Ghosts of Beirut (2023) s01e04 Episode Script

The Finding

1
[STEVE] I thought he'd be uglier.
[ROBIN] And that's Saada?
[LENA] Yeah. And Wissam, their son.
It was his idea to go to Damascus
to save his parents' marriage.
- [STEVE] You saw this?
- Yeah.
He's never been so sloppy.
Mike, this is good.
Any idea where he is now, Lena?
Where he'll be tomorrow?
We have to get closer.
[STEVE] You and your Mossad buddies?
[CHUCKLES] They're not my buddies.
[MIKE] You're asking the President
to consider a covert assassination
in the heart of the
Syrian capital with Israel.
Let me count the ways we all get fucked.
[LENA] Imad is having a family meltdown
on a street in Damascus.
He's off balance.
And for the first time,
he's making mistakes.
[BOTH SPEAKING ARABIC]
Imad
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[WAFA SPEAKING ARABIC]
[IMAD SPEAKING]
[IMAD SPEAKING]
It just didn't work out, okay?
[LENA'S MOTHER] Are you traveling?
Can you make it to Dearborn?
[LENA'S MOTHER SPEAKING ARABIC]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
My mission just got extended.
I'll be there as soon as I can.
I worry about you.
There's more to life
than work, you know?
[LENA] I've got to go.
Say hi to Baba and everyone.
- I love you, Mama.
- I love you, too.
[MEIR] It's been a
long and painful history
for both of our services.
We have here a unique opportunity.
We should put the differences aside
and settle an old account.
Thank you, Mike.
Mike, the President will want to
know where this is all heading.
[MIKE] Once we identify
Mughniyeh's precise movements,
we will request a
finding on lethal action
based on the clear imminent threat.
And you want to do this
together with Mossad?
[MIKE] Yes.
[ATTORNEY] The National Command
Authority would want assurances
that such actions fall
within the protocols
governing presidential findings.
We play by our rules.
And we'd need solid
proof that Imad Mughniyeh
poses an imminent
threat to American lives.
Otherwise we can't kill him.
Mike, when did the lawyers
take over this place?
Since waterboarding and
black sites sent CIA off the rails.
This is different.
We know from Daqduq's chargesheet
that Karbala is the first of many.
The intel is airtight,
verified by the FBI.
Look at the evidence, see
if it meets your criteria.
I think you'll find that it does.
We'll work it through the
inter-agency process and let you know.
[MIKE] Thank you.
Thank you, everyone.
I can greenlight preparations, Meir.
That's all for now.
Lena, how soon can you
get back to Damascus?
As soon as you'll let me.
[MEIR] Teddy knows Damascus very well.
I'll join you.
[MIKE] Well, Meir, what do you say?
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
- What could go wrong?
- [LENA CHUCKLES]
[OFFICER] How long do
you stay here in Syria?
[TEDDY] One week.
Hopefully longer next time.
- [OFFICER] Your business?
- Engineering.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing.
We start construction next month,
but first, we have to
find somewhere to live.
[TEDDY] So, we're looking for number 77.
This is the one with
more light, I think.
- Okay.
- Probably on this side.
A nice neighborhood, no?
It's calm.
[TEDDY] Please.
So, what do you think?
It's perfect.
Exactly what we're looking for.
[ERIKA] The old camera
positions were too wide
to get a positive ID, but
these ones should be closer.
Good, because we might
not get another chance.
[LENA] Cheers.
[TEDDY] And is she one of ours?
No, she just runs the street.
[TEDDY] Hmm.
Really good work. Thank you.
Okay, Lena. Thank you.
That's Suleimani. 100%.
[TEDDY] Which floor is he going to?
We couldn't get that angle.
Sorry.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
Who the hell was that?
Can't see.
Guys, I'm gonna grab some food.
I think it's gonna be a long night.
- [TEDDY] Thank you.
- [LENA] See you later.
[GREETING IN ARABIC]
[SULEIMANI GREETING IN ARABIC]
[TEDDY] Which building?
[LENA] Building C, fifth floor.
[TEDDY] It could be.
[LENA] It's them.
[TEDDY] Hmm. I think you're right.
Looks like two old friends
enjoying an evening together.
[SULEIMANI SPEAKING ARABIC]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
- [TEDDY] Yes.
- [LENA] That's him.
- [TEDDY] Yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Everybody's gonna want a piece of this.
Your bosses, my bosses.
[LENA] We have to stay on it.
Yes. No missile strikes, no drones.
Look at this neighborhood.
[LENA] I think I have
enough for the White House.
I can get us a presidential finding.
