"Underhand thrust." "Strip me." " Sorry, man." "You okay?" " Nothing to it." " Did I injure you?" " No." "I just pulled my shoulder out." "One more time." "Take my knife." "You wanna get that looked at?" "Not today." "I got a date." " Your wife know?" " No." " Midnight oil with my Russian codebook." " Nobody likes a SWOT." " What does that mean?" " Exactly." "I'll see you guys tomorrow?" "You forgetting someplace you gotta be, big boy?" "Day of the Dead?" "Here we are." "Blackhawk's down in flames." "Team members left standing." "And your husband" "Everyone's showing red." "And your husband- all of a sudden, he looks down at his chest and he sees this thick... white substance oozing out of the round he took." " Scotch, Colonel?" " Thank you." "He looks down at his chest. "Sweet God in heaven, what the hell is that?"" "He looks over at me, and I'm dumbfounded." "It's bad mojo." "I mean, no doubt he's had it." "So on impulse, I put my hand on him." "I- "What is that?" "Is it" " Is it ectoplasm?"" "And on impulse, I licked my finger, and it's toothpaste." "Toothpaste that he carried in his chest pocket." "The bullet hit the toothpaste, hit the trauma plate, and now he's oozing toothpaste." "That sumbitch and me- Death all around us, we" " Hey, baby." " Hey." " Thank you." " Is it just me, or... was the Day of the Dead better a few years back?" "Well, things change." " Unbelievable." " Colonel Ryan." " Sergeant Major Blane." " Hello." "Think 20 pounds heavier, braces, lose the beard." " Keith?" " Yeah." " Gary Soto's boy?" " Pleasure." " Good to see you, son." " You too." "Colonel." "My goodness." "Look at you." " Where's your mother?" " Remarried." "Tell her we miss her." "You still at Brown?" "Graduated three years back." "You still posing as clerks?" "We don't pose, son." "It's called cover." " 303rd Logistical Studies Unit." " That's sufficiently off-putting, don't you think?" "You still task with counterterrorism?" "Oh, no." "Not today, son." "Do you know that we could bury you under the jail for that." "It says, "Property of the Times?"" "Are you working for a newspaper now, Keith?" "Afraid so." "I'm writing about my father's days as a Unit operator." " It'll be a feature series." " I see." " You'll take care of our guest?" " Absolutely." "Colonel." " You thought this was a solemn affair?" " Yeah." "Day of the Dead." " What would give me that idea?" " Unit widows did their mourning years ago." " This is a family reunion." " Mm-hmm." " Hi." " Hey!" "This is Bob Brown." "Newbie." "Bottom of the barrel, which is Alpha team." "This is Julianna Nichol." "Her Bob was Bravo." " He went down in '96." " Thanks for having me back, Bob." " Of course." " Excuse me." " You're a hurtin' puppy?" " Oh, I pinched a nerve or some damn thing." " How long's this thing go?" " As long as the Unit widows want it to." "All right." "Who's your gripe with?" "Is that what you think?" "Revenge?" "I know it's revenge, or you wouldn't be here desecrating this day." "Or maybe you're angry 'cause your dad didn't come to your soccer games." " Something like that?" " You have a right to your career." " I have a right to mine." " You owe me a beer." "Mark it down." "I trust you." "Come here." "You're playing both sides of the fence." "Only reason you're here is the Unit extended you the courtesy." " I'm here because" " Shut the hell up." " Which courtesy you have abused." " Look" "I'm not done yet." "And plan to abuse in the commission of a crime." "And I want you to tell me why I shouldn't pull you aside... for a little four-wall conference." "You think violence solves everything?" "Let's cut the lovemaking, friend." "What is it you're after?" "I wanna know how my father died." " He was shot in a train" " Training exercise in Italy." "I don't think so." "I have proof from the Italian Ministry of Defense." "The unit with whom he supposedly trained... was at the time deployed in North Africa." "So you people lied to me." "You lied to me and you lied to my mother." "You say you're my father's brother-in-arms... and I desecrate this day." "Then you-you tell me that I owe the Unit something." "Well, what do you owe me?" " The truth." " Which is?" "Your dad didn't die in Italy." "It was no accident." " You were with my dad when he died?" " Yes." " Where did you two meet?" " We went through selection together." "We ended up on different teams." "But that kind of bond never breaks." "He looks happy." "He got a kick out of that part of the world." "So what were you guys doing there?" "We were training paramilitary forces to fight the guerrilla insurgency on the border." " What are you