Screen Two (1985–2002): Season 6, Episode 5 - The Impossible Spy - full transcript

[SHOUTING] [CHANTING] [SHOUTING]

-Something Arabic about him.

-Eastern Jew.

Father born in Syria,
emigrated to Egypt 1916.

Son brought up and
educated there.

Fluent in Arabic, speaks
five other languages.

Thrown out of Egypt two
in a half years ago.

Modest job here.

Accounts department,
supermarket chain.

Modest income, modest flat.

-Married?



-Yes here.

Nadia, last year.

Seems pretty religious.

She's a nurse about to give up
her job because she's pregnant.

Seem very happy.

Modest hobbies,
modest way of life.

-You make him sound so dull.

Think he's kind of soft now?

-Ne, he's got so many assets,
it's worth finding out.

-Elie Cohen, my name's Amram.

Care to talk?

-What about?

-Nothing nasty, I assure you.

I think could find
it to your advantage.



Look it's your lunch time, join
me for a coffee or a drink.

-Mossad.

So how is that to my advantage.

-To Israel's advantage,
which is your advantage.

We need your help.

-No, not anymore,
not in that way.

I've helped Israel enough.

Thank you very much.

-Listen to me please.

You are not a men to make
a scene in a public place.

I'm just trying to offer
you a very good job.

My boss thinks you're
a very special man.

-No, I'm an ordinary man,
and I've got, a good job.

-As a pencil pusher, you?

-Listen, I'm an ordinary
man in an ordinary job.

I've got a wife,
small little family,

I'm very happy, that's
all I want to know.

-Maybe you should think
about that family.

You've got a very
ordinary salary too.

We'd be offering twice
what you have now.

-I manage fine on
the money I make.

Thank your boss for
his interest, tell him

he's got the wrong man.

-He doesn't think so

-Yea, well he's made a mistake.

-He doesn't often do that.

-Now listen to me.

You've made your
offer, now I'm going,

if I have to make
a scene, I will.

-Take this card anyway,
consider my offer.

Call that number if
you change your mind.

-I won't.

-Come on, nice day, stay
and have a free lunch.

-Haven't you heard?

There's no such thing
as a free lunch.

[PIANO PLAYING]

NADIA COHEN: Almost ready

-Coming.

JUDGE (VOICEOVER): [INAUDIBLE]

guilty of the murder of
innocent Egyptian men

women and children.

I sentence you both to be
hanged until you are dead.

-What's the matter?

-I'm sorry.

Did I wake you?

-You alright?

-Just couldn't sleep,
probably my cooking.

-What's the matter?

What is it?

-I can't stop thinking about
that report in the news

tonight, the school
bus blown up.

What sort of monster
would do such a thing?

Oh God, those poor parents.

One day our child could be
traveling on a buss like that.

It makes you
wonder, you know, is

it fair to bring a
kid into all this.

-I mean, it's a
terrible thing, it's not

the reason you stop
having children, huh.

Something like that
doesn't happen everyday.

-It happens here all the
time, or something like it.

it's war all the time, I
can't remember anything else.

If it's not Egypt,
it's Jordan, or Syria,

or the whole damn world.

You start thinking.

Well don't you?

Isn't it selfish to bring--

-Stop it.

I get sick of talking
about war all the time.

I know in a way that that's
what you meant too, but listen

to me, we're going
to have this child

and we're going to love it.

[TYPING SOUNDS]

AMRAM: Any progress
on Mr. Cohen?

-Not yet, but give it time.

Give it time.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

-God, you gave me a shock.

What are you doing home,
it's only 2 o'clock.

-I got fired.

-What?

-Fired.

I got fired.

-Good afternoon Cohen.

[INAUDIBLE]

-You did this to me didn't you?

-I beg you're pardon.

-You did this.

You had me fired, didn't you?

-Mr. Cohen don't make a scene.

I don't want to hurt you,

-Didn't you?

-You've been hurt
enough for one day?

-Didn't you?

-Take a ride with me Mr. Cohen.

-Why?

-I want you to meet someone.

About the job.

You ah, need a job, don't you?

YACOV (VOICEOVER): You don't
look like an intelligence

agent, Cohen, everything
about you is wrong.

Your manner, your style,
your attitude, all wrong.

