[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[FATHER SIGHS]
[EXCLAIMING IN ANNOYANCE]
[UTENSILS CLATTERING]
Honey, it's family hour,
there must be something on.
DAUGHTER: Oh, wow, Candied Critters!
[FATHER EXCLAIMS]
Oh, Great. It's Monsters, our favorite show!
[MONSTROUS LAUGH] [SHUSHING]
It's starting.
[MONSTROUS LAUGH]
[FATHER CHUCKLES]
[CREAKING]
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
[SIREN WAILING]
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Yes, yes, yes. I'm coming. I heard you the first time.
Who's there?
Oliver Ferguson.
Oliver?
Ah.
Comfortable.
Just as I imagined.
Except for this sort of thing, of course.
You recruit a man, then he works under you for 24 years
and you think you know him,
but there are always surprises.
Of course, in our line of work
that's what makes it interesting, wouldn't you say?
Yes, I say it constantly.
Yeah. [CHUCKLES]
For example my bursting in on you,
at this ungodly hour.
Well, I'm sure you have an excellent reason.
Would you care to tell me what it is?
I'm sending you back, Paul, for one last time.
In God's name, why, Oliver? I'm supposed to be through with all that.
I know, I know. You're shuffling papers here in the States.
See you through your retirement, standard operating procedure.
But it couldn't be helped.
What's the job?
A woman. Who?
Anna Soretska.
The physicist.
The dissident.
Very beautiful woman I understand.
In spite of what they've done to her.
What do you mean?
Several years of rehabilitation in one of their mental hospitals.
And now?
She managed to escape somehow.
But, she's out of their frying pan.
She is not yet out of the kitchen.
She's smack in the middle of your old territory.
I'm not up to it, Oliver. I'm not.
Believe me, I know how you feel.
No one wants to be the final casualty just as peace is declared.
Or to get into trouble on the verge of retirement.
Is that so unreasonable?
It's a routine run, Paul.
Two days, a week at the most
you'll have her safely on our side.
A routine run.
Piece of cake.
Then why did you come at three in the morning to tell me?
Because this assignment
is unpleasant for me, it was keeping me up
and I decided to get it over with.
Why me if it's a piece of cake?
Because it mustn't crumble.
She's more important to us than she was to them.
We can't afford any screw ups.
You don't actually practice the black arts in your spare time, do you?
No.
It's just a hobby.
[CHUCKLES]
Look, Oliver, you'll have to explain it all to me when you get back.
Amazing what people do.
Absolutely amazing.
[WIND BLOWING]
We'll rest here for a few hours.
Sleep if you can because at midnight we leave for the border.
As you wish.
There's no heat. This apartment's never had any heat.
It's okay. I didn't ask for any.
You know it's funny but I thought I'd seen this place for the last time.
I'm sorry.
Not your fault.
It's my own personal color of hell.
[LAUGHING LOUDLY]
[SHUSHING]
It's okay, it's okay.
[SOBBING]
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
It won't happen again.
Forget it. You're entitled.
We'll make it, you know. You don't have to worry.
Except that we're being followed.
I know you think that but we've already come through
two check points with no problems,
and they barely looked at our papers on the train.
Look, I've been on one side or the other of the charade most of my life.
You develop a sixth sense knowing someone's ducked into a corner
just before you turn around knowing which diner in a cafe is innocent,
and which one you'd kill without hesitation.
Useful skill.
Who is it?
It's not the local boys because they're more heavy-handed out here.
What about KGB van?
What are they waiting for?
We'll make it, I tell you.
Look if you don't mind, I'd really rather stop repeating that.
I'm sorry. It's okay.
No, it's not okay.
I imagine you've had to force yourself to believe that many times in the last few years.
That everything would be okay.
On the contrary, I prayed that they would kill me.
You seem stronger than that.
Everyone is strong up to a point.
Pain,
starvation, cold, isolation...
It's... It's all endurable up to a point.
But what finally destroys the soul is time.
It wears you down, and one day you hear someone screaming
and you idly ask yourself,
"Who might that be?"
And, of course, it's you.
It's over now.
Is it?
[SHIVERS]
Double up.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
Wake up.
It's all right, Anna. Nobody's out there.
No, no! They promised me time and they lied to me!
Everything's going to be okay. You were right. We're going to make it.
No! [SOBBING]
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
SATAN'S MINION: We've come for you, Anna. Open the door.
No!
SATAN'S MINION: We expect you to honor your contract.
[ANNA GASPS]
Now, answer me dammit.
What kind of a game are you playing with me?
It's very simple.
As he says I signed a contract with them.
With them?
With...
With the devil.
The devil?
I was at his place
and I said I'll pay the price.
Don't defy us, Anna. Open the door.