doing?" "Slumming?" " You know it." " What's up, brother?" " Hey." "Any trouble out here?" "Nah, I just got a dog who'd rather sleep than sniff out land mines." "If he can drive, I'll take him off your hand." "I heard there might be some FARC rebels nearby." "I haven't seen anything." " How's Raoul working out?" " Raoul?" "Well, except for the lead foot, best I've trained so far." "Bird colonel wants me to pull one of your guys." "Teach him to be a personal driver for some local comandante." " BOHICA." " BOHICA indeed." "You can take Lopez." "Lopez.!" "Sarge Soto's gonna teach you a trick or two behind the wheel." "Grab your gear." "Meet us at camp." "I have a little bit of a surprise for you." "In honor of your last" "In honor of your last night, 2100, the Bali Club." " Does this involve water?" " Two words: golf balls." " And maybe mules." " You're a sick puppy." " You got it." " What the hell is his problem?" "Hold on!" " 2100?" " You got it." " Be there?" " Drive safe." "Yeah, with him?" "Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot, Raoul." "Turn around!" "Not this way!" "Come on!" "Gary!" "Gary!" "You okay?" "Raoul?" " I think he's dead." " Raoul told them we were here." "That's why he was in such a hurry." "All right, hold on." "Stop!" " What?" " Do not move!" "Okay." "There's a mine under theJeep." "All right, stop." "Stop it." "I cannot defuse this thing." "It's too far under." "Now, we're gonna have to get you from under this Jeep without moving it." "Now, I'm gonna keep things steady." "Can you pull yourself out?" "Slowly." "That's it." "Easy now." "Easy." "Now" " That's it." "She's an army wife- the woman that stole from me." "The details she knew, the life." "It's the only explanation." "Yes, Mrs. Blane." "We know that." "She's an army widow." "It's not unusual... for a confidence artist to add a dash of truth." " If she's an army wife, there are ways to find her." " We've exhausted them." " Then what are you doing to find" " Sarah Harper." "Her real name." "Start using it." "You'll feel better about moving on." "I can't move on if the money's still missing." "But you have better things to do." "The trail is cold, Mrs. Blane." "If she's an army wife, I can find her." "I have resources." "What I need from you" "I've got an idea." "Let's compare badges." "I have a hypothetical for you." "You're army, a widow, you need some money." "What do you do?" " Unit widow?" " No, not one of us." "Regular army." "What do you do?" " I collect death benefits." " Yes." "More, you're unscrupulous." "I cheat on my taxes." "What's this about?" " Knock, knock." " Day of the Dead." "I need $3,500 from the real estate fund." "Sorry to be blunt." "And sorry to flaunt it... but you had your chance to get on the money train, and you missed it." " Count me in for the next one." " Bob's Mustang is sick." "It's our only car." "Can you arrange the cash, or can I just go to the bank and" " I'll be happy to write you a check." " I gotta run." "I mean, literally." "I'll see you soon?" "The three of us out?" "Yes." "The real estate fund's been stolen." "About 40,000 in all." " The army wife in question." " Not on base." " You haven't told them?" " I'm getting the money back first." " The police?" " Even if they catch her..." "I'm in line behind who knows how many others." "My money's 15 years late, minus court costs." "No." "I'm keeping it in the family." " But I need some help." " What did you tellJonas?" " He doesn't know." "A distracted soldier" " A dead soldier." "Speaking of which, has our widow remarried?" " I believe so." " Once in a while..." "I'll hear about a wife who tries to have her cake and eat it too." "Collect her survivor benefits after she's remarried." " It's supposed to cut off then." " The police may have lost her... but there's one thing the army does well." "That's keep a paper trail." "Uh-uh." " This is you and me talking." " Thanks." "So you left Panama, but my dad stayed?" "Stayed to continue training local forces." "Then how is it that you were with him when he died?" " I went back a year later." " Well, wait a minute." "The U.S. pulled out all military personnel from Panama back in '99." "Ayear later's 2000." "I mean, how could" "That's why we had to say Gary died in Italy." "Because you went back undercover." "Because your father, my friend, was missing." " Soto's been M.I.A. for three months." " What do we know?" "In August, a Colombian village was wiped out by a new guerrilla faction." "Soto was already in the area with a paramilitary cadre." "They were deployed to find and terminate the group." "No one better for the job than Gary." "True." "Except