"Don't you see the danger here?" "What, that something blows up in London?" "No, that we turn into them, the people we're fighting!" "sadly, we don't get to deal with nice guys." " She might be in danger." " She's good, so she'II get out of it." "I'd Iike to say how glad we are to have you at Five." "We're lucky to have you." "I need to be in the field." "It's what I do." "It'II get you killed one day." "I know it." "Adam!" "TRANSLATION FROM ARABIC:" "hello, sleepy head." "You've got odd socks on." "Have you chased the FCO about the cheque for Wes's school fees?" "Yes!" "Have you chased the FCO about...?" " No, I haven't." " What happens when he's chucked out?" " How you getting on with Danny?" " Good." "I Iove working with him." " Ruth get any more internet chatter?" " What have you got for my birthday?" "Don't worry, I've kept the receipt." "Bet you wish you'd kept the receipt for me sometimes." " Never." " You wouldn't swap me for another girl?" "I wouldn't swap you for the whole world." "Is the right answer!" "Hey!" "SHE SQUEALS Stop it!" "Stop it!" "The raid on the house in DoIIis hill turned up maps of the tube and information on Sarin." "We think a North African group might be involved." " Your Moroccan agent, butterfly?" " I'II talk to him." "Get me a result." "Adam, a word." "How are special Branch coping with the Iraqis and Americans in town this week?" "They seem to have everything nailed down." "Any terrorist attack may be timed to coincide with the visit." "Which would be unfortunate timing." "Another bomb in Basra today." "70 dead, including a bus full of children." " They work well together." " Good." "Let's hope butterfly gives us something useful." "Latest intel from butterfly." "Rumours of a London meeting between North African characters we may be interested in." "Find out when and where." "Work with Danny on it." "OK." "So, what are you getting Fiona for her birthday?" "Sorry, Ruth." " What?" " You might be her mole." "Even if you weren't, telling you would only put you in danger." "Fiona takes her birthdays very seriously." "I sometimes have to drug her the night before just to get her to sleep." " I'm not a mole." " glad to hear it." "Harry..." "No, not that kind of mole." "Adam was joking about Fiona's..." "It's all right, Ruth." "I'm aware you were joking." "chocolates might be the answer." "Nice ones." "Get Sam to nip across to that BeIgian shop." "Yeah, that's..." "that's not a bad idea, Harry." "Don't say anything." "He's still in earshot." "Salam Alechum." " Alechum Salam." " Count it." "It's what you deserve for helping us." "MI5 will have to change your agent name from butterfly to Traitor." "They may have paid you a Iot of money, but I think this is a more appropriate reward." "Get rid of him." "I was having such a strange dream." "I was trying to get across a bridge and you were on the other side." "well, I'm here now." "Happy birthday." "Oh, yeah, it's my birthday, isn't it?" "Adam!" "It's from Damascus." "Is it from the souk we used to go to?" " How did you get it?" " With great difficulty." "It's beautiful." "It's all going to work out, isn't it?" "Us working together, and Wes..." "Everything will be fine." "I promise." "According to butterfly, the meeting is scheduled for this evening, but the house will be empty until 12, which gives us... an hour, max." "bloody hell, that was quick." "One of my many talents." "I'II take the upstairs." "'I'm entering the kitchen." "'Nothing out of the ordinary." "'How's it going with you?" "'" "It's definitely a logistical safe house, Danny." "'Why?" "What have you found?" "'" "A ton of credit cards and passports." "How's it going in the kitchen?" "Danny?" "8:30?" "Great." "And I want one of the little alcoves that you've got upstairs." "brilliant." "Thank you very much." "Bye." "Where did you two meet?" "An embassy reception in Damascus." "It was before everything changed." "You could still walk around an Arab city." "I was late and it was really humid, and all the guests were sweating." "But she just looked so cool and assured." "I tried to get her attention, but she wasn't having any of it - she just looked right through me." "And all of a sudden she just walks up to me and says, "I can't stand this any more," "let's go for a walk."" "How romantic." "We walked all through the city and down to the Omayyad Mosque." "And just as we walked past the ancient temple, she pointed out this little tower... and said, "That's the Minaret of the Bride."" "After that, we met up every weekend and just walked around." "She said the only way to really get to know a city was to get lost in it." "And the souks with the silver and the spices, the ancient walls of the city..." "But we always met up at the