They made me promise to do his work for the rest of my life.
And afterwards.
SATAN'S MINION: Your services are required.
Now.
Don't be difficult, Anna.
Our master acted promptly on your behalf.
We expect similar courtesy in return.
I...
I was too cowardly to kill myself.
And they wouldn't allow me to die.
Always bringing me back from the brink,
from the release that I prayed for.
That's the worst torture of all.
No.
Oh, Oliver, you knew what I was getting into all along, didn't you?
Now,
how did you know Oliver?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
I didn't believe until now. Let's hope there is something to it.
Silver.
Silver. I need something silver.
A coin, jewelery or anything.
Help me, Anna. Help me.
Yes. Perfect, perfect.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
PAUL: By the power of silver,
I bar your way.
By the power of the sign of God,
I bar your way.
Don't think you've won!
We'll be back with our master's key.
It really works.
They'll be back. You heard them.
With more of Satan's power.
How in God's name did you ever make that bargain?
To get out of that place!
An even bargain for a good end.
And certainly something you know about.
Or do you enjoy the killing and the betrayal you do for your good ends?
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]
By my blood and a spell of Thoth,
I banish all demons.
[RECITING SPELL]
Please. Leave!
Save yourself while you can.
Not while I can save both of us.
Oh, good.
Good, it's cedar.
It's an aromatic wood.
Wrap these in something. Quickly.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
They're back. They're back!
They're coming for me and you cannot stop them.
Anna, no.
It's no use.
Anna...
It's no use.
Leave while you still can.
I won't leave you with them.
But I have no choice.
Look at me, Anna,
I'm dead inside.
I'm worn down from years of playing games of identity and loyalty.
All of a sudden I feel something.
All of a sudden
I'm alive again because I know what side I'm on.
It's too late.
No, it's not.
[LOUD RUMBLING]
[GLASS SHATTERING]
[APPLAUSE]
Bravo. First grade performance.
But this, uh, contract
renders all that null and void.
No appeal. She's ours.
Res ipsa loquitur.
The thing speaks for itself.
Oh, but she's not yours.
[LAUGHING]
Well, we couldn't come in if she was not ours to take.
But you're not going to take her.
Our master has that privilege.
Until now, I've tried dealing with you
as one professional with another.
But you, sir, are hopelessly corrupt.
[GROANS]
No. Leave him alone.
Oh, she's not yours.
Now, get thee hence. Demon, get thee hence!
Your goodness is overwhelming. Come!
Wait.
My soul for her soul.
My freedom for her freedom.
No! What?
Trade for the soul of a scientist
which comes rather usefully packaged, I might add...
for a burnt out case.
For a soul hardly worth the trouble of corrupting.
Which might eventually fall to our side simply of it's own weight?
ANNA: Please.
Don't sacrifice yourself.
I may not be able to.
They know my soul too well.
On the other hand,
your offer suggests a perverse goodness, which is
irresistible.
Done.
No!
Provided, of course, you remove that thing from your brow.
What do I sign?
I'm afraid I don't carry blank forms.
Handshake will do nicely.
[ANNA SOBBING]
SATAN'S MINION: And as for our previous arrangements...
Is that it?
Well, what were you expecting?
[STAMMERING] What happens now?
[BELL TOLLING]
Midnight.
I believe it's time for you to take her across the border.
He's right, Anna.
We really must be going or we'll miss our chance.
Come on.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
Who's there? Oliver.
Well, it seems I'm here again now that I know the way.
It's not a good time, Oliver.
You know, we haven't had a chance to talk very much since you got back.
And with your retirement looming...
I've been going over your debriefing. Nice piece of work.
Made it sound about as dull as I promised to.
Oh, if you're interested, your Anna Soretska
is now a member of the faculty.
You lied to me.
Did I?
You knew about Anna's special circumstances
and that I was the only agent who stood a chance at helping her.
And all that bull about where you think you know someone...
How did you know about her, Oliver?
About those things following here?
Well, it is our business after all.
Get out of my house.
Paul, you have certain contractual obligations.
One more month.
To the contrary,
your contract is forever.
The written contract is only a formality.
The verbal agreement is quite binding.
The deal was done when you agreed, Paul. And nothing can undo it.
How are you involved?
From the beginning. When I recruited you for the company,
you struck me as an excellent prospect
for our exclusive inner circle.
Then rescuing Anna... Correct.
You were set up.
We would appreciate your signature.
And were you behind her years of torture?
You don't imagine ordinary people
run places like that, do you?
Just... for the file.
You bastard!
No?
Well, like I say it's only a formality.
Oh, don't look so gloomy.
You'll hardly know the difference.
Double agent, triple agent, it's all the same.
Just a matter of following orders.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]