John LeCarre's spy thriller is brought to the big screen. A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife, who works for the Panamanian president and a huge debt. The mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Panama Canal. But what the two do is concoct a tremendous fictional tale about former mercenaries who are ready to topple the current government and are willing to work with Britain and the US to do so.

Harry Pendel:
Oh, yes. The lies. Very, very sorry about the lies. Louisa, I never did work in Saville Row, did I? Not as such. I learned the tailoring in prison. I burned down my Uncle Benny's warehouse to help him out. And then when I done my time, Uncle Benny, he gives me my portion, sends me out here so I can't get into trouble. I pretended he was Arthur Braifwaite. You see, lying's what we do in prison, luv. It's instead of love, really. You tell a thing the way it ought to be because that's so much better than how it is. Well, it's that bad. If you follow me.


Louisa Pendel:
Why didn't you just tell me from the start?


Harry Pendel:
[sobbing] Because I fell in love with you, my princess, and I knew that I wasn't good enough for you. Not as I stood.


Louisa Pendel:
Harry, you are such a fool.


Sarah Pendel:
[Coming downstairs] Dad, you promised to tell me a story. Where were you?


Harry Pendel:
Oh, Sarah, I'm so sorry.


Sarah Pendel:
No need to cry about it, Dad.


Mark Pendel:
[Coming downstairs] Hi, Dad.


Sarah Pendel:
Hi, Mum.


Harry Pendel:
What do you want me to do?


Louisa Pendel:
What do I want you to do? What you always do.

[pregnant pause]


Louisa Pendel:
Make breafast.


Mark Pendel:
Can we have pancakes?

Written by Victor Heredia
Performed by Rita Connolly