Baghdad Central (2020) s01e02 Episode Script
Episode 2
Sawsan did not return from university.
She has been working with the Americans.
She is missing.
She sometimes spoke of friends she called Candy and Laura.
Have you found your missing American citizen yet, Kibbert? I believe men like you are Iraq's future.
I'd like you to visit me tomorrow.
Visit you where? The Green Zone.
Bring your daughter Mrouj.
So welcome to free Iraq.
You don't have to stay, Baba.
I want to stay.
They have food.
Mm.
This is exactly where we need to be.
This is where she worked.
Yesterday I was a terrorist.
Now I am an official.
You will be a collaborator? Yes.
No matter.
I will work for them for as long as it takes to make you well.
And for as long as it takes me to find Sawsan.
And then we will leave.
Inspector, sir.
Sir, you're needed.
Military will be on scene already.
Reports of a firefight came via their channel.
And for our protection, of course.
Firefight? We've had reports from the Red Zone of an exchange of gunfire.
Woo! Thank you! God be praised! God is good! We're your liberators, show some fucking respect here! Agreed, show some respect.
Evening.
Sir.
Captain.
Mr Temple, thought you would have waited till morning.
It's urgent business.
Always.
Inspector Khafaji, meet Captain Parodi, military police.
Pleasure is all his.
Inspector Khafaji, I'm going to go through the charade of pretending that you're involved here.
How do you want to do this? Ignore the bullshit, this will become an Iraqi Police-led investigation.
You want to go inside now or wait till first light? The power's down but we've got a genny.
Is it safe to go inside? No traps, if that's what you mean.
One dead male in the kitchen area, that's it.
Iraqi male? He's got the facial hair.
Let's take a look for ourselves, shall we? Be as quick as you like.
I want to lock this down.
Miss Ford tells me this is a safehouse.
No, not in the true sense.
At the moment, it's unoccupied but the idea is it's a safer place for our workers without family.
Do you know him? I do not.
The questions are, who is he, what's he doing here and who killed him? Opportunist, Ba'athist resistance? Is that the actual key or a skeleton? He was shot as he entered by people waiting inside.
You are certain you have not seen him before? I'm certain.
Mr Temple, what is it I am doing here? Am I investigating a shooting, a crime? The purchase of this house was my idea.
I'm well aware of the danger faced by local people who risk their lives working for the coalition.
This was an attempt to lessen that danger.
It's gone wrong, and quickly.
I'd like to understand why.
How.
I'll take a look up on the roof.
Anything? This is where they gained access to the house.
They were disturbed by the dead man and by others, maybe - one other at least.
How do you know? There is evidence at the roadside.
The dead man is not a coalition employee? Security? No.
I'm thinking out loud.
Thank you, inspector.
For what? For confirming what I always knew.
Iraq needs Iraqi policemen.
Detectives.
Let's go down.
See what all this looks like in daylight.
Sir a police service created by the Americans will always be seen as American.
Do not lose faith, inspector, not in your first days.
Please.
I will need money, Mr Temple, to live.
We can sort that right away.
Sawsan? Clear.
All right, what's going on here? In houses like this there is a crawl space.
The size of it varies.
My own house had one big enough for my children to make a home.
Hide.
OK.
Keep going.
Anything? Yes.
What? A man.
Sweet Jesus Christ.
All right, let's get him out of here.
Not yet.
Do not move him or touch him.
He is attached to something.
String? A wire.
A fucking grenade.
What is it? Everybody out, we shut this place down right now.
What is it? Another body.
A US citizen.
Clark Kibbert.
In your house.
Everybody out.
Everybody.
We let the bomb squad take it from here.
Let's move out, guys.
Down! In cover! Down! Down! Down! Down! In cover! Where'd that come from? Anyone see that? Sniper, sir.
Call it in.
Do not engage.
We do not go in fucking blind.
Call it in.
If anything, we'll flush the fucker out.
Sawsan.
Have you seen the children? Shh.
Sawsan.
Little Mrouj.
I can't find them.
Hello, yes? Nidal, it's Muhsin.
Any news? No.