on day four they were ambushed." "Most of the cadre was killed, including Soto." "Or so we thought." "A survivor just turned up in La Bama." "He said that Soto was wounded and alive, most likely captured." "That'd be hellacious good news if it's true." "The guerrilla leader responsible for this is believed to be associated with the FARC rebels." "He's known as "Araña"... a spider, because he's calculating and ruthless." "Beheading villagers is a new M.O. for FARC." "New player in the game bringing new tactics." "Has there been a ransom demand?" "Is there any proof they have Soto?" "No, but the peasants have reported seeing an American among the guerrillas." "We need contact with Araña." "See if he'll negotiate." "Excuse me." "Blue Iguana here." "He's fine, you know?" "Soto's probably driving them crazy, always singing off-key." "Hell, they oughta pay us to take him back." " What's that?" " If we can't negotiate his release... if we have to extract him, the most familiar face... would be the least confusing for him." " That's me." " As team leader, I'd say you're first in." "As your friend, I'm not so sure." "I'll let you decide." "You afraid my judgment's compromised because Gary's a friend?" "Don't worry about me, boss." "Yaviza city official may have access to Araña." " I'm gonna go talk to him." " No other strap hanger I'd rather have with us." " We'll find the spider's web." " Do it." "Because once we rescue Soto, we're gonna need to terminate this Araña." "Why didn't anyone tell us he was missing?" "Members of the Unit are always missing." " Nature of our business." " You're a liar, Sergeant Major." "My dad wrote this letter in September of that year." "A month after you say he went missing." "So you want to try again?" "Or do I go back to my hotel... finish writing that story?" "Stop." "Wait." "There has to be an explanation." "How my father wrote a chatty letter to his family... while he was being held captive by some bloodthirsty guerrillas?" "Is this spider thing a figment of your imagination too?" "This is a waste of my time." "You're all a bunch of liars." " Hold on." " You can read my story when it's published." "Wait a minute." "Let me see the letter." "Come on." "Yeah." "I knew there had to be an explanation." "Outside of the U.S., the date is written in the international way." "First the date, then the month." "This was written July 9, not September 7." "Now, if you want to hear the rest of my story, sit down." "And don't ever accuse me of lying again." "Whoo!" " Drink it." " No." "Enough's enough." "Not today." "These women want us here." "We stay here, newbie." "No." "Russian codes are waiting." "How long does this go?" "Like most things- till it's over." " Have a seat." " I'd love to." "Unfortunately, I've got to duck out." "You know a widow's only protocol- what a widow wants, a widow gets?" "I've been watching you all afternoon." "I'd like to get to know you better." " I'm married." " And so was I... until my husband was killed defending this country." " You ever hear of the G.I. Bill?" " Yes, of course I have." "Well, I'm presenting it." "You're gonna pay it." " Ask your buddies." " I walk her back to her guesthouse." "She has me check for intruders." "And then she" "Well, I believe the polite term is "propositioned me. "" " What'd you do?" " I pulled pitch." " What?" " I got out of Dodge." " You turned down a widow?" " I'm married." "Not on the Day of the Dead." "Oh, it's the Day of the Dead, so I'm supposed to sleep with her?" "Oh, what, does my question violate protocol here?" "It violates protocol to ignore a request from a widow on Day of the Dead." " You gotta get back in there, man." " You're kidding!" "You either give her what she wants... or you change her mind about what she wants." "Message ends." "I don't want you to think that I didn't appreciate the offer." "Sergeant, you're under some mistaken impression." "This isn't about me." "It's about you." "With respect, ma'am, this weekend is all about you." "We'll be happier if we take this inside." "And stop calling me ma'am." " I can't go inside." " What do you think I'm asking of you?" "I" " I understand that the Unit has its traditions." "The last thing in the world I wanna do is offend you." "Well, it looks to me like it's the second to last thing you'd wanna do." "Bob, I thought you were supposed to be studying." "Kim." "Uh" "Julianna Nichol, this is Kim Brown, my wife." "And we're- we're expecting." "I'm so glad you and the others could make it." " Thank you." " I was just showing Ms. Nichol where she was staying." " Can I help you?" " Uh, no." "I'm fine." "Widows come