This in itself makes you
irresistible to the Mossad.

-Look, I'm not a spy, I have
no intention of becoming one.

-Come now Cohen, you're too
old to play the debutant.

You know exactly
why we want you.

For a start, let's review
your practical qualities.

You have one very great
gift an exceptional memory.

We hear about these things.

-I'm an accountant.

I only remember numbers.

-You only tried with numbers.

Now we want to test your
powers in other spheres.

-For the purpose of spying?

-No, for the purpose
of observing.

Subsequently relaying
those observations to me.

-Observing who?

And for what reason?

-Whoever I tell you to.

-I heard you people were
insane, up to now I wasn't sure.

What kind of fool
do you think I am?

-Let's stop fencing
about, Cohen.

I'm talking about Egypt, 1955.

I was there Too.

Our military
Intelligence was very

happy with the work
you did for them.

And you were smart
enough to get out then.

Now you've got a second chance.

-It's all in the past.

-Don't you miss the
challenge of it.

-Of course, you're
just an ordinary man

trying to live a simple life.

-What's wrong with that?

-Nothing at all, except
in your case, Cohen,

we're trading people
orders aren't we?

Aren't we Mr. Cohen?

-(SHOUTING) Leave my life alone!

You stay away from it!

-I'm afraid I can't do that.

Your life was mine before
you walked through that door.

You'll receive one of
these twice a month.

-No one pays that kind
of money for observation.

-Take the check.

Consider it a
pre-employment bonus.

Another will follow in two days.

Your wife and
friends will be told

that you are now a
government buyer.

You work for the
purchasing commission

of the Ministry of Defense.

All the checks will be
signed by that commission.

-No thank you.

[SCREAMING]

-A souvenir.

-You knew I'd call didn't you?

-Yes.

-If I work for you,
it's only temporary.

-You won't have
to sign anything.

-Now you sure you'll be alright?

-I'm a nurse Elie I
look after other people

so I can look after myself.

-Alright, but if there
is any sort of problem--

-I'll call the
doctor straight away.

I'm not a fool.

-OK.

-Anyway, you won't
be gone for long.

-Ah, no no no, a couple
weeks at the most.

Alright?

There's no way to
get out of it babe.

A new training program, all new
employees must take the course.

-Will you please stop
going on as if you've

got something to apologize for.

I'm very happy you've got a job.

You're a pain in the neck
when you mooch about.

Anyway, come on.

If you are buying for
the Defense Department

you are guaranteed
a job for life.

YACOV (VOICEOVER): From now
on, you will lead two lives.

Husband and secret agent.

You'll be trained in the methods
of the Mossad, infiltration,

observation, communication,
and how to survive.

You will also be trained
to become a Syrian.

You will study their history,
their customs, their laws,

until all of these
become part of you.

Never forget, Syria is
you ultimate target.

The key to Syria will be
through the Syrian community

in Argentina.

In order to be
accepted by them we

will train you to become a
Muslim, in body and mind,

if not in soul.

You are training to
become Camel Aming

Tabit You, Tabit,
were born in Syria.

When you were young,
you and your family

emigrated to Argentina.

In the last few years you've
been touring the world

doing business for
you textile firm.

But now, you're
returning to Argentina.

You want to put your
wealth at the disposal

of certain powerful
Syrian officials there

who belong to the illegal
Syrian Ba'ath Party.

You'll want to work for their
eventual rise to power in Syria

itself.

-Have I made my fortune?

-Oh yes, very successful.

And we will provide the means
for you to play this part.

What amuses you?

That we make you
instantly wealthy?

-Well there's a certain
irony in that, huh?

But also in the fact that I
bet that the Syrians right now

are taking just as much trouble
to train somebody to spy on us,

so.

They cut off our fingers,
we cut off theirs.

-As many as is necessary.

-What happens when we get
to each other's throats?

-We reach the knife
before they do.

If we don't, the next generation
will be standing up here

describing the beauties of
Tel Aviv to one another.

Only they'll be
doing it in Arabic.

YACOV (VOICEOVER): You will
tell your wife and friends

that you're touring Europe
and America buying arms.

You will write letters and
postcards before you go.

And pay will be posted for
you at regular intervals.

In fact, your first stop will
be our safe house in Zurich,

where you will become Tabit.

