Pine Gap (2018): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript

Sure, we're friends.

Well, staying friends
might suit all of us.

It's in our mutual
interest to stand together.

I think Australians
need to be for Australians,

Americans need to be for Americans.

The sacrament of the alliance.

Prosperity without freedom

is just another form of poverty.

Trust, but verify.

Good day?
Mystery solved.

One mad Rohingya.



Who'd have thought?

It makes sense, though.
Yeah.

Jas.

News?
Yeah.

She thinks Gus
has bought our little fiction.

She's been with him a while.

And Ethan and Rudi?

No mention.

No reason they wouldn't have.

Let's not
congratulate ourselves yet.

Best to stay on our toes?
Yep.

Like a midget at a urinal.

It's called humour.

You're not funny.



Yeah. But I'm right.

They bought it. You and me
have nothing more to worry about.

And just to make absolutely sure,

I promise you I will stick out
the rest of the year.

In fact...

...I'm actually enjoying it
even more this time around.

Want another beer?
I agreed to one. Don't push it.

Rightio.

Want a lift home?
No, thanks.

Hey. Where is home anyway?

Fuck off.

Now, THAT was funny.

Dick.

According to Gus,

even though Moses remembers Jacob
from his first tour here,

nobody ever knew much about him.

He must have a history somewhere.

Yeah, well, we can always
ask Kath for his file.

Under these circumstances?

It might work. You never know.
Yes. I do.

I could always try securing it
by some less forward method.

I'm sorry. I didn't hear that.
Just commenting on the weather.

Don't get caught in a storm -
that's all I have to say.

Always wise advice.

Now, the instant the collection room
computer starts transmitting,

we'll get an alert... on this.

As soon as that happens,

there'll be a phone somewhere
in a 200m radius downloading files.

Now, if we can find it fast
and identify its owner,

we'll save ourselves
considerable embarrassment.

Save our careers.
Yeah. Probably.

Who set that up?

I did.

I can do stuff.

Right.

Obviously, this tablet
can't leave the classified area,

so at least one of us
has to be up here with it

whenever A-crew are on the base.

Well, for the next four days
they're here from seven till seven.

That's when we'll be here.
At least they're on days.

They've got two lots of day shifts
with a break in between

followed by night shifts.

But, I mean, isn't it going to
look weirdly suspicious

if we start staying overnight

so we can be with that
just when they go to nights?

Agreed. Nights won't be sustainable.

No. At that point the risk
of letting it run become too high.

So, we have... about 12 days
to solve this problem.

Correct.
That should be plenty of time.

And we have to have them believing
everything's dandy

and they're trusted.

While we nail the one who can't be.

Alright.
First, why are they doing it?

To refresh ourselves on the motives
for treason - M is for...

Money.

I is for ideology.

C is for...
Compromise.

Or coercion.

And E is for ego.

Sometimes it's just
a big fat grudge.

And for centuries,

every traitor on earth has been
driven by one of these motives.

So...

...which of these six
has what problem?

We should study their lives.
We could start with their files.

Just to be clear, we three
will have access to all six files.

You, the Aussies, me, the Americans.

Complete transparency. And then we
get them relaxed, get them talking.

Alright. Well, why don't we
just start at my place?

Tonight. Just low-key.

Have a few drinks,
get them off guard.

We can gently steer some easy chat
and just see what emerges.

Actually, maybe not you.

Too much if I'm there?
I think so.

Probably.

And we should keep a detailed record
of everything they say.

Handwritten only, get it down while
it's fresh and then... keep it where?

In here?
Sure.

Remember, 12 days.
That's our window.

Still think it's Jasmina?

If I had to put money on it
right now, yeah, I do.

What's her motive?
I don't know.

Maybe we'll find out tonight.

Can you email me
the Australians' files right now?

Deb, Jasmina and Si?
Sure.

Air Force One approaching Beijing
out of Yangon. ETA 0104 Zulu.

E link?
No SAM radar activity.

USINT?

No indication of a weapons test
along the flight path.

Comms?

Politburo's quiet.
Just routine chatter. Simon?

Simon.

Um... No. Nothing.
Nothing from military comms.

Sounds like... Stand-by.

They want to be nice hosts.
Cordial, polite.

What's the point of Kerr
even going to Beijing then,

if they're just gonna smile
and say nothing?

Well, he made a big deal

about telling the world
he'd protect that Malaysian ship,

then China went and crippled it.

