

### The Jeweler's Loupe

A Screenplay By

Max E. Harris

Published by Max E. Harris at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Max E. Harris

rev. 1.01

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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This edition of The Jeweler's Loupe has been updated and revised.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The characters and events in this story are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Table of Contents

Foreword

The Jeweler's Loupe

The Backbone of Europe - E45

Faces to Let

About the Author

Foreward

This book contains three separate screenplays.

**The Jeweler's Loupe** was written as a ninety minute feature length film. Written in early 2012 when the Syrian conflict was still young and relatively well contained, events soon bypassed the story.

**The Backbone of Europe - E45** was modeled upon the 1960's American TV series **Route 66.** The E45 is an existing trans-European highway made of separate national highways. It stretches from southern Sicily to the Swedish border with Finland and crosses about as much land as Route 66 did. The first episode has the two young protagonists meeting in Milan and verifying each others bona fides. Additional episodes of the series which would be sponsored by a major car manufacturer would show the men driving along the E-45.

**Faces to Let** is the story of a successful but guilt-ridden middle-aged actor who decides to correct some of his previous bad behavior. In order to not be recognized he relies upon his acting skills and the visual treatments provided by a secretive organization called Faces to Let.

The Jeweler's Loupe

by Max E. Harris

FADE IN:

SUPER: DAMASCUS

Closeup of a TV screen showing rioting in a large square. Tear gas is thrown at the rioters by uniformed men and rocks and firebombs are thrown back from the crowd. There is the sound of gunfire as the camera zooms to show a man falling.

INT. UNIVERSITY OFFICE - DAY

STUDENT 1

Look! It's Raouf! They shot Raouf!

The camera recedes to show a university chemistry department office where a few students watch the TV while the chemistry professor Basil sits. The agitated students talk to each other in worried tones.

Basil rises and goes into the hall where another pair of professors talk.

BASIL

Raouf was just shot. He may not be the only one of our students involved. If they return here, the security forces may follow them. We must prepare.

PROF 1

Prepare? How do we prepare?

PROF 2

Yes. What can you expect us to do?

BASIL

The scientific and engineering areas have the materials and the skill for making bombs and weapons, so they will look here first. Send your students home. Any group of people will attract attention. Clear the labs of any materials that look dangerous. We want no fires and no bright lights. We want to look very dull and non-threatening.

The 2 professors nod and walk down the hallway. Basil returns to his office.

BASIL

I would like you all to help make the lab area look very peaceful and unoccupied. Turn everything off and go home until the situation calms down.

The students nod and leave the office. Basil turns off the TV and sits at his desk and looks at 2 pictures. One is of his wife and children. The other is of his father, mother, and older brother Ibrahim. The picture is very old. Basil is about 5 years old in the picture. There is the NOISE OF FOOTSTEPS and muffled CRIES in the hallway.

INT. UNIVERSITY HALLWAY - DAY

Basil goes to the hallway to see 2 students supporting Raouf who is bleeding from the side.

BASIL

Why didn't you take him to the hospital?

STUDENT 3

The streets are full of troops and police. They are beating and arresting anyone who looks like a rioter. There are many of them around the hospital. We thought it was better to come here.

BASIL

OK. Muntaha, get the first aid kit in the lab and we'll treat the bleeding. Then we must take him away from here before the security forces arrive. Bring him in my office.

Muntaha leaves for the first aid kit. Basil goes into the office and opens the desk drawer. He takes out a vial of pills and swallows 2 of them with a liquid from a cup on his desk.

BASIL

We must get him out of here and out of the city. We'll go to my brother. He will know what to do.

EXT. STREET WITH UPSCALE SHOPS - DAY

The show window of the shop of Ibrahim has elegant jewelry, watches, and precious objects. The writing on the window is in Arabic and English.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim stands behind the counter and speaks to a well dressed middle-aged couple.

IBRAHIM

The birth of your first grandchild is a unique event: the beginning of a new generation for your entire family. It will be remembered by all for decades. You should record the event in a number of different ways. Of course, there will be many photographs and announcements. You will have dinners and feasts to celebrate. But as your means permit, you should also make gifts to friends, business associates, and your family to demonstrate your love for your family and your affection for your friends. I can offer you a number of items which will impress everyone with the sincerity of your feelings.

There is a noise from the back of the shop, a banging on the back door.

IBRAHIM

(concerned smile and glance to back)

Please excuse me a moment. Please look at the items on display and then I can show you photos of other items that are available. If these are not sufficient, we can work with you to design something more to your taste.

Ibrahim turns and goes past a curtain to the back of the shop.

INT. BACK ROOM - DAY

He looks at a monitor in his office showing the back door, recognizes his brother and opens the door. He looks around outside the door to see if there is anyone else.

IBRAHIM

Come in and be quiet. I will be right back.

His brother and the other 3 men come into the back room. He closes and locks the door behind them. He returns to the showroom.

INT. SHOW ROOM - DAY

IBRAHIM

I am afraid there has been a minor family crisis and I will need to close the shop early. Here is my card. When you have considered the options, please call me and we can arrange a meeting to more clearly define your needs. Thank you for coming and I look forward to our next meeting.

He leads them to the front door. After they leave he flips the sign on the door to "Closed." He returns to the back room.

INT. BACK ROOM - DAY

IBRAHIM

OK, fill me in on what happened.

BASIL

Raouf here was shot in the demonstrations. He may now be the target of the security forces. We must take him out of the city someplace safe.

IBRAHIM

At this time there is no safe place in the entire country. He must leave the country. Turkey would be the best choice but it is too far.

It is going to be Lebanon. I have an associate in Beirut. I will call him and arrange for your care. While I do that, go down the street and buy new shirts for all of you. You must look like you are going to meet someone important.

Ibrahim takes a money clip from his pocket and takes some bills from it which he hands to one of the boys.

I assume you all have your documents with you.

The boys all nod.

IBRAHIM

Good. Basil, prepare a good story that you are all going to meet a prominent chemist who is visiting Beirut for a few days. You wish to meet him and discuss a project you are working on with him. You must all have the same story so prepare it well now. Give me the name of a prominent French chemist who would be in a current journal.

BASIL

There is a man named Pierre Laval who is doing research similar to ours.

IBRAHIM

Pierre Laval. That is good. Now I will call my friend in Beirut to make the arrangements.

Ibrahim takes his cellphone from his pocket and punches in a number. He waits for the response.

IBRAHIM

Good morning. This is Ibrahim Al-Yamani in Damascus. How are you today Professor Hariri?

Ah, I am pleased to hear that. I need a little assistance from you. My brother and three of his chemistry students have learned that the noted French chemist Pierre Laval is visiting your university and will only be there another day. They would like to meet him and discuss areas of common research. Do you think you could meet them and introduce them to the good professor this afternoon or early evening? They must return tomorrow.

Ibrahim nods as he listens to the other man speak.

IBRAHIM

Fine. I will tell them to meet you at the coffee shop near the university entrance at 1800. I am sure you know how much I appreciate this. Goodbye.

Ibrahim disconnects the call and puts the phone in his pocket. He writes on a slip of paper and hands it to his brother.

IBRAHIM

OK. Basil, here is Professor Hariri's number in case you need any verification of your story. He will be waiting for you at the corner in front of the university entrance at 1800. Come back tomorrow morning. Remember this is a festive occasion for you so act very cheerful when you arrive at the border crossing. Raouf, Basil will contact your family when he returns tomorrow and tell them how to contact you.

Ibrahim goes to a large wall safe and opens it. He takes a pack of US dollar notes and removes a part of them which he hands to his brother.

IBRAHIM

This should take care of any "fees" you have to pay to speed your passage. Don't worry about Hariri. He and I have a longstanding arrangement.

Basil and the boys rise and exit the back door. Ibrahim watches them leave and locks the door behind them. Then he goes to the front of the shop and leaves through the front door after lowering the shutters. He locks the shutters and walks down the street.

INT. APARTMENT ENTRANCE - DAY

Ibrahim comes through the front door of the apartment and locks the door behind him. There is the sound of the news broadcast on the TV coming from another room.

INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim walks into the dining room where his mother sits at the table. She rises from her chair and uses the remote control to turn off the TV. Ibrahim embraces his mother.

MOTHER

Ibrahim, you are late for dinner. Was there a problem?

IBRAHIM

No, Mother. It was just a customer that needed special attention. Everything is fine. Don't worry.

MOTHER

The news is always so bad and I was worried that you had been affected by the demonstrations.