The first purpose
of this trip, it

is to become accepted by
the Syrians in Buenos Aires

so that you may be accepted when
we send you into Syria itself.

-The second purpose is
to meet Haled Once again,

remember this face.

Colonel Janel Haled.

A man to be feared
and cultivated.

In public, Syrian
military attache,

in secret, the leader of
the illegal Ba'ath Party.

We believe that
this party will one

day overthrow the government.

When it happens, you, Tabit,
must be in the forefront.

Excellent.

Take a look at yourself.

See how it feels.

-I still see Elie Cohen.

-That will change, believe me.

Take off your ring.

You will grow to love
Camel Aming Tabit.

-From Buenos Aires.

-From him or of him?

-Of him.

-I told him to make
himself popular.

-What about object
number two, getting

in with Haled, no sign of that.

-We knew that never
would be easy.

The Ba'ath Party
are a nervous crowd.

Their banned, and
they've got enemies.

He knows Haled's men
are watching him.

-Leave us.

Mr. Tabit, My name
is Colonel Haled.

I'm sorry to bring you
out here, but privacy

is never easy to be found.

You look nervous.

-I am.

-You might have been
nervous earlier,

if you'd known how closely
I've had you watched.

-Do you want to know
about the textiles trade.

-I'm a representative of
the Syrian Government.

That government doesn't
care for the Ba'ath Party.

You've been heard expressing
sympathy for that party.

I ought to make a report on you.

But I'm giving you the benefit
of the doubt because I don't

believe that support is genuine.

-Why not?

-You are a business man.

The Ba'ath are socialists.

The interests of the
two are quote opposite.

I'd need good proof to
really believe otherwise.

[WRITING]

-Business is obviously good.

-There's more proof
where that came from.

-This is no proof.

The check is made out to me.

-I'm sorry, I was wrong.

Report me please.

Now, may I go?

-Not before you tell me
what you really believe.

-I believe in the policies
of the Ba'ath Party.

I believe that only they can
give Syria a new justice.

I believe that only their
strength can beat the Jews.

And I wish to place my
wealth at their disposal.

I wish to return to Syria and
work for their eventual rise

to power.

If it so happened that you
were a leader of the Ba'ath,

I would follow you
as I follow Allah.

-Will you join me?

YACOV: He's done it.

-She's beautiful,
beautiful, beautiful.

- She was beginning to think
she didn't have a father.

-Of course she's got a father.

What a hansom father, huh.

-She's got a very
conceited father.

Now come on I want
to hear about Paris.

What was Paris like?

-Paris, Paris,
London, Stockholm,

you've seen one of them
you've seen them all.

-Blase huh?

-Anyway, I wanted to come home.

-Well one of these tripe
I want to come with you.

I want to see the
width of the world too.

-Uh huh.

-Promise?

-I'll try.

-You'd better try hard.

How long are you staying?

-As long as I can.

-Oh good, so you'll be able
to paint Sophie's room?

-Absolutely.

Right Sophie?

She says mix the paint.

YACOV: Syria is our
most dangerous enemy.

A country in such political
chaos, almost anything

could happen.

And almost anyone
could come to power.

It is vital we lean immediately
and in advance if possible

who's rising who's falling,
and who is being purged.

You must provide us
with this information.

Given your contacts
in Buenos Aires,

you may even be able
to influence events.

And any military information
picked up on the way

will of course be
gratefully received.

Anela will review
the latest reports.

Anela.

-The Ba'ath Party seems
to us the only one

that can take firm control.

It's still officially banned,
but Hassan, the leader,

is very popular, and many of the
army are known to support him.

Your new friend Haled
could be the key.

He's back in Syria now
in this progressive...

-Your transmitter.

Your antenna.

Fix one end to the transmitter
and the other thing,

fix to anything
metallic on the roof,

point it in the
direction of Tel Aviv.

I'm very proud of this,
it's my own design.

These are grenades, detonators.

C32 microphone bug.

Tape recorder.

And these.

-Cyanide.

-Seems to have come so suddenly.

-I know.

-You didn't even have time
to paint Sophie's room.

-Next time.

-How long this time?

-Well it depends.

-Can't you give me a
schedule of where you'll be?

-Oh no, it's like the last time.

Plans change all the time.

Buying arms isn't easy.

