Our Man in Havana 1959

Recruitment as Havana operative

In pre-revolutionary Cuba, James Wormold, a vacuum cleaner salesman, is recruited by Hawthorne of the British Secret Intelligence Service to become their Havana operative. He accepts the dangerous assignment, hoping to protect his family and gain standing in Havana's tense political climate. The deal hinges on him providing loyal, local cover, despite his lack of any prior espionage experience.

Inventing agents and a rocket-plan

Rather than recruiting real informants, Wormold fabricates agents from people he knows only by sight and keeps up the illusion with coded cables to London. He sketches a fanciful rocket-launching pad using vacuum cleaner parts, hoping these 'plans' will prove his indispensability. His desire to fund his extravagant daughter Milly drives the deception.

Arrival of Beatrice and the radioman

A secretary named Beatrice and a radioman from London arrive to supervise the operation, bringing authority and credibility to Wormold's cover. Their presence makes it harder to maintain the façade as real agents should be at work rather than fantasies. The tension rises as Wormold must improvise to keep up appearances.

Facade grows more elaborate

With real people involved in the operation, Wormold's invented information starts to feel real as cables travel and potential consequences loom. He expands the network in his mind and in written cables, inflating the threat to justify further financial demands. The lie begins to affect decisions and actions beyond his control.

Intercepted cables trigger actions

Enemy agents intercept Wormold's cables and treat them as authentic intelligence, triggering actions against the supposed cell. The fabricated network begins to shape real-world events in Havana, increasing the risk to Wormold and those close to him. The line between fiction and reality blurs as his deceit accelerates.

A fake agent is killed

One of Wormold's invented agents is killed, a grim consequence of his deception turning dangerously real. The casualty exposes the fragility of the entire scheme and escalates the danger around Wormold. He feels the consequences of telling lies with real-world teeth.

Wormold becomes a target for assassination

As the illusion unravels, Wormold becomes a target for assassination by those who believe his fabricated network. He confronts the overwhelming cost of his deception and the real threat now looming over him. The danger seals his fate, pushing him toward a fateful reckoning.

Confesses to Beatrice

In a crucial confession, Wormold tells Beatrice that his information is a fabrication and that his 'agents' exist only in his imagination. The revelation cements his guilt and foreshadows the collapse of his cover.

Recall to London

With the web of lies threatening to break, Wormold is recalled to London by his superiors who move to preserve the illusion rather than expose the truth. The decision marks a turning point as he leaves Havana behind.

Fabricated story about dismantling machines

In London, Wormold's commanders decide to fabricate a story claiming the imagined machines had been dismantled, preserving the illusion and avoiding exposure. The lie is kept intact at the highest levels to protect ongoing operations. The false narrative solidifies the service's willingness to bend the truth for strategic aims.

Awarded an OBE

The service rewards Wormold by bestowing an OBE and offering him a new sense of purpose, despite the truth behind his actions remaining hidden. The honor serves to validate his supposed contributions and loyalty. It also signals that the system values usefulness over honesty in this case.