Episodia - User contributions [en]

Origins

2023-12-22T17:05:06Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

''Two foreign students, [[Rachel]] and [[Yama]], both with ties to the missing archaeologist, leave Russia after his disappearance. [[Najwa]], who finds out about the story, decides to dig in as part of her research for LVA. Thinking that she could trace AF's Jewish origins to the Middle Age, Najwa stumbles onto her own past as she transit through Montreal, her father's birth city.

[[Down the Pipe|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Last Khazar|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:45.51646, -73.57802; 23.143056, -82.380556
|zoom=4
}}

====MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT====

[[File:MadridBajarasT4.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Madrid Bajaras Terminal 4]]

[[Najwa]] walks out of Emirates flight 141 into Terminal 4 of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid%E2%80%93Barajas_Airport Madrid's airport]. Looking at the departures board, she notices that Iberia flight 6621 to Havana is only scheduled for 17:00. She's got 4 hours to kill. She loafs through the terminal admiring the wavy wooden roof. She's hungry. A man at a coffee stand suggests she tries a tapas joint at the other end of the terminal.

====TAPAS BAR, TERMINAL 4, MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT====

Najwa is having a cazuelita con patatas, huevos y jamon serrano along with a glass of red wine at the tapas bar. She scrolls trough her Skype contacts on her iPad but no luck with Alexander. Yama pops up online. She pings her.

-MY TURN TO BE IN AN AIRPORT ;)

A few seconds later...

-WAY

-MADRID... ON MY WAY TO CUBA.

-LUCKY YOU, IT'S FREEZING HERE. WHICH RESORT?

-MEETING MY BF IN HAVANA. HE'S ON A BIZ TRIP THERE. WE'LL STICK AROUND FOR XMASS.

-I LOVE HAVANA.

-I THOUGH YOU GUYS COULDN'T GO THERE.

-OF COURSE WE CAN. AMERICANS CAN'T. FOR US IT'S LIKE CHEAP ESCAPE FROM A LONG WINTER. THERE'S LIKE AT LEAST THREE FLIGHTS A DAY.

-WOW.

-ANYWAYS, SORRY FOR BEING BLUNT YESTERDAY. I WAS STILL UNDER SHOCK FROM THIS WHOLE THING AND YOU POPPING OUT OF NOWHERE SEEMED KINDA SKETCHY.

-NO. IT'S ALL RIGHT. ANYWAYS. SO WHAT'S YOU'RE TAKE ON THE WHOLE THING? DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING STRANGE ABOUT HIM BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED?

Yama hesitates to divulge more but still feels the urge to get it off her chest.

WELL THERE WAS THIS GIRL WHO APPEARED ON SITE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE...I DON'T KNOW... I FEEL KIND OF FUNNY TELLING YOU THIS.

WHY?

I'D FEEL BETTER IF WE WERE FACE TO FACE. YOU SHOULD COME TO MONTREAL ONE DAY. WAIT FOR SPRING THOUGH...

Najwa is pensive, looking at people around her, running in circle.

MAYBE I WILL.

Alexander pops up on online...

SORRY BABY, I WAS AWAY. YOU IN MADRID? GET ON VIDEO IF YOU CAN..

HOLD ON LET ME SAY BYE TO MY FRIEND...

Najwa switches conversation.

YAMA, MY BF JUST GOT ONLINE. GOTTA HOOK UP WITH HIM.

NOT A PROBLEM... SORRY I WASN'T OF MUCH HELP.

Najwa accepts Alexander's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_call video call]. His face pops on her screen.

-HI BABY. ARE YOU IN MADRID?

-YES, I GOT 4 HOURS TO KILL. HOW ARE YOU?

-OK... JUST GOT IN YESTERDAY. MY APPOINTMENT GOT POSTPONED TILL TOMORROW SO I'VE GOT TIME TO KILL AS WELL. TOO BAD YOU'RE NOT HERE YET. COULD HAVE SHOWED YOU AROUND. NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE.

-YOU'LL SHOW ME AROUND TOMORROW. DON'T WORRY.

Najwa hear knocks on Alexander's door who doesn't react, as if he hadn't heard to knocks. Then after a pause, noticing that Najwa must have heard, he reacts.

-HOLD ON GOTTA GO CHECK THE DOOR.

Najwa, interjects before Alexander presses on pause.

-NO, BYE, I'M LOGGING OUT. SEE YOU THERE TONIGHT.

The knocking on the door is repeated. Alexander looks nervous.

-OK BABY. I LOVE YOU.

Alexander's face disappear from Najwa's screen. She stares at it then notices that Yama is also on Skype now. She hesitates but doesn't contact her. She stares back at the crowd of people walking around the airport, looks back at her screen, opens [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momondo Momondo's travel search engine] and types '''Madrid-Montreal-Havana''' in the multiple destinations boxes.

====CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, CANADA====

[[Yama]] walks into the cafe and scouts the room looking for a 30 something woman amongst dozens of [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/WiFier WiFiers]. She notices the stare of a woman wearing a scarf at the tip of her chignon and walks up to her.

-Najwa?

-Yes, Yama! responds Najwa as she stands up to greet her. Please sit... Would you like something? I think that they only serve at the counter.

Yama hangs her bag on the chair and follows Najwa who leads her to the counter.

-Wow, what a surprise when I got your message. When did you get here? asks Yama.

-Last night. When I realized I could transit through Canada to go to Havana, I thought it'd be a great way to meet you. How have you been?

-What can I get you? asks the man behind the counter.

-Hmmm... Hesitates Yama.

-The coffee's great, claims Najwa.

-Ok. I'll have a latte then.

-Medium, large? asks the man behind the counter.

-Small. Please.

-I'll have the same, continues Najwa.

====CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, LATER====

The two women have moved to a counter facing a window where they can speak privately. Najwa tries to get a grasp on how Dmitriev disappeared.

-And this girl, Rachel, she just popped out of nowhere to interview him?

-Yes. Well first she approached me I guess as she figured I was Canadian and all. She saids she was a journalist and was working on an article about Russia for a travel magazine. I thought she was some kind of [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blogger blogger] drifting around... We went out with friends from the University and she mingled in easily. The guy I was with thought she was odd though....

-You had a boyfriend there?

-Yeah... I met this Engineering student soon after I got there... Not my type at first but he was kinda cute.

-My boyfriend is Russian too, saids Najwa smiling.

-Anyways, so a couple of days later she asked me if she could accompany me on the the site, the excavation site. And that's where she completely changed and got into this full cat-woman mode and virtually hypnotized the man.

-Your boyfriend?

-No, Dmitriev... Well maybe she was flirting with him too, but it was clearly Dmitriev she was after.

-How did he react?

-Well, he's kind of straight edged, you know. Like there's no way she would have found him attractive. And it's not like he's got money or power. He was just this plain Russian man.

-Was he married?

-Not that we knew. But I think he was from Moscow so he might have had family there. But we never saw or heard of anyone.

-How old was he?

-Like 50 something...

-And you never saw her again.

-No... She vanished the same day he did.

-She didn't leave her e-mail or cell number to anyone.

-No she claimed her SIM didn't work in Russia, which is possible. Otherwise she just hooked up with us at this hang out joint near the campus.

-Rachel what? Did she tell you her last name.

-Bowie! Rachel Bowie.

Yama is thoughtful then continues.

-It didn't occurred to me that she might have been involved then, but now that I think about it...

====JOSE MARTI AIRPORT, HAVANA, CUBA====

[[Alexander]] drops Najwa's hand luggage on the back seat of a 1965 Land Rover before opening her the passenger door. He kisses her as he gets behind the wheel.

-So? Did you find him?

Najwa looks at Alexander and poses for a few seconds.

-You've got some memory. Or you're spying on me.

-Both, answers Alexander as he kisses her again.

-No... I didn't...

====STREETS OF MONTREAL, THE PREVIOUS DAY====

Najwa and Yama walk out of the cafe where they spent the afternoon as night falls on a cold wintry evening. Yama zips up her jacket.

-You're not too cold, coming from Dubai?

-Yes, very cold... But I grew up in Hungary and traveled to northern places. So it's not like I've never seen snow. But I reckon this is the coldest I ever felt.

-Keep moving and after a while, you'll get used to it.

-I will thanks.

-Well, this is my bus stop. It was very nice to meet you in person Najwa. I guess we'll stay in touch.

-Yes definitely, I'd like that...

-Sherbrooke street is about five or six blocks this way, saids Yama pointing south.

-Cool, thanks again for meeting with me.

Yama smiles and kneels towards Najwa to kiss her goodbye.

====BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL====

Najwa walks down Montreal's boulevard Saint-Laurent. Her sneakers crunching over the packed snow.

[[File:BlvdStLaurentFrag.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Boulevard Saint-Laurent historical board]]

She notices boards posted on various buildings recounting the city's history. Some written in English but most in French. She reads the story of a [[La_Voie_de_l%27ange#Mardi_1er_juin_1948|Jewish couple]] who emigrated to Canada from Europe after the Second World War.

She thinks of Anne, her imaginary alter-ego, who could have well landed here instead of in Buenos Aires. She thinks of her father of whom she knows nothing, except that he was named [[Axel]], that he spoke French and that he bore an '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism A]''' tattooed on his arm.

Najwa continues her stroll down [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Laurent_Boulevard The Main], looking at snowflakes falling in front of street lights. Every man in his mid forties could be him. He was seventeen when he met her mother in Berlin. Is he dead. Is he here. Does he know. What would happened if they'd met?

In the street, most women wear a hat or a scarf, hiding part of their head. This time she doesn't stand out. In the middle of the street, a bike messenger riding against the traffic jumps on the sidewalk right besides her, missing her by inches. How can he ride with all this snow?

====BOOKSTORE, BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL====

Najwa stares at the window of a bookstore. Could one day her own book be amongst those displayed. Christmas music echoes through the street, reminding her of her childhood in Budapest. The bike messenger whom she saw earlier exits the bookstore and smiles at her.

-I'm sorry if I surprised you before. I had to make it before the store would close, saids the messenger in French as an employee locks the store from inside.

-It's okay, I slipped but didn't fall, answers Najwa smiling back.

He kneels down to unlock his bike.

-You should get boots! That's where you get cold from.

-Yes, I'm starting to feel that... How do you manage to ride in the snow?

-Experience, saids the messenger laughing. Plus I have studs on my front wheel.

-You're like Mad Max!

The messenger looks back at her in silence... then continues.

-That's my name. No jokes. My name is Max.

Najwa extends her hand.

-Nice to meet you, I'm Najwa.

[[Max]] pulls his orange leather gloves to shake her hand.

-Could I offer you a coffee or something to make up for nearly hitting you with my bike on the sidewalk?

-Don't you have to rush for another delivery?

-No, this was my last one. Businesses close at 6.

-Oh, well I actually just had two coffees... But I wouldn't mind warming up for a few minutes.

-I don't drink coffee either. Tea, water and booze!

-Tea would be good.

====HOTEL NACIONAL, HAVANA, CUBA====

Alexander parks the Land Rover at the front entrance of the Hotel Nacional where an attendant takes his keys. Najwa walks across the hall into the garden followed by Alexander.

-You want to go to the room first or have a drink here?

-We can stay here... I'll have a fresh orange juice if they have.

-Right on.

A waiter arrives at their table.

-Buenas tardes...

-Buenas tardes. Un jugo de naraja para la segnora i un run doble, asks Alexander in rough Spanish with a strong Russian accent.

-Anejo? asks the waiter.

Alexander looks at him perplex.

-El run... Old... Siete anos?

-A si, por favor, replies Alexander.

Najwa turns towards Alexander as the waiter leaves.

-Wow, I hear you've practiced.

-I was briefly stationed here in 1992.

-That's where you learned to dance? replies Najwa smiling.

Moments later.

Najwa is sipping on her orange juice as Alexander has finished his rum.

-You know I can find him for you if you wish.

-No... Please... I'd rather not. I'm not sure I want to meet him. Not sure if I'd have something to say. If I'd be disappointed. If he'd be disappointed... I'd rather leave it to faith.

-Inshallah... saids Alexander looking at the waiter as he realizes his glass is empty.

-Inshallah... replies Najwa.

-Yet you pushed you're luck by traveling to Canada.

-I wanted to meet this student related to the Caspian Sea incident.

-And, how was that?

-Okay, I guess. We had coffee. It was nice, saids Najwa absently.

Alexander senses that Najwa is not in a talking mood and pulls back his chair to stand up.

-I'm gonna go take a shower. Remember we're going to my friend's house tonight.

-Right. What time is it?

-5, answers Alexander looking at his phone.

-Okay, I'll finish my juice and I'll meet you. What's our room?

-535, 5th floor. Here...

Alexander pulls a key card from his wallet and hands it to Najwa who smiles at him.

-I'll see you in a minute.

Najwa stares back at the sea as Alexander walks away.

====MAX'S LOFT, FACING THE SAINT-LAURENT RIVER, MONTREAL, THE PREVIOUS DAY====

Large windows span the width of the sparsely furnished loft. Najwa stares at a boat sailing through ice patches floating down the river. Max hits shuffle on his track list. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_%28R.E.M._song%29 Hope] by R.E.M. starts playing. The port flood-spots back-light Najwa silhouette as she slowly unties her hijab. The kettle whistles in the background. Max, not knowing how to react to the rapidly unfolding events, attends to the tea preparation.

-Here you go. Oolong from China... and oranges from god knows where, saids Max as he places the tray on a flipped wooden fruit box in the living area.

Najwa approaches and sits on the torn leather sofa. Max kneel on his knees to serve the tea.

-So... are you a student?

Najwa smiles at Max and places her palm on the spot next to her.

-Come...

[[Down the Pipe|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Last Khazar|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.012]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.012]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

R1a1a

2023-12-22T17:04:42Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''A Colombian man is suing Israel's government after having been refused Aliyah. The case is pending in before the country's Supreme Court and has brought international media attention to Israel's controversial Law of Return. As local community groups organize in support of the plaintiff, the government has been forced to address the issue before the existing Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs which in turn formed a sub-committee to address growing debate regarding the origins of the country's Ashkenazi majority.

''Minister of Diaspora

''Teenagers claiming neo-nazi affiliation (Task Force 36)

[[Принцесса Атех|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Cannaregio 1943|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: 46.21043, 6.15375 ; 32.05611, 34.78111
|zoom=4
}}

====NIGHT, CENTRAL BUS STATION, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL====

The head-beams of the Tel-Aviv bound bus from Jerusalem illuminates the glowing paint from a freshly tagged swastika on the pillars supporting the elevated highway. On the sidewalk below, an African man wearing a colorful [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_people Fulbe] robe stretches a three square meters cloth on which he lays out an assortments of fake Gucci sunglasses and Louis Vuitton handbags. After stopping his bus, the driver opens its side trunks and drops bags and suitcases by the street vendor's display as passengers disembark. First thrilled by the spontaneous crowd, the African man, grows nervous as passengers rush around the bus' trunks, stepping over his merchandise and getting confused when sorting out their luggage amongst the fake LVs. As passengers dissipates and the bus leaves, the man counts his units and re-arranges his layout. [[Peter|Peter Elliott]], the last passenger to have disembarked, fixes a daisy at his buttonhole, smiles at the African man and walks away.

From across the street, a teenager purposely throws his cigarette butt which lands on the vendor's cloth. The African man, quickly removes the lit cigarette but still notices a hole in the material. He looks up to now see four teenagers wearing Doc Martins boots at the foot of his display. He addresses them in elementary Hebrew but they reply in Russian.

-Why did you do this? You burnt a hole ''man''.

The Russians look at each other as one tries on a pair of sunglasses.

-Sorry, ''man'', I thought this was trash.

The Russian then grabs three other pairs of glasses and hands one each to his buddies.

-Anyways, what are you doing here, ''man''... can't you see the sign, gesturing towards the painted swastika. This means no niggers.

The African man looks around to assess how isolated he is from other vendors or passers-by and judging that he'll have to deal with the situation on his own, he folds his cloth without even packing anything first. The Russians laugh out loudly as he walks away carrying his pouch over his shoulder.

-That's it ''man'', climb back up your tree.

====SUB-COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN DIASPORA, KNESSET, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL====

[[File:EarlyIndoEuropeanMigrations.png|thumb|right|480px|R1a1a expansion]]

Israel's Minister of Diaspora addresses members of the select sub-committee on European Diaspora in the wake of the publication of a new study led by Dr. O. Landese from the University of Geneva's Department of Genetics & Evolution. The new study about the peopling of Europe confirms key findings from another recent study which had been widely debated in Zionist, anti-Zionist, scientific and pseudo-scientific circles around the globe.

The main committee, which was dealing with the growing dissatisfaction regarding the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_return Law of Return] coming from Sephardi community groups supporting the case of a Colombian man who was refused the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_return right of return] and Israeli citizenship. The man, whose mother was a Christian of Native American origins could not unequivocally demonstrate that his late father was Jewish although the lineage was clear for Sephardi experts.

The combination of the two events in the midst of growing racism in Israel led to the government's establishment of the sub-committee.

====CHANEL 10 TELEVISION STUDIO, TEL-AVIV====

Ultra-Nationalist Knesset member Baruch Dershowitz is the guest of a news program along with Noam ben Hammou the leader of a left leaning Sephardi community group.

Baruch Dershowitz accuses Noam ben Hammou of helping the propagation of anti-Semitic arguments. Ben Hammou responds, with a sardonic smile.

NBH -Well, actually, right to the contrary, we are advocating for pro-Semitic policies to balance out the disproportionally high percentage of Europeans making Aliyah. The man we're representing, maybe of a Native North-American matrilineage and of Christian faith, but it is clear, through the DNA tests we've conducted, that his patrilineal heritage has deep roots in the our region.

BD -Deep roots in the region mean nothing. We cannot start to genetically select who we accept and who we don't. The process in place has worked for over sixty years. The claimant has to demonstrate both undeniable family roots and a basic knowledge of the precepts of Judaism. In this case, the claimant failed both tests.

NBH -But you have to remember that this man, Mr. Diaz, lost his father at a very young age, an was then raised by a Catholic mother in a deeply religious environment. How could he possibly know any of the precepts of Judaism. He came here in search of his roots and we're just sending him back because he doesn't fit the profile. The Law of Return was drafted as you mention quite rightly, for once, after World War 2 to handle the exodus of European Jews and the peopling of our country. Now that this has been achieved, what we're advocating is for a revision of the law to open up our society to Jews from other horizons who might not fit the post war model.

BD -What you are asking, is for the government to launch a policy of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action_in_the_United_States affirmative action], which as a matter of fact, and many studies demonstrated this, has been proven inefficient in the United States.

NBH -It's quite a paradox that you'd use affirmative action as an example when that is exactly what we've been doing since the first Aliyahs.

====HILTON TEL AVIV====

The broadcast continues in Peter Elliott's hotel room.

BD -First Aliyah was in great number comprised of Yemeni Jews. Maybe you should revise your national history.

NBH -Well, great number... that's debatable. But anyways that was before migrations were regulated from within.

HOST -Gentlemen, I suggest, that we get back to our main debate and that both of you refrain from using historical arguments which might be difficult to grasp by some of our audience. So Mr. Ben Hammou. What changes do you suggest the government implement, and why?

Peter Elliott, walks out of the bathrooms, shuts the TV and cuts a flower from the bouquet sitting on a table. He sticks it in his buttonhole, double checks his appearance in the mirror in front of him and walks out of the room.

====BAIN DES PAQUIS, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND====

[[File:BainDesPaquis.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Bain des Pâquis]]

A light [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foehn Foehn] carries a hot breeze through the few tables set outside the cooperative restaurant on Geneva's Northern pier. [[ Oriana|Oriana Landese]]'s eyes are lightly shut as she's absorbing the early Spring sunlight. Her thoughts vacillate from her children to a prospective lover when she's pulled back to reality by a woman's voice.

-Dr. Landese?

Oriana raises her hand to block the blinding sun as the woman extends hers to introduce herself.

-[[Carla|Carla Xanthis]], Federal Department of Justice and Police.

====OFFICE, AVIHAYIL MOSHAV, ISRAEL====

Peter Elliott looks at old black & white photographs displayed on the wall when the Moshav's director walks in accompanied by a woman in her late twenties.

-Peter Elliott, Royal Mail.

-Please to meet you... Please have a seat, answers the director as the woman displays a forced smiles.

The three sit around a basic conference table.

-We have read your emails and as we replied to your colleagues, so many people passed by the Moshav over the past eighty years that it would be quite difficult to track them all. We do have lists, but as I said, this name... Altaras... we did not find it. Did you inquire with the Ministry of Interior in Jerusalem?

-Yes we have, but it has proven to be a very tedious task. As I mentioned, [[Isabella's_letter_to_Anastasio|the letter]] dates back from 1944 when I understand the British Government was still... involved in the transition. We did check the files that have been brought back to London from the Mandate years, but the name [[Isabella|Isabella Altaras]] does not appear on any immigration lists.

-Well, most of the people who landed in Moshavs came from Aliyah Bet.

-Aliyah Bet?

-Immigration not recorded by the British.

-Right, so this is exactly why I'm here. I was told that we'd have more success by coming directly to the source. As you might know, elections are next month in Britain and what is likely to be our new government has plans to privatize the Royal Mail. If we finally deliver this letter, this will mean that all two hundred and forty four letters recovered from the Indian Ocean's wreck will have been delivered. Sixty-five or so years later but still, delivered. You can understand the positive publicity that this would bring to the Royal Mail ahead of the commission.

-Which commission?

-The privatization commission.

-So you are here to save the Royal Mail, not because you really care about this letter.

-We wish to save the Royal Mail in order continue to provide an impeccable service and make sure that letters like this one... get delivered... eventually.

-You are a persevering man, Mr. Elliott. Deanna here, our newest moshavnik, will assist you in your research. She just arrived from New York and sorting out the archives was on her to do list.

The young woman approaches and extends her hand towards Peter.

-Deanna Sadykova, pleased to meet you.

-Very pleased as well, and extending his hand to the director. Thank you for your understanding.

====LEMON GROVE, AVIHAYIL MOSHAV====

Deanna and Peter drive an electric golf cart through a lemon grove on their way to the Moshav's old administrative building.

-So which part of New York City are you from?

-Brooklyn. Have you been there?

-I haven't gone back to New York since the eighties... I understand that Brooklyn was not as hip then. But no, I don't remember visiting.

-Well, I don't know about the eighties, but it's now the only place one could afford. Unless you work on Wall Street.

-Are you still a student?

-No, I work in the fashion business.

-Oh, you're a model?

-No, I work behind the camera.

They drive by an old lady sitting in the shade, under a lemon tree, looking at them pass by.

-And what brought you here, if it's not too indiscreet for me to ask?

Deanna stays silent as she looks at the old lady, then answers.

-Love... Or lovelessness I should say.

-Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry to hear this and I hope that you will find what you're looking for here.

-Let's start by finding what you're looking for... Then we'll worry about my shit.

====PONT DES BERGUES, GENEVA====

Carla and Oriana walk across the pedestrian bridge.

-Sorry to lead you further away from the station, but my class starts in 15 minutes.

-That's OK. I'm sorry if this all sounds a little crazy and confusing.

-My work is all about sorting out crazy and confusing stuff. To try at least.

-And what about the political ramifications of your findings.

-One theory can always be proven wrong by another. Who knows if all our findings are going to be proven wrong by my students, 20 years down the line.

-And while you were moving ahead, you never felt any outside interference?

-No... Not that I'm aware of. But you know, I'm not the best at sensing what's happening around me. I'm kind of a focused person. Not sure about that sixth sense.

-One last thing, before I head back to the station to catch my train... and let you get to your class.

Carla pulls out the photo which she received with [[Uri's letter to Carla|Uri's letter]].

-Have you ever seen this man?

====OLD ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING, AVIHAYIL MOSHAV====

Peter has abandoned his suit and rolled up his sleeves to help Deanna lower dozens of wooden citrus boxes filled with yellowed documents. Each box is identified by sequences of three letter codes written next to words which appear to be German.

-Can you read this?

-Nope, English only.

-Well, at least we should be grateful that the filing was organized by Germans.

From the top of the ladder, Deanna looks down at Peter who just realized the dubiousness of his observation, given the context.

-Maybe this came out wrong...

Later

As Peter sorts through hundreds of ledgers recording production, stocks and sales of lemons, Deanna uses her laptop's wifi connection to translate the heading on each box.

-BEWOHNER... Residents... That should be it. These four boxes here.

Later

Hundreds of files are piled up on the floor. Deanna puts down the last file on the last pile.

-Do you want us to go over them one last time?

-No, I guess it's not here. We checked 1939 to 1950. She either never lived here officially or she changed names.

-Well, she would have changed her last name if she got married but why would she change the first name?

-Maybe she was running away?

-Yet she wrote a letter with a return address on the envelope.

====LEMON GROVE, AVIHAYIL MOSHAV====

Deanna and Peter walk out of the old administrative building to find the golf cart gone.

-Someone stole the cart!

-It's for anyone to use.

-Oh, this place is like a commune!

They walk across the lemon grove, empty handed, back to the Moshav's main entrance. The old lady is still sitting at a chair under a tree. She seems half awake. Deanna smiles at her anyways. The old lady murmurs something in Russian.

-You're the new Russian girl?

Deanna stops and look at the old lady, then hesitantly answers in Russian.

-Yes...

-And this is the Englishman?

-Yes, Peter, from London, and I'm Deanna, she says in broken Russian

The old lady nods.

-No one remembers here and you will never find anything in these boxes, but there was a young Italian woman who lived here for a few days, maybe a month. One day [[Bonnie_%26_Clyde#SIDE_OF_THE_ROAD_TO_AVIHAYIL.2C_PALESTINE_.28LATER.29|she disappeared]] and no one ever heard back from her... The British soldiers and the police came to look for her several times. That I remember. But as far as I know... They never found her... I was only around ten then, not more than twelve, but I remember her very well. Isabella. She was beautiful. She came in one day with an Arab boy who was just a little older than me. He stayed until the war of independence. Then he had to go too. [[Yasser]]. I had a crush on him.

Deanna kneels down in front of the old lady and holds her hand.

-And no one else knows about her?

-Here no. I'm the only one that stayed. Everyone else is long gone or dead.

-So she would have been around how old then?

-Oh. How could I know. She was a lady already, but not married I guess. Maybe she was twenty.

Deanna looks up at Peter who's looking at both of them, not getting it but having recognized the word ''Isabella'' mixed in the Russian conversation.

-She remembers her. She claims that she only stayed here a few days, a month at most and that when she disappeared, the police kept coming looking for her. You were right, she was running away from something.

-Well, at least we have a lead. Our only lead but at least a lead.

The old lady pulls back on Deanna's hand.

-What's in the letter? Did you read it?

-What is she saying?

-If I read the letter.

-Of course not. That's the whole purpose of my trip. To deliver it still sealed.

[[Принцесса Атех|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Cannaregio 1943|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.012]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.012]]
[[Category: The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

The Passengers

2023-12-22T17:04:17Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

__NOTOC__
'''Episodia''' is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_universe fictional universe] composed of episodes and characters organized in narrative threads. Its form is defined by its medium and is expected to mutate as it spreads. Hyperlinks connect the narrative to '''Wikipedia''' as the setting of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality real world] parallel universe. Key locations are geotagged on [http://www.openstreetmap.org OpenStreetMap] and photographs are published on [http://commons.wikimedia.org Wikimedia Commons].

'''The Passengers''' is the initial thread.

{{
#display_map:60.1811287, 24.9738194; 59.764922, 25.0288039; 57.960573, 19.3508766; 55.06067, 15.13237 ; 54.3772259, 18.6566258; 53.8761318, 10.687912; 14.333333, 50.416667; 14.527517, 49.1032945; 46.9466397, 7.4529553; 32.1446044, 34.804291; 55.7485393, 37.6259569; 25.2157842, 55.279727; 29.9483805 , 32.5720795; 40.7136876, -74.014401; 51.5149417, -0.0805359; 46.9476373, 7.4544005; 25.2262382, 55.2556098; 38.8989912, -77.0043252; 39.1098195, -76.770452; 30.6565601, 32.3328604; 48.8778875, 2.3582644; 48.2959243, 4.0646881; 46.3187715, 7.9880853; 45.4446037, 12.3257055; 60.1695273, 24.8302406; 50.4064866, 11.7761612; 46.013740, 47.823111; 45.2205879, 36.7195432; 44.5738079, 33.3947948; 36.1139301, -115.1944982; 36.00747,-115.144263; 36.2381952,-115.0450503; 37.41170, -122.05152; 37.43460, -122.02638; 38.00122,-122.46045; 40.0800, 116.5844; 39.91246, 116.45679; 45.44461, 12.32558; 32.05360, 34.75000; 35.70775, 51.42391; 45.51953, -73.58054; 23.14197, -82.36812; 40.76059,-73.8999; 33.86285, 35.498381; 35.70775, 51.42391; 35.704403, 51.409; 55.781111, 37.626389; 59.393056, 27.774167; 30.4903389, 103.4652194; 30.660750, 104.054560; 59.47633, 25.01550; 51.524722, -0.111944; -28.06585, 117.85283; 46.21043, 6.15375 ; 32.05611, 34.78111; 31.740833, 35.458611; 36.620763, -6.331558; 52.521667, 13.413333; 48.9916013, 1.7207314; 13.7098655,100.6274988
|zoom=2
}}

<gallery mode="packed-hover">
File:GulfOfAden.jpg|[[The Zytglogge Mission]]
File:BernBike.jpg|[[The Zytglogge Mission]]
File:Kirchenfeldbruke.jpg|[[The Zytglogge Mission]]
File:C130.jpg|[[I Seek You 2.0]]
File:SwissFederalPalace.jpg|[[I Seek You 2.0]]
File:MoscowCyclist.jpg|[[I Seek You 2.0]]
File:OrientExpressVictoriaStation.jpg|[[London Calling]]
File:UnionStationEagle.jpg|[[London Calling]]
File:LondonTelephoneBox.jpg|[[London Calling]]
File:RoadNevada.jpg|[[Drones over Vegas]]
File:StkVegas.jpg|[[Drones over Vegas]]
File:Hangar_One_at_Moffett_Field_1963.jpg|[[Hangar One]]
File:HousingProjectTallinn.jpg|[[The Old Man and the Sea]]
File:CCTV_HQ.jpg|[[CCTV]]
File:BainDesPaquis.jpg|[[R1a1a]]
File:Cannaregio.jpg|[[Cannaregio 1943]]
File:JaffaPort.jpg|[[Jaffa Citrus]]
File:DeadSea.jpg|[[Jaffa Citrus]]
File:FaroFyr.jpg|[[U-3955]]
File:Nexo_Havn_1945.jpg|[[The Hansa Way]]
File:Il-2_attacking.jpg|[[The Hansa Way]]
File:Fl%C3%BCchtlingstreck.jpg|[[The Hansa Way]]
File:C47.jpg|[[The Chengdu Concubine]]
File:BerlinAlexanderplatz.jpg|[[Swedish Rhapsody]]
File:BerlinWall.jpg|[[The Kreuzberg Veil]]
File:SevastopolRadarStation.JPG|[[Down the Pipe]]
File:MadridBajarasT4.jpg|[[Origins]]
File:WaveOnMaleconSunset.jpg|[[Operation Shutdown]]
File:CentroHabanaStreet.jpg|[[Operation Shutdown]]
</gallery>

==Narrative timeline==

'''The Passengers''' is loosely written in the format of a television series and divided in 3 parts (seasons).

*[[:category:Follow the Money|Follow the Money]] (part 1)
*[[:category:The Clan|The Clan]] (part 2)
*[[:category:The Quest for Eternity|The Quest for Eternity]] (part 3)

==Chronological timeline==

Although the narrative does not follow a chronological order, '''The Passengers''' is mainly set in 3 different periods<nowiki>*</nowiki>.

*[[:category:The Age of Anne (1943-1953)|The Age of Anne (1943-1953)]]: from the signing of the Allies' armistice with Italy to the overthrowing of Iran's Mosaddegh government.
*[[:category:The Age of Christiane (1979-1983)|The Age of Christiane (1979-1983)]]: from the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran to the death of singer Klaus Nomi.
*[[:category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )|The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]: from the launch of '''Episodia''' on.
<nowiki>*</nowiki>[[:category:Parachronia|Parachronic]] periods, one mediaeval set around the fall of The last Kazarian fortress (965) and one futuristic beginning on the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence (2026) are also being developed.

==Annexes==

Annexes are metadiegetic texts written by '''The Passengers'''' characters.

*[[Isabella's letter to Anastasio]] was lost when the Royal Mail Ship carrying it sank in the Arabian Sea.
*[[Axel's note]] to Neda is Najwa's only memento of her father.
*[[Uri's letter to Carla]] where Uri reveals hints about his many quests to Carla.
*[[La Voie de l'ange]], an alternate ending to the posthumous diary of a young girl, is written in French by Najwa.
*[[La Clef d'Ateh]] is the French version of a short story originally written in Spanish by Anne, '''La Voie de l'ange'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s diarist.

Operation Shutdown

2023-12-22T17:00:34Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

''2026--The US is no longer China’s main importer and the Beijing government is calling the entirety of its 10 trillion dollar loan in US Treasury Bonds.

''Taiwan is on high alert as the ultimatum given by the Mainland for all foreign (US) ships to clear 46 nautical miles from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_China Greater China]’s shores expires within hours.

''The Republican lead Congress and Senate vote for a nationalization of The Federal Reserve System. The US now faces its worse financial crises since its foundation 250 years earlier. Great Britain, which has now fully embraced the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurozone Eurozone] can’t persuade its partners to bail out its former colony. Japan and unified Korea remain neutral as 90% their economies depend on the Chinese market. The Pakistan-India conflict and Russia's internal droughts/heat-waves concerns prevent these countries from intervening.

''In Rome, it is the 100th day of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_conclave Papal Conclave]. For the first time, a Chinese Cardinal (Named by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, CPCA) is attending.''

''The US has one last shot: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCYBERCOM USCYBERCOM].

''Four Star General [[Jouni]] Wilson, 48, Head of the United States Cyber Command has been called to the White House. The preliminary phases of Operation Shutdown (Operation Login & Operation Password) have been incrementally deployed since 2012. California developed softwares which power routers and hubs controlling 80% of the world’s Internet traffic, are coded to overload and create irreparable hardware damage (catastrophic physical failure). Triggering OSD means halting all trade and the world would instantaneously “regress” to a pre-Internet era.

''Two camps develop in the Situation Room:

''One is in favor of implementing OSD immediately without warning so the US could retreat into “self-sustaining mode”.

''The other is to expose the catastrophic consequences of OSD to all concerned countries and negotiate a settlement.

''The main argument in favor of the first solution is that the US is no longer dependent on foreign energy resources. 50% of new vehicles now run on electricity produced domestically in Canada. The rest and other energy needs are fulfilled by exploitation of high sea platforms in the Beaufort Sea. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McKinley William McKinley], 25th President of The United States, is being cited for his protectionist views.

''Arguments against, include US military domination and advance in software technologies as a possible means to turn around the current regression.

''Launch of an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse EMP] over the region is considered.

[[The Last Khazar|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[S3E02|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:23.14197, -82.36812
|zoom=16
}}

====SOUTH CHINA SEA, EXTERIOR DECK, USS PALIN, 2026-07-04 2000Z====

The sun is rising at the southern entrance of the Taiwan Straight. US Navy Commander [[Roger]] Pearl, 59, scans the horizon through a pair of 20th century binoculars. A contingent of more than 100 PLA Navy ships are deployed 22 nautical miles from the Cost of Taiwan. Lieutenant [[Pete]] Tran Huang, 61, views the interactive live satellite image of the area on his electronic pad. A crypted feed unrolls in a side dialogue box.

Roger 
(still scanning) 
No words from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USPACOM PACOM]?

Pete 
No… The feed's now direct from The Situation Room...

Roger 
Well... Happy 4th of July.

Peteg 
(Looking at Pearl) 
Same to you Commander.

Roger 
Guess we're first row for the fireworks.

Peteg 
(looking towards Taiwan)<br? >
You think they'll resist?

Roger 
Neah... [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Liberation_Army_Navy PLAN] will just will just dock on schedule.

Pete 
(looking back at his screen where dozens of tiny Taiwanese Navy ships form a scattered territorial line, dangerously close to the Chinese "Armada") 
Wow. This is David against Goliath!

Roger 
And these guys are not waiting for a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident reason]...

Rogers looks a the rising sun.

Roger (Continuing) 
We're going home Mate...

Pete looks up again and scans the Asian shores. Pensive...

Pete 
Right...

==== INTERIOR, SITUATION ROOM, WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON DC, 2026-07-04 2030Z (Friday July 3, 2026, 3:30pm ET) ====

General [[Jouni]] Wilson kisses President [[Sam]] Gomez on the cheek before settling into a cushy boardroom seat. Around the conference table sit: The White House Chief of Staff (WHCS), The Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff (CJCS), The Secretary of State (SOS), The Secretary of Commerce (SOC), Senator PRO, Chairman of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Foreign_Relations_Subcommittee_on_East_Asian_and_Pacific_Affairs The Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs], Congressman ALT, Chairman of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Energy_and_Water_Development The House Committee on Energy and Water Development] and about a dozen t-shirt wearing aides and advizors. The walls are covered with LCD paneling displaying live feeds from the Pacific front as well as scrolling data.

Sam 
(addressing Jouni) 
This is your big day General.

Jouni 
(smiling) 
With all due respect, this is YOUR big day Mr. President.

Sam 
They all start to look the same to me if you want my opinion. 
(turning towards the CJCS) 
So, what do we got Chief?

CJCS 
(rising and moving towards the main screen showing the same image as on Lieutenant Pete Tran Huang's pad) 
Well Gentlemen... (turning toward Jouni) Mrs General... The ultimatum expires in less than 9 hours... (pointing to stars intermittently flashing red and blue) these are our position. About half the Pacific fleet is parked on either sides of the straight. The red dots here are the PLA's Navy. Over 100 ships with an estimated 100,000 troops on board. Further inland, we believe that another 20,000 Special Forces are ready to be airlifted and deployed directly downtown Taipei and Kaohsiung. 
(Turing towards the President) 
If the Taiwanese do not offer resistance, we estimate that the deployment and control of the Island by the PLA will take less than 6 hours. If the Taiwanese hold a battle, maybe 12 hours and over 10,000 casualties... Mainly on the Taiwanese side.

Pro 
(sitting to the right of the President) 
And if we block them?

CJCS 
This would mean launching Operation Sea Wall... Then we cannot predict the outcome as other fronts would inevitably open.

Pro 
(looking at the CJCS) 
But this is what we signed up for... We must have an estimate.

CJCS 
Full on confrontation on this specific front could last forever. We have the capacity to hold indefinitely. But the contingency also involves an offensive on the Mainland... Moving to Operation Kuomin Bang.

Sam 
Well let's not get carried away here. (turning towards Jouni) What do you say Jouni?

Jouni 
About attacking China? 

Sam 
No, about not attacking China. About pulling the plug.

Jouni 
(she rise her head and take a few seconds before addressing the whole group)
Well gentlemen... In response to the issue raised by Secretary SOC... about the February loan call by Beijing, I have been asked to present possible alternatives to defaulting or firing off nukes.

Pro 
I think you're oversimplifying General! 
(turning towards the President) 
If we lose Taiwan Mr. President, the only pull we have left is on Canada, Mexico and maybe Cuba... That's my point.

Sam 
Let her continue Pro. Jouni...

Jouni 
Thanks you Sam. About a decade ago, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Telecommunications_and_Information_Administration NTIA] introduced a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit Rootkit] protocol through FCC which covert objective was the installation of a ghost code which is now deployed on about 80% of the world's rooters and switches. We're talking main underseas and satellite switches here. Triggering OSD would result in catastrophic physical failure of these systems... Basically cutting off all communications worldwide.

SOS 
(adding) 
Which would instantaneously alt all international trade and get most economies to collapse.

Pro 
Including ours!

Alt 
(sitting on the left of the President) 
Ours has already collapsed!

Jouni 
(resuming) 
Code name: Operation Shut Down.

==== TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE, CLOSING, 2026-07-04 2100Z (Friday July 3, 2026, 4:00pm ET) ====

''Although all securities traded in US dollars were suspended due to Independence Day observation, several Canadian energy and natural resources stocks gained up to 500% by closing.''

==== BAY STREET, TORONTO, MINUTES LATER ====

A banker steps into a cab in which the transparent LED security screen displays a live newscast. The anchor, named Lloyd, is the default virtual rendition of Canada's longest-serving network news anchor in television history.

Lloyd 
In a formidable reversal of fortune, seven Canadian energy and natural resources companies, saved the day at the TSX this afternoon when their stocks closed up 500% getting the Canadian index to rise by 260 points, a first positive gain since the February crash...

As the newscast continues, the banker touches the screen to switch anchor skin. A 20 something foxy French accented lady named "Speakerine" continues without pose. Sask...

Speakerine 
(continuing) 
...atchewan based Prairies Potash Group showed the most spectacular gain closing at over CAD $1,000 a share up 512%. Nunavut based Inu Off Shore (IOS) closed at CAD $872 up 394%. At the other end of the Pacific, the standoff continues between the two Chinas... Will the US intervene? More live from Taipei...

The Banker speed dials on his Dvice as the newscast continues.

Banker 
(smiling) 
I told you... 400% fucking percent man... Of course they'll pull out... I'll catch you after dark... пока!

==== USCYBERCOM HQ, FORT MEADE, MARYLAND ====

[[image:The_internet's_undersea_world.jpg|thumb|right|480px|The internet's undersea world]]

In a vast control room dedicated to major operations, a giant LED screen displays a map showing all terrestrial and submarine switches connecting the main lines of global communication. A holographic screen displays geostationary satellites above two hemispheres.

Around 25 operators are standing by as a full rehearsal is on hold, waiting for a go from the White House. The protocol is similar to one for a nuclear attack launch.

The senior officer in charge of the operation is Captain [[Octavio]] Jabbaz, a 40 something laid-back dude munching on an apple while monitoring all screens and intermittently glancing at a feed from [[Jouni]]. As he gets the go, he drops his apple core into the trash can, sits up right on his swivel chair and taps on his mike.

Octavio 
(though his microphone) 
OK girls... This is it. Full on rehearsal. I repeat this IS a drill... (pause) 180 seconds countdownnnn... Now!

The 3 minute countdown starts. A sequence is coordinated and broken down in sectors.

Octavio 
(sarcastic, looking at his subordinate siting next to him) 
Nothing better to do at the head of a holiday weekend, than to blast your own shop!

12-11-10 seconds to launch

==== INTERIOR, SITUATION ROOM, WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON DC, 2026-07-04 2115Z (Friday July 3, 2026, 4:15pm ET) ====

9 seconds to launch.

Jouni stands by a similar image as the one displayed at Fort Meade when the countdown reaches zero.