A lot of countries don't
want to sell to us.

And a door opens suddenly
and I'm told to fly-off,

follow it up.

Now, if you have any problems
you get in touch with Yacov.

He's very helpful, he'll
do anything for you.

-Will he go to bed with me?

-That's not very funny.

-Oh, sorry.

Only, I get so lonely sometimes.

-So do I.

-Do you?

-No buyer's inducements?
No complimentary Swedish blonds?

-No.

When I took the job, we
knew what it would involve

and we thought it was worth it.

-What happens if we change
our minds, what happens?

[BABY CRYING]

-I've got to go,
I'll miss the plane.

-Miss the plane.

-I can't, it's too important.

Listen you better go to her huh?

-Write now.

-I'll try.

-Come back safely.

-I will.

[BABY CRYING]

-Coming darling, coming.

YACOV (VOICEOVER):
Good luck to you Elie.

You're now entering
the lion's den.

YACOV (VOICEOVER):

in Beirut by a man named Nasil.

He'll get you into Syria.

A titled Sheik, a brilliant
business man, he doesn't,

of course, know that
you're an Israeli,

he thinks you're an agent of
an exiled group that wants

to bring the extreme
right wing to power.

Don't make the mistake
of trusting him.

-I think you will find
everything you need.

You could entertain
a president here.

Perhaps you will, who knows.

Have a drink.

In case you're wondering, the
rent's been paid for a year.

-You've thought through
every detail, haven't you?

-I do only what I'm told, Tabit.

What our anonymous friends
wanted, is what they got.

Come.

Staff headquarters.

Everything that happens
in this country,

starts or finishes there.

-This is insane.

-Goodbye.

I must go.

-Ah.

-And good luck, Tabit.

-And to you, thank you.

[SHOUTING]

[BEEPING]

-Mission commence.

-Tabit, my dear fellow,
how good to see you again.

-And good to see you.

-Please forgive the
unfriendly guns,

they are meant to bar
other people than you.

Welcome to Syria.

-Thank you, and
congratulations general.

-Thank you.

-Come into my home.

I've told my wife
all about you and I

have some special friends
I want you to meet.

Please.

My dear, I want you to meat
one of our most generous

benefactors Camil Aming Tabit.

Tabit, my wife.

-I'm honored to meet you madame.

-Mr. Tabit, I'm delighted
to meet to at last.

You are a man of mystery.

-Ah no mystery madame,
I'm a simple business man.

I buy and sell
textiles and antiques

cheaply for the export.

-Now let me introduce you
to a neighbor of yours.

Major Salloum,
Camil Aming Tabit.

-Major, I'm very
pleased to meet you.

-The pleasure is mine.

-Ah, a neighbor?

-Major Salloum is in
charge of security

at general staff headquarters.

-Ah.

-The Ba'ath Party has friends
in all the right places.

Please.

[CHILDREN PLAYING]

-Hey hey!

Not too much noise now!

-Leave them alone they
are enjoying themselves.

-You're too soft to them Janel.

-Very good!

Very good!

-Do you have
children of your own?

-No madame, unfortunately
I have none.

-He's not even married, and
he's hansom and he's wealthy,

and you and your friends
will spend hour and hours

selecting the
right girl for him.

Ha ha, be careful Tabit, that
woman is an expert matchmaker.

In the end, you will have to
surrender, but for the moment

let me snatch you
from her clutches.

There is someone I want
you very much to meet.

-Tabit, it is with
great pleasure

that I introduce you to
the founder and leader

of the Ba'ath
Party, Haviz Hassan.

[BEEPING]

HASSAN: (Voiceover) Many
swear to be faithful

to the Arab Ba'ath
Socialist Party.

Obey its rules,
execute its plans,

and become a true example
of the struggling Arab.

-I swear in the name of Allah.

[BEEPING]

-At zero three hundred
hours, the four units

will leave the
provincial barracks.

Journey time to general
headquarters is 22 minutes.

Major Salloum will be
waiting for them there.

At zero three twenty,
section B will be in position

surrounding the
telephone exchange--

[GUN SHOTS]

TELEVISION NEWS: The coup
launched at dawn this morning

led to fierce fighting in
the center of the city,

but by noon the
Ba'ath forces had

taken over the major military
and government centers.