IBRAHIM

Mother, don't worry. I am very careful to avoid anything to do with the troubles. I am very hungry. What are we having today?

MOTHER

I prepared one of your favorites. It's a little cool now but I can heat it up for you.

IBRAHIM

No, Mother, you know when I am hungry it does not matter whether the food is hot or cold. Let's just have a relaxed meal and not discuss the world's problems.

Mother goes to the kitchen and returns with a covered dish which she places next to Ibrahim who sits at the head of the table.

Ibrahim lifts the cover and smiles.

IBRAHIM

(smiling)

This is excellent, Mother. You outdid yourself. Let us give thanks for what we have.

They both lower their heads in silent prayer then serve themselves from the different dishes on the table. They both begin to eat. Then Mother stops and puts her silverware on her plate. She looks at Ibrahim in a concerned manner.

MOTHER

Ibrahim, is it time to leave?

Ibrahim looks at his mother and his face becomes blank as he stares into his mother's eyes.

FLASHBACK TO

INT. SMALL KITCHEN - DAY, 40 YEARS EARLIER

A much younger Mother is placing food on a kitchen table where a teenage Ibrahim is seated across from a young Basil. The sound of a TV news broadcast comes from the other room.

FATHER

Basil, go turn off that TV. I have heard all I want to hear about Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for today.

Basil rises from the table and leaves the room. The TV sound stops and Basil returns to the table where the family is now all seated.

FATHER

Let us give thanks for what we have and ask that we are permitted to live as we have.

The family members all lower their heads for a moment and then begin to serve themselves from the dishes. The others begin to eat but Father looks at the food in his plate and raises his head to look around the table at the others.

FATHER

In a small community where everyone is the same a person can be a little different and survive. But in a mix of cultures when living becomes difficult the small groups are separated out and destroyed. The more different they are, the more easily they are separated. That is why before you boys were born I changed our family name to a surname which is common in this region.

IBRAHIM

Father, how did you decide what our new name should be?

FATHER

Any name that was recognized as being a common local name would do. We want to appear to be like the other people here. It is all well and good to have values and traditions but if you are killed because you are different, you lose everything. In nature the creature that survives is the creature who resembles the strong. Nature culls the weak. When times become very difficult even the strong may not survive if they do not recognize a powerful threat whether it comes from nature or from other people. At those times it is most important to realize that it is time to leave. Millions died in Europe because they did not recognize it was time to leave. We must have knowledge and skills that will serve us wherever we live. We must stay alert. The government is failing here. This government will soon no longer be able to protect the weaker elements. I have prepared us to be able to relocate to Damascus with minimal inconvenience and loss.

It is almost time to leave.

BASIL

Can my friends come with me?

FATHER

No, Basil, but you will have even more friends in the new place we are going to.

BACK TO PRESENT

Ibrahim blinks his eyes and smiles at his mother.

IBRAHIM

No, Mother for us it is not time to leave. Basil has a family to consider and for him the decision may be different. But I have lost my wife and my child so there is just you and me left. You are older than I am. We both have been happy here for many years. These troubles will pass.

No, Mother, this time, for us, it is the time to stay.

Ibrahim smiles at his Mother and takes her hand. She smiles back with tears in her eyes.

EXT. BORDER CROSSING JDAIDIT YABWS SYRIA - DAY

Basil drives up to the modern border crossing and stops at the waiting border guards. He hands them the documents for all 4 men. The border guard looks at the documents.

BORDER GUARD

These documents are just good for internal travel. There are no visas to enter Lebanon.

BASIL

Yes, sir. I understand but we are only going for the day to meet a visiting professor who is leaving tomorrow. There was no time to obtain a visa in Damascus. It will be a great honor for all of Syria if we meet this man and can make an agreement to work with him in the future. He is French. The French government can do much to help the Syrian people.

The border guard turns to his partner who has been looking at the men in the car. They converse.

BORDER GUARD

What is wrong with that boy in the back seat there? He does not look well.

BASIL

(laughing)

Yes, he claims his mother tried to poison him at breakfast for eating too much.

The other two boys laugh as if this is their joke as well.

BORDER GUARD

(smiling)

Alright. We will let you pass but the Lebanese may not let you in. If they do let you in, remember to return through this crossing.

The border guard makes a note in each document and hands them all back to Basil. He waves them forward.

The car drives further down the road to the Lebanese crossing.

LEBANESE BORDER GUARD

Documents please.

Basil hands all the documents to the Lebanese border guard who leafs through them.

LEBANESE BORDER GUARD

You do not have visas to enter Lebanon.

BASIL

Yes, sir, that is correct. As I explained to the other border guard, there is a famous French chemist visiting Beirut who leaves tomorrow and we just learned of it. We wish to meet him to arrange a collaboration between our departments. You can call Professor Hariri at the university in Beirut to verify it. Here is his number. He has arranged the meeting for us.

The border agent confers with his partner and turns back to Basil.

LEBANESE BORDER GUARD

Pull your car over to the side there while we check this. Please stay in the car. It should only take a few minutes. The boy in the back does not look well.

BASIL

(laughing)

No, he said he ate a kebab that must have been made with pork and it is going to kill him.

The Lebanese border guard laughs and waves them to the side. They park and wait a minute. The guard comes over to the car.

LEBANESE BORDER GUARD

OK. My partner spoke to the professor who confirmed your appointment. I will give you all visas for one day. Make sure you return tomorrow through this post.

BASIL

Thank you, sir. We appreciate this.

LEBANESE BORDER GUARD

(smiling)

There is a pharmacy in the town just ahead where you can buy something to help the boy.

BASIL

Very good, sir. Thank you for your kindness.

The car passes through the crossing and races towards Beirut.

INT. JEWELRY STORE, EMPTY WITH BROKEN FITTINGS - DAY

Addem and Kuzbari have their sleeves rolled up and their hands are dirty. Around them is broken glass and pieces of showcases.

KUZBARI

OK, Addem, we've taken this place completely apart. We examined the entire inventory of his stock before we gave it to the family. We went through every piece of paper we could find. And we squeezed every bit of information out of the bastard until he could no longer breathe. I think we have gone as far we can go with him. Now it's a matter of following all the branches of the tree to their ends and hope some of the leaves have some information.

ADDEM

I wish he could have been a little more modern and have stored all the names on his computer. All he kept there were his bookkeeping records. As if we cared how much he made or lost on his business or who he sold gold coins to.

INT. INTERNAL SECURITY OFFICER'S OFFICE - DAY

Internal Security chief Khoury sits at his desk. There is a knock at the door. The door opens. A man puts his head in the door.

ADDEM

You wanted to see me, sir.

KHOURY

Yes, Addem, come in and have a seat. Would you like some tea?

ADDEM

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

The two men pour tea in cups and drink the tea.

KHOURY

I read your report on the Iranian jeweler. It makes sense that he was a major source of the political activity seeking to destabilize our government. Certainly Iran will seek to replace him with another loyal subject but it will take them time. I wish we could just leave it where it is but my boss wants us to continue to follow up on any related leads.

ADDEM

Excuse me, sir, but just how far do these relations extend? Are we to monitor the activities of anyone with relatives in Persia? Anyone who buys pistachios from Iran? There must be some limit on our surveillance. We have very limited resources. Right now the open insurrection is stretching us to our limits.

KHOURY

Yes, Addem, you are certainly right. There must be limits to how far we extend ourselves. Let's say that we monitor Iranians or Iranian born people who continue to have contacts with Iranians, like Nafisi did. Especially those who had any dealings with Nafisi.

ADDEM

Yes, sir. That is how we will proceed.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE OFFICE AREA - DAY

Addem returns to his desk with his notepad in his hand. Kuzbari sits at the desk facing him.

KUZBARI

Well? Did we get the carrot or the stick?

ADDEM

It is hard to say. He seemed happy with our work so far but wants us to interrogate everybody between here and the Iran border. Well, not quite, but whether it is a million or a thousand, it is still a very large number. At least we can initially limit ourselves to contacts with NAFISI who had any Iranian links. That probably brings it down to a hundred or so, and some of those we have already questioned.

Do you want to put on the tea while I call my wife and tell her not to wait up?

INT. LARGE APARTMENT LIVING ROOM - DAY

Elegantly dressed Shazadi adjusts her jihab in the wall mirror in the entrance to the large apartment. Her maid Rayyah stands by her side.

RAYYAH

You look very elegant today. Should I tell the driver to prepare the car?