Jouni 
(pointing to the Mediteranean) 
So the initial event happens here on the only cable joining Italy to Egypt. The break has an instantaneous domino effect on all communications reaching the Middle-East and most of the Sub-Continent. Shortly after, we trigger the North-Atlantic main switches, cutting us off from everything eastward. At this point only East Asia and North-America remain wired. 
(pause) 
The Euro-Middle-Eastern black-out overloads satellite streams and there we go... At this point we hit those 3 spots in the Pacific and all that's left is for the Chinese to talk to themselves and maybe to half of India and Indonesia. 
(pause) 
No one knows how it started but all eyes are on China.

Silence...

Pro 
And what do we do next?

Alt 
(introducing an aide) 
Sujata...

[[Sujata]] Gupta, a 30something plain looking and slightly shy woman moves her chair closer to the conference table.

Sujata 
Hi, I am the executive director of the energy and water sub-committee on sustainability also known as the EWS. If many of you are not familiar with this committee it's because we've been operating under a classified Congress/Presidential order. I'm here to present a summary of our research. 
(looking at her pad) 
For the past 18 months, we have been working on a scenario in which the United States would be virtually cut off from the rest of the world. Here are the main points of our model. Our labor force would come from Mexico and our Energy from Canada; Agricultural resources would be optimized so that we could provide food for ourselves and our satellites (Canada, Mexico and Cuba); The Great Lakes would be secured though a Federal Act and pipelines would run sweat-water across the continent. Time-frame from black-out to total sustainability: 12 months.

An uncomfortable silence in the room is broken when the Secretary of Commerce reacts.

SOC 
But what's the point of burning all bridges.

SOS 
Not to be at an unfair advantage.

The White House Chief of Staff, a man in his early sixties intervenes.

WHCS 
The point Ms. Sujata and her team are making here is that we probably are one of the only world economies that could sustain itself from its own resources... Remember that our expansion was carried on over 2 major phases: Need for oil, obviously... and the subsequent post war outreach for new markets... Both these predicaments are now over. We consume 15% less oil then 10 years ago while our domestic production has increased by nearly 50% with the prospect for new untouched reserves very promising. 
In terms of markets... Our trade balance has steadily decreased for the past 25 years. We borrow from our producers to buy their shit! Never made any sense to me! 

At one point, this has to stop. We've been surfing this wave long enough and I think it's in the best intererst of the American people to pull the plug. 

PRO 
What about the external debt.

SOS 
We'll negotiate!

PRO 
And our rating.

POTUS 
Fuck the ratings!

SOS 
This was a virtual game from the beginning. We'll just be the first to lay our cards down.

PRO 
This means going back to the stone-age.

JOUNI 
If I may clarify something here gentlemen... Our modelling shows that new switches could be put instaled within months to replace defective ones. But what we can also predict is a trust issue where only China will be in a position to make these changes quickly and globally but where no-one will trust them. So the actual system could take years to be up and running again and trade routes will have to find alternative ways.

POTUS 
Where we succeded is in creating a sense of comunity within our borders... and with our Mexican and Canadian friends... (smiling) and Cuban cousins. Everywhere else in the world, inner fights are taking their toll. With this advantage, we can flip this back our way... Even globally.

==== DEAD LAKE, CREE RESERVE, WOOD BUFFALO, ALBERTA ====

A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cree Cree] mother is walking towards the water truck with 2 five gallons plastic containers. Kids are playing on the grounds of an eery and desolate landscape.

Mother 
(looking at the kids) 
Come and carry the water...

Two of the kids join the mother at the water truck.

Hundreds of neatly piled up gigantic used truck tires fill the horizon.

==== MALECON, CUBA, SUNSET ====

[[File:WaveOnMaleconSunset.jpg|thumb|right|480px|The Malecon]]

[[Najwa]], early forties, climbs out of the water to the setting sun. She stare at the sea for a few minutes as she dries up before climbing a rusted ladder to reach the newly renovated sea front strip.

Semi transparent LED ads wrapping the preserved colonial buildings light up intermittently the sky darkens. Battery operated Chevys and Oldsmolibes from the 50s run silently on the Malecon. As she turns on Avenida de Italia, rows of street vendors scream out their deals in Spanish. A kids offers "Star-spangled" fireworks for the evening celebrations. Najwa enters a private court and climbs few steps to reach her home. As she gets to the roof, she approaches [[Alexander]], 56, busy talking to his Dvice.

He smiles at her her and carries on his conversation as she approaches.

Alexander 
(in English) 
What about the Alberta companies... Great. Listen, if we lose our lines of communications over the weekend, stay put on all stocks until Najwa flies in with instruction.

[[The Last Khazar|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[S3E02|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|3.001]]
[[Category:The Quest for Eternity|3.001]]
[[Category:Parachronia]]

The Kreuzberg Veil

2023-12-22T16:58:32Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''Selon Dominique Lorentz, il existerait un lien entre l'assassinat de [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Besse Georges Besse] (ex-président Eurodif & pdg Renault) revendiqué par Action Directe en 1986 et l'exclusion unilatérale de l'Iran du consortium nucléaire Eurodif.

''[[Axel]], a young Canadian boy drifting in Germany gets involved with [[Neda]], a Palestinian/Iranian student who's infiltrated a string of European terrorist groups.

''Moving from a Kreuzberg squat to a barge on the Seine river, the unlikely lovers are eventually separated by...

[[Shatila by Night|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Down the Pipe|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:50.4064866, 11.7761612
|zoom=16
}}

====SERVICE AREA, NEAR HOF, WEST GERMANY, 1982====

[[Axel]], a wiry 17 year old French Canadian kid walks by dozens of hitchhikers lined-up on the side of a highway ramp. Most of them are guys in their twenties, older than him. As he walks innocently towards the highway junction, unwelcoming faces gesture him to head back to the end of the line. There, he finds a spot in a ditch and looks at the cars leaving the gas station and heading to the border. This is the last stop before East-Germany's highway to West Berlin.

Hours go by and hitchhikers slowly move up the line towards the praised pick-up spot just before the highway. Cooperation is nonexistent. Individuals watch for themselves and couples watch for each-other. Axel tries to get some rest, keeping one eye opened as he leans on his small shoulder bag. The night is chilly.

As dawn rises, Axel skims through his bag to find something to eat. Out of food, he searches though his pocket and find a 1DM coin.

Axel 
(in English, to the guy next to him)
I'm gonna go inside for a minute. Can you keep my spot?

The guy looks at Axel then ignores him. Axel walks away towards the service area.

====INT, DAWN, SERVICE AREA, NEAR HOF, WEST GERMANY====

Axel gets inside the service area, which bridges over both sides of the highway. The place is empty. The restaurant and shop are closed. He enters the restrooms and hears a couple making out behind the cabin's doors. He washes up a and fixes his short and spiky bleached hair in the mirror. He bears a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhower_jacket US army jacket], tight ripped jeans and a circled [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy A] tattoo on his forearm. On his way out he notices a vending machine. The only item under 1DM is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_bar Mars bar] which he purchases.

====EXT, DAWN, SERVICE AREA, NEAR HOF, WEST GERMANY====

Munching on his Mars bar, Axel gets back to his spot but the line has moved up and fellow hitchhikers don't open up a breach for him to get in.

Axel 
(in English, to the guy he notified earlier) 
Hey.

The guy ignores him again. As Axel sneaks in, a Hippie looking guy blocks his way.

Hippie 
(in German) 
To the end of the line kid.

Axel 
(in English) 
I was here all night, I just went to the bathroom.

Hippie 
(in German, impatient and ignoring Axel's plea) 
To the end of the line.

Axel doesn't move and the much heavier Hippie grabs him and throws his bag on the pavement. A car which had just stopped to pick up a couple at the head of the line takes off, frightened by the commotion. Hitchhikers get angry at both Axel and the Hippie dude for disturbing the flow. As Axel feels overwhelmed by the crowd, [[Ulrich]], a 35 years old man wearing a black racer motorcycle jacket intervenes.

Ulrich 
(in German, to the Hippie as he picks up Axel's bag) 
You gotta a problem? This kid's been here all night.

The Hippie looks intimidated and pulls back as the crowd dissipates.

Ulrich 
(in German, to Axel, handing him his bag) 
Here.

Axel 
(in German, comforted, yet prudent) 
Danke!

Traffic flow increases with the rising sun and the line moves up quickly. The morning adrenalin revives Axel. An old beat up station wagon stops and its Driver calls for Ulrich who's now next in line.

Driver 
(in German) 
Downtown?

Ulrich 
(Grabbing his bag and walking to the car) 
Yeah... Got room for one more.

Driver 
(hesitating) 
Yeah... Why not, but just one.

Ulrich 
(in English, to Axel) 
Come!

Axel swiftly stands up and gets in the car. The driver, a Turkish man in his fifties, leans over the front seat to clear junk out of the back seat.

Axel 
(stepping in, to the Driver and Ulrich) 
Danke...

====INT CAR, DAY, HIGHWAY 9, EST GERMANY====

[[File:AutobahnCover.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Autobahn Cover]]

On the road, Axel is slowly dazing out to the sound of the conversation between Ulrich and the [[Turkish Driver]]. German is such a strange language. Caricatured by Hollywood, denigrated by Mediterranean culture, spellbound by Marlene Dietrich and here just casually exchanged like an incomprehensible code. Staring out the window, Axel is mesmerized by the flow of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant Trabant] running along the fenced highway, loaded through the roof with boxes, trunks and suitcases. This is communism? Wasn't it supposed to be big, bold and strong. Like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladislav_Tretiak Tretiak], like the Red Army singing the National Anthem. He notices an exit for Kraftwerk... [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn_(song) Autobahn] runs through his head.

====BAHNHOF ZOO, WEST BERLIN====

The car stops downtown West Berlin. The Driver turns towards Axel to wake him up from a deep sleep.

Turkish Driver 
Das ist Berlin. 

As he gathers his belongings, Axel notices that Ulrich has switched clothes and is now dressed up in a business suit. On the sidewalk two colored hair teenage boys walk hand in hand. This is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahnhof_Zoo Bahnhof Zoo], the center of the universe.

The car drops Axel and Ulrich then leaves.

Ulrich 
You know where you're going.

Axel 
I'll figure it out.

Ulrich 
(writing on a pack of matches and handing it to Axel) 
Here, if you need a place to sleep. Go to this address, tell them I sent you, my name is Ulrich. They'll set you up.

Axel 
(looking at the address, noticing the word [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreuzberg#Culture Kreuzberg]) 
Thanks.

====SCENE FROM OTHER THREAD/LOCATION====

====MORNING, BY THE WALL, WEST BERLIN====

Axel is taking pictures of graffiti on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall Berlin Wall], the world's largest canvas, tagged over and over in all languages, colors and styles. Here, streets come to an abrupt stop, as if they had reached the end of the world, of their world.

Axel continues his journey along the wall meandering through abandoned buildings and vacant lots. Sitting on a concrete slab, he reloads his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_OM-1 OM1 camera] with another [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP5%2B HP5] roll and snaps a few blind shots to advance the film as [[Neda]], a woman in her early 20s, walks across the frame. She tightens her veil as she notices Axel pointing his camera at her and turns towards him.

Neda 
(in German) 
Why did you take my picture.

Axel 
(embarrassed) 
Sorry, I don't speak German.

Neda 
(in perfect English) 
You're American?

Axel 
No, Canadian.

Neda 
Why did you take my picture?

Axel 
I was just reloading my camera when you walked by.

Neda 
(doubtful) 
How old are you?

Axel 
Seventeen.

Neda smiles at Alex and walks away. Axel notices that she embarks in a car which was waiting for her just down the street.

====STREET, CURRYWURST STAND, WEST BERLIN====

Finishing up his snack at a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currywurst Currywurst] stand, Axel grabs a Marlboro and searches his pockets for matches. He finally finds a pack in his jacket's inner pocket and notices the address written by Ulrich earlier. He lights his cigarette and asks the sausage vendor for direction showing the address on the pack of matches.

====STREET, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN====

Axel walks around looking at all the street signs until he finds the right one. He gets to the door and looks up at the five story [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squatter squatter] building.

====INTERIOR, KREUZBERG SQUATTER, WEST BERLIN====

A 20 something man walks Axel through the squatter apartment. The man is barefoot and sounds in a daze.

Man 
How do you know Ulrich?

Axel 
We shared a ride from Hof.

Man 
Cool. Ulrich set up this squat, like ten years ago... (showing an empty room with a mattress covered with male and female clothes) Here, you can use this room. Just pile the stuff on the side. These two have been gone for more then a week now... The place is yours.

Axel 
(entering the room) 
Cool, that's great.

Man 
So, the rule of the place is that there are no rules. It's got its pros and cons. You'll see. (exiting the room) Usually there are parties at night on the roof. Walk up to the 5th floor... then follow the music.

====INTERIOR, AXEL'S KREUZBERG SQUATTER ROOM, WEST BERLIN====

Axel is lying on the bare mattress, smoking a Marlboro. The room has been cleaned up. He takes pictures of the paint peeling off from the ceiling.

====EXTERIOR, KREUZBERG SQUATTER ROOF, WEST BERLIN====

The roof is organized as a bar with beer and grilled kebabs for sale. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashes_to_Ashes_(David_Bowie_song) Ashes to Ashes] plays out of a boombox . The crow is mixed. Hippies, Punks, Turks and ordinary people. Axel buys a beer and walks to the edge of the roof to peer at the adjacent Berlin Wall. He exchanges looks with an East-German border patrolman posted in a watchtower. Neda, the veiled woman from the morning, approaches behind him.

Neda 
You're not taking photos tonight?

Axel turns around, surprised.

Axel 
(smiling) 
No not now... Maybe at dawn... I like to catch the best of night and day.

Neda 
(extending her hand) 
I'm Neda. Sorry for being rude this morning.

Axel 
(shaking her hand) 
Axel... Not a problem... You live in this building?

Neda 
I stay just around the corner from where we met... Friends of friends from my country.

Axel 
Where you from?

Neda 
Tehran

Axel 
Wow. You're like a refugee?

Neda 
(laughing) 
No, I came on a student visa... And you?

Axel 
Just traveling...

Neda 
From Toronto?

Axel 
Montreal.

Neda 
(interested) 
Oh yeah... So you speak French?

Axel 
(smiling) 
Yes.

Neda 
(joking) 
Comment allez-vous?

Axel 
Très bien merci... That's all you know?

Neda 
(smiling) 
I know more but I won't tell you that...

Axel smiles back at her.

====DAWN, BERLIN WALL, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN====

[[File:BerlinWall.jpg|thumb|right|480px|The Berlin Wall]]

Neda and Axel are walking by the wall. Axel aims his camera at her.

Neda 
(hiding her face) 
Please don't!

Axel 
(pulling down his camera) 
You always wear your veil?

Neda 
No, not always.

She looks behind and pulls it back to reveal much of her hair.

Neda 
There!

Axel smiles at her and continues taking pictures of various graffiti on the Wall.

====DAWN, STREET, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN====

A group of 4 late teens [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonazi_skinhead skinheads] appear around the corner. Neda moves her veil forward and Axel stiffens up.

Skinhead #1 
(in German, out loud) 
A faggot and a Turkish pussy.

Skinhead #2 
(to Axel) 
Hey Blondie...

Axel 
(moving in front of Neda) 
Sorry guys, we don't speak German.

Skinhead #2 
(to Alex, in English) 
You prefer to learn Arabic?

Axel 
(pretending to smile at the joke) 
No... We're just walking...

Skinhead #1 
(Not looking strait at Axel) 
Go home, Yankee fag.

Now feeling the tension, Neda smoothly grabs Axel's arm to steer him away.

Skinhead #1 
(spitting towards Neda) 
Fucking Turk.

As Neda and Axel walk away, an empty bottle lands on Axel's head. The Skinheads laugh and continue in their way.

====INTERIOR, MORNING, SQUATTER ROOM, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN====

Axel is resting on the mattress. Neda leans by his side, wiping blood off his face with a towel then moves forward to kiss his wound. Axel keeps his eyes closed, enjoying the moment.

Axel 
(opening his eyes as Neda pulls back) 
Wow... I thought you girls could not kiss?

Neda 
People think a lot of things... 
(caressing the side of his face) 
I also thought you liked boys like these guys told you.

Axel 
It's a strategy to get closer to more... hard to get to girls like you...

Neda pretends to punch him on the chin then lies next to him. They fall asleep to the rising sun.

====INTERIOR, AFTERNOON, AXEL'S KREUZBERG SQUATTER ROOM, WEST BERLIN====

Neda is fixing herself as Axel wakes up.

Axel 
(lighting a cigarette) 
Good Morning.

Neda 
Bon après-midi!

Axel 
Wow, tu parles bien français finalement...

Neda 
(continuing to fix herself) 
I wished... But now for now, I have to focus on German.... Although, not sure if it's worth it.

Axel stands up. Neda seems tense.

Neda 
(cold) 
I think one of your roommates is up. I don't really want anyone to see me here. You mind checking please.

Axel checks the hallway.

Axel 
It's clear!

Neda rushes out of the room towards the front doors.

Axel 
Are you coming back?

Neda 
(smiling) 
Maybe... I got to go now.

====SCENE FROM OTHER THREAD/LOCATION====

====COFFEE SHOP, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN====

Axel is sipping on a coffee in a coffee shop across from where he first met Neda. He is reading a Herald Tribune article on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbé_Pierre Abbé Pierre] when he notices a veiled woman walking across the street. As he realizes that it is not Neda, he resumes reading the paper focusing on an article about the kidnapping of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Dozier US General] by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Brigades Red Brigades]. Moments later, a car with three bearded Middle Eastern looking men in it drops Neda right in front of the coffee shop. He nearly misses her but runs outside when he sees her walking away.

====STREET, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN====

Axel catches up to Neda on the busy sidewalk. She stops and smile when she see him.

Axel 
(handing her a hair clip) 
Here, you forgot this.

Neda 
(taking the hair clip) 
I didn't forget it. It's a trick, so guys like you come back.

Axel 
(smiling) 
I came to say bye... I'm leaving for Denmark.

Neda 
When?

Axel 
I don't know... Tomorrow.

She stares at him for a few seconds. He's got a sorry look. She's pensive.

Neda 
I have to go to France. I was thinking of asking you if you wanted to come with me.

Axel is silent as he gauges her.

Neda 
(raising her bid) 
I'll pay for your ticket.

====BERLIN-PARIS TRAIN====

The overnight train crosses towns and fields. Neda and Axel are the only two passengers awaken in their compartment.

Neda 
(drawing an Anarchy symbol on the foggy window) 
What does this sign mean on your arm.

Axel 
I was born in an experimental hospital and they tagged babies by categories at birth.

Neda 
(smiling) 
Right... Seriously. I saw it drawn everywhere in Berlin.

Axel 
Anarchy

Neda 
Did it hurt?

Axel 
No... It took me a couple of hours max.

Neda 
(impressed) 
You did it yourself?

Axel 
Yeah... You have a tattoo?

Neda 
(pretending to be mysterious) 
That's not for you to know.

Axel smiles at her.

====TRAIN COMPARTMENT, BLACK FOREST, WEST GERMANY====

Axel rests his head on the window reading a French version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diary_of_a_Young_Girl The Diary of a Young Girl] as Neda dozes on and off.

Neda 
(looking at Axel's book) 
Some people claim it's not true.

Axel 
(looking up) 
I though you were sleeping.

Neda 
(eyes half closed) 
Sleeping with one eye, watching you with the other.

Axel 
(looking at her bag on the floor) 
You think I'll rob you...

Neda 
(smiling) 
No... Just watching you... looking at you.

Axel 
(looking at the book) 
It sounds real to me. You're the girl. You should read it. You'll be a better judge.

Neda 
(dozing off) 
I don't read French...

Axel 
(smiling) 
You'll learn by reading it... Then you can tell me how it ends...

Neda looks at him in a daze...

====MAIN HALL, GARE DU NORD, PARIS====

Axel and Neda are mesmerized by the morning human traffic in the train station's main hall. As Axel looks for a coffee stand to grab a quick café crême, Neda notices a familiar title on a poster in the display of the station's bookstore: ''LE NOM DE LA ROSE, PRIX MÉDICIS ÉTRANGER 1982''. It seems to be the published version of [[Nest_of_Spies#FEMALE_HOSTAGES_ROOM.2C_US_EMBASSY_COMPOUND.2C_TEHRAN.2C_25_DECEMBER_1979|the manuscript]] that the American woman was reading in Tehran during [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis the events]. She joins Axel at the coffee bar.

Neda 
(looking at a small folded piece of paper) 
We have to look for Le Balto, Place de Roubaix

Axel pours down his coffee and walks to a standing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnies_Républicaines_de_Sécurité CRS] officer. Neda stiffens up.

Axel 
Pardon, la Place de Roubaix s'il-vous-plait?

CRS 
(Pointing towards the main exit) 
Tout droit, puis à droite!

A German Sheppard held by another CRS barks at Neda.

====STREET, GARE DU NORD, PARIS====

Axel and Neda exit the train station. As they reach Le Balto bar, a speeding car stops in front of them.

Driver 
(through the window, to Neda) 
C'est qui celui-là?

Neda 
(looking at Axel) 
What did he say?

Axel 
He asked who I was. You know him?

Neda 
Our ride... (to the guy) Where is Florence?

Driver 
Je vous y conduit, mais seule... Pas lui.

Neda 
(in bad french) 
Il mon traduceur... Il canadien parle Francais.

Driver 
(to Axel) 
Canadien... Parles-moi voir un peu...

Axel 
Qu'est-ce que vous voulez que j'vous dises?

Driver 
Y disent pas tu les canadiens?

Axel 
(with an identifiable French Canadian accent) 
Si tu veux. C'est quoi le problème?

Driver 
(to both) 
C'est bon. Montez.

====INTERIOR CAR, MORNING, STREET, PARIS====

The car carrying Neda and Axel rushes through morning traffic to the outskirts of Paris. Neda falls asleap on Axel's shoulder.

Driver 
(looking through the rear-view mirror) 
Ben dis-donc... Le canadien...

Axel's smiles at the driver.

Driver (con't) 
Tu la connais depuis longtemps.

Axel 
Non, quelques jours.

Driver 
Tu l'as niqué?

Axel 
C'est une copine.

Driver 
Ben moi j'te dis qu'elle n'attend que ça!

====EXTERIOR, PORT, ARGENTEUIL====

Neda and Axel exit the car next to an anchored unpowered barge.

Driver 
(to Axel, through the window) 
Voilà le 5 étoiles! La clef est sous la bouée orange à babord... Coté Seine. Planquez-vous là . Quelqu'un va passer plus tard vous expliquer la suite.

Neda 
And Florence?

Driver 
Florence, elle arrivera quand elle arrivera.

Neda 
(to Axel)
What's he saying?

Axel 
That she'll show up when she'll show up.

Driver 
(winking at Axel) 
Allez, bonne chance le canadien.

====INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, ARGENTEUIL====

Axel and Neda are sitting close to each other against an iron wall inside the barge where single porthole lights up the empty cargo room.

Axel 
(lighting a Marlboro and offering one to Neda) 
Want one?

Neda 
(signaling no with her hand) 
Why do you have an Anarchy tattoo on your shoulder and smoke Imperialist cigarettes?

Axel 
(slowly expiring smoke and looking at his cigarette) 
I don't know? Cause we don't find them in Canada and cause they taste good.

Neda 
There are no Marlboro's in Canada?

Axel 
No. Only on the black market and they're more expensive. Do you have Marlboro's in Iran.

Neda 
On the black market as well. But only counterrevolutionaries smoke them.

Axel 
And what do you smoke?

Neda 
(smiling) 
I don't smoke.

Axel 
(presenting her his lit cigarette) 
Wanna try?

Neda 
You're weird man.

====INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, ARGENTEUIL====

Loud metal noise surprises Neda and Axel. They see the shore moving through the porthole.

Axel 
(standing up) 
What the fuck!

Axel and Neda rush out on the deck.

====EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, ARGENTEUIL====

A towboat is pushing their barge. Its pilot signals Neda and Axel to stay put.

As the rig slows down under a bridge, a man and a woman hiding in its metal structure jump on board and run inside the barge.

Neda 
(to Axel) 
It's Florence! Come.

====INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE====

Neda and Axel are greeted inside by [[Florence]], a wiry 30 something woman, pointing an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzi#Uzi_Pistol Uzi] machine gun at them. [[Marc]], late 20s holds a hand gun but is busy watching through the porthole.

Florence 
(ordering) 
Identifiez-vous

Axel 
(intimidated) 
Axel...

Florence 
(to Axel) 
Axel quoi? Qu'est-ce tu fou là?

Axel 
(hesitating) 
Ben j'suis avec elle...

Florence 
(to Neda) 
Retire ton voile que je te vois.

Neda 
(to Axel) 
What?

Axel 
She wants you to remove your veil.

Neda 
(to Florence pointing towards Marc and Axel) 
Not in front of them.

Marc 
C'est quoi ces conneries.

Florence 
C'est bon, j'm'en occupe. (to Axel) Monte sur le pont et attend. (to Marc) Retourne-toi face à la porte. (to Neda, pointing to her veil) You give him the "voile".

Neda carefully removes her veil. Florence smiles and lowers her gun.

Florence 
(moving towards Neda) 
Bienvenue à bord. Désolé pour les précautions.

====EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE====

Marc walks up to the bridge wearing Neda's veil. He slid his gun under his belt. Axel seems bemused.

Marc 
(grumpy to himself) 
C'est quoi ces conneries.

Both men stand far apart from each other scanning the shore.

====INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE====

Neda and Florence are sitting on the floor deep into a conversation.

Florence 
But we are not religious, we fight against all oppression... How can you help us?

Neda 
Many of our enemies are common. People... high ranking business people from your country are still involved in destabilizing us and are robbing our nation.

Florence 
Je comprends pas tout là... Can your friend translate?

Neda 
(hesitating) 
No, this is between you and me.

Florence 
Oui ben déjà qu'il m'a vu...

Neda 
(Handing a list of names) 
Here. For each one, we'll give you one hundred thousand dollars.

Florence 
(grabbing and looking at the list in disbelief) 
One hundred thousand... Cent-mille dollars!

Florence looks at the huge Renault sign as they pass the car-maker's Elisabethville plant.

====EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE====

As the barge crosses another bridge, Florence and Marc jump back to shore.

====EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, MANTES-LA-JOLIE====

{{
#display_map:48.9916013, 1.7207314
| service=openlayers
| layers=osm-mapnik, osm-cyclemap
|zoom=11
}}

The towboat docks the barge to shore. Its pilot pulls back and screams out to Neda and Axel.

Pilot 
Continuez tout droit vers le centre et vous trouverez la gare.

Neda and Axel step ashore.

====EXTERIOR, STREET, MANTES-LA-JOLIE====

Neda 
Now you can show me around.

Axel 
That was it!

Neda grabs his arm as they walk downtown Mantes-La-Jolie.

Axel 
You're hungry?

Neda 
(smiling ) 
I'm tired.

====INTERIOR, ROOM, HOTEL LE COMMERCE, MANTES-LA-JOLIE====

The blinds are shut. Neda lies on the bed as Axel gently feels her face. With each caress, his fingers reach deeper behind her veil until he slowly pulls it off. Neda starts unbuttoning her shirt to reveal her naked body. They make love.

Moments later, as Neda sleeps, Axel grabs ''The Diary of a Young Girl'' and writes a note inside before sliding it into her bag then cuddles back.

Neda 
(eyes closed) 
I saw that...

Axel 
(closing his eyes) 
I know...

====INTERIOR, ROOM, HOTEL LE COMMERCE, MANTES-LA-JOLIE====

Axel wakes up to find out that Neda has left. He smiles as he notices her hair clip carefully placed on her side of the bed.

==TO BE DEVELOPED==

*''What will happen to Florence
*''Florence will kill Georges Besse
*''In jail, Florence will confess of her meeting with an Iranian girl in 1982
*''Neda will return to West Berlin then understand that she's pregant
*''Neda will not return to Iran but take refuge in Budapest
*''Neda will give birth to Najwa then be assassinated (Western or Iranian services)
*''Axel will later learn of Najwa's existence through an RAF contact

[[Shatila by Night|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Down the Pipe|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.010]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.010]]
[[Category:The Age of Christiane (1979-1983)]]

Shatila by Night

2023-12-22T16:58:19Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''As the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Defense_Forces IDF] secures southern Beirut with the help of local Christian militias, [[Carla]], 7, is flown in from Switzerland to the deathbed of her HIV infected father in NYC, then stays for the funerals.

[[Swedish Rhapsody|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Kreuzberg Veil|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: 40.76059,-73.8999; 33.86285, 35.498381
|zoom=3
}}

====NIGHT, SHATILA REFUGEE CAMP, SOUTH BEIRUT, LEBANON, 1982====

[[Moshe]] Yatom's AH-1 Cobra helicopter is circling around the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatila_refugee_camp Shatila refugee camp]. Through the use of night vision technology, Moshe monitors the advance of several groups of armed men gathering people from house to house and systematically lining them up before opening fire upon them. Occasional flares light up the sky.

Moshe 
(in Hebrew through his helmet's microphone) 
Visual on several separate groups of men entering houses and extracting its occupants... looks like civilians... Scope is blurry but looks like rounds are being shot.

Radio Voice 
Any response from the Palestinians?

Moshe 
Not from what we can see on this flight path. Someone is shooting flares from inside the perimeter. We're staying above 500 meters along the coast to avoid [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPG-7 RPGs] from the West.

Radio Voice 
Don't worry about the flares. That's us. They know your flight path. Continue monitoring. Give me a Sitrep in 30 minutes.

Moshe turns towards the pilot.

Pilot 
(to Moshe) 
Who's down there shooting?

Moshe 
Some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachir_Gemayel Gemayel] units most likely... But we're providing the daylight it seems.

Pilot 
That's nuts! What's the plan.

Moshe 
Observe and report.

====BETH ISRAEL HOSPITAL, MANHATTAN, NYC, 1982====

[[File:Haring1982.jpg|thumb|right|480px|K. Haring, 1982]]

[[Pat]] wakes up to find his daughter [[Carla]], 7, by his side. She just flew in from Switzerland after long discussions between the Xanthis and Beerli families.

Carla stands still as Pat opens his eyes. He extends his arms but his mouth is too dry for him to talk. Carla doesn't move and Pat smiles at her. He reaches a piece of paper and a pen on the side table and writes a note which he then hands to Carla. Carla stiffly extends her arm to get the note and reads it. "I will always love you".

A tear drops on Carla's frozen cheek.

====IDF ADVANCED POST, SOUTHERN LEBANON====

Moshe has been raised as a Zionist idealist by his [[Yatom|Moshavim father]]. On the other hand, his mother, [[Isabella]], infused him a sense of justice and discernment. Nonetheless, his harsher military/conservative side always protruded in public, until this day.

After 48 hours of non-stop missions over Beirut and now back at an IAF FOB near Jezzine, Moshe is being debriefed by his unit's commander. Black and White aerial shots and a map are laid out on the table. Two Aman ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Intelligence_Directorate_%28Israel%29 Military Intelligence]) officers are also present.

-So Yatom, could you confirm the unfolding of events, starting from Mission IAFUZ45X 16091982UTC15:00:00

Moshe pulls his observation log pad and flips back a few pages. He clears his throat and starts the debriefing.

-Upon reaching the designated perimeter, at around UTC 15:45 that night, we were first surprised by constant launches of flares from what I initially wrote as within the perimeter but later learned and observed were from outside, from our own positions around it.

One of the Aman officer interferes, cutting off Moshe.

-That has not been confirmed, so please Captain, just stick to the observations... What we are interested in knowing is where exactly did you see the first flashes.

-You mean the gun fire?

-Yes, the gun fire.

Moshes looks back at his pad then points at the map.

-First northbound pass, maybe a five minutes after the our flares, I mean the flares, started lighting up the sky. Pretty much simultaneously here, here and here.

-And what exactly did you see.

-Well, I have to say the night vision goggles where somehow affected by the constant change of light from the flares so I only got sporadic flashes of clear view.

-And?

-Well... Moshe hesitates a moment, then continues, his voice a little less confident. -What appeared to be armed men, divided into squads of maybe 8 to 12 men pulled what appeared to be unarmed civilians, including what appeared to be women and children, from houses and after rounding up enough of them, lined them up, and... open fire.

-How many groups or squads could you confidently say were operating at the same time?

Moshe looks back at his log pad then at the map.

-From the frequency of the rounds and the distance between each location, I'd say at least 5.

-So between 40 and 60 men total.

-No, more, much more. At another 50 to a 100 men were stationed at each entrance, here, here, here and...

-And how do you know they were with the same group.

-I don't but they also were shooting at civilians trying to run away....

====ST-MICHAEL'S CEMETARY CEMETERY, ASTORIA, NYC====

An Orthodox priest is reciting a prayer while a cold autumn rain pours on the mourners. Carla, tightly holds her [[Anastasio|grand-father's]] hand as Pat's coffin is lowered into the ground. Although she's caught between the solemness of the moment and the mixed emotions of knowing that her long awaited father is now nailed into this wooden box, she is captivated by the gallery of characters attending the ceremony. Most of the men wear suits and ties but she can't help but notice the colored hair, the lack of socks, the multiple piercings and yes, this woman dressed with a long black plastic raincoat who really looks like a man.

====TIMES SQUARE MANHATTAN, NYC====

Anastasio is holding Carla's hand as he shows her around Times Square. This is another world from her homy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Plateau Mittelland]. She has never seen son many people, cars, buildings and billboards. But even when she closes her eyes, the sensory flow persists. Engines, whistles, horns; the smell of hot pretzels, gas and vapor blowing out from underground. Is this hell? Definitely not paradise, but little Carla is more intrigued the scared.

====EVENING, 8TH AVENUE DINER, MANHATTAN, NYC====

Anastasio 
You're a big girl now.

Carla sits still in her booth sipping on a milk shake.

Anastasio (con't) 
A very long time ago, way before your daddy was born, way before I married yiayia, I lost what at that time was the most important person in the world. I lost her to save her life and to follow the mission my father had given me. I never saw her again, and I never saw my father neither. But since then, they've always been with me. In my dreams, when life was difficult and when beautiful things happened to me. Like when you were born...

Carla sips through the bottom of her glass making noise with her straw.

Anastasio 
(gently smiling) 
You want another one Koukla?

Carla 
(in English with a Swiss German accent) 
No... I want a sandwich with orange cheese.

Anastasio 
A grill cheese?

Carla nods yes with a smile.

Anastasio 
(to the waitress in Greek) 
A grill cheese and a Coke... Please.

Anastasio 
Anyways... You're a big girl but for me, you'll always be my Koukla. You're father also had a happy life, even if it was short and I'm sure that he was happy to see you near him at the end, to see that life continues through you.

Anastasio grabs her cheek across the table as Carla gives him a smile. The CBS Evening News theme emanates from a television set near the cash counter.

Anastasio 
(somewhat paying attention to the newscast) 
Time to go. We don't want to miss the plane. We'll get the grill cheese to go, Ok.

====CBS EVENING NEWS WITH BOB SCHIEFFER, 25 SEPTEMBER 1982====

*400,000 people march in the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against the Sabra & Shatila massacres. 
*Penn prison guard George Banks kills 13 (5 were his own children) 
*USSR performs an underground nuclear test 
*CDC announces the spread of new infectious disease named AIDS and also known as "gay cancer" amongst the male homosexual population in NYC, SF and LA.

[[Swedish Rhapsody|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Kreuzberg Veil|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.009]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.009]]
[[Category:The Age of Christiane (1979-1983)]]

Swedish Rhapsody

2023-12-22T16:57:56Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''During the 1950s, [[Radioman|Klaus]] works as a radio engineer for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi Stasi] in the DDR. He is sent to Poland to to set up a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station numbers station] to communicate with Polish agents stationed in the West. There, he devises a recognizable introduction theme by recording a music box. This introduction is repeated for several minutes for the user to tune. Along with him, he brings a numbers reading machine which he tweaks to increase the German female's voice pitch. The device ends up being used as is for the following decades by the Polish secret services.

''During the early eighties, [[Ulla]] raises little [[Jouni]] at Naval Station Rota. [[Florence]] seeks refuge but disappears.

[[Made in Taiwan|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Shatila by Night|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: 36.620763, -6.331558; 52.521667, 13.413333
|zoom=4
}}

====Playa del Rompidillo, Rota, Spain====

The sun still shines brilliantly on this late October afternoon in Rota, Spain. [[Ulla]], the tall blond German woman better known by locals as Ursula for her resemblance to the Swiss actress, watches her 3 years old baby, [[Jouni]], as she digs a hole in the sand. On the portable radio which she brought along to the beach, the radio announcer introduces the next hit in Spanish: -Y ahora, '''Start Me Up''' de los Rolling Stones. After a few loud bars, Ulla, turns off the radio but mistakenly hits the band button and is intrigued by a [[The_Hansa_Way#ESTONIAN_FISHING_TRAWLER.2C_BALTIC_SEA.2C_4_MAY_1945.2C_NIGHT|familiar melody]]. She fine tunes the short waves band to get a better signal. Captivated by the sound of a music box on the radio, little Jouni stares at the USS John F. Kennedy approaching in the Bay of Cadiz. When the music box tune switches to an automated little girl's voice reciting numbers in German, Jouni turns to her mother.

-Mommy, why is the little girl repeating numbers. Is she learning to count?

Ulla is mesmerized by the broadcast and stares at her daughter, not answering.

====Wilson's family housing unit, NAVSTA Rota====

United States Navy Commander [[Steve|Steve Wilson]] gets home after dinner.

-Sorry honey... Got delayed . Guess you've seen it when you were at the beach. We're harboring the USS JFK for a few weeks. That's like 5000 new home boys in town.

-Well the senoritas are going to be thrilled, answers Ulla as she wipes off tomato sauce from Jouni's face who is sitting in a baby chair.

-Hello my little princess, says Steve as he grabs his daughter to get a kiss from his daughter before kissing his wife.

Still in her father's arms, Jouni tells her father that she now can count to seven in German.

-Eins, zwei, drei, fünf, sieben!

====Wilson's family housing unit, Later====

Steve comes down from Jouni's bedroom and sit next to Ulla at the kitchen table who's scrolling the short wave band. The West-German newscast reports on the day's massive anti-nuclear missiles demonstrations in Bonn.

-What time is it? I fell asleep reading Jouni's fairy tale... says Steve, yawning.

-Almost midnight! answers Ulla.

-Wow, you should have come and get me. What are you listening to?

-Nothing special, just roaming around the world... I heard this strange broadcast today and I'm trying to find it.

-What was it?

-It was this little girl repeating numbers, almost like a machine. Only numbers. Really eery.

-Numbers station. Was it in Russian?

-No, German.

-Oh, so that's how Jouni got to learn how to count to seven, replies Steve with a smile. Numbers station are believed to be used by intelligence agencies to communicate through codes with their filed agents.

****

''Ulla tries to catch the station again and again, never catching it.

****

====Supermarket parking lot, Rota====

On a sunny Friday November morning, Ulla pushes her shopping cart across the parking lot of a supermarket. While little Jouni dangles her legs from her cart seat, busy unwrapping a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinder_Surprise Kinder Sorpresa egg], Ulla looks at a photo of Princess Diana, ''Embarazada!'', declares the national ABC newspaper. As she approaches her new red [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Panda Panda], a familiar voice utters in German from behind.

-Wavy hair... Princess Diana... A baby... You should have chosen a different color to complete your cover!

Tailing Ulla, a wiry woman wearing sunglasses and most likely a wig, lights up a cigarette.

-[[Florence]]! says Ulla surprised, as she looks around to make sure no one is looking at them. What are you doing here?

-You don't seems that happy to see me... Let's get in the car... I'll put the bags in.

Ulla nervously opens the trunk as Florence grabs the bags from the shopping cart not really paying attention to Jouni still busy with her newly unwrapped toy. After securing her daughter on the back seat, Ulla sits at the wheel next to Florence.

-Please... Not in the car... says Ulla as Florence exhales a puff.

-You really lost it sister! replies Florence as she puts off the cigarette in the ashtray.

====Diving around Rota====

Florence has removed her sunglasses and leans on the passenger door facing Ulla who's frantic.

-Are you crazy, I'm married to an American sailor. There are 5000 more Americans in town from the carrier. I can't have you at my home. You shouldn't even be in this town.

-Just for a few days Ulla. I have no choice. The place we were hiding in Biscay has been raided. There is no way I can cross back to France now. Plus there are loose death squads all over northern Spain.

-Death squads! What are you talking about? Anyways I can't help you... I'm done. It's over...

-What do you mean over?

Florence's expression switches from friendly to upset as she wears back her sunglasses and looks at Ulla with disdain.

-Drop me here.

Ulla continues driving not knowing how to react when Florence raises her voice.

-Now!

The car stops at a downtown intersection. Florence exits as a group of US Navy sailors cross the street whistling her down.

-Ola, Senorita!

From the back seat, Jouni asks her mother.

-Mommy, why did the lady screamed at you?

-Because she was upset my love.

-Why was she upset?

-Because sometimes even grownups don't get what they want...

As the light switches to green, Ulla drives up to Florence a few meters ahead. She leans to lower the passenger window.

-Florence... Florence... Sorry... Hop on...

Florence hesitates a moment then drops her cigarette and climbs back in the car.

-But just for a few days... Until you find a way...

****

====Wilson's backyard====

Steve carries a plate full of burger paddies to the patio table where Ulla, Florence, Jouni and Greg, a Lieutenant aboard the USS JFK, are sitting.

-Right on Steve. Feels just like back home, says Greg as he grabs the plate.

-Don't you have burgers aboard? asks Steve.

-Yes, but no BBQs.

-Right... Makes sense.

-Why can't you have BBQs asks Ulla.

-Well. I guess out of safety reasons. It's a nuclear vessel after all, replies Greg as he passes the plate to Florence.

-No thank you, says Florence as she passes the plate to Ulla.

-Florence is a vegetarian, says Ulla.

-Vegetarian, wow, answer Greg, that's something. Do you eat fish?

-Yes fish, a little, sometimes, answers Florence with a thick French accent.

-Well that's comforting to hear for us sailors claims Greg as he bites on his burger.

-So what do you mean nuclear vessel? You have atomic bombs aboard the boat, asks Florence intrigued.

Ulla gets uncomfortable but avoid glimpsing towards Florence.

-Excuses me, answers Greg wiping his mouth, well... this is kind of classified, you know like a secret... but what we mean by nuclear is that the ship's propulsion system, the engine, you understand, is run by a nuclear reactor. Like a mini nuclear plant. You guys have a lot of those in France, so I'm not teaching you anything new.

-Yes, we do, answers Florence as Ulla tries to divert the attention towards little Jouni.

-Well, how about I fix you a grill cheese, mademoiselle, says Steve as he grabs a bun and a couple of slices of processed cheese.

-Ok. Thanks you. Maybe with tomato inside also, answers Florence with a smile.

-Right on give me a sec, says Steve as he walks away with the ingredients.

-Ladies, will you excuse me for a minute I gonna join Steve while I smoke a cigarette away from the baby, says Greg as he stands up.