Minaret of the Bride." "What do you want?" "Have you been watching the news recently?" "hospital wards filled with burned children, your soldiers smashing into houses humiliating my people." "Thousands of my countrymen tortured and killed." "You have brought chaos and anarchy to Iraq." "Today we will hold you to account." "We?" "It is you who decided that the War on Terror involved invading my country." " OK, so we are all AI Quaeda now." " You're not going to get very far." " really?" " Look, um, we can sort something out." "We've already cracked your attack cell, we know exactly what you're planning to do, so it's over." "How do you know?" "We found the house with the maps of the tube in DoIIis hill." "You found out about that?" "How?" "You must have an informer in your ranks." "Don't make matters worse by interfering with two officers of our security services." "We can negotiate safe passage for you to somewhere like Sudan in return for our release." "That sounds promising." "You ran an agent named butterfly, I believe?" "I have no idea what you're talking about." "You want to offer me a new deal?" "Read." "What is this?" "This is no time for games." "Read it or I will cut his throat." "My name is Fiona Carter." "I work as a British spy and I am being held by a group of fighters who will avenge the blood spilled in Iraq by America and its allies." "Tonight the Prime Minister will give a speech outlining his continuing commitment to British troops in Iraq." "unless he uses the speech to signal their immediate withdrawal from the south of the country," "I will be burned alive together with my spy colleague." "Let this be a warning that we can take hostages wherever we choose." " You read those words with no emotion." " They're not my words." "Every single person involved in this operation has lost somebody." "family member, friend, a husband or a wife." "That man over there, he could cut both your throats very easily." "And inside you still think you are the civilised ones?" "Maybe it's because we couldn't cut anyone's throat very easily." "No!" "You'd just send a Iaser-guided bomb into a wedding party." "We will bring you food and water." "If you do as I say, we will not humiliate you as you do your own captives." "Yeah." "So then he just jumped out of bed and said he wanted to drive to wales." "And I said..." " Hi." " Can I help you?" " Didn't want to interrupt." " That's OK." "Are you from wales?" "Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing." " Do I sound like I'm from wales?" " Yeah." " Isn't it your national day soon?" " I'm not welsh!" " It's nothing to be ashamed of." " St David's Day is in March." " really?" "I didn't know that." " Look, can we help you with something?" "Yeah." "I'm here to see Harry Pearce and Adam Carter." " OK." "follow me." " Lead on, BIodwen." "Thanks..." " Ruth." " Ruth." "Your name?" "Zafar." "But friends call me Zaf." "I'II just let them know you're here, Zafar." " Mr Younis!" " Mr Carter!" " What have you been up to?" " exploring my identity crisis." "Asian or British?" "British or Asian?" "It's tearing me apart." "You called me because of the DoIIis hill raid and N African connections?" "You want my assessment of the risks." "It's real." "The Group of islamic Combatants has roots here in London." " could they be planning something here?" " Yes." "But things puzzle me - not least the Sarin." "The standard MO of groups like the GIC is Goma 2 expIosive, as in the Madrid train blasts." "There are other Moroccan groups, but I can't see them messing with Sarin." "Anything else?" "None of the contacts check out and leaving them behind is sloppy." " Can you stay with us on this one?" " If you clear it with my boss, I'd love to." "giles HanIey?" "I've enough on him to take his house and car too if I choose." "Sam will sort you out." " With a desk!" " cool." " Rather young." " He's cool." "That's not my favourite word." "You're going to make another phone call." " To whom?" " To your husband." "To say what?" "You'II arrange to meet him in a place that I tell you." "Lure my husband into a trap?" " That's not going to happen." " I thought you might say that." "You know who this is, of course?" "St Joseph's school." "I can call the person sitting outside right now." "You're offering me the choice between my husband and my son." "That's exactly the choice I'm offering." " well, you can go and..." " Do it." "Adam would understand." " What are you going to do with Adam?" " Nothing." "AII he has to do is follow my instructions." "Wait." "I'm assuming you are good at your job." "Today you have to be very good." "The smallest tremor in your voice, the slightest suggestion that all is not well, and it will all be over." "For everybody." "You'II