first." " That necklace, it's beautiful." " Homemade." "They're really easy." " I know exactly what would go with your coloring." " Don't bother." "It'd be my pleasure." "You just go back to getting what you need from my husband." "See you later." "Your wifejust said the widows come first." "Your father's knife." "Excuse me." " Did you" " I'm sorry." "I can't right now." " I have a visitor." " You know he can frag this place?" " I'm dealing with it." " I'll send some people around to talk to him." " Not yet." " You'd better be right." " So what does this mean?" " We found it in a store in Yaviza, Panama." "It means someone took it from your father and sold it." "Hey" " You-You need a guide, yeah?" " No" "No?" "Okay." "Boss, take a look at this." " Soto's?" " Mm-hmm." " You like to see?" " Please." "Very nice." "I give you a good price." " Where'd you get this?" " Who can remember?" "Too many people coming and going." " You are Americans?" " Yes." "Yes." "Geologists." "We're going to the Darién Gap to collect research samples." "Very dangerous to go now." "The guerrillas are there." "Show us, exactly, so we can avoid it." "It's impossible to say." "We will need to buy supplies, of course." "We may need quite a few." "I think maybe here..." "and here." "Thank you." "Mr. Cooper, how may I help you?" "I represent a family that lost something very valuable." "I believe you may have access to it through a friend of yours named Araña." "I'm sorry, Mr. Cooper." "I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." "Well, this family's willing to pay for it." "Someone's given you misinformation." "I don't know anyone named Araña." "Have you filed a police report?" "My apologies." "I made a mistake." "If you wish, I can have one of my men look into it." "No." "I'm sorry." "I, uh- Sorry to bother you." "I do hope you find someone who can help you." "Luisa" "A paramilitary sold the knife." "The paramilitaries are in the Gap." "It's not the guerrillas." " How do you know?" " They came through my village, and then they killed everyone." "No." "Paramilitaries wouldn't do that." " They were trained" " I saw it." "I was there." "I know where the camp is." "He does not know." " We don't need for this" " There's an American who's being held prisoner there." " You've seen him?" " Sí." "Don't trust anyone here." "Paramilitaries have taken over the police." "They arrange the kidnappings for Araña." "Mr. Cooper." "Araña's been expecting this family for many months." "He wants two million dollars and the release of three men... in a Panama City jail." "How do I know my man's still alive?" "I have proof, if you'll come with me." "Friends of yours?" "No." "That's your man." " Who's the guy in the hat?" " Araña." "And now that you've seen this, the clock's ticking." "You have 12 hours to deliver the funds... or I have Araña execute the prisoner." "I'll see what I can do." "Just like that?" "Just like that." "As a fella said, a moral decision's not between a right and a wrong." "The only moral decision is between two wrongs." " I don't differ with him." " But these are two wrongs." " I'm not saying any different." " She suggested that this was some kind of initiation." "Well, she's a smart cookie." "But it sounds to me just like your basic adultery." " You ever cheat on your wife?" " If it don't hurt, it's not an initiation." "Team or wife." "You can't serve two masters." "But I'm married." "The Unit issue you your wife?" "Or did you make that acquisition on your own?" " Molly, you know Ricky." "Administration and payroll." " I see you time to time." "I appreciate you agreeing to meet me here rather than at my office." " This is important, Ricky." " Corporal, the army wife in question- her married name is Buhler." "No benefits were claimed under that name." " Not" " Not that I could find, ma'am." " But her maiden name, Harper?" "Sarah Harper is collecting dependency and indemnity compensation- survivor benefits, which she is legally entitled to." "But she was remarried three years ago." "Then she's stealing from the United States Army... and I can bump it to my superiors." "Uh, Tiffy mentioned to me special circumstances." "What do you have in mind?" "I want to get her attention." "Suspend payment on her next check." "Ma'am, in terms of stopping the voucher, consider it stopped." "Um, this happens to be it right here." "The special circumstances are... this woman stole $40,000 from myself and a group of army wives." "I need to get that money back." "Can I convince you... to delay sounding the alarm until then?" "A personal favor, Ricky." "Sheer number of clerical errors on an army base