You can't just pretend
it didn't happen.

Obama did in Syria.

Yeah. And look how well
that turned out.

Have you seen those pictures
of the kids dying from nerve gas?

Syria wasn't trying to overtake
our position of global leadership.

Is China?

Are you kidding me?
It's page one of their manifesto.

Mate, they only want power in Asia.

You're crazy if you think
they'll stop where they are.

You're the ones
wanting a fight over it.

If they don't want a fight,
they'd better issue

some meaningful statement of regret
over the EMP attack.

Yeah.
'Cause that'll happen.

Chairman Chen
is gonna kowtow to your president?

That's what POTUS needs - this
morning, right now - from China.

Or else he has to react.

They have to understand
the position they put us in.

Look, COMINT, just open up
the frequency range

for the cell phone network
in Beijing.

I will have to take an antenna
off Pakistan.

Well, if we have to, we have to.

Just for the next few hours.
OK.

Any progress?
Maybe.

Do you remember this?

When we promoted Gus
to Mission Director.

Eloise Chambers.

She applied?
Apparently.

And we didn't even
give her an interview.

You think that's enough
to sell your country's secrets?

Well, if Beijing
has read all our files

and if they are trying
to fan the flames of discontent,

then maybe they ask this Zhou/Joe guy
from Shonguran

to see if she's corruptible.

And maybe he overheard her
grumbling about us somewhere.

Nah, I can't buy that.
Too many maybes.

Anything to strengthen that hunch
on Jasmina Delic?

Not directly.

But she has been very clever
getting herself to this facility.

Interesting.

I don't understand, Paul.
How can you want an amendment?

I mean, we consulted you
every step of the way.

About the mine, sure.

But your pipeline
isn't just in our country, Joe.

It goes all the way up to Darwin.

The Central Land Council have taken
it to all the traditional landowners

and they have some thoughts.

Anyway, it's not just me.
I'm just the advance party, right?

A mate, giving you a little heads-up

so that when they do give you
the official response,

you're ready for it.

Everyone wants more money.
No. Employment.

We want a guarantee

that a good percentage of the jobs
you create come to us.

That's what my people really want.

Yeah, well, I can't give you
a yes on that on my own.

That will have to
go back to Beijing.

That's why we're talking - so you
can get the wheels turning?

We can wait. We're not going
anywhere. We've been here forever.

But you do need the tick from us

before you can take it to
the Foreign Investment Review Board.

OK. I mean, it is what it is. Yeah?

I mean, we just have to
deal with it.

Hey, Belle.

Hi, again.

Hi, Belle.
Hi, Paul.

Did you get it? The painting?

Yes. I did. I did.
It's getting delivered. Yeah.

I mean, you should hire him
as an advocate for Aboriginal art.

He's very passionate.
What did you get?

It is a piece by a woman
called Mary. It's beautiful.

Gorgeous piece. I mean,
the depth of colour, magic.

You can really feel the heat
of the land coming off the canvas.

It's from a place called Ank-urli?

Ankula.
Ankula.

Yeah. You been there?

It's a beautiful place.
You've gotta go there.

Immy takes her tour groups there.

I could find out what her roster is.
No, thanks, Paul.

I'm not really into
the group... thing.

You know, they hear my accent

and then they ask
all kinds of questions.

Yeah.
I would like to go.

Alright. Easy. Leave it with me.
I'll sort it out.

And don't stress. We'll get there.

See you later, Belle.

Bye, Paul.

Please. Take a seat.

Yeah?
Yeah.

It's, nice to see you again.
Yes.

We've got something.

Some Chinese officials are finding
a spot for Robert Boyle.

"Have many good friends of the PRC
in Australia."

"Diagonally opposite."

"Perfect. Thank you." Then...

Thanks. They're discussing now
who's gluten-free,

who's going to get drunk.
What's this about?

The Chairman's banquet tomorrow
after the meeting with POTUS.

Your PM's Chief of Staff cracked
an invite to the Chairman's banquet?

Yeah. They met when he was out there
as ambassador.

And he's back there now on holidays
after APEC. It's not unusual.

He goes to Beijing on holidays?

Well, the surf's shit
but they've got a really big wall.

Hey, Jacob, someone
at the Chinese Secret Service

got an audio file
of President Kerr.

He's chucking a tanty, mate.

Channel 14. Check it out.

As for Philip
fucking Burke, what a jackass.