meet him here." "SHE DIALS" "darling, it's me." "Hey, birthday girl, how's it going?" "Listen, lovely, I need to meet up with you." "It's really important." " Can't you tell me over the phone?" " Remember the rule for birthdays." "OK, I know." "I have to do everything you want today." " So can you meet me?" " Yeah, I can do that." "Where?" "The NFT Cafe on the South Bank." "Soon as you can." "Sure, but give me about an hour." "OK?" "How's Danny?" " He's fine." " OK, excellent." "I'II see you in a bit." "Threatening kids." "You've got real class." "The track record of the West for killing children being excellent, of course." "Sorry, I forget." "The lives of Arab children are worth far less." "That's never our goal and we do all we can to avoid it." "Their families will be relieved to hear that." "Cuff from the front, please, so I can give us water." "I'm sorry, that seat's taken." "You must do everything I say." "If you make a false move, your wife and the other MI5 agent will die instantly." "Adam Carter?" "I am sitting here with your wife and the other MI5 officer." " Who are you?" "What do you want?" " Just stay with my colleague." "She will give you your instructions." "Be warned that she is equipped with an alarm that, if triggered, will mean I will kill both of my hostages." "equally, should I not receive regular messages from her," "I shall kill the hostages." "Is that clear?" "I won't waste time." "tell me your demands and we'II see what we can do." "My only demand is that you stay with my colleague and do exactly as she says." "If you do that, your wife and the other officer stay alive for a little longer." "Let me talk to her." "Say your name." "butterfly was a decoy." "Ah!" "That noise you heard was my gun handle connecting with your wife's face." "although your bargaining position is very weak, Mr Carter, you still have choices." "You can make the death of the hostages less agonising than being burned alive." "Do you understand, Mr Carter?" "I understand." "Good." "We understand each other." "That's a promising start." "Take out everything in your pockets." "Keys, cash, wallet, everything and place them on the paper." "And the mobile." "I have to call in a status report or they'II start looking for me." "OK, call in." "Put it on speakerphone, so I can hear everything." " Ruth, it's Adam." " Go ahead." "Everything's fine." "I've been in touch with Danny and Fiona." "We're following a lead at the call centre." "cancel my meeting with Harry." "OK." "You never told me what you bought Fiona for her birthday." "I got her the belgian chocolates as you suggested." "I'm sorry?" "Yeah." "It seems your suggestion was the best in the end." "You got her chocolates?" "That's right." "You talked me into it." "Fiona loved them, just like you said she would." "Right." "OK, well, I hope she appreciates them." "Speak to you later." " How long do we have to stay here for?" " until I say so." "You approve of that, do you?" "Hitting a woman." "Threatening to burn her alive?" "How would you feel if that was one of your family?" "My family were killed by American bombs in Iraq." "I'm sorry to hear that." "Save your sympathy." "SHE KNOCKS Something's wrong." " How do you know?" " You knocked." " It's Adam." " What's wrong?" "He cancelled your meeting because he says he's with Danny and Fiona." "It's just a routine briefing." " But he..." " But what?" "He said he'd bought Fiona chocolates for her birthday, as I suggested." " I thought that was my suggestion." " exactly, and..." "He's probably just mixed up." "Harry, I talked to Adam." "There is no way he was going to buy Fiona chocolates for her birthday." "Not that there's anything wrong with chocolates as a birthday present." " He just wasn't going to do it." " Ask him about it when he comes in." "Harry." "I'm going to ask you something now." "I'm not difficult to work with, you know that." "I try to do everything in time and make an effort to be cheerful even if I'm depressed." " I always meet deadlines..." " Ruth." "There are no immediate plans to send you back to GCHQ." "please take me seriously on this." "Something's wrong." "Red-fIash the entire team." "We'II find out what's going on here." "But if they're here in 20 minutes and we've jeopardised an important operation," "I take back what I said about GCHQ." "You're clearly well educated." "Are you originally from Baghdad?" "I've spent a bit of time there myself." " Spying on my people." " No, actually." "It was after I Ieft university." "I went travelling around the middle East." "How nice for you." "You'II never understand the anger you cause." "I've had a love affair with that part of the world ever since I was a student." "I think I do understand it a