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Control's Departure
Control, the head of MI6, along with George Smiley were ousted from their positions after a botched Operation Testify and Percy Alleline's development of Operation Witchcraft, which is supposed to bring in intelligence from the Soviet Union. -
The Mole
Undersecretary Oliver Lacon approaches George Smiley about the possibility of a mole being at the top of MI6. It was originally a suspicion of Control's that incited operation testify, but Lacon believes there is some truth to Control's final ravings. -
Smiley Assembles his Team
Smiley calls upon Peter Guillam to aid him in his investigations primarily to obtain documents from the MI6 headquarters in Cambridge Circus for Smiley's examination. He also recruits former colleague Inspector Mendel to aid in the acquisition of certain articles of information as well as to arrange Smiley's security. -
Ricky Tarr Arrives from the East
Agent Ricky Tarr, after an attempt to bring a Soviet agent to the West, arrives in London chased by the Soviets and MI6. Karla, the Soviet spymaster, placed a large sum of money in Tarr's bank account to make his superiors believe he defected. Tarr tells Smiley about a woman he met who knew of a mole at the top of MI6. Smiley keeps Tarr in reserve for a later purpose after their meeting. -
Smiley Talks to Connie
Smiley goes to speak with dismissed researcher Connie Sachs about any information she may have come across regarding a mole. She brings up the man Alexander Polyakov, who resided in London under the pretense of being a cultural attache but in fact was a decorated Soviet war hero. Smiley believes him to be the courier that sends information from MI6 to his superiors in the Kremlin. -
The Safehouse
Smiley pressures Lacon into giving Smiley the location of the safe house where the source Merlin for Operation Witchcraft resides. He suspects that the source is Polyakov but yet cannot be sure who the mole is so his investigations must take him further. -
Smiley Pressures Toby Esterhase
Smiley is aware of Toby Esterhase's wanted status in his homeland of Vienna and is also privy to Esterhase's knowledge of Operation Testify. Esterhase had knowledge of Jim Prideaux's whereabouts and Smiley used this to accuse Esterhase of setting Prideaux up to be shot to threaten his deportation. Esterhase cracks and tells Smilely of the safe house where all of the top intelligence employees took minor files to the Soviet source. -
Tarr Contacts MI6
At Smiley's instruction, Tarr contacts MI6 telling them he has valuable intelligence about a mole in a high and sensitive position. Smiley assumes the mole will then move to the safe house to orchestrate his escape East as well as inform the source. This is where Smiley waits to catch the traitor. -
The Mole is Identified
Smiley's trap catches Bill Haydon meeting with Polyakov to deliver information and plan his escape. Bill is brought into the custody of M6 and Polyakov, as he has diplomatic immunity, is sent East to Russia as Bill will soon be. -
Haydon is Killed
For causing his capture and torture in Russia, Jim Prideaux shoots Bill Haydon in the house where he is kept before he can be sent East.