He struts around
like some kind of world statesman

and nobody gives a fuck what he says.

And then he tries to lecture me
on peace in Asia.

Who the FUCK
do Australians think they are?!

There's more people in Shanghai

than in that entire shithole,
fucking deserted fucking country.

That's true.
Is this live?

No. No. No. It's, like,
20 minutes old from his hotel room.

Playback through an agent's mobile.

How did they even get it?

CIA techies debug every room
POTUS walks into.

Must have new gear.

Stupid, dumb cocksucker!

If this gets out...

From the Chinese...?
Nah. There's no way.

Nah, they may as well
hang out a big neon sign

telling us
they've invented something new.

That's the last thing they'd want.

If you get a steal on someone, keep
it secret for as long as you can.

Exactly.
Shit.

They've switched encryption key.
Who?

The Chinese military,
30 seconds ago.

We've just lost sync
with all their signals.

Imagery, anything building?

Nothing taking off.
Just routine flight activity.

Just preparing, probably.

In case POTUS and the Chairman
don't have a good meeting tomorrow.

Hey.
Hey.

Are you OK?

Yeah. It's just...

Yeah.

Are you going to this thing
on at Kath's tonight?

Yeah. Just gotta Skype home first,

chat with Sal and the girls
for a bit, and then I'll come over.

How does that work -
you out here, and her with the kids?

Sorry. I'm just curious.

You're one of the few people here
making a marriage work, so...

I don't know about making it work,
Jas.

I mean, Sal just thinks I come back,
put my feet up, relax,

and she's the one
running around like a mad thing.

Right.

Maybe I should have stayed single.

Would have paid off the mortgage
by now.

We're gonna have to count these guys
in and out?

Every day. It's the only way
we can be sure what they're doing.

Right.
Yeah.

Don't stare too hard. They have to
feel like they're trusted.

Just wanna make sure
they're all leaving.

Later, Mr Fox.
Sure.

All the top brass
working late tonight?

Jacob.

Where did you spring from?

Just finished giving these two
a run-down from today's shift.

Anyway, better run.

See you at Kath's.

Yeah.

That's why I'm the champ, you see?

That's why I don't let you
live here rent-free,

'cause I'm gonna beat you both.

That's what I do. See?

You can't get away from me.
OK.

Don't try and get away.
Boys. Hey. Hey. Hey. Dinner.

Dinner.
Go on. Hands.

Go on!

With soap!
Alright. OK.

Close your eyes. Close your eyes.

Hold on.

Alright.

I'm scared now.
Come on.

OK. Keep 'em closed.

Open.

What do you think?

I mean, it can go either way.

So...

What did it cost?

$7,000 - Australian dollars.

I mean, it has such
a seductive depth. It's...

It has a richness
and it's evocative.

I mean, you can almost
smell the connection

between the land and the artist.

Yeah. It's, um...

It's... it's colourful.

Let me, let me get the wine.

Well, I... I love it.

Drinks, meat for the barbecue -
I don't think we need anything else.

Do we need that?
We have to bring something.

Why? What's it for?
It's a party.

DCOFS's house?
First one I can remember.

Nah, you'll love it.

I was gonna switch Champions
tonight.

So I went with Draven. I think his
attack speed might really suit me.

OK. OK. You can spend the night
playing League of Legends.

Or you could engage
with a house full of actual humans.

Why waste time with humans?

OK. Your second load of
random numbers are 8, 2, 7, 5...

They're just delusional great apes

who periodically kill each other
just to establish dominance.

I'm going to write down a bunch
of random numbers under that.

Or worse, to establish
that my totally unproven,

nonexistent god
is better than yours.

And I had no idea what two loads
of four numbers you were gonna get.

What's the answer?
2-7-7-4-0.

And the number that I wrote
on the sheet of paper I gave to you?

2-7-7-4-0.

Come on. 50 bucks, mate.

You swapped it. You had to.
No, I didn't.

How? It's fucking impossible.
Look, there's no swap, alright?

It's magic. Just give me 50.
Go on. I'll meet you there.

Don't.
No.

Just cough up.
No, go.

50 bucks!
This will be fun.

You said... How?
It's fucking impossible!

Look, it's magic, alright?

There's no swap. Just give me 50.
Get stuffed.

Hey, buddy, she's not cheating.
Thank you. It's magic.

It's not magic.

It's just math.
No. No, it isn't.

