Rough Shoot

Colonel Robert Taine shoots a man he believes is a poacher on his rented Dorset property. The man, Reimann, is mortally wounded, but Taine does not realize that a foreign spy named Hiart has also fired at him. Taine then conceals Reimann's body under a shrub to avoid exposure.

Hiart and his driver Diss search for Reimann's body in the countryside and cross paths with Taine. The tense encounter hints at a larger espionage operation unfolding around Taine's property. The incident foreshadows the network of spies operating nearby.

Magda Hassingham discusses the incident with Hiart, revealing she is involved with the espionage circle. Her drunken husband, a major local landowner, remains ignorant of Magda's activities. The conversation hints at hidden loyalties and the personal stakes in the plot.

British Colonel Cartwright introduces Robert Taine and his wife Cecily to government official Randall. Randall confirms Sandorski's identity and explains the mission to foil a gang trying to steal atomic secrets, then instructs Taine to cooperate with Sandorski.

In a private moment, Taine confesses to Cecily that he has accidentally killed a man. The admission reinforces the couple's need to protect themselves within the spy operation. Cecily insists on accompanying Taine, Sandorski, and their team.

Sandorski arranges an operation to capture the enemy agent Lex. By moving a landing beacon, they disrupt a supposed air drop, and Sandorski, impersonating Hiart, grabs the spy and withdraws with grenades to prevent follow-up.

The next morning, police discover Reimann's body. At the same time, Diss learns about the Taine household's unusual guests from the housekeeper's son, raising suspicion of infiltration. The investigation begins to close in on the visitors.

Inspectors Matthews and Sullivan question Robert and compare his boot prints to evidence near Reimann's body. Taine urges the group to depart for London, seeking a safer cover for their activities as the net tightens.

Robert, Cecily, Sandorski and Lex arrive at a train station where Randall makes contact with Cecily, and she admits that her husband killed Reimann. The confession complicates loyalties and raises the stakes for everyone involved.

On the journey, Cecily slips into Lex's compartment and steals his briefcase. Lex awakens and escapes at the London train station, triggering a chase that will drive the spy plot forward. The theft reshapes the balance of power among the players.

At Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London, Randall and Sandorski arrest Lex after he passes the envelope to an unidentified spy. Hiart and Diss flee the scene, fueling the pursuit and heightening the tension of the operation.

During a pursuit in a stairwell, Sandorski shoots Diss. Hiart is killed when Lex's briefcase is opened, triggering an explosion that ends the spy's threat. The violent turn marks a decisive shift in the intelligence conflict.

Randall explains that Lex was a scientist brought to England to interpret stolen Australian atomic reports. The revelation clarifies the motive behind the operation, and Sandorski warns Cecily that any future odd behavior could signal espionage. The story consolidates the espionage network's collapse and its personal costs.