Episode 9

America is losing faith in Vietnam. After a major communist offensive shocks the public and exposes the fragility of the war effort, LBJ faces pressure from every side. The generals want more troops. The country wants answers. And inside Washington, the search begins for a strategy that can deliver results without admitting defeat. Into that vacuum steps Bill Colby, played by David Duchovny — the CIA’s Far East chief and one of the Agency’s most important Vietnam specialists. His influence inside the Agency is only beginning. His answer is the Phoenix Program: a plan to identify and dismantle the
Viet Cong’s hidden political network across South Vietnam. Colby believes the program can bring order, discipline and better intelligence to a failing war.

But in Vietnam, even precision has a cost. What begins as an attempt to understand the enemy will become one of the most controversial operations in the CIA’s history. For LBJ, Phoenix offers the hope of progress. For Colby, it is the making of a career. For the Agency, it is another step into the shadows of Vietnam.

Starring Kim Cattrall, Kelsey Grammer, Johnny Flynn and David Duchovny.

Eloise Page..........Kim Cattrall
Lyndon Baines Johnson..........Kelsey Grammer
Bill Colby..........David Duchovny
Richard Helms..........Johnny Flynn
Young Eloise Page..........Elena Delia
Cynthia McKelvie..........Rachael Stirling
Bob McNamara..........Rob Benedict
Robert Komer..........Ian Porter
Tom Karamessines..........Akie Kotabe
Phan Pang..........Aaron Teoh
Helene Boatner..........Carlyss Peer
Dean Rusk..........Joseph Balderrama
Elizabeth, Richard Helm's Secretary..........Laurel Lefkow
McCoy..........Tyreke Leslie

All other parts played by the cast

Original music by Sacha Puttnam

Production:

Written by Greg Haddrick, who created the series with Jeremy Fox

Sound Design and Editing by Adam Woodhams, Andreina Gomez Casanova and John Scott Dryden
Assistant Director: Flynn Hallman
Sonica Studio Sound Engineers: Mat Clark & Paul Clark
Sonica Runner: Lily Lefkow

Director: John Scott Dryden
Producer & Casting Director: Emma Hearn
Executive Producers: Howard Stringer, Jeremy Fox, Greg Haddrick and John Scott Dryden.

A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4