State secrets are being passed on in Beirut, and Drake is sent to nail the one who's doing it. He finds the "local office" terribly under-staffed but plows ahead anyway, getting some help (but very little) from the native locals. Thru a very complex, twisted series of investigations, he finds the man under suspicion is really innocent, all along believing he's been doing official favors for his own government. The real culprit turns out to be an EX-British agent, kicked out 20 years earlier for being "unreliable", who, incredibly, set up his own privately-run spy ring, as a way of proving his worth to the people who tossed him out years before.
A very intense story filled with fascinating characters, surprises, suspense, and possibly the most shocking, downbeat ending in the entire run of the series. I don't know why "PRISONER" fans never seem to mention this episode, anyone who watches this might suspect that the events in this story may have led to "Number Six" turning in his resignation in anger and disgust. (The duplicity and deviousness of Drake's boss and the man's general attitude at the end of the story is all too real and believable. My last employer was a lot like that.)
Among the familiar faces in the cast are Aubrey Morris, who I've seen in many things (and used to often confuse with Freddie Jones); Peter Copley (also many things, but in particular, the Tom Baker-Lis Sladen DOCTOR WHO story "PYRAMIDS OF MARS"); a very lively Joan Hickson (who will probably be forever known as MISS MARPLE); and top of the list, Howard Marion-Crawford (in between his runs as Dr. Watson in the Ronald Howard SHERLOCK HOLMES series and Dr. Petrie in the Chris Lee FU MANCHU films). Also worth noting is Maureen Connell, who plays Drake's contact in Beirut, a very likable and attractive lady, who looks to have dropped out of the acting biz right after doing this story.
Marion-Crawford plays a somewhat shady character, but in the long run he manages to be so likable despite himself. It's almost a shock to see Drake be so much more hard-nosed and almost cold-blooded for a change by comparison. Drake's hard-lined attitude is then contrasted by the story's conclusion, when he realizes the people he's so absolutely loyal to may not be worthy of that loyalty. Not to be missed!
A very intense story filled with fascinating characters, surprises, suspense, and possibly the most shocking, downbeat ending in the entire run of the series. I don't know why "PRISONER" fans never seem to mention this episode, anyone who watches this might suspect that the events in this story may have led to "Number Six" turning in his resignation in anger and disgust. (The duplicity and deviousness of Drake's boss and the man's general attitude at the end of the story is all too real and believable. My last employer was a lot like that.)
Among the familiar faces in the cast are Aubrey Morris, who I've seen in many things (and used to often confuse with Freddie Jones); Peter Copley (also many things, but in particular, the Tom Baker-Lis Sladen DOCTOR WHO story "PYRAMIDS OF MARS"); a very lively Joan Hickson (who will probably be forever known as MISS MARPLE); and top of the list, Howard Marion-Crawford (in between his runs as Dr. Watson in the Ronald Howard SHERLOCK HOLMES series and Dr. Petrie in the Chris Lee FU MANCHU films). Also worth noting is Maureen Connell, who plays Drake's contact in Beirut, a very likable and attractive lady, who looks to have dropped out of the acting biz right after doing this story.
Marion-Crawford plays a somewhat shady character, but in the long run he manages to be so likable despite himself. It's almost a shock to see Drake be so much more hard-nosed and almost cold-blooded for a change by comparison. Drake's hard-lined attitude is then contrasted by the story's conclusion, when he realizes the people he's so absolutely loyal to may not be worthy of that loyalty. Not to be missed!