little." "Then it's a shame that your rulers don't." "Because it will bring you great suffering in return." "Now stop talking so much." "PHONE RINGS" "We move to another location soon." "Waiting for instructions?" "I guess we're all just puppets in the end, aren't we?" "Shut up." "Nothing?" "Adam's call was from the South Bank." "Can't get in touch with Danny and Fiona." "We've pulled up all the CCTV footage at the time Adam called." "Who's the girl?" "And where are Danny and Fiona?" "We must assume he's being held under duress or he'd have said what he's doing." "No sign she's got a weapon." " We need to talk to him." " Tricky, when she's opposite him." "I've an idea, but we need to act fast before she moves him." " I'm not sure you're..." " It's my unique selling point, Mr Pearce." "Young Asian males don't often work for the security services." "call me Harry." " Did they take away your Iock-pick?" " sadly, yes." "An escape attempt when we're both shackIed starts us off at a disadvantage." "Yes, but..." "I wasn't exaggerating when I said that I had a talent for this." " Where are we going?" " You don't ask the questions." "hello, sir." "Having a good day with your beautiful wife?" " Go away, we're not interested." " Come on, it's just a few seconds." "Here's a free sample." "should make you a little sweeter for her." "Not that your lovely lady needs it." "They're straightforward questions." " I really haven't got the time right now." " I haven't got time for this." " Adam, what's going on?" " Don't know." " Where are Danny and Fiona?" " I can't answer that." " We'II have to bring the girl in." " Then they'II kill Danny and Fiona." "I'II get pressure to bring her in for interrogation." "I'd not be receptive to that strategy." "There's a tracking device in the sweets." "talk to the girl." "Get us something useful." "You haven't got unlimited time on this." "Look, I haven't the time or patience for this." "Go away and leave us alone!" "We're going to a hotel for a while." "We'II sign in as man and wife." "How ironic." "You said earlier we weren't the only ones who can gather intelligence." " We've watched you for a while." " And listening?" "I'm not under interrogation." "Another word and I'II have the hostages killed." "When that happens I'II not only be useless to you, I'II kill you with my bare hands." "So you see, we're all alike in the end." " Thought you said you were good at this?" " This is my party trick." "Ready?" "SHE RETCHES" "Guard, she's being sick!" "Can someone help us, please!" "Guard!" "She's being sick." "It was the blow to the head." "please, can you help her?" "please?" "We need his phone, we need his phone." "Let's go." "Ruth, get a trace on this call." "GUNSHOT" "Aargh!" "Find the phone!" " It's dead." " They must have found the mobile." "Damn it!" "What have we got, roughly?" "An area of about five square miles near Virginia Water." "Check recent Iettings in the area." " Not now, Sam." " It was left at a police station in Surrey." "My name is Fiona Carter." "I am a British spy being held by a group of fighters who will avenge the blood spilled in Iraq by America and its allies..." "Get me the Security and intelligence Co-ordinator." "..to the presence of British troops in Iraq." "unless he uses this speech to signal their withdrawal from the south of the country," "I will be burned alive together with my spy colleague." "Let this be a warning that we can take hostages anywhere we choose." "obviously we won't give in to the demand to announce the withdrawal of troops." "surely we should pull the PM out of tonight's ceremonies?" "That gets us what, exactly?" "Time." "It looks like a concession." "A concession would send all the wrong signals." " This speech is very important." " As are the lives of my two officers." "We don't allow terrorists to change government policy, Harry." "Get Adam Carter to bring the girl holding him in for interrogation." "absolutely not." "He's buying us time and information." "And they'd execute the hostages immediately." "If Iraqi resistance is spreading to these shores, that girl is a crucial source of information." " But we must protect my officers." " They're not civilians, Harry." "I'm sorry to say this, but it does make the moral dilemma somewhat less acute." "Of course, we'II do everything we can." "They're gonna kill us." "Ever read "Winnie the Pooh"?" "Um, when I was a kid." "I can't remember it." "I used to read the stories to my son." "His favourite was about Eeyore's birthday." "OK, so it's Eeyore's birthday and he's not exactly over the moon because nobody's got him a present." "And along comes Pooh and he asks him why he's so pissed off." "And Eeyore gestures around him with his little hoof and points