It's quite simple. I'll show you.
No.

Mate, piss off.

OK. What numbers did you write down?

8275.
Right.

What the fuck is going on?
See, what she did was, she picked...

Hey.
Hi.

Um, I'll catch you in there.
Alright.

Where's Moses?

Someone's doing a math trick.
Ooh.

He could be gone for years.

You look good.

Thank you. So do you.

Did you remember the bubbles?
Yes. I did.

Good.

What exactly are we celebrating?

Well, look, look, nothing
in particular. I just thought...

...a little bonding time after
the recent stresses might help.

So, to friendship.

Friendship.
And teamwork.

That too.
Cheers.

Cheers.

Is Simon coming?
Did he stay on the base?

No. He's just Skyping home.
He won't be long.

So, I hear Beijing has a tape

of the President
ranting about the Australians.

Yeah. You listen to it?

No. Not yet.

I was down in data management
earlier in the afternoon,

but not for that.

I've been reflecting on that
young Hong Kong reporter, Lwin Ho.

She was on that Burmese aircraft
shot down over Sittwe.

Jasmina said she texted her editor
just before take-off. Remember?

Well, that got me to thinking -

what do we have on HIS phone?

So I pulled it up.
The editor's?

Yeah. I've just sent you
an unclassified summary via email.

When you get a moment alone,
take a look.

The Australians are
definitely hiding something.

You're from Laos?

Yeah. You just head north
and take a left at Vietnam.

You know, that's pretty good.
Thank you.

Hey, Deb.

Did your parents make sure
you kept the language?

Yeah.
Do you still see them much?

Um... well, I mean, living here
makes it a bit hard.

Because of distance
or because of what we do?

Well, both.

I mean, Dad's a sworn pacifist.

He left Laos to escape communism,
meditates every day,

and then his little girl goes off,
joins the army,

and now works for Pine Gap.

You rebel.
Hey, I just wanted a free uni degree.

Didn't know I'd be at the coalface
of anything.

And does it... does it feel like
you are?

At the coalface?

In some ways and on some days...

...but nuh, not really.

Aww. Hello!

Now, that is Bruce.

And we are all...
all his guests this evening.

Aww. Well, hello, Bruce.
Thank you so much for inviting us.

Everything on the table, Kath?

Yeah. Thanks, Eloise.

What am I doing here?

Fuck, I don't know.
Just toss it all in.

OK.

When I joined in '74,

we thought the Soviets would be
the enemy for a thousand years.

Then after 1990, it was all over
and we were cock of the walk.

Until now.

How'd we win the Cold War,
do you think?

Better intelligence?

Breadlines.

What?

There were always breadlines
in Moscow

because the government decided
where the bakeries should be,

how many loaves you should make,
and what you could charge.

What did Jas say?

But in America...

She apologised for thinking
I was Vietnamese.

And her accent's good?

Yeah, spot-on.

She probably lived there
for some time.

She told me she's only ever
travelled to America.

And it means that there was
always enough bread for everybody.

Well, in that case,
she's bloody amazing.

So, breadlines.

That's how capitalism beat communism.

Her parents are... dead, right?

How about yours?
I don't think I ever asked.

They're alive.

And so... you're not close?

We talk. Send each other
birthday presents.

I bet they're proud of you.

Why would you say that?

Well, a PhD from Stanford.

Doesn't mean much
to a professor at Harvard

or a winner of two international
piano competitions.

I could have won a Nobel Prize
and not get noticed in my family.

I don't believe that.
Might be a slight exaggeration.

Hey, I'm... I'm with you, by the way,
about being at the coalface.

Thank you. You know...

You know, I just wish they would
just be more honest about it.

I... I know that, technically,
we have no offensive capabilities.

But the truth is that we are
in the centre of so much shit

while we're busy telling
everyone else that,

you know,
"It's just a downlink,"

and then we pass everything on.

Hey! Look who's here.

I should keep moving.
I'm supposed to be on drinks duty.

So, you finally decided
to show your face.

Come on. What, I'm only, like...
20 minutes late.

How are things at home?

Perfect.

Well, it will be once I win Lotto.

You're always crying poor.
It's not that bad.

Are you serious? I've got four sets
of school fees, Deb.

We do have free public education
in Australia.

You do know that?

Yeah, but... see, it's the school
my wife went to

and her mum, and her grandma.

It's still an option.

Yeah...

No. Not really.