Both Ulla and Florence give him an awkward smile.

-What do you all have with cigarettes and the baby? We're outside!

-Forget about it, it's an American thing, answers Ulla before switching the conversation. What's with the atomic bomb question.

-It's just a question? A normal question. What do you want me to talk about? My diet?

Around the BBQ, Greg stands next to Steve heating up a metal plaque on top of the grill.

-So, what do you think of the Frenchie girl? Not bad... asks Steve.

-Yeah, but what's with the wig? She got cancer? murmurs Greg with a grin.

-I don't know. Didn't even noticed she was wearing a wig.

****

====East-Berlin, 1949====

[[File:BerlinAlexanderplatz.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Berlin Alexanderplatz, 1949]]

Berlin's main square is busy with pedestrians, car and trams mingling in every directions. [[Radioman|Klaus]], a smartly dressed man in his mid-twenties, zigzags in the morning traffic on his way to work. Piles of bricks and stones still fill most lots on the street while other buildings stand stripped to their core. Reaching the Pankow borough, he parks his bicycle, pulls his right pant from its sock and walks into a brand new office building. After reaching the third floor, using the steps instead of the elevator, as per the procedure to save on electricity, he pushes a frosted glass door next to a plaque which reads ''Institut für wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Forschung'' (Institute for Economic Research). Inside, he silently greets the sturdy receptionist and pulls out a key to open a much thicker door. Inside are the covert offices of the newly formed Foreign Intelligence Service of the DDR. As a former Kriegsmarine radio and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine Enigma machine] operator, Klaus is in charge of short wave communications with field agents. He gets to his section, which looks more like a workshop than a economist's office and swaps his tweed jacket for a lab coat.

After a few minutes, an older man in his forties walks into the room holding a report.

-Schidlowski, ok so the field agents reported that although reception has improved, it's still a problem to locate the emission on the band since other services are trying to confuse us with alternative broadcasts.

Klaus lounges back on his chair raising his hands over his head, mulling over the problem. He looks at a music box piled on top of a filing cabinet.

-What about an intro?

[[Made in Taiwan|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Shatila by Night|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.008]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.008]]
[[Category:The Age of Christiane (1979-1983)]]

The Moscow Games

2023-12-22T16:57:35Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

[[Nest of Spies|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Made in Taiwan|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: 55.781111, 37.626389; 59.393056, 27.774167
|zoom=5
}}

====1500 METER FREE STYLE RACE, OLIMPIYSKY POOL, MOSCOW, USSR, 22 JULY 1980====

[[File:EmblemXXIIOlympicGames.png|thumb|right|240px|Emblem of the Moscow Games'']]

An eery silence bounces off the water at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex. Sergei Nikitin sits next to his 11 year old son [[Alexander]] high up in the bleachers. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Salnikov Vladimir Salnikov], 20, steps onto the starting block, leans into position and explodes forward as the shot is fired. Alexander's breath stops, his eyes widen up and his hand squeezes his father's as his hero resurfaces and begins his 30 laps race.

Attached to the same fleet as the champion's father, a Sea Captain, Sergei was able to obtain a pair of complementary tickets for the sold out event. For Sergei, this is a major honor. For his son Alexander, this is It. He has been cheering for Salnikov ever since the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games when the then 16 year Leningrad swimmer finished 5th before breaking a series of records and getting the opportunity to compete again at the Olympics.

The Omega ''Swim-O-Matic'' board installed in the pools corner indicates 04:59:46 as the head trio bounce off the finish wall for a 10th time. Salnikov is in line with a fellow countryman and an Australian swimmer. 5 other competitors lag behind at various positions. The rhythm is steady and on schedule. 7500 spectators hold their breath in unison.

By the pool's doors, even the heavy armed guards are distracted from their duty as they peek into the water to follow the race. All of Moscow's Olympic facilities are guarded by Red Army soldiers who have been called in to reinforce the Moscow Police contingent which is stretched at its limits. Two weeks before the opening of the Games, which are boycotted by most western Olympic teams, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KGB KGB] received intelligence from their Makhachkala field office that pro-mujahedin trans-Caucasian Muslim insurgents might try to disrupt the event.

10:04:07 freezes on the electronic board as Salnikov hits the contact pad for the 20th time. He is slightly ahead of his two closest competitors tailing less than a second behind, but not on time to beat his 1978 West Berlin record and for sure not in time to beat the world record which is even a second faster. Alexander knows this and clings to his father's hand even harder.

At every return lap, Salnikov who breath out on the left side, tries to make sense of the 6 digits that scramble on the time board in the distant corner. Only the middle set is important. 05... 06... 07... 08... He's not going to make it. His own record, he doesn't care; the world record maybe but the 15 minute mark for sure. Not for him. For Oleg his friend from the Leningrad Red Army Swimming Team who just came back from war, leaving his legs behind. Ever since they started training, the two best friends had vowed that they would break the 15 minute mark at the Moscow Games, the home games, or they'd stop competing. Oleg did not make the 1980 team. He was sent to Afghanistan instead.

22nd lap. Vladimir Salnikov propels his body with such force that he emerges now leading by 3 good seconds from the next swimmer. Alexander closes his eyes and imagines entering his idol's body and soul. He also is a great swimmer. The best of his school. One day, he wants to compete at the Olympics just like Vladimir Valeryevich, to make his father proud, to make the whole Soviet Union proud.

Less than 3 laps to go. The crowd starts cheering as Salnikov loses his competitors behind the waves. He is leading by half a pool's length. One is lagging far behind. He just crossed him mid pool swimming in the opposite direction. Three or four others are no threats either. He sees them every time he pops out of a flip turn. But the other two or three, he has no idea, but he knows he's first. He peeks at the clock: 14:02:95, 2 flips and 2 laps to go. 57 seconds... Impossible... He's got no more breath, no more oxygen, no more power. Everything turns black.

As he gets back to his senses, the only thing Salnikov can see is the black line at the bottom of the pool, the only thing he can feel is this growing pain in his right leg, right by the ankle. He knows exactly which muscle. He had cramps there before, but during training. Why now, one lap away from his life long goal. High up in the audience, Alexander's eyes squint behind their closed lids. He raises his right foot above the bleachers concrete floor and starts rotating it on its axle. Under water, the T is now in sight. 3, 2, 1, flip! Final lap. Salnikov's body is on auto-pilot. He wants to know the time but can't raise his head forward. The black line, the crowd, the black line, the crowd. He doesn't feel the cramp nor the rest of his body. The black line, the crowd, the black line, the crowd, the black l... the T, 3, 2, 1...

Little Alexander Sergeyevich opens his eyes as he feels his hand touching the pad. He looks at the time board: 14:58.27... They made it!

====STREET, MOSCOW, 25 JULY 1980====

This is Alexander's last day in the capital. Tomorrow he and his father have to head back home, on the shore of the Baltic Sea. All around him on the street there is a cheering atmosphere. Moscow woman are much funkier then back home in his town which doesn't exist. Here, there are Black people, Asia people, he hears languages that sound like nothing he's heard before. This is what he's always wanted. To get away from the grim reality of his small town. When he grows up, he'll move to Moscow.

Today, there is a rumor on street, that's how news go around in the Soviet Union. A famous folksinger is dead. Alexander's father does not appear that affected but thinks that his mother will be sad. She likes Vladimir Visotsky when he sings on the radio. Instead of going to the Lenin Stadium to see track events, they'll try to locate a record store. If the news is real, there will be a shortage of the folksinger's records, for years to come. That's how it works in the Soviet Union. Alexander is upset about missing the 100 meter final. He doesn't think that there's much he could do about the two Russian runners, but he wanted to use his newly developed telekinetic powers to help the Cuban favorite. He is intrigued by these far away people. Exotic communist people. He's seen a weird film set in Cuba on the television which fascinated him. But he wants to make his mother happy too. He know it's hard for her up there in their village, amongst people that are not really hers. Also, on the way to the record store, he'll discover more of this gigantic city, and maybe they'll take the metro again.

====KURSKAYA TRAIN STATION, MOSCOW, 26 JULY 1980====

He knew it. On a huge color monitor placed at a special Olympic booth inside the station, Alexander watches replays of the previous days event. Silvio Leonard, his Cuban protégé was leading the race but lost at the last split second to a Englishman. Why didn't he insist with his father that they'd go to the stadium instead of desperately looking for a dead-man's record. At least this one was alive and he could have saved him. Maybe a English kid was in the stadium to guide his countryman. Maybe some English spy killed Vladimir Visotsky to disrupt the course of what was meant to happen: that he, Alexander, be in the stadium to counter the English kid's powers.

Alexander and his father board the Leningrad bound train. They are carrying loads of goods that you can't find in their town, but no Visotsky record. They were all sold out. On the journey, Alex his mesmerized by the endless scenery that streams through the window. He rethinks of Vladimir Salnikov's race, of the streets of Moscow, of the metro, of the thousands of foreign people. A few seats behind him, a young woman starts playing ''Moscow-Odessa'' on her guitar. By the last bar, the whole applauds cheerfully. He'll never forget this trip.

====ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CLOSED CITY OF SILLAMÄE, ESTONIAN SSR, USSR====

The teacher writes a sequence of mathematical equations on the blackboard. Back to school, back in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sillam%C3%A4e Sillamäe], the damned city. Alexander stares at the clouds streaming across the Baltic Sea. Why can't he become an adult right away and sail away to see the world. He could go to Cuba, China, Argentina.. He could marry a girl like the one who sang on the train. They could travel together. He would be her bodyguard, her guardian angel. He could do anything he wants, now that he knows how to move objects around, how to cure cramps at a distance.

-Alexander... Alexander Sergeyevich... Alexander Sergeyevich Nikitin! Repeats the teacher as Alexander snaps out of his daydream.

-Euhh, yes teacher. I was thinking about the solution.

The whole class laughs as Alexander turns red.

-What solution, Alexander Sergeyevich? The solution to your stupidity?

[[Nest of Spies|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Made in Taiwan|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.006]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.006]]
[[Category: The Age of Christiane (1979-1983)]]

Nest of Spies

2023-12-22T16:57:21Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''[[Neda]] is the daughter of Sunni Palestinian Winemakers who emigrated to Iran after having been evicted from there land in near Jerusalem. As a kid, she attended an American school in Israel/Palestine until the 1973 war. She is fluent in English.''

''Neda was part of a left wing student group which took part in the seizure of the US embassy in November 1979. Because of her knowledge of the English language and American culture, she became a valuable asset to the cause although she was more driven by left leaning ideals then Islamic ones. She was eventually recruited by the Iranian espionage services to infiltrate European extreme left groups.

''As a Sunni Palestinian, she never felt Iranian. As a Marxist, she never felt Islamist. These convoluted allegiances were great characteristics for spy. Also risky ones.

''In September 1979, 2 month before the seizure of the US Embassy, Susan, the US Embassy employee, is interviewed by an Italian journalist (O.F) who leaves a bag behind containing a xeroxed copy of a not yet published manuscript: Adso of Melk, The Name of the Rose.

[[The Hansa Way|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Moscow Games|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:35.70775, 51.42391; 35.704403, 51.409
|zoom=15
}}

====TEHRAN POLYTECHNIC, IRAN, 3 NOVEMBER 1979====

[[File:PeoplesMujahedinLogo.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Mojahedin-e-Khalq]]

The corridors of the Polytechnic are overcrowded as [[Neda]], a 19 years old medical school freshman, holds on to [[Ali]] and [[Hussain]], all making their way towards the main auditorium. A general meeting has been called by several student organizations but most attending don't seem to know where to go next. Arriving at the auditorium's guarded door, Ali states his allegiance to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Mujahedin_of_Iran People's Mujahedin] and points to Hussein and Neda to clear them as well. The three walk in but as Neda passes through the doors, one of the guards stops her.

-Cover yourself sister, this is not a discotheque.

Upset, Neda looks at her two comrades.

-I told you, I'm not following if that's going to be the way.

Hussain, looks at the guard who keeps his arm extended to block Neda, then back at Ali who raises his shoulders, helpless. About three hundred students are already inside the auditorium. Mostly men. The few females attending are veiled.

-Come on Neda, just do like he says. We gotta get going.

Neda pulls a scarf from her pocket and wears it, not pleased.

====MAIN AUDITORIUM, TEHRAN POLYTECHNIC====

Neda, Ali and Hussain have joined a small contingent of the People's Mujahedin who have gathered in a corner of the auditorium.

-I told you guys, I'm not into this Imam's Line thing. If we don't stand our grounds from the start, they're going to wipe us out. What do you think? Once we'll be in, we're going to have a round table discussion?

-She's right, this is not what I had envisioned. They're all from Poly Engineering, and the ones carrying guns are not even students, they're like the Imam's protection men, Hezbollahi...

-I'm like the only girl here!

-No, I've seen a couple when we got in.

-Yeah, a couple. How many are we here? A thousand!

An Engineering student approaches followed by two shadier men carrying duffel bags. The student walks up to Ali.

-Ali, right?

-Yes.

-Ok so we're scheduled to storm through the South gate at 06:00.

Hussain steps forward. What do you mean we're scheduled? When was this decided. Wasn't the point of this whole gathering to discuss the strategy?

-Well, no... The plan has been ready for days... We just couldn't divulge it to prevent leaks.

Hussain looks back at his comrades. Neda looks down in disbelief.

-So the girl has to team up the two other women. They're the scout crew. Which university are you attending, sister?

-University of Tehran, Med school!

-So you must know how to use your hands then.

-Well, I grew up on a farm, so besides the scalpel...

-Right on, says one of the two shadier guys stepping forward and dropping his bag in front of Neda.

He pulls a 36" bolt cutter from the bag and hands it to her.

-Know how to use one of those?

Neda grabs the heavy tool from both handles and raises it up before the guy squeezing it defiantly.

-Well, you'll never achieve anything this way.

The guy grabs the tool, walks up to the iron railing cordoning the bleachers around the speaker's desk. He then places a section of the railing between the cutter's blades, lowers one of the handles to the floor, blocks it with his foot, then presses on the other handle, cutting through the half inch steel bar like butter.

-Here. Now practice until get it right. One of our girls will bring you a proper chador.

====OUTSIDE THE US EMBASSY COMPOUND, TEHRAN, 4 NOVEMBER 1979====

Lance-Corporal Tyrone Washington the Third's shift ends at 06:00 but the next Marine hasn't shown up to replace him yet. For the past weeks, Washington has spent the cold Persian nights on the roof of the US Embassy's staff living quarters, scanning the compound's perimeter with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PVS-4 Starlight Scope] mounted on his M-60 Machine Gun. Since they landed in March, the 13 men unit of the Marine Security Guards have been on high alert night and day.

The streets of Tehran are dimly lit on this early November morning. The silhouettes of three black chadors crossing towards the South wall of the US Embassy Compound are missed by the National police cars parked at each end of the street but they light up in Washington's night vision scope. -A little early for 3 Muslin women to roam down the streets of Tehran..., thinks the Marine as he loses sight of the trio behind a wall. He pans his scope to the right to see if they show up through the iron gates when Sergeant Willow arrives to relieve him.

-Tyrone my man, times up! Two eggs and crunchy bacon waiting for you at the cafeteria.

-Hold up a sec, just on to something, answers Washington as he keeps his attention focused on the gate.

-What'd you see.

-These 3 women crossed the street just a minute ago and I can't locate them anymore.

-Man, you pervert. These ain't x-ray glasses. I you wanna see one of them Iranian girl's boobs, you gonna have to get under them black sheets.

At the same moment, Neda gets by the gate and pulls the bolt cutter from under her veil. The single street light's ray bounces of the metallic blade and flashes into Washington's scope, blinding him for a second.

-What the fuck!

****

====US EMBASSY COMPOUND, TEHRAN, 7 NOVEMBER 1979====

Neda, who's hair now is lose, leans over a card board on which she translate a Persian text into English: ''THERE IS NO TIME FOR IMPERIALISM IN IRAN ANY MORE...

====FEMALE HOSTAGES ROOM, US EMBASSY COMPOUND, TEHRAN, 25 DECEMBER 1979====

Neda discreetly opens the door and peeps in the room where a woman is leaning on a bed, reading. Neda holds a plastic bag containing pomegranates. The woman on the bed is in her late thirties and wears hexagonal shaped eyeglasses. She smiles at Neda and addresses her in basic Farsi.

-Please come in.

Neda makes a few steps forward, leaving the door open, then responds in English.

-Hi, I hope I'm not bothering you. I brought you some pomegranates. I hope you enjoy them.

-Oh! Wow... You speak very good English.

-Thanks... You're alone? Where is your friend?

-Oh, she went to the chapel, in the other building.

-Christmas!

-Yes

-And you? You don't celebrate?

-No... Not really in the mood... But please... Come in... You can close the door if you want.

Neda looks at the door behind her, then quietly pushes it leaving it ajar, then walks back towards the woman who moves to an upright position on the side of her bed and invites Neda to sit next to her.

-I'm Susan... and you?

-Neda... Very pleased to meet you.

Neda pulls a pomegranate from the bag and offers it to Susan.

-Thanks.

-I thought maybe for Christmas, you'd be happy to eat a fruit.

-Yes... and red on top... very festive.. and thoughtful of you... thank you.

Neda is quite shy and intimidated by Susan, a serious looking woman, a generation older than her, yet youthful. She looks at the sparsely decorated room. A desk. A mirror. Two chairs. Two suitcases containing carefully folded clothing. On the bed rests a twisted bundle of xeroxed sheets.

-You're working? Am I bothering you?

Susan grabs the bundle and shows the cover to Neda.

-No... no.. this is actually in Italian. I don't read it very well but I can manage. This journalist, from Rome, who I've met when she visited Tehran a few weeks before all this happened left it behind. I guess it's the copy of a manuscript, about a manuscript, about a manuscript... maybe not yet published... Quite puzzling, I must say, in light of all what is happening. Anyways it's the only thing I have to read. Do you read Italian?

Neda smiles as she scrolls her index over the title. -Adso da Melk, Il nome della rosa... Do I pronounce it right?

-I guess. Sounds right. Better than me anyways. I have a terrible American accent in Italian... Like in Farsi.

Susan squeezes the pomegranate open. Blood red juice drips over the white sheets as she pulls out the seeds. -Like for accents, I guess I have no talent for peeling fruits...

Both women laugh...

-We better eat these outside I guess, suggests Neda. Let me ask the guard.

====COURTYARD, US EMBASSY COMPOUND, TEHRAN, 25 DECEMBER 1979====

Susan and Neda stroll along the grassy yard. Neda grabs a pomegranate from the bag.

-This is the proper way, you crack it open then carefully pull the seeds... Here.

She offers a handful to Susan.

-Thanks... Sweet... Yummy...

-I'm very sorry but you understand that I can't talk to you about much more then fruits.

-I know... But just speaking to someone new, the fresh air. It's great thanks.

The two women continue their walk, enjoying each others company.

====FEMALE HOSTAGES ROOM, US EMBASSY COMPOUND, TEHRAN, 25 DECEMBER 1979, LATER====

Susan's roommate opens the door to an empty room, turn on the light and freezes when she sees the bed covered in blood!

****

[[The Hansa Way|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Moscow Games|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.005]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.005]]
[[Category: The Age of Christiane (1979-1983)]]

The Chengdu Concubine

2023-12-22T16:57:00Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''[[Ao-nan|Wang Ao-nan]] convinces [[Ju-ling]] his Communist concubine to leave the Mainland with him.

''Ju-ling could be a descendent from Khazar refugees at the turn of the first millennium

''Ju-ling is a vibrant [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sichuan_Opera Sichuan Opera] performer.

''Ju-ling met with Chiang Fang-liang ( born Faina Ipat'evna Vakhreva, Jewish bride of Chiang Kai-sheck's son) during the siege of the Chengdu Central Military Academy.

''On 1 October 1949, Mao Zed-ong has proclaimed the PRC in Beijing. In a state of complete disarray, the remaining KMT troops have retreated to Sichuan. Chengdu is the last city to hold. An airlift to Taiwan is being secretly organized for senior officers and their families. Ao-nan, an officer close to the Chiang family developed an affair with Ju-ling, a very young Sichuan Opera performer. When offered the possibility to flee the mainland with her lover, she is confronted between her duty as a CCP covert agent to either kill him or marry him and leave her family and beliefs behind.

[[The Hansa Way|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Nest of Spies|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:30.4903389, 103.4652194; 30.660750, 104.054560
|zoom=10
}}

====Main Hall, Opera House, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, November 25, 1949====

The main hall of the Chengdu Opera House is dimly lit. A single spot illuminates the turquoise costume of the last standing character. [[Ju-ling]] has just poisoned her old husband in order to acquire his wealth. He is lying at her feet. The loud click of the shutting spot precedes the slow fade of the 5000W incandescent bulb. Vibrant applauds echo in the pitched black room. Ju-ling is frozen centre stage. -Should I do it tonight? What if I fail? What if I freeze? What if he kills me instead? Two [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_lighting Neon Tubes] intermittently light up as soldiers open the side doors of the wooden building letting the cold winter air in. Ju-ling has left the stage. [[Ao-nan]] walks towards the backstage against the exiting crowd, mostly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Revolutionary_Army NRA] officers, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintang KMT] officials and relocated industrialists.

====Backstage, Opera House====

Ao-nan knocks repeatedly on a locked door. Amongst stage gear and costumes, the performer who a moment ago was lying dead on the stage walks by Ao-nan and warns him.

-Be careful. Genuine Sichuan girl. They're a fierce breed.

====Changing Room, Opera House====

Knocks resonate in the sparsely but carefully decorated changing room. Ju-ling removes her headgear, staring at the opaque mirror. A prop dagger shoved in its scabbard, lies on the desk in front of her. -If I open, I'll have to kill him. If I don't, I'll be blamed for not helping the revolution. Knocks persist. Ju-ling walks to the door and opens it. Ao-nan grabs Ju-ling before she could say anything and kisses her passionately. He's a tall 30 years old NRA officer. Northern Han stock. Ju-ling is barely 20, darker than he is. Black lines around her green eyes accentuate their size. Her fine nose rests above vibrantly red painted lips. The embracing couple lands on the wooden bed. This is Ju-ling's room.

-Not now, you'll have to come later. Everybody is still here.

-Forget about everyone. I just see you. I don't hear anything else. I don't see anyone else. I don't think of them, I don't think of war, I don't think. I'm just here, with you and only you.

They resume lovemaking. A moment passes before Ju-ling lights up a cigarette.

-Who were you with? Next to you, I saw many guards and the row in front was empty.

-Chiang Ching-kuo. The General's son. He was very impressed by you. But I was not to bring him here. He's a vicious man. He has many mistresses. Maybe he would want to have you too.

-I don't like old men but you should have brought him anyways. I would have entertained him. Maybe you would have become captain. I know how to treat old men... Like you...

A moment passes. Ao-nan buttons his trousers.

-There is a dinner organized tomorrow at the General's residence and Ching-kuo has invited me. You should come. I'll introduce you to his mother-in-law.

***

''Through her relationship with Ao-nan, Ju-ling has been introduced to the General's son and to the First Lady. She is now one step away from meeting the General himself.

====Streets of Chengdu, Night====

Ju-ling discreetly exits the Opera House through a side door and ventures into the Chengdu night. From the other side of the paved road, a silhouette brushes against the walls. Hearing footsteps, Ju-ling nervously swivels her head towards the noise but as the darkness doesn't reveal any shadows, she continues on her frantic paths.

====Tea House, Chengdu, Night====

As Ju-ling turns onto a lane, a narrow door cracks open to let her in. Inside, she is lead by an old woman to the main room of a unlit tea house. Sitting at a table, three CCP officials order her to join them.

''May-ling, the First Lady, who's agents had been tracking Ju-ling's every movements, decides to turn her into a double agent.

***

====Opera House, Chengdu, 10 December 1949====

A covered convertible Ford Coupe stops in front of the opera. It's head beams light up the dust it has raised into the cool dawn air. Moments later, Ju-ling walks out of the side door carrying a small leather suitcase and walks into the car as it departs.

====Road to Qionglai, Chengdu====

On the backseat, Ju-ling sits next to the First Lady who greets her with a satisfied grin, a cigarette in its holder between her lips. Ju-ling remains silent for a moment, looking at city waking up thought the car's window.

-How did you know I would be there?

-Because it was your only way out. You couldn't go back to your people. You couldn't wait for them to capture the city...

Ju-ling looks at the Railway Movement Monument as they cross Renmin's Park. She's a traitor to her people, her family, her cause. All that for the man she loves.

-So why are you doing this? Why didn't you denounce me?

-From one concubine to another... I know you'll be valuable to me where we go...

The Fist Lady exhales her cigarette smoke onto Ju-ling's face.

====Qionglai Air Base, Chengdu====

[[File:C47.jpg|thumb|right|480px|NRA C-47 ''May-Ling'']]

The First Lady's Ford is idling on the tarmac as a military convoy arrives to secure the area. The General's car followed by several other jeeps make their way pass the Ford as a C-47 Skytrain aircraft pulls out of a hangar and stops on a patch of grass near the strip its engine still running. Ju-ling anxiously looks at the military personnel and other dignitaries boarding the plane.

-Ao-nan's not there.

-Don't worry mei-mei, he'll join you later. Nothing will happen to him, he'll probably be in Taipei for Christmas, before our New Year for sure. You want him to come, don't you?

Ju-ling looks at the inscription painted under the cockpit: May-ling. How did a Christian concubine became so powerful? China's most influential woman. What's waiting for her on the other side of the Taiwan Strait?

-Of course I do.

The C-47 take off with Ju-ling, the presidential couple and a dozen chosen officials.

[[The Hansa Way|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Nest of Spies|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.004]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.004]]
[[Category:The Age of Anne (1943-1953)]]

The Hansa Way

2023-12-22T16:56:46Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''

[[U-3955|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Chengdu Concubine|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: 55.06067, 15.13237 ; 54.3772259, 18.6566258; 53.8761318, 10.687912
|zoom=7
}}

====U-3955====

A minimal crew operates the speeding submarine as an eerie silence in only intermittently broken by Marie's music box which resonates throughout the compartments where men are lying down, eyes wide opened.

====BALTIC SEA, 3 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF NEXØ, BORNHOLM ISLAND, MAY 7-8, 1945, NIGHT====

[[File:VonDornbuschBisSchoplin.png|thumb|right|480px|Bornholm Island Seabed Map]]

After a 15 hour submerged journey at full steam from Fårö, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_snorkel snorkel] of U-3955 emerges 3 Nautical Miles off Nexø, on the still German controlled island of Bornholm, Denmark. The inflow of fresh oxygen revives the sleepy crew. The Navigator is first to peak through the periscope. The small town is ablaze and bombs keep falling from the sky.

-Shit! I don't know what this is but it sure doesn't look like peace. Take a look Commander.

The Commander grabs the periscope and orders the Radioman.

-Radioman... Get High Command in Rønne. See what's happening. Whoever is on it, it doesn't look like they're only targeting the port. The whole town is on fire.

The Radioman starts setting rotors on the Enigma as the Commander approaches.

-Forget about the code... Get them on the Radio.

The Radioman scans the frequency dial.

-This is U-3955, I repeat this is U-3955... requesting situation report on the port of Nexø.

The Radioman looks back at the Commander who's surrounded by the rest of the crew... Radio Silence...

-This is Rønne High Command. Identify yourself.

The Commander grabs the mike.

-This is Commander XX of the Kriegsmarine. Requesting authorization to dock at Nexø. Out of fuel and supplies.

Long silence at the other end as the Commander looks at Eveliina who joined the group around him.

-Negative. Nexø at risk of imminent attack.

The Commander hands the mike back to the Radioman as he addresses the Navigator.

-No shit imminent... What do you say Nav!

-I say we have no choice. We could sail submerged all the way to the main dock and evacuate between two waves of attack. We spread on the island an lay low until things settle down...

1WO who has been quietly listening to the conversation intervenes.

-This would mean an almost certain sinking or capture of the ship by the Soviets.

-Yes but we'd all be safe and in still German controlled territory... responds the Commander as he grabs the mike again.

-This is U-3955 Commander XX, requesting to speak to the garrison’s commander.

A fifteen minute silence is interrupted by a voice breaking over the sound of explosions.

-This is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhard_von_Kamptz KZS von Kamptz], commander of Bornholm... We are holding the island against a Soviet attack while expecting a response from Allied command in Copenhagen at any moment... We have lost contact with Nexø's Kriegsmarine and DCA bases. Do you have a visual on the port and town of Nexø?

-Affirmative. The town is ablaze and several civilian ships are either burning of sunken in the port. Explosions seem to have slowed down over the past few minutes... Do you have an ETA on the British contingent?

-British or Americans... No... We were expecting a plane but our airstrips are all down so it will have to be a ship... In the morning I hope. What about the situation at sea? Our radar stations are all down...

-We can't give you our location on air but so far...

The Commander peaks at the Radarman who nods his head then he grabs the periscope while keeping the mike in his palm and rotates a 180.

-... So far, nothing on the horizon...

====DOCKS, NEXØ PORT, MAY 8, 1945, EVENING====

[[File:Nexo_Havn_1945.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Nexø Havn]]

The fin of U-3955 emerges by a sunken passenger ship along the main dock in Nexø. Most of the town is burning and an eerie silence shrouds the port. The Commander and the Radioman followed by six seamen jump onto the dock's ladder and make their way up the hill to the Kriegsmarine's station which flag catches on fire as they reach the main entrance.

-HALT!

The U-boat crew ducks as they hear the warning coming from the roof of a nearby building.

-Don't move, orders the Commander to his crew, before shouting back at the voice on the roof.

-This is Commander XX, we just docked our ship. Can I speak to you're CO?

A minute later, a wounded German sailor walks out of the building using his gun as a crutch. The Commander walks up to help him out.

-Where are the others.

-I don't know, every one in my squadron is dead. The bombardments just stopped about an hour ago. They've been bombing us for over two days. I thought the war was over. What's going on?

-I don't know. Have you seen any British or Americans?

-No, only planes coming from the East. Russians for sure... Do you have a doctor on board?

-No, but we'll take care of you. Is there a place where we could take cover for the night? Food?

-Maybe the church, just a few block south of the port. It's still standing.

-What about the radio room? asks the commander.

The wounded sailor, points to the still smoking Kriegsmarine's station building.

-In there, on the 2nd floor, I believe, but I've never been inside.

The commander orders the Radioman and 2 seamen to get into the Kriegsmarine station and and radio and establish contact with U-3955.

====U-3955, PORT OF NEXØ====

Back inside the U-Boat, the Navigator, with both hand squeezing the Radioman's headset, repeats the incoming message to the 1WO.

-The Commander has ordered us to evacuate. We have to meet them at the church.

1WO looks perplex.

-Abandoning the ship?

-Yes, replies the Navigator after receiving confirmation at the other end...

-ALERT! shouts the Radarman as he sees multiples dots appearing on his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plan_position_indicator PPI screen].

1WO runs to the Radarman's position and notices about a dozen advancing figures.

-Ships?

-Yes. About 10 Nautical Miles East!

-Speed?

The Radarman waits for a few wipes to refresh his screen and scribbles a few numbers on his pad...

-30 knots!

1WO looks at the Engineer who has just arrived from the engine room.

-The Russians are invading the island in 20 minutes! How long to sail out?

-At least 15 minutes, answers the Engineer. But we have barely enough diesel to sail out 10 NM.

-We have to evacuate now, continues the Navigator. They'll probably send a last wave of air-strikes before landing.

-Close the hatches! Orders the 1WO to the Engineer.

-But what about the Commander? I could try a run to get him, argues the Navigator.

-No Time. Arm the tubes.

====TORPEDO ROOM, U-3955====

The Navigator wakes up Eveliina who is lying next to Marie in the torpedo room.

-Eveliina. Wake up.

-What's going on?

-You got to get out now... We're sailing out.

-Why can't I stay on board...

-I don't have time to explain. Give me the baby and climb me up this ladder. I'll pass him to you when you're outside.

Eveliina carefully grabs Marie and hand her to Navigator before climbing up to open hatch.

====DECK, U-3955, PORT OR NEXØ====

As Eveliina exits from the forward hatch, the engines start roaring and the U-Boat starts moving, getting her to panic.

-MARIE!

At that moment, one of the Navigator's hand pops out of the hatch followed by Marie in the other.

-Grab her an jump on the dock!

Eveliina loses her balance as she grab Marie but reaches the dock's iron ladder, holding on with one hand as the U-Boat sails out. The Navigator shouts at her before closing the hatch.

-Go to the church...

====RADIO ROOM, BURNING KRIEGSMARINE STATION, NEXØ====

Through a thick cloud of smoke, the Radioman adjusts the rotors on the station's Enigma before encrypting a message to the Rønne HQ.

-THIS IS NEXØ KRIEGSMARINE STATION. TOWN AND PORT ABLAZE. NO SURVIVORS. MORE THAN 12 SOVIET SHIPS 15 NM EAST. U-3955 OUT TO SLOW THEM DOWN. ABANDONING POST. OVER.

====DOCKS, PORT OR NEXØ====

Holding Marie with one hand and grabbing each bars one by one, Eveliina finally makes it to the deserted dock as she sees the fin of U-3955 disappearing into the sea. Buzzing over the horizon, the sound of an approaching squadron of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-4 Ilyushin bombers] gets her to run for cover.

====PORT OR NEXØ====

As the bombs start falling, the Commander makes his way back to the port and finds a panicked Eveliina holding Marie and ducking behind some crates.

-What happen? They Left!

-I don't know... Nav just pushed us out as the ship was sailing out.

The Commander climbs onto the crates to get a better view of the sea. He is taken aback when he sees the approaching Soviet fleet.

-Shit... They're preparing to land...

At the same moment, a huge explosion rocks the horizon as one of the Soviet ship bursts into flames...

-They went on a suicide mission... That's why they offloaded you...

Eveliina kisses Marie on the forehead as she continues to shake and cry.

====TORPEDO ROOM, U-3955====

The voice of 1WO resonates through the loud speaker.

-FIRE!

As a the Mecanikaermaat, releases the firing clutch, Navigator looks at the others around him...

-Last one! That's it.

====BALTIC SEA, 2 NM EAST OF NEXØ====

U-3955's last torpedo hits a the side of a Soviet destroyer which bursts into flames as a series of depth charges explode simultaneously splashing water high up in the air.

====PORT OF NEXØ====

The Commander, Eveliina and Marie make their way towards the inland as they duck to hide from Soviet aircraft flying over their heads.

-You have to make it to the church... If they haven't bombed it yet. They might spare it... Says the Commander. I'm gonna get the rest of the crew before the ground troops...

-That one? asks Eveliina as she points towards a Nexø Church's bell tower.

-It's gotta be it. I'll meet you there.

====NEXØ====

[[File:Il-2_attacking.jpg|thumb|right|480px|''Sturmovik'' Ilyushin Il-2]]

Eveliina, holding Marie, start walking away from the Commander then freezes as she recognizes the strident sound of Ilyushin engines from afar. She scans the sky with her bare eyes then turns back and screams at the Commander to take cover as 3 ''Sturmovik'' aircraft start unloading their guns on their position. The Commander has just the time to turn towards the mother and child before he get's hit in the chest and collapses. A second later, the planes disappear into the horizon and Eveliina crawls towards him.

Holding Marie in one hand, she desperately tries to get the wounded Commander back on his feet.

-Grab my arm...

As the Commander tries to stand holding Eveliina, he collapses again bringing them all to the ground. He utters a mixture of words and blood.

-You still have a good eye... But that's it for me I guess... Go before they come back...

Eveliina, understanding that there is no hope for the Commander, places her free hand behind his neck to relieve his twisted neck. The Commander looks at Marie, then back at Eveliina. She smiles and cries at the same time then kisses the Commander on the forehead. Chocking on his blood, the Commander whispers his final words into Eveliina's ear.

-The gold... The gold...

====NORTH BEACH, NEXØ====

A first wave of of makeshift [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_craft landing crafts] beach north of Nexø's port and scores of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Infantry_%28Russia%29 Soviet Naval Infantrymen] jump out as their destroyers pound the deserted town from afar.

====NEXØ KIRKE====

Amidst the heavy pounding, Eveliina and Marie finally reach the Church. When the front door closes behind them, the sound of bombs ceases immediately. Marie's eyes scout the peaceful atmosphere of the sober protestant church which contrasts with the noisy rubbles of the outside and the stuffy U-Boat where she spent the first fortnight of her life.

Relieved to be alive and safe, Eveliina sits on a church bench and cuddles Marie. She pulls the Music Box from her pocket and winds it as Marie stares at her.

As the tiny wooden box resonates in the church, Eveliina hears footsteps next to the altar. She lies down on the bench trying to get Marie to keep quiet by whispering the ''The Swedish Rhapsody'' theme into her ear when someone calls her name.

-Eveliina? It's me, Radioman... Eveliina... Calls the Radioman who recognized the tune.

Eveliina peaks above the church benches and sees the Radioman walking down the aisle.

-Hi... When did you get ashore? Did the boat come back? asks the Radioman.

-No, they left. I mean I don't know if they came back or what... The Navigator got us out as they were sailing away.

-They went to strike the Soviet ships... I got a last message about an hour ago. I don't think they made it...

-You mean... They're all dead? asks Eveliina.

-Probably... it was a suicide mission. Maybe the Commander shouldn't have left the boat to WO1. Have you seen them, the Commander and the other crewmen?

Eveliina looks down...

-He's dead... We got attacked by planes as he was trying to find you I guess...

The Radioman stares at a model boat hanging from the churches ceiling.

-Shit...Well, it's only us now...

He strum Marie's cheek with the back of his fingers.

====NEXØ PORT====

Soviet Naval Marines spread into platoons across the port and town.

====NEXØ KIRKE====

A stack of hay that has been laid down on the churches floor where Eveliina and the Radioman lie on either sides of Marie who has just fallen asleep.

-I can't believe that they all died... The war was over... saids Eveliina as she caresses Marie's forehead.

-After all this! We were so close... And the commander... I can't believe he's gone too, replies Radioman.

====NEXØ KIRKE, LATER====

The 3 are sleeping on the hay stack when 5 Russian Navy Marines erupt through the front door. Radioman stands up but is shot down when one of the Marines recognizes his German uniform. Eveliina covers Marie with her body and shouts in Swedish.

-Don't shoot us please, I have a baby.

The wounded Radioman raises his hands and begs the Russians to spare the woman and child in a mixture of German and Russian.

-We're not armed. Don't shoot. Don't shoot.

The platoon's Petty Officer (PO) walks towards Radioman pointing his rifle at his head then strikes him on the head with back of his gun.

-Shut up, German fucker, saids the PO as Radioman collapses.

The PO then grabs Eveliina's arms and notices Marie under her body.

-Little German rat! Come here, I'm gonna show you better.

The PO grabs her by the hair and she lets go of Marie as she's get dragged behind the altar.

-Don't touch her! Don't touch my baby... screams Eveliina as Marie starts crying.

-1&2, search the rest of the church! 2&3, keep and eye on the German! orders the PO to his men as he trows Eveliina to the ground then leans on top of her pulling her skirt and tearing her underwear.

As Eveliina is being raped by the PO, one of the Russian Marines kneels down towards Marie to muffle the sound of her screams with his glove. He notices that the Radioman is still conscious, bleeding from gunshots in the leg as well as from a cut on his forehead.

-Let's do him, saids Marine 3 (M3) to M4.

-Let him rot, answers M4 as he kick Radioman in the back.

M1&2 come back from having searched the churches annexes.

-Noting... saids M1. PO's still at it?

At that moment, the PO stands up from behind the altar tightening his belt.

-Good German pussy, he saids laughing before spitting on Eveliina as he keeps her down with his boot. I'm done. Anyone wants a taste of this before we move on?

M3 stands up releasing Marie's mouth who continues crying even louder.

-For sure PO!

Eveliina screams from behind the altar as M3 walks pins her down.

-Don't hurt my baby... Please don't hurt her...

Radioman gestures to his guard that he'll try to sooth the baby to quiet her down. M4, who's now alone next to Radioman while PO, M1 & M2 are by the altar peeking cheering as M3 rapes Eveliina, gestures back with his gun agreeing to the request. Radioman rolls towards Marie and notices the Music Box next to her. He kisses her on the forehead as he winds the wooden box. ''The Swedish Rhapsody'' resonates through the church in a surreal sound of war.

====NEXØ KIRKE, NIGHT====

Badly bruised, Eveliina wakes up half naked behind the altar. Radioman is by her side holding sleeping Marie.

-Is she ok? Utters Eveliina.

-Yes... She fell asleep... Replies Radioman.

Eveliina tries to smile but her swollen lips prevents her from doing so.

-Thank you... Did they leaves?

-Yes... They're gone. Don't worry...

-I want to go back home... I shouldn't have brought her into this...

-Soon... Soon.

The Radioman caresses Eveliina's head and she looks up seeing his bloody face.

-They didn't miss you either...

Then, noticing his wounded leg.

-Let me see.

-Don't worry... I think the bullets went through.

-Still, you have to stop the bleeding.

Eveliina stands up and grabs a cloth placed over the altar. She kneels next to Radioman, then carefully ties a tourniquet above his wounds.

-It was too late for Commander...

-It was the first time you saw someone dying.

-Yes... First time I saw someone dead...

-Well, at least he was with you. Didn't die alone.

-I guess... Eveliina becomes pensive. Before he died... The commander uttered strange words. I mean. I didn't get why he saids this to me.

-What?

-''The Gold''. ''The Gold''... He repeated twice, then closed his yes and never opened them again.

Radioman pulls up his leg with pain, then looks at Eveliina...

-What did you guys brought on the island? Did you notice if they stashed some boxes.

-No... We had nothing on our way in.... I would have noticed. The boat was so tiny... And we remained together throughout the journey...

-This was my first patrol on a U-boat. I didn't know the Commander or any of the crew before. I think that the Navigator, the Engineer and him had done patrols on another ship before they got the Elektroboot. Whatever he meant, don't ever mention this to the Soviets or whoever interrogates you in the future... It'll will only bring you trouble.

Eveliina looks at Marie who turns around. Radioman pulls her blanket back up and stains it with his bloody hand as he notices the embroidered inscription.

-Sorry...

-Don't worry.

-What does it mean?

-Little Angel... My mother gave it to her.

At that moment, 3 Soviet Navy officers followed by Marines enter the church and are surprised to find the three civilians there. Not recognizing Radioman's Kriegsmarine uniform, they mistakenly take him for a wounded Danish national and order his evacuation to a field hospital. There, he is separated from Eveliina, unknowingly bringing along the secret about U-3955's treasure.

====EVACUATION====

Although she claims to be a Finnish national and requests to remain in Denmark, the Soviet deport Eveliina and Marie to a facility in Koenigsberg where German military and some civilian are held before being sent to labour camps.

====KOENIGSBERG====

''Soon after arriving in Koenigsberg, Eveliina is released because the Soviet can't hold her in an all male labour camp. Following its "liberation" by the Red Army, the city is in disarray and now prone to "ethnic cleansing". Eveliina wanders around the city and eventually tags along a convoy of Ethnic Germans heading West.