out that he's got loads of presents and a cake with pink icing." "And when Pooh says he can't see any cake or any presents," "Eeyore says he can't either." "It was a joke." "At least we're together, Dan." "You speak really good english." "My father was an english teacher." "My sister wanted to be a singer." "My little brother liked english football." "He had a stammer." "But Arab lives, they mean nothing to you unless it's a number to throw about to win a political argument." "My brother's got a stammer." "His name's Robert." "We call him Ro-Ro because that's how he said his name" " Ro-Ro-Robert." "You're very calm, given the circumstances." "well, they give us training." "Like with the story I just told you about my brother." "It's true, but I was using it to build some common ground between us." "You've ruined it by telling me that." "I guessed you'd be clever enough to realise." " Now you try flattery." " You're good." " I'II have to work on my technique." " Don't bother." "PHONE RINGS" "Your wife and the other hostage tried to escape and killed a guard." "As a result, one of them will be executed." "And you have to choose which one." "Sam, get Harry!" "I won't do that." "You can save your wife." "'They'II phone in a few minutes for your decision.'" "He won't make that choice." "We have to do something, Harry." "please don't do this." "I don't give the orders." "I can't do anything." "You can." "Just tell me where they're being held." "Adam's stalling, trying to work on the girl." "My choices were made for me long ago." "I'm not talking about politics." "I'm talking about people." "When you take a life, it's not just..." "I can't stop it now anyway." "You can save your wife." "I can help you." "We can offer you terms, a new life..." "PHONE RINGS" "Adam?" "I Iove you." "He only has to say one name." "You don't have to say anything." "Don't listen to this psychopath." "Choose!" "You will never win." "If I'd been born somewhere else... it might have been me holding the gun now." "If you'd been born somewhere else, it might have been you sitting where I am." "For all your talk about choices... ..we don't get to choose those things." "But I guess... you're just unlucky because somehow... you've lost your humanity and now have no kindness or pity left in you." "But I still have those things." "Acts of hatred also produce acts of love, so you, my friend, will never win." "I'm unlucky?" "Look at all the cake and presents, Fiona." "Danny, no, please don't do it." "Danny, please don't do this." "If I weren't chained to this chair," "I would be right up in your face and you know what I'd be saying to you?" "Fuck you, you death-worshipping fascist!" "And you know what my answer would be." "Danny!" "'And you know what my answer would be.'" "I'm sorry." "God, I'm so sorry!" "Adam?" "What's happening?" "Adam, try and talk to me." "What happened?" "Danny." "It's not true." "Maybe it was a mock execution." "Ruth!" "You've got to help me." "tell me about the girl." "I'm still in trouble here and so is Fiona." "Come on, Ruth!" "Adam, there's no more information on her." "Adam!" "Adam!" "KNOCK AT DOOR What are you doing in there?" "This is a tracking device." " MI5 know where we are." " How?" "Because I'm bloody good at my job." "Now I can be good for you." "I don't care about anything but saving my wife." " Give the device to me." " No." "We have to leave it here." "It'II buy us time if they think we're still in the room." "There'II be people all around the hotel, but they'II be keeping their distance." "I can get you away from here." "Do as I say and we can both get what we want." "Come on." "You know you can trust me now." "You want us to work together?" "It's just me... and you." "Where are you taking him?" "Treat him with respect, at Ieast." "You only have tears for your own people." "You'd do better to start thinking about who will weep for you." "I've just had a meeting with Guy Facer." "He rejected the terrorists' demand that the Prime Minister change his speech tonight." " And Adam?" " We're bringing him in." " We'II interrogate the girl." " But..." "No buts, there's no alternative." "Terrorists do not dictate our foreign policy." "Is Adam still at the hotel?" "Good." "We might have time to get something out of her." "Our one advantage is that we know where he is - and that's thanks to you." "Dear God, Ruth, you think I'm happy about this?" "Danny's dead." " Where's Sam?" " She's been put under sedation." "well, we can't be put under sedation." "We've got to focus and sort this out." "help Adam, find out where they're holding the Iast hostage." "I'm relying on you, Ruth." "There'II be time to grieve later." "I promise you there will be time to grieve, but not now." "Now