SHAZADI

Yes, Rayyah, please call down and have the driver and the guards ready in 10 minutes. Tell the driver we will be going to pick up my friend Qamar. She is expecting us and will be ready. Please see that the courier picks up this package I am sending to a person in Saudi Arabia. The charges are for my personal account, not that of my husband. I completed the customs declaration so there should be no additional paperwork required.

RAYYAH

Yes, madam.

Shazadi picks up her large handbag from the buffet at the entrance and leaves through the front door.

EXT. TAJA APARTMENT BUILDING ENTRANCE - DAY

A doorman opens the door and Shazadi emerges into the bright daylight. She takes a pair of sunglasses from her bag and puts them on. Her driver Masun smiles and nods his head. He opens the back door of the car. She enters the car. Masun closes the door and goes to his seat.

SHAZADI

Good morning, Masun. You look well this morning.

MASUN

Yes, thank you, madam. We go to pickup Madam Al Utari?

SHAZADI

Yes, Masun, she is waiting for us.

The car pulls away from the curb. As it proceeds down the street the guards' car falls in behind them.

EXT. AL UTARI APARTMENT BLDG. ENTRANCE - DAY

The lead limousine pulls to the curb The guard car stops 50 meters behind. Masun climbs out and opens the back door for Qamar Al Utari as she comes down the steps from the entrance.

QAMAR

Good morning, Masun.

MASUN

Good morning, Madam.

Qamar climbs in the back seat next to Shazadi. They greet each other happily. The car pulls away from the curb with the guard car close behind.

INT. LIMOUSINE - DAY

SHAZADI

My dear, we have a very busy day today. Many places to go and things to see. First, we will go to a jeweler who has bought most of the stock of the Nafisi family's shop. I have heard of this man Al-Yamani but I have never had the need to visit him. Nafisi always had such a good selection. It is too bad that he disappeared like he did.

QAMAR

Yes, there was a lot of discussion as to whether it was political or possibly a robbery or kidnapping. His poor wife certainly had her hands full with all his business affairs. I heard she left the country with the children. At least she must have enough money that she does not have to be concerned for being able to live comfortably. His jewelry store was one of the most lavish in Damascus. I am looking forward to the opening of the new exhibit at the art gallery this afternoon. This Chinese painter has gained a great international following in the last few years. It is good to be able to see such works here without having to travel to London or Paris.

EXT. JEWELERY SHOP ENTRANCE - DAY

The limousine stops in front of the Al-Yamani jewelry store. The driver opens the doors for the 2 women to exit. He goes to the door of the shop and rings the bell. When the click of the lock is heard, he nods to the 2 women to come to the door. He opens the door for them. They enter the shop.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim comes to the door. He opens it to let the women come in, then closes the door behind them. He turns to the woman, nods and smiles.

IBRAHIM

Good morning, ladies. My name is Ibrahim Al-Yamani. I would be pleased to help you today. Do you have anything in particular in mind?

SHAZADI

Good morning, Mr. Al-Yamani. This is Mrs. Al Utari. I am Mrs. Taja. I have conducted business for many years with Mr. Nafisi but that is no longer possible. I have heard that you have purchased much of his inventory. As I was always pleased with the selection at his shop, I would now like to see what other things you have to offer.

IBRAHIM

Yes, I do have much of the unfortunate Nafisi's inventory but mainly of the less common items. I was not interested in the simple jewelery such as rings, necklaces, and such. I prefer more collectible objects such as pins, brooches, pendants. Generally I look for large gold objects showing detailed workmanship.

SHAZADI

Those are exactly the kind of things I have in mind. My husband says such large objects are too masculine to wear. I do not buy them to wear but to admire the workmanship in a small portable object.

IBRAHIM

You must have a formidable collection.

SHAZADI

No, in fact I keep very few objects for an extended period. I will study and photograph a piece for a few months and then I generally trade or sell it. I know many parties around the world who have similar interests and we enjoy the sharing of small, beautiful, well-made articles that are not as fragile as Romanov eggs, nor as likely to be stolen as diamonds. It is the sensation of the spirit of the artist and the indications of the culture from which the piece comes that absorb my interest. In some cases it is an ancient piece, but many times a modern work can carry the same anima.

IBRAHIM

(smiling)

Your description is poetic. I am sure if I could hire you I would double my turnover. I just received a few new pieces that you might enjoy seeing. My family and I are originally from Iran and I still do business with a number of old friends of my father there who have access to very high quality work. Fortunately, such trade is welcomed by many countries as it gives work to skilled artisans and brings in foreign income. As a result I have no difficulty importing such works. Nafisi, as I am sure you know, had a very similar trade and I have been fortunate to have made contact with most of his suppliers in Iran so the flow of material is likely to continue in spite of political uncertainties.

SHAZADI

Can you show me any recent arrivals?

IBRAHIM

Certainly. I just received a modern gold pendant with particularly fine filigree work. I think you will be very pleased to see it.

Ibrahim goes to the back room and returns with a small box holding the pendant.

IBRAHIM

Perhaps you would like to come to a special tea room I have here with a strong light and comfortable seats. I would like to offer you some tea if I might.

SHAZADI

That is most kind of you, Mr. Al-Yamani.

Ibrahim guides the woman through a curtain to an area prepared to entertain clients and with lighting to permit them to inspect works closely. He seats them both and uses his cellphone to call a restaurant for tea. He sits at the table and hands the box with the pendant to Shazadi.

SHAZADI

Yes, this is truly lovely. I would like to look at it more closely.

Ibrahim reaches into his coat pocket and produces a jeweler's loupe which he offers to Shazadi.

SHAZADI

Thank you but I have my own loupe.

Shazadi reaches into her handbag and takes out a jeweler's loupe. She turns back the lens cover.

IBRAHIM

Oh, I see you have a Russian loupe. Those are very good quality.

SHAZADI

Yes, I acquired this one in Beirut many years ago and it has served me well. I always fear I will lose it.

IBRAHIM

That model is still available, I believe, so I would not worry if you were to lose it.

SHAZADI

This particular loupe has sentimental value as I was quite young when I got it and the circumstances were special.

There is a CHIME of the front door button. Ibrahim rises and excuses himself to bring back the tea which he serves to the 2 women in fine crystal tea glasses.

IBRAHIM

Mrs. Al Utari, is there anything that you would like to look at while Mrs. Taja examines the pendant?

QAMAR

No, thank you, Mr. Al-Yamani, not today. My daughter will be having a birthday in about 2 months so I will come back and find something for her before then.

IBRAHIM

How old is she going to be?

QAMAR

She will be 16.

IBRAHIM

A special age for a young woman. It requires a special gift. If you can be thinking of what you would like her to have to remember the date, I am sure we can provide a gift that will delight her. Possibly a custom-made piece to reflect her interests. A gold cat pendant with emerald eyes would surely light up her eyes. I could draw up a design for you to consider and we could have it made in a week or so. Another animal like a bird, a horse or a fish. Consider her interests.

QAMAR

Those are very interesting ideas you have given me. I will think about it for a week or so and I will call you. When you have some sketches prepared we will return and decide on which to make.

SHAZADI

This is a very nice pendant. If I decide to buy it, I am sure you will give me a very attractive price because you know I will be a regular customer. Am I correct?

IBRAHIM

You certainly have hidden skills besides being being an expert on jewelry. In this case you have read my mind. Let me think of a number and when you return with Mrs. Al Qatari to decide on a birthday gift for her daughter we'll see if the number you see in my mind is similar to what you wish to pay.

SHAZADI

Very well. Let's say we will return at the same time in 3 days.

IBRAHIM

Perfect. I will have the tea waiting for you and possibly some fresh pastries as well. These discussions whet my appetite. It has been a great pleasure to meet you ladies. And Mrs. Taja...please have your loupe with you as I have many other pieces for you to examine.

SHAZADI

I never go out without my loupe. You can never tell when your friend might have a grain of sand in their eye and the loupe is your first aid device. The 3 exchange handshakes and nods and Ibrahim escorts them to the front door.

EXT. JEWELERY SHOP ENTRANCE - DAY

He steps out to signal to the driver who opens the back door of the car for the women.

INT. LIMOUSINE - DAY

QAMAR

Well! He certainly whetted my appetite but not for lunch!

SHAZADI

So you are attracted to the jewelry pieces he offers.

QAMAR

Shazadi, you mock me. I am attracted to pieces of the jeweler. It is good that there are so many birthdays approaching that will require gifts. I foresee many trips to this shop. Will you buy the pendant you saw today?

