Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TV Mini Series)

Return to the Circus (1979)

Hywel Bennett: Ricki Tarr

Photos 

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Ricki Tarr : Shall I start with the day you sent me to Lisbon? It changed my life. You might find it's going to change all your lives.

• Ricki Tarr : I've got a story to tell you. It's all about spies. And if it's true - which I think it is - you boys are gonna need a whole new organisation, right?

• Ricki Tarr : Daddy thought he could beat the sin out of me. But you knew better, didn't you, Mr Smiley? You beat it further in. And that's what scalphunters are made of. Isn't that right, Mr Guillam?

• George Smiley : Before we begin, Ricki - do I understand correctly that no one at the Circus knows you're in England?

  Ricki Tarr : Only Mr Guillam.

  George Smiley : You're officially absent without leave. On the wanted list.

  Ricki Tarr : I think I'm safe now.

• Ricki Tarr : Tarr, sir. Ricki Tarr. The lawyer's boy from Marseilles. You changed my first nappies, as we used to say.

• Ricki Tarr : [to Smiley]  Twelve years ago nobody, but nobody, got taken on unless he got past you. Not even scalphunters, though they were not quite your type. We all had to get the nod from Mr Smiley.

  Peter Guillam : Tarr...

  George Smiley : Of course I remember you, Ricki. Your father was an Australian, as I recall a solicitor and a non-conformist preacher; altogether a most unusual chap to pop up in Marseilles. But such odd circumstances do seem to provide us with suitable personnel.