Following the
government's defeat,

General Jamal Haled was
appointed Commander in Chief

of the army, and the
new Minister of Defense.

HALED: (Voiceover) I swear on my
honor and in the name of Allah,

to keep safe our
homeland, to sacrifice

myself for the Syrian state.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Hello there, does
he give such food?

-Mmm hmm.

-And such women.

-Tabit.

-Ah Salloum.

-This is a marvelous way to
celebrate our rise to power.

The food and the
drink are superior.

I don't know whether you lay
your hands on some of it,

and I'm not going to ask, Ha ha.

Ha ha

-What I'm going to ask is, that
gorgeous girl you introduced me

to, she seems to
have taken to me.

My wife is religious, so
I have to be, you know,

discretion is the key word.

-Of course.

-Is there any possibility
that, ah, if it came to it

-Ah say no more, say no more,

-(ANGRILY) I don't believe it!

I'm sorry I don't believe
my husbands job is so

important you can't make
better arrangements.

I haven't seen him
for half a year now.

I've seen him twice
in the last two years.

He can't be the only
arms buyer you've got.

-In his particular line,
he's become the best.

-Be honest with me Yacov, are
you keeping something back?

-What do you mean?

-Is he staying
away deliberately?

-No, Nadia, no.

Come come.

Look.

I promise you, he loves
you. you know he does.

-I know he tells me he does.

-And I also promise
you that very

soon, he'll be coming home.

-I hope so.

-I cannot express my
gratitude enough my friend,

and after knowing you
I shall never forget.

-I am always at your service.

-And I at yours.

If I can ever do
a favor for you.

-There is one thing.

I need your advice.

Business advice.

-Business advice?

If I can my dear fellow.

[INAUDIBLE] I've been offered
a deal by some Egyptians,

only it seems to me that it
might not be the right time.

I mean, if there
were to any trouble.

-Hold off a little.

Why take risks?

[LAUGHING]

-How are you?

How are you?

And how are you?

-Good evening.

-You are welcome.

-I'll tell you general,
I'm not yet convinced

that Nasser isn't a Jew himself.

These Egyptians will mate
with anything from an Israeli

to jackal

[LAUGHING]

-We will meet with Nasser.

Yes, we will talk to him,
but it will come to nothing.

-The Ba'ath has no intention
of reforming the United Arab

Republic, whatever
Nasser may think.

It will be a federation
only on paper.

-We will break the
pact when it suits us.

But for the moment, it suits us
to let our enemies to believe

that the new United Arab
Republic is a reality.

RECORDING: It buys
us a little time.

Of course when the
truth comes out,

we can expect rubble
from the Nasser groups.

[BEEPING]

-Khalif told me,
that again, five

minutes ago, sent transmission.

-Did you get anyone of it?

-Only enough to
be sure it's code.

-Any idea where
that transmitter is?

-Too faint sir, could
be anywhere in Damascus.

It stopped now, anyway.

Never on for long.

-There must be
something we can do.

-Perhaps when that
new Russian equipment

comes we can finally--

-Yes, yes yes.

-Awe hey, Sophie.

look what I have for you.

You, you little precious thing.

Mm hello.

Remember me?

-Yeah.

-It's funny, you
know, one can't help

being curious about
one's adversaries.

I know anything about
Haled factually,

but I don't know
him like you do.

-Well Tabit likes Haled.

-Elie Cohen still
works to destroy him.

-Two different
people, Tabit and I.

-Which do you prefer?

[LAUGHING]

You've done well Elie.

Better than I could have hoped.

I think you are
now in a position

to undertake your most
important mission.

The scale on this
map, one to 20,000.

From the Golan
Heights, our territory

here is absolutely open to them.

The Syrian guns can shell the
kibbutzim down here any time

they like.

-When I was in Buenos Aires I
had to stand on a [INAUDIBLE]

when they announced the
shelling of Kibbutz Telushuv.

-Yes 32 adults, 7
children, killed.

-Yes.

-The guns are well concealed.

They're tunnelled
into the heights.

We've never been able to
pinpoint their exact location,

we could bomb them for a whole
month and still not them.

These guns must be stopped.

So we must know
exactly where they are.

-Well it won't be
easy to get there,

this is the top security zone.

