The Correspondent (2024) Movie Script

Hi, this is Peter Greste.
Please leave a message.
Oh, hi, Peter, it's Ros.
Listen, Richard's taking leave
over Christmas
and things are still crazy in Cairo.
So we need you to cover the desk there
just in case something breaks.
It'll only be two or three weeks.
Call me back as soon as you can. Thanks.
Having taken into custody
Egypt's first democratically
elected President,
the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood,
Mohammed Morsi,
the military-backed interim government
has now officially declared
the Muslim Brotherhood
a terrorist group...
...three years after the revolt
that toppled President Hosni Mubarak,
thousands of demonstrators returned
to Cairo's Tahrir Square...
Er... probably 5pm.
5 at the latest.
Yep. Okay. Bye.
Mr. Morsi, the country's first
democratically elected leader,
was forced out by the military
after only a year in office.
He and many senior members
of the Muslim Brotherhood
have been arrested and the Brotherhood's
TV station and newspaper
have been shut down...
Yesterday's, erm, events
and Wednesday's massacres and butchery
of more than 4,000 protesters in the street
and trying to instigate a media blackout
have infuriated the rest of
the Egyptian people.
...to stop a massacre in Egypt
and Iran warned of the risk of civil war.
This four-fingered salute is a symbol
of the defiance of the people
who are turning out on the streets
today in such large numbers.
These protesters are making it very clear
how willing they are
to defy the government.
We now need to see
if the government is prepared
to make mass arrests.
Friday was always going to be
a day of confrontation.
A test of will between Egypt's
anti-government protesters
and the police.
It came two days
after the government declared
the Muslim Brotherhood
to be a terrorist group.
The Interior Ministry warned
that anyone who joins protests
supporting the Brotherhood
would be imprisoned for five years
on charges of promoting terrorist ideology.
Here in Cairo's Nasr City
and in towns and cities across the country,
thousands turned out after Friday prayers.
This four-fingered salute
is a symbol of the defiance
of the people who are turning
out on the streets today
in such large numbers.
These protesters are making it very clear
how willing they are
to challenge the government.
We now need to see
if the government is prepared
to make mass arrests.
Peter Greste, Al Jazeera.
I really think that
this country's about to die,
that we're all about to die.
You have no power, you have no speech,
you're watching your friends disappearing
and you can listen and watch
but all you can hear is lies,
all you can see is death.
What life do I have left--
And I know you don't wanna let her go
And I know you don't wanna let her go
So come on...
Just a sec.
- Who is it?
- Security. Police.
Mr. Peter?
Yes. Who are you?
Uh... are you... are you police?
Why are you here?
You will come with us.
Alright. I need to see some ID,
please. Why are you here?
We are from the Ministry of Interior.
Okay, can you...
Can you please show me some ID?
What's in the safe? Open it.
I am not going to open my safe
until I see some form of ID.
You can either open it yourself
or we can go get a master key.
The choice is yours.
Okay. Right.
Alright, look, this is just... this is...
...cash for my trip.
I'm here for another couple of weeks.
This is yours?
Yes. Or it's Al Jazeera's.
The media organization.
I work for them. I'm a
journalist. You understand?
This money belongs to Al Jazeera?
Yes. Yes, it's...
It's for expenses, yes.
Okay.
It's time to go.
Go where?
It's time to go.
Sit.
You okay, dude?
Yeah. What happened to you?
Long story.
I'll tell you later.
What's this about?
I'll sort it out.
We'll be okay.
Why are you hiding in the Marriott Hotel?
- Hiding?
- How is this hiding? It's, uh--
There are security cameras
on every gate, in every corridor.
We're from Al Jazeera We're
journalists, not Islamists.
So what were you doing
with the Muslim Brotherhood?
- Interviewing politicians.
- We--
- That's what journalists do!
- We're journalists.
Why are you not accredited?
Because...
...accreditation was gonna take
four weeks
and I'm only here for three.
Where is your, uh, license
for operating all this equipment?
Okay, this equipment
is standard media equipment
that doesn't require a license.
Why do you work for Al Jazeera?
Can I please go back to my room?
You will not be returning to your room.
Fahmy.
Mr. Peter, how do you do?
How do you do?
Peter, Menes helped me
on a story I did for CNN a year ago.
Great.
Uh... I'm just here filling in
for a couple of weeks, Menes.
I will need your wallets,
belts and watches, gentlemen.
Of course, Menes.
Have you heard anything about Baher?
His house was raided.
He's been picked up.
His family?
His wife and kid are okay.
They had to shoot the dog, though.
They're taking us
to National Security for interrogation.
They're serious fucking guys.
They don't mess around.
Hey!
We're together. We have...
we have to be together.
We're togeth-- I'm with him!
We're together!
Fahmy! Tell 'em we have to stay together!
I'm really hungry.
Food.
Boarding is now open for passengers
on flight 473 to Mogadishu...
Sorry to take them away.
Mmm.
Mr. Greste.