You know what? I just have to learn
to love debt.

It's the mistress in our marriage.

Alright, everyone,
let's eat! Let's go.

President Kerr
will meet with Chairman Chen

in Beijing tomorrow morning,

with one item on the agenda -

will China retract its territorial
claims in the South China Sea

or continue to ignore the decision
of the international court

that America has sworn to uphold?

Louis's asleep.
Andre's almost there.

In fact, so am I.

I'm gonna have to head in early
again tomorrow.

Because of this?

Partly.

Could it end in war?

Who knows?
But what do you think?

I think the best way to avoid a war
is to prepare for it.

Ethan, please. Do not answer me
with a cliche.

I really want to know
what you think is gonna happen.

Did you...

Did you make the boys' lunch
for tomorrow?

Or... can I help by doing it now?

I, I bumped into
Paul Dupain today,

and he's going to take me out to the
place where my painting was done.

Great.

Ladies and gentlemen,
now we add these numbers up.

Can I get a drum roll please?

And the answer is...

2-7-7-4-0.
7-4-0.

But you had no idea
what numbers I was gonna choose.

I didn't need to.
I don't get it.

Come on.

Come on.

I mean, this is not that hard.
Just think.

She was pretty clever
for a teenager, though.

She probably saw it online.

Yeah. Um, look, so, El,
the thing is...

No, no, no, no. No. Don't tell her.
She can work it out.

No.

Is looking at pictures
all you're good at? My God.

OK, Moses, stop.

El, OK, look...

So, the two pairs, right,
his number and your number,

and when you add them together,
they have to equal 9,999, yes.

So he can make sure that
that happens

by writing his number after yours.

See?

Yeah?
I... I get it.

Wow. I could literally feel
your neurons connecting.

That was amazing.
Come on, Moses.

Astonishing.
OK. Hey, Moses.

No need to be rude.

I learned that from a teenager.

My God.
Stop being cruel.

Don't take it to heart.

He couldn't have written
the doctoral thesis

you wrote either.

Solving the problem of high-spatial
resolution for wide-area search.

You were noticed.

Yeah.

What? No, really. You were.

Why would you think you weren't?

Eloise?

It doesn't matter.

Sure it does. We can't solve your
problem unless we know what it is.

It's not a problem.
Or...

...is it to do with the MD's job
a couple of years ago?

I know you didn't get an interview,
despite your length of service.

I didn't even get an email
acknowledging I'd applied.

Forget it, though.
It's not a problem. Really.

No. It is. I'm sorry. I apologise.

I remember a time early in my career

when I expected to be ignored
and forgotten

and instead I was embraced
and supported.

I'm just sorry we couldn't
do the same for you.

Should have spoken up sooner.

Or maybe tried again.

The EMINT team leader position
was open a few weeks ago.

You could have applied for that.

I did.

Um... I'm sorry, Mr Fox, I'm...

Thank you.
Yeah, sure.

Hey, Kath, so, where was Jacob
tonight?

He had something else on.

Anyway, not many people
relax around Jacob.

I wouldn't argue with that.

Come on. You guys are...
What's the word?

Besties? You guys are besties.
Don't start.

It's been a good night.

Still friction there?

What, between Gus and Jacob?
Yeah.

Yeah.

Why, 'cause he blames him
for taking his job?

No. He blames America
for being demoted.

In Gus's mind, we just...

...threw him under the bus.

No. That's all our fault.

Well, so, what's his problem
with Jacob?

Well, basically...

...Jacob's an asshole.

Fair enough.

I'm dropping Deb and Eloise off

and then, at long last, my evening's
entertainment can finally begin.

I better make tracks too,
Kath. Thanks so much.

My pleasure.

I might finish this
and then fold my tent as well.

I like your cat.
Yes. Where is Bruce?

Just FYI, I saw Jacob
as I was leaving the base earlier,

told him I'd see him here.

I hope that didn't...
Forget it. He's a big boy.

Have you spoken to Gus?

I mean, if he really has the shits
with America...

He... he doesn't. He may have had
for a day or two,

but he's over that now.

Have you had a chance
to speak to Jasmina?

Not yet. It's next.

She'll open up much more one on one,
I can promise you.

Alright. Well, I'll head back
to the base,

put my thoughts down on paper
while they're still fresh.

And following our protocol,

that means I should leave them
in your office.

The manual passcode.

You can change it again tomorrow.

4-6-0-2.