I mean, only the
most trusted men

are allowed anywhere near here.

-Can you do it?

Can you?

-I can try.

-Succeed, and you
finish with Tabit.

-I can't cope with this Elie.

I don't think I can.

You go away for so long.

I don't know what you're up to.

I don't know where you are.

We're supposed to be married,
I mean, we are supposed to be.

Now you are going
again in how long?

For a year?

Two years?

You don't know yourself.

Do you even care?

-Of course I care.

-Are you telling me the truth.

-About what?

-Everything.

-Well everything I can't,
you know business some of it

has to be secret.

-Don't drift away from me Elie.

-Nadia, would I do that?

Hmm?

[GUN SHOTS]

-Tabit.

-Haled.
Is everything under control?

-All within a day's work.

Quite the fight.

-I know I saw it from my window.

I didn't know, and I wanted
to see if you were alright.

-You are a good friend,
Tabit, but politically naive.

When there is a
coup, a clever man

waits till he knows who
has won, then he goes out

and sides with the winner.

Most of my so called friends
won't appear for at least

an hour.

And I will have to pretend
I believe their excuses.

-I am not naive, my
friend, just practical.

If you fall, I fall.

-I love this country.

-You're becoming a
very important man.

-You haven't done
so badly yourself,

in the last three years.

You know the trouble with
power, is once you've got it,

you always have to look
over your shoulder to see

whose trying to stab
you in the back.

You are a man to be envied

-Envied? why?

-Well, look at you.

You are still young.

You are clever.

You are wealthy.

They tell me you are hansom.

There's not a girl in the
city who is not after you.

You're living a lifestyle
most men only dream about.

And tell me who is trying
to stab you in the back.

-I have business rivals.

-Come on, business rivals.

Those sort of rivals
don't carry real knives.

But don't get too
complacent my friend,

I may just have to shake you up.

-How?

-You do good work, you
serve on the council,

you provide us with funds,
but I like you, I trust you,

I may want you to
move to higher things.

-Such as.

-I'll tell you when
the moment comes.

-There is one thing
you did promise me.

-What's that?

-To ride behind you in the
victory parade in Tel Aviv.

-I haven't forgotten that.

-Yes but are we getting closer?

Hmm?

I hear rumors about the army.

They're not as strong as they
could be, not as well equipped.

-No, believe me Tabit,
we are getting strong.

You should our guns
on the Golan Heights.

They terrify me,
let alone the Jews.

-I would like to see them.

-Impossible, impossible,
for any civilian.

Impossible for any
civilian except for you.

-This confirms everything
I've heard major.

Very impressive.

-Also invisible from the air.

-And so I see.

Most ingenious how
you've disguised them.

Most ingenious.

-How many of the placement do
you wish to see today, sir?

-Sorry major, I'm
here till tomorrow,

and I'm here to see them all.

I'm afraid it might get a
bit boring for you, Tabit.

To laymen one gun looks
very much like another.

-I don't mind.

-Alright.

-Sleep well?

-Very well.

-Fortified bunkers are not
very comfortable places.

-No, but an
interesting experience.

-Yes.

Amazing.

Just go down there, and
you'd be among the Jews.

Except of course
we'd end up, phew.

We'll be off in a minute Tabit.

Just a couple more places
to see and then that's it.

Back home.

-That's it.

Back home.

-Make your deals, and
come back with my friend.

-I will.

They seem in a hurry.

-That, my friend, is El-Fatah.

The Palestinian commander.

He has drawn against
the Israeli kibbutzim.

Your money helped to train them.

Pretty soon you will
begin to some return

on your investment, Tabit.

I shall miss you.

-And I you.

-Allah be with you.

-And with you.

-Here.

-These coordinates
must be exact.

-They are exact.

Here One 22 millimeter gun.

Two one-thirties
on the other side.

There.

Now, here, three 1-22s, 25
men, four machine-gun posts.

About a mile above
to the south, hear,

three more 1-22s, two mortars.

Right here is an order,
help by a force of 200 men,

with two infantry companies, six
rocket launchers, 25 bazookas,

200, no 60 machine guns, 25
of them heavy machine guns.

[INAUDIBLE] The approach
is heavily mined,

there is a pot that they
use for supplies running

alongside these trees,
that's clear of mines.