Monica Fabrizzi from the
Australian Embassy.
Oh. How do you do? I hope
you know what's going on here.
This is Kali, one of our translators.
- How do you do?
- Hello.
So, what's happening here?
Well, someone in Al Jazeera called
our emergency number in Canberra
and alerted us about your circumstance.
What did you do?
Well, I've...
I've done nothing.
I... I'm...
I... I have no idea what this is about.
Are there charges?
Not that we're aware of.
We believe you're being held
for questioning.
Right, so, what can you do?
Well, we can advise your family
of your situation
and update them when necessary.
But in terms of whatever
legal counsel you may need,
we're not permitted to provide
or recommend counsel.
So...
...what-what could happen from here?
Well...
...depending on the charges...
anything.
I... I think they're thinking
I'm a spy.
And I'm not a spy.
I'm a journalist.
I understand.
What's... the worst that
they could do?
There is an official process.
Good afternoon.
W-w-w... Is that it?
Um... Sorry.
Huh...
Mr. Prosecutor, I have no idea what
charges... if any
are being brought against me.
Nor do I know what
the consequences might be.
You will know soon enough, Mr. Greste.
I've seen your reports on Al Jazeera
since you've been in Cairo.
Not many and hardly scintillating.
I couldn't agree more.
So, why am I here?
My question exactly.
You are an award winning investigative
journalist and war correspondent.
Why are you here wasting your time
pumping out puffery in Cairo,
Mr. Greste?
For the 12, 000th bloody time...
...I'm filling in for
a colleague over Christmas.
It's a few weeks' work.
Do you think I have an ulterior motive?
Everyone in Cairo has an ulterior
motive, Mr. Greste.
Mr. Prosecutor. Sorry I'm late.
My dear Mughlis, how are you?
This is Mr. Peter Greste.
Ah, Mr. Greste.
How do you do?
Uh, Al Jazeera has appointed me
on your behalf...
if you are willing
to approve me as counsel.
Yes. Yes. I'm delighted to
meet you, Mr. Mughlis.
Shall we begin?
These are the charges
we're currently looking at.
Number one...
being a member of a terrorist organization.
Number two... financing
a terrorist organization.
Number three... supporting
a terrorist organization.
Number four...
knowingly broadcasting false information
to spread fear and discontent
with intent to destabilize Egypt
and defame the government.
Then there's lesser matters.
Broadcasting without a license,
possessing broadcasting
equipment without a license,
working as a journalist without a permit.
How do you respond to the charges?
They are ridiculous.
- Oh, God. Ooh!
- Oh...
Oh, my gosh!
I am so... Shit.
- It's fine. It's fine. Fine.
- Oh, God.
You really don't want to be here, do you?
Are you okay? I've heard it's
a little tricky for you.
Oh, I'm just sick of
the fucking politics, Pete.
Yeah.
Management and I,
we don't exactly see eye to eye.
I think they would've have sacked me
if I'd said no to this story.
Roger and I are supposed to
be planning our wedding.
I mean...
I adore Chloe.
I think she loves me.
What the fuck am I doing
flying to Mogadishu?
What?
So, have you heard from Jill?
Jill? Uh... yes.
Yeah, we spoke, um...
we spoke a couple of days ago.
She's... she's good.
She seemed fine.
What?
What are you running away from?
You know what happened. I...
I let her down. Badly.
And...
Come on, we've... we've been through this.
You're still running.
Okay, for years,
we have spent most of our lives
in some of the most dangerous
places on the planet.
And for what?
Oh, well, you know,
for me - I'm sure it's the same for you -
it's... it's... the money
and the sex and the fame.
Come on we're journalists.
We're good at it.
But with you there's nothing else.
It's the adrenaline.
You're addicted.
Well, yes. And?
I mean, you... you've been in
as many war zones as I have.
Haven't you?
Yes.
You still trust me, don't you?
I trust you absolutely.
I just worry sometimes
whether you trust yourself.
Psst!
Mr. Peter?
From Australia?
Al Jazeera?
Yes.
Yes!
I'm Peter Greste.
My name is
Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
Welcome to Tora Limen.
You are in the political wing
of this prison.
You're Alaa Abd El-Fattah?
I've been reading about you.
I am very flattered, Mr. Peter.
But how do you know about me?
We were wondering when you'd be joining us.
It's very hard not to know things here.
Right.
All of us here are either...
leaders of communities,
members of political parties ,
activist groups.
So you are in solitary confinement.
It's a standard practice until they decide
what to do with you.
You're very much
not on your own, Mr. Peter.
You will have no social contact
for at least ten days.
Are you capable of living
inside of your head?
Thank you.
Mr. Peter.
Are you alright?
Yes, Alaa.
Thank you.
Keep it hidden from the guards.
Only three more days of solitary to go.
Yeah.
I thought the title might amuse you.
But it's a good book.
It did.
Thank you.
You know I've wondered
about becoming a journalist.
When I get out of here.
I think you'd be a great journalist.
Just maybe somewhere else.