Not yet.
I have a question.
There was a lock on Sawsan's bedroom door.
Put there by Sawsan for privacy.
Then I apologise.
She had no right.
She's young.
I know it's a warm day.
We will all get through.
OK, you've got to get in line and stay in line.
You can't just walk to the front of the line! Can you open your bag? What's in there? OK, little man, bye.
I need you to turn around.
Now move.
Move.
Good morning.
Hands outstretched, please, sir.
Where are you from? What part of the United States? I'm Florida.
National Guard.
Turn around, please.
Florida.
Get down! Get down! Keep them down! Everybody, stay down! Stay flat on the ground! Keep them down! No boom.
Tough guys.
What's she saying? Stop right here.
24-hour guard on the driver.
You take first shift.
Oh, my days.
Looks like a pay cop, off-duty.
Most likely.
All beef and ink.
On your way, Inspector.
You'll be needing my help.
To talk to the driver.
I think we'll manage just fine.
Body bag and transportation required.
I need you to drink more.
OK? About twice as much.
Mm-hm.
OK.
But you're looking good, Mrouj.
A long way to go, but we'll get there.
What do you mean, "long way to go"? In her treatment.
Mrouj, we'll talk later.
That's it? That's all we get? Baba, I will get better.
I know you will.
You look beautiful today.
I'm worried he can see that too.
Of course he can see it - he's not blind.
That's mine.
You like to share.
Ever since you were small.
Hm What did Sawsan talk about? What was she interested in? You've asked me this.
Tell me again.
It's important.
Life.
She was interested in life.
She wanted a life.
Like we all do.
She wanted to work.
To dance and sing.
To marry, to pray.
To have choices.
To be free.
Like we all do, Baba.
Did she say how she would find this freedom? Education? Something else? Such as what? There are only two explanations for her disappearance.
I can think of only two.
The first is she has been kidnapped.
Abducted.
If so, she's likely to be dead or sold on by now.
Or she chose not to come home.
Would she do that, Mrouj? I don't know.
But I hope it was her choice.
It would mean she's alive.
I know she blames me for Tareq's death.
No.
In part.
I know that is some of the reason she could not bear to live with us.
Me.
Look at me.
Sir, I was thinking about last night and who gave away the location of the house.
Was it you? No, it was not.
But, yeah, I'm on a shortlist of people who could've potentially imparted information.
Miss Ford, anyone could've imparted information - literally anyone.
A passer-by seeing activity, anyone.
Morning at last, Inspector.
Long queue at the checkpoint? Yes.
And an incident.
One dead man was delivered inside an SUV.
You're kidding me.
A Western guy.
Soldier? Non-military.
Mercenary.
Private security? Yes.
Which company? You wouldn't know.
The SUV had an "HB" logo on it.
How did he die? Shot.
Jesus Where do these types of men, um socialise? Blow off steam? Yes.
A hotel sports bar.
Awful place.
Reeks of sweat and testosterone.
Why do you ask? He was dressed as if he was about to "blow off steam", and he smelled of cologne.
Anything else? The SUV was driven by a young woman.
Again, this is why we need a police service.
This is exactly why.
Do you believe for a minute Captain Parodi is going to know just the smell of cologne over cordite? Is it important? Miss Ford, I'll see you back at the office.
Yes, sir.
Sure.
Last night at the safe house, the discovery of Clark Kibbert's body it's worrying.
Tell me what you saw, what you're thinking exactly.
First of all, there were two bodies.
Of course.
There was also blood and broken glass at the kerbside, fragmented glass, which suggests that shots were fired at the vehicle.
Unreported fire fight.
Yes.
Mr Kibbert was killed elsewhere and brought deliberately to your safe house.
A message, perhaps.
I want you to write all this up.
A report, something I can study and send further up the line.
I need two things to happen here.
One - I need to show that me and my department are clean, clear, above board and helping out.
Mm-hm.
All of those things.
And two let's not fuck this up.
We are not - and never shall be - American.
We are competent.
Good work, Inspector.
Good, clear thinking.
I'll see you upstairs.
