5 Fingers

On the 18th of October, 1950,

a member of the British Parliament

rose in the House of Commons

to address a question to the Foreign Secretary.

This book purports to be a true account of espionage.

Written by a former German military attaché,

it reveals the most astonishing details

of a case said to have occurred

within His Majesty's embassy in Turkey in 1944,

and in which hundreds of top secrets,

including plans for the invasion of Normandy,

were stolen and transmitted to the Germans.

Has an inquiry into these fantastic charges taken place?

Measures have been taken

to prevent any future recurrence

of such an incredible lapse in security.

However, it must be regretfully admitted that in substance,

the story to which the Honorable Member refers is a true one.

To be exact, our story began on March 4, 1944.

It was a day of grueling fighting

on the widely spread battlefronts

of the Second World War,

but the sun was shining serenely on neutral Turkey.

The very same evening, on March 4, 1944,

a Turkish minister held a reception

for the entire diplomatic corps.

The place?

Ankara, the capital of neutral Turkey.

If Excellency will excuse me,

I have suddenly acquired a rather severe headache.

I've had mine for some time.

Perhaps from standing too much?

From listening too much.

Wagner makes me ill.

Herr von Papen, I hope your country appreciates you.

You are the only unpredictable German I have ever met.

[woman singing opera in German continues]

I cannot remember when I've seen a lady as beautiful as you

eat as heartily as you.

Just a little more of the salad if you please.

No one admires Turkish food more than I.

Still, the prospect of actually dining

from the buffet at a diplomatic reception--

The number of actual dinners I eat these days

is equal to the number of diplomatic receptions

to which I'm lucky enough to be invited.

Champagne?

I have beer, thank you.

I've often wondered, Countess,

why did you leave Warsaw?

Bombs were falling.

I felt I was in the way.

Why did you come here?

You and your late husband had lived so long in England.

You had many friends there.

I did not consider being bombed in London

more attractive than being bombed in Warsaw.

You could have returned to your own country, to France.

As the impoverished widow of a pro-German Polish count?

It would have required courage.

I have none.

You could have counted upon our protection.

I understand you are now protecting my estates

and all of my possessions in Poland.

Who has them?

Field marshal Goering, I believe.

Ah, at last.

Many of our German friends before the war

would come as our guests to hunt wild pig.

I refused to invite Goering.

I couldn't tolerate his killing a wild pig.

It seemed too much like brother against brother.

Bon appétit, madame.

As always, I've enjoyed--

Herr von Papen?Yes?

Herr von Papen, I need money.

These must be difficult times for you, I know.

Please, don't be diplomatic for just a moment.

You can help me.

Nothing would please me more...

if I can.

I want back what belongs to me.

Unfortunately, there is a war.

After the war, then?

I can give you every assurance.

But in the meantime, I can be of service to you, to Germany.

If I can prove my worth,

then afterwards, it would be easier.

How would you go about proving it?

Loan me the means to live again, here, in Ankara.

Advance it to me.

I can more than make it worth your while.

You of all men must know what a fount of knowledge a clever hostess can become.

Countess Staviska, are you suggesting

that the German government set up you as a spy?

I'm suggesting that I can earn my keep.

It's a sordid, unrewarding business.

Sordid, but not unrewarding.

In terms of money, perhaps.

What other terms are there?

I'm sorry. I'm afraid it's quite impossible.

What am I going to do then?

Call upon your friends.

I have none that I want,

and those who want to be,

quite frankly, cannot afford it.

I beg your pardon.Yes?

Excellence, the British Ambassador has just driven up.

So soon?

Perhaps we can talk longer the next reception, madame,

when it's my turn to arrive

for the last half of the evening.

One thing about being a neutral,

I can come early and stay late.

And perhaps continue our conversation with the British Ambassador?

Herr Moyzisch, please, do not look at me

as if you had a source of income other than your salary.

Excellence?Yes?

The Countess Staviska--

What about her?

Uh, I, um...

Based upon something she said to me,

I've reason to believe she needs money.

You, too, Moyzisch?

I assure that it wasn't I, Excellence, who approached her.

However, it occurred to me--

No.

She has many friends, access to many sources.

Definitely not.

Good night, Moyzisch.

Good night, Your Excellency.

Whatever you do, don't raise your voice.Who are you?

Take me to your office.What do you want?

Let's get out of this light. Take me to your office.

Don't be a fool, Moyzisch.

I've brought you the opportunity of your lifetime.

Choose right now.

You can be the envy of the German foreign service,

or you can go through life as a diplomatic valet.

After all, what if I were a thief?

What could I steal... from you?

Before I state my proposition,

let me warn you not to breathe a word to anyone except your chief.

My life will depend upon your discretion.

A responsibility I do not choose to accept.

I'm afraid you have no choice.

Your life will depend upon it, too.

State your proposition.

Very well.

Certain British documents classified as most secret have come into my possession,

military and political documents

of utmost value to your government.

I'm prepared to sell them.

The price is £20,000.

English pounds, sterling.

£20,000.

Who are you?

I'm a spy, obviously.

And this is your lifework, espionage?

Not exactly.

But I have spent a lot of my life preparing for this day.

To my knowledge, no spy in history has ever been paid £20,000 for any information.

No spy in history has had to sell what I have to sell.

Besides, spies are notoriously poor businessmen.

Most of them are professional patriots,

frustrated liberals, or victims of blackmail.

In all such cases, the emotional involvement

weakens their bargaining position

and destroys sound business judgment.

Would you consider it sound business

for the German government

to pay £20,000 to an unidentified amateur

for a set of so-called secret documents?

Not so-called. Not secret.

Most secret.

Top secret.

I'm sure they are.

And now, I have more serious matters to attend to.

I'll have an attendant show you out.

Moyzisch.

It appears I must think for both of us.

First, you will inform Herr von Papen of my offer.

Naturally, he'll have to check with Berlin.

I'll give you three days to consider my proposition.

On the 7th of March at 3:00 in the afternoon, I'll telephone you here

and ask if you've received a letter for me.

I'll call myself Pierre.

If you say no, you'll never see me again.

If you say yes, it'll mean you've accepted my offer.

Well, I must have more information.

If you accept, I'll return at 10:00 that evening.

You'll then receive two rolls of film

containing photographs of the documents.

I will receive from you the sum of £20,000

in English banknotes of small denominations.

Should you approve of my first delivery,

you can have more.

For each subsequent roll of film,

the price will be £15,000.

Is this all clear?