would turn your hair, ma'am." " Case in point." " We also need to find this woman." " Any help you could give." " I may, ma'am... carelessly leave the subject's mailing address... lying around where some enterprising civilian might see it." "Might I carelessly leave it perhaps on this pad of paper here?" " Excuse me." "Are you Mrs. Harper?" " Yes." " Is your daughter Sarah?" " Yes." " Her benefit checks, they come here?" " All I have." "Is your daughter home?" "I don't see her much." "Can I help you with those groceries?" "Mrs. Harper, I'm the local representative of the Survivors Review Board." "There's been a misreport of your daughter's survivors benefits." " It's urgent that I speak with her." " Uh, she travels a lot." "Do you think I could I call her?" "She doesn't like me giving out her number." "Do you think you could dial the phone for me?" "It's very important that I speak with her to keep your checks coming." "Oh." "Sarah Harper?" "This is Rosa from the Survivors Review Board." "How's your connection?" "Can you hear me?" "I recognize your voice fine, Molly." "How'd you find my mother?" "The board found an irregularity with your survivors benefits." "We were forced to suspend your checks until it's sorted out... which, if you act now, will be very soon." "No questions asked." "We want your mother to continue to be cared for." "You bitch!" "Come to my mother's house." "My mother's not a part of this." "Yes." "Family is important." "There is a sizable fee- $40,000." "If we meet, you can pay it." "I could then reinstate your survivors benefits." "How would that be?" "There's a café close to your office." "You know the one I mean?" "Where you go for lunch." "Yes." " In two hours." " That would be super." "No cops." "I see anybody I don't like... your money disappears, and my husband starts looking for your family." "Did the paramilitaries capture my father?" "Yes." "His own men turned on him." " Why?" " Money probably." " So what'd you do?" " We had to go get him back." "Definitely could be paramilitary." "Took over an old mining camp." "Snake Doc, what is your status?" "I see a hut with the door wired shut." " Prisoner's probably in there." " Any sign of Araña?" "Negative." "I got him." "Guy near the back hut." "We'll determine guard rotation and breach the perimeter at nightfall." "I see Soto's rucksack." "What the hell?" "Vasquez." "I don't know if you wanna hear the rest." "Please." "I kicked open the door, and I found your father." "He was not in good shape." "They hadn't fed him, and he was emaciated." "He insisted on walking on his own." "I gave him a weapon." "I did the best I could to cover him from the gunfire." "He wanted to die on his own two feet." "And that's what happened." "He went bravely." "We all wanted to spare your family from ever knowing this." "Let me show you something." "It is Thanksgiving... and I can't believe I'm here in Panama with you jerks... instead of with my family." "I know I chose this, but, uh, sometimes itjust feels like" "BOHICA." "Yeah." "BOHICA." "To my lovely wife and daughter and my brilliant son... may he grow up to be smarter than his old man." " BOHICA?" " "Bend Over Here It Comes Again. "" "I've given you what you wanted." "Now you're gonna do something for me." "I can'tjust kill my story." " If you can see it, you can kill it." " But it's scheduled to run." " I promised my editors." " You're not hearing me." "If this hurt me or Colonel Ryan, I'd say, "Go ahead." "We deserve it." "We didn't save your father's life. "" "But I want you to think about you- you and the other sons and daughters like you." "This story's just gonna get their fathers killed." "You think about that and how you'll answer to them." "Thanks for finally telling me the truth." "It was long overdue." "Here you go, hon." "You're not bad at this, Molly." " There's 15,000." " That's less than half." " It's all you're getting." " That's not what you stole." "The rest of the money is gone." "Get that through your head." "This is what I got from your 40 grand." "My partner got his, kicked the rest upstairs, and even I can't get it back." "Your husband's your partner." "It's more of a professional arrangement than a marriage." "Why did you even come here?" "To buy back my benefits." "They still owe me." "They warn us that the army's gonna kill our husbands... but they don't warn us it's gonna be a heart attack from the pressure." "Not everything I told you was a lie." "I'm gonna go home and wait for the rest of my 40,000." "This 15 grand is a gift, okay?" "If we leave this table without coming to an understanding, I have to kick you upstairs." " Do