SHAZADI

Yes, I am sure. We will negotiate but Al-Yamani knows I am a good potential customer. He will give me a very good price this time. He may well sell it for less than his cost to ensure my future purchases. I can resell it in a few months to a contact in Egypt who likes this type of work and will give me a nice profit.

INT. AL-YAMANI APARTMENT - DAY

Ibrahim enters the apartment and grimaces at the sound of the TV. His Mother walks up and embraces him.

MOTHER

Oh, you hear the TV. I'm sorry. I will turn it off. How was your morning?

IBRAHIM

My morning went very well, Mother. I met a pair of women who seem to have more than enough money. I think they will be good clients.

MOTHER

You had not met them before? I thought you knew most of the wealthy people in the city.

IBRAHIM

The one woman is a collector and she realizes she can extract better prices if she is a regular customer but since Nafisi is no longer around she followed his inventory to my shop. I thought buying the specialty stock of Nafisi was a good investment and it seems to be true.

Mother leaves the entrance to turn off the TV as Ibrahim leafs through the mail on the entrance table.

MOTHER

Your brother is joining us for dinner today. He should be here soon.

IBRAHIM

I am glad to hear that. I have been eager to learn how his trip to Beirut went.

The front door lock rattles as a key unlocks it. Basil enters the apartment. The brothers smile and embrace each other. Mother returns to the entrance and embraces Basil.

MOTHER

Boys, the dinner is ready if you would like to be seated at the table.

INT. AL-YAMANI DINING ROOM - DAY

Mother and her 2 sons sit at the table. They pass the serving dishes.

MOTHER

Basil, how is your family?

BASIL

They are fine, Mother. Both boys are working hard on their studies. But I think it is time for Amir to begin learning some more practical aspects of life. I think he should start spending more time working in Ibrahim's shop.

IBRAHIM

That is a good idea, Basil. I have a young man who helps me now but I can tell he is doing it for extra money until he finishes his studies in a few months and then will leave. He has not said anything definite but when we talk of his goals they do not include the jewelry business or selling in general. Amir seems to have better business instincts. Some people have the natural attributes and some do not. I think Amir is open to the idea of freely taking other people's money without considering if the concept is just or not. Until now I have only had him learn the bookkeeping aspects of the business.

BASIL

(laughing)

If dividing the food is any indication, Amir is well suited to you commercial interests. When food is the issue, he makes sure his own plate is filled before his brother's. Maybe that is why he is so much larger than his brother.

IBRAHIM

I never heard the full story of your short trip to Lebanon. I assume since you are back with no scars or missing limbs that it was not a complete disaster.

BASIL

It went very well. We had minimal problems at the border and your contact confirmed our appointment. He was waiting as planned and we took Raouf for treatment at a private hospital. His injuries were serious but not critical. He should be back to normal in a couple months. He has family in Lebanon so he will live with them until peace returns to Syria. We found a tall French tourist who looked like a chemistry professor and he permitted us to take a couple pictures with him. When we returned to the border the next day we showed these photos as evidence of our meeting with the famous French chemist. One guard remembered that there was a sick boy with us. We said that his condition had been more severe than we had thought and he was having his gall bladder removed as we spoke. All ended happily. So aside from having the normal problems with employees, how is the jewelry business? Has anyone offered to sell you the Hope diamond at an enormous discount lately?

IBRAHIM

(laughing)

No, no egg-sized diamonds showing up but I was telling Mother the purchase of Nafisi's stock may be beginning to pay off.

BASIL

Speaking of Nafisi, his name came up in the conversation in Beirut. His family has moved to Lebanon and have bought a home in Tripoli. They seem to be much more reclusive than they were here in Damascus.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE OFFICE AREA - DAY

Addem sits at his desk and flips through a notepad. He looks across the desk at Kuzbari who is typing on a old computer terminal.

ADDEM

Let's summarize where we are. two weeks into going through Nafisi's customer list and we have the usual buyers who have money and want to protect it by putting it into gold and diamonds and jewelry made from both. No crime in that. If it were, we would have to arrest 90% of the Syrian population and all the people with much money. Was this guy crazy? He had a good life and nobody was giving him any trouble then he starts supporting the opposition to a good government.

KUZBARI

Maybe you nailed the reason right there. By supporting the opposition and causing instability he caused anyone with liquid resources, that being cash, to want to put the money into anything that would hold its value, is portable, and readily bought and sold. We've got plenty of men watching the money changers. The banks are completely limited in how much money anyone can transfer out of the country. That leaves coins, precious metals, and jewelry. So Nafisi supports the opposition, supposedly on "human rights" matters, but in reality only into panicking the money into his shop. If Nafisi was doing it, I bet his competitors are still doing the same thing. When stability returns, their profits dry up.

ADDEM

You're right, Kuzbari. It's obvious. Nafisi was just the most prominent of those troublemakers. Let's forget the customers for the time being. They are the sheep. It's the bullion dealers, coin dealers, and jewelers that are the wolves. We need to stop inspecting the sheep and start going over the wolves.

KUZBARI

Remember the wolves have teeth and claws. They are not going to sit still while we work on them. There are political wolves, too, and they count on money from below to keep them in power. We have to be careful when we go after a wolf that he is not part of a wolf pack that will tear us apart.

ADDEM

OK, so we move in slowly. First, I let the boss know who we are going after and see if he will support us. If he will, that is fine and we proceed slowly. I trust Khoury but we don't know what kind of pressure he gets from above. If somebody above him is involved with these guys, then Khoury will get the word to call us off.

KUZBARI

You mean if we are lucky we will be called off, if we are not so lucky then we are involved in an incident or they come after our families. I will make a list of the ten dealers of \--let's call them collectibles -- and give it to Khoury to review. If he rejects any of them we put them at the bottom of the list but we do not let them go. It just means we will have to take special precautions with them. You give me a list of the coin and bullion dealers and I will find the jewelers.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE AREA - NIGHT

ADDEM

I have my list. I will send it to you on an email and you can compile the complete list.

KUZBARI

OK. I will give it to the boss the first thing in the morning.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE OFFICE AREA - DAY

Addem sits at his desk playing with a pencil as he waits for his partner who walks up with the printed list in his hand. He waves the list and smiles.

ADDEM

I take it from that big smile that we have our marching orders.

KUZBARI

Oh, yes. The boss looked it over for a minute. I explained our reasoning. He said we should proceed with caution. He said there could still be traps we are all not aware of. He said to check the neighborhood and mildly question the nearby shops and residents before we go after a wolf. I will give the list of coin and bullion dealers to the other team: You and I will go after the jewelers. Myself I prefer the sparkle of diamonds to that dull yellow shine of gold ingots and Krugerrands.

ADDEM

And the first unlucky wolf is?

KUZBARI

That would be Ibrahim Al-Yamani.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim stands behind the counter. He glances at his watch when the door chime sounds. He pushes the button to unlock the door and walks to open the door. Shazadi and Qamar enter the shop. They exchange greetings with Ibrahim.

IBRAHIM

Ladies, you both look as bright as our warm Syrian sun this morning. I am sure when you leave you will glow even brighter. Let's go to the tea room. Ibrahim escorts the women to the tea room and then calls the restaurant.

INT. TEA ROOM - DAY

The women sit at the table. Both take notebooks from their purses. Ibrahim stands smiling until he hears the door chime. He excuses himself and leaves the room. Momentarily he returns with a large tray containing a tea pot and a tray of local pastries. He has already set the table with elegant plates and tea glasses. He pours the tea while the women each take a pastry from the tray.

IBRAHIM

Now which one of you can I delight first?

The two women smile at each other and Qamar nods toward Shazadi.

IBRAHIM

Yes, that is probably a good idea since your pendant is ready to wear. Let's start with Mrs. Taja writing her offer on a slip of paper. Then we'll see if she still has her ability to read my mind.

SHAZADI

Please, call me Shazadi.

QAMAR

Yes, you should call me Qamar since we are going to be artistic collaborators.

IBRAHIM

Fine, then you ladies should call me darling, no, make that Ibrahim.

All three parties laugh.

QAMAR

Only your wife should call you darling.

IBRAHIM

I am sorry to say my wife died in childbirth with my infant daughter fifteen years ago but we still call each other darling in my dreams.

Both women gasp and make sounds of regret.

IBRAHIM

Thank you for your sympathy but time has made my loss less painful as long as I do not dwell on it. And now for Shazadi's number.