Goodnight.

Did Gus ever talk to you
about his demotion?

To be honest, he was more annoyed
about not being able to apply

for that job in Denver.

The job in Denver.

Yeah. That meant everything to him.

He would have finally been able to
show his dad

he's done as much for America
as his brother.

You know about his brother, right?

Instead, he got told
he was too important here,

then they ripped away the MD job

and now his dad still thinks
he's a filing clerk.

So, we robbed him
of his family validation.

Yeah, well, not you.

It's like Moses said -
he blames them.

Has Gus asked you about your family?

Yeah, once.

And?

I told him they were killed
by the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Nothing like the truth.

'Cause that is the truth, isn't it?

It depends where you put the frame.

What do you mean?

Well, until 1999,
the US State Department

actually listed the KLA
as a terrorist organisation.

Then they started fighting Serbia
for independence,

and America was just like,
"Wow, awesome. How cool is this?

"We can use these guys
to get rid of Milosevic

"and just not get blamed for it."

So then, all of a sudden,
the KLA were freedom fighters.

Like... overnight.

On Saturday, terrorists.

On Sunday, freedom fighters.

So, the six men
who killed my parents

were all trained and armed
by the CIA.

Every single last
fucking one of them.

And that's also the truth.

But, honestly, like, back then,
the whole Balkans was a mess.

You just can't hang on
to things like that.

It happened and it's...
it's over, and...

...when I landed here,
I just felt like I could breathe

for the first time in my life.

See ya, mate.

Thank you, Moses.

Now back to my single bed.

Sorry I'm straight.
Yeah, you're such a disappointment.

Not to everyone. Not really.

You know you've really got to
stop thinking that.

Goodnight.
Goodnight.

What do we do about this?

This?

Yeah. Us.

There comes a point where we just
have to say something, right?

The NSA rules are very clear.

No contact with foreign bodies.

And minds, or just bodies?

If the relationship becomes close
and continuing,

I have to declare
a foreign preference.

I'm not sure what happens after that.

I think if you were Russian
or Iranian, it might be an issue.

Close and continuing?
That's the phrase.

Well, call me crazy, but I think
we've jumped the bar on 'close'.

As for 'continuing'...

...have you had any continuing
girlfriends in this job?

Nothing past a few months.

It gets too hard.

Tell me...

...we work our guts out
to protect a free society

and then can't even be part of
what we're protecting.

Surely we can have a relationship.

Though we can't ever
quite be... normal.

Yeah.
I guess it depends on what we want.

Mr Maths Nerd, you still awake?

It's me, Marissa, from the mall.

Can't hide in a town this small.

I know you're home.

I just want my 50 bucks.

Hey!
You lost me $50.

Just pay up and we're cool, yeah?

OK, yeah, well,
I'll be back tomorrow.

Better get back to my place...
before the bus.

I'll see you in half an hour.

Do you know how much you toss
and turn at night?

Yeah, I always have. Sorry.

What's wrong?

Just still wondering about the
Rohingya shooting down that plane.

Why?

'Cause as you said the other day,

"Why would a Hong Kong reporter
who's never been to Myanmar before

"recognise a Burmese rapist
in witness protection?"

I mean, maybe, but...

You remember that last text she sent?

Yeah, about explosive news.

Yeah, I went down to data management
yesterday

and pulled up what we had
on her editor's phone,

the guy she sent it to,
and guess what.

What?

Within 60 seconds of getting
that text,

he sent it to the MSS in Beijing.

But don't you think it's an odd text
to send to Chinese intelligence

if it was really just about
a local rapist?

Yeah, but even if her
"totes explosive news"

was about something else entirely,
something worth sending to the MSS,

it still could be a coincidence.

The Rohingya still could have shot
down the plane

to get the guy
in witness protection.

Yeah, sure,
but if it was about something else,

aren't you curious what it was?

You've been curious
about everything else.

She just spent a week buddying up
to a dozen world leaders

at the APEC Conference.

But if she did recognise
the guy in witness protection

and that's what her explosive news
was, then it all fits.

Why keep worrying about it?

But do you really think she did?

Sure, yeah.

What?

You didn't on Tuesday.

Look, Jas, no big deal.

Who else knows about that text
being forwarded to Beijing?

No-one.

See you on the bus.

What were you looking for, Rudi Fox,

you sneaky little
Californian knob gobbler?

Hey?

OK. Informative evening?
On many fronts.