Where would you suggest?
Anywhere else.
But what would be the point then?
Mr. Peter, I want to write about justice
and freedom, my family.
All I want to write about is here.
I was expecting to find you a
little happier out of solitary.
Good to see you.
Okay... here's one for you.
Do you think that
people can be punished
by God or karma or whatever
for sins of the past?
What have you done?
Hmm?
Oh, well, I've seen
a lot of death, you know.
So have I.
That's not a sin.
Unless you're the killer.
No.
You know, friends,
um, colleagues.
My line of work.
Again, not a sin.
I've caused a lot of pain in my life.
I have an ex-wife who I...
betrayed.
Really?
That's your burden?
What you did or didn't do
in your relationships
has nothing to do with why you're here -
certainly not as far as this
government is concerned.
Yes. Yes.
And, uh, I really can't believe
the universe
has any opinion on it, either.
I know that.
In here, we all are, as you
people like to say, Mr. Peter...
in the shit.
Self pity has no value here.
But, to be fair,
I will also say this,
I would rather be here
for doing something I firmly believed in
than not knowing why I'm here at all.
I will quietly pity you for that.
Oh, thank you so much.
In the time that I have been in prison,
I've learned a few things
about getting through it.
And the main lesson is this...
you will not survive,
certainly not with your sanity intact...
...unless you are able
to make peace with yourself.
You know, you're very young
to have such freakish levels of wisdom.
It's a little annoying.
"I'm nervous as I write this.
"I'm in my cold prison cell
"after my first official
glorious exercise session -
"and I don't want that right
to be snatched away.
"So precious, too, are the books
"that my neighbors have passed to me,
"and the paper and pen
I now write with.
"That's why I have sought until now
"to fight my imprisonment
quietly from within,
"to make the authorities understand
"that this is all a terrible,
strange mistake,
"that I've been caught in the middle
of a multi-headed political struggle
"that is not my own.
"So our arrest here is not a mistake,
and as a journalist, this is my battle.
"I can no longer pretend it'll
go away by keeping quiet
"and crossing my fingers.
"...and crossing my fingers.
"As a journalist,
I am committed
"to defending a fundamental
freedom of the press
"that no one in my profession
can credibly work without -
"one that is deemed vital
to the proper functioning
"of any open democracy,
"including Egypt's,
with its new constitution.
"Peter Greste, Tora Prison."
The passionate
words of a fellow journalist,
Peter Greste,
Al Jazeera correspondent
imprisoned in Cairo.
Australian journalist Peter Greste
is vowing to continue...
Australian journalist Peter Greste
has written a public letter
from his jail cell...
...has written
of his ordeal
in his cold cell in Tora...
The imprisonment
of the Australian journalist
and two Al Jazeera colleagues
has drawn condemnation from...
...British colleagues
joining calls
for the team's immediate release.
Journalists from media organizations
around the world stand in solidarity.
Your letter was very good.
Oh.
Thank you.
You feel alive again?
Well, yeah.
Little bit of a tingling in
the extremities, yes.
You know that there'll be
repercussions. Yes?
Well, that's why I did it.
No point otherwise.
Huh?
What?
You know, I meant it when
I said that I am considering
a career as a journalist.
Well, what's stopping you?
Apart from imprisonment ,
occasional torture
and a political-military complex
determined to silence you?
Don't be so defeatist.
Just write.
Just... write.
By the way...
...you're about to have some company.
What do you mean?
I hear that you may be
joining your colleagues soon.
What... what?
What are you talking about?
I think they're going to transfer you.
I suspect as a result of your letter.
The authorities want to keep
you all in the same place.
Under close watch.
Repercussions, Mr. Peter.
Farewell.
We're, uh, journalists with the BBC.
BBC? We already have a BBC here.
Yes, uh, Daud Aweis?
He's sending a colleague to pick us up.
I'm with the English section.
Uh, television and radio.
Good excuse for a spy.
You are allowed none of these here.
Only the Qur'an.
So I got to read your letter.
Did you?
Mmm.
It was powerful. Moving.
Thank you, Fahmy.
Of course, you missed the point.
Sorry?
It was a wasted opportunity.
Okay. Um...
Well, it seems to have had
quite a bit of cut through, though.
Which is pissing the Egyptians off.
We're in an Egyptian prison,
Peter.
My only job right now is to save my neck.
I would like to save yours,
but if you'd rather believe
in the mighty beneficence
and diplomacy of Egyptian law,
then, uh, good for you,
I'll go my own way.
Which is why
I've written a letter of my own
on behalf of the three of us.
What do you mean?
What did you say?
That we're pawns in a political game.
Okay. I agree.
Egypt hates Al Jazeera.
President Sisi wants to obliterate them
as a media organization.
Are you suggesting we confess to something?
No.
I think we confess to nothing.
That's the smart road.
But... we denounce Al Jazeera
as pro Muslim Brotherhood
and express full support
for President Sisi.
This is our best defense,
I promise you.
And this is what you wrote in your letter?
