The Looking Glass

In the early 1960s, The Department, a British military intelligence organization, faces a significant decline from its former glory. Once a powerhouse during World War II, it grapples with the shadows of bureaucracy, its reputation fading amidst the rise of other intelligence factions.

The Department's operations are managed by a small and weary team, including Director Leclerc, aide John Avery, and seasoned veteran Wilf Taylor. They are united by a yearning to reclaim their once-respected place in the intel community as they navigate through mundane desk jobs.

A significant opportunity presents itself when a defector supplies intelligence about a Soviet missile buildup in the fictional town of Kalkstadt. This intel reignites hopes for The Department to reclaim its status within the intelligence community while the specter of the Cuban Missile Crisis looms.

The Department decides to seize the valuable intelligence by bribing a commercial pilot to divert his route and photograph the missile site. This operation marks a desperate attempt to validate the defector's claims and resurrect The Department's prominence.

While the plan unfolds, tragedy befalls the team as Wilf Taylor suffers a fatal hit-and-run accident. Leclerc grows suspicious that this could be an attempt by the Stasi to eliminate risks associated with the compromising film.

Avery is dispatched to Finland to meet the pilot and collect the incriminating film, an assignment that he views as a chance to prove himself. However, the discrepancies he encounters in Finnish records begin to complicate the already precarious intelligence operation.

Under Leclerc’s urging, the Minister reluctantly supports a covert mission across the Inner German Border in East Germany. The Department skillfully disguises this operation as a routine training exercise, trying to keep it under the radar of their rivals in the Circus.

The Department seeks out Fred Leiser, a former operative, to assist with their mission. They need to instill confidence in Leiser, who has distanced himself from espionage, and hope that this opportunity will reignite his passion for the intelligence world.

In a quiet Oxford residence, Leiser undergoes rigorous training regimens aimed at refreshing his skills. Despite initial struggles, he gradually begins to regain his momentum, especially in mastering Morse code under the guidance of Avery.

Leiser starts to establish a disguised control center near the East German border, preparing for the significant task ahead. His unease grows as he approaches the moment of crossing unarmed, stirring a mix of anticipation and dread.

As Leiser makes his move into East Germany, panic surges as he accidentally kills a guard in self-defense. The fallout ignites a media frenzy, marking the beginning of his descent into chaos as he evades authorities.

To evade capture, Leiser hijacks a motorcycle and seeks refuge with a local woman who offers him assistance. Their relationship quickly grows complicated as he provides her companionship in return for shelter and support during his mission.

In a moment of panic during his first transmission attempt, Leiser fails to change frequencies as required. This crucial mistake alerts the East German authorities to his location, escalating the tension surrounding The Department's operations.

As the East German authorities close in, Smiley is ordered by the Ministry to withdraw all operations and terminate the mission. The disintegration of their plan casts doubt on the validity of the defector's information and highlights the operational failures of The Department.

In a surprising turn of events, it is revealed that the missile site may not have even been real. The defector, it turns out, was well-known for fabricating stories, leaving the mission's failures in disarray and highlighting the vulnerabilities of The Department.