He looks at the slip of paper and looks surprised.

IBRAHIM

I am somewhat relieved to see that you are not able to read my mind. My actual price is twenty per cent less than the figure you wrote. Maybe you had another currency in mind? No? Well then I would be glad to accept your higher offer but I like to give a good customer like I expect you to be an attractive price. Maybe you would like to spend the money you have saved on something else in my shop. Perhaps a gift for your husband or your children.

SHAZADI

You are a generous man, Ibrahim. I like the idea of buying something for my husband with the difference. He is constantly losing his pens so it is always a good gift for him. Do you carry those?

IBRAHIM

I have some in stock but if I do not carry what you have in mind, you can select it from a catalog and I will have it within two days.

SHAZADI

Wonderful! I will tell him of your business acumen, as well as my friends.

IBRAHIM

I was counting on that. There is no better publicity than a happy client. Now, Qamar, it is your turn. But I should warn you that I will have less control over the price of a custom piece since I will have to pay an artisan to fabricate it.

QAMAR

I understand, Ibrahim. My daughter has an Arabian stallion which she loves to ride. I brought a photo of it. I was thinking possibly a gold pendant with the horse depicted in enamel.

IBRAHIM

That's an excellent idea. The dark enamel on the gold base might seem a little austere on a young girl. We could enliven the image a little by placing very small emeralds or rubies for the horse's eyes. Then a dark blue enamel sky behind with small diamond stars in the sky. Give me the photo and I will scan it and work up an image of the final pendant. I will have the design completed in two days when you and Shazadi return for the pen. If you give me an idea of the size I can also have a price for you at that time.

QAMAR

That sounds very good. I think a pendant the size of the one Shazadi is taking would be good. It should have a pin on the back as well as an eyelet at the top to hang from a necklace. I will want to select a nice necklace for it.

IBRAHIM

Of course. Now I will bring a tray of pens for you to review, and some catalogs in case I do not have what you would like on hand.

INT. LARGE MINISTER'S OFFICE - DAY

Omar Taja enters his office and angrily slams his leather bound notebook on his elegant desk. He pushes the intercom button for his secretary on his desk telephone.

SECRETARY

Yes, sir.

OMAR

Abdul, I wish to call a meeting of all my deputies in my office at 1500 this afternoon. There will be no exceptions. I expect everyone who is in the area to attend this meeting.

SECRETARY

Yes, sir. I will notify all your deputies immediately. Does this mean I should cancel all your appointments for the remainder of the day?

OMAR

Yes, Abdul, that is correct. Tell all those parties that they will be rescheduled for the earliest possible time. Also, I want you to assign one hour each morning after the normal staff meeting for myself and whichever deputies I may need to consult. Tell them all that they should leave this time available to meet with me.

SECRETARY

Yes, sir. I understand, sir.

Omar takes his cell phone from his pocket and clicks a selection.

OMAR

Shazadi, I am sorry but you will need to cancel the dinner party for this evening. There is urgent business which I must attend to and it will require my full time until the problems are corrected. I will be home late. I love you.. Goodbye.

INT. LARGE MINISTER'S OFFICE - DAY, LATER

The conference table is set with glasses and bottles of water. On a cupboard nearby is a complete tea service. All indications are for a long meeting. Omar stands at the office door which he opens. As each man enters he exchanges greetings but he does not smile. The men take their places at the table.

OMAR

Gentlemen, I am sure you all know I am not an openly religious man. However, I believe Allah is guiding our steps and will lead us from this darkness which is attempting to subvert our society and our government. This morning I met with the governing council and our president. All of us agreed that in spite of public reports to the contrary the conditions within the country have worsened in recent months and especially in the last few weeks. The measures we have taken have failed to stop the advance of the forces aligned against us. It is therefore incumbent upon us to strengthen our resolve, to battle both domestic and foreign enemies. The president, the foreign minister, and the defense minister are taking steps to defend us from foreign aggression, both open and covert. It is for us in this ministry to defeat the enemies which employ less overt tactics in attempting to overturn our duly elected government. These forces come with a variety of faces, many of which we see everyday. The public media is under close surveillance. We constantly monitor all printed materials and quickly stop the flow of negative propaganda. The broadcast media are similarly monitored and restricted. Our computer experts work tirelessly to intercept both electronic attacks and information on the internet aimed at damaging the government and country. The street demonstrations come from multiple sources. One group is of those fundamentally opposed to this government and willing to take illegal measures to destroy us. We can usually identify these insurrectionists and arrest them. In the future we will make it more difficult for them to act by seizing the property of their families. This will limit their support and set an example of the punishment that awaits unsocial behavior. Another group is of those who are disaffected due to unemployment. These are primarily the younger rioters. For this group we have a solution that cures two problems. We have had difficulty recruiting sufficient police and military forces due to low salaries and a reluctance by many young people to be associated with a regime which they view as being dominated by a past generation. Henceforward, we will arrest many more demonstrators, especially those in the front lines. If they have past criminal records, they will be put to work building new prisons. They will be decently treated but given no pay. If they have families, the families will be notified of their rehabilitation by work. Those with no criminal record will be placed in either the police force or the military based upon their skills and our requirements. If they do not like this form of work and chose to desert, so be it. They will be treated as military deserters and subject to summary executions. In a short time only the most stupid will desert, and those have been a burden on our society for recorded history. Those who perform as loyal forces of order will be amply rewarded and promoted. University is not for everyone but this program will provide every man who has excess time a means to earn his living, regardless of his formal education. We know much of the unrest in Syria is caused by groups native to the country but we also feel there is much collaboration between internal groups and external organs dedicated to the destruction of our way of life. Among the most prominent of these are the government of Iran and the government of the Zionist state. It is therefore necessary for us to look more closely for any connections with these external provocateurs and their agents within Syria. All our investigators must pay particular attention to people with possible links to these countries. This may mean we intrude upon some peoples' perceived rights to privacy but a single person cannot block the Syrian people's right to a safe and progressive society. We have good people working for us but not enough of the specialists we need at this time. In order to improve our performance we are calling upon our allies in Russia to provide support. They have agreed to send in large teams of people that will boost our firepower. Most of these people speak either Arabic or English. In some roles the language is not important and in some cases as with the computer assistance the workers will not even have to come to Syria. We expect the first investigative assistance within a week. They will be assigned to help our people track down the sources of foreign interference and criminal activity.

Finally, I have the unpleasant duty to tell everyone that this crisis has adversely affected our government budgets. As a result we must reduce our expenses and a part of that will be in the form of salary cuts. The president has led the way as he always does by sacrificing 60% of his annual salary. The cuts will decrease from there but I am taking a 50% cut for the interim. Most of you will be asked to give up 40%. The lowest paid workers will lose nothing. This sharing of the pain demonstrates our commitment to an equitable social system where those with the ability to pay the most do in fact pay the most. In order to monitor closely our progress I am scheduling a daily meeting of all of us to immediately follow my daily staff meeting. I do not want this to be a burden so I will attempt to make the meeting a survey of problems and progress since the previous meeting. Now I will entertain any questions you may have.

EXT. JEWELERY SHOP ENTRANCE - DAY

The two detectives walk up to each other and take their notebooks from there pockets and open them.

ADDEM

I talked to eight people in shops along the street. All of them said good things about Al-Yamani. He has worked here since he was a young man and always helped when he could. They did not have a bad word to say about him.

KUZBARI

Same on this side of the street. It makes me wonder what he is hiding. Nobody can be that good for that long. They did mention that he went through a bad spell after his wife and child died but that is to be expected. Did any of the people you talked to mention that?

ADDEM

Yes, in fact, one woman said he seemed upset with the hospital and said they had treated him badly because he was a Jew from Iran. But he never brought it up again. It does give him a reason to be against the government though, and just because he doesn't do anything openly does not mean he isn't doing anything wrong.

KUZBARI

Exactly. Let's talk to him and see how he reacts. You push harder and I will stop you if we seem to be getting a response. Then we can pull him in and run a polygraph on him.

ADDEM pushes the door chime button and a few seconds later the door buzzes to let them in.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim stands in front of the counter smiling.

IBRAHIM

Good morning, gentlemen. I assume since you have notebooks you have come here to buy a good quality pen for writing. Are you journalists?

Kuzbari takes his ID from his pocket and shows it to Ibrahim.

KUZBARI

No, Mr. Al-Yamani, we are from the police. We want to ask you a few questions if you don't mind.