====VISTULA SPIT, EAST-PRUSSIA- EVENING====

[[File:Flüchtlingstreck.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Ethnic German refugees on a westward trek]]

The sun is setting on the Vistula Spit. Eveliina is lagging behind the convoy of German refugees making its way across the peninsula. The wheels of the baby carriage squeak and sink into the sand as the '''Swedish Rhapsody''' continues to lull Marie. Exhausted and not able to catch up, Eveliina stops and kneels down holding onto the handlebar. The convoy disappears into the Western horizon. Marie, awaken and serene, stares at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus Evening Star] blinking out of focus in front of her.

====ANTI-AIRCRAFT OBSERVATION TOWER, PORVOO, FINLAND, SUMMER 1944====

In a small town East of Helsinki, Eveliina scans the sky with binoculars. At the bottom of the watch-tower stands [[Gunter]], a young German [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_corps Falkkorps] advisor who calls her name. Her co-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotta_Sv%C3%A4rd Lotta Svärd] gives a complicit look at Eveliina.

-I'll be back in half an hour... Tell them I had girl's stuff to take care of if they ask, says Eveliina as she climbs down the wooden tower.

-Half an hour... He's fast your German... replies the Lotta as she grabs the binoculars.

-Keep your eye in the air, says Eveliina as she disappears bellow the deck.

Eveliina embraces Gunter and the two walk hand in hand towards a nearby wood.

====WOOD, PORVOO, FINLAND, SUMMER 1944====

A woodpecker carves a groove through the bark of a pine tree, 10 meters above Eveliina and Gunter making love on a soft bed of brownish needles. A vivid green caterpillar hangs on a silk tread, swinging through the gentle wind.

-I wish we could stay like this forever, murmurs Eveliina, locked into Gunter's arms.

-Me too...

-I will follow you to the end of the world...

Gunter kisses her.

-When the war is over, I'll come and get you, then we'll go together... to China...

-India...

-Indochina...

-Argentina...

-I love you.

They make love again....

The sound of aircraft engines echoes through the trees and fills the silence between the woodpecker's knocks. In a panic, Eveliina grabs her underwear and buttons up her skirt.

-Shit, they're coming!

Gunter gently places his palm over her mouths and signals her to listen.

-Listen... Listen to the purring... like a panther... like a cat... [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_132 BWW 132]. German engineering... Close your eyes, shut down your ears, then open them from within... a whole new world will open up... inaccessible to most.

Gunter slowly moves his fingers away and softly replaces them by his lips as the aircraft engines sound fades away and the caterpillar drops on them.

====VISTULA SPIT, EAST-PRUSSIA, DAWN, MAY 25, 1945====

A seagull lands by Marie's carriage who is staring at an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%29 aurora] filling the northern sky. Her white damask blanket bearing the Finnish words '''Pikku Engeli''' is tightly wrapped around her. The music box has stopped playing and lies next to her pink cheeks.

Far away, silhouettes from a new convoy of refugees emerge from the Eastern horizons. No signs of Eveliina. The carriage stands alone on the sandy road.

====NOTES====

''Marie is raised in an orphanage on the Inner German Border near Lübeck.

''Mention ties between Eveliina's father and the Nazi Regime.

''Strengthen 1W0/Commander tensions... Soviet barbarism VS Morgenthau Plan

''Add writings from the Commander's War Diary.

''Hint of Gold in last Enigma transmission from Faro.

''Why was U-3955 loaded with gold? Who was in charge? What was the intended destination?

''If U-3955 drifted from Danzig with a current of 30cm/s, it would have reached the Helsinki straight in 40 days (march26-may4). Normal currents are at 5cm/s. Strong currents are at 100cm/s.

''A saline pulse entering from the Atlantic Ocean though the Danish straights could have provoked an extraordinary deep current which would have run North-Eastward along the Baltic States coastline. No data on such pulses were collected (or has been preserved) between 1939 and 1945.

''Besides the fears of mistreatment of German military personnel and civilians by the Soviets, one should raise the fear of implementation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgenthau_Plan Morgenthau Plan] by the Brits and Americans.

''Marching deported Germans will care for Marie all the way to Lübeck where she will be raised as ''Ulla''...

''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_children Wolf children]

''During the seventies, Radioman reads an ad from The Red Cross' Information and Documentation Center in Munich that rings a bell:'' Found in a baby carriage on May 25, 1945, on a beach in Pomerania. In the baby carriage were a damask blanket with embroidered Finnish words '''Pikku enkeli''' (little angel) along with a Music Box playing '''The Swedish Rhapsody'''.

''He then tries to contact Marie through various means but learns that she has now vanished and is suspected to be part of the RAF's underground. He then starts broadcasting series of codes through a '''Number Station''' playing the '''The Swedish Rhapsody''' as an intro to try to get Marie's attention. The message never reaches Marie but will one day catch Jouni's attention when she finds the Music Box when her mother's dies...''

[[U-3955|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Chengdu Concubine|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.003]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.003]]
[[Category:The Age of Anne (1943-1953)]]

U-3955

2023-12-22T16:56:32Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''Spring of 1945: [[Eveliina]], pregnant from a German Wehrmacht Air Defence advisor, is now an outcast in her home country. In hopes of finding her lost lover, she sets sail on a journey with her new born daughter, hopping from a fishing trawler to a drifting U-Boat along the Hansa route leading her from Helsinki to Koenigsberg from where she is finally evacuated along thousands of ethic Germans expelled from Soviet controlled Prussia.

''[[Eveliina]] is delivering her baby daughter as the radio announces that the German Army has retreated to Norway, having [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorched_earth Scorched earth] Northern Finland on its way, leaving a desolated land behind. Amidst the celebrations that follow, Eveliina is being pressured by her bourgeois [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish-speaking_Finns Swedish speaking] family not to divulge the identity of the baby's father, to avoid tarnishing its business' reputation and revealing ties to the Nazi regime. Not wanting to bear such a burden on her daughter and yearning to find her lover, she seeks a way to reach Soviet controlled Estonia, hoping to make her way West from there. Only experienced fishermen can navigate the dangerous waters along the "mine net" laid between Helsinki and Tallinn. Eveliina boards an Estonian fishing trawler at night.

[[Jaffa Citrus|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Hansa Way|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:60.1811287, 24.9738194; 59.764922, 25.0288039; 57.960573, 19.3508766
|zoom=6
}}

====EVELIINA'S ROOM, VILLA ENSI, HELSINKI, 25 APRIL 1945====

The low lying Nordic sun radiates through the sparsely furnished room overlooking the Baltic Sea. Villa Ensi was initially built as a maternity but has since been transformed into a residence by the owner's daughter. A section still hosts pregnant women in need. [[Alma]], a Nurse gently pulls a baby girl from of her mother's womb. As no one else is around to cut the umbilical cord, she asks [[Eveliina]] to hold her dripping newborn while she gets the scissors placed on a side table next to a notepad. Eveliina Ahlström weeps a mixture of joy and sadness as Alma cuts the cord then wipes the baby before gently laying it on her chest and exiting the the room.

====LOBBY, VILLA ENSI, HELSINKI, 25 APRIL 1945====

Through the open door of an adjacent room, a maid stands by the radio as the newsman announces that the last German soldier has just crossed the Norwegian border. The short war against Germany has left desolation throughout Northern Finland and the Finnish Army will now concentrate its resources on the Eastern front to block any Russian invasion attempt.

Alma walks down to the main staircase to find a middle aged couple standing in the lobby.

-Mr. and Mrs. Ahlström? asks Alma.

-Yes, anxiously replies Eveliina's mother.

-It's a girl!

-Is she healthy? asks the father bluntly.

-Yes, both the baby and the mother are fine. You can come in now, replies Alma, smiling.

The mother looks at the father who holds her back.

-We have to go. Please give her this, and this for you, replies the father as he hands an envelope and a couple of 1000 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_markka Markka] notes to Alma.

The mother then pulls a folded damask blanket and hands it to Alma.

-Here, for the baby.

The couple exits the building and passes between two statues, one of a mother and child, the other of a man embracing a woman, before stepping into a chauffeured Mercedes Benz.

====EVELIINA'S ROOM, VILLA ENSI, HELSINKI, 25 APRIL 1945====

Alma walks back into the room holding the envelope.

-So? asks Eveliina.

-They left...

Eveliina holds her baby tight and stares out the window.

-Hypocrites!

Alma places the envelope on the night table and unfolds the white damask blanket on which two words are embroidered; '''Pikku enkeli''', little angel. She then wraps the baby in it.

Eveliina looks at the inscription with sorrow then grabs the envelope on the night table to find a stack of 1000 Markka notes.

-You are sure that you don't want to think about it some more? asks alma.

-Yes, I'm sure, replies Eveliina as she puts the envelope back on the table. [[Marie]], Marie Grass. That's her name.

-Ms. Staudinger's told me that you could stay here for a few days if you want... says Alma as she grabs the notepad and writes down the baby's name on the birth certificate. You should rest now.

====PUB, SOMPASAARI DOCKS, HELSINKI, A WEEK LATER====

The pub is crowded with fishermen, sailors and dockers drinking and discussing the outcome of the war, and its implication for their livelihoods. In the back of the pub, the only woman there attracts attention as she talks to a young man, siting at her table.

-With the baby? asks the seaman.

-Yes, replies Eveliina holding Marie tightly wrapped in her white damask blanket.

-I don't know. I was told one passenger. Didn't know you would be a woman... With a baby.

-I'll pay double.

The young man is taken aback by the directness of this woman, even younger than him.

-Ok I guess... So meet us a the end of the dock at midnight. Be discreet. One luggage only... and the baby...

-Thank you... thank you so much.

====HELSINKI ARCHIPELAGO, 3-4 MAY 1945, NIGHT====

A fishing trawler sails away from Helsinki. The Baltic Sea is eerily quiet on this third day following the announcement of Hitler's death.

====ESTONIAN FISHING TRAWLER, BALTIC SEA, 4 MAY 1945, NIGHT====

Eveliina winds a music box playing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Rhapsody_No._1 The Swedish Rhapsody] to little Marie's ear as they share a narrow berth in a corner of the main cabin where other crewmen are resting.

As Marie falls asleep and the music stops, one of the seamen, the one who she met in the pub, turns towards her and whispers.

-Good night.

-Good night to you too, answers Eveliina. How long until we reach Estonia?

-About six more hours. We could go faster but because of the mines...

Eveliina, caresses her daughter's face and pulls up her blanket trying to fall asleep amidst the whirring of the boat engine.

====ESTONIAN FISHING TRAWLER, BALTIC SEA, 20 NAUTICAL MILES FROM TALLINN, 4 MAY 1945, DAWN====

A fisherman, alone on deck, scouts the foggy horizon, as the boat navigates on a fine line between two rows of mines. Hearing voices mixed to the sound of the diesel engine and of the water hitting the hull, he looks towards the cabin to make sure he isn't being called but the trawler's captain is dozing off at the helm and there are no other souls on deck. Hearing more calls, he is befuddled when a surfaced submarine appears through the fog, meters away on port side from his slowly sailing trawler. On its deck, several sailors call him in German, and in what sounds like various Baltic languages.

Confused, the fisherman takes a few seconds to realize that the U-boat is not in a firing position, then replies to the German sailors telling them to hold on as he calls his captain twice before he could wake him up. Hearing the commotion, Eveliina climbs on deck holding baby Marie in her arms. The two other fishermen are now also on decks trowing ropes at the U-boat as more German seamen pop out through the submarine's fin side door.

[[File:Uboot_Type_XXI_Layout.jpg|thumb|right|480px|U-Boot Type XXI layout]]

The captain of the Estonian trawler is baffled when the very young [[Commander]] of the U-boat jumps on his rusty fishing boat, followed by two of his unarmed men.

-Are you the captain? asks the German Kriegsmarine's Commander.

-Euh... Yes, replies the Estonian fisherman in German with a thick accent.

-We need Diesel. We can pay you.

The Estonian fisherman looks at his crew which have gathered around him.

-Do you understand what they want? he asks his 3 men crew in Estonian.

They all reply that they don't as Eveliina walks up to them still carrying Marie.

-They want to buy Diesel... They're willing to pay, claims Eveliina.

All men turn towards the mother and baby.

The Estonian then looks at the 75 meters [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_XXI_submarine Type XXI Elektroboote].

-Diesel! I don't know... How much do they need?

Eveliina translates in German then in Finnish from now on.

-Enough to reach passed the Russian lines. Maybe 10 tons.

-10 tons! Our tank only holds two, and we're probably half empty.

-You can buy some from the Russians in Tallinn, not us.

The Estonian fisherman hesitates...

-From the Russians... It's risky.

-We can pay you...

The German Commander pulls a 1kg gold bar bearing an engraved Swastika from his pocket.

-This one now, for your reserve... and one more per ton you bring back.

====DECK, U-3955====

The [[First Watch Officer (1WO)]], a young men not much older than 20, stands at the top of the fin's tower and observes the transaction through binoculars.

====DOCKS, TALLINN, NIGHT====

The docks are barely lit by a single lamp post on this chilly Spring night. With its lights down, a Soviet Army truck slowly drives by the docked Estonian trawler. The Estonian captain and two of his crewmen apprehensively walk across the truck's path. The driver flashes the head beams twice and stops. The three fishermen walk up to the truck.

-Let's move, says the driver in Estonian.

-How many you got? asks the captain.

-20 barrels.

-Ok, that will do, replies the captain, figuring out the maths as he answers. Can you pull back by my boat.

-No, replies the driver nervously. Let's do it here right now. You have the money?

-Better, the captain pulls the gold bar and hands it to the driver. That's five times the value.

The driver inspects the Swastika bullion as the two other fishermen pull up the tail tarp and start rolling down the drums out of the truck.

====NAVIGATION TABLE, INTERIOR U-3955, 5 MAY 1945, EARLY MORNING====

[[File:AtlasDerBodenbeschaffenheitdesMeeres.png|thumb|right|480px|Baltic Seabed Atlas]]

The U-boat [[Commander]], the [[Engineer]] and [[Navigator]], all in their early 20s, are drawing radius with compasses on a map of the Baltic sea as the Estonian captain accompanied by Eveliina and Marie stand by. Marie starts crying as heavy metallic noises emanate from the pressurized hull. Eveliina plays the music box's Swedish Rhapsody to soothe her.

-20 times 0.1341 ton, that's 2682 kg... With what's left in the tank, it's barely 3 tons, says the Engineer.

-We won't make it passed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland Gotland], replies the Navigator looking at the map.

The U-boat Commander looks at the Estonian, then at Eveliina still singing to Marie's ear.

-You're sure he can't get more, asks the Commander?

Eveliina translates.

-No, he will already have to account for the missing 20, says the Estonian to Eveliina. That's all we can do... Can you ask him to bring us back up now?

Before Eveliina could even translate a message pops from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine Enigma machine]. All heads turns towards the [[Radioman]]. 1WO walks to him and picks up the transcribed message and reads:

-From OKW, Flensburg: ALL SHIPS ARE TO CEASE FIRE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE NEAREST ALLIED FORCES PORT FLYING A BLACK FLAG.

-That means we can't even surrender to the Swedes. Our only hope is to make it past Fehmarn, replies the Commander...

Suddenly, the Watchman stops his rotation of the periscope and shouts.

-Commander! A four engine bomber is flying low at 11 o'clock.

-That's the third one this morning. They're is no way we can resurface before sunset, says the Commander.

-If that trawler stands still all day, it'll attract attention. The Soviets will dispatch a Corvette. We have to move on, says 1WO.

Eveliina who understood the conversation, thus the implications for her, Marie and the Estonian captain, becomes the center of attention.

-What's going on, asks the Estonian.

-I don't mind continuing with you, says Eveliina to the Germans ignoring the Estonian...

-What about him, asks the Engineer.

All heads turn towards the Estonian who looks confused.

====BALTIC SEA, 20 NAUTICAL MILES FROM TALLINN====

A tiny black inflatable raft unfolds as it reaches the surface followed by the Estonian captain who pops out of the water like a fishing quark wearing a [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tauchretter Tauchretter]. He climbs onto the raft, sinks into it and stares at 3 gold bars which he pulls from his pocket before starting to row towards his trawler half a NM away.

====COMMAND POST, U-3955, MORNING====

-5 fathom down, 220 degrees WSW, 90 percent speed, shouts the 1WO to the Crew as the Watchman pulls down the periscope.

-Welcome aboard ladies, says the Commander as he looks at Eveliina holding Marie bearing a smile.

-Thank you Captain.

-Commander... corrects the Commander.

==== TORPEDO ROOM, U-3955====

The numbing sound of transformers echoes through the U-boat's hull. Eveliina sits by Marie on a lower berth in the torpedo room. The Commander walks to them and kneels down.

-So what's her name?

-Marie.

The Commander caresses Marie's forehead.

-Hopefully, she'll get to grow up in peace.

-Yes, replies Eveliina not too sure on how to react to the Commander's proximity.

-How old are you?

-17...

-That's how old I was when I embarked on my first patrol, like 5 years ago. When I leave this ship, hopefully we all will, I'll be 17 again... Fucking war... It's like time stopped.

-You're only 22? and a Commander!

The Commander smiles.

-This is my first patrol as Commander. We left Danzig for a training sortie on March 26 and have been playing hide and seek with the Russians since then.

====COMMAND POST, U-3955, DAY====

The Commander gets back to the command post to relieve 1WO.

-All good 1WO, asks the Commander.

-Yes, as you can hear we've switched to diesel about 5 minutes ago to reload the batteries. We should reach the tip of Gotland with 3 hours.

-Great. Rest well 1WO.

1W0 salutes the Commander and starts walking away from the command post, then stops and turns around.

-I must say Commander, it is highly irregular to bring unauthorized civilians on board... Let alone, leaving them unguarded in the torpedo room. You leave me with no choice but to report this in my diary.

The Commander waits a few seconds to gage the 1WO's motivations...

-Relax 1WO... The war is over...

====CAPTAIN'S QUARTER, OFF FÅRÖ ISLAND, SWEDEN, MAY 5, 1945, EVENING====

One by one, the Commander pulls a dozen of compact wooden boxes from his safe and hands them to the Navigator who places them side by side on the Commander's berth. All are sealed and bear an engraved Deutsche Reichsbank eagle on their lid.

-You are sure about the position? asks the Commander.

The Navigator is stunned by the number of boxes.

-Yeah... How much is that? I thought you meant 20-30 kg...

-One hundred kg per box. If we secure 10, that's a ton... We can't risk them seizing it all from us. Not the Russians nor the Swedes.

-Hell no!

-You have to make absolutely sure that we have the right coordinates...

-I double checked with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextant sextant] and triple checked with the lighthouse... We're spot on... 500m in line.

-Right on, answers the Commander as he contemplates the stack of gold.... Oh, and how do we know that 1WO won't come out?

-Engineer is keeping him busy fixing the alternator in the Diesel room.

-I don't like this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Jungvolk DJ] fuck-head. Gives me the creeps.

-He's a fighter, Commander... Well, I'm going to gear up now...

Navigator opens the door to walk out.

-Ok... Last thing... Can you ask Radioman to send an encrypted message to Flensburg with our coordinates. This shall be our [http://www.openstreetmap.org/node/2607088292 last recorded position]...

====SEABED, OFF FÅRÖ ISLAND====

Standing on the seabed by merely 15m depth, the Navigator is scouting the horizon with a battery lantern, trying to count the boxes. His stiff [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_diving_dress diving suit] prevents him from looking up at a wooden box which is plummeting down along his breathing tube. The box hits the side of his helmet and knocks him over on the murky seabed creating a cloud of dust.

====U-3955 DECK, OFF FÅRÖ ISLAND, MAY 5, 1945, DAY====

The Engineer holds the umbilical breathing tube/cord as the Commander dumps the remaining boxes one by one aiming at the fading light below.

-It's getting tighter. Like if he got deeper... warns the Engineer.

-The light hasn't moved... Is he responding?

The Engineer hits the cord twice and waits for a response as the Commander's focus shifts from the bottom of the sea to the rotating beam of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A5r%C3%B6_Lighthouse lighthouse].

Suddenly, the cord is pulled 3 times meaning that the diver requests to be pulled back up...

====U-3955 DECK, OFF FÅRÖ ISLAND, NIGHT====

The 3 officers are now at the ship's stern.

-This gold doesn't belong to us, but it for sure doesn't belong to the Russians nor to the British, nor to the Americans... utters the Commander. So, for now, it shall remain submerged until the three of us agree on what to do with it, right?

-And if one of us disappears? suggests the Engineer.

-Well then the two remaining will decide... replies the Commander.

-And if we all disappear! proposes the Navigator.

At that moment Eveliina pops out of the fin's hatch and climbs down ladder, surprising the 3 men.

-Well lets figure this out later on, now we need to find a way out of here, says the Navigator as he helps the Engineer carrying the diving equipment inside.

-Can I help? asks Eveliina as she passes the 2 officers on the narrow path leading to the stern of the ship.

-No, we're good... Go comfort the Commander... He's in the midst of an existential crisis.

She walks towards the Commander, sitting at the ship's stern, staring at the lighthouse .

-Can I join you Commander? asks Eveliina.

The Commander turns around and smiles at Eveliina.

-Sure... You want to sit down? replies the Commander as he lays his life vest on the steel deck as a cushion. You smoke?

-Ok...

The Commander pulls a couple of "Favorit Zigaretten" and blows a long flames out of his tube lighter to ignite Eveliina's cigarette.

-That's good... We have to save the petrol! says Eveliina as she gently pulls the Commander's hand away.

The Commander lights his own. They look at the lighthouse beam for a while...

-You should go back home Eveliina... The war is over now and Germany is not the place to be, says the Commander. We could drop you off here. This is Sweden. They're neutral. You could be home in a couple of weeks.

Eveliina remains silent for a moment.

-I'm sure I'll find him...

-Even if he made it, which is rather unlikely, he'll probably be sent to a labour camp in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural_Mountains Ural] or even further... For God knows how long...

The lighthouse beam passes right above their heads.

-Then I'll wait... I'm not going back to them. I want my daughter to be wanted... proud. Proud of her mother and proud of her father. I don't want her to grow up ashamed... hiding the fact that her father was the enemy and that her mother was a loose girl...

-Maybe you're right... But a loose girl... That much? replies the Commander teasing Eveliina.

-You know what I mean...

A moment passes. The Commander is uneasy, not sure if he offended Eveliina with his comment.

-You have a wife? asks Eveliina, breaking the silence.

-No... Never even had a real girlfriend.

-What do you mean ''Real''?

-Well like a girl I go out with... Write to... That kind of things.

-But you've been with women before?

-Of course... I'm a seaman.

-You mean prostitutes...

-Yes... Kind of, replies the Commander embarrassingly.

-And did you love them.

-I liked one... She was a Polish girl in Danzig. I think she liked me too.

-And?

-Don't know. When we came back from a patrol, the brothel had been destroyed by an air raid.

Eveliina looks down, the back at the Commander.

-Sorry...

-I don't think she died. Neighbours said all the girls went to the shelter... But no one knows where they went after...

Eveliina kisses the Commander on the cheek.

====NAVIGATOR'S TABLE, OFF FÅRÖ ISLAND, NIGHT====

The Commander and the Navigator are drinking [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ersatzkaffee Ersatzkaffee] while studying a map of Gotland.

-There are two possibilities. Either we try Visby and purchase from a fisherman, which means we have to enter and wait in the straight or we try the base here on Fårö, where there is a base... points out the Navigator.

-We could get squeezed in the straight... But then again, buying from the Swedish Navy...

-Maybe we bribe a seaman...

-In German?

At this moment Eveliina pulls the curtain and walks out of the adjacent Commander's quarters.

-Did we wake you up?

-It's Okay, Marie is sleeping...

-Coffee? Offers the Commander.

-No thanks, I don't drink coffee yet, and it wouldn't be good for the baby... responds Eveliina as she looks at the map.

-You're right, although it's not even coffee, replies the Navigator as he looks at his reflection inside his cup.

-I speak Swedish, if that helps?

Both look at her incredulous...

-How many languages do you speak? Asks the Commander.

-Three. Finnish at school, Swedish at home and German... Well, in you know... smiles Eveliina... and some Estonian, at the fish-market.

-Wow, replies the Navigator.

-So you heard what we were saying, says the Commander.

-Yes, you guys want to sneak onto the island to ''buy'' or ''get'' some diesel from the Swedish Navy. But you don't speak Swedish!

-Basically that's it, answers the Commander.

-How long do you think it will take. I can't really leave Marie for more then 4 hours without feeding her.

-4 hours! I think it'll be at least 12! if not a a whole day... says the Commander.

====U-3955, ELECTRICAL ENGINE ROOM, MAY 6, 1945, DAY====

The U-boat's Engineer ties a last wire to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_pump Breast pump prototype] under the suspicious eye of the Commander.

-And you're sure this will work?

-Yes, it's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lasker Edward Lasker], who was a student at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_University_of_Berlin Charlottenburg's Technical Institute] where I studied who invented this.

-Lasker, the chess player? asks the Commander.

-Yes, answers the Engineer. So you want me to make the demonstration on you or directly on her?

-Well, maybe we'll test on a crewman first.

====SHORE, FÅRÖ ISLAND, MAY 6, 1945, DUSK====

The Commander, the Navigator and Eveliina beach their inflatable boat on the northern shore of Fårö Island.

-Don't worry, she'll be fine... says the Navigator to Eveliina. There are 50 daddies playing mommy on board.

-I've just never left her, replies Eveliina.

-Let's go! says the Commander as he grabs one side of the boat.

The trio takes covers in a wooden patch about 500m north of the Fårö Fyr.

-There should be a road leading to the lighthouse. We can walk along until we hit a cross road. Says the Navigator.

-Do you guys know where we're going? asks Eveliina.

-To get diesel! reply the two guys, looking at each other.

====FÅRÖ FYR, FÅRÖ ISLAND, NIGHT====

[[File:FaroFyr.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Fårö fyr]]

The trio reach the lighthouse and take cover behind rocks, scouting the area for potential vigils. The lighthouse beam intermittently bouncing off a patch of fog over the sea, illuminates the area revealing several barrels sitting at the bottom of the tower.

-Do you think they're full, asks Eveliina noticing the barrels.

-Most likely paraffin for the lamp, replies the Navigator, who looks at the Commander. What do you think?

(Type XXI submarines were initially developed to run using paraffin for air-independent propulsion but the project was abandoned by the Kriegsmarine and replaced by dielsel/electric engines.)

-No... She's not ready... I mean we'd have to run it by Engineer but... Anyhow, strange that the whole set up is left unguarded, says the Commander.

At that moment, light beams flicker through the forest, revealing an incoming vehicle and defining the prospective road.

An [http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terr%C3%A4ngpersonvagn_m/43 M/43 Volvo all terrain vehicle] arrives and stops at the foot of the lighthouse. The two men on board walk out and start calling a name out loud... No one replies... Until a dark shape, lying a couple of rocks away from Eveliina, starts moving. The Commander muzzles her from behind as the Navigator aims his handgun at the Swedish seaman who is slowly standing up, gathering his weapon, helmet and backpack, on which he had been sleeping, and walking towards the vehicle.

-Yeah, yeah... shouts the sleepy vigil as the two others break into laughter.

The tree Swedes sit by the paraffin barrels and pull out a bottle of Akvavit to celebrate the end of the war leaving the vehicle unattended, 10 meters away...

Behind their rocks, the Navigator looks at the Commander, who then looks at Eveliina, still muzzled, then back at the Navigator...

-I guess this is our chance! If we get separated, walk back to the lifeboat and hide. We'll either be there or they'll send another boat to get you.

-What do you mean separated! Let's stay together right, says Eveliina as she pulls the Commander's hand away from her mouth.

On those words, the Navigator notices that one of the Swedes stands up to take a piss against the lighthouse tower.

-Let's go.

The trio climb onto the road and make a loop around the vehicle to approach it from behind, hidden from the Swedish seamen. The Commander pushes Eveliina onto the back seat then climbs over the front seat where the Navigator is busy trying to figure out the starting system.

-You think this is it?

-How would I know...

-Well, they're about 3 seconds away from us... maybe 5 because they're drunk. So you got to get it right the first time. I can't start shooting at Swedes... Plus the war is over.

-Shooting! I thought you guys brought me along because I could negotiate, murmurs Eveliina from the bottom of the back seat.

-Well, change of plans... We didn't know they'd provide us with a getaway car...

The sound of the escaping vehicle steers the Swedes into motion, but the darkness of the Baltic night prevents them from firing a single shot.

====COMMAND POST, U-3955====

Marie is crying as the Engineer and two other seamen desperately try to get her drink from a pierced pouch containing her mother's milk. Radioman kneels in front of her and starts playing the music box. Marie slowly stops to cry, and starts suckling the pouch to the crew's great relief.

====MAIN GATE OF THE SWEDISH NAVAL BASE, FÅRÖ ISLAND, NIGHT====

All lights down, the trio's vehicle is parked a short distance from main gate of the island's Naval Base.

-We're talking not even 10km... They'll be back within less than 2 hours!

-The way they were guarding the lighthouse, maybe we have a shot at getting in.

-It doesn't look like there is a fence besides the gate.

-But where is the depot? Plus how many barrels can we fit in here.

The Navigator looks at the space behind him.

-Like 6 max.

-That's good. We could probably get passed Rugen with that. We just need to know if the Russians reached much further.

====ROAD BACK TO FÅRÖ FYR, FÅRÖ ISLAND, NIGHT====

The trio's M/43 Volvo stacked up to the roof with diesel drums zooms by the 3 seamen they stole it from before they could once again have time to pull their weapons. Confused and concerned about the outcome of the potentially embarrassing situation, the Swedes start walking back towards the lighthouse.

-Did you notice a slipway at the end of the road, asks the Commander.

-No, but it wouldn't make sense that they're wouldn't be one, replies the Navigator.

-Well we have maybe half an hour to get the raft and dump the drums. Eveliina, can you drive?

-Not really... I only drove a farmer's tractor when I was a kid.

-Ok so you get the boat and steer it back close to the lighthouse. Don't forget both paddles and the rope.

-You think it's all going fit on the boat? There was barely enough room for the 3 of us, asks Eveliina concerned.

-We'll tow the barrels.

-But they'll sink!

-Don't worry...

====FÅRÖ FYR, FÅRÖ ISLAND, MAY 7, 1945, DAWN====

-Shit, it's gonna be day before we even leave.

-Hopefully the 3 Swedes are making their way back here and not alerting the base.

-Ok, let's go. Eveliina, to the boat.

-Nav, help me unload then drive the kastenwagen back at least one km up the road and run back. Find a way to stall them when they find it...

All three execute their task in a flash.

====SIDE OF THE ROAD, FÅRÖ ISLAND, DAWN====

The 3 Swedes take cover in the forest as they notice the head beams of their running m/43 pointing towards them. After debating a plan of action, they cautiously walk to the m/43 pointing their weapons in its direction. After a longish standoff, they realize that the vehicle has been empty all along. They debate weather they should report the whole incident... One starts walking back towards the lighthouse as the two others drive back to the base, hoping that the longish watch turnover will get unnoticed...

====OFF FÅRÖ ISLAND, MORNING====

The fin of U-3955 pops out of the water to the great relief of the Commander, Navigator and Eveliina who are arduously rowing with 6 fully loaded barrels in tow. Seeing two full bottle of Akvavit at the bottom of the boat, Eveliina teases the Navigator.

-I see you trusted that the barrels would float but you didn't take any chance with the bottles!

====FÅRÖ FYR, FÅRÖ ISLAND, MORNING====

The Swedish relief vigil finally arrives by foot to the lighthouse, just in time to witness the German U-Boat diving less than 200m from shore.

Incredulous, he starts walking back towards the base...

====U-3955, TURBINE ROOM, MAY 7, 1945, DAY====

The Commander surrounded by Eveliina, Marie and most of the crew are gathered in the turbine room as the Navigator pours Akvavit into the seamen's tin cups.

-[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sk%C3%A5l#Swedish skål]! Shouts the Navigator as he raises his glass to the crew and the girls.

-To all the ''mommies'' on board, pursues the Engineer!

Eveliina stands up.

-Thank you Engineer and thank you all for taking care of my little Marie while I was ashore...

-Our little Marie! shouts a seaman as he mimics holding one of his breast.

The Commander stands up and waits for the commotion and laughter that follows to settle before addressing the crew. At his side stands an uncomfortable 1WO.

-As you know, our country has now officially surrendered... The war is over... We have lost... Although I am still the Commander of this ship, as a renegade officer, I no longer have authority on its crew and therefore cannot unilaterally decide of its faith. Most of you are older than me. Many with families hopefully waiting for them in the motherland, or somewhere in what will be a whole new world.

As some of you know, this ship supports the latest classified technology designed by our country and is praised by our enemies... Former enemies... My instructions were to avoid seizure of this ship at any cost... Sailing it back to Soviet controlled Danzig is in contradiction with these orders. Scuttling the ship in deep enough water to avoid its raising would mean death for most, if not all of us... And we now have a baby on board...

Our only hope is to reach [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bornholm Bornholm], which is under the new German Government's control. Our batteries are now operational and fully loaded which means that we could try the impossible... reach [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexø Nexø] by tonight. This means sailing submerged by at least 15 meters to clear the draft of the Soviet fleet for close to 250 NM. This also mean overriding our oxygen production by more than double its capabilities. So in the best interest of all, I ask of you to lie down, talk a minimum and prey. If we don't make it we'll have to surface in broad daylight... in very hostile waters.

[[Jaffa Citrus|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Hansa Way|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.002]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.002]]
[[Category:The Age of Anne (1943-1953)]]

Jaffa Citrus

2023-12-22T16:56:15Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''Having escaped Italy, [[Isabella]] is smuggled into Palestine on Christmas Eve 1943. With the help of a young Arab boy, she eventually reaches a Moshav farming coop where she is employed until she becomes mixed up with Jewish terrorists.

[[Cannaregio_1943|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[U-3955|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:32.05360, 34.75000; 32.3504, 34.8721; 31.740833, 35.458611
|zoom=9
}}

====PORT OF JAFFA, CHRISTMAS EVE, 1943====

[[File:JaffaPort.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Port of Jaffa]]

The ship carrying Isabella docks in Jaffa. Two British Sailors get aboard. They are greeted by [[Adair]], the ships Irish Captain.

BS#1 
(jokingly as he looks around the deck) 
So what are you bringing from Cyprus? Gorgeous sirens.

Captain 
(looking at his list) 
Oh no, only the dry stuff my friend! Not much actually. Only Indian tea and rice for Trans-jordan.
We're here to pick up a load of citrus bound for Southampton.

BS#2 
(sarcastic) 
Pretty hairy journey to lighten up ones cup of tea! (looking at back at the dock) Here are your crates. They were dropped here this morning. Don't they grow lemons in Cyprus?

Captain 
Well, not as juicy as yours apparently. We would like to load tonight and sail tomorrow. Try to be back home for the new year.

BS#2 
Well I'm afraid that this will not be possible my friend. The port will close as of 9 pm... (looking at his watch) in less then half an hour. So no loading or unloading until Monday 6 am.

Captain 
Well those lemons can't sit here in the sun for 2 more days... they'll get spoiled before we even load them up.

BS#1 
If you'd been stuck in this shit hole like us for the past 4 years, dealing with terrorists and thieves, you'd understand that Christmas is a holly mark that we intend to respect and that the only thing we'll do for the next 2 days, is drink loads of beer and stuff ourselves with turkey. Not count boxes of tea and bags of rice.

BS#2 
We'll clear your crew and seal off the ship though (looking at his watch)... We have to carry a preliminary inspection and stamp the passports. How many aboard? Any Germans or Italians?

Captain 
No, three Indian hands and a Portuguese mechanic. Let me get him to escort you while I get my things in order.

====INTERIOR, SHIP CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS====

The Captain unlocks the door to his room and finds [[Isabella]] hiding behind it.

Isabella 
Are they gone?

Captain 
No, Joao is walking them through the ship. You have to hide here until Monday.

He removes a plank from the wall where gold bars and guns are stashed.

Captain (con't) 
Get in here fast and wait at least 2-3 hours before getting out.

Isabella 
(nervous) 
I don't have a watch.

Captain 
(getting her to hurry) 
Count to 10,000. And don't forget to replace the plank properly....

Isabella 
(getting inside as Captain close the wall) 
OK. But what do I do next... for 2 days.

Captain 
(thinking) 
Can you swim?

Isabella 
(surprised) 
Yes...

Captain 
So wait till just before dawn then crawl to the side of the ship, opposite to the dock towards the back. Let your self hang... and jump! (he continues fixing the plank) If you get caught, don't tell them you were aboard this ship, don't tell them you're Italian either...

Isabella 
But what do I tell them?

Captain 
(short of ideas) 
That you had a fight with your lover and that you wanted to die.

Isabella 
(with her thick Italian accent) 
In English?

Captain 
(pensive) 
Well tell them in Hebrew...

Isabella 
I hardly know any Hebrew...

Captain 
Neither do the Brits.

Isabella 
What about my trunk?

Captain 
We'll find a way

Knocks on the door.

Captain 
(loud) 
Coming! 
(low to Isabella) 
And don't you even think of stealing my gold!

More knocks on the door.

Captain 
(walking towards the door and opening it to find the two British Sailors and Joao.)
Ready folks! Would you care to taste some fine Irish whiskey while doing the paperwork.

BS#2 
Too late for paperwork tonight. We'll just hold on to your passports until the unloading inspection. (looking at his watch and colleague) but we won't say no to the whiskey.

Stuck behind the wall, Isabella is trying not to breath too hard as the 4 men are drinking in the Captain's quarters.

====PORT OF JAFFA, DAWN, CHRISTMAS DAY, 1943====

Isabella throws a bundle of goods wrapped in her clothes from the ship onto the deserted dock. She walks to towards the back, hangs on the side of the ship and drops in the water. She swims to an iron ladder, climbs onto the dock, picks up her bundle and takes refuges next to the citrus crates. She unwraps the bundle from which she grabs a dress, a pair of shoes and a sweater. As she pulls off her wet closes, she hears a cracking noise behind where she finds [[Yasser]], a 15 years old boy hiding.

Isabella 
(in broken Hebrew, surprised, covering her breast) 
What are you doing here!

Yasser 
(in Arabic, scared) 
What? I only took five or six!

He opens up the flip side of his shirt which holds a dozen oranges.

Isabella 
(in Hebrew then Italian, gesturing) 
Turn around!

Yasser realizes that Isabella is naked and that she seems as surprised by their encounter as he is. He glances at her in awe, the turns around shyly.

Isabella (con't) 
(in Italian then English as she quickly dresses up) 
What are you doing here? Hey you can turn around now. What's you name?

Yasser 
(in broken English) 
Yasser. My name is Yasser, Madam Lady.

Isabella 
(in English, extending her hand) 
Don't call me Madam, my name is Isabella.

Yasser 
Why you no clothes? Here danger for lady. Too many British Soldiers and thieves.

Isabella 
I need to get to the center of town. Tel Aviv. Can you show me how to get there... Without being seen leaving the port?

Yasser 
You Jewish lady?

Isabella 
Well, I'm Italian and also Jewish. And you, are you from here?

Yasser 
(half in English and Arabic) 
I'm from desert Madam Lady. I Bedouin.

Isabella 
How old are you.

Yasser 
(in Arabic, showing with his fingers) 
Fifteen.

====JAFFA, CHRISTMAS DAY, 1943====

Isabella and Yasser are walking through the busy streets of Jaffa. Isabella is surprised to see mostly Arabs people and signs in Arabic.

Isabella 
This is Tel Aviv? 

Yasser 
(showing directions) 
No Lady Isabella. This Jaffa. Arab old city. Tel Aviv Jewish city long walking.

People in the streets of Jaffa offer assistance to the couple as the make their way towards Tel Aviv. They buy food, are invited for tea and asked questions about their connection and journey. As they continue their journey, Isabella becomes more and more fearful of European looking people and entrusts her faith with Yasser. Although, she doesn't stand out, she becomes paranoid and hides at the sight of British Soldiers and Police.

A couple of nuns ring a bell next to their convent to gather funds.

Isabella and Yasser spend the night in a Christian convent as she passes for Catholic Italian and pretends that Yasser works for her. Yasser has to spend the night in separate quarters locked away from the nuns.

====TEL AVIV, DECEMBER 26, 1943====

''Isabella and Yasser bump into German Templers around [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarona,_Palestine Sarona]'s fenced colony.''

As they get close to Tel Aviv, Isabella is being directed to a Moshav looking for workers. She convinces the driver to take Yasser along as he also needs work. The driver reluctantly accepts.

====CITRUS ORCHARD, AVIHAYIL MOSHAV, PALESTINE, 1943====

Isabella convinces the Moshav's managers to hire Yasser although they try to find excuses not to hire him (age, language...)

Both are put to work the next day.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

====CITRUS ORCHARD, AVIHAYIL MOSHAV, PALESTINE, 1944====

During the winter months, the moshav workers are subjected to hard work, building irrigation systems and getting the land ready for the spring. Isabella grows more and more concerned at the possibility being pregnant. She asks the moshav manager permission to hike a ride to Tel Aviv to send a [[Isabella%27s_letter_to_Anastasio|letter to Anastasio]] in Australia.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

''Following a the botched bombing of a British radio station by Jewish terrorists, [[Yatom]], a Hungarian Engineer and [[Isabella]] settle on the shore of the Dead Sea until the end of the British Mandate in Palestine, raising [[Moshe]], her newborn son.

====ROAD TO AVIHAYIL, PALESTINE, 1944====

On their way back to Avihayil, 3 more passengers are traveling along in the Moshav's car. They tell the [[Driver]], 22, that this was not the plan and that [[Isabella]] can't ride along. The driver says that she's an Italian refugee woking at the moshav and that she's not a risk.

The car is parked in a lane near the Jaffa GPO, the meeting point agreed upon with Isabella.

Driver 
(to isabella as he sees her approaching the car) 
Get in the back. More people are coming.

Isabella 
(entering, in now better Hebrew) 
Good, you found some workers?

Driver 
(looking in the rearview mirror) 
No, we just have to make a stop along the way to drop these guys.

Isabella 
(innocently) 
Oh, Ok, I don't mind... I enjoy seeing new places.

Driver 
(cutting her off, pointing at 3 men carrying heavy bags) 
Here they are!

The group's [[Leader]], 29, opens the passenger's door.

Leader 
Who the fuck is she?

Driver 
She's from the Moshav. Don't worry, she's an Italian refugee. She just got here.

[[Yatom]], 34 and [[Aren]], 25, sit next to Isabella on the back seat. They smile at her as the car pulls away.

Aren 
(to Isabella, in Hebrew, unpacking guns from one of the bags) 
So you'll stay in the car or you're coming with us?

Leader 
Shut up Aren. She's not going anywhere.

Aren 
(reacting aggressively to Leader) 
Fuck you. Don't you fucking shut me up.

