- Smiley confronts one of his suspects and gives him the results of his investigations, which could prove a considerable embarrassment to those concerned.
- 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.—garykmcd
- Part Six - Smiley sets a trap
In London Smiley visits a pub type restaurant and runs across an ex-Circus employee, Jerry Westerby. By day Westerby is a sports journalist but he has also run odd jobs for the Circus over the years, as his journalism has allowed him to visit eastern bloc countries. Westerby is pleased to see Smiley and asks after Anne. Smiley says that his meeting Westerby is not by accident. He refers to a letter that Westerby had sent to Smiley where he had become suspicious after an incident with Esterhase.
Smiley asks what happened - Westerby tells Smiley that he was in a bar in Czechoslovakia after the Prideaux incident and a young Czech soldier tells Westerby he was part of a group of soldiers in the forest at the time. The soldier told Westerby that the Russian contingent was already in place when Prideaux was caught, indicating that the Russians knew what was going on prior to the event. Westerby realised the significance of this information and relayed the information to Esterhase when he returns to London.
Westerby says that initially Esterhase is pleased with this information and that he needs to consult with the top men at the Circus. However, the second time he meets Esterhase (this is told in a flashback scene) Esterhase accuses him of being taken in by a Russian plant while drunk. Eventually Westerby agrees to back off, but tells Esterhase he sees no harm in running the story of Prideaux's arrest for his newspaper. However, this is thwarted as the editor of the paper is warned off publishing the story by a government official. Following this Westerby wrote the letter to Smiley with his concerns - he says he now feels a fool as he assumed Smiley was the person who rang his editor - he now knows that this wasn't true as Smiley was sacked shortly afterwards and Smiley confirms this. Westerby asks Smiley what is going on but Smiley is simply impassive. Westerby offers his services if required.
Westerby says to give his love to Anne - Smiley asks if Esterhase said anything about Anne at the interview - Westerby said Esterhase had 'some story', but he had told Esterhase to 'stuff it up his silk draws'.
In the next scene Prideaux's head teacher is watching a school ruby match with his mother. He is annoyed as Prideaux has taken some leave suddenly. Roach is seen talking to his friends and tells them he knows Rhino (their nickname for Prideaux) hasn't gone for good, as he has left the caravan behind. We see Prideaux on the road at a petrol station.
In London we see Esterhase approaching a house. The door is opened by Guillam. Esterhase believes Guillam is setting up a meeting with an informer (the house is a Circus safe house). In fact, it is a trap. Smiley arrives, Guillam searches Esterhase and Fawn is set as lookout. Smiley is suspicious that someone is in the street may be watching them.
Smiley questions Esterhase about what is going on. He relates his ideas about Gerald the mole and Witchcraft. Smiley knows information that can only have been gained from his file reading, and Esterhase is perturbed when Smiley tells him that his investigation is official. He asks Esterhase who meets Polyakov but before Esterhase answers he answers for him, all the top people meet him at some point. Smiley is still suspicious they are being watched and asks Esterhase how he would conduct the surveillance, Esterhase replies he would need at least ten people, not one.
Esterhase admits that he knows that Polyakov works for the Russians but claims he is also working for the British. He says he does take him information but this happens all the time. Smiley asks Esterhase direct if he is Polyakov's contact in the Circus. Esterhase complains that he is being picked on, and Smiley says he would be a good choice. Esterhase protests that the Witchcraft material is good and Smiley responds that it was initially, but is now just chickenfeed. Smiley asks Esterhase about who sent him to muzzle Prideaux and Westerby, but Esterhase is unsure. Esterhase offers his services to help; Smiley asks where the contact house is where Polyakov meets the top men of the Circus and Esterhase tells him. Esterhase thinks he can now leave, but Smiley tells him he is staying at the safe house, guarded by Fawn.
When Smiley leaves, he is still concerned that he is being followed by someone, so Guillam covers him back to the hotel. Smiley, Guillam, Lacon and Mendel are present, and Smiley again thinks they are being watched. Mendel says he has checked, but if there is someone there, he is cleverer than him.
Lacon says his minister does not want a scandal, but Smiley says it is unlikely that the Russians will want anything out in the open even if their scheme is exposed. By this time Smiley is convinced the mole is not Esterhase after his interview with him, so the mole must either be Alleline, Haydon or Bland.
Smiley says they need to alarm the Russians enough that they expose themselves, so proposes sending Tarr to Paris, and from there to signal London that he has information vital to the running of the service.
On the channel ferry to France Guillam meets with Tarr and briefs him about his mission. The last scene shows Tarr in the British Intelligence office in Paris, pointing a gun at the Head of the Paris station and his clerk, while they send a message to the Head of London station.
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