[IMAD SIGHS]
[WAFA AND IMAD SPEAKING ARABIC]
Wafa
[WAFA CHUCKLES] Imad.
Wafa
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
- Yoav!
- [GALIT SPEAKING HEBREW]
[DOOR CLOSES]
- Galit.
- [SPEAKING HEBREW]
[SIGHS]
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
[TEDDY SIGHS]
[PENSIVE MUSIC]
[GUARD SPEAKING ARABIC]
Imad was arrested and tried,
what do you think the verdict would be?
Your country, electric chair.
Mine, life detention.
[CHUCKLING] So you're
saying you're more civilized?
No, just more hypocritical.
That's why we make sure
people like Imad never get to trial.
[LENA] Hmm.
You done a mission like this before?
Well, no matter how surgical
or clinical or whatever,
this will haunt you.
You'll think about his
wife, think about his kids.
I already do.
- Shalom.
- Hey.
Just in time for the show.
Three, two, one.
[TEDDY] Waste of fucking time.
Look at your maps.
That's a kindergarten.
You just killed some fucking kids.
It's okay. Just the first try.
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
[TEDDY] Maia
[TEDDY SPEAKING HEBREW]
I was in Lebanon, in Beirut, in 1994.
For Imad's brother?
Yes, Fouad.
Three innocents,
plus the brother.
Three innocents which I saw.
Fifteen injured.
All from a car bomb which I placed.
Big fucking mess.
This was the whole idea.
We would kill the brother,
Imad would come to the funeral,
and there would be a missile strike.
[LENA] A missile strike on a funeral?
I'm watching. I'm waiting for Imad.
These children and families
are gathering at the grave.
I lost count of how many.
I was standing there and actually hoping
this motherfucker wouldn't show.
Fortunately for everyone
that was there, he never did.
That was wrong, what
they asked you to do.
We have to trust each other, you and I.
The CIA girl from Baalbek,
the Mossad guy from Jerusalem.
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[IMAD SPEAKING ARABIC]
Thanks, Mike.
So the White House has signed off.
We have 30 days.
Starting when?
[LENA] About an hour ago.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Team is here.
[TENSE MUSIC]
- [SPEAKING HEBREW]
- [WOMAN] Mm-hmm.
In case anybody doesn't
know, this is Lena.
She's running point for the CIA team.
Also from today, this room
is going to be open 24/7.
We'll bring food, we'll bring beds,
whatever we need.
Call your families because
we're not going home for a while.
He always meets Suleimani
at the same place?
We think so.
[KALINDA] You want a two-fer?
- I could build it.
- [LENA] No.
[SARAH] Why not?
The finding is for Imad only.
So maybe it's an innocent mistake,
and we get the head of
the Quds Force for free.
Yeah. And then we start a war with Iran.
So please, our target
- is Imad and Imad only.
- [MEIR] Exactly.
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[MAIA] Okay, check this out.
Cool, huh?
[LENA] Well, this is it. Off he goes.
[TEDDY] First Jordan, then
across the desert to Syria.
Let's hope he doesn't get a flat.
I hope he's got a map.
This is our line of sight.
About 50 kilometers to Damascus.
Over there, it's 160 to Tel Aviv.
So no satellite, because
two seconds is too long?
[TEDDY] Right. Because anyone
can walk into the kill zone.
[TEDDY] It'll work.
[LENA] So Beirut is
Beirut is over there.
About 70 kilometers.
[IMAD SPEAKING ARABIC]
[SOLDIERS SPEAKING ARABIC]
[IMAD SPEAKING]
[IMAD SPEAKING]
[IMAD SPEAKING]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[AHMAD] Moving into position.
Okay. We're in position.
[BOTH SPEAKING ARABIC]
[TEDDY] Good work, everyone. Good work.
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
Oh!
[HORN TOOTS]
[PENSIVE MUSIC]
I'd say within two days.
- Okay.
- [LENA SIGHS]
[LENA] How are you holding up?
[TEDDY SIGHS] Okay.
You?
[LENA] Trying not to think about it.
Then I feel guilty for
not thinking about it.
[TEDDY] Yes, I know the feeling.
[MIKE OVER PHONE] The finding
has a strict 30-day limit.
You have six left.
[TEDDY] So, Mike, what,
we throw everything away?
Mike, you must get the
White House to extend.
[MIKE] We can't.
We'd need new evidence
for a fresh authorization.
[MEIR] That's absurd.
[MIKE] That's our process. I'm sorry.
[LENA] Welcome to Washington.
It's not such a welcome
your country has.
[TEDDY] Lena.
Come. We have something.
Do we have eyes on Building C?
[SARAH] Yes.
[TEDDY SPEAKING HEBREW]
Assad's right hand.