IBRAHIM

No, I don't mind at all. In fact I rather enjoy the presence of the police these days with all the violence and vandalism going on. It would be good for me if one of you would like to take up residence in my back room. It would be good insurance. There is even a good restaurant nearby and I could subsidize the cost of your meals. When would you like to start?

The two detectives laugh.

ADDEM

That is a nice offer, sir, but we have good jobs already. What we would like to know is what your relationship was with Mr. Nafisi.

IBRAHIM

Yes, the notorious Mr. Nafisi. We had a strictly business relationship until his disappearance. When his family decided to sell his inventory I welcomed the chance to select the items which fit with my style of shop. Other than that we had no relationship.

KUZBARI

But you were both Iranians. Didn't you discuss Iranian affairs?

IBRAHIM

You should understand that I left Iran when I was 16. My entire adult life has been spent in Damascus. I have been a Syrian citizen for decades. My father chose to leave Iran and come to Damascus because he believed it was a progressive Arab state that would permit even an Iranian Jew to live a comfortable life and conduct business with minimal interference. I have always believed he made a good decision. No, Nafisi and I never discussed Iranian politics. Our interest in Iran was strictly as a source of a particular style of jewelry that is not readily available in Syria. You know as well as I do that there are food recipes from northern Syria that are not commonly available in Damascus. If one prefers these Turkish style dishes it does not imply that he has an interest in the Turkish government.

ADDEM

You do have family in Iran?

IBRAHIM

Yes, we do. My mother calls these relatives on holidays. I have not been back to Iran in over thirty years and my contacts with Iranians is strictly on a business basis. It used to be mainly by telephone but now we conduct it by email since it gives a better record.

ADDEM

Would you mind if we take your computer for a few days to inspect it?

IBRAHIM

I would mind only to the extent that it would disrupt my business. If you would like to take it overnight and make a copy of the disk drive to examine at your leisure, I am perfectly agreeable. If you wish to do that, I would suggest you come back about 2000 this evening when I am closing and take the machine with you then bring it back at 9 in the morning when I open. Or you can bring a portable drive and transfer the contents of my hard disk to the drive.

KUZBARI

That is very helpful of you, Mr. Al-Yamani. We will consider it and let you know. May we look around your shop?

IBRAHIM

By all means. I have my show room here, behind this is a small tea room where I conduct business with clients and next to that is my office with my computer. In the very back is a small workshop and a storage area. One of the advantages of this type of business is it does not require a lot of space for inventory. The most valuable items are kept in my safe.

ADDEM

Can we look in your safe?

IBRAHIM

If you wish. During the day the safe is almost empty except for my cash and some very valuable items that I prefer not to show to everyone who enters the shop.

ADDEM

Do you have a surveillance system?

IBRAHIM

In these days it would be foolhardy not to have a surveillance system. There are cameras at both doors and another in each room. I can monitor who passes the shop and record what has happened in one room while I am in another room.

ADDEM

Then you saw us in front of the shop.

IBRAHIM

I do not make it a habit to watch the street. I have other matters to attend to. I looked at the monitor when you rang the chime to see that you were not obviously thieves. If you had looked like thieves, I would have sounded my silent alarm which would have brought a security service.

KUZBARI

Fine, then we will just have a look around the shop. May we take a few pictures as souvenirs. It is a very nice shop and I feel kind of like a tourist in a richly furnished building, like the Topkapi museum.

IBRAHIM

(laughing)

Certainly, take your pictures but I trust you will not display them on the internet. There is enough crime already without giving the thieves an invitation and a map.

The two detectives roam through the back rooms of the shop, each using a pocket digital camera to take pictures. Ibrahim follows along behind them. They all return to the front of the shop.

KUZBARI

We thank you for your cooperation, Al-Yamani. We will contact you again if we need more information.

IBRAHIM

It has been a pleasure, gentlemen. Any time you would like to patrol the area around my shop, I would be grateful.

The detectives walk to the door and onto the street.

EXT. JEWELERY SHOP ENTRANCE - DAY

The detectives walk down the street to their car without talking. They both get in the car.

KUZBARI

Do you think it is safe to speak now?

ADDEM

I don't know. I don't think his camera can see us from here. I hope he didn't plant a bug on me when I turned my back. He is really a smooth one. He has an answer for everything.

KUZBARI

You are too right and he is too smooth. I don't trust guys like that. But then again, being smooth is how he makes his living. I will get a portable hard drive and we will make a copy of his disk. Then we can get a better idea of who all his contacts are.

ADDEM

But do you really think he would leave that kind of information on his disk?

KUZBARI

Everybody makes mistakes. Especially people who think they have all the angles figured out. They get overconfident and make mistakes. Let's get lunch. Maybe we should try that restaurant he mentioned. It sounded good. I even liked the idea of Turkish cuisine after he talked about it.

INT. TAJA APARTMENT - NIGHT

Shazadi comes to the entrance to greet her husband as he enters the door. She embraces him but he pushes her away.

SHAZADI

I will heat up your supper for you. You look exhausted.

OMAR

I don't care for any food. I have a lot of work to do before tomorrow and then I need to sleep. Today was horrific.

SHAZADI

I am sorry to hear that. If today was so bad, tomorrow must be better. Here is a gift I bought for you today that should make you feel better.

Shazadi hands him the new pen she had bought for him.

OMAR

That is a very nice pen, and I am sure it was not inexpensive. Take it back at once. We can no longer afford such luxuries. The president has asked us all to take large salary cuts and mine is half. You should look for ways to economize. There will be none of your usual trips abroad this year. And the children may have to return to Syria to finish their studies. Our universities are perfectly good and there is no longer money to send outside the country. Soon that will become a loyalty test and I do not intend to lose my position because you and the children have an appetite for foreign delicacies. From now on we consume less and we consume exclusively Syrian. No more French clothes, Italian purses, Swiss watches, and German luxury cars. Do I make myself clear?

SHAZADI

You are perfectly clear. I will return the pen in the morning. I will look for schools here for the children to attend. I did not know it had become this serious.

OMAR

I have tried to shelter my family from the national crisis but it seems like the structure we have worked so long and hard to construct is being destroyed by forces directed by other nations, most of them our neighbors. But we will not give in. This is a struggle we will win and our enemies must lose. Now let me finish my work for the day.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

The shutters are still down but Ibrahim is preparing the shop for the day. He takes trays from the safe to unload into the show windows while the cleaner sweeps the floors polishes the wood trim, and the glass cases.

CLEANER

That should be all for now, sir. Is there anything else you would like me to clean?

IBRAHIM

No, Abdul, it all looks fine, as usual. Thank you for your work today. Please return at lunch time to clean the exterior show window.

CLEANER

Yes, sir, I will do that.

INT. BACK ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim goes to the back door with Abdul and lets him out. Then he locks the back door and returns to the show room to load the displays.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

The front door chime sounds. Ibrahim looks at the monitor then goes to open the door. Shazadi enters the showroom.

SHAZADI

Good morning, Ibrahim. You have not opened the shop yet and if I am disturbing you I will go but I need to see you just a moment.

IBRAHIM

No disturbance at all. Is Qamar with you? Please invite her in and we can review my diagram of her child's gift. The tea should arrive in a few moments.

SHAZADI

No, Qamar did not come with me this morning. I just need to speak with you for a moment about the pen I took for my husband yesterday..

IBRAHIM

Please, do not rush away. I found another pendant in Nafisi's stock which may be of interest to you. Tell your driver you will be a little longer. That is, if you do not think it will cause a problem.

SHAZADI

There is no problem about that. My position puts me above suspicion. I will tell my driver to wait.

Shazadi goes out the front door and returns a minute later.

SHAZADI

He will put the car in a better position. I will ring him when I wish to leave.

The door chime rings. Ibrahim checks the monitor, then opens the door to permit the waiter to bring in the tea which he places on the counter. Ibrahim nods and the waiter leaves. Ibrahim closes the door and escorts Shazadi to the tea room. He pours tea for both of them. They sit at the table.

IBRAHIM

Why do you want to bring the pen back? Would he prefer a different style or model?

SHAZADI

No, it is not the pen itself but a matter of reducing our expenses.

IBRAHIM

I don't know who your husband is or what position he has. Does he work for the government?

SHAZADI

Yes, he is a government minister and they have all been asked to take large salary reductions to show solidarity with the public and to reduce the overall government expenditures.

IBRAHIM

I understand. There will be no problem. I will return to you the cost of the pen. So you are married to THAT Mr. Taja. How did you meet such an important man?

