MovieChat Forums > The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) Discussion > Alec's library job... Set up?

Alec's library job... Set up?

posted 13 years ago by djrosenblatt
20 replies | jump to latest

Nan, as we only learn at a late stage, seems totally intrinsic to Control's plot to "expose" Alex's cover story and thus get Fiedler discredited and killed. And yet it seemed that Alec's hooking up with Nan was purely coincidental - a result of his taking the library job.

It sure looked to my eyes that Alec only got that job by chance, after going to the employment office. Am I right about that?

One might argue that Control wasn't concerned about what civilian job Alec would take -- that it was reasonable to think that, whatever job he ended up in, he'd eventually hook up with SOME woman, and that that woman could then be used in the same way Nan ultimately was.

The problem with that logic is, it was Nan's Communist credentials that allowed Mundt/Control to lure her to East Berlin with a credible invitation for her to participate in an "exchange program". If Alec had ended up in a different job, how many other female candidates for his affection would have been as easy to con into traveling across the Iron Curtain?

[–] Miarse 13 years ago

It was part of teh set up. he was supposed to seduce Nan, he was supposed to draw her in and use her.

[–] djrosenblatt 13 years ago

Care you expand on that? Was his visit to the employment office part of an elaborate plot, with his being offered the library job - followed by his accepting it - foreordained?

But even aside from that, whose "plan" was it for Alec to hook up with Nan? It certainly wasn't Nan's, and it's pretty clear that it wasn't Alec's either. So Control had decided that Alec would take this library job, convinced of the fact that Alec and Nan's falling in love with each other would be an inevitability?

I seriously doubt that. That's the kind of silly plot device you might see in some of the frivolous, over-the-top spy movies they make today... but I don't think LeCarre has ever stooped that low.

[–] Miarse 13 years ago

The fact that she was a commie and would give Lemas some legitimacy when she was hauled before the tribunal was the reason.

To save me typing, from Wiki..

Liz is sent to a cell, but Mundt places her in a car with Leamas at the wheel. During their drive to Berlin, where an exit route from East Berlin awaits, he explains the operation to her, including the parts of which he was unaware until the end of the trial. The fake bank account payments were real, and Hans-Dieter Mundt was a double agent reporting to George Smiley and Peter Guillam. The operation was against Fiedler, not Mundt, as Leamas was deceived to believe, because Fiedler was close to exposing Mundt as a British double agent. Fiedler was too powerful for Mundt to eliminate alone; therefore, Control and Smiley did it for him. They placed him and her as co-workers to provide Mundt with the means of discrediting Leamas, and consequently discrediting Fiedler. By falling in love, Leamas and Liz made it easy for them. Liz is horrified that British Intelligence planned the death of Fiedler, an intelligent, considerate and thoughtful man, in order to protect the despicable Mundt. Fiedler’s fate is unrevealed, but Leamas, in answer to Liz’s question, says that he would most likely be shot.

[–] djrosenblatt 13 years ago

The fact that she was a commie and would give Lemas some legitimacy when she was hauled before the tribunal was the reason.

First of all, your "answer" has no relationship to my question. You might save us both a lot of time and actually read what I'm asking before you attempt another response.

Secondly, no, you've got it 180 degrees wrong. Nan's function was not to grant legitimacy to Leamas, it was to discredit his story!

Third, for the benefit of anyone else reading this, it should be noted that previous references to Liz are, in fact, to Nan. Liz was the name LeCarre used in his book, and it got changed to Nan in the film.

The only part of your answer that comes close to addressing my question is your quote from "Wiki" (Wikipedia?): "They [Control and Smiley] placed him and her as co-workers to provide Mundt with the means of discrediting Leamas." HOWEVER... the contents of wikis, as I'm sure you're aware, are user-contributed, and hence no more definitive a source than IMDB is. Can you trace these words back to LeCarre, or give any evidence at all that Control was behind Alec's meeting and then falling in love with Nan? If not, then please save us both the bother of continuing this discussion.

[–] Miarse 11 years ago

Secondly, no, you've got it 180 degrees wrong. Nan's function was not to grant legitimacy to Leamas, it was to discredit his story!

I suggest you read what I actually wrote; The fact that she was a commie and would give Lemas some legitimacy when she was hauled before the tribunal was the reason.

How could she discredit him without giving him legitimacy? Hmmmmm?

Legitimate

verb (used with object)

to show or declare to be legitimate or proper: He was under obligation to legitimate his commission.

again, to save me typing;

Mundt’s attorney calls the unsuspecting Liz Gold as a surprise witness for the defence. Although not wanting to testify against Alec Leamas, she admits that George Smiley paid for her apartment lease after visiting her and that she had promised Leamas to not look for him when he disappeared. She also admits that he had said good-bye to her the night before he assaulted the grocer. Realising that the operation is now blown, Leamas offers to tell all in return for Liz's freedom. He admits that Control gave him the mission to frame Mundt as a double agent, but adds that Fiedler was not a participant. In cross-examination, Fiedler asks Mundt how he knew that someone had paid off Liz's lease, because, Fiedler insists, Liz never would have spoken about it. Mundt hesitates before answering ("a second too long, Leamas thought"), then the Tribunal halts the trial and arrests Fiedler. Then, and only then, does Leamas understand the true nature of Control and Smiley's operation.