This is what you said is our defense?
Yes.
Did... did you show the letter to a lawyer?
No need.
Oh, Christ.
What, what, so the white man
writes greatness
and the Arab writes shit ,
is that what this is, Peter?
So, not much has changed, then?
They shot Gatsby.
My dog.
He didn't even attack them.
Barely growled.
Look.
Cairo's most exclusive hair salon.
I can get you a special member's
discount if you like.
Wow.
You know, uh,
if you were a girl, Peter, I...
Karel!
Ah!
- How are you?
- Good to see you.
Aw. Been too long.
- Hey, how are you, Kate?
- Karel. Thank you.
Thanks for picking us up.
We appreciate it.
- Is this us?
- Yeah.
- See, guys?
- Thank you.
- Were we on time for you?
- Yeah, perfect.
Oh, great.
Salaam alaikum.
They're university students.
They were a few cells down
from us in Scorpion Prison.
They, uh, are with us on our charges.
What do you mean,
they're with us on our charges?
Just like I said.
How can they be charged with us?
I-I...
I don't know who they are.
Nor did we before Scorpion.
Sorry, this is insane.
They're part of our case
but we've never met them?
It's judicially more efficient
I think you'll find, Peter.
One trial instead of two.
But two of them are pro Brotherhood.
Alright? We can't be seen to be too close.
They want to connect us to the Brotherhood.
Australian journalist
Peter Greste will face trial in Egypt
on charges of aiding terrorists
and spreading false news...
A very chaotic scene
here outside Tora Prison in Cairo.
This is the maximum-security complex
where Peter Greste has been
detained now for more than...
...Greste, along with other
Al Jazeera journalists,
will stand trial charged with
aiding a terrorist group...
Tonight, the Australian
and his two colleagues will formally plead
not guilty.
His boss at Al Jazeera
will be in the courtroom.
We have every hope
that it will be a good, fair trial.
Um, and so... we're at
a grave place in the court now.
Today the government
in Egypt is muzzling the press.
Journalists have been physically assaulted,
they've been arrested,
they've been detained,
for doing their jobs.
And some have even gotten killed...
I really truly hope that the judiciary
in the case of the Al Jazeera journalists
rules on the merits of the case
and doesn't bow to political pressure.
...we need to get
a local press pass
and also a trial-specific press permit.
That was very difficult to do.
So we're very keen
to get into that courtroom
and see exactly what the prosecution case
is against Peter Greste...
That's your brother, right?
Yeah.
That's Andrew.
He's asking who our lawyers are.
Where is that guy you met before?
Mughlis.
Where's fucking Mughlis?
He's not here.
Peter Greste?
He wants to know where your lawyer is.
What... what's that?
Shit, he's being held in contempt.
You're not permitted
to communicate with the defendant.
You can be thrown into the cells for that!
I will not tolerate
such behavior in my court.
So consider yourself very seriously warned.
Go back. Yalla.
What happened to Mughlis?
Mughlis?
My lawyer.
The guy that Al Jazeera sent
the first time I met the prosecutor.
Right, yeah. Him. Yep.
He got arrested
You're kidding me.
The day before your
first hearing. For treason.
But Al Jazeera have hired another one.
Uh...
Farag Fathy Farag.
Okay.
Listen, we've only got a couple of minutes.
How are Mum and Dad?
They're coming over, mate.
They're coming over?
Mr. Peter Greste.
He's asking if Farag is our representative.
Yes, Your Honor.
Your Honor, I would like
to make a procedural motion,
if I may.
I move that these charges be struck out
as there have been innumerable violations
of the police code of conduct
in this matter.
I am more than happy to provide detail--
- What was that?
- It's been denied.
Apparently those boxes
are the evidence they have against us.
He wants to see the photographs.
He's been declined.
You're interrupting
proceedings, Mr. Greste.
What the hell are you doing?
Carving out a backgammon board.
Big game here.
Do you play?
Yeah, I do, actually.
Beautiful, huh?
Beautiful. Beautiful.
Pieces?
Mmm.
Dice?
I'm working on it.
- Double two!
- Oh, you're fucking kidding me!
The pumpkin seeds do not lie, my friend.
Hey, maybe we should start
playing for money, huh?
I mean, how is it possible
that I haven't won
a single game against you?
Ever! Can't be luck.
It's not.
Well, how are you doing it?
Four more years in prison
with me and you'll know, Peter.
Show me the seeds.
It's okay, Peter, it might take two years
to be competitive, but you'll be fine.
- Just show me the seeds.
- You want the seeds? Take them.
And Mr. Peter Greste
attended those meetings?
Yes.
Uh, he was also at the protest
at Rabba where 650 were killed.
This was in August 2013, was it not?
Yes.
But in your written statement of evidence
you acknowledge Mr. Greste
did not arrive in Cairo
until December 12th, 2013.
So, how do we reconcile your
two statements, Mr. Hussein?
I do not recall.
He's claiming harassment.
Yes. That will do, Mr. Farag.