Yatom 
(to the Leader and Aren)
Ok brothers, calm down. (to the driver) What happened?

Driver 
The foreman told me to drive her to the city. I couldn't say anything.

Leader 
(looking back towards Isabella) 
You didn't see us and you won't remember us. Do you understand?

Isabella 
(not understanding) 
Yes...?

Aren 
(to Isabella) 
I'm Aren, this is Yatom and this in front is my big brother (making a sarcastic face), Mein Fuhrer.

Leader 
(rolling his eyes) 
Nice! Why don't you give her your address while you're at it.

Isabella 
(to Aren and Yatom) 
Hi, I'm Isabella. I'm from Torino.

Aren and Yatom smile at her.

====SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVIHAYIL, PALESTINE====

''Car is parked 
Leader instructs Driver to stand by. 
Team carries bombing of radio station 
British police shoots Leader and Driver dead 
Isabella surprises all by picking up the wheel and driving Aren and Yatom out of arms way. 
She brings them to the Moshav to seek treatment for the wounded driver but he dies anyways. ''

The driver slows down the car on top of a hill as they get closer to a steel tower standing next to a one story building.

Leader 
(to the Driver) 
That's it. Just a few more meters. There. (to the others) Ok, lets get out.

Yatom 
(arming his riffle) 
Lock and load.

Aren 
(nervous turning back towards Isabella, in Italian) 
Ci vediamo!

The trio grabs their bags and riffles and run to the back of the building

The Drivers turns his head all around to see if anyone's approaching.

Isabella 
(concerned) 
Do we have to stay here?

Driver 
We're the getaway car. Don't worry. They'll be out in less then five!

====SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVIHAYIL, PALESTINE (LATER)====

A British Army convoy approaches towards their car from the North. One jeep followed by three personnel carrying trucks.

Driver 
(seeing the convoy) 
Shit!

He grabs a handgun from under his seat. Isabella grows nervous as the military jeep drives by and its front passenger glances towards her. The Driver feels relieved when as the convoy passes by without stopping. As he looks into his review mirror, the Driver notices that the convoy is slowing down and that the jeep is turning back towards them.

Isabella 
(terrorized) 
What?

Driver 
(tightening the grip on his handgun) 
They're coming back. Don't say a word.

The jeep stops right behind them and the Officer on the passenger side walks out towards the car. At the same moment, a loud explosion is heard from the radio tower building and the trio escape from the smoking building.

The Driver exits the car and shoots several shots toward the British Army Officer who takes cover behind the car. As a gunfight explodes between all, the Driver is run down by the jeep's driver who's then shot dead by the Leader, leading the jeep to crash into the ditch.

Getting the urgency of the situation, Isabella jumps on the front seat, starts the car and accelerates towards the trio leaving the British Officer uncovered.

At the same time, the three personnel carrying trucks turn around and accelerate at full speed toward the scene. As Isabella reaches the dispersed trio, the Leader is hit to the chest by the [[British Army Officer]] who managed to get a riffle from the wrecked jeep. Isabella leans towards the rear of the passenger side to open the back door so that Aren and Yatom could help the wounded Leader on the back seat. numerous gunshots are now reaching them from the approaching trucks as Isabella yells at Aren and Yatom.

Isabella 
(pressing simultaneously on the gas and clutch) 
Hop on!

Aren and Yatom step on the running boards on each side of the car and grab each other's hands over the roof as Isabella releases the clutch creating a huge cloud of dust concealing their escape as they easily distance the heavy trucks.

====SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVIHAYIL, PALESTINE (LATER & FURTHER)====

Aren leans on the back bench carefully applying water on the chest wound of his is unconscious brother. Isabella looks over her seat and notices blood coming out of the Leader's mouth as Yatom gets in on the passenger's side.

Isabella 
(under shock) 
We gotta get him to a hospital. I don't know where we are.

Yatom 
(looking around) 
I don't have a clue either. But we have to move out of here and fast.

Isabella starts the car.

====INTERIOR, RADIO STATION, ROAD TO AVIHAYIL, PALESTINE====

An employee from the radio station describes the trio to the British Army Officer as Soldiers are putting out the fire lit by the explosion.

BAO 
(on the phone) 
Yes, three men and a woman. One of them most likely wounded... We killed one and we'll bring his body and belongings back to Jaffa tonight... Jewish terrorists... North in a black car. Yes Sir.

====EVENING, SMALL TOWN, EAST OF AVIHAYIL====

Isabella drives the car and its passengers through a small town. Only a few men walk in the streets lit by very few lamp posts. Sign above stores and businesses are unilingual in Arabic.

Aren 
(rising his head from the back seat to look through the rearview window) 
This is a fucking Arab village. We won't find a doctor here.

Yatom 
At least, there doesn't seem to be any English!

Isabella 
(Seeing a bearded old man wearing a turban) 
Let's ask this men if there is a doctor.

Yatom reaches a bag on the back seat floor to cover the guns.

Yatom 
(to Aren) 
Hide the blood.

Isabella slows down the car next to the Arab man.

Isabella 
(in broken Arabic) 
Salam Aleikum

Old Man 
(looking at Isabella and the 3 others) 
Shalom!

Yatom 
(in Hebrew, bending over Isabella to speak through the driver's window) 
Our friend is very sick and we need to bring him to a doctor

Old Man 
(in broken Hebrew, looking over on the back seat at Aren and his brother) 
Unfortunately the doctor only comes here once a week... But, the pharmacist's son lives at the edge of town. He can maybe help out.

Yatom 
Great, that's will do. How can we get there.

The Old Man gives them directions and Isabella drives off.

====EVENING, IN FRONT OF HOUSE/PHARMACY, EDGE OF TOWN, EAST OF AVIHAYIL====

The [[pharmacist]], a 24 Arab looking man in western clothes, is examining the Leader's wound on the back seat of the car.

Pharmacist 
(in English, to Yatom and Aren) 
This looks pretty bad. I don't think we have anything to operate this man here. This is my uncle's Pharmacy. He died two month ago.

Yatom and Aren don't understand a word and turn towards Isabella.

Isabella 
(in English to the Pharmacist) 
Please sir, you have to help us. We have been driving for two hours and he lost too much blood.

Aren 
(in Hebrew to Isabella but looking at the Pharmacist) 
Tell him to do something or I'll kill him.

Yatom 
(to Aren) 
Calm down...(looking towards Isabella) What's going on?

Isabella 
(in Hebrew) 
He's saying he doesn't have instruments to operate...

A woman peaks at the scene from inside the house/pharmacy's window.

Pharmacist 
Bring him inside. We'll try to stop the hemorrhaging until the doctor gets here.

Yatom, Aren and the Pharmacist carry the Leader as Isabella walks ahead opening the house/pharmacy door.

====EVENING, INSIDE HOUSE/PHARMACY, EDGE OF TOWN, EAST OF AVIHAYIL====

Isabella, Aren and Yatom stand next to the Pharmacist as the Leader is resting and banded up on the pharmacy's main table. An older English looking woman comes back from a adjoining room.

English Woman 
(in English, to all) 
I spoke to the Doctor. He should be here by the morning if the roads are clear.

Isabella 
(to the woman) 
Thank you Madam.

Aren 
(to Isabella) 
What's she saying? Is he in danger?

Isabella 
She doesn't know, but she saids the doctor will be here in the Morning. We should leave him here resting.

Yatom 
(in Hebrew to Aren) 
We can't stay here Aren. The Brits are going to bust us.

Aren 
(looking at his brother, then at Yatom and Isabella) 
You go... I'm not gonna let him die alone.

Isabella gets near Aren and hugs him as he breaks a tear. Yatom gives Aren a pat on the back. Aren looks back at him with a smile.

Yatom 
(in Broken English, looking at the Pharmacist and the English Woman as he drags Isabella away) 
Thank you...

Isabella 
(to the Pharmacist and looking towards Aren) 
He's going to stay here until the doctor arrives... We have to get going. Sorry.

====INTERIOR CAR, NIGHT, DRIVING IN PALESTINE====

Yatom 
He's not gonna make it till the morning.

Isabella 
(slightly crying) 
I know.

They both stare at the road.

Isabella 
I have no idea where we're going.

Yatom 
Me neither, let's just drive...

====DAWN, SIDE OF THE ROAD, EASTERN PALESTINE====

Isabella and Yatom are are awakened by goats passing by their parked car in a rocky field. A couple of Arab kids are guiding the herd. At first surprised and apprehensive, Isabella rises her head and smiles as she sees the young kids peacefully walking against the rising morning sun. Still lying down on the back seat, Yatom observes her smiling.

Yatom 
(waking up) 
Where did you learn to drive?

Isabella 
When I was a kid. My father is in the car business.

Yatom 
(thinking he knows) 
Fiat!

Isabella 
He actually sold paint for cars. Every Sunday, we'd go to car shows or races. I started driving on his lap at around 7 or 8. By 13, I think I drove my first lap at Monza, alone in an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alfa_romeo_8C_.jpg Alpha Romeo].

Yatom 
(Rising) 
Monza! Wow.

Isabella 
You know about cars.

Yatom 
Not much. I remember seeing the Monza Grand-Prix accident on the news-reel. (smiling) Where I come from, we're still using horses.

Isabella 
And guns...

Yatom 
That, I actually learned here.

Isabella 
(looking at the kids and goats moving away) 
You think he's dead?

Yatom acknowledges her question with a sorrowful nod.

Isabella 
I don't know what he died for?

Yatom 
Our land. The land of our people. A land for our children.

Isabella 
(still looking at the kids) 
Who's children?

Yatom 
Jewish children.

Isabella discreetly touches her belly looking away.

====MORNING, OUTSIDE THE HOUSE/PHARMACY, EDGE OF TOWN, EAST OF AVIHAYIL====

Two black cars park in front of the pharmacy as a military jeep blocks the back exit. Armed British and Jewish police officers walk out of the cars and knock on the door.

Inside the house, Aren is wakened up by the knocks and looks at the body of his brother lying on the table. As he sees no signs of the pharmacist and of the English woman, he reaches for his bag, but is shot down as he opens it.

The British Army Officer is standing outside the back window holding the smoking gun.

The Police officers storm in at the same moment to find Aren lying on the floor next to his dead brother. The Army Officer walks in at the same moment.

Army Officer 
(looking at the scene) 
He was reaching for his gun in this bag.

The pharmacist walks down the stairs followed by his English aunt.

English Woman 
What happened, I had set him up to sleep while waiting for the doctor.

British Police Officer 
(to the woman) 
Please stay away from the bodies. The doctor's on his way.

Jewish Police Officer 
(in English with a Hebrew accent, to the British Police Officer) 
There is no gun in this bag.

The doctor walks in accompanied by a uniformed policeman.

Doctor 
(looking at the two bodies then at the aunt) 
I thought there was one injured.

British Police Officer 
This one is dead and this one just got shot.

The doctor walks towards Aren to checks his vital signs and examines his wound.

Aren 
(with a very low voice, in Hebrew) 
Is he going to make it.

Doctor 
(in Hebrew) 
I believe that he passed. Sorry. Please don't speak. We're going to try to help you. 
(looking at the aunt) 
Can you bring me distilled water, cloth and iodine. 
(to the Jewish Police Officer) 
Also, cleaned up this table, we're gonna operate right here.

Army Officer 
(approaching the Doctor and Aren) 
I'll need to interrogate him before he dies.

Doctor 
(to the British Police Officer) 
Can you please get him out. Now.

British Police Officer 
(to the Army Officer) 
This is a police matter. Let's step outside.

Army Officer 
They killed one of our men.

Jewish Police Officer 
(helping the uniformed policeman to remove The Leader's body) 
And you got two of them it seems

Army Officer 
(to the British Police Officer) 
Which side is he on?

British Police Officer 
(to the Army Officer) 
Lets step outside sir. Please.

====DAY, SIDE OF THE ROAD, EASTERN PALESTINE====

Isabella and Yatom are driving in the dry landscape. At an intersection, a road sign points to Jericho 5 one way, and to Bridge to Transjordan 15, another way.

Yatom 
(showing the way) 
We should go this way. They won't be looking for us there.

Isabella 
Transjordan?

Yatom 
Across the Jordan River.

Isabella 
I though you didn't know this land.

Yatom 
I don't. I just remember my school books.

====DAY, SIDE OF THE ROAD, NEAR THE ALLENBY BRIDGE====

The car is stopped 500 meters from the bridge. They both stare at a British checkpoint.

Isabella 
(sarcastic) 
They didn't mentioned that Bridges are likely to be guarded in your school books!

Yatom 
(pointing to the south) 
Continue this way. Go slowly. I don't think they saw us.

Isabella 
(wiping sweat off her face) 
I can't take this heat... Where is this leading?

Yatom 
I don't know.

Isabella 
Great!

====DAY, END OF THE ROAD, DEAD SEA====

[[File:DeadSea.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Dead Sea]]

They reach the end of the road and look at each other. The landscape surrounding a vast water plane is eerily dry and no life could be seen for miles away.

Isabella 
Great, water.

She cuts the engine and steps out of the car.

Isabella 
(walking toward the water then removing her shoes and pants only keeping her shirt on)
Don't look!

Yatom 
(stepping out of the car) 
You sure you know how to swim.

Isabella 
I don't know where you guys are from, but us Italian girls, we swim, we drive and we...

Isabella dives in and disappears underwater to resurface seconds later turning her head towards Yatom. She looks at him strangely and starts screaming.

Yatom 
(running towards her.) 
What happen. What happen. Did you hit something?

Isabella 
(rubbing her eye and trying to reach the shore) 
No. This thing is burning. This is not water.

She reaches shore as Yatom helps her out.

Yatom 
You're Ok?

Isabella 
No my eyes are burning. Do something please. Get me the bottle.

Yatom runs to the car and comes back with a quasi empty bottle.

Yatom 
This is all that's left.

Isabella 
Pour some over my eyes. Please. I can't see!

Yatom carefully pours the remaining water on Isabella's eyes and removes his shirt to dry the excess water.

Isabella 
Thanks.

Yatom 
Better!

Isabella 
Yes. I guess. What was that.

Yatom caresses Isabella's cheek with his finger to collect a thin residue off her skin.

Yatom 
(tasting the tip of his finger) 
Salt! He looks at the water. The Dead Sea... This must be the Dead Sea.

Isabella 
Wow. No wonder it's dead. 
(looking uncomfortable) 
I need to wash. This hurts.

Yatom takes the bottle in his hand and empties the last drop into Isabella's mouth.

Yatom 
This is it.

He stare at the sun and looks around.

Yatom 
(looking towards the car) 
You can wash it out with petrol. 
(looking at her) 
Or you can... (half-embarrassed, half smiling) piss on my shirt and wash up with it.

Isabella 
(grabbing his shirt, looking unnerved) 
Let's save the petrol...

====DAY, ROAD AROUND THE DEAD SEA====

Isabella and Yatom are driving along the sea. Isabella is wearing the "wet shirt" as Yatom, shirtless, feigns to smell something.

Isabella 
(slapping Yatom and holding her smile) 
Shut up!

Moment

Yatom 
(looking out the window) 
So what is it you Italian girls do on top driving and swimming?

Isabella 
(holding a smile for a moment before answering) 
We cook spaghetti!

Still looking out the window, Yatom resumes mimicking an odor and both explode into laughter. Seconds later, the car stall and they stare at each other.

Yatom 
Petrol...

====LATER DAY, ROAD AROUND THE DEAD SEA====

Yatom and Isabella are gathering some of their belongings from the car.

Isabella 
You're sure it will disappear.

Yatom 
(grabbing a hand gun from the bag and slipping it under his belt) 
No but we can't leave it here on the road.

Isabella helps Yatom pushing the car into the Dead Sea. They anxiously stare at it slowly sinks.

Yatom closes the bag loaded with riffles.

Yatom 
(grabbing the bag) 
Let's hide the guns somewhere. We shouldn't carry them with us in case we get stopped.

Isabella 
(looking around) 
How will you remember where you hid them?

Yatom 
(walking up hill and looking behind a rock) 
I don't know, we'll mark the spot.

Yatom grabs a small rock and scratches a Star of David on the bigger one.

====LATER DAY, ROAD AROUND THE DEAD SEA====

Isabella and Yatom are walking under the Dead Sea sun. Isabella looks dizzy and stops to vomit. Yatom gently holds her head.

====LATER AFTERNOON, ROAD AROUND THE DEAD SEA====

Isabella is lying on the side of the road. Yatom is over her, casting a shadow over her head.

Isabella 
(with a very low and dry voice) 
I don't feel good.

Yatom 
Rest for a bit. The sun's going to set fast.

Isabella 
(smiling with difficulty) 
How do you know...

Yatom 
(caressing her hair) 
It always sets faster in the south.

Isabella 
(very low) 
From your schoolbooks...

Yatom 
(smiling) 
Yes, from my schoolbooks.

Isabella 
I should have listened more in class.

Yatom 
(placing his finger on her lips) 
Rest now, save your breath.

====EVENING, ROAD AROUND THE DEAD SEA====

The night has fallen and Isabella is sleeping on the side of the road. Yatom is sitting next to her looking at the starry sky when he notices a fire up on the hill. He stands up to get a better look then gently grabs Isabella into his arms and starts walking towards the fire.

====EVENING, BEDOUIN CAMP, DEAD SEA====

Yatom carrying Isabella arrives at a Bedouin family camp. Lose goats, donkeys, chickens and rabbits alert the family gathered around the fire of their arrival. As he gets to near the fire, the father stands and helps him lowering Isabella under an open tent.

Bedouin Man 
(in Arabic) 
Is she hurt?

Yatom 
(in Hebrew, mimicking drinking water) 
She needs water...

Bedouin Man 
(to the women) 
Bring some water.

Three generations of Bedouin women gather around Isabella to provide her with water and care. They signal Yatom and the father to step aside as Isabella slowly gains consciousness. The Bedouin man tells his son to bring tea and food to Yatom as he invites him to sit next to the fire.

====NIGHT, BEDOUIN CAMP, DEAD SEA====

Isabella is lying under the tent and Yatom is sitting next to her.

Yatom 
(gently) 
Better?

Isabella 
(slowly awakening) 
Yes... How did we get here. I vaguely remember being dizzy and thirsty on the road...

Yatom 
I carried you up here.

Isabella smiles at him and looks around the camp.

Yatom 
(handing her a plate) 
You're hungry?

Isabella 
(looking at the plate then sitting) 
Maybe a little.

Isabella picks and choses delicately from the plate.

Isabella 
What is it?

Yatom 
I don't know. I guess it's goat.

Isabella 
(eating very slowly) 
Mmmm.... Good.

Yatom pours tea in a cup.

Yatom 
Tea?

Isabella 
(smiling, accepting the cup) 
Yeah... Thank you... You're so kind to me. I feel like a Princess in the Arabian Nights.

Yatom 
(smiling) 
We're like the Bonnie & Clyde of Palestine.

Isabella 
Bonnie who?

Yatom 
Bonnie & Clyde, they're American gangsters who were running away from the police for months.

Isabella 
And what happened?

Yatom 
(hesitating) 
They got shot!

Isabella 
Nice.

They remain silent for a while.

Isabella 
(looking out towards the moonlit Dead Sea) 
I'm pregnant.

Yatom 
(not knowing how to react) 
Oh...

Isabella 
I was in Jaffa to send a letter to... my baby's father to tell him the news when all this happened.

Yatom 
Where is he now?

Isabella 
Probably in Australia... Or somewhere between here and there.

Yatom 
You were not married?

Isabella 
No... It wouldn't have worked out with my family. He is Greek... Orthodox.

Yatom 
And when do you think that the baby will be born?

Isabella 
If we don't get shot... End of summer I guess.

They remain pensive for a while.

Isabella 
(snapping out of her mood) 
Anyways, one day at the time.

Yatom 
I think I understood that the man offered to bring us to a Jewish farm tomorrow morning.

Isabella 
(skeptical) 
A farm around here?

Yatom 
Maybe I got it all wrong. We'll see.

====DAWN, BEDOUIN CAMP, DEAD SEA====

Isabella wakes up as Yatom is sleeping next to her. She sit on the carpet looking at the rising sun and caressing her belly. After a moment, she looks back at Yatom and lies down by his side.

====MORNING, BEDOUIN CAMP, DEAD SEA====

Isabella and Yatom are dressed in Bedouin outfits. The father is helping Isabella to mount a reluctant Donkey as the women and kids laugh at the situation.

Yatom 
I guess they don't have Donkeys in your village.

Isabella 
City!

Isabella finally gets the Donkey to move.

====DAY, KALYA KIBBUTZ, DEAD SEA====

Isabella, Yatom and the Bedouin man arrive at a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalya settlement] where fields of date trees grow out of the desert. They get to a group of European looking workers.

Yatom 
(in Hebrew) 
Shalom.

Settler 
(surprised to hear Yatom speaking Hebrew) 
Shalom.

Yatom 
(removing his turban) 
Is this a Kibbutz? We're from Tel Aviv and looking for work.

Settler 
(in Russian) 
You're Russian?

Yatom 
(in Russian) 
Bohemia... from Prague.

Settler 
Oh... Then you should go to the mine. They need city people there. (indicating the way) Continue about one kilometer this way.

Yatom 
Thanks. Shalom.

Isabella and Yatom unmount their donkeys and greet farewell to the Bedouin man who gets back from where he came from.

====DAY, ROAD TO KALYA POTASH MINE, DEAD SEA====

[[File:DeadSeaWorks.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Potash Mine]]

Isabella and Yatom walk across the idyllic garden of date trees and other fruits.

Isabella 
I though you were from some village. It's always been my dream to go to Prague.

Yatom 
I am from a village, right next to Prague where I worked. But it doesn't exist anymore.

Isabella 
(looking around the fields) 
I heard that Prague women are beautiful...

Yatom 
Yes, they are...

Isabella 
(breathing the fresher air) 
I like this place...

END OF EPISODE

NEXT IN THIS THEAD

''Isabella and Yatom would marry and Yatom would recognize little Moshe as his son. They would remain in Kalya until 1948 when Yatom would join the new Israeli army and the Dead Sea region would become under Jordanian rule.

In 1946-47, Isabella could have played a role in the discovery of the Qumran Scrolls by a young Bedouin Shepherd.
Maybe a son of the Bedouin who helped Yatom and Isabella.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls

Yatom's czech pregnant wife would have been arrested by the Germans and deported during a raid in his village, Lidice, in the spring of 1942. As he was in Prague teaching at the University at that time, he only found out when he got back home and as he realized that he might never see her again, he made his way to Palestine trough.''

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidice

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

''NOTE FOR FUTURE EPISODE IN TIME 1

THIS LETTER WILL NEVER MAKE IT TO PERTH, AUSTRALIA, AND ISABELLA WILL RECEIVE IT BACK FROM THE BRITISH POST MANY YEARS AFTER THE WAR. THE SHIP CARRYING IT WAS SANK BY A GERMAN U-BOAT OFF YEMEN. IN 2010, TREASURE HUNTERS DISCOVERED TWO SEALED BOXES FROM THE ROYAL MAIL WITH STACKS ON UNOPENED LETTERS. THEIR CONTENT WAS SURRENDERED TO THE ROYAL MAIL WHICH REDISTRIBUTED IT TO THE ADDRESSEES. AS THEY COULD NOT TRACK ANASTASIO IN AUSTRALIA, THEY FOUND THE ADDRESSER, ISABELLA IN ISRAEL. ON HER DEATH BED, SHE ENTRUSTED THE LETTER TO HER CHERISHED GRANDSON, URI, WHO USED ALL IS CONNECTIONS TO TRACK DOWN ANASTASIO (DEAD), PAT (DEAD) AND FINALLY CARLA.''

[[Cannaregio_1943|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[U-3955|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|2.001]]
[[Category:The Clan|2.001]]
[[Category:The Age of Anne (1943-1953)]]

Cannaregio 1943

2023-12-22T16:55:40Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''[[Isabella]] Altaras, 19, moved to Venice from Torino when she was 15 to study sculpture and painting at a prominent art school. She lives with her uncle's family, who are Venetian traders of Jewish descent. She is secretly dating [[Anastasio]] Xanthis, 17, the son of a merchant marine family which moved its operations from the greek island of Kastelorizo to Venice in the early 20's. Anastasio is the first family member to be born in Venice. Isabella calls him her Greek God as she spends endless days painting and sculpting his naked body in various erotic poses. It is the end of the summer in 1943. Mussolini's regime has collapsed and the German Army is about to occupy the northern half of the country.

[[R1a1a|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Jaffa_Citrus|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:45.44461, 12.32558
|zoom=13
}}

====ATTIC OF AN ABANDONED HOUSE, CANNAREGIO DISTRICT, VENICE====

[[File:Cannaregio.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Cannaregio]]

Isabella 
(in Italian) 
Lower your arm a little more.

Anastasio 
Which one?

Isabella 
The one you're leaning on, the left one.

Anastasio 
That's the right one my love.

Isabella smiles as Anastasio lies on a thick wooden table in a dark attic where scattered sun rays penetrate through an opening in the roof.

Isabella 
Now can you get your thingy to be a little more... like bigger.

Anastasio 
Give it a rest my love, it needs time to revive itself.

Isabella 
Well, help it. It was not like that before.

Anastasio 
You want me to touch myself?

Isabella 
If you have to.

Isabella carves the abs of a full size clay representation of Anastasio as he tries to get his penis to grow.

Isabella 
This is my favorite part.

Anasatsio 
I prefer when you do it!

Isabella 
No, not this idiot. Your belly.

Anastasio 
Why don't you come and sculpt the real one instead.

Isabella 
Cause I can't let it dry... 
(admiring her work) 
My Greek God.

Anastasio 
Just five minutes. I need to stretch a little.

Isabella 
We "stretched" like 15 minutes ago.

Anastasio 
Yes but now you got me excited again.

Isabella 
You're getting yourself excited.

Anastasio 
You asked me to touch myself.

Isabella 
I asked you to take the same pause, and your thingy was all wrinkled, what can I say.

====ALTARAS TRADING OFFICE, CANNAREGIO DISTRICT====

The office is located on the ground floor of a commercial building at at the dead end of a narrow street. Isabella's uncle, a man in his sixties, speaks in Hebrew with another man wearing a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kippah Kippah] who is around the same age age. The atmosphere is tense.

Uncle 
I can't leave the business, they are not going to bother with Venice. They need us anyways.

Other Man 
The Italians need us, the German won't.

Uncle 
What about the armistice?

Other Man 
It won't hold. The Germans will be here any day...

Uncle 
They have enough worries in the south, and with the Russians. Venice is safe. It's always been. Anyways, where would we go.

Other Man 
Palestine. The route is still open.

Uncle 
I know the route is open. We're the ones keeping it open. And that's why they need us. Besides, what would we do in Palestine, work in a Kibbutz?

Other Man 
Better then being deported to the north.

Isabella walks into her uncle's office and kisses him on both cheeks. She greets the other man.

Isabella 
(in Italian) 
Hi Uncle. Did you get news from Torino?

Uncle 
(in Italian) 
No, my sweetheart. The Allies have bombarded telephone and telegraph lines throughout Italy.

Isabella 
(worried) 
And the city?

Other Man 
(in Italian) 
Some plants have been hit. Where is your house?

Uncle 
In the south part of the city, they're OK.

The other man looks at the uncle with skepticism.

Isabella 
(to both men) 
And who is being deported to the north?

Other Man 
Us, young lady, us.

Isabella 
But not in Italy. The Pope said he would not allow for Jews to be deported. And what about the King, and the new government?

Other Man 
The Germans don't listen to the Pope and the King is gone...

Uncle 
They won't come to Venice. I know it.

Isabella 
(concerned) 
And Torino?

====PORTO MARGHERA, COMMUNE OF VENICE====

[[Tanos]] Xanthis, 55, owner of Xanthis Mediterranean Lines, is aboard one of his docked ship with his son Anastasio. Also aboard are the Captain, the First Officer and two Italian Custom's Agents. All crew members are Greeks.

Custom Agent #1 
(in Italian) 
What's in it for us?

Tanos 
(in Italian with a thick Greek accent, showing a full pallet of Middle Eastern fruit crates.) 
What more can you carry? How many kids do you have to feed anyways. 
(looking at the younger Custom Agent #2.) 
And you, how old are you? You're Mamma doesn't feed you well?

Custom's Agent #2 
(to Anastasio in Venetian dialect) 
Tell him to stop busting my balls.

Anastasio 
(to CA#2 in Venetian dialect) 
Let it go Francesco. 
(pointing in the direction of his father and CA#1) 
Let them figure it out.

Tanos 
(to CA#1) 
I tell you what. Next week, we have a ship coming back from Istanbul, the Triton, filled with silk rolls. Come with you're wife and let her choose what she wants. Then come a second time with your girlfriend. That will get you some milage. At our ages, sometimes we need a little help to satisfy them.

Custom's Agent #1 
Who knows who will inspect your shipment next week.

====DRIVING BACK TO VENICE ON PONTE LITTORIO====

A caravan of German civilian and military vehicles approaches, escorted by Carabinieri vehicles.

Tanos 
(in Italian) 
One face one race my son. 
(in Greek) 
If the Germans occupy Venice, things will be different. They think they can do it all by themselves. What they don't understand, is that not so long ago, they were still hitting each other with clubs while us Greeks were studying Plato.

Tanos' car is pulled to the side by Carabinieris, to clear the way for the German contingent.

Tanos 
(looking at his son) 
Anastasio, the Triton is scheduled to sail back to Istanbul next week. I've been thinking about taking it all the way to Australia... Once we'd pass Suez, it's all clear until the Indian Ocean... (nodding his head) I don't know son... I don't know...

Anastasio is pensive, as a Carabinieri signals Tanos to move on, then suddenly orders him to stop the car again.

Carabinieri 
(to Anastasio) 
ID!

Anastasio 
(surprised) 
I didn't bring them. I was just accompanying my father to the port for work.

Italian MPO 
(to Tanos) 
ID! 
(to Anastasio) 
How old are you?

Anastasio 
17

Tanos hands his ID in which he slips a 500 lira bill.

Carabinieri 
(looking at Tanos' documents while pocketing the money) 
Did you get your marching orders?

Tanos 
No, I have been...

Carabinieri 
(cutting him short) 
No not you. 
(looking towards Anastasio) 
You.

Anastasio 
(hesitant, nervous) 
Yes, for October.

Carabinieri 
(to Anastasio) 
Bring you're ID and Marching Order to the Tronchetto's station tomorrow before noon. 
(to Tanos, waiving his ID) 
I'll keep those until then.

====ATTIC OF ABANDONED HOUSE, CANNAREGIO DISTRICT====

Anastasio helps Isabella to lower the "Greek God" on wooden beams next to an opening facing a canal.

Isabella 
(looking at the gate then at the sculpture) 
You think it'll go through?

Anastasio peaks outside the gate and looks up.

Anasatasio 
(hanging out the gate) 
It's not the size that concerns me, it's the pulley...

Isabella 
Come back in now, before you fall!

Anastasio 
(pretending to jump) 
Don't worry... I'm an angel.

Anastasio gets back in and cuddles Isabella. She squeezes him tight.

Isabella 
I'm going to Torino. I'm worried for my family.

Anastasio 
You can't travel alone. Trains are being bombarded. Lets wait here, together. I heard that the Americans are moving fast. In a few months Italy will be free and you'll see your parents.

Isabella 
They say that the Germans will invade any-day now.

Anastasio 
The Germans are already here. They're waiting in Mestre. Anyways what's the difference... The Germans or the Fascists.

Isabella 
Anastasio... I'm Jewish.

Anastasio 
And next month I'll be a soldier... Still... I love you Isabella... I won't let you go.

Isabella 
I'm scared Anastasio. I'm scared.

Anastasio grabs her entire body around his arms as she cuddles in.

====ATTIC OF ABANDONED HOUSE (LATER)====

Isabella wakes up in a panic.

Anastasio 
(standing up from under a thick cotton cloth on top of the table where he was previously posing) 
What's going on? Someone's coming?

Isabella 
(looking for her clothes, in a hurry) 
No, I'm late for school. Shit! It's the first day presentation. Why did you let me sleep!!!

She kisses him as she storms down the stairs.

Isabella 
(off screen) 
I'll lock from the outside. Jump out the window!

Anastasio stares at his sculpted twin as he hears her locking the lock.

====MAIN STUDIO, ART SCHOOL, CASTELLO DISTRICT====

Isabella arrives late for the first class of her last year in art school as students unveil their summer projects in front of a group of professors. Isabella settles in and has nothing to show. Professor Vittorio Bertolucci, 62, the newly appointed head of the school looks towards her empty table.

Professor 
Ms Altaras... Did you spend a pleasant summer.

Isabella 
(a little embarrassed as she arranges her messed up hair) 
Yes sir. Thank you.

Professor 
Great. Very glad to see that our students are coming back reinvigorated.

Laughs are heard amongst the students. 

Professor 
(continuing) 
But did you forget to to work on your summer project?

Isabella 
No sir, I actually did work almost everyday. But the size of my achievement prevented me from bringing it in today.

Professor 
(sarcastic) 
Oh. Are you the one who restored the facade of [http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinagoghe_di_Venezia#Scola_Ponentina_o_Spagnola The Schola Spagnola]?

Isabella 
No, Sir. I sculpted a full size human body.

General laugh.

Professor 
(still sarcastic, looking at the rest of the group) 
A full size human body. And where do you keep this body?

Isabella 
In an attic, in Cannaregio.

Professor 
In Cannaregio... In an attic...

Isabella 
Yes sir.

Professor 
And did you name your piece.

Isabella 
(a little embarrassed)
"My Greek God"

General laughs.

Professor 
Well, as we wouldn't want to intrude into the intimacy of your creative process, would you mind bringing your "Greek God" to school next week. 
(pause) 
The still one that is... the still one.

General laughs as Isabella smiles shyly.

====OUTSIDE THE ART SCHOOL, LATER====

Isabella walks out with two other young female students.

Student #1 
(intrigued) 
So who is it?

Student #2 
(teasing her) 
That's why we didn't see you all summer.

Isabella 
(reacting) 
Did you see how he changed!

Student #2 
Who, we don't even know who he is...

Isabella 
No, Bertolucci. Last year he was always going on about my work... Isabella this... Isabella that... And now he acts like a jerk. What happen to Pier Paolo?

Student #1 
Nobody knows... All we know is that Bertolucci is now the school's director.

Isabella 
Great...

====XANTHIS FAMILY HOUSE, RIELLO SANTA SOFIA====

Tanos' wife [[Caliope]], a sophisticated 39 year old woman, is stitching bundles of British Pounds into the lining of a fashionable winter coat. The room is decorated with art deco furniture.

Caliope 
(in Greek as she retreads the Singer sewing machine) 
I will not wear a winter coat in September across the Suez Canal.

Tanos 
(firm) 
Don't you leave this coat for one second! I want you to sleep with it.

Caliope 
Let me figure out what I'll wear at night. Why don't you tell your whore to wear one when she'll come over!

Tanos 
(angry) 
I told you a thousand times that if you and the kids don't leave by next week, they'll take Anastasio away.

Caliope 
Convenient, to use your son as an excuse to fuck her in my house.

Tanos 
(kicking the bed's black lacquered wooden frame with his leg) 
You're fucking crazy. I don't know why I trust you with my money. 
(loud through the door) 
Anastasio... Come up here.

Anasatasio walks into his parents' bedroom.

Tasso 
(showing the displaced bed to Anastasio) 
Sit!

Caliope looks at Tasso with frustration.

Tasso 
(to Anastasio) 
So this is not to be discussed with anyone. Not at the office, not with your friends and especially not with your sisters. No-one will know what the plan is. Not even the the Captain. (pause). You'll stop in Paros where you will get a route change to detour through Larnaca. Although it doesn't make much sense (looking at Caliope), make sure that the Captain follows the instructions. As owner, your ranking when ashore. Once in Larnaca, the Captain and the crew will be requested to come back to Venice on another ship and a new crew from Kastelorizo will replace it. As soon as you sail out of Larnaca, rename the ship "Valletta IV" and switch to a Maltese Flag.

Anastasio 
And who else will be on board?

Tasso 
No one, just the crew.

Silence.

Tasso 
(frustrated and angry at his wife) 
We'll go over the details tomorrow... Go now...

Anastasio looks pensive as he leaves the room.

Caliope 
(as soon as the door shuts) 
Valletta, is this the name of your whore.

====NIGHT, FRONT OF ABANDONED HOUSE, CANNAREGIO DISTRICT====

Anastasio is throwing rocks trying to reach the side shutters of the attic. He continues by calling but no response is heard.

====NIGHT, STREETS OF CANNAREGIO====

Anastasio meanders though the streets of Cannaregio, looking at door numbers and street names. Two Orthodox Jewish men walk by him and quickly disappear into the night. He finally stops in front of number 15.

====NIGHT, OUTSIDE ISABELLA'S UNCLE'S HOUSE====

Anastasio pulls back and notices that one of the rooms on the second floor seems dimly lit.

Anasatasio 
(whispering in crescendo) 
Isabella... Isabella... Isabella...

After less than a minute, Isabella discreetly opens the door.

Isabella 
(dressed in a nightgown) 
Are you crazy... What are you doing here... You're going to wake up the whole neighborhood... What's going on?

Anastasio 
Come... We have to talk.

Isabella 
(looking back inside as a light goes on behind her) 
Now?

Uncle 
(from behind her) 
Isabella... Who is it?

Isabella 
(looking at Anastasio) 
It's all good Uncle... Just a friend from school.

Uncle 
(fading) 
Don't keep the door open. It's dangerous.

Isabella 
(to her uncle) 
It's OK Uncle...I'll just be a minute. 
(to Anastasio) 
They've all gone crazy... Wait for me at the corner.

====XANTHIS FAMILY HOUSE, RIELLO SANTA SOFIA====

Caliope lies sideways on her bed, half naked under her sewed up winter coat, as Tanos sitting next to her, inspects the stitches.

Caliope 
(going through her jewelry) 
Let's go to New York then...

Tanos 
Too dangerous. Even if we'd make it through Gibraltar, they'd sink us when we'd cross. And we have family in Australia... It'll be easier.

Caliope 
(arguing) 
'''You''' have family in Australia... You want to send me to some people you haven't even seen in 30 years... Farmers...

Tanos 
Fishermen.

Caliope 
(sarcastic) 
Great.

Tanos stands up and looks out the window.

Tanos 
You know what it took me to rebuild from scratch here... Ten years of drifting the Mediterranean on a rusted trawler. Then another twenty getting getting bum fucked by Italian bureaucrats... Only now is the fleet the size it was when we left [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kastelorizo Kastelorizio]. I don't want to lose it again. It broke my father, it broke my family. It's not going to break me.

Caliope 
You make no sense. That's just what you're doing... Breaking up your family.

Tanos 
Only for a few months, then you'll all be back... A year at most... Anyways we can't sail if I don't have my passport. I told you.

Caliope 
Then we'll wait.

Tanos 
If we go to the station they'll keep him... If we don't go, they'll show up here the next days...

Caliope glances around her elegant bedroom.

Caliope 
(in disbelief) 
Australia...

====NIGHT, STREETS OF VENICE====

Isabella gets to Anastasio who's smoking a cigarette on stairs leading to a canal.

Isabella 
(rushed) 
Let's go... I'd don't want the neighbors to see us...

They walk along the narrow canal. The city is sleeping.

Anastasio 
My father wants to send me with my mother and sisters to Australia next week. He saids if I don't go they'll send me to Germany to fight for Hitler.

Isabella 
Australia?

Anastasio 
We have family there...
(formal) 
I wan't you to come with us.

Isabella 
(surprised, gently grabbing his neck) 
Anastasio my love, this is not going to work... I love you and we had a great time... But your still a kid. I have to go back to Torino...

Anastasio 
I'm like 2 years younger than you...

Isabella 
(correcting him) 
Three!

====BY THE DOCKS, CANNAREGIO====

Anastasio and Isabella's sit on the edge of a dock as they look at the mainland across.

Isabella 
I haven't seen my family in over two years. I heard the Allies have bombarded Torino and now they're saying that the Germans will get there any-day. I'm worried for my family. They're all I have... I can't leave them.

Anastasio 
You'll see them again... Soon the war will be over, and then we can come back. We'll have to come back anyways for my father.

Isabella 
You're father is staying.

Anastasio 
Yes, they took his passport yesterday at a check point and he saids the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardia_di_Finanza Customs Guards] will find it suspicious if he's on the ship with us. But I think that he doesn't want to abandon the business... And my mother thinks it's because of his mistress...

Isabella 
And me? They would't let me leave either.

Anastasio 
We'll hide you... (smiling) From my mother...

They continue staring across the bay for a moment in silence until a distant sound of trucks and marching boots reaches them. They look over to see a caravan of headlights heading to Venice on the Ponte Littorio.

====GRAND CANAL, VENICE, SEPTEMBER 10, 1943====

''A small Italian Navy patrol boat sails through the Grand Canal with an Italian and several German Officers on board as Wehrmacht Soldiers line up in front of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezia_Santa_Lucia_railway_station Ferrovia] (train station).''

Italian Officer 
(through a megaphone installed on the roof of the patrol boat.) 
Attention, Attention. 
''This is a message from the Military High Command in Rome: "Today, on this 10th day of September 1943, we have requested the assistance of the German Government to help us in our fight against our enemies both outside and inside our country. All Italian citizens are to comply with the authority that we have extended to the German Army, Navy and Air Force."''

Attention, Attention. 
''This is a message from the Military High Command in Rome...''

====RADIO LONDON BULLETIN====

''This is London Calling... As British and Canadian forces are getting closer to Rome the Italian Army, Navy and Air Force have not only surrendered but will now join the fight against Fascism and Nazi Germany. Scores of Italian Navy ships have fled ports all over Italy amids heavy bombing from the Luftwaffe as they tried to reach Allied controlled Northern Africa ports. It has also been reported that the former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was snatched from his captors in the Italian Alps by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Sasso_raid German commando] this past Sunday at dawn...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

====INTERIOR, PUB, LARNACA====

Anastasio and Isabella are sitting in an Irish pub with a bearded man in his 60s, [[Adair]].

Adair 
So Tasso had a son!

Anastasio 
(proudly introducing Isabella)
Yes, and this is Isabella my fiancé.

Adair 
(smiling) 
Well now I recognize your father's good taste. I haven't seen him in over 20 years... and who is your mother? (looking at Isabella) Venetian?

Anastasio 
No, she's also Greek. From Areopoli.

[[image:Flag_of_Malta_(1943).jpg|thumb|right|240px|The "new" Flag of Malta bearing the George Cross (1943)]]

Adair 
Maniatika... I once had a fling in Piraeus with a woman from Mani. Crazy girl... Had to leave port when her brothers found out... Crazy! (emptying his mug and looking at the barman) Three more! (lower to Anastasio as foam drips from his mustache) So I picked up a new flag in Malta as requested in the message I got from your father. Good thing you didn't just sew one up, they just changed it! King George awarded them a "George" (mimicking quotation marks with his fingers) Cross for swallowing the Luftwaffe's jelly beans. I also have the registration from the "Valetta IV" which was sunk by the Italians in June. We found it floating in a sealed case not too far from bodies we were picking up.