Good.
Including Mr Jacob Kitto.

My, you ARE efficient.
He's her husband.

He's Kath's husband?

Or ex-husband or soon-to-be ex.

He's also a very trusted go-to guy.

There's some great fieldwork
on that resume.

Unsurprisingly.

He's the guy she's divorcing?
Yeah.

The guy taking her
through hell and back over a cat?

That's him.

And she's hidden it.

Mine to use if I want it.

I'll be damned.

Money, ideology, ego,

grudge, grudge, ego.

What? It could be any of them?
Potentially.

I don't... I don't really think
we've looked at Moses yet.

Moses is still least likely.

How do we prioritise?

Well, the real offender is probably
hiding their real motive,

but on the other hand, Simon just
blurted his right out.

Eloise didn't take
much coaxing either.

OK,
so we put these two aside for now.

Not dismiss, just put aside.

We have to progress somehow.

Gus, Jasmina, Deb.

Where do we focus?

Gus.
Jasmina.

OK, what's that look about?

Well, we knew
you were her referee for this job,

but until we read Jasmina's file,

we didn't know you were also
her first boss

at the Australian Signals
Directorate.

None of which is inappropriate.
Can you be objective?

Objective?

Rudi, I notice you didn't even
try to tease out

the level of Gus Thompson's
resentment.

Her file also told me that

from the day she chose her electives
in Year 11 at high school,

she's been on a path to get here.

Since when has goal-setting been
an indication of guilt? Ethan?!

Kath, open your eyes, please.

From the age of 15,
nothing's stopped her.

Nothing's delayed her.
Nothing's got in her way.

And now at the age of 29,
she's a team leader

in the most important
and sophisticated American facility

in the world outside the US.

And her parents were lined up
in their backyard and murdered

by American-trained rebels.

Are you seriously comparing all that
to Gus Thompson being demoted?

So, we just go
where it tells us to?

Yeah, just follow it in - it'll tell
you how old all the rocks are

and why this place is a women's site.

All that stuff.
OK, good.

We're still going with them?

Well, we can if you'd like,
but we don't need to.

It's OK. You?
Yeah, I'm good.

Great.
Sure?

Dad, they're fine.
It's a cultural adventure.

Have fun!
OK!

I thought you trained as a guide.

What happened to the personal touch?

Chill. This is the modern touch.

I only came out here so I could
help you show 'em around country.

Well, this is how we do it now.

They go off and learn,
I stay and catch up on uni work.

I might as well head back to town.
OK.

Hey, who's the American chick?

I see her at the courts a bit.

Ethan James's wife.

He's high up, right?
I didn't ask.

Why shouldn't you?

Pine Gap's on our bloody land
and we got no compensation for it.

Yes, you've made that point,

but the Americans are
a good employer, Immy.

I'm trying to get Shonguran
to learn from that example.

Shonguran have learnt.
They shifted the mine location.

They've avoided sacred sites
and they're paying us.

Well, it's not
always just about money.

Well, under paragraph 44
of the Land Title Act...

Which didn't exist
when Pine Gap was built.

...the conditions of a lease
require payment of compensation

for damages or disturbance caused
to the relevant Aboriginal land

and to the traditional owners
of the land.

Thank you, Miss Law Student.

But compensation isn't
just about cash.

Well, they're giving us
a hell of a lot more

than the Americans ever have.

The Americans do plenty.

If they ever close that base,

the whole Alice Springs economy
would collapse.

Not now that we're getting a $200
billion gas mine right up the road.

I reckon we'd muddle through
with that.

But I will keep an open mind.

I'd better wait here,
make sure they get back.

Thanks for coming out for 'em.

Hey, anytime.

What do I think?
Yeah.

There is a meeting in Beijing right
now that could change the world.

OK, well, I think Chairman Chen
is going to hold the line.

That Malaysian ship is
in our territory.

But what about the ruling
from the international court?

Well, who cares? That's in Europe.

China Sea is in Asia.

Why should we listen to
a bunch of geriatric Caucasians

10,000 miles away?

I mean, they can't tell us
who owns what on our doorstep.

But...
Yeah, and, by the way...

...before you get so pious, when
it comes to official recognition

of the international court,
you haven't ratified it either.

Basically, America wants to
enforce a rules-based order

without belonging to it.

So, you know,
stones and glasshouses.

It could all end in war.
Yeah, I doubt it.