Your Honor, if I may seek your
beneficent indulgence,
I have evidence
I wish to tender -
both transactional and audio-visual -
that can prove Mr. Greste
was in Juba, South Sudan,
from July 2013 until October 2013.
I wish to tender both these diaries
and these audio-visual tapes into evidence.
We need to talk about Baher.
My lawyers told my family
that in Baher's statement
he said you brought in bags of cash
for the Muslim Brotherhood.
I had 1500 in cash for expenses.
You saw it.
Peter, we can't be seen to be divided.
I... It's bullshit.
Baher wouldn't do that to us.
Your voice is becoming
an echo chamber in the West.
Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?
No!
It embarrasses the Egyptians.
And it pushes Sisi into a corner.
It's, uh, it's the EU,
it's both your governments.
What do you mean, both my governments?
The Latvians. You have Latvian
citizenship, do you not?
No. No, I don't have Latvian--
My father's Latvian, but I
don't have Latvian citizenship.
Well, now they're banging the drum
along with the fucking Australians.
Okay. Well...
I mean any sort of ,
diplomatic pressure is welcome
as far as I'm concerned.
Latvia's a part of the EU.
This could work in our favor.
You are a stupid, obedient
schoolboy, Peter.
You may mean well--
Oh, I may mean well?
Oh, Christ. Fahmy.
You're unbelievable.
Listen, I have a fiance.
- Baher has a wife and child.
- Do you trust this government?
- Do you?
- No. No, no.
I know the local politics
in a way that you don't.
Oh, God, you keep saying that
like you're the fucking
Lord Mayor of Cairo.
Alright, fair warning.
I will actively separate myself
from you in these proceedings
and I will instruct my counsel
that you are an untrustworthy man.
Wow.
I will tell the court
that you are a highly
irresponsible journalist,
that you are reckless,
and that you put your
colleagues' lives at risk
for the sake of a headline
and that you can be bought cheaply
because you have no moral allegiances.
You do what you do
because you're in it for money and fame.
You already have one trophy
head on your mantelpiece.
Did you have fun?
Peter!
Peter! Stop!
Peter!
It's been pretty good.
In fact, I've been surprised
by how welcoming
the local Somalis have been.
We've been following
the government delegation
most of the time.
No complaints.
Makes me a little suspicious
we're being sold a pup.
Have you been wearing body armor?
No. Should we be?
Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing.
Yeah, it's a bit of a toss up.
It's smart as it obviously
will make you safer
but it could make yourselves targets.
Someone might decide to test it with an AK.
And the armor's good
but it's not that good.
He wants to make a statement.
Your Honor...
...I am hereby submitting
my resignation
in terms of my defense for Peter Greste
and Baher Mohamed.
Their only concern is to give
the world a bad image of Egypt.
And I cannot possibly defend my clients
under these circumstances.
He's just fucked us. He's just
fucked us in a very public way.
Well, what do you know?
I mean...
Do we find our own lawyer, like Fahmy did?
Someone powerful in the government
must have threatened Farag, right?
I reckon his resignation
is a message to other lawyers.
I mean, the way he did it...
No lawyer with any credibility
is gonna want to touch you right now.
Mr. Greste.
I wish to ask you some
questions on a delicate topic.
And I certainly do not wish to
cause you unnecessary distress.
Did your negligence cause the shooting
of the BBC journalist Kate Peyton?
Our reading from the report
from the Mogadishu Inquiry
into the matter is that the car was parked
outside the security zone.
Yes.
You were not shot?
Not wounded in any way, is that correct?
Yes. Yes.
So you were lucky?
Uh...
Well, lucky...
'Lucky'... isn't a word I would use
to describe that day, Mr. Mansour.
You chose to park the car
outside the safety zone.
Um...
Well, I-I...
I wasn't driving the car.
The car, um...
The car was being driven
by a... a wonderful guy
who was employed by the BBC,
um, whose name was Mohammed.
A...
And... and Kate w... um...
We...
Um...
We decided to... to...
to park where we did
because we couldn't find
a space within the green zone
and we didn't have much time.
So you just acquiesced?
Well...
I... I...
I assumed that we were safe because the...
We had a... we had a s...
a security detail
and there were soldiers around
and... I...
I...
I thought we were safe.
And she took the bullet, didn't she?
The Somali wing of the Muslim Brotherhood
is known as Al-Shabaab, is it not?
I believe that's the case, yes.
And when the shots were fired,
what did you do?
I-I'm sorry, I don't...
Uh, which shots are you
referring to, Mr. Mansour?
The shots that hit Kate Peyton.
Uh, no...
There was... Kate...
There was only a single bullet.
It was a single bullet.
So you did nothing to protect Ms. Peyton?
Well, it was a single bullet
that came from nowhere.
Fuck.
We'll be here all day.
We will.
Bush has bombed Samarra.
Three civilians dead.
Four soldiers killed in Ramadi.
Everything's pretty much
status quo in Iraq.
Seriously, we could be here for hours.