Yes, sir.
They are here, Muhsin.
I want to go with you.
Much pain? They are here, Muhsin.
Find them.
Jesus Christ.
What happened here? You didn't slip and fall, crack your head? No.
I did not.
So what happened? History happened.
You know the guy that did this to you? Not that I'm going to do a damn thing about it.
Yes, I know the guy.
Not that I'm going to tell you.
Temple just minutes ago informed me that you would be submitting a report regarding last night.
They inform me it will be "essential reading", his words.
I will be writing a report, yes.
Looking forward to it.
What are your essential thoughts regarding the gatecrasher, the SUV? You found the condoms the man was carrying? Yes.
In his shirt pocket, not in his back pocket, not in his wallet.
So he was getting laid? For sure, he was getting laid.
Prostitutes? It's not new.
It's not new, but he was trying to impress.
He wore cologne.
OK, I can see that.
The woman is still alive, the driver? Yes.
You should allow me to talk to her.
What do you think of Temple, asshole or dick? They asked me the same question of you.
Captain Parodi If I was your inspector, I'd get drunk tonight.
Your head's going to hurt like hell either way.
Who was the dead Iraqi? It is important! Shit.
Fucking shit.
Yes? Nidal, it's Muhsin.
I'm ashamed, Nidal.
I am a father who no longer knows his own daughter.
No, Muhsin, you are not to blame.
I passed all responsibility to you, her aunt and uncle.
You had Mrouj to take care of.
But one thing I do know that bothers me.
The lock on her door.
I know she would not do that.
She would not insult you.
She would not do that.
The truth is that Sawsan had the life she had.
She put us all in danger, my children included.
You should have told me.
If you believed she was in danger, you should have told me.
Are you saying you would have resolved battles, just as you did with Fares? Nidal, you've said enough.
It's true.
I did my best for Sawsan.
I owed it to her mother, my sister.
Your daughter has no respect for you, Muhsin.
None.
That is the truth.
She has no respect for anything but her own belief.
I tried to keep her from harm.
Nothing more.
Nothing more.
She listened only to her friends.
Good night, Muhsin.
She has been working with the Americans.
She is missing.
She sometimes spoke of friends she called Candy and Laura.
Have you found your missing American citizen yet, Kibbert? I believe men like you are Iraq's future.
I'd like you to visit me tomorrow.
Visit you where? The Green Zone.
Bring your daughter Mrouj.
So welcome to free Iraq.
You don't have to stay, Baba.
I want to stay.
They have food.
Mm.
This is exactly where we need to be.
This is where she worked.
Yesterday I was a terrorist.
Now I am an official.
You will be a collaborator? Yes.
No matter.
I will work for them for as long as it takes to make you well.
And for as long as it takes me to find Sawsan.
And then we will leave.
Inspector, sir.
Sir, you're needed.
Military will be on scene already.
Reports of a firefight came via their channel.
And for our protection, of course.
Firefight? We've had reports from the Red Zone of an exchange of gunfire.
Woo! Thank you! God be praised! God is good! We're your liberators, show some fucking respect here! Agreed, show some respect.
Evening.
Sir.
Captain.
Mr Temple, thought you would have waited till morning.
It's urgent business.
Always.
Inspector Khafaji, meet Captain Parodi, military police.
Pleasure is all his.
Inspector Khafaji, I'm going to go through the charade of pretending that you're involved here.
How do you want to do this? Ignore the bullshit, this will become an Iraqi Police-led investigation.
You want to go inside now or wait till first light? The power's down but we've got a genny.
Is it safe to go inside? No traps, if that's what you mean.
One dead male in the kitchen area, that's it.
Iraqi male? He's got the facial hair.
Let's take a look for ourselves, shall we? Be as quick as you like.
I want to lock this down.
Miss Ford tells me this is a safehouse.
No, not in the true sense.
At the moment, it's unoccupied but the idea is it's a safer place for our workers without family.
Do you know him? I do not.
The questions are, who is he, what's he doing here and who killed him? Opportunist, Ba'athist resistance? Is that the actual key or a skeleton? He was shot as he entered by people waiting inside.
