Wild Geese II

Come on! Run!

Come over here. Move it!

Let's see something from you.

Up, up, up, up.

Jump!

Right. Go on.

Keith, find Captain Johns.

If he's set, tell him to send lieutenant Flynn to take the airport.

Back that jeep out of here.

Take cover.

Take cover.

Rafer, come on, come on.

Allen, kill me.

For God's sake kill me!

No, no, I can't. I can't.

I understand precisely what you're saying, Mr. McCann.

I do.

- But, I think that... - Don't "but" me.

Now, why the hell do you think I put you in charge of our European office?

Because I expect you to do the impossible when I think it's to our benefit.

We're moving much too quickly on this, sir.

Moving too quickly?

The man is practically 90 years old for Christ's sake.

He could die while you and I are talking.

Mr. McCann, just attempting this sort of thing, I mean,

whether we are successful or not,

could cause international repercussions.

I don't give a damn.

I know how dangerous it'll be.

But if we have one shot in a million, we've got to take it.

If we pull this off, it makes Watergate look like kid's stuff.

Listen, that old man

knows about secret deals that could blast half the civilized world apart.

I want him and I don't care how much it costs.

If we succeed,

our network is going to write a whole new chapter in the history of the world,

and that's everything.

If we fail...

Well, listen you tried, and we'll make it a goddamned good story out of that, too.

Now I understand you've got the best mercenary available.

Yes. He's here waiting in reception. His name's Alex Faulkner.

Well, get him in and talk to him.

And get Kathy in there, too. I want her comments.

And leave your box open, I want to hear the conversation.

I won't say anything.

Bring Mr. Faulkner in right away

and get Kathy up here, okay?

Yes?

Miss Lukas, Mr. Faulkner's here. Would you come up, please?

Okay, right away.

This is Mr. Faulkner.

How do you do? Michael Lukas.

How do you do?

Uh, Kathy.

Kathy, this is Alex Faulkner. Mr. Faulkner, this is Kathy Lukas.

How do you do, Mr. Faulkner?

How nice to meet you.

You're both Lukases, are you?

Oh, I'm Michael's sister.

This network is riddled with nepotism.

That's the nature of networks. Please, have a seat.

- Uh, coffee, tea? - No, nothing at all, thanks.

Whiskey'd be fine.

Oh, how do you drink it?

Just straight, thanks.

So, why are you interested in an antique mercenary?

Planning a new series? I'm available if you are.

- No, it's nothing quite like that. - Thanks.

Kathy's patched together some tape that we'd like for you to look at, Mr. Faulkner,

and after that we'll discuss it.

That'd be fine with me.

This man is Rudolf Hess,

a strange and controversial figure in the Nazi party

before and during World War 1.

Today, approaching 90,

he is a prisoner at Spandau Prison in West Berlin. His life, a mystery.

Hess was one of the founders of the Nazi party.

He eventually became Hitler's deputy Fuhrer,

second only to Hitler in the Nazi hierarchy.

May, 1941,

with the war in Europe very much in Germany's favor,

Hess flew alone from Germany

and parachuted from his plane over Scotland.

His mission, to offer himself as hostage in return for peace talks

with British leaders.

To this day, it is not known whether Hess undertook this mission on his own

without Hitler's knowledge,

or whether if he and Hitler planned it together...

You know, I'm well acquainted with all this.

I understand. It's just to refresh your memory.

...until the war ended.

Nurnberg, 1946,

Hess was put on trial with the other captured German leaders.

Russian, French, British and American prosecutors

tried what was left of the German hierarchy

for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Most of the German leaders were found guilty

and sentenced to death by hanging,

or to long prison terms.

Hess was acquitted of crimes against humanity,

but sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy to wage war.

Nein -Oh.

- To this day... - You know it's nearly

impossible to count the number of people who conspired to

wage war in the last 40 years, or how many wars they've started.

I'm damned if I know of one who went to prison for it.

Spandau Prison, Berlin, 1982.

Now, nearly 90 years old,

Hess has been in solitary confinement in a prison cell for over 40 years,

most of those years spent in Spandau prison.

He's now the only inmate in a fortress

built to hold 600 prisoners.

I think that's enough for our purposes, I mean,

unless you'd care to see more.

No thanks. Forty years alone in a cell!

I suppose if it weren't Hess, I should be inclined to say the poor bastard.

He's nothing but a political pawn now.

Hmm.

So, ball in your court.

What do you want to see me about?

With price no object, Mr. Faulkner...

We'd like you

to get Hess out of Spandau and deliver him to us.

Am I supposed to laugh?

You are joking, of course.

No, we're not, Mr. Faulkner.

The idea is just about the most insane bit of work that I've ever been offered.

- Why on earth do you want him? - To make news.

To expose a lot of very important people who were

probably involved in making some

strange deals.

You know, it would to take a bloody army even to try to get him out of Spandau.

Suppose you did. What then?

You're on West Berlin. You're right in the middle of East Germany.

You'd have a war on your hands.

I am sorry, but,

that is just a touch out of my range.

No, I...

I think you're probably confusing me with my elder brother, Allen.

- No, but we heard about his death. - Mmm-hmm.

Very sorry.

Yes. Well, thanks.

But, you know, I doubt if even he would have taken this on.

Just the thought of organizing it exhausts me.

Our last trip to Africa ended in a blood bath,

compared to what you're suggesting, it was a school picnic.

You have any idea what you're up against in Berlin?

Some, yes, but we've been told that you're the best in the business.

Thank you very much for your hospitality.

Mr. Faulkner, I've told you that price is no object.

I'm sorry. The answer's no.

Maybe when I was a good deal fitter and somewhat crazier.

Ah!

Fitter and crazier.

Well, I wonder if this might help.

I do know a chap who might

just be insane enough to be interested and he's just as good as ever I was.

He's probably better.

Matter of fact, I think he's here in London at the moment.

Rudolf Hess is the most closely guarded man in the world.

Yes, he is,

but I would think the challenge would appeal to you, Mr. Haddad.

Have you ever been to Berlin?

No.

I think you'll find it a fascinating city.

This is everything I can find on Hess and Spandau,

plus the military procedures of the four powers used to guard him.

There's also a significant amount of expense money in there

and a ticket to Berlin on the two o'clock flight tomorrow.

I don't recall saying I'd do this at all.

You haven't, but I expect you will.

I have appointments tomorrow.

- Cancel them. - You're a very irritating woman, Miss Lukas.

If it would make you feel more comfortable, Mr. Haddad,

I can be all sweetness and light.

No, I think I prefer irritating.

Okay. Now, Mr. Haddad, we're very anxious to get started,

so straight out, will you accept this assignment?

I never take a job unless I have a reasonable chance to succeed.

That's very sensible.

It's the reason for your going to Berlin tomorrow to see Spandau for yourself.

Let's say I do,

if I decide to go ahead with it after I've seen Spandau,

I'll work my own way without interference,

I'll get the money I want, the price will be high,

and no bargaining, none at all.

- How about it? - That's just fine.

We want the man, Mr. Haddad. We're not worried about money.

Excellent!

Since we're all being listened into, I assume, by your superior,

I believe you.

- Is that right? - Yes, it is.

Ah, good luck, Mr. Haddad.

Thank you.

All right. Berlin tomorrow.

I'll be there the day after.

You're full of surprises.

Give me a number where I can reach you.

It's also in the envelope.

Your self-confidence is overwhelming.