This was meant to be a quick drop-in.
He says no parking now.
No spaces. Sorry.
You want me to park in the street?
We're not meant to.
It's protocol.
Oh, come on, we... we're gonna
be a half an hour inside.
Let's just park on the street.
There's soldiers everywhere.
We've got our security.
Okay.
The evidence unequivocally shows
that these men were guilty
of working with a terrorist organization
to undermine and destroy
the great nation of Egypt.
Mr. Greste brought into Egypt
suitcases of cash to pay informants.
Defendant Greste is
and has been for his whole career
a master propagandist
who has spread disinformation
all over the Middle East and Africa.
Al Jazeera is very
much a terrorist organization
colluding with the Muslim
Brotherhood to ruin Egypt.
And these are their agents!
That was a bloody waste of time.
- Yes.
- Yes, I'm glad we came. Right?
Oh!
- I was promised a lead.
- Yep.
I told you, we're being sold a pup.
I mean, they're all so polite.
As soon as you get offered
your second pot of tea,
you know you're gonna get fuck-all.
Yeah. They're being too nice.
It's all too quiet.
Things are going to get messy very quickly.
Alright, okay.
Let's go to the port.
Let's see what's coming in...
- Yes.
- ...what's going out.
Ethiopia must be sending something, right?
Yes, let's do that.
Let's get some footage.
Karel, let's talk security--
He's saying that we're
smearing the name of Egypt.
He's saying that we're fabricating
information about Egypt.
Guilty. Seven years.
Australian journalist Peter Greste
has been sentenced to seven years
in jail on charges of...
Jailed for journalism,
the family of the Australian
reporter Peter Greste say
they're dismayed
by the heavy prison sentences
handed to their son
and his Al Jazeera colleagues.
Their outrage was echoed around the world...
Secretary of State John Kerry
says he immediately called
Egypt's foreign minister
to register what he called
the US's serious displeasure with the sentences...
...a chilling and draconian sentence.
It's deeply disturbing to see
in the midst of Egypt's transition...
It's absurd, it's disgraceful.
These men, the only crime
they really committed... is journalism...
Well, there'll be an appeal process,
but that could take a very long time.
It's taken nearly seven months
to get to this point...
We've seen the videos.
Nothing there to incriminate them.
It really is extraordinary.
This is not the final act, though, is it?
There is still an avenue
of appeal, is that right?
There is a chance to appeal,
and that's exactly what the Greste family
will have to do now...
Governments around the world,
human rights organization,
they've all united,
as well as journalists, to condemn this.
Because when we start
getting thrown in jail
for the things we write and say,
that's basically the beginning of the end
of any semblance of democracy.
Faster! Move!
Come on, let's go!
It's gonna be okay.
Unioshe
E unioshe
Oniwe safi
Makoni pako...
Oh, my God!
Again, you win.
Okay, Abdul, it really doesn't
help having an audience.
Okay?
Don't give up.
Hey.
I'm curious about something
About what?
About what you told the interrogators.
I kind of... need to know what
you said in your statement.
Because...
you know, there were a few
things that were referred to -
like the money in my safe and so on...
And now that we're going to appeal...
My statement was never
directly referred to Peter.
Mmm.
I know, but you did give a statement
and the Judges would've read it, and...
and we know what that means.
I was in there for six hours.
I don't know what they ended up with.
Is it... possible that you
might've said at some point
that I was carrying money
for the Brotherhood?
I did not say that.
But as you know, Peter,
it's also possible that it
could appear in my statement.
I...
I did not say that, like that.
Baher.
We... we've...
...got an appeal to get together.
Together.
So if there's anything
that we need to know,
we kind of have to be
really clear and honest.
They...
obviously know where I live.
And...
they know I have a child
and another on the way.
I... I just wanted to be home.
To be frank, I...
I can't remember what I told them.
I just...
just wanted to go home.
I would've done the same thing, I think.
Another game?
Sure.
And don't you dare take pity on me, okay?
In the unlikely event that
I ever win against you,
I need to know
I did it by myself.
Okay.
Okay?
Hello, son.
Nothing bloody changes, does it?
- What do you mean, Dad?
- Juris, don't start.
We run from Latvia during the war
From Nazis, then from Stalin.
We land in Australia...
a blessing of sorts.
And now our son is facing
seven years in an African prison
because he took someone's
Christmas shift in Egypt!
This whole world's bloody insane!
Juris, please, will you calm down?
Dad, you're not helping.
Well, you tell me, boy, tell me one thing,
one single thing I can do
to make things better.
Michael is in touch
with Canberra every day.
Is he? Good on him.
How is he? How's he going?
Your brother's exhausted.
Like the rest of us.
He's like a dog with a bone.
They can't shake him.
But he says there's not much pressure
that Canberra can effectively apply.
We'll make sure that
the appeal's solid, love.
Yalla, yalla.
Who's next?
You can trap him in the corner.
Ah.
I know, I know.
You beat the warden.
You beat the fucking warden.
