That there are limits.
Two of us know you’re way over both.
You do remember yesterday, right?
When one of my team saved your life. [chuckling] I… [chuckles] …I’m beginning to regret giving him the tipoff.
Yes. My life was only in danger because…
Also
…another member of your delinquent te–
Also in the ledger of things that Slough House has not fucked up, which, I grant you, is a little thin in the grand scheme, is that I caught the femme fatale behind this week’s fucking bloodshed and chaos without your goons having a firefight in an embassy.
But I suppose that’s why, yeah?
Yeah, y-you wanna bury the fact that she… she batted her eyelids and you let her walk out of the building and fuck up the MI5 mainframe all at the same time.
[smacks lips] You know, it’s funny. I, um…
I have a totally different narrative.
Yeah, I’m sure you do.
Yeah, let me guess.
Judd gets to keep the commission on the hundred mil for saying that, um, he… he tried to warn me about the Libyans and Tara’s connection to Ho and I did nothing.
Yeah, you blame it all on Slough House, and you get to keep your job.
Yeah?
Checkmate, mate.
[chuckles]
Yeah, well, it looks like I’m fucked.
You know, I don’t like to use that word, but yes. You’re fucked.
You’re all totally fucked.
Fucked. [chuckles] Apart from Cartwright, because he shows some promise, I feel,
and deserves a second chance.
Oh, he’ll only balls it up.
Right. Well, I’ll see myself out, shall I?
[chuckles] Oh, by the way.
Um, there’s a… there’s a team coming by later today to, uh…
Clean this place up.
[sighs] You’ll leave quite a stain.
But it’ll be gone.
[Claude on Dictaphone] Now, anymore crap from either of you two and I will see to it the security services destroys you and your godawful livelihoods in public.
I’m sorry, what was that?
What was what?
That… [stammers] I overheard, um…
Oh, that.
Uh… Yeah.
That was you threatening a political figure hours before he was killed.
I’ll play you the other bits if you like, where his wife talks about your sugar daddy behavior and… and you blackmail him about his Turkish dad.
In case it slipped your mind.
I mean, it might have done.
You’ve had a busy week.
You know what, I was, um…
I was probably a tad premature, wasn’t I?
[scoffs]
[stammering] When I said “checkmate,” it was more like “check,” wasn’t it?
You know, so I… I do a move, and you do…
[stammering] What do you want?
I want what I always want.
To be left in utter fucking peace.
[breathes deeply] All right.
All right.
Slough House stays.
So does Molly Doran.
I love Molly. Molly’s a lot of fun.
Uh, that was never my decision.
And Ho comes back.
Ho? The man’s an utter fucking liability.
Absolutely not.
Ho comes back.
He’s the only one who can manage my Deliveroo account.
[sighs]
[chuckles]
Fine. If he, uh… Right, okay. O… Okay.
So then, uh… [chuckles] …who do you propose that we hang this on?
Well, we pin it on the, uh… on the fucking chump who deserves to go.
You.
[scoffs] Me? [chuckles] No. No. No way. No.
No, no, no, no.
I’m, um… I’m not going anywhere.
[Gimball on Dictaphone]
But you still paid a call girl, who, incidentally, you were also boffing.
If you’re not out of your office within the hour, I’m gonna send this to every grubby little hack I know from my drinking days.
That’s going to do untold damage toward the Service and you know that.
Like I give a fuck.
Look what the Service has done to me.
Yeah, and leave the door open on your way out.
I like a through draft.
I’m sure we’ll meet again.
[sighs] I doubt that.
I don’t use prostitutes.
She wasn’t a prostitute.
[urinating] She wasn’t, that was…
She wasn’t… Oh, fuck.
I… I don’t know where everybody gets this from.
She wa… That was, um…
She was an escort.
Roddy Ho is on his way back to you.
I am not taking Cartwright.
Yeah, it’s fine.
I’m a little short on numbers anyway.
You wanna keep him?
[grunts] You never know.
Might need a… a new liver.
Anyway, it was, uh, me that worked out Whelan was the target–
Don’t tell me you want to come back to the Park.
Oh, fuck off.
Well, nice as it is to chat, I’m in the middle of moving offices. So…
Well, I hope that now you’re First Desk you won’t forget the little people.
Door’s always open for a coffee and a catch up. [chuckles softly] Do I detect a note of sarcasm?
Absolutely.
I never wanna hear from you or anyone else at the Park again.
An arrangement that suits both of us, Jackson.
[sighs]
[knocks on door]
Would you just fuck off?
Oh, it’s nice to see you too.
[intense, dramatic music plays]
His dad stole a file…
[grunts]
…with the Slow Horses’ names in it.
Now he’s dead and my joes are being hunted.
Slough House is completely missing.
We don’t exist anymore.
You got a leak Julian Assange would be proud of.
Our security…
[groans]
[grunts]
…in these hands.
We’re running out of time.
What?
[Jackson] It’s a bloodbath.
[gasps]
[all clamoring]
[grunts]
If you’re in trouble…
How dare you?
I’m the sort of person…
Fuck do you think you are?
…who would fuck up someone’s day.
[River] What are you doing here?
Business.
[tires squealing]
[grunts]
No one is unaccountable, Diana.
No one.
We need to address the five Fs.
Who the fuck, what the fuck, where the fuck and why the fuck?
[grunts]
That’s four.
[sighs] Fuck off. That’s five.
Well, go on then. Fuck off.
[“Strange Game” playing]
