Episode 5 of "Whiskey on the Rocks" kicks off with Fälldin's arrival at the imposing Swedish naval base in Karlskrona, amidst Aleksandra's public contrition on behalf of Brezhnev. Meanwhile, Lagercrantz orchestrates a military maneuver perilously close to the Soviet submarine, sending ripples of apprehension through all concerned parties.
Upon probing deeper, Fälldin uncovers Lagercrantz's covert preparations for war and his brazen defiance of Fälldin's directives to maintain status quo. Seeking discretion, Fälldin opts to converse with Aleksandra through a pay phone, little realizing that their hushed discussions are being eavesdropped on by both Soviet and American intelligence.
During their clandestine exchange, it transpires that a lieutenant aboard the Soviet submarine is plotting to defect, posing as the captain. However, the compromised line prompts Andropov, the Soviet leader, to issue a stealthy order for the lieutenant's execution. This grim task falls to Aleksandra's secretary, who is tasked with persuasion – convincing the Swedish foreign minister to surrender the defector into Soviet custody.
On the American front, Reagan's team strives to decipher the cryptic sheep-themed conversation between Fälldin and Aleksandra.
Parallel to this, the Swedish navy aids the Soviet lieutenant in his daring defection. Meanwhile, Soviet officers confront the Swedish foreign minister, intent on carrying out Andropov's orders. They attempt to assassinate him with a lethal syringe, but their plot is thwarted by theCIA, who dispatch the assassin and persuade the minister to entrust the defector to the Americans, highlighting their life-saving intervention.
The episode draws to a close with the Swedish naval commander alerting Fälldin to the nuclear warheads aboard the Soviet submarine, adding yet another layer of complexity to an already treacherous scenario.