Will you please stop saying that, Fahmy?
I'm fucking aware! Okay?
You better not have
screwed things up for me.
What do you mean,
screwed things up for you?
My family is working contacts
at the Interior Ministry
to get me transferred to a hospital.
At the moment, they're only
talking a few days.
But I'm thinking once I get there,
I can stretch it out for a month or two,
aim for a medical pardon.
Fuck, Baher,
you beat the Warden at backgammon?!
- Oh, my God!
- Your ego, man.
- You're out of control!
- My ego is out of control?
Yes!
Mr. Peter. Come.
...your face will appear, okay?
And you know what?
The warden,
I played double form,
I have to take him down.
- Throw the game.
- Throw the game?
Bro, if he knows I'm throwing
the game, it's even worse.
Egomaniac.
You are an egomaniac.
You walk around here -
"Baher, Baher, look at me..."
I hear you are an expert
player, Mr. Peter.
Ah, well, I... I wouldn't
call myself an expert.
I've been playing most of my life,
but just with family and friends.
Hm.
Just like me.
It helps to pass the time.
Exactly.
You and I are cut from the same bread,
Mr. Peter.
Ah.
Oh.
Actually, that was a stupid move.
You played well, Mr. Peter, but...
But it was not to be.
Good game.
Whiskey?
That would be wonderful.
When I was around 15...
...I wanted to be a diplomat...
...or a journalist.
Well, that's, uh...
that's when I decided
to become a journalist too.
I had been the beneficiary
of a very good education.
I was inspired by my uncle, Ibrahim.
He was my father's brother.
He was a big name in journalism here,
and in politics.
He was very courageous.
What happened to him?
He respected President Sadat,
that's what happened.
Then when Sadat was assassinated...
...my uncle, he wrote
a rather full-throated article
about the Brotherhood's
involvement in the killing.
My uncle was found the next day...
...hanging in his shed...
...with his wrists tied behind his back...
...but without his fingers and thumbs.
My father lost his job
at the Foreign Ministry.
I was expelled from the good school.
Tell me, please...
...Mr. Peter ...
...you didn't come to Egypt...
...to help the Brotherhood.
I can promise you...
...I'm not here to help the Brotherhood
or anyone else.
I'm just a journalist who
was filling in for a colleague
for a couple of weeks over Christmas.
Okay.
I...
very much need to piss now.
I'll be back.
Good luck, Fahmy.
They're coming.
Coming, coming.
Lift you. One, two, three. Up.
- Argh, argh...
- Gently down.
Let's go.
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Okay.
It's okay.
They're gonna get that thing out of you.
I'm so scared.
I know.
It's gonna be over soon.
And then you'll wake up.
And it'll be...
And you can call Rog
and you can speak to Chloe.
You promise?
Yeah.
- Morning.
- Morning.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister called
Minister Bishop and he made an offer.
He said he can make your problem
go away if you don't appeal.
Was there anything more specific?
No. Just that.
But, between you and me,
right now the Egyptian government
is getting a lot of heat about you.
So it might be the time to strike.
Okay.
So I am currently
in an Egyptian prison
as a convicted terrorist...
...and my only real, tangible,
legal route out of here is to appeal.
And they're now saying ...
that they will let me walk free
if I don't appeal?
Do you seriously expect me
to trust these people, Monica?
Mr. Peter, please listen to me
very carefully.
Drop your appeal.
Sami...
You know as well as I do,
if I drop my appeal,
it's an admission of guilt.
I know.
And...
that's what makes this
an interesting negotiation.
Okay.
It's very simple.
If your government
puts something in writing
to me and the Australian Embassy,
then we will consider the proposal.
Which will be leaked.
Sami, I can tell you now...
...if I don't get something signed
on a government letterhead,
this is not gonna happen.
You still don't understand, do you?
This is Egypt.
You have to make a deal.
Were Fahmy and I mentioned?
No. Not specifically.
But I... I'm never gonna
make a deal without you.
Look, we have two days to
file our appeal, so...
So if we don't file by Friday,
we lose our right to appeal?
How can we possibly trust them, Peter?
Well, we can't.
What?
We must do something dramatic,
something hard.
We have to do something
that shows our supporters
we are fighting inside just as
they are fighting outside.
What have you got in mind?
A hunger strike.
Look...
Our appeals are in on Friday.
Okay?
If they don't respond in 90--
Listen. Listen.
If they don't respond in 90 days,
then, yes, yes, we strike, okay?
We say, "We demand that you
examine our appeals."
Okay? That's clear then.
It's achievable then.
90 days?
I am not waiting 90 days
for some sham appeal!
I believe that will be too late.
Now... now is the time for pressure.
You have a really good chance
of dying if you do it this way.
You know that?
You have to prepare your body.
I know you think that patience
is a good strategy,
but those boys are young.
They don't have any patience,
they are losing precious time.
Have you told your wife?
No.
There's a way to do this. Okay?
Number one, inform your families.
They'll worry.
The only way...
to get through this shit
is to make a case to the world.
