First Principles (Sandbaggers)

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First Principles is an episode of The Sandbaggers television series. It is espisode 1 of season 1, and first aired on ITV on 18 September 1978. As ther first episode, it goes to some length to explain the politically-charged and gritty atmosphere surrounding the intelligence community.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Willie Caine reports to Neil Burnside that he has been followed by unknown agents. It is revealed that officers from the Norwegian security service have been trailing SIS officers as part of a training exercise. The Chief of the Norwegian service, Lars Torvik, is in London and visits Burnside. Torvik tells Burnside that he will provide SIS with the results of an intelligence-gathering operation he is mounting, if Burnside will help with the training (quid pro quo).

Later, Torvik, informs Burnside that the mission has gone wrong. A Norwegian surveillance aircraft that has been forced down over Soviet territory on the Kola Peninsula. Torvik asks Burnside for SIS assistance to rescue the crew and destroy the aircraft. Burnside considers the rescue mission to be too risky, and refuses.

Sir Geoffrey Wellingham soon contacts Burnside and informs him that the Prime Minister has ordered SIS to assist the Norwegians. There is a quid pro quo - although the Norwegians are planning to buy British missiles, SIS must stage the rescue mission or else the Norwegians will buy competing American missiles. While Burnside resents the government overriding his decision for political reasons, he has no choice to obey.

After a thorough mission briefing, which infuriates Torvik because of how long it takes, Burnside sends two of his Sandbaggers, Caine and Landy, on the rescue mission. When the mission is underway, Burnside learns from Jeff Ross that the Norwegians, put out by what they perceived to be foot-dragging on Burnside's part, have also contacted the CIA and asked the Americans to conduct a rescue, again holding out the offer to buy American missiles as an inducement. Caine and Landy reach the aircraft and find that it is empty - and narrowly escape being killed by demolition charges left by the CIA.

Caine and Landy attempt to follow the CIA/Norwegian team, and witness them being captured by the Soviet military. Caine and Landy escape overland to Norway. It turns out that in their haste to seize upon the Norwegian missile offer the American agents, unlike Caine and Landy, skimped on their mission brief and thus failed to realize their path took them near a Soviet border post.

Burnside flies to Oslo to confront Torvik and to explain the facts of life regarding the operation of an intelligence service. The harangue also serves to enlighten the viewing audience about the unglamorous and highly politicized nature of intelligence work, in contrast to the escapist world of James Bond that Burnside derides. Torvik blithly thanks Burnside for his advice and offers him a drink. Burnside responds angrily, "Herr Torvik, if I had a glass in my hand at this moment I'd shove it down your throat." Burnside returns to London.

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