You are certain you have not seen him before? I'm certain.
Mr Temple, what is it I am doing here? Am I investigating a shooting, a crime? The purchase of this house was my idea.
I'm well aware of the danger faced by local people who risk their lives working for the coalition.
This was an attempt to lessen that danger.
It's gone wrong, and quickly.
I'd like to understand why.
How.
I'll take a look up on the roof.
Anything? This is where they gained access to the house.
They were disturbed by the dead man and by others, maybe - one other at least.
How do you know? There is evidence at the roadside.
The dead man is not a coalition employee? Security? No.
I'm thinking out loud.
Thank you, inspector.
For what? For confirming what I always knew.
Iraq needs Iraqi policemen.
Detectives.
Let's go down.
See what all this looks like in daylight.
Sir a police service created by the Americans will always be seen as American.
Do not lose faith, inspector, not in your first days.
Please.
I will need money, Mr Temple, to live.
We can sort that right away.
Sawsan? Clear.
All right, what's going on here? In houses like this there is a crawl space.
The size of it varies.
My own house had one big enough for my children to make a home.
Hide.
OK.
Keep going.
Anything? Yes.
What? A man.
Sweet Jesus Christ.
All right, let's get him out of here.
Not yet.
Do not move him or touch him.
He is attached to something.
String? A wire.
A fucking grenade.
What is it? Everybody out, we shut this place down right now.
What is it? Another body.
A US citizen.
Clark Kibbert.
In your house.
Everybody out.
Everybody.
We let the bomb squad take it from here.
Let's move out, guys.
Down! In cover! Down! Down! Down! Down! In cover! Where'd that come from? Anyone see that? Sniper, sir.
Call it in.
Do not engage.
We do not go in fucking blind.
Call it in.
If anything, we'll flush the fucker out.
Sawsan.
Have you seen the children? Shh.
Sawsan.
Little Mrouj.
I can't find them.
Hello, yes? Nidal, it's Muhsin.
Any news? No.
Not yet.
I have a question.
There was a lock on Sawsan's bedroom door.
Put there by Sawsan for privacy.
Then I apologise.
She had no right.
She's young.
I know it's a warm day.
We will all get through.
OK, you've got to get in line and stay in line.
You can't just walk to the front of the line! Can you open your bag? What's in there? OK, little man, bye.
I need you to turn around.
Now move.
Move.
Good morning.
Hands outstretched, please, sir.
Where are you from? What part of the United States? I'm Florida.
National Guard.
Turn around, please.
Florida.
Get down! Get down! Keep them down! Everybody, stay down! Stay flat on the ground! Keep them down! No boom.
Tough guys.
What's she saying? Stop right here.
24-hour guard on the driver.
You take first shift.
Oh, my days.
Looks like a pay cop, off-duty.
Most likely.
All beef and ink.
On your way, Inspector.
You'll be needing my help.
To talk to the driver.
I think we'll manage just fine.
Body bag and transportation required.
I need you to drink more.
OK? About twice as much.
Mm-hm.
OK.
But you're looking good, Mrouj.
A long way to go, but we'll get there.
What do you mean, "long way to go"? In her treatment.
Mrouj, we'll talk later.
That's it? That's all we get? Baba, I will get better.
I know you will.
You look beautiful today.
I'm worried he can see that too.
Of course he can see it - he's not blind.
That's mine.
You like to share.
Ever since you were small.
Hm What did Sawsan talk about? What was she interested in? You've asked me this.
Tell me again.
It's important.
Life.
She was interested in life.
She wanted a life.
Like we all do.
She wanted to work.
To dance and sing.
To marry, to pray.
To have choices.
To be free.
Like we all do, Baba.
Did she say how she would find this freedom? Education? Something else? Such as what? There are only two explanations for her disappearance.
I can think of only two.
The first is she has been kidnapped.
Abducted.
If so, she's likely to be dead or sold on by now.
Or she chose not to come home.
Would she do that, Mrouj? I don't know.
But I hope it was her choice.
It would mean she's alive.
I know she blames me for Tareq's death.