It is her testament which legitimises Lemas, while fullfilling Smiley's subterfuge.

[–] rogueforte 13 years ago

It sure looked to my eyes that Alec only got that job by chance, after going to the employment office. Am I right about that?

Yes.

For the scheme to work properly, Leamas had to be 'discredited' after helping Fiedler, thereby discrediting Fiedler, too. Smiley/Control undoubtedly had an original plan for that but it was altered when Leamas' love interest with the communist Nan/Liz was discovered. Control had apparently already made those new plans when he earlier asked Leamas about 'helping' Nan/Liz to which Leamas adamently tells Control, "She's to be left out of it. I don't want her implicated". As Leamas later tells Nan/Liz when explaining the whole plot, "We made it easy for them".

Remember, the root of discrediting Leamas was Smiley buying Nan/Liz' lease. If there hadn't been a Leamas and Nan/Liz relationship, the discrediting of Leamas might have been something as simple as Smiley instead buying Leamas' lease after he'd supposedly left the British intelligence service. Control/Smiley were undoubtedly going to 'pay' Leamas, somehow (without Leamas' knowledge), then give that information to Mundt to discredit Leamas later. Leamas having a relationship with Nan/Liz provided the perfect opportunity. It's unlikely that Control/Smiley could have been able to predict that by arranging for Leamas to get a job at the library, though.

OTOH, maybe Control/Smiley knew of an attractive, young, single female Communist and figured they'd give it a shot by arranging for Leamas to get a job in the same place. They couldn't know a relationship would develop (and it would have to be quickly if it did). But if it didn't, they'd just go back to plan 'B' of discrediting Leamas.

That would be my guess as to how the original plot was supposed to unfold. Smiley buying Nan/Liz' lease instead of Leamas' lease just made it look a whole lot better. The East German Presidium would easily be duped into thinking that Leamas had made an arrangement with Control for Smiley to buy Nan/Liz' lease as payment for Leamas' participation in the plan. It wouldn't be hard for them to believe it was a hidden way for Leamas to get paid so as to not have any direct link to British intelligence (which he supposedly had left disgruntled and why he was helping Fiedler 'get' Mundt).

[–] djrosenblatt 13 years ago

I appreciate your response. I know you aren't giving a definitive answer, but at least you are addressing the actual question.

My guess would be your first supposition: that Control/Smiley had no control over Leamas' taking the position at the library, or falling for a naive young Communist, but saw the opportunity once it arose, and took it. I base that on the fact that the trip to the employment office, if all a ruse, was just a bit more elaborate than was warranted.

[–] rogueforte 13 years ago

Well, quite honestly, it's understandable to consider the possiblity that Leamas' library job was a set-up, and the reason is when Leamas goes to the unemployment office, the clerk who had been handling his case (a Mr. Melrose) was off 'with the flu'. Instead, someone named 'Pitt' is the clerk Leamas sees who then sends him to the library job.

So, the question becomes, did Control/Smiley arrange for Mr. Pitt to replace the regular clerk at the unemployment office, specifically to get Leamas the job at the library in the hope that a relationship would evolve between Leamas and the young, idealistic communist Nan/Liz?

If not, what was the point of the exchange between Leamas and Pitt where Pitt explains that he's replacing Melrose?

[–] djrosenblatt 13 years ago

Aha, very interesting! OTOH, he's first offered a job as a male nurse (to which he responds, "I think I'd do better as a patient"). Do you think Leamas knows enough to turn down the first job -- ie, is he in on this charade?

Also, it's interesting that, as you imply, this is not Leamas' first trip to the employment office, given that his "usual" caseworker is Mr. Melrose. Pitt, furthermore, mentions something to the effect that Leamas doesn't seem to hold down jobs for very long.

So evidently, some time has passed between Leamas' leaving the spy agency and the visit to the employment office which we witness. Perhaps by this point he's been on the street - and down on his luck - long enough to attract the attention of the East German spy network. And perhaps that's why this "kabuki dance" at the employment office is warranted - because he may already be under close observation by them. What do you think?

[–] rogueforte 13 years ago

I hadn't thought about Leamas seeing a caseworker already twice before, and had forgotten that Pitt first offered Leamas a job as a male nurse. If Control/Smiley had intentions of setting Leamas up at the library, I strongly doubt they'd have taken the chance of Melrose or Pitt offering Leamas a job he'd take elsewhere.

Leamas having a relationship with someone who wasn't a communist still could have worked (all Smiley had to do was provide them with some money for any lame reason), except it would have been more difficult (if not impossible) to get them into East Germany as a witness for Mundt.

Although it's still slightly suspect that Leamas just 'happened' to get a job at a library with an attractive, young, female communist, his having seen Melrose twice before, then the job offer from Pitt before the library position, well, I'd say it pretty much closes the case on Control having anything to do with Leamas getting the library job. Control and Smiley just got incredibly lucky with Nan/Liz.