SHAZADI

He was in the circle of people I traveled in. My father was a diplomat. As I grew up we moved to a different capital of the Middle East every few years and I was lucky enough to have had a very good education. When I finished university it seemed natural to return to Damascus where my family lived. I had many friends who were already married and they introduced me to Omar who was a rising star in the government. He was very elegant and charming, like you.

IBRAHIM

Thank you but I could never think to rise to the exalted levels of your husband. My wife and I lived a very humble existence when my father was alive and operating the shop. I was more of an assistant but I loved the business and it was fortunate that when my father fell ill I was knowledgeable enough to assume the role of owner and operator. At that time my wife and I lived in the small apartment above the shop here but when both my father and my wife were dead I moved into the much larger family apartment with my mother.

SHAZADI

How did your wife die? In an accident?

IBRAHIM

No, it was not an accident. It was more negligent homicide driven by tribal envy. My wife had a difficult pregnancy as had her mother when my wife was born. There were a number of interventions when my wife was hospitalized for a week at a time but all this made her weaker. Then just as the baby was about to be born the complications became worse. At the time there were hostilities between the Palestinians and the Israelis, or the Zionists if you prefer the local term. When we went to the hospital for treatment we were told to wait. I said my wife was having serious difficulty breathing and needed immediate attention. I was ignored. By the time my wife was given treatment it was too late to save either her or the child.

SHAZADI

You are bitter?

IBRAHIM

Of course I am bitter! Not like I was at the time but it still brings me pain when I think about it or discuss it. Let's talk about you instead. How did you come to be a collector of Middle Eastern jewelry?

SHAZADI

It is coincidental but it was a man very similar to you that introduced me to it. I met him in Lebanon when I was about twenty. He was an insurance salesman but he could sell anything. He would wear unusual rings and I asked him about them. He said he looked for unusual pieces of jewelry that were not of very high value because he feared having something valuable stolen. Although I don't think he had to worry about being robbed. He had been in the military for a while and said he had traveled all over the world. He had a good command of Middle Eastern languages including Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew. And of course his English was good but most of us learn that when we are young so even if we have an accent, we can get along in most of the world. Then one day when I commented on a necklace he was wearing, a silver necklace it was, he took a loupe out of his pocket like the one I have. He showed me that you can have a much better idea of the skill of the artisan who made the piece by looking at it with a loupe. He said you could even tell what kind of tools he had used and examine the tolerances of inlays. From there he progressed over time to pendants with elaborate inlays. He did not own these. We would go to jewelry stores and shops in the markets. Most of the dealers knew him because he liked to trade in both finished jewelry and raw stones. I think he said he was an insurance salesman because it made him sound more modern -- not like a ancient nomadic trader. Before we parted he gave me the loupe I use now.

IBRAHIM

Do you ever see him or contact him?

SHAZADI

You would think that now with the internet and search engines we would hear from each other, but I think we both realized that our destinies were moving in different directions so it was better not to have any future contacts. The last time I saw him was at the Beirut airport. After that, nothing.

IBRAHIM

Being an optimist myself, I would say that was probably for the best. That was another life, you were another person.

SHAZADI

I am sure you are right. I must be going. I will tell Qamar the design is ready and we will return in a day or two. And I apologize for returning the pen.

IBRAHIM

Like I said, I am an optimist. I will sell it to someone else for an even higher price.

INT. INTERNAL SECURITY OFFICER'S OFFICE - DAY

Khoury enters the office area leading a large, non-Arabic man. He stops next to the desks of Addem and Kuzbari.

KHOURY

Addem, Kuzbari: I told you I would try to get you some help with tracking these foreign connections. This is just the man to help you. Let me introduce Alexei Marinsky.. He will be here for at least six months. He has extensive experience in uncovering subversive elements. We'll find him a desk in this area. Please show him around and help him get acquainted with the office and the other agents.

All the men stand and shake hands. Addem goes to get tea for the three men while Kuzbari pulls a chair over to the side of their desks. The two men sit and wait until Addem returns with a tray with glasses and tea.

KUZBARI

Alexei, how are your language skills? Most of the people we deal with speak Arabic and a little English, but very little Russian except for the older men and the men who were in the military working with the Russians.

ALEXEI

When I was growing up the Soviet Union included so many different cultures, we were encouraged to learn foreign languages. One of the points considered for promotion in our work was command of foreign languages. It is not as important now since we work mainly with Russians but there are regions where Arabic is spoken. I speak reasonable Arabic and a little English. I also know some dialects but those probably won't be of any use here.

KUZBARI

One of our problems now involves influence from Iran. It would be good if you knew Persian but we have specialists who can translate for us when we find Persian documents. Let me tell you about a case I think you can help us with. Alexei takes out a notebook and starts writing.

1 HOUR LATER

Alexei flips back through his notes and sighs.

ALEXEI

So it comes down to the guy you are sure was an Iranian agent is dead and this guy Al-Yamani probably picked up where Nafisi left off but you don't have any hard evidence against him because he is so skillful in his deception.

KUZBARI

Yes, basically that is it. Do you have any ideas on how to nail Al-Yamani?

ALEXEI

Yes, I do. First, we have to get more evidence on him. You say he has a monitoring system in his shop?

KUZBARI

Yes, it looks like a pretty good system.

ALEXEI

That's good. Then we will tap into that system and monitor what is going on in the shop. Plus we'll put a couple of our own bugs in the shop in places that may be hidden from his system. Especially in his office and on his phone system. Then we put bugs into his home. I will make a list of what we need and we should have it on an Aeroflot flight within two days. We brought a logistics guy with us who will coordinate all our orders and keep track of everything. Temporarily he is working out of the Russian embassy but we will set up another depot for support of the police here. I will tell him to arrange that by the time the next shipment arrives. We will staff that ourselves since much of the documentation is in Russian. We have one technician that came in with us but I can see we will need at least one more. We also need to monitor his internet access. Give me his email address and our people will be able to look at not only what is happening with his email but what he is doing on his computers, both at his office and in his home. In a week or so we should have a very good capability in the technical area. As far an human intelligence, we are going to be pretty dependent on your people for a while.

ADDEM

How are we going to put all these bugs and monitoring equipment in place without arousing his suspicions?

ALEXEI

Have you had any electrical power disruptions lately?

ADDEM

Yes, due to a number of factors. When we have thunderstorms it usually knocks out the power in certain areas. Our electrical equipment is old, so there are outages due to that. More frequent than the government would like to admit. And recently the insurrection has caused damage to transformers and other equipment. They even set fire to a building with telephone switches last month and knocked out a whole area of the city. We are still trying to restore service to that area.

ALEXEI

That works in our favor. We will cut the service to that area for a few hours before we go in. We will have the media report it as being caused by actions of the insurrectionists. When we are ready to plant the bugs, we will cut the power to the buildings as we are about to enter them. There will be no uniformed police present, only men in electricity service coveralls.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim hears the chime of the front door, checks the monitor and opens the front door with a smile.

IBRAHIM

Ladies, how pleasant to see you again. Please come to the tea room and I will show you the drawing I have designed.

QAMAR

Good morning, Ibrahim. Is all well with you?

IBRAHIM

Yes, except for intermittent power interruptions. I may need to buy a standby generator if this continues.

SHAZADI

Yes, Ibrahim, I saw a report on the news last night. They said it may be from the activities of the subversives trying to destabilize the government.

INT. TEA ROOM - DAY

The three people sit at the tea table with tea glasses before them. Ibrahim brings a tablet computer to the table and selects some display. He puts it on the table so the women can see the pictures.

IBRAHIM

Here are the different designs for the horse I have worked up.

QARAM

You are very proficient with that computer.

IBRAHIM

Thank you but I cannot take the credit for that. My nephew Amir has set up all my computer equipment. Eventually, I hope he will take over this business. Right now he works for me part time and is studying business at university. He has shown me how to use all these design programs. The horse is from the photo you gave me. Then we can add different jewels for the stars as I have shown here. I can transfer these images to a DVD and you can review them. Maybe your husband has some preferences. It will take a week or two to make the pendant once you decide. The price will vary a little with how many jewels you would like to have, but they are small diamonds for the stars and they will cost very little.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

There is a ring on the door chime. Ibrahim looks at the monitor and sees two technicians in the uniforms of the security company. He opens the door for them.

TECHNICIAN 1

Mr. Al-Yamani, we are here to correct the problems your system has caused in making false alarms. We would like you be present while we are doing this work so there no questions about our doing anything wrong.