No.
In part.
I know that is some of the reason she could not bear to live with us.
Me.
Look at me.
Sir, I was thinking about last night and who gave away the location of the house.
Was it you? No, it was not.
But, yeah, I'm on a shortlist of people who could've potentially imparted information.
Miss Ford, anyone could've imparted information - literally anyone.
A passer-by seeing activity, anyone.
Morning at last, Inspector.
Long queue at the checkpoint? Yes.
And an incident.
One dead man was delivered inside an SUV.
You're kidding me.
A Western guy.
Soldier? Non-military.
Mercenary.
Private security? Yes.
Which company? You wouldn't know.
The SUV had an "HB" logo on it.
How did he die? Shot.
Jesus Where do these types of men, um socialise? Blow off steam? Yes.
A hotel sports bar.
Awful place.
Reeks of sweat and testosterone.
Why do you ask? He was dressed as if he was about to "blow off steam", and he smelled of cologne.
Anything else? The SUV was driven by a young woman.
Again, this is why we need a police service.
This is exactly why.
Do you believe for a minute Captain Parodi is going to know just the smell of cologne over cordite? Is it important? Miss Ford, I'll see you back at the office.
Yes, sir.
Sure.
Last night at the safe house, the discovery of Clark Kibbert's body it's worrying.
Tell me what you saw, what you're thinking exactly.
First of all, there were two bodies.
Of course.
There was also blood and broken glass at the kerbside, fragmented glass, which suggests that shots were fired at the vehicle.
Unreported fire fight.
Yes.
Mr Kibbert was killed elsewhere and brought deliberately to your safe house.
A message, perhaps.
I want you to write all this up.
A report, something I can study and send further up the line.
I need two things to happen here.
One - I need to show that me and my department are clean, clear, above board and helping out.
Mm-hm.
All of those things.
And two let's not fuck this up.
We are not - and never shall be - American.
We are competent.
Good work, Inspector.
Good, clear thinking.
I'll see you upstairs.
Yes, sir.
They are here, Muhsin.
I want to go with you.
Much pain? They are here, Muhsin.
Find them.
Jesus Christ.
What happened here? You didn't slip and fall, crack your head? No.
I did not.
So what happened? History happened.
You know the guy that did this to you? Not that I'm going to do a damn thing about it.
Yes, I know the guy.
Not that I'm going to tell you.
Temple just minutes ago informed me that you would be submitting a report regarding last night.
They inform me it will be "essential reading", his words.
I will be writing a report, yes.
Looking forward to it.
What are your essential thoughts regarding the gatecrasher, the SUV? You found the condoms the man was carrying? Yes.
In his shirt pocket, not in his back pocket, not in his wallet.
So he was getting laid? For sure, he was getting laid.
Prostitutes? It's not new.
It's not new, but he was trying to impress.
He wore cologne.
OK, I can see that.
The woman is still alive, the driver? Yes.
You should allow me to talk to her.
What do you think of Temple, asshole or dick? They asked me the same question of you.
Captain Parodi If I was your inspector, I'd get drunk tonight.
Your head's going to hurt like hell either way.
Who was the dead Iraqi? It is important! Shit.
Fucking shit.
Yes? Nidal, it's Muhsin.
I'm ashamed, Nidal.
I am a father who no longer knows his own daughter.
No, Muhsin, you are not to blame.
I passed all responsibility to you, her aunt and uncle.
You had Mrouj to take care of.
But one thing I do know that bothers me.
The lock on her door.
I know she would not do that.
She would not insult you.
She would not do that.
The truth is that Sawsan had the life she had.
She put us all in danger, my children included.
You should have told me.
If you believed she was in danger, you should have told me.
Are you saying you would have resolved battles, just as you did with Fares? Nidal, you've said enough.
It's true.
I did my best for Sawsan.
I owed it to her mother, my sister.
Your daughter has no respect for you, Muhsin.
None.
That is the truth.
She has no respect for anything but her own belief.
I tried to keep her from harm.
Nothing more.
Nothing more.
She listened only to her friends.
Good night, Muhsin.