If-if... if they don't grant us
leave to appeal,
I will be the first to strike.
But I will... I'll...
I'll tell my family,
I'll tell the Embassy
and I'll... I'll prepare my body.
Because that way,
I've got a fighting chance.
Baher...
I'm not...
I'm not gonna sit in this fucking cell
and watch you die for nothing.
Because I would grow
to hate you for that. Okay?
And I really don't want
to have to hate you.
Dead or alive.
Ah.
Mr. Greste.
Yes.
Uh... I'm sorry, there must be
some confusion.
I was expecting someone
from the Australian Embassy.
I am from an Embassy.
Latvian Embassy in Cairo.
I am Ambassador Iveta Sulca.
Oh, well, it's lovely to meet you, Iveta.
An understandable mistake.
Mr. Greste,
I have something to give you.
Um... what... what is this?
I'm most proud to present you with
EU/Latvian passport.
We have got to know your parents
in the last few months.
They sought our assistance
in terms of your case.
As you know,
Russia has a lot of interest
in Latvia right now
and a lot of influence in Egypt.
The European Union is Egypt's
biggest trading partner.
So...
we have leverage right now.
Mr. Peter! Mr. Peter!
You have appeal.
- What?
- You're on TV. You have appeal.
Our appeal came through?
- Yes?
- Yes, yes.
- Our appeal!
- Good luck, Mr. Peter.
Oh! Hey, Baher!
- Hey! Our appeal came through.
- What?
- We got it. We got the appeal.
- Really?
We got the appeal!
We got the...
- Mr. Greste.
- Yes.
I removed a small calibre
bullet. 9 millimeter.
There has been a lot of internal bleeding,
but she should be okay.
Oh!
She won't be awake for a few hours.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
Thank you.
Still no published findings
from the appeal.
I know.
And no date for a re-trial.
I know.
And...
...it's day 31.
They had 30 days to publish
and set a date for the trial.
They've been playing us.
I feel bad 'cause I... I keep
telling Baher and the boys
they should trust the process.
W-w...
What choice do we have?
There's no process.
Getting arrested here is like being dropped
in the middle of a fucking Escher drawing.
There's... there's no way out.
It'll end Pete, I promise.
We will never give up.
They're never gonna let us go.
They are never going to let us go
because they... they need to
send a message to the West.
They need to send a message to journalists.
So...
I've made a decision.
I'm...
I'm gonna go on the front foot.
How?
Hunger strike.
Oh... come on.
I mean, fuck, don't be stupid.
I need you to do something, okay?
I need you to tell the press
that there are five of us, alright?
There's Ba--
Listen to me. Listen to me.
Listen to me.
There's five of us.
Baher, me and the three boys.
They're gonna try and split
us up, they'll separate us.
Okay? They'll probably do that.
And they'll... they'll probably
try and hide us.
So...
...I need you to get the message out.
Alright? It's important.
Give it a week.
And then call a press conference.
It might be hubris,
but I think the media's
gonna be all over this
because it's about all of them.
Mum and Dad are gonna
be so pissed with you.
Yep.
So, you and Mike...
...are gonna have to help with that, okay?
- Yeah?
- What if they say no?
Mum and Dad?
Of course they're gonna say no.
Yeah, what if they tell you not to do this?
Tell them I had no choice.
No choice, mate.
Can't sit here anymore doing nothing.
Can't do it.
Hey...
Come on.
Hey.
Can you come back to the hospital?
- Why? What's going on?
- Listen to me.
Can you come back to
the hospital right now, please?
Get here.
- Mr. Peter?
- Yep.
Major Sami, you see him.
- What, now?
- Now. Yes.
Okay, give me ten minutes.
I'll get changed.
No, now. We go now.
Yes?
I'm sorry, Sami, the guard
wouldn't let me change.
Is there a problem?
I have, uh, news.
Yes?
You are leaving us.
Haven't I already been in every
fucking prison in this country?
You are going home.
Back to Australia.
I don't I don't understand ...
The Embassy is coming now.
Uh...
Maybe in half an hour.
I-I don't understand, Sami.
You'd better go and...
pack your things.
Um...
S...
Uh, so if I'm going,
the others must be leaving too?
I suggest you do not ask any questions.
Just go now. Yalla.
Get moving.
I have no time for...
cheap sentimentality.
Alaa?
Alaa?
Alaa!
Alaa!
What's wrong?
Peter, what is it?
Is there a judgment?
I'm heading home.
They're releasing me.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
She's dead?
Yes.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry, Rog.
She's dead.
Yes, she was shot.
She was shot?
Dead.
Yes.
By who?
Um... we don't...
they don't know.
Um...
There was...
The police are investigating.
Weren't you there, Peter?
Didn't you fucking see?
Um... it was a single shot
and I didn't...
I didn't see anything.
Um...
I didn't see anything.
There was security everywhere.
I didn't... I...
I didn't... I didn't even know
that Kate had been hit.
I'm so... I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry, Roger.
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