The supply depot,
reached by a narrow road,

right here, no heavy
artillery, but usually defended

by four to six men
with machine gun.

Officer in charge has a
limp, and chain smokes.

Small field
artillery unit, here.

Four recoiling cannons, there.

Weaponry, weaponry consists
of 25 machine guns.

YACOV: Come on.

-About five meters

slope here, here, two mortars.

Now here, a second battery here.

That's it.

-That's it.

-I've got to go back.

-You've done well Elie.

Better than we had
any reason to expect.

It's over.

Go home.

-I'll go home.

After that I've got to go back.

With the position
that I've achieve over

there, the knowledge that
I'm in a position to get.

You know I've got to go back.

-I know it's getting
more dangerous over time.

I know sooner or
later somebody's

going to get on to you.

Any day now they'll
bring in new equipment,

pin-point your radio
soon as you transmit.

OK, so you can change
locations, you can handle that.

But you can't handle somebody
recognizing your face.

They've got people in Tel Aviv.

What if somebody sees
you and your wife

walking in the streets.

And what happens when we
blast their guns to bits.

You think they won't put their
heads together and say, how did

they know exactly where to bomb?

Your a brilliant agent Elie,
but your luck will run out.

-The terrorists El-Fatah.

Now you got my report
that their active again.

I mean you know what
animals they are,

what they can do to
women and children,

it's money I gave them that's
help set them up again.

I've got to go back and
monitor what they're

up to with my contacts
that I can find out.

-Cohen, you're not listening--

-When I was in Egypt.

-I know all about Egypt.

Your friends were
tortured, they were hanged,

they didn't give you away.

If you felt you had
to repay all that,

what do you think you
were doing in Syria?

-Are you saying that
you don't need me there?

-I saying I think you've done
enough, from our point of view

and from yours.

Whatever your reasons,
I'm saying go home.

Lead a normal life.

-But you're not saying that
you don't need me there.

-I'm saying, I don't
think you should go.

-Be careful you idiots!

-Lovely day huh?

-Yeah.

-Was it very cold in Europe?

-Do you really want to know
about the weather in Europe?

-Not if you don't
want to tell me.

-You know I don't think
Sophie recognized me.

-Of course she did.

You can't expect too
much of them at that age.

She was over-tired--

-Hey!

Hey!

Come on, come on,
come on, watch it!

Where are you playing at?

-Come on, they're only kids.

-Yeah, but that doesn't
mean being stupid.

Huh!

-I'm sorry.

-Are you all right?

Huh?

-Yeah.

-Don't you be
sorry, it's not you.

-What's the matter?

What's the matter?

-I don't think I
should go away again.

There will be nothing
left of us if I do.

-I don't want you to go.

-Or is it too late, even now.

-Don't be silly.

It's just been so
long each time,

you can't expect-- Is
it too late for you?

Tell me the truth about it all.

-I can't.

-If you have any problems.

-I'll learn to manage.

-You'll take care
of the children?

-Of course.

-And yourself.

Bye.

-Good night, thank
you very much.

Haboba, good night.
-I left something for you there.

Some cookies.

-That's fine.

Thank you very much.

See you soon.

-Tabit.

-Salloum.

Ohhh.

A toast, my friend,
to the Ba'ath.

-No no.

To El-Fatah.

-El-Fatah.

-Now they, they old friend,
are the true patriots

of the country.

-Then we must drink
to them once more.

To the El-Fatah, and
their next mission.

-They, they told you about that?

But I thought, eh, it doesn't
matter, does it, does it?

Soon, everyone will know.

Ha ha, especially the Jews.

-That kibbutz, Tel Yeshuv,
tonight El-Fatah, tomorrow,

screech.

Ha ha Here's do El-Fatah.

-El-Fatah.

-They leave any minute now.

I must be at headquarters
in a couple of hours

to follow the progress.

And then, your guess.

Ha ha.

Tabit, to El-Fatah.

-El-Fatah.

[SNORING]

[BEEPING]

-Come on, we can get him now.

-At what time?

-We are trying to
get it now, sir.

Code is very slow.

-He did say tonight.

Have the army
notified immediately.

[BEEPING]

-Well, tell me, tell
me, where is he?

-Just across the street, sir.

-I'll be with you in a moment.

-Sir, they left at 2:00AM.

