Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TV Mini Series)

Smiley Sets a Trap (1979)

Bernard Hepton: Toby Esterhase

Quotes 

• George Smiley : Ever bought a fake picture, Toby?

  Toby Esterhase : I sold a couple once.

  George Smiley : The more you pay for it, the less inclined you are to doubt its authenticity.

• Toby Esterhase : Why pick on the little guy? Why not pick on the big ones? Percy Allenine, Bill Haydon!

  Peter Guillam : I thought you were a big guy these days.

  George Smiley : You're the perfect choice, Toby: resentful about slow promotion, sharp-witted, fond of money. With you as his agent, Polyakov has a cover story that really sits up and works. The big three give you the little sealed packets of chickenfeed, and Moscow Centre thinks you're all theirs. The only problem arises when it turns out you've been handing Polyakov the crown jewels, and getting Russian chickenfeed in return. If that's the case, Toby, you're going to need some pretty good friends. Like us. Gerald's a Russian mole, of course. And he's pulled the Circus inside out.

• Toby Esterhase : Listen, George. I know Polyakov works for Moscow. Of course I do, we all do. But come on, think how many operations we run this way. We bought Polyakov. He's a Moscow hood but he's also our joe. But he's got to pretend to his own people he's spying on us. We give him some little sealed packets, chickenfeed, Moscow claps him on the back and tells him he's a big man. It happens all the time. Come on, George, you know the game.

  George Smiley : So are you Polyakov's agent inside the Circus?... Someone has to be.

• Toby Esterhase : You're on a damn long road, George. What happens to you if you never reach the end?

  George Smiley : With Lacon and the Minister behind me?

• George Smiley : [peering out the window]  Toby, you wouldn't be lying, would you? Did you bring a babysitter?

  Toby Esterhase : George, I cross my heart, I swear to you.

  George Smiley : What would you use for a job like this? Cars?

  Toby Esterhase : No.

  George Smiley : How many men?

  Toby Esterhase : Eight, ten men.

  George Smiley : What about one man alone?

  Toby Esterhase : One? Never. Impossible.