Character Relationship Map: The Fourth Protocol

Characters

• John Preston (played by Michael Caine) — protagonist

  An MI5 officer whose unauthorized recovery of NATO files exposes a possible security breach. After being demoted, suspended, and ignored by his superior, he investigates a radioactive component and fo...

• Valeri Petrofsky / James Edward Ross (played by Pierce Brosnan) — supporting

  A KGB major operating under the identity of James Edward Ross, Petrofsky is sent to Britain to assemble and detonate an atomic device as a false-flag attack. He works with Irina while unknowingly faci...

• Borisov (played by Ned Beatty) — supporting

  A subordinate within the KGB who protests that his department has been stripped of resources and personnel, especially its star officer Petrofsky. He raises the issue with his old friend Karpov, unint...

• Brian Harcourt-Smith (played by Julian Glover) — supporting

  The acting Director of MI5, Harcourt-Smith is embarrassed by Preston's unauthorized handling of secret files and punishes him by sending him to Airports and Ports. He later suspends Preston because he...

• Sir Bernard Hemmings (played by Michael Gough) — supporting

  The gravely ill Director of MI5, Hemmings is one of the senior figures who continues to have confidence in Preston when Harcourt-Smith dismisses and suspends him. His support helps Preston pursue the...

• Irina Vassilievna (played by Joanna Cassidy) — supporting

  A KGB agent and bomb expert who pretends to be Petrofsky's wife while helping him assemble the nuclear device. She secretly follows separate orders, changes the timer, and discovers Petrofsky's instru...

• Sir Nigel Irvine (played by Ian Richardson) — supporting

  A high-ranking British Secret Service official who handles the leak after Preston discovers secret NATO files in Berenson's residence. Unlike Harcourt-Smith, Irvine supports Preston's work and is will...

• George Berenson (played by Anton Rodgers) — supporting

  A British government official whose residence Preston enters on New Year's Eve while investigating a security concern. Preston finds top secret NATO files there that should not have been present and r...

• General Karpov (played by Ray McAnally) — supporting

  A senior Soviet general and an old friend of Borisov, Karpov is initially alerted to the removal of resources from Borisov's department. He quietly investigates and learns about Petrofsky's unauthoriz...

• Tom (played by Matt Frewer) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• John Preston → Tom (Family Father And Son) — Tom is Preston's young son and represents his private life beyond the espionage conflict.

  At the conclusion, Preston reunites with his young son while Irvine and Karpov covertly observe him.

• General Karpov → Valeri Petrofsky / James Edward Ross (Professional Secret Investigator) — Karpov monitors Petrofsky's unauthorized operation from within the Soviet system.

  Karpov quietly investigates after learning about Petrofsky's unsanctioned mission to violate the Fourth Protocol.

• Borisov → Valeri Petrofsky / James Edward Ross (Professional Senior Officer And Star Operative) — Borisov regards Petrofsky as an important officer removed from his department.

  Borisov complains to Karpov that his department has been stripped of resources and personnel, particularly its star officer Petrofsky.

• Valeri Petrofsky / James Edward Ross → Irina Vassilievna (Romantic False Spouses) — Their apparent marital relationship conceals a covert operational partnership.

  Irina meets Petrofsky while pretending to be his wife, and they have sex after assembling the device.

• John Preston → Sir Bernard Hemmings (Professional Trusted Subordinate) — Hemmings provides Preston with crucial institutional support.

  The gravely ill Director of MI5 has confidence in Preston even after Harcourt-Smith suspends him.

• John Preston → Brian Harcourt-Smith (Professional Rivals) — Their conflict pits Preston's investigation against Harcourt-Smith's institutional authority.

  Harcourt-Smith is embarrassed by Preston's unauthorized retrieval of the NATO files and later suspends him after accusing him of manufacturing a false...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• John Preston → Irina Vassilievna (Narrative Investigator And Asset) — Their separate actions connect the British investigation to the Soviet operation.

  Preston investigates the bomb network after finding the polonium disk, while Irina is identified as the bomb expert who helps assemble the device.

• George Berenson → John Preston (Unknown Investigator And Subject) — Berenson's residence becomes the first major lead in Preston's investigation.

  Preston breaks into Berenson's residence on New Year's Eve and finds top-secret NATO files that should not have been there.

• Sir Nigel Irvine → General Karpov (Alliance Covert Political Partners) — Irvine and Karpov cooperate in a concealed power struggle.

  Preston discovers Irvine secretly meeting Karpov at Hemmings' funeral and concludes that discrediting Govorshin benefits both men.

• Borisov → General Karpov (Social Old Friends) — Their longstanding personal connection allows Borisov to raise internal KGB concerns.

  Borisov complains about Petrofsky's removal to his old friend General Karpov.

• John Preston → Sir Nigel Irvine (Alliance Operational Allies) — Irvine initially appears to be a powerful ally in Preston's inquiry.

  Preston reports the NATO file leak to Irvine, and Irvine is willing to sidestep Harcourt-Smith's directives while supporting Preston's investigation.

• John Preston → Valeri Petrofsky / James Edward Ross (Conflict Principal Adversaries) — Preston attempts to stop Petrofsky's covert nuclear attack.

  Preston investigates the smuggled polonium, tracks Petrofsky to Ipswich, identifies RAF Baywaters as the target, and disables him during the final str...

Story Analysis

An investigation into a covert nuclear false flag exposes both an international conspiracy and the cynical power politics surrounding it.

Plot Progression

1. Files Beneath The Surface — Preston discovers forbidden NATO files in Berenson's residence and reports the leak to Irvine. His unauthorized methods provoke Harcourt-Smith, who removes him from important MI5 work.
2. The Polonium Trail — Petrofsky enters Britain with a covert plan to violate the Fourth Protocol. Preston finds polonium after a Soviet sailor's death, but institutional resistance threatens to end his investigation.
3. A Device Built On Lies — Preston follows the trail through Winkler while Petrofsky and Irina assemble the nuclear device. Irina secretly changes the timer, and Petrofsky kills her after discovering her betrayal.
4. Baywaters Under Threat — Preston tracks Petrofsky to Ipswich and identifies RAF Baywaters as the intended target. The timer's alteration creates a final crisis beside the military base.
5. The Price Of Control — An SAS assault stops the device, but Petrofsky is killed rather than captured. At Hemmings' funeral, Preston recognizes Irvine and Karpov's cynical cooperation and returns to his son.