I mean, in this day and age,

the cost of war far outweighs
the benefits to what they want.

But you agree a strong American
presence is the main reason that

Asia has had decades of peace.

Up until now, yes.

Therefore, if you want to
keep those benefits,

you have to keep accepting that we -
we call the shots.

But I don't think we do anymore.

So, what? China would trade
peace for leadership?

Or you could back off.

We don't want to have ships in
your backyard, you get out of ours.

This is a refreshingly
adult conversation.

The only kind worth having, right?

And your English is excellent.

Well, four years at MIT helped.

Ha! This is... beautiful.

Amazing.

What... what does that say?
Um, OK.

It says, "Until the 1970s,
only women were allowed here

"because over those rocks are
a series of secret water pools

"and for centuries, the Arrernte
women, they would gather around

"and they would drink and bathe
and gossip,

"all without being bothered
by annoying people... like men."

OK, I'll stay here, then.
OK.

If you're not back in an hour,
I'll send a search party.

Gus...

...Lwin's photo album, on her phone,
the last three days in Sittwe,

she had snaps with officials
from China, Japan,

RPM's chief of staff,
Canada and North Korea.

Party girl.

Yeah, but the Chinese official
was the foreign minister.

Maybe that's where
she got her explosive news.

No, they're not that clumsy.

Yeah, but all she might have needed
was a peek at his phone.

Really? You think so?
Alright.

They've finished and the Chairman
and POTUS have left the building

and the aides are scattering.

Chairman's coming back
to his banquet.

Can we get inside?
Er, yes. Trying.

We've just got a burst of signals
from the Hainan sub base.

Needing decryption.
Right. EMINT, stay on defence.

COMINT, can we find a phone
inside that banquet?

If Chen says anything,
we have to hear it.

Still looking.

Alice, this is Pentagon.

POTUS just ordered the USS Bartlett

to undertake a freedom of navigation
voyage through the South China Sea.

Please monitor
all Chinese Navy movements.

Specific tasking is on the way.

OK. So, obviously
Chen stood his ground.

Does Kerr even know
what he's risking?

If they won't retract,
he had to respond.

With an aircraft carrier.
And what if they sink it?

You know, there's 5,000 people
on that ship. It's more than 9/11.

Hopefully
they'll pretend they don't see it.

Just let it sail through.

That's what they've done up
till now.

Main screen.

The Bartlett's there,
travelling at 30 knots,

which makes it about 38 hours
from the Nine-Dash Line,

marking Chinese-claimed territory.

There's no phones in the banquet.
None?

None. They've left them all outside.

What? Not even a waiter, a chef?
Nobody?

Robert Boyle.

He's the Chief of Staff. We can't
do that, he's an Australian.

Has COS got his phone turned on?

Guys, what are you doing?

The golden rule -
we can't access our phones.

Well, I'm locked on and I could
activate COS's microphone right now.

Is it a personal phone
or a government phone?

Government.
That's just hair-splitting, mate.

Yeah, well, if a split hair saves
a war, I'll cop the heat.

Activate the microphone, Jas.
But just the mike.

If he makes a call or gets online,
cut out.

Hey.
What?

"Has COS got his phone?"
What do you think?

"COS got"?
Yeah.

"Cos got totes explosive news"?

What if 'cos' meant Chief of Staff?

And the explosive news came from him?

Shit. You think Lwin read
something on Boyle's phone?

And if her editor knew
she meant Chief of Staff,

that would be why he sent it
to Chinese intelligence.

Curious now?

Anything?
Um, I'm just still listening.

Comm from Hainan stopped.

Still trying to decrypt.

Come on, come on, come on, come on,
come on, come on, come on, come on.

Moses, can I get a hand over here,
please?

Jasmina?
Yeah, I'm still listening.

Holy fuck.

Outside now.

It's not your job to go out
private-intelligence gathering.

You could be fired
and fucking imprisoned.

The emails on Robert Boyle's phone,

one of them was kind of significant.

There's a manager's position at
the Signals Directorate in Canberra.

I was kind of wondering if you could
stamp a reference for me.

I know you're there.

I'm not trying to steal anything,
OK? I'm just trying to sleep.

Have you noticed anything odd
about Moses?

Alright, leave it with me.

The USS Bartlett is 18 hours
from the Nine-Dash Line.

If the Bartlett does cross,

Chinese Government may choose
to ignore it

or they may decide to sink it.