Anastasio 
That's great Mr Connelly. My family is and will forever be grateful.

Adair 
Your father and I go back to the Great War. That's when we learned our trade. (smiling) Well, some aspects of it.

Anastasio 
There is one more thing... Can I call you Adair?

Adair 
Of course son.

Anastasio 
(looking at Isabella) 
Well, my family does not know about Isabella. She's been secretly sailing with us since Venice and we can't just continue like this through Suez and all the way through Australia.

Adair 
Beware when exiting the Red Sea then crossing the Straight of Malacca. No Germans but plenty of pirates...Worse! Better to keep her away from their sight also.

Anastasio 
Well, we've been discussing and since we know you're sailing to Jaffa... Would you mind taking her along?

Adair pulls back on his chair, pensive.

Adair 
(looking at Isabella) 
Are you Jewish?

Isabella 
Yes

Anastasio 
There is no way, I can convince my family to take her along... And yet I have to get them to Perth.

Adair 
(looking at Isabella)
And where is your family?

Isabella 
Turin...

Adair 
Well you can't go back now... But there is no way the Brits will let you into Palestine. They're turning away boatloads of refugees from the Balkans.

Isabella 
I'll hide... I managed to hide from his mother, so I can sure hide from some soldiers. (assertive) I can disguise as a man... As one of your crew.

Adair 
Wait till you see my crew... (looking at Anastasio) Son... you two are crazy. But this is a crazy world. We'll find a way.

Isabella 
(joyful, kissing Adair on his bearded cheek) 
Adair, Grazie Grazie Grazie... Mille Grazie.

Adair 
(turning red) 
And who will pick you up there.

Isabella 
(confident) 
I'll find my way... it is our Promised Land after all.

''Alternative: Cyprus Internment Camp''

''As a Jew, Isabella would be expected to spend a couple of years in a Cyprus Camp prior to be allowed into Palestine....''

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_internment_camps

====NIGHT, HOTEL ROOM, LARNACA====

Anastasio and Isabella make love. She cries as she reaches an orgasm.

Anastasio 
(still in an embrace, moving hair away from her face)
I'll be back baby. I'll be back.

Isabella 
(controlling her tears) 
I really love you Anastasio... Really... I never felt that for anyone before.

Anastasio 
(gently grabbing her face) 
You promise you'll write me as soon as you settle somewhere?

Isabella 
(nodding) 
Yes, I promise.

Slightly moving away from the embrace.

Isabella (continuing) 
(smiling as her last tears drop) 
But you'll forget about me as soon as you meet one of these kangaroo girls...

Anastasio 
(smelling her tight) 
I'll masturbate to the memory of this incense until I scent it again...

He then kisses and caresses her belly as she grabs his head and stares at the ceiling.

====LARNAKA, CYPRUS, DECEMBER 1943====

A cargo ship is leaving port en route to Palestine. Isabella stands at the stern, looking at the disappearing shore, holding her belly.

[[R1a1a|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Jaffa_Citrus|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.013]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.013]]
[[Category:The Age of Anne (1943-1953)]]

One Night in Bangkok

2023-12-22T16:54:14Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''As the letter continues its journey, Uri lands in Bangkok and inquires about new options to elude surveillance.

''In Bern, Carla's mental state is being questioned by her superior as no trace of her ever meeting Uri can be found.

[[ISO 3166|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Принцесса Атех|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: -28.06585, 117.85283; 13.7098655,100.6274988; 47.3527, 8.5706
|zoom=2
}}

====PERTH, AUSTRALIA====

The postman walks by an empty lot, stops for a moment, checks the address on the registered mail envelope from the UK, walks further past a parked fully equipped Honda Goldwing motorcycle and enters a Pawn Shop. A fat man in his mid-forties sits on a stool behind the counter—desperatly trying to pull a tape stuck in a VHS player.

-Wow, Ricky. What have you got for me today? Looks formal! murmurs the shop owner as he catches a glimpse at the postman's envelope.

-Not for you Bob, actually these are.

The postman hands a stack of letters, mostly government mail, to the shop owner.

-Shit, thanks for the good news. Next time, drop them in my smoker outside.

-How I'm I going to keep my job if you don't pay your taxes, teases the postman.

-That's actually my plan Ricky. Why do you think we're going out of business. Because of all your [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon.com Amazon] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBay E-Bay] deliveries.

-Well, I'm sure you're doing well, replies the post-man. Isn't this a new motorbike you got parked outside.

-Not new. But a shiny one, right! replies the shop owner still busy levering a screwdriver in the VHS player.

The postman smiles at the owner and gets ready to leave.

-By the way Bob, 226 Darwin Road, that should be right next door right?

-Well here is 224 and there's nothing till Howie's petrol station, which is what?

-320.

-Guess they screwed up then. What's the name?

The postman peeks at the envelope again.

-[[Anastasio|Anastasio Xanthis]], 226 Darwin Road, Perth, Australia. No postcode.

-Never heard of that name...

-Ok then, thanks, good luck with the technology, replies the postman as he opens the door.

And just before the door shuts, fat Bob adds.

-I think I remember that there were issues with some neighbors, Greeks I think, regarding an unsettled land dispute when my old man bought the building... There are foundations a few yards from the road there. I don't know.

-Well. Need a signature, so I guess this one will go back to England!

The postman leaves the Paw Shop and notices the cut out rusted 45 gallon drum with a grill just outside.

====URI'S CABIN, CARGO SHIP, KHLONG TOEI PORT, THAILAND====

Standing in front of his cabin's mirror, Uri is putting the final touches to the light make up he's applied on his and cheekbones. He straps a sports bra around his shaved chest, wears a light silk blouse on top then fixes a glitzy baseball cap onto his head before grabbing his shoulder bag and exiting the room.

====CARGO SHIP BRIDGE, KHLONG TOEI PORT====

On the dimly lit bridge, Uri, meets a sailor by an accommodation ladder which as been lowered on the sea-side of the cargo ship. Uri embraces the sailor then walks down the stairs to an idling junk which sail into the steamy Thai night.

====BURGHÖLZLI CLINIC, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND====

Carla sits across from [[Jan|Dr Jan G. Grulc]], a psychiatry intern.

-I understand that you are from Bern... Any reasons why you chose to come all the way to Zurich.

Carla hesitates a little, looking at Lake Zurich through the window, then back at Jan.

-In case you decided to keep me, I though the view would be nicer. Always felt a little entrenched back home!

Jan continues listening, leaving a long silence. Carla, feeling a little uncomfortable, plays with her nails, then continues.

-The truth?

-If you want.

-Bern is a small town. Didn't want people to know I was seeing a shrink.

-When you say back home, what do you mean. What is home for you.

-Definitely Bern. That's where I went to school. I mean University. That's where all my friend are.

Jan reads through his file.

-You wrote here that you were born in Afghanistan. Youn want to talk about this?

-My parents were hippies. I was born in a VW bus.

====TRAIN BACK TO BERN, SWITZERLAND====

Carla stares at the unfolding scenery.

====BUDGET HILTON, BANGKOK, THAILAND====

Wearing a baseball cap and her androgynous attire, Uri registers at a run down hotel, near Rama IV Road. He drops his small backpack on the desk to pull his money and ID. The young female attendant opens his Canadian passport.

-Pamela Sacred?

-That's right!

-So, how many nights?

Uri looks at the decrepitude around the hallway, then answers.

-One night... for now. Then we'll see.

-600 Bath!

Uri pull 6 bills and hands them to the attendant.

====CARLA'S APARTMENT, BERN====

Carla is on the phone with Franziska.

-No, because they question the fact that he even exists or that I actually had any contact with him.

-And what about the bike accident on in front of your house and the man found on the Bubenbergrain?

-Well, the bike accident, no one reported it and the Bubenbergrain man, I don't know... They think that because you told me about it when I asked you, I might have, like imagined the whole thing... extrapolate from there.

Franziska doesn't answer right away, leaving an awkward silence on the line.

-And what do you think?

-What, you think I'm crazy too?

-No... no... relax. But we both know that this whole Russian investigation you've been working on has put under a tremendous amount of stress.

-Doesn't mean that I would suddenly start imagining things. This is crazy... says Carla as tears build in her eyes. I'm gonna go now, I'm tired.

-Carla, don't hang up... I'm trying to help you here...

Carla hangs up and sits on the floor holding her phone which starts ringing back until she shuts it down and lets hers tears flow down her cheeks.

====CHAT PLASTIC SURGERY CLINIC, BANGKOK, THAILAND====

Doctor Chat, a Thai man sits behind his glass desk as he is briefing [[Uri]] about the logistics of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_reassignment_surgery sex reassignment surgery].

-SRS is a complex surgical procedure which needs a specialized set of skills and knowledge for transforming a male to female with the best possible aesthetic appearance and function. The concept is to make the new genitalia look as real as a biological woman in every way. I'm very happy with my artistic techniques of non-penile inversion which makes me very flexible. I can assure you that I will apply my skills and experience to achieve good sensation, natural look of female genitalia and perfect function for intimacy with your partner.

Uri nods with a grin. The doctor's nurse, who has been standing by him, invites Uri to the lean on the examination table in the adjacent room.

-Miss Pamela, please remove you clothes so that Doctor Chat can examine your body.

As Uri undresses, the doctor approaches and comments.

-Oh, you are circumcised!

-Yes, as you can see. Replies Uri, perplex. Is there anything wrong.

Doctor Chat grabs Uri dick and pulls it, then grabs his balls.

-Well, the more skin we have to work with, the better the results are. Scrotal skin is the most important and that's good but penile and prepuce skin is crucial to form the lip-like fold. In your case, we have no foreskin and not that much penile skin...

Uri gets kind of defensive.

-Well, when it get hard, it extends to a normal size....

Back at the doctor's desk

-Now you know that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Professional_Association_for_Transgender_Health WPATH] regulations demands that you provide us with 2 letters from professionals before we can proceed. As I understand that you did not do this prior to leaving Canada, we can provide you a list of accredited psychiatrists we work with here in Bangkok.

Chat hands a printed spreadsheet to Uri.

-Here you go Miss Pamela. Don't forget to be convincing. If not, they might not give you the letter.

[[ISO 3166|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Принцесса Атех|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.010]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.010]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

ISO 3166

2023-12-22T16:54:00Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''We left Uri and Carla in a Brig hotel room after he stepped out of the Orient Express on which Najwa and Alexander were also traveling.

''Back in Jerusalem, Aaron who has been notified about Uri's whereabouts from US intelligence, is now confronted by politician with a clear agenda.

''In Bern, Carla has been pulled from the Nikitin files and is now being summoned by the Federal Counsel.

''Uri is seeking extreme measures to elude all who are tracking him.

[[CCTV|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[One Night in Bangkok|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:51.524722, -0.111944; 31.7801929, 35.2012948; 46.9448311, 7.4426041; 35.93733, -5.55388
|zoom=4
}}

====DAWN, LONDON CENTRAL MAIL CENTER====

The yellow striped red van carefully pulls back to dock at gate 17. Two Royal Mail employees—one leaning on his Pallet jack's handle, the other taking advantage of the open gate to smoke a cigarette—and a supervisor, wait for the driver to open the van's back door. Inside, a wooden box is securely strapped to a pallet.

====MAIN SORTING ROOM, LONDON CENTRAL MAIL CENTER====

A loud rumbling noise echoes throughout the facility as letters tumble inside a gigantic drum called the ''Segragator''. The supervisor take pictures as the two employees cut the metal straps then dismantle the wooden box which has been lowered next to an oversize sorting table. The crews of experienced [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sorter#Noun sorters] which has been assembled by management for the unusual task are fascinated as they discover the rusty trunk. The supervisor moves in to lift the lid. The trunk is filled with letters, most of them intact.

One by one, the content of the trunk is carefully laid out on the table and each letter is photographed—recto/verso. The letters are then placed in a different section on the table according to their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2 country code]. As all mail should be destined to Australia—the [[The_Zytglogge_Mission#DAY.2C_GULF_OF_ADEN.2C_ARABIAN_SEA|sunken ship]] was bound for Melbourne—letters are sorted by addressers. The first section handles the UK and Europe excluding Russia; another, The United States and Canada; a third one, the rest of the Americas and Africa; a fourth one for Asia excluding Russia; and finally the fifth section for the ex-USSR and for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-3 countries which have disappeared].

====SORTING TABLE, LONDON CENTRAL MAIL CENTER====

The sorter responsible for section 5 pulls out a letter emanating from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nigsberg Königsberg], Prussia.

-Prussia! Isn't that Germany? Shouldn't it go to section 1.

-Well where in Prussia, could also be Poland, answers the sorter at section 1.

-Königsberg, sounds German to me...

-That's Kaliningrad. The Russians kept that parcel of land. Stays in your pile mate.

====SECTION 4, SORTING TABLE, LONDON CENTRAL MAIL CENTER====

Now that all the mail has been sorted by global regions, each section labels its letters according to their new country code. The sorter at section 4 pulls one out.

-I got one here on that said Palestine, but with the Queen's face on the stamp.

-What city? asks the man at section 1, who seems to be the most knowledgeable.

-Avhayil...

-Avhayil? No idea. What's the name?

-[[Isabella|Isabella Altaras]], Avihayil Moshav, Avhayil, Palestine.

-Show me.

The man from section 1 hands [[Isabella's_letter_to_Anastasio|the letter]] to the one from section 4 who reads out loud.

-Avihayil Moshav... That's like a Kibbutz. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2:IL IL].

====PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICES, JERUSALEM====

[[Aaron]] is mulling over his thoughts, standing by a window overlooking the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wohl_Rose_Park Rose Park], when enters a man in his early forties.

-Mr. Hanin. Thanks for coming to meet me. [[Ben|Ben Zimmer]], says the man as he shakes Aaron's hand.

-Pleasure to meet you.

-Can I get you something?

-No, that will good. I just had a quick lunch.

-Yes, sorry I couldn't free myself earlier, we had a Cabinet meeting. Please sit.

The two men sit in the office's lounge area.

-So, how can I help you, Mr. Zimmer.

-Well, let me go straight to the point. Uri Yatom, as I understand, one of your top men, has run Awol.

Aaron hesitates a moment.

-Well, unless he's hiding in the Old City, I don't know how the Minister in charge of Jerusalem could be concerned? If I may say.

-Well, in this particular case, I'll wear my other hat, as Minister of Diaspora, replies Ben.

Aaron looks skeptical.

-I understand that you might not wish to, and that you are not compelled to share the whereabouts of your operatives, but you might be interested to know where this is going, at least from our end. We're all working together after all.

Arron remains unmoved as Ben stands up to grab a file bearing the Knesset's logo.

-In a few weeks, a group a people, with all kinds of agendas, will get together to study what composes our population. As you might well understand, this will steer controversy within as well as outside of our borders.

Aaron grabs the document to look it over.

-Our administration, has a clear view on this and on the policies regarding Aliyah. Which is status quo, at least in terms of quotas! We have enough enemies at the gate, to start creating further dissension within.

-Ok, but I still don't understand how my agency or one of my operatives could be of any assistance or interest to you, or this future commission?

Ben sits back at his chair, pulls an electronic cigarette from his jacket's pocket and starts puffing.

-Are you familiar with the myth of the Khazars?

-Vaguely, I remember reading something about it.

-Well, it appears that our friend Uri has not only read something about it, but fully embraced the theory.

-What do you mean?

-We also have our network, independent of your services, based on civilians and charity groups...

-Yes, please cut to the chase, we are well aware of these networks...

Zimmer sounds a little annoyed by his guest's tone and adopts a patronizing one.

-Well, these networks, which you're apparently familiar with, have reported to us, that a man, fitting the profile of Mr. Yatom, has been digging deep into his family roots, sending all sorts of alarms...

Aaron cuts him off abruptly.

-You have a mole in Mossad!

-A mole? As I mentioned earlier Mr. Hanin, we're all working together on this and as far I understand, Mossad is part of this administration.

-We serve Israel, not a particular party or a particular policy. With all due respect, you are here today in this office, Mr. Zimmer, but tomorrow it'll be someone else, with a different agenda, but we'll still be at our post... We can't swing with the wind.

Zimmer leans forward, getting closer to Aaron.

-Listen Aaroon, we came to you because we know that you have your own grievances with the way things have been working at Mossad recently, and before changes are made, at the top, we want to make sure of who we want to work with...

====DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BERN====

[[Carla]] is sitting at her desk on an early Monday morning. Her boss, a woman in her late 50s, knocks at her door left ajar, then enters.

-Hi Carla... Good to see you back. How do you feel?

-Great. Thanks. Had a fantastic week and weekend. Feel like new.

-Listen, about Moscow... You know we'll have to talk about this.

-Yes, tell me when.

-Well, I'm not sure why but I'm not going to be involved. You will be called directly by the Palace, I believe later today.

-Wow.

-Yes and in the meantime, I have been asked to relieve you from the ZIB and all files related to [[Alexander|Nikitin]].

-Well, I was kind of expecting this... But just to know, who is this coming from?

-The Federal Counsel.

-Ok... So what should I do in the meantime...

-For the rest of the day, just maybe transfer everything you have and maybe write a short report.

-To who?

-To me for now.

====DECK OF THE SHIP, STRAIGHT OF GIBRALTAR====

[[Uri]] looks at the lights of Tarifa, Spain, as the cargo ship ''' Атех''' on which he sails passes the straight into the Atlantic Ocean.

====CLIPPER ROUTE, SOMEWHERE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN====

Uri sits at a makeshift picnic table set on deck of the ship. He wrote the first letter, '''C''', but stares at the layers of clouds in search of inspiration. An Eastbound plane leaves a long trail in the sky. Uri starts [[Uri's letter to Carla|writing]].

[[CCTV|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[One Night in Bangkok|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.009]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.009]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

CCTV

2023-12-22T16:53:38Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

[[File:CCTVLogo.png|thumb|right|240px|China Central Television Logo]]

''CCTV are the initials which form the logo of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Central_Television China's Central Television], a network of 22 channels broadcasting 24 hours a day. It is also the acronym for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-circuit_television Closed Circuit Television], a code name which used to be posted next to (no) vacancy signs outside motels on American roads in the 80s and 90s promoting the availability of porn films in the rooms. Today, it is associated with the increasingly large number of surveillance cameras installed on the streets of western capitals and more importantly, the ten million cameras monitoring China's 1.3 billion people.

''Stepping down from your flight at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Capital_International_Airport Beijing's Capital Airport], your facial features are first captured, measured and recorded as an immigration officer scans your passport. A centralized network of over 10 million cameras using [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_recognition_system Facial recognition system] will then track your every move until you check out at the end of your journey. CCTV cameras are on the streets, in elevators, lobbies, movie theaters, karaoke bars and on hundreds of battery operated drone helicopters silently hovering above China's megalopolis.

''After a successful mission in Las Vegas and Silicon Valley, infiltrating the contingent of Chinese executives. [[Jouni]]'s courting abilities are once again put to use by US intelligence to penetrate the workforce of a Chinese classified surveillance program named TNI (Target Node Identifier) to be implemented in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS BIOS] software of all computers manufactured in China.

[[The Old Man and the Sea|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[ISO 3166|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:40.0800, 116.5844; 39.91246, 116.45679
|zoom=10
}}

====BEIJING CAPITAL AIRPORT====

[[Jouni]]'s uptight expression matches the passport photo displayed next to the live capture of her face on a bulky screen as she stands at the immigration counter.

====CCTV MAIN SERVER, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY, UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, CHINA====

An algorithm is created with Jouni's facial feature and a log of her movements from the airport to her hotel room floor is unfolding.

====THE OPPOSITE HOUSE HOTEL, BEIJING====

Jouni pours cleansing lotion into her palm and gently applies it on her face to remove a layer of seamless asymmetrical make up.

After a long shower, she wears a hooded sports suit and sneakers before exiting her room. A series of CCTV cameras alternate between her floor, to the elevator to the lobby, in showing her stretching without ever revealing her hooded face until she exits the hotel for a run.

====3RD RING, BEIJING====

[[File:CCTV_HQ.jpg|thumb|right|480px|CCTV HQ]]

Jouni jogs under the elevated 3rd Ring expressway leading to the the Central Business District. After passing in front of the landmark Chinese Television Building, she find the designated dead spot, clear of CCTV coverage. She reaches the top of a steel beam where she find a MicroSD drive in a zip-lock. She inserts it in her phone which reboots, then dumps her hoodie over the steel beam and melts into the pedestrian traffic walking into the Beijing subway.

====WESTBOUND ON LINE 1, BEIJING SUBWAY====

Sitting amongst hundreds of commuters, she pulls her phone to see the status of the ongoing reboot then plugs her headphones to a mini mp3 player. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascenseur_pour_l%27%C3%A9chafaud_%28soundtrack%29 Miles Davis] starts playing. Jouni dozes off from jet lag as shes watches the passing stations: Dongdang, Wangfujing, Tiananmen, Tiananmen again, Xidan... As she fades away, her thoughts meander around her findings during her trip to the Baltic Sea. This old sailor who mentioned a baby on a submarine. Could this really be her mother's story? What was she listening to on these noisy radio broadcasts from around the world? Why has she been kept in the dark her whole life by her father? Why was her mother abandoned by her own mother and why did she died leaving a daughter, stuck with the same burden to find her roots... A subway employee shakes her shoulder. Pingguoyuan Station. End of the line. Jouni missed her stop.

====HANOVO CORPORATE CAMPUS, HAIDIAN DISTRICT, BEIJING====

Still in her running gear and with her headphones now plugged to her phone, Jouni pretends to be in a remote conversation by main entrance the Hanovo Headquarters. As she paces around the sidewalk, casually talking to herself, she discreetly points her phone in the direction of employees exiting the building while running the freshly installed facial recognition software to ID her target. After over an hour repeating the same routine to her imaginary speaker, a nerdy looking guy in his late twenties holding a backpack exits the building, not mingling with others. This is her man. Jouni hangs up her ''call'', then start walking, tailing her target.

====SUMMER PALACE PARK, HAIDIAN DISTRICT, BEIJING====

The Chinese man crosses the pedestrian bridge over Kunming Lake as Jouni, now slowly jogging, passes him then stops a few meters ahead. Looking exhausted from her run, she turns around and gives a fatal look to her oncoming target.

-Excuse me... I started running and I think I got lost...

The young man stares at the archetypal Western bomb in awe.

-Do you speak English? continues Jouni.

He stares at her with a grin, then answers with the only English word that comes out... -No...

Jouni tries to hide her astonishment. That's the only thing that wasn't planned. How come the key software engineer of one of the largest computer maker in the world can't speak a word of English? Apart from ''No''!

-Oh... is the only word she can utter as she tries find a way out, or more precisely, a way in.

Seeing young couples crossing the bridge hand in hand, she gives another killer smile to the young man then grabs his hand. No more words are exchanged, but the newly formed couple merges into the other lovers strolling on this early Spring afternoon.

====BENCH, SUMMER PALACE PARK====

As the odd couple sit at a park bench staring at the lake, the man gets an idea and launches a voice translation app on his phone.

-我的名字是李星, 我可以問你叫什麼名字？

The phone translates.

-My name is [[Li-xing]]. What is your name?

He then passes points the phone mic towards Jouni's mouth. She hesitates a few moments, then answers.

-My name is Sophie.

After a few seconds, she is surprised not to hear her assigned name in the uttered translation: Wǒ de míngzì shì liáng liúróufēn.

Li-xing smiles as he pronounces he name. -Liúróufēn

-No, Sophie...

-Ohhh, Sū fēi!

Jouni smiles. The conversation continues through the device. Some aspects, lost in translation.

====OUTSIDE THE HOLIDAY INN HAIDIAN, BEIGING====

Still exchanging through the device, Xing and Jouni arrive in front of a Holiday Inn hotel.

-Well, thank you very much Lee Ching for rescuing me... I was completely lost.

-It was my pleasure.

-Ok, so it's a date. Tomorrow evening for Beijing duck!

-Yes, I'll pick you up at 19:00

Jouni extends her hand at Xing who now looks at ease and comfortable with her.

-Ok. Well see you tomorrow then. Jouni turns around the enters the Hotel as Xing stands on the sidewalk to see her away.

Moments later, She walks out peeking around then grabs a cab standing by and pulls a photo of the CCTV headquarter on her phone to show to the driver.

====DEAD DROP, UNDER THE 3RD RING, BEIJING====

Jouni pulls back her hoodie hidden on top of a steel beam, wears it, pops the hood over, then resumes her jogging session under the elevated highway.

====JOUNI'S ROOM, THE OPPOSITE HOUSE HOTEL====

[[File:MinecraftBlock.png|thumb|right|240px|Minecraft Block]]

Jouni, lying on her bed, starts reading data about her mission and target on one of her freshly installed apps:

DENG LI XING - BORN GUANGZHOU - 19860115 
SIBBLINGS - NO 
MOTHER - FACTORY MANAGER 
FATHER - CIVIL ENGINEER 
EDUCATION - GUANGZHOU UNIVERSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE 2007 
EDUCATION - PHD BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF POSTS & TELECOMMUNICATIONS 2010 
EMPLOYER - HANOVO SINCE 2010 
FOOD - N/A 
INTERESTS -N/A 
ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT - MINECRAFT 
ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY: TRANSSEXUALS 

Shutting down her phone, Jouni breath out.

-Great!

[[The Old Man and the Sea|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[ISO 3166|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.008]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.008]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

The Old Man and the Sea

2023-12-22T16:53:20Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''Jouni meets John in Helsinki to deal with a local communication company.

''Trying to dig into her past, Jouni hears about the legend of a U-boat that disappeared at the bottom of the Baltic Sea carrying a loads of German gold bars on board. The legend comes from a now deceased drunken Estonian fishing trawler Captain who used to tell a tale to bar acquaintances in Sompasaari after the war. He was claiming to have sold stolen Russian diesel to a drifting German U-Boat at the end of the war and of having been paid in gold bars.

'' John and Jouni take a helicopter ride to Tallinn where they track a surviving crewmen of the Estonian trawler who claims to having been shown a gold bar bearing an engraved Swastika. The fisherman, now in his 80s, confirms that a woman and her infant were on board.

[[Hangar One|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[CCTV|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:60.1695273, 24.8302406; 59.47633, 25.01550
|zoom=6
}}

====GULF OF FINLAND, BALTIC SEA====

A white & blue AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter glides across the Gulf of Finland. [[Jouni]]'s looking at the horizon through the large square window. She thinks of her mother. [[John]] is on the phone, speaking Chinese.

====APARTMENT COMPLEX, MAARDU, TALLINN, ESTONIA====

[[File:HousingProjectTallinn.jpg|thumb|480px|right|Tallinn Soviet era housing]]

-You have those in China, right?

Asks Jouni as both John and herself walk along rows of eight storey buildings.

-In Mainland yes but not really in Taiwan.

-Right.

On either sides of the street, Soviet era apartment buildings lay derelict amidst new cars driving on freshly pave bitumen. State of the art intelligent street lights turn on as dusk engulfs the neighborhood.

-Not that the architecture is comparable, but it reminds of this time I visited an art district in Beijing, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/798_Art_Zone District 747] or whatever. Anyways, we were walking through this revamped industrial complex probably build in the fifties. The buildings were like one of two storeys high made out of brick and there were these pipes sticking out and running from one building to another, even crossing the street. So this guy who was showing us around, I think he was chair of some local university department, told us that the complex had been conceived and build by East-German engineers and he said that without blinking. I didn't have much to do with anything there. I was just accompanying my girlfriend who was preparing some kind of art school exchange program and she was traveling with the head of her school who was obviously Jewish. The Chinese guy kept going on and on about the ingenuity of the Germans. I guess he thought that because we were westerners, we would be flattered. The Jewish guy kept nodding. I have never been there, but from picture I've seen and movies, it was like we were walking downtown Auschwitz. Anyways, I don't know why I'm telling you that.

-Here, number 7, That's the address we're looking for right? Asks John, interrupting Jouni.

-Yeah, 7, that's it, answers Jouni as she looks up at the apartment building.

====CORRIDOR, APARTMENT BUILDING, MAARDU, TALLINN====

John and Jouni look at name plates in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrillic_script Cyrillic] as they reach the third floor of the apartment building. Buzzing "Made in USSR" T12 fluorescent tubes give to the corridor an eery atmosphere. Jouni, on a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrilineality matrilineal] quest, wonders what is it that she shares with this man, so far from her culture, whatever culture she clings to. A young girl runs past them and reaches the last door. She knocks frantically as her bodily language shows an urgent need to pee. A woman opens the door and wonders who are those two strangers standing behind her daughter who disappears under her arm.

Jouni smiles and salutes the woman using one of the few Finnish expressions she knows, "hei", hoping that this Estonian woman will appreciate the gesture and understand the English which will inevitably follow.

-Hi my name is Jouni Wilson. We are looking for Mr. Laja, Erik Laja.

The woman looks at Jouni, then at John, then at Jouni again and answers in Estonian then in Russian. Jouni smiles and remains speechless for a moment.

-Erik Laja, we're looking for Mr. Erik Laja, an elderly man.

Jouni mimics an old man holding a cane.

-Old man... You know.

The woman repeats that she doesn't understand her when John steps forward and introduces himself in Russian with a tick Chinese accent.

-My friend here is looking for an old man for whom we were given this address.

Both the woman and Jouni look at John in disbelief. The woman answers.

-You mean Vanaisa? My husband's father. What do you want from him?

She looks at Jouni as if she was wondering if she could be an illegitimate daughter. John continues.

-We have reasons to believe that Mr. Laja might have been on board a ship along with my friend's mother and grandmother during the last days of the war.

-What war? asks the woman.

-The second world war. In 1945.

-Hah, the submarine story, replies the woman. He's a crazy old man.

Jouni asks John to translate as she notices that the woman seems to know something.

-She's mentioning a submarine story.

Jouni looks at the woman while asking John.

-But is he here? Is he alive?

John asks the woman in Russian.

-Is Mr. Erik Laja still alive?

-Yes, he's in his room. Come in. Why would I care, who would want to talk to him anyways.

====ERIK LAJA'S ROOM, MAARDU====

Back from rushed visit to the washroom, the little girl now sits on her grandfather's lap as he cleans his glasses to get a better glimpse at the two unexpected visitors.

-So what's your name cutie, asks Jouni.

The little girl's eyes widen and her mouth remains shut as she looks at her grandfather with amusement. Jouni turns to John.

-Guess you're gonna have to continue with the translation.

-Ok, what would you want me to ask? Don't make it too complicated though.

Jouni looks at the old man trying to create a bond. The old man remains perplex.

-Well, I guess you can start by introducing then tell him that we got his name from old log books in the Helsinki Port archives and that we were then able to trace him back to this address.

''Once Jouni starts asking questions about a woman passenger and a baby, the old man's face lights up as if this detail triggers a domino effect of reminiscence.

====OUTSIDE THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, NIGHT, MAARDU====

John and Jouni walk out of the apartment building.

-Guess the poor man must have been pretty freaked out. After telling incredulous listeners for over sixty years that his fishing trawler was once boarded by a mysterious U-boat at the end of the war, now shows up a Russian speaking China-man along with an American woman interrogating him about it. Anyways, you never told me you spoke Russian. Thanks.

Jouni grabs John's hand who plays it mysterious.

-There are lots you don't know about me.

The couple strolls into the Estonian night.

****

''Back from Estonia, Jouni and John go separate ways as John is due back in Beijing to follow up on the Vegas/Valley mission.

''Staying behind, Jouni follow her mothers/grand-mother's trail across the Baltic until she's called back to the Pentagon to get instructions for her new mission: China.

[[Hangar One|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[CCTV|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.007]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.007]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

Hangar One

2023-12-22T16:53:05Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''Succeeding beyond expectations, [[Jouni]], the improvised spy gets deeply involved in the case which migrates from Land to Air to Water to Cyberspace.

''Allegiances get mixed up as interest, attraction and conscience intersect.

[[Drones_over_Vegas|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Old Man and the Sea|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: 37.41170, -122.05152; 37.43460, -122.02638; 38.00122,-122.46045
|zoom=9
}}

====EXTERIOR, MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA====

[[image:Hangar_One_at_Moffett_Field_1963.jpg|thumb|right|480px]]

The Citation X rolls in by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangar_One_%28Mountain_View,_California%29 Hangar One] on the Moffett tarmac.

====INTERIOR, UAV CONTROL ROOM, NELLIS AFB, LAS VEGAS====

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAF USAF] Major stands next to a sitting Airman operating a satellite camera through a monitor a vehicles approaching the parked Citation X on the Moffett tarmac. Monitor #1 and #2 still show the USAF Colonel and the INR Agent.

Monitor #2 (INR) 
I thought that this airport was Navy or NASA? We're granting entry to Chinese spooks on our bases through the main gate!

USAF Major 
(intervening) 
The FAA feed shows that they got landing clearance though a Nasa code.

Monitor #1 (USAF Colonel) 
(looking offscreen) 
It appears that the guys from Bubble park several of their jets at Moffatt though a special deal with NASA.

Monitor #2 (INR) 
(looking at the image showing 2 persons descending from the plane. One of them is tagged by a flashing dot) 
Well, at least now we know where their heading. Which one is Wilson?

USAF Major 
The one with the blue marker.

====EXTERIOR, MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA====

[[Barry]], a man in his 30's, gets out of his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster Tesla Roadster] to welcome [[John]] and his people as they descend onto the tarmac.

Barry 
(loud, as the Citation's engine still turn) 
John... Good to see you. How was Vegas? Didn't leave too much behind?

John 
I think I even gained. (inviting [[Jouni]] to step in front) Let me introduce you to my American friend, Jouni. She's also from California, like you.

Barry 
Barry Cage... Welcome home. So, where in California?

Jouni 
(smiling) 
I grew up in Alameda.

Barry 
Nice. This bay is magical. I'm actually from Michigan.

John 
So, this is your Airport!

Barry 
(amused) 
Well, not quite, but very convenient. 2 miles from the office! Let me show you around. (to Jouni). Ever visited Hangar One.

Jouni 
Yes, as a kid. My father was in the Navy.

John 
(as they all start walking toward Hangar One) 
Wow... what do you store in there Barry? You're money?

Barry 
Our money is not real, John... Unlike yours. This hangar was built in the 30s to house the USS Macon as Jouni must know.

John 
Some kind of pre-StarTrek vessel?

Barry 
(smiling) 
Right. No, more like our version of the Hindenburg.

====INTERIOR, HANGAR ONE, MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA====

Barry, John and Jouni are in Hangar One.

Barry 
(to John) 
I thought we could talk here. What do you think?

John 
(looking at the roof, then at Jouni) 
My dear, would you mind terribly if we'd abandon you for an hour or so. My friend and I have some boring business stuff to talk about.

Jouni 
(sarcastic and amused) 
Let the men talk. I'll take a stroll by those salt ponds we saw from the air. (to John) Buzz me when your done. (to Barry, extending her hand) It was brief but very pleasurable to meet you Barry.

Barry 
The pleasure was all mine. John's friends are my friends.

====INTERIOR, UAV CONTROL ROOM, NELLIS AFB, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni's flashing blue dot appears on the monitor exiting the south gate of Hangar One.

Airmen 
There she goes.

Monitor #2 (INR) 
Where is she going now. She left them inside. Should we call her now.

Monitor #1 (USAF Colonel) 
Too risky. She's got a regular unsecured cell not to raise questions if it was ever seized. The call could be tapped.

====INTERIOR, HANGAR ONE, MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA====

Barry 
This is not an evil scheme, John, it's vision. We both know that the future is not in trademark, copyright or branding. Let your government fight mine while we carry our business, without borders. It's not our war.

John 
But you are American. Your company is American. Your stockowners are American.

Barry 
I think we're way beyond America, beyond the West versus the East, John.

John 
I grew up on an island next to the longest living Empire the world has seen. And we've survived for so long only because we've been feeding the monster. You gotta feed yours... (looking toward the other end of the hangar where Jouni exited) Who do you think she works for?

Barry 
No idea. I though she was your new girlfriend?

John 
Yes, but she also works for your government. She was on the US government's payroll until very recently.

Barry 
(looking towards the end of the haggard)
Cyber Command?

John 
Could be! Let's keep her in the loop anyways. She's fun to be with.

====EXTERIOR, SAN FRANCISCO BAY SALT PONDS, CALIFORNIA====

Jouni is performing a headstand on a levee surrounded by multi-colored ponds.

====EXTERIOR, MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA====

John is driven by Barry to the end of the runaway near the ponds.

Barry 
(as John exits the Tesla) 
The key is in the ignition. Your sure you can ride this thing.

John 
(winking) 
Which one?

====EXTERIOR, SAN FRANCISCO BAY SALT PONDS, CALIFORNIA====

John 
(arriving next to Jouni now in a Lotus position) 
Wanna go for a ride?

Jouni 
Sure. You drive!

====EXTERIOR, SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA====

John is sailing a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker-Craft wooden speed boat] through the San Francisco Bay as standing Jouni's hair is blowing in the wind.

They pass by Alameda, Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Jouni falls asleep on the passenger seat

====EXTERIOR, CHINA CAMP, SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA====

''SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE REVEALED ABOUT JOUNI'S ALLEGIANCES BEFORE JOHN LETS HER KNOW THAT HE KNOWS SHE'S A SPY

[[image:ChinaCamp.jpg|thumb|right|480px|China Camp 1889]]

John ties up the speed boat to a extended wooden pier.

John 
(looking at old wooden houses along the beach) 
150 years ago, this was a Chinese village.

Jouni 
(waking up) 
I slept that long?

John smiles as he helps Jouni out of the boat. They start walking on the pier.

John 
(looking at the track-like pier) 
Western civilization reached California because chinamen laid thousand of miles of tracks across this land. We built the American Dream. Nail by nail, now chip by chip. Millions of of us. That's what we've learned for centuries... and that's what we know best... Moving forward.

Jouni 
And all those people are part of the same dream. Wave after wave of newcomers. It was and still is their dearest wish.

John 
Dreams and wishes are valid parts in this equation. But not the key ingredient to move forward. Even knowledge is overstated.

Jouni 
(grabbing John arm as the reach land) 
Knowing the other is important.

John 
Who is the other?

Jouni 
The one you don't know.

Moment

John 
The world is changing Jouni. Their are no opponents anymore. It's a big playground with multiple balls, multiple nets and players switching shirts as they move. (pick grass from the field) As long as grass grows, you can score. Obviously the faster ones will score more, but not because of the color of their skin, or because they belong to a particular team, but because of their work and of the collective work.

Jouni 
I didn't expect the CEO from one of the world's largest company to quote Marten Luther King and Marxist idealists.

John 
(smiling) 
I didn't expect an American spy to practice Yoga.

Jouni smiles, then looks down.

John (con't) 
At the end, I guess that communism will prevail... Somehow.

Jouni 
Didn't work in Russia.

John 
Cause they ended up relying on intelligence instead of work.

Jouni 
Maybe you're right...

Jouni looks back at John.

Jouni (con't) 
Wanna work together...

John 
Aren't we already!

====INTERIOR, UAV CONTROL ROOM, NELLIS AFB, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni's flashing blue dot merges with the other dot on the monitor.

Monitor #2 (INR) 
What the fuck...

====INTERIOR, WINERY, SANTA VENETIA, CALIFORNIA====

John and Jouni are tasting wine at at the counter of a Santa Venetia winery. Several glasses are lined up in front of them.

Jouni 
(emptying a glass) 
Wooaah. This is good juice.

John 
(sipping slowly) 
I trust you on this. Us Chinks prefer ice wine... Sweet...

She kisses him.

Jouni 
You know I'm gonna have to report to my people soon.

John 
About our taste buds?

Jouni 
Yea... And about the disinformation we've been fed regarding your little weenies.

Moment

Jouni 
Am I gonna see you again? You're going back to your wife...

John 
As always. And you're going back to your people.

Jouni 
(looking at the Santa Venetia winery sign behind the bar)
We could go to Venice!

John 
We already did the boat thing.

Jouni 
You could show me China?

John 
Bad idea.

Jouni 
Too close to home.

Moment

John 
I'm gonna be in Helsinki in about 10 days. Wanna show me your ancestors land.

Jouni 
I've never been!

John 
Then, I'll show you around.

[[Drones_over_Vegas|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Old Man and the Sea|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.006]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.006]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

Drones over Vegas

2023-12-22T16:51:24Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''A contingent of Chinese Businessmen from the Mainland and Taiwan take advantage of a trip to the US to implement a scheme to increase China's edge in the Computer/Smart-phone economy. When US intelligence services learn of their presence in a Vegas hotel suite, they dispatch [[Jouni]] a local female Air Force Reserve Officer to gather information. 

''Succeeding beyond expectations, the improvised spy gets deeply involved in the case which migrates from Land to Air to Sea and Cyberspace. 

[[The Orient Express|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Hangar_One|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map: 36.1139301, -115.1944982; 36.00747,-115.144263; 36.2381952,-115.0450503
|zoom=10
}}

====EXTERIOR, HUGH HEFNER SKY VILLA, THE PALMS HOTEL, LAS VEGAS====

[[File:PlayboyLogo.png|thumb|right|240px|Playboy Logo]]

A contingent of Chinese businessmen are meeting in the top suite of The Palms Hotel. They are to discuss ways to counter Western interests hegemony in the computer industry.

[[Liu]] Zheng, mid-sixties, is President of Hanovo Holdings (Beijing) and [[John]] Wang, early fifties, is Founder and CEO of Han Hoi Industries (Taipei). Both men are leaning on the penthouse's terrace glass walls by a pool bearing the Playboy logo.

Liu 
(in Mandarin, looking at The Strip) 
We can buy this town, John. We can buy it all.

John 
Sure, but why? Why not build one in the Home Land.

Liu 
Because it would mean the beginning of the end for us, just as we're rising again. No... this civilization was short lived and is nearing its demise. Look, they're celebrating their prowess', and ignoring ours. Do you see a Forbidden City casino?

John smiles.

An aide walks towards Liu and addresses him discreetly.

Aide 
Mr. Zheng. The group of ladies has arrived. May I let them in?

Liu 
(looking at John) 
But lets forget about our business for a now and enjoy the company of Western ladies.

John 
(as the aide walks away) 
I think our people as well as those from Japan, Korea, even India and beyond... still buy this model, this illusion created by the Americans. That's what we have to sell Liu. Not just our national pride.

Liu 
(pensive) 
Maybe you're right... Maybe you're right...

John 
(persuasive) 
We have to make this dream ours... The American Dream... and control its dispersion. We have to buy into it, the same way your government bought in to this economy.

Liu 
But people like you are part of it, own part of it... As much as our government owns part of the American economy.

Pause

Liu 
(looking at the sun setting on Vegas) 
Our nation deserves more then being only a giant manufacture. Our people are ready for another leap.

The contingent of ladies is being escorted around the pool. Several of them undress into their bikinis and jump in the water.

