Why did Bill Haydon insult Easterhase in this scene?
After Jim was killed in a trap, Esterhase waves hands at people who had completed their meeting with Control. Then Bill insults him:
Bill Haydon: You little prick, Esterhase
Why does he say that?
Best Answer
Control has just signed over leadership of the Circus and is being 'retired'. Smiley is his right hand man and is leaving with him. The four lieutenants, Haydon, Esterhase, Alleline and Bland will now be the leadership of the Circus. Esterhase was glad Control was leaving, and hastened the departure by opening the lift's gate. Everyone understood that Control had given a lifetime of work into the Circus and departing was very, very hard for him, yet there was the little toad Esterhase, smiling.
Bill Hayden was simply calling out Esterhase on his bad manners for gloating over Control's departure.
In the script, it is written:
INT. CIRCUS - FIFTH FLOOR - DAY 7
PUSHING Control and Smiley as they walk down the corridor. 5.
Alleline and the Lieutenants are waiting for them. A horribly awkward moment. Toby pulls open the cage lift doors for them, as if to hasten the eviction. Haydon looks at him with contempt.
BILL HAYDON
You little prick Esterhase.
Control sweeps past them and the lift, determined to walk every step of the way. Smiley follows.
In a wiki for the same scene, it is described in a way to maybe make it more understandable (although you really might have to read the novel for understanding it better):
Control: [Control has just signed an official document of the British Intelligence Service.] Would you witness this for me?
Percy Alleline: I wish I could've done more, Control.
Control: You did all you could, Percy. Well, a man should know when to leave the party.
Toby Esterhase: What about Smiley?
Control: Smiley is leaving with me. [Smiley nods to the affirmative.]
Bill Haydon: [having an inaudible conversation with Esterhase. Esterhase then waves mockingly at Control and Smiley, both of whom are leaving 'The Circus'.] You little prick, Esterhase!
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Why did Prideaux shoot Haydon?
Prideaux does not kill Haydon because he was a traitor to his country, he kills him because he was a traitor to him personally, not just by giving him up to the Russians in Budapest, but because he refused to respond to Prideaux's homosexual feelings towards him and forced Prideaux to suppress his authentic self.Did Prideaux know Haydon was the mole?
Smiley learns that Prideaux informed Haydon of Testify before departing; Prideaux had independently surmised that Haydon was the mole, and wanted to warn him about the potential his cover might be blown.What did Bill Haydon do?
By detaining some Czech spies based in Britain, Haydon arranged for Prideaux to be returned to England. It is also discovered that Haydon was having an affair with Smiley's estranged wife at the time. Smiley interviews Prideaux who tells him that the purpose of Operation Testify was to get the name of the mole.Who was the mole in the circus?
Haydon assumes control of London Station, in control of all foreign operations, effectively giving him unfettered access to intelligence worldwide. In 1973, an indiscretion by a Soviet operative in Hong Kong confirms the existence of the mole to Oliver Lacon, the Civil Service overseer of the Circus in Whitehall.Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) - Alec Guinness - Confession (2)
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