He's a liaison officer
with the Hezbollah.
He's here to speak with Imad.
Shit.
[LENA] Okay, standby to reposition.
[TEDDY] Maia, facial?
[SARAH] No.
- [LENA] Was that him?
- [TEDDY] Didn't see.
- [LENA] Let's not risk it.
- [TEDDY] Yes, okay.
Move into position.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[CROWD CHEERING ON TV]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[GROANING LOUDLY]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[SULEIMANI SPEAKING]
[TV COMMENTARY RESUMES]
[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING]
[TEDDY] How do you know?
Syria-Iran World Cup qualifier,
it just ended 0-0.
Perfect.
- [IMAD SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
- [SULEIMANI] Hmm.
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
That's Imad with Suleimani
and General Muhammad.
Facial?
Target confirmed.
Oh, my God, he's walking with Imad.
There's our two-fer.
[TEDDY SIGHS] Fuck. She's right.
- [LENA] What?
- [TEDDY] She's right.
[LENA] Teddy.
- [SPEAKING HEBREW]
[TEDDY] We're out of time. This is it.
Mike, we have a situation here.
[MEIR SPEAKING HEBREW]
[TEDDY SPEAKING HEBREW]
[TEDDY SPEAKING]
Into position. Stand by.
We've got a visual on
Imad, but Suleimani's there.
[MIKE] Abort.
Lena, you have to abort.
I'm trying, but Dagan's here.
- Teddy, stop!
- Stand by.
Put me on speaker, loud.
[TEDDY] Thirteen seconds.
[MIKE] This is a CIA operation.
Abort. I repeat, abort.
[TEDDY] Ten seconds.
[BOTH SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Mike, it's Meir Dagan.
It's a Mossad operation.
I take responsibility.
[TEDDY] Seven, six.
[MIKE] I speak for the
President of the United States.
Abort, abort.
- That is an order.
- [TEDDY] Four, three.
[MIKE] Abort!
Abort.
Meir, abort. That is an order.
We are not starting a war with Iran.
Abort.
[TEDDY] Fuck!
Fucking Americans.
- [MIKE] Lena, we good?
- Yeah, we're good.
You told me I needed to trust you.
Well, fuck you, Teddy!
[SLAMS TABLE]
[CAR ENGINE STARTS]
Hey.
Hey.
You know I had to do what I did.
If you say so.
Why do you think General Muhammad
was with Imad and Suleimani?
I mean, I have an idea,
but I don't know for sure.
I have an idea, too,
but it's just a hunch.
I can't confirm anything.
[SARAH CLEARS THROAT]
What if I can get an extension?
I thought that was impossible.
[ROBIN] How was your flight?
Exhausting. [SIGHS]
- Wow. Nice digs.
- [ROBIN CHUCKLES] Yeah.
It's only till we get
his family to the States.
Then we'll stick 'em all in
a subdivision outside Tucson.
[EXHALES] Brutal.
- How's Mossad?
- Pissed.
[SCOFFS] Well, let me guess.
They think we're all idiots
for tripping over our own rules.
Yeah, well, they used us, so
I don't care what they think.
He knows you're coming.
[ASGARI] You have traveled a long way.
[LENA] Yeah, well, so have you.
- [ASGARI] Strange country.
- [LENA CHUCKLES]
Your family, do they like America?
[LENA] Yeah, sure.
There's something you haven't told us.
- I already have asylum.
- [CHUCKLES]
[LENA] It has to do with
your last job in Iran.
Deputy Defense Minister.
That must have been
very useful for Imad.
Depending on his intentions,
his strategic intentions.
Strategic?
You oversaw the WMD program.
I've told my whole story time and again.
Chai?
[ASGARI GRUNTS]
Your story doesn't have an ending.
Why don't you help me end it?
When we started this,
I had hopes.
I truly believed that we were
working together for a dignified cause,
that Iran would become powerful
and even Lebanon would become stronger.
You should have left Lebanon alone.
You unleashed a cancer.
[ASGARI CHUCKLES]
You sound exactly like my daughter.
I think she will like this country.
She will be happy here, just like you.
I think Imad asked you for something.
Before you left.
I need you to tell me
everything Imad said
regarding weapons of mass destruction.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
[LENA] Confirmed.
He'll put it in writing.
Okay, I'll tell the White House.
[PENSIVE MUSIC]
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
- It was really a
- I never
Please.
I lost my mind.
I'm sorry.
Don't you think I knew
how high the stakes were?
We had a deal, and I trusted you.
I know.
Don't ever do that to me again.
I won't.
Great job with Asgari.
Thanks.
Great job helping us
avoid a major fuck up.