[[Jouni|Jouni Wilson]], early thirties, dark blond and athletic, drops her black [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc'teryx Arc'teryx] Arro 22 backpack on a long chair and walks towards the edge of the terrace just a few meters away from John. She lights a cigarette, blows smoke in the air and realizes that it blows back towards the two men. She addresses the men as the aide rushes between them to intervene.

Jouni 
(to John, as she strikes her hair away from her face) 
Whoops, I'm sorry. I didn't expect the smoke to blow back... I'm very sorry.

Aide 
(walking rapidly towards Jouni) 
No, no, no. Only around the pool. Come with me.

John 
(in Mandarin, to the aide) 
That's OK. She doesn't bother me.

Aide 
(looking at both John and Liu) 
Excuse me.

Liu 
(waiving the aid off, then to John) 
Thank you... John, I'm going to rest to be ready for tomorrow. I like you're thinking. Let's continue this in the morning.

John 
Ok Liu, good night and thanks again for the evening.

Liu walks away as John turns around looking back towards [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Strip The Strip], standing by Jouni's side.

John 
(in English to Jouni) 
Do you have another cigarette, miss?

Jouni 
(pulling a Davidoff cigarette from her and purse) 
Oh... For sure. I didn't think you'd smoke. No one's smoke here anymore.

John 
(accepting the cigarette) 
I don't smoke much. Only when I'm abroad.

Jouni 
And where is home for you if I may ask, China?

John 
Taiwan actually...

Jouni 
Oh, I had been told that all you gentlemen were from China, like communist China... You know...

John 
(getting a light from Jouni, laughing) 
Communist China... It's been a while since I heard someone say that... You're right, most of my colleagues here are from Mainland China. Some from Hong Kong and some from Singapore also. But we're all Chinese.

Jouni 
Wow, you guys are everywhere.

John 
And what about you? Are you from this beautiful city... Sin City as they say?

Jouni 
Naaahh... I'm from San Francisco... We'll the Bay Area...

John 
Oh, I know that region well. Palo Alto, Cupertino, San Jose...

Jouni 
Actually on the other side. A small town near Oakland.

As the ladies splash each other in the pool, getting more and more attention from the men around who are busy debating about their attributes, a waiter makes his way to Jouni and John carrying several flutes on a tray.

John 
(waiving to a waiter) 
Would you enjoy a glass of Champagne.

Jouni 
Yes, why not. It's a hot night.

The waiter gets to the couple and awkwardly presents the tray directly to Jouni as John's hand nearly hits the flutes.

John 
(getting two flutes from the tray) 
Here. By the way, I'm John.

Jouni 
(accepting the glass and raising it) 
Jouni. It's like John in Finnish.

John 
Oh, a boy's name... So are you're originally from Finland?

Jouni 
My mother is.

John 
Nice country. One of our biggest client is based there. Too cold... Always dark. Not like here... And what made you come to Las Vegas?

Jouni 
(blowing smoke in the wind) 
I don't know. I thought maybe I'd meet the right man in this place.

John 
In a gambling city... That's betting all your cards on luck. Success might partly be luck, but mostly perseverance, hard work and a sense of direction.

Jouni smiles, pensive, sipping her Champagne.

Jouni 
Want me to show you Vegas!

====INTERIOR, NIGHT, PURE CLUB, DANCE FLOOR, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni holds John's hand as they are being escorted to a private booth. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Gotta_Feeling I Gotta Feeling] plays loudly in the background as they sit in the crowded club.

Jouni 
(looking at John as the waitress arrives) 
What would you like to drink? This time it's on me.

John 
(loudly, having difficulty hearing her) 
Well then I'll let you choose. No more champagne though.

Jouni 
(to the waitress) 
Two Stella.

John looks at the crowded dance floor.

Jouni (con't) 
(trying to get John to hear her)
I guess it's not yet the moment when we tell each other about our lives! Wanna dance?

John 
(laughing) 
I'll watch you.

They move to the dance floor and Jouni starts dancing while occasionally glancing at John who is standing by.

====STK RESTAURANT, THE COSMOPOLITAN, LAS VEGAS====

[[File:StkVegas.jpg|thumb|right|480px|STK Vegas]]

Jouni and John are sitting in a circular booth as they share a thick steak from the same plate.

John 
So you smoke, drink beer and eat red meat. I thought you California girls were all vegans and practiced yoga.

Jouni 
Well I do yoga and eat loads of veggies, but sometimes I get lost... When I'm in mysterious company... Like you smoking when you're abroad.

John 
Mysterious? You're the one who pulled me away from my party.

Jouni 
Still, I don't know who you are.

John 
Oh, so I guess it's now the part of the night when we reveal ourselves.

Jouni 
(smiling as she sips her beer) 
I guess!

John 
Well, I'm a 55 year old businessman form Taiwan. I've been married for 22 years and I have 3 kids.

Jouni 
(challenged) 
Wow... Do you love your wife!

John 
That's a secret between me and her.

Jouni 
Ok, fair enough... So do you love your kids? And don't tell me that's a secret...

John 
Of course I love my kids.

Jouni 
Boys or girls.

John 
One boy and two girls.

Jouni 
So I guess one of the girl is in love with you, the other rebels against everything and the boy is under pressure to be just like his father.

John 
Is this the American standard?

Jouni 
And your wife, I bet she's beautiful.

John smiles. A moment passes.

John 
And you, a glamorous and, as it sounds, very intelligent lady... Where is your prince charming?

Jouni 
Still riding I guess. 
(waving her hand over the horizon) 
Behind dunes where I can't see him.

John 
No kids?

Jouni 
Not yet.

John 
You should. They'll help you find [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao The Way].

Jouni 
(smiling) 
The way?

John 
Yeah. So you won't hit so many dead ends.

Jouni 
Like tonight?

John 
No, tonight is more like a parallel speedway. I took it, and I have kids.

They look at each other flirtatiously.

====EXTERIOR, NIGHT, STRIP, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni and John are walking by the Eiffel Tower.

Jouni 
(smiling, a little drunk) 
Will you escort me to my door.

John 
I like the way you flip things around.

John gently grabs her by the shoulder and pulls her towards him as a black SUV make a u-turn from the opposite side of the Strip.

====INTERIOR, OPEN LIVING AREA, JOUNI'S HOUSE, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni initiates John to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neotantra#Tantric_sexuality Tantric yoga] over a yellow mat on the wooden floor. A tall cubic paraffin candle dimly lights the room. Their naked bodies are entangled into Shiva-esque poses as Jouni reaches a deep and silent orgasm.

====EXTERIOR, DAWN, RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, LAS VEGAS====

John walks out of Jouni' s house and starts walking on deserted subburban street, enjoying the morning breeze. A black SUV pulls from a side street and start following him from a distance. As he reaches the next intersection, another black SUV joins the trail. John continues walking until he signals one of the SUVs to come closer.

John 
(in Mandarin, to the driver and passenger as he climbs on the back seat of the SUV) 
Night was good?

Driver 
(looking tired as the passenger confirms vocal instructions through his headset device) 
Always good boss. Very quiet around here.

John 
(looking at the rows of suburban house) 
Yes, very quiet...

The SUVs are met by a third vehicle as the convoy accelerates towards a highway.

====INTERIOR, MORNING, JOUNI'S BEDROOM, JOUNI'S HOUSE, LAS VEGAS====

A ray of sun awakens Jouni from a deep sleep. She notices that her room is a mess. She walks to the bathroom to run water over her face and looks at herself in the mirror. She walks to the living area where she finds a small rock next to a note on the yoga mat.

She sits on the mat, pick up what appears to be an uncut diamond to observe it closely then reads the note.

''This rock is like a miniature rendition of you. Waiting for the hand that will unveiled its translucence. I hope you find The Way. John. ps: thanks for the yoga class.''

====INTERIOR, MORNING, GYM, HUGH HEFNER SKY VILLA, THE PALMS HOTEL, LAS VEGAS====

Liu and several older Hanovo Holdings officials are performing Tai Chi as younger execs from Han Hoi Industries run on the treadmills watching TV monitors and wearing headphones.

John walks in the gym...

Liu 
(to John, amusingly) 
No Tai Chi for you this morning, did you already exercised?

John 
(smiling) 
I took advantage of the morning desert breeze to stretch my legs.

Liu and the others smile.

John (con't) 
I'll take a quick swim and join you gentlemen for the meeting.

John undresses and dives into the pool.

====EXTERIOR, DAWN, DRIVE-THROUGH AND HIGHWAYS, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni stops her 2010 silver convertible mustang at the pick up window of a Starbuck and orders a double shot tall late with skim milk. She drives away listening to Mazzy Star's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fade_into_You Fade Into You]. As she heads north on IS 15, she notices the Playboy logo on the side of The Palms Hotel.

====EXTERIOR, HUGH HEFNER SKY VILLA, THE PALMS HOTEL, LAS VEGAS====

John's gets out of the pool and leans on the railing where he stood the night before to look at the sun now rising over Vegas.

====EXTERIOR, NELLIS AFB, LAS VEGAS====

Two unmanned drones simultaneously take off as Jouni's car is lead through the gates of Nellis Air Force Base. She drives though the base; A school bus picks up kids as their uniformed mothers kisses them goodbye; A young boy delivers newspaper with his bicycle and an Airman rises the stars and stripes on the lawn of the base's main building.

====INTERIOR, UAV COMMAND STATION, NELLIS AFB, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni stands in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle UAV] control room next to a uniformed Air Force Major as a sitting Pilot wearing 3D glasses stares at moving aerial images of the desert. Three other monitors display head-shots of civilians engaging in a video conference with Jouni and the Air Force Major.

Monitor #1 (AF Colonel) 
Wang was in Round Rock, Texas yesterday and GVT tower is telling us that his jet is scheduled for SFO at 1400.

Monitor #3 (State Dept) 
(interrupting) 
Gentlemen, remember that this is a joint agency endeavor and although we all appreciate your efficiency, I like to understand what we're talking about here. Can you translate GVT and SFO in civilian language please.

Air Force Major 
Those are actually the civilian codes for the North Las Vegas and San Francisco Airports Sir.

Monitor #3 (State Dept) 
Thank you. Please proceed [[QQQ]].

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
(addressing Jouni) 
Lieutenant, we need to know what's going on between Wang and Liu Zheng, the man from Hanovo Holdings. We saw that they were together when you made contact last night at The Palms. We have intel confirming that Wang has informed Patrick Bell in Round Rock earlier yesterday of imminent workers wages increases in Mainland China, matching those of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. He is probably here to notify his biggest clients in person.

Monitor #3 (State Dept) 
What we need to know is wether his hand is being forced by Beijing or if he's in on this. You understand that a common wage front in the region could have serious consequences for us.

Jouni 
Yes, I understand that. I'd also like to remind you guys that as a reserve Air Force Officer who got the call for this assignment less then 24 hours ago, my knowledge of the operation is still limited. So please cope with my cluelessness while I review this case.

Monitor #3 (State Dept)
And we thank you for volunteering on such a short notice and under such circumstances Lieutenant.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
We actually got intel of Wang and Zheng's presence on US soil less less then 36 hours ago. And here too, we appreciate your dedication Lieutenant. We had one of our men infiltrate the catering group last night but he couldn't get into the main suite and therefore was unable to bug the room in time.

Jouni 
Well I thought it'd be wiser to make close contact with the target and pull him away from the party than to pass out on a sofa and try to remain in position until the morning!

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
Very well and you've made some important steps for the long run, but now we need to know what's going in Vegas and what will go on most likely in The Valley this afternoon.

Pause.

Monitor #1 (AF Colonel) 
Well, what about the terrestrial vehicles. It seems that everywhere they go, they book 2 SUVs and a sedan. Do we know where they get them from?

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
(looking at the edge of the screen) 
It's 5 am here in DC so 8 for you guys... If they take off from Vegas at 2 that means they'll land in Frisco around what 3:30?

Monitor #1 (AF) 
More like 1445. They're flying a Citation X and it's just a hump over to SFO.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
(satisfied) 
Well that gives us 6-7 hours before they get in these cars. (to AF officer on Monitor #1)
Colonel, do you have resources stationed over there that could rig these?

Monitor #1 (AF Colonel) 
(skeptical) 
All intel personnel is based in Lackland. Mostly trained at securing networks and communications... There is no way we can get this job done by unskilled personnel. What about Naval Intelligence. Maybe they have some skilled personnel stationed in Alameda?

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
Well, these guys are here in Suitland... Let's not overextend our reach here... Lieutenant, you gotta get back in with Wang. Major, you still have an image?

Air Force Major 
Let us put you live on this.

A 4th monitor comes live. A 3D image of The Palms Hotel roof terrace appears....

Pilot 
(addressing the monitors before providing 3D glasses to Jouni and to the Major) 
Please wear your glasses now.

All 3 men on the monitors put on their 3D glasses as do Jouni and the Major.

Air Force Major 
We'll now show you an angle on the main suite.

The image on Monitor 4's switches to a side view of the interior of the suite where John, Liu and several other Chinese men are meeting. Subtitles appear simultaneously at the bottom of the screen.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
Wow. That's why we enjoy working with you guys colonel. How in god's name do you get that?

Monitor #1 (AF) 
(jokingly) 
Trade secret QQQ ... Three sets of drones with vertical and horizontal image stabilizers combined with a gradual zoom back converging in a loop around The Palms.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
And their voices... I mean the dialogue?

Monitor #1 (AF) 
A chinese speaking lip reader typing live!

The image on monitor #4 now shows John standing and looking at what appears to be a smart phone. The image disappears then reappears from a slightly different angle.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
Can we ID his number?

Monitor #1 (AF) 
Looking down on his screen. Yes 0843:12 +886255555555 receiving 73 character SMS from unknown source. Probably encrypted through some web based application.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
We'll good enough, we have his cell... Lieutenant... Any thoughts on what to say to hook the fish?

Jouni 
I didn't ask his number... If I text him on his cell, he'll be suspicious.

Monitor #3 (State Dept) 
Can't you tell him you peaked at his cell while he was in the shower.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
That's no way to build trust in a relationship!

Monitor #3 (State Dept) 
Love will blind the smartest men...

Jouni 
(interrupting) 
He didn't take a shower, if your interested in knowing, but he did make a call to the Brazilian Steakhouse to book a table by the grill... As I know the manager and he obviously noticed that, I could have asked the restaurant to look at the nights call log.

QQQ on Monitor #2 (INR) 
It's a stretch but it seems to be our only option. (impatient) We gotta move now. We're only loosing minutes.?

Jouni 
(not convinced, looking at her cell) 
What was that number again Colonel?

Monitor #1 (AF) 
We've just transmitted it to you.

Jouni 
(still looking down at her cell, pensive) 
Yeah I got it....

She presses keys on her cell for a few seconds, presses send and looks back at monitor #4... John is in a conversation with Liu and discreetly pulls his phone from his pocket to look at it.

Jouni 
"SORRY FOR INTRUDING. CALLED MY FRIEND AT THE STEAKHOUSE TO GET YOUR NUMBER. COULDN'T RESIST!"

He smiles and looks straight at the incoming drones. Then replies...

John 
"PERSEVERANCE"

Jouni 
"THANKS FOR THE ROCK, I GUESS I'LL CUT IT MY WAY"

Jouni continues texting with John as people both at her end and John's are getting impatient. Jouni and John can't hide their smiles.

Jouni 
(with an air of mission accomplished) 
Meeting him for lunch...

All are happy about Jouni's performance.

====INTERIOR, ELEVATOR, PALMS HOTEL, LAS VEGAS====

John rides the elevator along with 2 aids.

John 
(in Mandarin, pressing a send button on his cell) 
Look into this number. Her name is June or Genie. Some Finnish name. Jiang (the driver) knows her address. I'll meet you all at the airport.

Aid 
Yes sir. The flight is scheduled for 1400 and we got clearance for the private airport by Mr. Cage's headquarters. I'll wait for you at the main entrance.

John exits as the doors open in the lobby.

====EXTERIOR, MAIN ENTRANCE, PALMS HOTEL, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni pulls her Mustang through the main entrance of The Palms as John exits.

Jouni 
(to John exiting and getting adjusted to daylight) 
Hey Cowboy!

John 
(admiring Jouni and her ride) 
Very Impressive.

Jouni 
Hop in. I'll show you the countryside.

Jouni steers her Mustang out of the driveway onto Flamingo Road. All wheels on fire.

====SATELLITE VIEW, LAS VEGAS====

Jouni's Mustang exits the city limits and enters the desert. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Games Wicked Games] plays in the background.

====INTERIOR, MUSTANG, WESTBOUND ON ROUTE 160, NEVADA====

[[File:RoadNevada.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Nevada Highway]]

As they drive across the Spring Mountains, John admires the landscape and intermittently glances at Jouni busy selecting tracks on her iPod. Both hear the same music through a dual headphone jack.

Jouni 
(lowering the volume) 
So if we continue straight, we'll reach the Death Valley. Should we head south, we'll get to the Mojave desert.

John 
(joking) 
Aren't we going to get attacked by Indians.

Jouni 
We are the Indians!

====INTERIOR, TRUCK STOP, ROUTE 160, NEVADA====

John and Jouni are sitting at a booth.

Jouni 
I wanted to apologize for last night. Kind of embarrassing for me.

John 
You mean teaching meditation to an Asian man?

Jouni 
(smiling) 
No. I mean the way we met. At you're Hotel... It sounds stupid to say... but, it's not really me. The whole courtesan thing.

John 
Well. Will it sound stupid if I say that it's not really me to walk away for the night with a beautiful lady I just met in a Las Vegas hotel.

Jouni 
(placing the uncut diamond on the table) 
I can't accept that.

John 
Sure you can. It's a gift. We had a good time together and I wanted you to have this. As a souvenir.

Jouni 
(looking at the rock) 
You know, I'm not really what you think I am.

John 
(looking up and down her upper body) 
Well, what I saw convinced me.

Jouni 
(smiling) 
You're stupid... Seriously John.

John 
No one is really what others think they are. Most of the time you're not even what you think you are. You are what you want to be. That's The Way.

Jouni 
Are you what you want to be?

John 
I try.

Moment

John (con't) 
You want to tag along a little longer?

[[The Orient Express|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[Hangar_One|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

''Churchill'' ;)

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.005]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.005]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

I Seek You 2.0

2023-12-22T16:50:17Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''As all involved run amok searching for clues to get a grasp on the situation they are caught in. Their handlers back at base try to make sense of the sudden commotion.

''Now the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossad Mossad], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Intelligence_Service_%28Russia%29 Russia's SVR], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_State_Security_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China China's MSS] and even Switzerland's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Intelligence_Service FIS] are trailing their operatives.

[[The_Zytglogge_Mission|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[London_Calling|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:14.527517, 49.1032945; 46.9466397, 7.4529553; 32.1446044, 34.804291; 55.7485393, 37.6259569; 25.2157842, 55.279727
|zoom=3
}}

====ESPLANADE, AL MUKALLA, YEMEN====

[[Pierrot]] and [[Philippe]], are sipping tea on Al Mukalla's run down esplanade as the sun sets on the Arabian Sea. Pierrot stares out at the last fishing boats arriving as Philippe tries to reason with him.

-You thought we'd pull up the Holy Grail, fifty gold bars waiting for us in a trunk with a hook. For 70 years... Why not Bin Laden's body while you're at it.

-That at least we could have gotten something for it.

-Well, the coordinates they gave you were right.

-That's why they were so right on. The fishermen must have plundered the wreck before. I shouldn't have waited all this time.

-Anyways. Let's blow this joint. Fuck this place. I'm sick of it. No wine, no women.

-Great... And what's your plan for diesel?

-Well, we still got the captain's box... and the mail trunk... and we have way enough fuel to reach Suez. There we can hook up with [[Mister John]]. For sure he'll find a buyer, no?

Pierrot snaps out of his blues.

-Shit. I forgot about the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal canal's toll].

====UNDERGROUND MONITORING ROOM, BERN====

Franz [[Meier]] and his Unit Chief stand behind a Technician as they scan through various video captures of cars and individuals from surveillance cameras across Switzerland. A facial recognition software establishes 7 matches for [[Uri]] Yatom. The last one being from the Buchs, St. Gallen train station. The Technician freezes the video on a image where Uri stares at the camera. On another screen, we see the back Giulietta captured in several tunnel on highway E43. The Technician points at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timestamps timestamp].

-This is the last capture... less then 3 hours after the train station shot.

The Unit Chief looks at Meier.

-So we have an intoxicated Russian that vanished and a good Samaritan Mossad operative playing hide and seek with us.

Meier looks amused.

-An intoxicated Russian! There's a oxymoron, I mean, a pleonasm... Anyways, word from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herzliya Herzliya] is that our good Samaritan has gone AWOL!

-They're playing us...

-Could be, but I don't see what for.

-Retaliation for stalling the pre-war accounts?

-Neah... they got what they wanted. Beside that came from New York, not Jerusalem.

The Unit Chief looks back at Uri's expression staring at the camera.

-Maybe he flashed on the Department of Justice girl.

-She's a lesbian.

-Well... Maybe he doesn't know. Or maybe that's what turns him on... Do we know where she's at with [[Alexander|Nikitin]]?

-No, she's back at her office but nothing transpired yet.

-Well, let's keep on top of this thread... We'll worry about the Israelis later.

====FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, CARLA'S SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE====

[[Carla]] and a Legal Adviser sit across from their Supervisor's desk at the Department of Justice and Police. Carla is seeking an angle for her case as her Supervisor is trying to close it.

-So we answer that the money vanished and that we have no idea where it went.

-Well, this is what happened, and it's already much more than what they would have told us if we'd asked them.

-OK, and about ZIB (Zurich International Bank)?

-If they don't hold any prohibited accounts, they're cleared.

-And the Liechtenstein transit.

-OK... Send it to the Russians and let them worry about it. As far as we know, the funds were legally transferred from Switzerland to Liechtenstein. The rest is not our jurisdiction.

The Legal Adviser interjects.

-Unless the money was here when Moscow filed for Tax Fraud.

The Supervisor looks at his report then back at the Legal Adviser.

-Wasn't it Tax Evasion.

-Not any more. An addendum came in later on correcting their mistake.

Supervisor switches to Carla.

-When was the transfer recorded at ZIB?

Carla looks at her file.

-July 7th at 06:37 Central European Time.

-And the Addendum?

Legal Adviser responds without even looking at his file.

-Issued at 8:12 Moscow Time and recorded in Bern at 7:15 CET when the Department opened.

Carla gets restless.

-They moved the money 25 minutes after the Addendum was issued... Someone tipped them off.

The Legal Adviser is affirmative.

-Still, technically the issuing date, hour and minutes in this case, are valid.

Carla smirks.

-So we got a case!

The supervisor looks at both of his colleagues, flabbergasted.

====CONECTEKA OFFICE, HERZLIYA, ISRAEL====

Mossad agents [[Aaron]] Hanin and [[Zvi]] Dagan discusses the feasibility of cracking Alexander Nikitin's communications with [[Sefi]] and [[Arik]], two software specialists employed by Conecteka, a Mossad financed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messaging instant messaging] start up company.

Sefi points at logs on his screen.

-We know he's sending very short coded SMS via cell phone and that he often gets online shortly after through various open or cracked WiFi connections. But from there, even when we manage to log in to one of his many laptops which are constantly zapped, we get nothing.

Zvi looks at his printed notes.

-We picked up the sound of his and another voice once and no cell signal was emitting in the vicinity, so he's using some kind of of Internet phone or video conferencing software... Skype?

Arik who's leaning on his chair at one end of the conference table intervenes.

-Skype doesn't boot up properly in most of the Gulf countries. Could be a compatible derivative bypassing the government proxy. This would be a major pain to crack. If he's changing MAC address every-time he uses it, there is no way we could do anything. We'd need Skype sources codes to intercept...

He turns towards Aaron who's staring out the window behind him, watching a C-130 Hercules taking off from Sde Dov Airport.

[[File:C130.jpg|thumb|right|480px|C-130 Hercules]]

-And that would be your department.

Zvi looks up from his notes.

-But Nikitin's derivative app would also use those codes?

Arik acknowledges.

-Yes, most likely...

Sefi pushes back his laptop.

-What's Nikitin's military background?

Aaron answers still staring out the window.

-Naval Intelligence.

-Where was he based?

-All over. Vladivostok, Sevastopol, Murmansk... We know he grew up in Tallinn. His father was a Russian ship engineer and his mother still lives in Estonia, in an upscale [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacha#Elite Dacha].

Arik looks at Safi then at the two others.

-That could be it.

Aaron turns around as if he missed something.

-What?

Zvi stands up folding his notes, looking at Aaron.

-Tallinn... That's where the Skype code was written. Let's check Nikitin's possible connections to the original developers. University, High School, Sports team...

====FRANZISKA'S LIVING ROOM, BERN====

Carla is packing her gear and leaves a handwritten note on Franziska's fridge.

WAS GREAT. THANKS FOR ALL. GOTTA GO. LOVE. C.

====DOMODEDOVO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MOSCOW====

Carla is greeted by [[Karl]] Tretiak, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(contemporary_subculture) hipster] in his late 20s and [[Mikhail]] Nabokov, a 50 something civil servant type, as she disembark a Swiss flight at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domodedovo_International_Airport Domodedovo Airport].

Karl 
(in perfect American accented English) 
Ms. Xanthis... Welcome to Moscow. I am Karl Tretiak from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and please let me introduce you to Mr. Nabokov from the Prosecutor General's Office.

Carla 
(smiling, extending her hand) 
Very pleased to meet you both.

Mikhail 
First time in Russia?

Carla 
Yes

Karl 
(inviting Carla to follow them) 
Well, the team is expecting you at 14:00 downtown. Would you like to drop by your hotel first or maybe get something to eat?

Carla 
I don't think I need to drop by the hotel but I'd accompany you guys to eat before the meeting.

Karl 
Great.

====LIMOUSINE - AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN ROAD====

Carla sits on the back seat next to Michael as Karl sits on the passenger seat next to the driver.

Mikhail 
(pompous) 
Do you like Caviar.

Carla 
(smiling) 
Yes, very much.

Mikhail 
We could take you to one of the finest Caviar House in Moscow.

Carla 
That would be very nice, but you don't have to go through all this. Maybe later, once we'll be a little more advanced on the case.

Moment...

Karl 
(turning towards her) 
I suppose you're still fairly busy with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UBS#U.S._tax_evasion_controversy UBS-DOJ] case.

Carla 
(Looking at the scenery) 
Not that much... Mind you... This was before my time.

Karl 
(enthusiastic) 
I was an intern in Washington at the turn of the millennium... Was a crazy time. Then they sent all us interns back following September 11th. I preferred New York City though.

Carla 
(absent) 
Oh yeah... I was only there once... when I was seven.

Mikhail 
(trying hard to be funny) 
Too young to enjoy nightlife.

Carla 
Yes... It was for my father's funeral.

Mikhail 
(swallowing) 
Sorry.

Carla 
Not a problem. We weren't actually that close.

Moment...

Carla (continuing) 
Would you mind dropping me at my hotel before the meeting. I wouldn't mind freshening up.

====OUTSIDE THE BALTSCHUG KEMPINSKI HOTEL====

Karl and Mikhail wait in the car oustide the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltschug Baltshug Kempinski Hotel]. Mikhail sips from a flask as Karl flips stations on the radio.

Mikhail 
(in Russian) 
Wouldn't mind freshening her up myself.

Karl 
(being wise) 
Mikhail... you're all talk and no action man... If you want to get a girl like this, you gotta be smart. You won't get her with bootleg Caviar which you couldn't even pay for and nightlife insinuations. Anyways... You're over the hill man.

Mikhail 
Yeah... Mr. New York... Anyways, I'll be spending the day with her... You're just our escort...

Karl 
(stopping his search on a hip hop track) 
We'll see...

====CORNER OFFICE, 55th FLOOR, RUSSIAN MIDDLE-EASTERN BANK, DUBAI====

[[Viktor]] is sitting at his brand new desk with his feet on his desk as a [[Fan]] Jing, an attractive 28 year old Chinese woman enters.

Fan 
(In English, smiling) 
Good afternoon Mr. Viktor. My name is Fan Jing. I've been assigned to be your personal assistant... Welcome to Dubai... Did you have a good flight?

Viktor 
(assessing Fan) 
Yes, thank you. You speak Russian?

Fan 
(in Russian) 
Yes, and Arabic... as well as English and Chinese obviously. I studied at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Foreign_Studies_University Beijing Foreign Studies Language University] before getting my Master's from LSE.

Viktor 
(in English) 
LSE?

Fan 
(in English) 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_School_of_Economics London School of Economics].

Viktor 
(in Russian, looking outside) 
Wow... And you like it out here?

Fan 
It has slowed down in the past few years and many foreigners left. But I'm very happy to now be part of Mr. Nikitin's team. This city needs visionaries like him.

Viktor turns back towards Fan assessing her body.

Fan 
(getting ready to exit the office) 
Well, if you need anything Mr. Viktor, I'll be glad to accommodate you. I will let you settle in now. I'll be right outside.

As Fan exits, Vicktor receives an SMS.

[XELA] 
(written in Russian) 
"SO?"

[KIV] 
(written in Russian) 
"NOT BAD ;)"

====BOARD ROOM, PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, MOSCOW====

Carla, Mikhail Nabokov and four other Russian officials sit around a long antique conference table inside the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation. The room is decorated with paintings ranging from Czarist to Revolutionary times.

Carla 
(in English, formal) 
I'm here to convey my government's assurances that we are committed to enforce any duly executed requests from your government as we are to all governments we have diplomatic relations with.

DDD (Chief Prosecutor) 
So why didn't you freeze Nikitin's account when the money there.

Carla 
Obviously someone notified RPC's (Russian Pipeline Company) executives about your Office's request to amend the file's status.

EEE (Ministry of Justice) 
What status?

FFF (Assistant Prosecutor) 
A technicality that wasn't included in the first request.

Carla 
As Mr. FFF mentioned, we differentiate Tax Evasion from Tax Fraud. The first as being a Civil offense and the latter as being a Criminal offense.

FFF 
(politely interjecting) 
I noted the mistake when DDD handed me the file to reiterate our request.

EEE 
(to Carla) 
Do you understand that RPC's 2008 IPO was illegal as the company was still a property of the Russian Federation. (looking at Michael) Nabokov... Show us those statements your people prepared.

Mikhail passes the statements to Carla.

Carla 
(glancing at the statements) 
Our involvement is limited to enforcing your government's claim of Tax Fraud. Both the privatization of the company and its subsequent IPO were validated outside of our jurisdiction.

DDD 
But all the money was transferred to Switzerland.

Carla 
(continuing to read from a report) 
I believe that RPC was operating openly in Russia at that time. We never got a request concerning illegal transfers...

DDD 
So Nikitin has ears in your department!

Carla 
(handing out a document) 
The transfer occurred 25 minutes after the request was issued... from Moscow.... Our log shows that the message was only accessed at 7:15 Swiss time when the system was booted up... 62 minutes after it had been issued in Moscow... and 38 minutes after the money had been transferred out of Switzerland.

Silence. DDD and EEE look at each other, as GGG (FSB) intervenes.

GGG 
We are not here to figure out where or how or even when the leaks occurred Ms... Xanthis. What's important for us... as it is important for your government... is security. And Interior security is tied to External financial capabilities ... Nikitin is a threat to our country. You understand...

Carla 
And I am here to reiterate our commitment to your government... But we need assurances from your end that our channels remain secure. We cannot prosecute effectively if the other party is constantly one step ahead...

GGG 
We'll establish a new protocol... And my department will handle the channels.

Carla 
(looking at all)
As long as our correspondent is mandated by your judicial system...

GGG 
It will...

Carla 
(at GGG)
Then we will formally request that the funds are returned to Switzerland.

DDD 
Then Russia!

Carla 
Once the alleged crimes will have been prosecuted in Switzerland, we'll proceed to the next step.

====INTERIOR TRAMWAY CAR, OLD BERN / INTERIOR FEDERAL PALACE CAFÉ, BERN====

Feurer, aboard a tram, is on the phone with Meier who's sitting at the Federal Palace's Café.

Feurer 
So why are the Russians so insistent on us prosecuting Nikitin now that he's out of the country.

Meier 
Fishy... If they wanted him out... He'd be out...

Feurer 
And this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricin Ricin] affair... Any developments?

Meier 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum Botulinum]... No... When is Xanthis back?

Feurer 
Tomorrow morning

Meier 
Well, keep me posted.

Feurer stares out the tram's window... at the Aare River below.

====EXTERIOR, INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER, HERZLIYA====

Zvi waits on a bench outside a pavilion on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interdisciplinary_Center IDC campus]. He seems busy texting on some Blackberry derivative as [[Gadi|Gadi Oran]] walks to him.

Zvi 
We lost Uri.

Gadi 
(concerned) 
What do you mean lost!

Zvi 
Off the grid.

Gadi 
Well, that's his job, no?

Zvi 
Still, I'm concerned. I don't know what happened. He's just gone AWOL. I'm more concerned about what could happen to him from the inside.

Gadi 
How... What do you mean.

Zvi 
Guys like Hanin... They're going a great distance to find him. We're launching a full operation around some other guy, basically as a smoke screen. 
(confidential) 
Has he been in touch with you?

Gadi 
Who... Hanin? I don't even know these guys...

Zvi 
No, Uri.

Gadi 
Great... Now I've got you, out of all people, asking me to find Uri!

====ALEXANDER'S OFFICE, 60th FLOOR, RUSSIAN MIDDLE-EASTERN BANK====

Viktor walks into Alexander's office. An empty floor with with a 360 degree view of Dubai. [[Alexander]] is laying masking tape on the floor.

Viktor 
Planning to take over the city, Sasha!

Alexander 
(surprised) 
Viko!

The two men embrace.

Alexander 
(looking at the lines of tape on the floor) 
I told you, this is the new land of opportunities. They're going through their own [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perestroika Perestroika]. And we're here to help.

Alexander pours two glasses from a bottle of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Standard_Vodka Russkiy Standart] on a makeshift table.

Alexander 
(drinking) 
Na Zdorovie.

Viktor 
(drinking) 
Na Zdorovie. So what's the set up.

Alexander 
(walking through the floor) 
Desk, Ping Pong table, lounge... (pointing further) and washroom, kitchen... Operations are on 50 to 54. 55 as you know is management. Ground floor will be for limited customer service.

Viktor 
And on 1 through 49?

Alexander 
Empty. Until we find use for it.

Viktor 
Nice.

Alexander 
I kept the core management in place. Mostly Indians. You're CFO and I suggest you bring a controller from home.

Viktor 
And who's this Chinese girl.

Alexander 
(smiling) 
That's part of your signing bonus. She's been harassing me for a job since I got here. Seriously, she came highly recommended from our Shenzhen friends. Plus she speaks Russian.

====CARLA'S ROOM, BALTSCHUG KEMPINSKI HOTEL, MOSCOW====

Carla gets an SMS from Franzizka while sitting naked on her bed watching the news.

MISSING YOUR SKIN 
F

She drops the phone on the bed without replying and continues watching the news. She flips channels and laugh as she stops to watch a Russian comedy show entitled [http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BD ProjektorParisHilton].

The hotel phone rings. She picks up.

Carla 
(suspicious) 
Yes? Yes... Oh, Yes hi... Well... Thank you... (she looks at the time on her phone)... I was actually not thinking of going out as I have some work... Yes, at 7:30 I believe... (smiling) Ok then... Give me 10-15 minutes. I'll meet you in the lobby.

====EXTERIOR MOSCOW SIDEWALK====

Karl smiles as Carla walks out of the elevator. A doorman opens the front door as Karl politely gestures Carla to move ahead.

-Sorry for my colleague... He's a relic from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brezhnev Brezhnev] era...

-Not a problem... I hope I was not too rude myself...

-Don't worry. He's back to his wife by now... Snoring off some home made Vodka...

They cross a bridge over the Moscow River onto Kremlevskaya Naberezhnaya. A '''Pedestrian''' discreetly follows them from less then 20 meters away.

Karl points at the skyline.

-This obviously is the Kremlin and in front... that tall building back there, is where I work.

-So... What do you do at Foreign Affairs?

-A little of everything... You know, Russian people are kind of complex... (resigned) and complicated... and this "quality" is reflected in our government, in the way our system works... It's not streamlined like in America where everything is geared towards the consumer.

-Well, maybe that's as good.

-What?

-Not to be solely oriented towards the consumer.

-Yeah... Anyways, we're used to it. What about your country?

-What... The people?

-Yes, us Russian view Switzerland as the ultimate example of efficiency and order.

-I guess... I don't know if I relate much to that model though.

Karl gently grabs her back to guide her through a side street.

-You're from Greek origins right?

-Yeah... On my father's side. My mother was Swiss German.

-Was?

-Yeah she also passed when I was young.

-Oh, yes you mentioned it earlier... Sorry.

-Well... That's fate, I'm an orphan...

She looks up at a street sign an continues.

-But I can read the Greek alphabet... П/P-Р/R-О/O-С/S-П/P-Е/E-К/C-Т/T... Prospect street!

-Not bad... Actually prospect means street... Avenue.

[[File:MoscowCyclist.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Moscow by night]]

A cyclist shouts at them from the other side of the street.

-Красивый

Carla looks at him then back at Karl.

-But for pronunciation, it's harder... What did he tell you?

-He said ''Beautiful''

-I thought gay boys were not that open in Russia.

Karl looks amused.

-Guess he was talking to you then.

Carla grabs Karl's arm as they continue walking.

-What about this drink you lured me into!

====NIGHT, PROPAGANDA NIGHT CLUB, MOSCOW====

Karl and Carla are quickly picked by the doorman as they get to a line in front of a nightclub.

Carla 
(teasing, as they get in) 
You got pull!

Karl 
(boasting) 
They know I'm from the Ministry...

Carla 
(joking) 
And you bring many foreign girls here?

Karl leads Carla to a seating section of the club. Scores of fashion model types sit around shiny white sofas as a Hip Hop beat triggers strobe lights on the dance floor.

A young waitress attends to them as soon as they sit.

Karl 
(to Carla, loud) 
Champagne?

Carla 
(hesitating) 
I'd rather try a good Vodka...

Karl 
(in Russian, to the Waitress) 
A bottle of ''Jewel of Russia Ultra''.

Carla 
(getting closer as the Waitress' leaves) 
So you didn't get to tell me what your job was at Foreign Affairs.

Karl 
We've been working on this inter-agency case for months now... The Nikitin case. They've formed a team dedicated to taking him down and I've been assigned to it by my department as a liaison officer... Although most of the time I feel more like an intern.

Carla 
And interns get to cut through club lines and sit in VIP sections?

Karl 
(shy) 
My family has been in government for generations... That's how I got the Washington internship in the first place.

Carla 
And do you like it?

Karl 
What?

Carla 
Your job!

Karl 
Neah... Not really.

A '''NEW''' Waiter bring the Vodka and a two glasses. He serves Carla first as a curious '''By-Stander''' observes them the from a distance.

Waiter 
(in Russian, to Karl as he pulls out his wallet) 
On the House.

Carla 
(raising her glass to Karl) 
To internships!

====DANCE FLOOR, PROPAGANDA NIGHT CLUB, MOSCOW====

On the dance-floor, Karl is stunned by Carla's intuitive and sensual moves... As guys and girls rub each other around them, the Waiter keeps serving them shots from their bottles and delivering them on the dance floor under the suspicious eye of the mysterious by-stander.

Carla gets intimate with a guy and a girl competing for contact with her body. As the girl eventually pulls Karl back to his table, Carla remains on the dance floor getting closer and closer to the Russian Guy until they lead each other to men's room.

====MEN'S ROOM, PROPAGANDA NIGHT CLUB, MOSCOW====

Carla leans back on the wall on top of the toilet as the Russian Guy kisses her belly and starts zipping down her pants. Suddenly, the mysterious by-stander/follower busts the door and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taser tases] the Russian Guy down.

Carla is shocked as she recognizes [[Uri]] who grabs her arm to pull her out.

Carla 
(surprised, zipping her jeans back on) 
What are you doing?

====REAR ENTRANCE, PROPAGANDA NIGHT CLUB, MOSCOW====

They run out through the back door and cross a court yard leading to a side street.

Carla 
(starting to lose her balance) 
Where are we going...

Uri keeps looking back, concerned... He hails a taxi as they reach the main intersection just meters from the club's entrance.

====INTERIOR TAXI, STREETS, MOSCOW====

The taxi driver is staggered as Carla faints on the back seat. Uri quickly hands him a 5,000 Ruble bill for him to start the car as he closes the door.

Driver 
(in Russian) 
Where to?

Uri 
(in Russian, looking back towards the club) 
Just drive... Straight!

The driver accelerates.

====FRONT DOOR, PROPAGANDA NIGHT CLUB, MOSCOW====

The Waiter and Russian Guy run out of the club amidst commotion in the line up. As the Waiter pulls his cell and dials, the Russian Guy jumps on a parked Motorcycle and zooms out after the taxi.

====INTERIOR TAXI, STREETS, MOSCOW====

The taxi loses the motorcycle and reaches a busy intersection.

Uri 
(to the Driver) 
Turn here... let us down and continue.

Uri pulls Carla out of the taxi which takes off.

====EXTERIOR, STREETS, MOSCOW====

Uri pushes Carla into a doorway as the motorcycle passes right by them.

Carla 
(spaced out) 
What's going on? I can't stay awake...

Uri 
(holding her up) 
They've spiked your drink.

Carla 
Shit... [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-hydroxybutyrate GHB]?

Uri 
(peeking at the street) 
Don't know... but it looks like it worked...

Carla 
(embarrassed) 
I don't know what happened... Can you help me go back to my hotel.

Uri 
(pulling her back on the sidewalk) 
Not a good idea... Hold on to me...

====EXTERIOR, DAWN, TWO STAR HOTEL, MOSCOW====

Uri and Carla climb up the stairs of a modest hotel. Carla clings on to Uri as they get to the reception.

Uri 
(in Russian) 
You have a room?

The man at the reception desk looks skeptically at both of them.

Man at desk 
Passports.

Uri pulls a Czech Republic Passport from his inside pocket.

Man at desk 
(looking at the photo on Uri's passport) 
Czech... eh! 
(looking at Carla) 
And her?

Uri 
She doesn't have it with her. We just need to rest for a few hours.

Man at desk 
(with a grim) 
Rest... eh! Two thousand Rubles... Out by 11:00...

Uri pulls 2 bills of One thousand Rubles.

Man 
(handing the key) 
3rd floor. Bathroom on the floor.

====AARON'S APARTMENT, TEL AVIV / MOSSAD HQ, HERZLIYA====

Aaron is awaken by his mobile phone ringing.

Aaron 
(answering, groggy) 
Hanin!

Voice 
There's been some commotion at a Disco in Moscow last night. Around the Swiss Prosecutor.

Aaron 
And?

Voice 
She was apparently extracted by a stranger.

Aaron 
Yatom!

Voice 
That's what we think.

====INTERIOR, TWO STAR HOTEL ROOM, MOSCOW====

The sun shines through the red curtain as Carla opens her eyes. Still in a daze, she looks around the unfamiliar room and sees her suitcase on a the vanity. She hears a continuous banging but can't figure out where the noise comes from.

