Dusty Hughes

The Secret Agent

1992 BBC adaptation of the Joseph Conrad novel of 1907 concerning the mostly inactive spy Alfred Verloc, who is ordered by his superior Mr Vladimir to carry out a terrorist act. Verloc reluctantly plans the operation, seeking help from The Professor. Verloc is also an informant for the police and the Assistant Commissioner and Chief Inspector Heat add additional pressure on Verloc and his attempts to carry out his plan. Verloc’s subsequent actions gravely affect his wife who is devoted to her mentally unbalanced brother Stevie.

Commitments

Three-day weeks, strikes and the lights going out - the winter of 1973-4 finally spurs Hugh into political action. But is his new-found zeal going to be enough for the unexpected demands the new life makes of him?