it's not about Danny and Fiona, but about two hostages." "We can still save the second hostage." "Are you gonna tell me what you want from me?" " Your Prime Minister is speaking tonight." " The dinner at the Mansion House?" "There'II be traitors from my country and their American sponsors." " You'II get me in there." " It's a closed list." "Every guest is matched to a photo." "I can't do that." " I thought you were good at your job." " What will you do?" "You're unarmed." "That does not concern you." "You just get me in." "hello, mate." "could you get the liaison officer for me?" " tell him it's Adam Carter." " Yes, sir." " Mike." " Adam." " Where's your lovely wife?" " Left her doing the washing up." "You seem to have found a glamorous replacement." "This is Khatera." " I need security clearance for her." " You'd have needed that downstairs." "Your boys downstairs aren't the sharpest tools in the box." "She's with me, just give her the nod." "You know I can't do that." "Not with the PM about to arrive and the Iraqis and Americans already here." "This is important." "Why didn't you clear this when we went through the list?" "I didn't know then what I know now." " It's too late." "I'm very sorry." " Mike..." "Look, we've got our suspicions about one of the Iraqi bodyguards." "He might have been involved in torturing regime opponents." "Khatera's the only one who can give a positive ID." "Give me a break." "It could be a huge breakthrough." "Not possible." "AII credentials have to be cleared in advance." " Who'd have cleared them?" " You." "So...?" "Come on, Mike." "clear." "clear." "You owe me one, Adam." "HARRY:" "What are they planning to do?" "And why send a video with a demand they know we'II never agree to?" "Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way round." "They've misdirected us from the start." "It's terrible, but it's genius." " The video's a decoy." " Why?" "They want the Prime Minister to go to the Mansion House dinner." "They want us not to capitulate to terrorism." "They want us to think the only risk is the death of the hostages." "They're going to attack the dinner." "I'm, er... ..carrying a bomb." "Where?" "They put the explosives inside you?" "only a small amount." "Then what...?" "Enough to turn the chemicals that have also been implanted into a lethal gas." "Where's the detonator?" "Not as defiant as your colleague, are you?" "Danny didn't face the same kind of death." "Today, we kill your war-criminaI Prime Minister, puppets appointed to run my country and the Americans who control them." "I've hardly known my son." "please don't do it like this." "When your son is older, he'II be able to watch images of you burning on the internet." "It's in the house, isn't it?" "With whoever's holding my wife." "He kept control over it so I couldn't change my mind." "You can't do this." "It's too grotesque." "Don't come near me or I'II send the signal that I'm ready." "You don't want to do this, Khatera." " I don't have a choice." " Of course you do." "Just tell us where to find him." "I can't do that." "He hit my wife with a gun." "He murdered a young officer." "He's prepared to kill indiscriminately." "I'm doing this for my family." " You must have loved them very much." " We only care about the ones we love." "I think the suffering of strangers can also move us." "please." "Give that to me and tell me where they're holding Fiona." "I can't." "I heard you on the phone to him." "I speak Arabic." "Asking him to show mercy to her." "The Prime Minister is arriving." "I can't let you do this." "You said you wouldn't swap your wife for the whole world." " What?" " We had a bug in your house." "You were joking." "And she asked if you'd swap her for another girl." " And you said you wouldn't..." " WouIdn't swap her for the whole world." "You know, the worst people in the world are not those who do bad things... ..but those who force others to do them." "This is Adam Carter." "I'm in the Great hall with the girl." "Do not let the Prime Minister enter the building." "I repeat, stop the Prime Minister." "She should be in position by now." "Where is her signal?" "Your ring." "You keep turning it." " In our business, that's known as a reveal." " What does it reveal?" "It's my wedding ring." "I suppose it reveals that I Iove my wife more than anything else in the world." "I don't want to die." "please... tell me where they're holding my wife." "Something's wrong." "It's time." "Oh, God!" "Oh, no!" "Oh!" "It's OK, it's OK, I'm here now." "Oh, no!" "Mr Pearce, over here, please." "I have to leave you for a moment, Ruth." "I'm staying here with Danny." "Harry's had to leave us for a moment." "I'm still here with you, Danny." "I'II stay right here with you."