[SOUND OF INCOMING CODE]

-Which should still
give us time to--

[SUDDEN STOP OF INCOMING CODE]

-The translation
has been cracked.

-It's an end for you, Tabit.

And for you Salloum.

[GUN SHOTS]

-Wait down there.

-I have to know
everything about you.

Who you really are,
who you work for,

what your methods are, what
information you sent out

and who you sent it to.

And the names of your
compatriots in Syria.

In the end, you will
give us this information,

I ask you first
to give it freely.

-I have no information to give.

-Oh you will give
it, you will give it.

Long before they
finish with you,

you'll be screaming, pleading
and begging to give it.

I've trusted very few
men I trusted you.

I gave my word for you.

I put my life in your hands.

And you, stuck a
knife in my back.

If you had violated my
family's honor in public

I'd feel less betrayed
than I feel now.

All right, you made a fool
of me, I'm a proud man.

That hurts my pride.

I'll tell you.

I'll tell you how
much of a fool.

That exciting news
I had for you,

I was going to propose
it next council meeting.

On my recommendation it
would have gone through.

I was going to propose
you be appointed

Deputy Minister of Defense.

Oh yes, It has it's funny side.

Depending, I suppose
which side you're on.

Can you imagine the third most
powerful man in Syria, a spy.

Perhaps if you'd known
about that last night,

you wouldn't have
taken the risk you did.

You would have let one
little kibbutz go to rot,

but now making a fool
of me, that's not,

that's not the heart of it.

And now the harm you've
done me and the party,

oh our opponents will love
this, and I shall have

to fight with my
teeth to survive.

No, the heart of
it is, I took you

as a friend and all
the time you were...

I have no pity for what
will happen to you.

-Please, please
don't give up hope.

We're trying everything we can.

We're offering all
the Syrian the spies

we've got in exchange for him.

And if that's not
possible, we're

prepared to offer a million
dollars, plus trucks tractors,

medical supplies,
and of course we're

we'll bring all the
international pressure we

can to try and get
them to accept.

But there is hope,
I'm sure there is.

-Why didn't somebody tell me?

Why didn't I know.?

Why did you all lie?

I knew it was something.

I knew something was wrong,

[WAILING]

RADIO: (VOICEOVER) Syrian radio
has announced that Elie Cohen

has been found guilty
in a closed trial

and is to be hanged in Damascus
on the morning of May 18th.

Pleas for clemency,
including those of England,

The United States, Belgium,
France, Switzerland, Denmark,

and the Vatican have
fallen on deaf ears

as the Syrian remain
adamant that they

will not release
him on any terms.

-Where in the of God do I begin.

-I've come to tell

There is no alternative.

It's like the sign of
weakness, our party,

our government will be finished.

-Is that an apology
for hanging me?

-Did you apologize
for the bombing

of that cinema in Keigo?

I am hanging a spy.

There were innocent
women and children.

-What about the buses that
you blew up in Israel?

-You know, I was
wondering, suppose

you decided to stop being a spy.

But carried on living as Tabit.

Could you have come to think
of yourself as an Arab?

-I'm a Jew.

-An Eastern Jew.

Inferior in Israel.

Only one step from
being an Arab.

-I'm a Jew.

-I'm just trying to underline
the stupidity of it.

You and I, same stock.

Same language, same
love of the desert.

Fighting to death over
a little piece of land.

-It's my home.

-And it's my brother's home.

The fight goes on.

-Not for me.

-Is there anything you need.

-I'd like to write
a letter to my wife.

-You will be provided
with the materials.

Anything else?

-I would like to see a Rabbi.

-I'll see to it.

-Thank you.

-We were friends.

-Yes, we were.

-May your God give you peace.

Elie Cohen.

-Rabbi, you'll see
that my wife gets this.

[PRAYING]

-In the name of
Allah, I forgive you.

[CHEERING]

ELIE COHEN: (VOICEOVER)
My dearest Nadia,

I know you will always
look after our children

and be in close contact
with our family,

but I urge you to
get married again so

that our children
may have a father.

Do not waste your time weeping
and morning for what is past,

always look forward
to the future.

My last loving
thoughts are for you,

our children, and all my family.

I beg you to forgive me
and to pray for my soul.

Peace be with you.

Elie.