Chief of Station ending explained: Why John Branca betrayed Ben?

Aaron Eckhart as Ben Malloy in Chief of Station (Image via Vertical)

Chief of Station, the espionage action thriller starring Aaron Eckhart in the titular role, was released on May 3, 2024. Directed by Jesse V. Johnson, the film’s synopsis of IMDb reads:

“After learning that the death of his wife was not an accident, a former CIA Station Chief is forced back into the espionage underworld, teaming up with an adversary to unravel a conspiracy that challenges everything he thought he knew.”

The film is packed with twists and turns that are a hallmark of the espionage thriller genre. Halfway into the film, it is revealed that John Branca (Alex Pettyfer), Ben’s (Aaron Eckhart) former partner at work, has been working against him all along.

As the plot moves forward, it becomes clear that Branca betrayed Ben in order to protect himself, since he was a corrupt agent involved in illegal activities, and Farrah, Ben’s recently deceased wife, had proof of this. Branca believed that the proof was passed on to Ben.

Chief of Station: Branca’s betrayal of Ben comes as a surprise

Ben is tortured by Branca (Image via Vertical)

When the film starts, Ben Malloy is the CIA Chief of Station in Eastern Europe. His partner at work, John Branca, appears to be a capable agent.

However, tragedy strikes early in the film as Farrah, Ben’s wife and a fellow CIA operative, dies one day from a bomb blast while dining with Ben at a restaurant on their anniversary. As Ben grapples with his grief, there are talks within the organization alleging Farrah of having been a double agent.

To clear her name and find out the truth, Ben arrives in Budapest and shakes hands once again with Branca. However, as Ben tries to extract information from Evgeny, a Russian agent, the latter is shot down.

It is at this point in Chief of Station that Ben realizes that Branca has betrayed him, as Branca is seen together with the man who tried to kill Evgeny. Branca tortures Ben and demands whatever Farrah may have left with him before she died.

With the help of Krystyna, a trusted partner of Farrah's, Ben finds out that Farrah had crucial information regarding the corruption within the CIA. As it turns out, the key to this information is in a locket Farrah gave Ben years ago, and Branco is after this key since it can land him in trouble.

What sort of information did Farrah have?

A still from the film (Image via Vertical)

As the story of Chief of Station moves forward, it not only becomes clear that Farrah was not a double agent but also that she, in fact, had vital information that could ruffle several top officials’ feathers.

She had detailed reports, collected from her friends in other agencies, on how CIA Deputy Director Austin Williams and some other agents, Branca included, were involved in corruption.

When Ben flees the grasp of Branca through Krystyna’s help, his son Nick is kidnapped. Branca demands from Ben the proof containing the evidence against him and Williams in exchange for the life of his son.

What happens to Ben in the end?

As the climax of the movie approaches, Ben meets up with Branca in order to hand over Farrah’s file to him and get his son back. Krystyna takes the position of a sniper, ensuring Ben’s safety.

However, the meeting is fraught with danger, and soon a massive showdown between the good and evil forces breaks out. As a tense chase ensues between Ben and Branca, the former gets the better of the latter and subdues him.

As for Williams, it is revealed that he himself had ordered the murder of Farrah and later on, Ben. To get his revenge, Ben plays all the incriminating clips concerning Williams at a meeting he is presiding over.

The conclusion of Chief of Station shows Nick and Ben reconciling after a period of estrangement. Krystyna asks Ben to keep in touch as they part ways.