Mr. Edwards speaks with Peggy during her earlier career as a codebreaker. He congratulates her on her engagement and then offers her a new opportunity: recruitment into the Special Operations Executive, a wartime organization tasked with training field agents in irregular warfare, espionage, sabotage, and guerrilla tactics. He explains that resistance networks throughout Europe need people who can move through public spaces without drawing attention and that women are being recruited for these roles.
Edwards emphasizes that Peggy’s exceptional codebreaking skills have attracted the organization’s interest. He presents the offer as an honor and a chance to strike a significant blow for Britain. Peggy initially resists, saying she does not believe she is suited to field work and wants to discuss the decision with her fiancé.