[–] djrosenblatt 13 years ago

Good points. And I keep forgetting that, even if Control set up the job for Leamas, he probably wasn't in on it. That is to say, if the job was a setup, the only purpose, as far as I can see, was to hook Leamas up with Liz. But Leamas, we find out later, was vehemently opposed to allowing Liz to be a pawn in this game. So I'm wrong about the "kabuki dance" at the employment office -- if it was one, Leamas was an unwitting dance partner.

[–] rogueforte 13 years ago

It was an interesting theory and, considering the subtle, duplicitous way Control was ultimately able to frame Fiedler and save Mundt, it's not difficult to think Control had something to do with Leamas getting the library job.

But when you look at the circumstances, well, it's apparent that Control and Smiley just got very lucky and took advantage of an opportunity.

[–] Marco-18 13 years ago

Not by chance. Nothing in this movie happens "by chance" -- which is why it's so great to have a spy movie that doesn't rely on happy coincidences.

We know that Control (being "controlling") has planned the operation very, very carefully. Why would he leave 'Nan' to be a happy accident?

In the 1960s, MI5 would have had knowledge of every person involved with the official British Communist Party -- as 'Nan' was. Thus, Control would know of 'Nan' and would want Leamas to get the job, and meet her to perfect his 'cover'.

All Leamas would have to do is go along to the Labour Exchange and refuse, or fail at, all jobs until he was offered the library position. But the fact that the man at the Labour Exchange was not the usual employee suggests that he was a 'plant' put there to offer up the library job.

Further to that, the person who ran the library is referred to "The Brigadier" That means - someone in the British Establishment, so it can be assumed that "The Brigadier" would do as he was told without asking questions.

I think Leamas knew that the job and 'Nan' was a set-up and so he goes along with making her his girlfriend -- but his forcefulness in asking Control to leave her out of it prior to his departure from London suggests that he's worried that Control plans to drag 'Nan' into the endgame. Which means that Control never told Leamas that he was going to use 'Nan' -- in the same way as he did not let Leamas realize that the plot was aimed at destroying Munt - not Fiedler.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] demersonw 12 years ago

At first I thought it happened by chance as well but now I definitely think it was planned. Control set up that job with a known member of the communist party and instructed Leamas to begin a relationship with her so that he would be more credited when he meets with Fiedler to set up Mundt. But in actuality this was a ruse and control really wanted Leamus to begin a relationship with her so they could discredited him when they set him up at the trial to take out Fiedler. The only thing that happened by chance was that Leamus actually fell in love with her.

before you can get rolling, your life makes a beeline for the drain.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] jd-276 12 years ago

Nothing in this movie happens "by chance"

Totally agree.

Nan's communist party membership would have been well known to MI5 or 6 and my guess is that they picked her because she was a lonely person with very few prospects. She would have been easily influenced by the mere presence of Leamas and it would almost inevitably lead to intimacy.

That would also make it very much easier to con her into going to East Germany and torpedo Fiedler's case against Mundt.

[–] nednut 11 years ago

I haven't seen the film yet but I will.

In the book it is revealed that the Labour Exchange man is or was a member of the Circus (Leamas had seen him there before ). He does mention this to Control, I think when they meet at Smiley's house. Maybe it too is mentioned in the film? it would only be mentioned 'in passing' if it were.

So as far as the book is concerned this is explained fully. The library assistant job was a set up for that particular library because they had already pinpointed Nan and her 'credentials'. Their friendship would be inevitable but as another poster pointed out they got the added bonus of them falling in love.

[–] rogueforte 11 years ago

This is actually quite a salient point. The whole plot hinged upon Smiley, somehow, undermining the set-up for Fiedler by making a payment to one of Leamas' acquaintances. Mundt would have people watching for this specific meeting between Smiley and one of Alec's 'friends' to report to the tribunal when Fiedler would eventually pounce.

Getting Leamas a job in close proximity of a friendly communist (female or not) was critical to the whole plan, so it was absolutely necessary that they had someone planted in the Labour Exchange (Pitt) to get Leamus into that position.

Leamas and Nan having a romantic relationship really wasn't necessary. If Miss Crail had been a communist, Smiley could have made some sort of payment to her, and it would have incriminated Leamas just as well.

In effect, Control simply ran down a list of all known communists in London, and arranged a plant in the Labour Exchange to get Leamas a job with the best prospect. In this case, it was Nan Perry. As Leamas would later say, "We made it very easy for them".

[–] Etherdave (162) 6 months ago

The exchange between Leamas and the employment official sounds suspiciously like a 'phrase/counterphrase' meant to let the official (who is a plant) know this is the man to whom to give the library job. It looks totally set up, and Nan is the pawn dragged into the operation because of her Communist Party affiliations. So how, then, did Nan get the job, and for how long has she been a helpless tool of British Intelligence? You might ask John Le Carre just how far back this is intended to go, except he's dead. You could ask Len Deighton the same question about Harry Palmer's office romances; were they real, or simply engineered by Control to keep Harry interested/occupied? Alas, Deighton's dead also, so you get the same answer as from Le Carre. Oh well.