you know what that means?" " You keep threatening to threaten me?" "It means we reach out." "Suddenly you default on your daughter's college loans... or maybe you get investigated for tax evasion... or credit card fraud." "Your husband is never gonna get above a security clearance zero clerk... if the army thinks that he is waiting to get bribed." "I dare you to go after my husband." "You're his weakest point, Molly, and you know it." "This is how this ends." "Pleasure doing business." " Thanks for coming." " Thank you for inviting me." "I missed our talks." "I wanted to, uh" "I told Keith Soto... about Gary." " The truth?" " Up to a point." "Gary!" "Anyone else here?" "No" " Snake Doc, do you have Soto?" "Over." " Negative." "Araña heading your way." "The paramilitaries are retreating to the south." "Gary." "My God." "The kid can never find out." " Well, no." " Sorry I'm late." "Took care of Keith Soto." "That's good to hear." "Gary wrote him a letter from Panama... after we found out he was missing." "Said he'd be with the family for good after he finished a special assignment." " Proves what I've been saying for years." " Soto was dipped by the C.I.A.?" " Yes." " Don't tell me you're still chasing tails?" "Special assignment is spelled out." " He was recruited by Langley." " You're grasping at straws." "Why would the C.I.A. have us assassinate him then?" "Whatever plan they had, it was falling apart." "They had to deny their involvement, erase their fingerprints." "Possible." "Or Soto went rogue for the money, or he got caught up in his own power." "None of us wants to hear it, but it's a simpler explanation." "You had to kill him." "Nobody blames you." " You protect Keith on this?" " Oh, yes." "Sometimes we have to protect ourselves too." " My money?" " For your car." "You could've written a check from the fund account." "The fund money is gone, dear." " What happened?" " You're all about to hear." "I got swindled." "I got some of it back." "I'll borrow what I have to to pay the rest." " Sweetie" " Wait." "You lost all our money?" "I'm taking it on myself." "I'm paying you all back." "What aboutJonas?" "What you tell your husband is gonna be your own business." "I'm choosing not to tellJonas, because a distracted soldier" " Is a dead soldier." " And this will be plenty distracting." " Hello." " Hi." "Uh, I need to talk to you." " What's wrong with your shoulder?" " I threw it out." "Does it hurt when you raise your shoulder or when you grab something?" "Uh,Julianna, a moral choice... as I understand it, is not a choice between good and bad." "Between good and bad there is no choice." "One must do good." "No." "A moral choice is between two evils." "Uh, thank you." "Between two evils- Mm-hmm." "And it would be wrong to betray the Unit's, uh" " Customs?" " That's right." "And by refusing you what is- and I don't dispute this- your prerogative" "But it would be wrong- morally wrong to" " I won't say cheat on my wife, but" " Take off your shirt." " What?" " Take off your shirt." "You've injured your rotator cuff." "I'm gonna fix it." "It's what I do for a living." "Pull your shirt down." "I don't wanna get the oil on me." "It won't take a minute." "Okay." "Yeah." "Yeah, it's the rotator cuff." " Mmm." " Because I would estimate it a personal favor if you would" "I've got it on me." "Seriously-Seriously, you are a very attractive woman." " And I mean no disrespect." " Bob" "Bob, I don't need you for sex." "I find you to be a-a lovely man." "A fine man." "And I'm sorry that this custom has caused you consternation." "I" "Mmm." "I couldn't help myself." "I made it for you." " Kim!" " No." "Put it on." "Put it on." " Look at it in the light." " Uh" " Am I coming at a bad time?" " Kim, uh" "A block from here our daughter is sleeping..." " trusting in her bed." " Kim" " Stay away from me." "Don't touch me." " Kim" " And don't talk to me." "What are you doing here?" " Kim" " The Unit" " You love the Unit more than you love me." "Do you love the Unit more than you love me?" "Answer the question." "No, Kim" " Whoo!" " Consider yourself initiated, newbie!" " Welcome to the Unit.!" " You too?" "They were gonna do it with or without me." "I figured this way I could keep an eye on you." "I told you he wouldn't stray." "You didn't give him a chance!" "You were supposed to wait 15 minutes and then barge in." "Well, there's trust and there's stupidity." "I'd like to toast the young sergeant... and I'd like to toast the finest men that ever lived." " Absent friends and fallen comrades." " Day of the Dead." "Day of the Dead!" "I hate you guys." "Aw." "I can use that."