You're welcome.
[WAFA SPEAKING ARABIC]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
Ah
[SIGHS]
Oh
[IMAD CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
[MEN SPEAKING ARABIC]
[TEDDY] I see it.
[DIALING PHONE]
[IMAD SIGHS]
[IMAD SPEAKING ARABIC]
[IMAD CHUCKLES]
[IMAD SPEAKING]
[WAFA SPEAKING]
[CAR LOCK CLICKS OPEN]
you know. He's rebelling.
Proving himself, causing problems.
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
- [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[LENA] Suleimani.
- And General Muhammad.
- [TEDDY] Hmm.
Whose car is that?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Facial?
[SARAH] The walk looks right.
Yeah, it's him.
Okay, let's go.
Okay. Move into position.
Move into position.
[ENGINE STARTS]
[SEDAN ENGINE SPUTTERING]
[LENA AND TEDDY SIGH]
[TEDDY MUTTERING IN FRUSTRATION]
[MAN SPEAKING ARABIC]
I mean, anybody got a fucking wrench?
Fuck.
[TEDDY EXHALES FORCEFULLY]
[SEDAN ENGINE STARTS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
it might happen tonight.
Okay. But let's not get anyone
too excited over there, yeah?
Yeah.
Where's Dagan? I haven't seen him.
He's in shiva. His mother died.
Just us tonight.
[INHALES DEEPLY] Okay.
Now we wait.
[TEDDY] Sarah.
[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON TV]
Can I have everybody's
attention, please?
Hello?
If this happens tonight, I
want to show a little respect.
I don't want to see a
single person clapping,
I don't want to hear a
single person cheering.
We're all here for our own reasons,
so let's keep it professional.
Anyone have any questions?
[SULEIMANI SPEAKING ARABIC]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[ALL CHUCKLE]
[SULEIMANI SPEAKING]
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
[TEDDY MUTTERING IN HEBREW]
[LENA] I don't know.
[TEDDY] Yeah, they're
leaving without him.
[LINE RINGING]
- [WAFA] Hello.
- [SIGHS]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[SPEAKING ARABIC]
[IMAD SPEAKING]
[PENSIVE MUSIC]
Confirmed.
That's him.
[SARAH] Fourteen seconds.
Ten seconds.
Proceed.
[SARAH] Seven seconds.
Six.
Five.
[CAR LOCK CLICKS OPEN]
[SARAH] Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
[MUTED EXPLOSION]
[CAR ALARMS BLARING
FAINTLY OVER SPEAKERS]
[SARAH] Target eliminated.
Evacuate everyone.
[SARAH] Evacuate all assets.
Must call the boss.
- [EXHALES DEEPLY]
- [TELEPHONE RINGING]
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
Meir, Teddy.
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
[SPEAKING HEBREW]
Teddy
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
Jackpot. I repeat, jackpot.
[MIKE] Thank you, Lena.
We'll inform the President.
Nice work.
I hate this job.
That's because you're good at it.
[REPORTER] Overseas today,
we learned of the death
of one of the world's
most wanted terrorists.
Few Americans know his name,
but he's believed responsible
for the deaths of hundreds of Americans.
He was himself killed under
mysterious circumstances
in a Damascus bombing on Tuesday.
United States has made no official
declaration of involvement
in Mughniyeh's death.
I don't know who ran
that operation, you know.
I'd buy and send them
a case of champagne
if I knew who actually did it.
I was sitting at home, and
saw that and just smiled.
People speculate the United
States and Israel were involved.
And I wouldn't be in
a position at liberty
to say whether they were or were not.
Frankly, there was
It took too long.
And there's been too many things
between now and then
that I'm glad it happened,
and thank goodness.
Um
[CLICKS TONGUE] But it doesn't
bring Bill Buckley back.
[HANIN GHADDAR] When he was killed,
people were sharing images
of how his face appeared on the moon.
And suddenly you look
at pictures of the moon
with Imad Mughniyeh's face.
And you see it. You actually see it.
It's Photoshopped.
Obviously, it's Photoshopped.
Uh, 'cause you look at the actual moon,
you don't see Imad Mughniyeh.
But people didn't want to believe that.
Imad Mughniyeh died,
and now he is looking
over us from the moon.
[REPORTER SPEAKING IN ARABIC ON TV]
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC]
[SAADA SNIFFLES]
[SAADA SOBBING]
Give you a ride to the airport?
The embassy sent a car.
Your family must be happy.
They'll be sick of me very soon.
[BOTH CHUCKLE SOFTLY]
Sure.
Thank you.
Thank you.
For everything.
[LENA] See you around.
[PENSIVE MUSIC]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
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