She realizes that she is still dressed up as she stands to looks around for the bathroom. She finds her cell phone on top of her suitcase with its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card SIM card] pulled out next to a hand written note.

STAY OFF THE GRID - URI

As the banging gets louder, she finally realizes that someone is knocking on the door and opens it to find a Maid and the front desk Man whom she doesn't seem to remember.

Man 
(in Russian, upset) 
It's already 2:00 pm! We've been knocking for half an hour... What's wrong with you!

Carla 
(in English, holding her head) 
Sorry... I didn't wake up...

Man 
(in Russian... not understanding) 
You've got 15 minutes...Or we charge you another night! 
(in English, showing his watch) 
One-Five!

Carla 
(closing the door) 
Yes... Ok...

She gets back to the vanity, looks at herself in the mirror and folds the note in her pocket... puzzled.

====INTERIOR, SWISS FLIGHT 987, TARMAC, MOSCOW====

Carla places her SIM card back into her cell.

Loads of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS SMS] and missed calls messages pop up.

Flight Attendant Announcement 
(in German) 
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now ready for take off. Please make sure that your seat-belt is fasten and cell phone turned off. All electronic equipment shall now be turned off until we reach our cruising altitude. Thank you. (repeat message in English...)

Carla presses redial on Feurer's number as she hears the announcement.

Carla 
(quietly) 
Feurer!

Carla looks at the incoming attendant.

Carla (con't) 
It's a long story... I'm still in Moscow..

The flight attendant stops by Carla and waits impatiently...

Carla (con't) 
I'll see you in the morning... I'm all right... Thanks... Just tired...

====SANCTUARY NIGHTCLUB, ATLANTIS HOTEL, PALM JUMEIRAH, DUBAI====

Viktor and Fan are being escorted to a private section on the rooftop terrace of the Sanctuary Nightclub where Alexander is sitting with [[Najwa]] and four young Emiratis.

Viktor 
(to all as they reach the table, in Russian) 
Is this the coolest it gets!

Alexander 
(in English, standing up) 
Gentlemen, please let me introduce you our recently appointed CFO, Viktor X and his lovely assistant, Fan Jing. 
(turning to Viktor) Viktor, this is His Excellency Sheik 1, his brother Sheik 2 and... (looking at the two other Emirati men)...

Sheik 1 
(interjecting, to Viktor) 
This is Sheik 3, Dubai's Deputy Minister of Finance and Sheik 4, President of the Central Bank of the UAE... Welcome to Dubai.

Viktor and Fan greet all as they sit around the low lying table. Waiters light up extra [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah waterpipes] as Alexander pours vodka into everyone's glass.

Fan extends her hand to Najwa who sits next to her as the men engage in a parallel conversation.

Fan 
(in Arabic) 
Hi, I'm Fan. You must be Mr. Alexander's wife.

Najwa 
(in English) 
Just a friend... I'm Najwa, please to meet you and congratulation's on your new position.

Fan 
(in English) 
Thanks, this is really challenging and (looking at Alexander then Viktor) I really hope that I will meet Mr. Alexander's and Mr. Viktor's expectations.

Najwa 
I'm sure you will... Good luck anyways.

Fan sips from her glass but seems startled by the taste of straight vodka.

Najwa 
(pouring [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull Red Bull] in Fan's vodka then into her's) 
Try with this... Goes through more easily.

Fan 
(trying her drink again) 
Better, thanks.... So I heard that you also speak Russian.

Najwa glances towards Viktor who doesn't react.

Fan (con't) 
Oh no... Mr. Viktor didn't tell me that, I heard from other people on the staff.

Najwa 
(amused) 
People talk about me at the office?

Fan 
(trying to defuse the situation) 
Oh... No... I guess I must be mistaken.

Najwa 
(confirming) 
No, you're not... I do speak Russian. I was born in Hungary. We were taught Russian from a very young age... Then they switched us to English.

Fan 
(finding an angle to befriend Najwa) 
Oh... Interesting... We had several professors from Hungary where I studied in Beijing. Hungary must be a very beautiful country.

Najwa 
Maybe... I didn't really like it.

Fan 
Oh, I'm sorry... Is your family still there

Najwa 
(dismissive) 
No...

Alexander puts his hand around Najwa's neck...

Alexander 
(to Fan) 
So Fan....

An waiter walks towards Sheik 1 to whisper in his ear as they look at four Eastern European escorts standing by.

Sheik 1 
(to Fan and Najwa) 
Would you ladies enjoy the company of some lady friends?

Before Fan could say anything, Najwa answers.

Najwa 
(sipping at her cocktail, not even looking at the escorts) 
I think we have enough Russian speakers at the table.

Sensing that Najwa's response might have offended the Sheiks, Viktor stands up and raises his glass.

Viktor 
To our host and to their kingdom. 

Alexander 
(Standing up, looking at the Sheiks) 
Nasdrovie...

All raise their glass and drink.

Najwa 
(Standing) 
I feel like dancing... (looking at Fan) You're coming?

Fan glances towards Viktor, hesitating, before leaving the table with Najwa.

====144th FLOOR APARTMENT, BURJ KHALIFA BUILDING, DUBAI====

Najwa and Alexander are back at their apartment.

Najwa 
(walking out of the shower) 
Who's this Chinese girl you hooked up with Viko?

Alexander 
(flipping the news on the TV) 
Some girl with experience in banking... Plus she's Chinese and speaks like five other languages... She's nice. You like her?

Najwa 
(wiping her body with a towel) 
I don't know... Something about her...

Alexander 
You complain about Russian girls as being all whores, Western expats as being boring, Muslim girls as I don't know what... And now it's the fucking Chinese... Make an effort! You can't lock yourself up all day staring at the Gulf. Make new friends.

Najwa 
I don't look at the Gulf... I look at Iran.

She gets to him and slides naked into his arm.

Najwa 
Anyways, I don't need friends... You're enough for me.

Alexander 
(caressing her head) 
Once this bank is set up, we'll move somewhere better, like South-America... Argentina... I always wanted to go there.

Najwa 
(getting closer) 
Maybe...

====CONFERENCE ROOM, FEDERAL PALACE, BERN, SWITZERLAND====

[[File:SwissFederalPalace.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Swiss Federal Palace]]

''Meier along with the Director of the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Intelligence_Service (FIS)] are meeting with two Swiss Federal Councillors (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA & Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP) to brief them about the alleged "assaults" on Carla Xanthis in Moscow and the possible intervention of a mysterious good Samaritan.''

FDFA Councillor 
(handing a letter to the Director of the FIS) 
This came in this morning directly from the Ambassador.

FIS Director 
(noticing the heading of the Russian Embassy in Bern, looking at the FDJP Councillor and Meier) 
Mr. Meier just briefed me about meeting this Ms. Xanthis informally last week.

FDJP Councillor 
(inquisitive, looking at Meier) 
What do mean informally!

Meier 
She was introduced by a mutual friend, one of her colleagues. She claimed to have been approached by a man, who we believe to be Mossad, who in turn apparently warned her, Ms. Xanthis, about a potential treat on her life.

FDJP Councillor 
And why wasn't this brought up to our department.

Meier 
I believe she was afraid to lose the case she was working on.

FIS Director 
(looking at Meier) 
But you did suggest that she seek protection form the Cantonal police right!

Meier 
Yes

FDFA Councillor 
(trying to catch up) 
So she was sent to Moscow without anyone being informed that she had been threatened?

Meier 
We were basically following a thread, the Botulinum case, that she had led us on to. I had no idea weather or not she had seek police protection.

FDFA Councillor 
But you did know she was going to Moscow.

Meier 
I was informed once she was there... Yesterday...

FDJP Councillor 
And what about this mysterious Israeli Agent.

FIS Director 
We're trying to get answers directly from Mossad but they seem to have lost touch with him as well.

====YATOM FAMILY HOME, WEST-JERUSALEM====

Gadi knock on the door of a suburban home on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

UriMom opens the door.

UriMom 
(surprised) 
Gadi!

Gadi 
(smiling) 
Shalom Mrs. Yatom.

UriMom 
Shalom Gadi... What brings you here (concerned) Anything bad? You have news from Uri?

Gadi 
No... Exactly... I was hoping you could help me...

UriMom 
(letting him in) 
Well come in....

Gadi follows UriMom across the house and into the garden...

Moments later, Gadi and UriMom are sitting in the garden, sipping on some limonade.

Gadi 
I was hoping that you might know something?

UriMom 
You know Uri has always kept to himself, ever-since he was a kid. After his father died, we moved here to live with my in-laws.

Gadi 
When did you see him last.

UriMom 
In November (+-3 months ago) for my step-mother's service.

Gadi 
And you haven't heard from him since?

UriMom 
No... He told me he had some business in Europe. You know he was very close to his grand mother, closer then he ever was to me. Maybe he wanted to go back to his roots. She was from Italy. I think he was very sadden by her death... She was his last connection to his father...

====ALEXANDER'S OFFICE, 60th FLOOR, RUSSIAN MIDDLE-EASTERN BANK====

Alexander and Viktor sit around Alexander's ping pong table along with [[Marina|Marina Krilova]], early 30s, the bank's new Controller and Head of Business Affairs.

Marina 
(to both men) 
But I have absolutely no knowledge of local banking regulations.

Viktor 
We deal directly with the Finance Minister and the President of the Central Bank.

Marina 
Do we have a local lawyer on staff?

Alexander 
We kept one... I think he's Egyptian...

Viktor 
(interjecting, to Marina) 
The locals don't work.

Marina 
(exhaling and referring to the challenge) 
Well, give me a few days to understand how things work and who's who around here. If all goes well, we should be operational within a few weeks.

Alexander 
We need to be back on the grid by Monday at London's opening.

====BACK IN HERZLIYA====

Aaron and two other Mossad Agents are fast forwarding through a series of video captures showing Marina walking across Dubai's Airport Main Hall; Sitting on the back bench of a Limousine; Checking in and finally walking into her hotel room, going straight to the off-screen bathroom where she remains.

Mossad Agent 1 
(proud, operating the laptop) 
We learned our lesson from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Mahmoud_al-Mabhouh Mahmoud op]!

Marina walks out of the bathroom naked and shuts the lights as she gets in bed.

Mossad Agent 2 
Don't we have night-vision?

Aaron 
Well this is all good, but what we need data is from Nikitin's building. I'm not interested in jerking off over some Russian lawyer sleeping.

MA2 
What if we bring Nikitin into the bedroom.

Aaron 
You expect her to layout the whole scheme while he rides her? Plus he's busy with his Iranian girl. That's not gonna work.

====REEF MALL, AL MURAQQABAT, DUBAI====

Fan walks out of a taxi and into the main entrance of a shopping mall where she blends into a sea of Asian shoppers. She stops in front of several low end clothing shops, purchases underwear then eventually settles down at a self service noodle shop. Still wearing her Gucci sunglasses, she places her red handbag on the table dropping her plastic shopping bag on the floor as she sits down.

A short moment later, [[Shuibo]], a Chinese man in his 40s approaches the table next to hers and addresses two Filipina women.

Shuibo 
(in Mandarin, loud enough for Fan to hear) 
You're too obvious...

The two Filipina women look at each other ignoring him.

Shuibo 
(smiling at the women) 
I'll be in the changing room of the clothing store across. Meet me there in 5 minutes. No sooner.

A surveillance camera records a wide angle shot of Shuibo being dissed by the Filipinas as he walks away.

Fan pretends to look normal and grabs her phone from her bag to answer a call.

Fan 
(in English, on the Phone) 
Najwa! Thanks for calling me back. Good... I was wondering what you were doing later on... I have these VIP passes for a new Gym in Dubai Marina... Yeah... I though maybe we you felt like joining me... Yeah... We could go for coffee after and hang around there... Great... I'll text you.

She hangs up and looks at her phone to see if 5 minutes have passed while discreetly glancing around. As she stands up to leave, one of the Filipinas waves at her.

Filipina Lady 
(in Tagalog) 
You're forgetting your bag!

Fan doesn't understand but then sees her plastic bag containing the cheap underwear and smiles back at the two young ladies.

Other Filipina Lady 
(in Tagalog, to her friend) 
Forget it... She's also Chinese.

====CLOTHING STORE CHANGING ROOM, REEF MALL, AL MURAQQABAT, DUBAI====

Fan and Shuibo both occupy adjacent booths.

Fan 
(across the curtain) 
I'm meeting her later this afternoon.

Shuibo 
We thought you should focus on the new Russian controller.

Fan 
Can't get close to her. She doesn't like me.

Shuibo 
Already? How do you know that? She just arrived!

Fan 
Girls' stuff. You can't understand.

Shuibo 
Well, we need access to Nikitin.

Fan 
The Arab woman and Viktor are his most trusted allies and probably his only confidants. Let me work on her and distance myself from Viktor so I don't blow my cover.

Shuibo 
I'll ask for two more weeks. But get me something to work with...

Fan 
I will... Don't worry. She's our bait.

Shuibo 
Well, you were supposed to be the bait.

Fan 
(sarccastic) 
Results pay off in the long run. Out of all people, you should know this...

Shuibo 
(changing subject) 
Next time. Try to blend in a little more...

Fan 
Well maybe we should hook up somewhere a little more classy then. Not like if that's what's missing here in Dubai.

[[The_Zytglogge_Mission|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] -- [[London_Calling|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.002]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.002]]
[[Category: The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

The Zytglogge Mission

2023-12-22T16:45:58Z

Ome: Fixing map display - removed openLayer configs

'''OUTLINE'''

''[[Carla|Carla Xanthis]], a Swiss prosecutor investigating the banking transactions of a Russian pipeline company, is the target of a failed assassination attempt as she leaves her old Bern home for work. Oblivious to what happened, she is secretly contacted by [[Uri|Uri Yatom]], the renegade [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossad Mossad] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsa Katsa] who saved her life.

''Back in the Middle East, [[Alexander|Alexander Nikitin]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_oligarch Russian Oligarch] who heads the pipeline company, transfers his operations to Dubai where he purchases a bank. He moves to the Emirate with his key staff and [[Najwa|Najwa Nilufar]], his Palestinian/Iranian girlfriend.

''The plot thickens as the characters involved cross reference transactions and individuals.

[[I_Seek_You_2.0|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

{{
#display_map:14.333333, 50.416667
| zoom=5
}}

====DAY, GULF OF ADEN, ARABIAN SEA====

[[File:GulfOfAden.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Gulf of Aden]]

Aboard a small rusted trawler, three men use a crane to raise a cable from the bottom of the sea. [[Pierrot]], who seems to be the leader, speaks with a French accent as the cable winds up through his hand.

-Slowly... Slowly...

[[Philippe]] emerges out of the water wearing a diving suit and holding on to the cable. He removes his mouthpiece and shouts in French with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridional_French Meridional accent].

-10 meters guys...

A rusted trunk pops out in a net and is raised on deck. Philippe removes his gear as he is being helped on-board, then walks up to the Pierrot.

-So... Gold bars!

Pierrot looks at him perplex as he tilts the trunk on its side.

-One thing we know it's that this thing is sealed! No water...

He notices an embossed logo on the front of the trunk.

-G.V.I.R.? What's that... A crown?

-Nice... The Queen's jewels!

Pierrot addresses the other two crewmen in English.

-Get me the crow bar.

He pops the lid off the trunk to find stacks of letters inside as Philippe looks astonished.

-Shit... The mail!

====MORNING, JUNKERNGASSE STREET, BERN, SWITZERLAND====

[[File:BernBike.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Bern]]

[[Carla]] Xanthis, 35, a Swiss federal prosecutor, unlocks her bicycle just outside her apartment and starts riding when a stocky 40 year old pedestrian crosses the street towards her. As the two are about to collide, another cyclist, [[Uri]] Yatom, 33, storms from behind Carla and purposely runs into the pedestrian who then falls on the pavement, dropping his umbrella. As Carla stops, Uri maneuvers back towards the fallen pedestrian, picks up the umbrella and zooms down the Bubenbergrain passage leading to the Aare river. Before Carla or other passers-by could get to the fallen pedestrian to assist him, a silver Mercedes sedan cuts them off to pick him up and continues its course as the man in the passenger seat, [[Boris]], exits the car to run after Uri. Carla and the other passers-by stare at each other in disbelief before continuing their journeys.

====BUBENBERGRAIN PASSAGE, BERN====

Uri continues his rocky ride down the outdoor stairway when he sees the silver Mercedes stopping at the bottom. As he hears the steps of the man following him getting closer, he dismounts his bike and hides behind and entrance still holding the umbrella. A mobile phone rings and Boris answers as he continues running down.

====INTERIOR SILVER MERCEDES, AARSTRASSE, BERN====

The Mercedes' driver, [[Dimitri]], 38, shouts in Russian into his phone as he looks up the stairs and sees Boris running into Uri.

-Look out... On your left!

====BUBENBERGRAIN PASSAGE, BERN====

Boris reacts to the warning a split second before Uri extends his leg to trip him. After dropping his phone and falling down several steps, he grabs a knife strapped onto his leg, presses a trigger which shoots its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_knife blade] narrowly missing Uri's head before getting stuck in a wooden wall behind. Reacting to the unexpected flying blade, Uri rushes towards him and strikes him on the chest with the tip of the umbrella then kicks him in the head. Boris drops unconscious.

====INTERIOR/EXTERIOR SILVER MERCEDES, AARSTRASSE, BERN====

Dimitri looks at the injured pedestrian on the back seat.

-Shit, he struck Boris! Get in front!

He then exits the car and runs up the stairs.

====BUBENBERGRAIN PASSAGE, BERN====

A large group of school children walk down from the top of the stairs blocking the way. Uri jumps over a side wall and starts running through inner courts and garden. Dimitri cuts through a side alley and runs on a parallel path but is slowed down by multiple dead ends. Dimitri catches glimpses of Uri then lose him again several times as the chase continues.

====EXTERIOR/EXTERIOR MATTENLIFT ELEVATOR, BERN====

Uri jumps a last wall and runs across a parking lot towards a couple entering an [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattenlift outside elevator] leading back to the old city. He gets in just before the glass doors close and sees Dimitri arriving at the scene as the elevator climbs rapidly.

The silver Mercedes reaches the parking lot as Uri continues his escape.

====OPENING CREDIT SEQUENCE====

A replay of the opening scene through various city surveillance cameras which extends to Uri crossing the Kirchenfeld bridge aboard a black Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

====MORNING, INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BERN====

Carla gets to her office late to pick up documents. A young female Assistant is busy gathering them into a rolling briefcase. Carla fires up her laptop and notices that she's late.

-Shit... the train leaves in 12 minutes.

-Making sure all the subpoenas are there. Feurer called to say he'll meet you in the restaurant waggon. He tried your mobile but he couldn't reach you.

Carla rapidly scans through her filled inbox.

-Yes, I got caught up in a bike accident.

-You're OK?

Carla shuts down her laptop.

-Yeah, I wasn't really involved... It's like this guy came out of nowhere to save me from crashing into a wandering pedestrian, then stole his umbrella and disappeared down the Bubenbergrain!

-Who's umbrella?

Carla seems perplex as her Assistant closes her briefcase.

-The man's crossing the street I guess. He got picked up by a car and also vanished...

The Assistant is more preoccupied by the departing train than by the incident.

-Wow! You're sure you're OK? 9 minutes!

====AFTERNOON, BERNER OBERLAND/URI, SWITZERLAND====

Uri drives his black Giulietta through several trans-alpine tunnels into Switzerland's heartland.

====EXTERIOR/INTERIOR, SERVICE AREA, URI, SWITZERLAND====

[[File:1000px-Flag_of_Canton_of_Uri.png|thumb|right|240px|Flag of Canton of Uri]]

As he reaches a highway service area, Uri parks and waits in his car until he notices the flashing headlights from a car parked on the opposite side of the highway. He picks up the stolen umbrella and crosses the austere pedestrian tunnel where he notices the emblem of the Canton of Uri, a cow's head with a buckle through the nostrils.

====SELF SERVICE RESTAURANT, SERVICE AREA, URI, SWITZERLAND====

Uri picks up a tray and gets in line next to [[Aaron]] Hanin, a bulky man in his late 40s, at the self service food counter.

Aaron speaks Hebrew to Uri.

-What the fuck are you doing here?

Uri discreetly raises the umbrella to show it to Aaron who notices the open tip.

-The target was about to hit the woman. Probably with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricin ricin].

-What target!!! First it's not our business what goes on in this country, then it's especially none of your business. Who the fuck told you to get on these Russians' case!

The cook looks at them from across the counter as Uri switches to German.

-One sausage with gratin please.

Aaron addresses the cook with a heavy accented English.

-What's in the sausage.

-Veal!

-OK, give me two.

-With gratin?

-Is there cheese in it?

-No. Potatoes, butter and cream.

Aaron looks annoyed and mumbles to the cook...

-Just the sausages...

...before getting back to Uri in Hebrew.

-Since when have you been in Europe anyways. Aren't you supposed to be in China?

-Well I had some personal issues to deal with here and I bumped into these guys by accident...

-By accident!

Uri and Aaron sit at a table with their trays.

-I just picked up the umbrella and left, not to leave evidences.

-But you left a Russian hit-man unconscious on the streets of Bern!

Uri looks surprised.

-They left him there?

-An ambulance was already on its way when the others reached him.

-Did they find out about the toxin at the hospital.

-Not yet, but the Swiss police got a good description of your car... That's how we tracked you down... Get rid of it and report back home within 48 hours.

====INTERIOR, PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL, SERVICE AREA , URI====

After crossing back the pedestrian tunnel to reach his car, Uri stops by the service area's shop to buy cigarettes and picks up an Uri flag crested cap which he wears with amusement and addresses the cashier in perfect English.

-Do I look good?

-Nein. Deutsche.

====AFTERNOON, HIGHWAY, UNDERWALD, SWITZERLAND====

A surveillance camera records Uri's car driving through a tunnel.

====DUSK, EXTERIOR/INTERIOR, ZURICH INTERCONTINENTAL BANK AG, SWITZERLAND====

A surveillance camera records Carla Xanthis and [[Feurer]], a 50 something auditor from the Swiss Department of Finances, as they enter the building of the Zurich Intercontinental Bank AG along with a dozen Federal Police officers. They show a search warrant to the security agents as the police officers quickly bypass the gates and infiltrate the building.

====INTERIOR, CEO'S OFFICE, ZURICH INTERCONTINENTAL BANK AG====

As the bank's CEO, [[Julius]] Widmer early 50s, is being warned about the intrusion by a panicked employee, Carla and Feurer enter his office. Feurer firmly addresses the CEO.

-Julius Widmer?

Julius responds with a defiant tone.

-Yes.

-We have a warrant from the Department of Justice to search this building. We also have authorization to shut down all communications and seize all mobile devices.

-Show me this warrant.

Carla hands the warrant as she introduces herself.

-Carla Xanthis, Department of Justice

====INTERIOR, ZURICH INTERCONTINENTAL BANK AG====

Staff on all floors of the bank are quickly ordered to cease using their computers and to surrender their phones and mobile devices as IT specialists take over the bank's servers and cut the building's Internet access. Walking through the bank's luxurious corridors amidst stunned employees, Feurer is lead to the archives where plainclothes police officers seize boxes of documents.

====EXTERIOR, ZURICH INTERCONTINENTAL BANK AG====

As police officers search employees exiting the bank, Carla is on the phone with her superior explaining that they might need several days to find what they're looking for and that letting the CEO go might jeopardize the case that she's building.

She stare at the flow of well dressed pedestrians and commutors on their way home from work.

====INTERIOR, CEO'S OFFICE, ZURICH INTERCONTINENTAL BANK AG====

As she questions the very evasive CEO, she gets a call back from her office informing her request for an arrest warrant has been declined. As she close her phone, Julius who's looking out the window, continues.

-What is this mascaraed.

-We have solid evidence showing steady transfers occurring from your transit. The Russian government is ...

-Fuck the Russians... You can't suspend the operations of a whole bank because you are investigating one account. Don't you see the damage this causes us... Not only us... All of us!

-It's the only way we have to act diligently.

Julius walks the room nervously.

-I can't believe this... I got to make a phone call to Bern.

-Please go ahead... We have to remain in your office though...

Julius grabs his mobile phone from his desk.

-Roland! Julius... Not good. A team from the Department of Justice stormed into the bank just now. No, not a joke. Can you talk to someone and see what the fuck is going on...

He walks to the window to peek outside.

-Yes, like 10 police cars parked downstairs blocking the door... Call me on my cell. The bank's lines are down!

====144th FLOOR APARTMENT, BURJ KHALIFA, DUBAI, UAE====

[[File:BurjKhalifa.jpg|thumb|right|480px|The Burj Khalifa]]

On the 144th floor of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa Burj Khalifa], [[Najwa]], a 28 year old Palestinian/Iranian writer, contemplates the sunset over the Persian Gulf. In the background, [[Alexander]] Nikitin, a 41 year old Russian businessman, gets an SMS urging him to log on to Epyks (a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype Skype] derivative application).

Alexander sits on a sofa and opens his laptop as Najwa, wearing a white cloth that catches the soft light of the setting sun, sits on the railing of the bay window writing on her [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad iPad].

Dimitri appears on Alexander's screen.

-She's the prosecutor. We tried to get to her before she got to Zurich but things got out of hands... as I'm sure you already know.

-That's OK, we have nothing in Zurich.

Dimitri's anxious face fills the screen as he gets closer to tweak settings on his keyboard.

-Great... I'm relieved... By the way I can't see you... Is your camera on?

Alexander stares at Najwa then gets back to Dimitri.

-You screwed up Dimitri. I asked you to slow down the process, not to hit a government official.

-The subpoenas had been issued. They were heading for the bank.

-I knew that and we acted accordingly... This is not Africa, Dima.

Dimitri's expression becomes apologetic, anticipating bad news.

-Sasha...

-Forget about it. Viktor is now in Geneva and he's taking over. Go back home.

Alexander closes the application and looks at Najwa's silhouette against the setting sun. He walks towards her and softly grabs her shoulders as he kisses her neck. They speak in English.

-Why do you write [[La voie de l'ange|your diary]] in French? You think I can't understand!

Najwa smiles but does not let him disturb her.

-I told you, it's not mine. I'm just continuing someone else's.

Alexander continues to tease her.

-A French lover...

-No, a young girl, who's diary I read in French when I was a kid... Now stop bugging me you Russian mobster.

Alexander gently caresses the side of her face as she looks up at the setting sun.

-When I look at the sun, especially now when it's so red and peaceful, I see you my love. Bright, strong and peaceful.

Alexander kisses her head.

-I think of you when I see the sun rising... Then, all my senses emerge.

-Hmmmm... My senses emerge when you touch me.

Alexander gently pulls her body on the floor.

-Ishtar... You're a goddess.

They make love.

====EVENING, INSIDE TRAMWAY, BERN====

On a rainy night, Uri, wearing his drippy Uri cap, boards a tramway and stops by Carla who is sitting down.

-Excuse me. Carla Xanthis... Please do not look at me... There is something important I'd like to share with you but we can't be seen together... here.

Carla seems suspicious as she looks around her, then stares out the window, nervously ignoring Uri who continues talking to her.

-Remember the accident across from your house yesterday morning? It was not an accident...

Carla reacts to Uri's claim and looks down as he continues his monologue.

-Meet me at the Kornhauskeller at midnight. It's important.

He exits the tramway as it reaches the next stop. Carla and Uri exchange quick glances through the tramway's window as it leaves.

====EVENING, JUNKERNGASSE, BERN====

As the rain continues to fall, Carla arrives in front of her building and meets an old lady who's struggling to close her umbrella.

-Oh, you're all wet young lady...

Carla smiles and extends her hand to offer assistance with the umbrella.

-I like the rain... it showers the city. Let me help you with this.

The old lady takes back the folded umbrella.

-They don't make them like they use to... Thanks you...

-You're welcome. By the way, did you hear anything about what happened yesterday? The accident.

-Oh no... You know at my age... You get concerned about less important things, like closing an umbrella and not forgetting what you need when you're at the grocery store.

Carla opens the building's door and lets the old lady in.

-You're right. Those are the important things.

The old lady gets to her ground floor door and turns towards Carla who's climbing up the stairs.

-I did hear about a man who got picked up by a ambulance on Bubenbergrain yesterday morning. But they didn't say it was an accident. But what do I remember...

Carla stops to smile at her.

-That's ok. Good night Mrs. Mahler.

====NIGHT, CARLA'S APARTMENT, BERN====

At home Carla is preparing a fresh juice mix on her kitchen counter while watching the news. She gets a call on her mobile phone and checks the displayed name.

-Franzi!

A Swiss German female voice replies.

-OK. So I looked into the case... Let me read this right... The victim is a Russian national named Boris Pichushkin. He entered Switzerland through Basel from either Vienna or Moscow on Friday. He was rushed to H+ by ambulance twenty minutes after a school teacher found him lying semi-unconscious on the Bubenbergrain. Early diagnostic was a contusion due to a head trauma. He stayed in observation for about an hour before leaving the hospital with two men claiming to be his work colleagues. We're waiting for the interrogation report from the nurse who talked to the two men. Her shift was over when our agents got back to H+.

-So no one spoke to him?

-No. The guys we dispatched were waiting for him to get out of observation but when they called back to inquire, he was already gone. It happen right bellow your street no? You heard of something?

Carla pauses for a second...

-No. I was just wondering what happened. Thanks for your help.

-Any time sweetie. Call me when you feel like seeing me.

-I will...

Carla sips her juice pensively.

====NIGHT, INSIDE THE KORNHAUSKELLER LOUNGE, BERN====

Carla walks into the lounge area as a DJ X mixes a trans [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bossa_nova Bossa nova] beat. She observes the crowd from the edge of the room, trying to recognize the man from the tramway. A waiter brings her a drink and mentions that it's from a man sitting at the bar. Carla takes the drink and walks toward Uri at the end of the bar.

-I give you one minute to tell me what's going on.

Uri gestures towards the stool next to his.

-Please sit.

She sits on the edge of the stool with her back to the counter as Uri gets to the point.

-What I will tell you has to stay between us. Off the record... I didn't ask you to come here for official reasons.

-I'm a Federal Prosecutor. Everything I do is official!

-I work for a foreign government. Nothing I do is official. And I'm not here on business. Just to warn you.

Carla grows impatient.

-Thirty seconds.

-I'm the cyclist who pushed down the pedestrian in front of your house.

-Why are you telling me this? Tell the police.

-He was after you.

-Who?

-The Russian man I bumped.

-How do you know?

-I was following him.

-Why?

-That's beside the point.

-So what is the point?

-They want you out. He was going to kill you.

-Kill me?

Carla tries to look calm.

-Who are you? What do you want.

-Nothing, I just wanted to avoid an unnecessary victim.

-Look, I can't really be talking to you.

-Me neither.

Carla spots a surveillance camera as she walks out of the club.

====NEXT DAY - DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE====

Feurer sits on the side Carla's desk as she leans back on her swiveling chair.

Feurer:

-And you went to the Kornhaus alone?

-Yes, the place was busy. It was not like meeting him in a parking garage.

-Why didn't you call the police.

-I don't know. I didn't have any reason to fear him. I did call my friend at the Cantonal Police. They didn't know much anyways. I don't want the file to be removed from me, Feurer. This is important to me. It's my first major case.

-Yeah but you don't want it to be your last.

Feurer search for a number on his mobile and dials it.

-I know someone who might be able to guide us through here. He's worked on several international cases. Hold on...

The call gets through.

-Franz! It's Gunti... All Good... Not bad... Listen, I'm here with a colleague who is also a friend. She had a strange encounter and doesn't really know who to turn to. Do you think you could meet with us shortly to discuss... Yes we're at the Department of Justice... Yes a prosecutor... Like mid thirties... Yes... She's here with me... Great, see you then.

Feurer hangs up, and looks up at Carla who's getting impatient.

-He's available?

-Yes, he agreed to meet us now.

-Which department does he work for?

-I don't really know. He's asked that we meet up with him at the Bellevue's Bar in 15 minutes.

-That's fast.

====EXTERIOR, BUNDESTERRASSE, ON THE WAY TO THE HOTEL BELLEVUE====

Carla and Feurer walk along the Federal Palace's terrace overlooking the Aare river and the Bernese Alps as two Kurdish men play a chess game on the floor. Feurer explains how he met Meier.

-We met during military service. He was not really the army type. More of a punkish guy. We liked the same music, got drunk together during days off... I lost track of him for a while. He skipped our yearly trainings and I guess got away with it. I think he was abroad. Then I bumped into him at an inter-agency meeting when we were looking into Duvalier's accounts, around 86 I guess. I don't know how he ended up there, but he was the one providing the best intel. Since then, we see each other through mutual friends or at concerts. We never talk about work.

====INTERIOR, HOTEL BELLEVUE BAR====

Franz [[Meier]], 49, sporty type, shaved head, discreetly waves towards Carla and Feurer as they enter a the bar of the Hotel Bellevue. Only a couple in their 70s sits in the background sipping on coffee.

Moments later... Carla and Feurer lean forward in their seats listening to Meier.

-The man you met yesterday is probably from the Israeli secret service, Mossad. The man who was hit across from your house we don't know, nor do we know who the man which was found unconscious on the Bubenbergrain was. We have a hard time tracking all the Russians in and out of the country. What puzzles me is why the Israelis engaged with Russians here in Bern... on a bicycle.

-He said to protect me.

-Mossad don't usually intervene when it doesn't concern them... Xanthis, that's not a Jewish name if you don't mind me asking?

-No, it's not.

Meier looks towards Feurer.

-Are you guys working on any Russian cases these days?

Carla cuts him off.

-Unfortunately, I can't reveal the nature of ongoing investigations and I believe that Feurer's office is guided by the same prescription.

-We all work for the same cause, Miss.

-Sorry, our guidelines at the Department of Justice are very clear. We can't share our data.

Feurer intervenes.

-We're investigating several accounts at the ZIB, some of which belong to Russian interests.

Then he turns to Carla.

-I'm Finance Carla.... Sorry... We're looking out for you here.

Meier leans forward as he needs specific details.

-Oil companies? Anything related to Alex Nikitin?

Feurer looks towards Carla who gestures acquiescently.

-Could be.

Meier, looking at Feurer.

-Then this could explain it. Before buying into the RPC, Nikitin was moving ex-Soviet navy ships filled with weapons to the Middle East. He's been on the Mossad watch list ever since.

Then at Carla.

-And I supposed you guys threatened his assets here.

Feurer confirms.

-At the request of the Russian Government.

Meier continues.

-He probably forgot to pay upstream.

Then looks at Carla.

-I suggest you take this very seriously. You probably know people Cantonal Police?

-Yes, I suppose.

-Then ask for their protection. They'll be back.

-Meier looks at his phone and turns towards Feurer.

Feurer gets the hint.

-Thank you Franz... How is your daughter?

-Great. I wished I'd see her more often.

Looking at Carla.

-By the way. No need to confuse the Cantonal Police with too much unnecessary information if you know what I mean. Better not to mention our meeting.

Carla looks towards Feurer who nods at Meier.

Feurer smiles and jokes.

-At the Bellevue bar... Who would believe us anyways.

Meier stands up.

-Nice meeting you Ms. Xanthis, and good luck.

-Same here. Thank you for your time.

====WALKING OUT OF THE BELLEVUE HOTEL====

Carla looks at Feurer as they walk out of the hotel.

-So we do have a spy agency after all.

-Not officially...

====YENICHE CAMPGROUND, ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND====

Uri drives his black Giulietta into a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeniche_(people) Yeniche] camp where kids interrupt a soccer game to let him through. He walks out of his car and tries to locate the head of the clan. A stalky bearded Man walks towards him.

Uri initiates the conversation in German.

-Good afternoon.

-Hi.

Uri then extends his hand and continues in in broken Yiddish.

-My name is Uri.

The man replies in Yenish, shaking Uri's hand.

-Stephan... Where are you coming from?

-West... Going East.

-And where did you learn to speak Yeniche?

Uri switching back to German.

-I speak a little Yiddish.

The man acknowledge and continues.

-What are you looking for?

Uri looks towards his car.

-I need someone to drive my car to Venice.

-I thought cars were not allowed in Venice.

-Well, there's a parking lot as you get in... Tronchetto (pulling a smart card from his pocked) This will get you in to the main garage.

The man hesitates, looking at the car.

-We can't really do that. Better find someone else.

-I can't. I can pay 1000 Francs.

The man skeptically looks at the car as Uri pulls ten 100 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_franc CHF] notes from his pocket.

-Also I would ask that you drop me in Buchs, at the train station.

====SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD, DUBAI====

Alexander is driving his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster Tesla Roadster] through Sheikh Zayed's Road. He gets an SMS on his mobile phone: EPYKS-V. We hear the sound of the electric engine slowing down as he pulls to the side, flips open his laptop, seeks an open WiFi connection and launches the app.

-Viktor!

At the other end, Viktor replies in Russian.

-Hey.

-You're in Zurich?

-No, still in Geneva.

-Well, stay there.

-What about Dimitri?

-We're closing Zurich.

Viktor pause for a moment.

-Ok...

Alexander looks at a row of high-rises.

-We're opening here in Dubai.

-What do you mean? We're... You're already in Dubai!

-No man. We're opening a bank in Dubai. Plenty of brand new empty buildings here. Sharia banking... We don't need the points anyways... You'll get a floor to yourself!

-Great. What about girls and vodka...

-Don't worry about it. It'll do you good.

-Ok. So what's next?

-Lay low. Keep an ear for the Swiss and an eye on this girl. Also, don't tell me Dimitri's guys both got mugged by some cyclist on the streets of Bern. See if the Swiss are on to something.

-Could be from home?

-On a bike? No... Plus they wouldn't have left a man there... Alive.

-You heard about Dima's crew?

-No.

-Just heard the local news here... They found trace of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum Botulinum] in a blood sample taken on an "Eastern European type" during his visit to the hospital and launched a nationwide search to find him. They're concerned about an outbreak and want to identify the source which they believe is food-borne.

-Botulinum! Can't be from home... And now Dima's gone!

-If they didn't make it out of the country, they might have taken cover around here.

-In Geneva?

-Yeah, not far. Let me check on a lead.

-Good... Oh... and Viktor.

-What?

-Don't let this escalate any further.

====BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ISRAEL====

[[Zvi]] Dagan, Deputy Director of Mossad' Collections department meets Aaron as he steps out of an El Al flight at Tel Aviv's airport.

Aaron looks surprised.

-Dagan!

-Welcome home... You had a good flight?

-Yes thanks.

-Sorry for rushing to you here... I wanted to see you first... About Uri.

-What about him?

-Well, it's been 4 days now. I'm concerned.

Aaron nods his head.

-I should have grabbed him in Switzerland...

-Can I ask you what he told you there.

-Not much... Basically told me to fuck off.

Zvi signals a plainclothes officer at a first security check who lets them through. They continue walking.

Zvi:

-We figured out who the Russians are....

-And?

-Nikitin men... Remember, the Russian who snatched a Soviet Navy ship and sailed it across the world without anyone noticing... More your era than mine.

-What the fuck is Yatom messing with these guys... Nikitin is not an issue for us any longer...

-Not that we know, he switched to pipelines and finance in the 90'... No indications he's back in the arms business.

-We should look into what he's up to anyways. He'll be easier to track than one of ours.

-Use him to find Uri?

-You see another way?

Zvi remains pensive as Aaron continues on his way through passport/immigration check.

Aaron:

-We'll talk tomorrow. My wife is picking me up.

====TRAIN STATION, BUCHS, ST. GALLEN====

Uri stares through the train's window as a speaker voice announce the departure of the train bound for Schaan, Liechtenstein.

====EXTERIOR, ROAD, LAVAUX REGION, VAUD====

[[Viktor]] drives his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_S-Class Mercedes S600 sedan] in and out of tunnels on Highway E62 overlooking Lake Geneva. Surveillance cameras record his passing by.

====EXTERIOR, KIRCHENFELD BRIDGE, BERN====

[[File:Kirchenfeldbruke.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Kirchenfeldbrüke]]

Feurer is crossing the Kirchenfeld Bridge reading news updates about the Botulinum scare on his smart-phone when a private call notification appears on the screen.

Feurer answers.

-Feurer.

He smiles as he recognizes Meier's voice at the other end.

-Cute but pretty uptight your prosecutor, Feurer.

-Yeah well she's not for you Franz... I heard she doesn't walk the walk.

-Well too bad for us.

-She's a good girl and a promising prosecutor. I want to help her out.

-I'm sure you do... By the way, I wanted to let you know that the guy we talked about, not the one on the news, the other one, well he's on the lose... Even his people are looking for him. Let me know if he resurfaces at your end. I'd like to know.

-Well, I'll see with Carla... And what about this Botulinum case.

-Can't speak about it. Tschüss.

====EXTERIOR, WINERY, LAVAUX, VAUD====

Viktor parks his car on the side of a narrow road overlooking a winery and crosses the vines towards the back entrance of the main building. No one's in sight except for a barking leashed up German Shepherd. He enters the cellar which doesn't appear to have been used in years and hears someone calling. As his sight adjusts to the darkness, he discovers a man lying on a makeshift bed. It's Boris who's agonizing.

-Here... Here...

Viktor looks surprised by Boris' condition.

-Where are the others?

-They went back home... To get an antidote. I got struck by our poison.

-Our poison?

-Some guy came out of nowhere, stole Vlad's umbrella and turned it on me when I caught up with him.

-Russian?

-No, he said something in English... I think.

-When did the others leave?

-I don't know, I've been in and out of it since then. This thing is killing me. Get me something fast.

Viktor gets closer to Boris, moves his right hand up his chest reaches his neck, and chokes him. Boris convulses for several seconds then rests inert.

Viktor carries the body outside and dumps it in a dry well. He unties the German Shepherd which remains still, then drives away as the sun is setting over the French Alps on the opposite side of the lake.

====INTERIOR, FRANZISKA'S APARTMENT, BERN====

[[Franziska]] Wenger, 35, a Bern Cantonal Police investigator, opens the door to Carla who appears shaken.

-Can I come in?

Franziska lets her in.

-Of course. What's going on, you look so pale.

Carla collapses into Franziska's arms.

-I'm scared Franzi... I'm so scared.

====FRANZISKA'S LIVING ROOM, BERN====

Franziska gently massages Carla's naked back on a yoga carpet.

-Ssssshhhhh.... Relax Carla... No one is going to hurt you.

-I don't want to file an official request. They'll take the case away from me.

-Stay here for a few days. Can't you call in sick? We'll figure it out tomorrow.

-Ok, I guess I could work from here... Thanks for being there for me Franzi.

Franziska leans down and runs her tongue over Carla's spine.

-My pleasure baby, my pleasure.

Carla turns over and removes Franziska's T-shirt as they starts kissing.

[[I_Seek_You_2.0|NEXT EPISODE >>]]

[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Passengers|1.001]]
[[Category:Follow the Money|1.001]]
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]