IBRAHIM

I understand. That is fine. How long to you expect it to take?

TECHNICIAN 1

Generally, we can cure these problems in one to two hours. It is usually a lose wire due to the heat. You can conduct your business as usual. One of us will need to leave and then come back. We need to go to the switch box and check there as we make changes.

IBRAHIM

Fine, just ring the chime whenever you want to reenter. The technicians go to the back room to check the security system wiring. The Russian technician who speaks very little Arabic does the work while the Syrian police technician watches. They communicate with gestures and a few Arabic words.

EXT. VAN IN STREET - DAY

Alexei and Kuzbari sit in the back of the van with a portable radio to talk to the technician.

ALEXEI

I will tell you something that may amuse you. The bugs that we use are made by the Israelis. There is a seller of them in Vienna that sells them to our agent in the Czech Republic. The agent then removes all the Israeli markings and repackages them to appear to be from the Czech Republic. There are others available but they cost much more and are not as good. The Czech agent tells the Austrian they will be used for NATO installations. He has all the forged documents he needs to support his story.

KUZBARI

Interesting. How do I know that you aren't a Zionist agent?

ALEXEI

(laughing)

You don't. It would make some sense for the Israelis to help Syria if they thought the Syrians were less of a threat than the Iranians. The same could be said for the Russians. I try not to think of these things, they give me a headache. I get paid the same either way.

There is a squawk from radio Kuzbari is holding. He answers the radio.

KUZBARI

OK. We are ready to test the connections. Go to each room and I will tell you if we can see and hear you.

Kuzbari watches the monitor and listens to the speaker as the technicians walk through the shop.

KUZBARI

(to radiophone)

Good. There is a good signal from each point. You can come out now. Don't leave any trash behind.

ALEXEI

Now we can keep an eye on our friend and know when he is in his shop. Tomorrow we will cut thepower to his apartment and send the men in there in electric service uniforms to plant the bugs.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

The two technicians stand with their toolkits and a bag with the empty packages and remaining materials.

TECHNICIAN 1

That should take care of the problems, Mr. Al-Yamani. If we receive any more false alarms, we will notify you and return.

IBRAHIM

Thank you. You worked very quickly and cleaned up well after yourselves. You are good workers.

TECHNICIAN 1

Tell our boss that and maybe he will pay us more.

IBRAHIM

I will do that.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE OFFICE AREA - DAY

Alexei walks up to the desks where Addem and Kuzbari are looking at reports.

ALEXEI

Good morning, gentlemen. It is a beautiful day outside. I think we should all take a walk to benefit from the sunlight. In Moscow this would be a rare day in the middle of August but here you have days like this the year round. It is a crime not to take advantage of it and none of us are criminals, are we?

KUZBARI

Yes, Alexei, it is a beautiful Damascus day but as you say we have many days like this. I assume you wish to talk about something other than our weather.

ALEXEI

That is correct. It may be that you do not wish your colleagues to know everything that you know, at least not before you have had time to consider your responses.

ADDEM

OK, Alexei. I don't know about my partner but I need some fresh air. Let's go.

The three men walk towards the exit.

EXT. SIDEWALK IN GOVERNMENT BUILDING AREA - DAY

The men walk casually down the street, all smoking cigarettes.

KUZBARI

Are we far enough from the office for you to speak now?

ALEXEI

Yes, we are far enough but I would still like you to control your reactions to what I tell you as there may be surveillance cameras in this area recording our actions.

ADDEM

Enough of the suspense, Alexei. Just tell us what it is you know. I am sure it is something to do with the analysis of the taps on Al-Yamani's computer contents and email messages.

ALEXEI

Yes, that is a large part of it but not all of it. My people have examined both his disk drives and his email. The disk drives contains little of surprise as we would expect since he offered to let you examine it. The emails are another matter. He has extensive contacts with people in Iran and other countries such as Turkey which while on the surface appear to be merely business dealings could very well be something much more threatening to your government. We believe there is sufficient evidence to bring him in for a thorough interrogation.

KUZBARI

Just how thorough are we talking about here?

ALEXEI

When you pick him up you should do it at his house before he leaves in the morning so he will not have opened the shop. Tell his mother that he will be back but it may not be for a few days. She should have someone else manage the business while he is gone.

KUZBARI

So you think a few days will be enough?

ALEXEI

No, but there is no point in raising too much of an alarm in her mind. If she has someone else come in to operate the shop, it will seem more temporary than I expect it to be.

ADDEM

So Al-Yamani has links to the same people in Persia that Nafisi had?

ALEXEI

Nafisi HAS, gentlemen, Nafisi HAS.

Addem and Kuzbari both throw their cigarettes to the ground with shocked looks.

KUZBARI

What do you mean HAS? Nafisi has been dead for months!

ALEXEI

This is why I did not want to tell you in your office. Please remain calm. I am just telling you about the lovely weekend my Russian colleagues and I had in your beautiful country. Act normal. Yes, Nafisi has or could have. By any means Moscow has confirmed that Nafisi is alive. He is not well. Not after the interrogation your people put him through. He may live but he is an old man and that kind of torture does permanent damage. He should not be a threat to your country. We think he will be happy to spend his remaining days quietly with his family in Lebanon. The photos I saw show him in a wheelchair. He looks much older than the previous pictures of him.

KUZBARI

But how did he get to Lebanon?

ALEXEI

I am sure you will be able to obtain that information from the last of your people who dealt with him. I will leave that for you to learn. What we must do now is limit further damage by putting an end to Al-Yamani's contacts. I would suggest you pull him in tomorrow morning and we begin our investigation.

ADDEM

Let's get back to the office. There are some of our men I need to talk to.

EXT. SIDEWALK IN GOVERNMENT BUILDING AREA - DAY

Addem and an older policeman RIHAWI walk away from the police building to Addem's parked car.

ADDEM

Let's take a little ride so we can talk without everybody listening to us.

The men get in the car. The car drives to an area where there is a large mosque. Addem stops the car. He takes out a pack of cigarettes and offers the pack to Rihawi.

RIHAWI

Thank you, sir. This is a luxury I can seldom afford anymore. My family is large. I have three daughters who are growing. The oldest is thinking about marriage. Plus I have a large family of brothers and sisters. Many of them have no work. They rely on me to buy them food. It is a very difficult time for us.

ADDEM

What did he offer you? Nafisi. What did Nafisi offer you?

RIHAWI

No, sir, it wasn't like that at all, sir. It is just that I am not a killer, sir. I am a policeman. I want to help people. Yes, I know sometime I will take a gift from someone I help, but that is how my family and I survive. Without these small gifts my family would have to go without food. Even now we are hungry much of the time. My old mother is very sick and we cannot afford the medicine to ease her pain. You must understand how it is for us at the bottom, sir. I have been a policeman for thirty years and I have not been able to save any money. Every month the costs grow higher and higher. What am I to do?

ADDEM

Everyone's costs grow higher, Rihawi. If you want to have any kind of job to pay for your food you must tell me what happened after I told you and your partner to take Nafisi away so that I would never see him again.

RIHAWI

Yes, sir, that is exactly what we did, sir. We took him away so that you would never see him again.

ADDEM

Rihawi, you knew perfectly well what I meant. Tell me what you did with him.

FLASHBACK TO

EXT. OUTSIDE SYRIAN PRISON - NIGHT

Two policemen come out of the gate of the prison leading a man in dirty pajamas. He has no shoes and wears handcuffs. He limps badly as they half carry him to a police car and put him in the back seat. He is very dirty and there are large bruises on his head and face. His lips are swollen as is one eye which is almost closed. The car starts. It drives through the city and away from the lights. There is little traffic this late at night so soon most of the lights of the city are gone.

NAFISI

Are you taking me home?

There is no reply from either of the policemen.

NAFISI

I asked if you are taking me home. Or maybe you should take me to a hospital. I am injured and I need treatment. Yes, you should take me to a hospital before I go home.

The policemen continue to ignore him.

NAFISI

The things I have done were to help many people. It is not my fault if some powerful people do not have as much wealth because the poor people need to be helped. You men are not rich. You surely understand that it is your government which keeps you poor. I was only trying to help people like you. You should be grateful for the things I have done to help the poor in this country.

RIHAWI

Shut up, Nafisi. We know you are a traitor. You talk about the poor people but what do you know about the poor people? You have been rich all your life. You and your jewels. One of your jewels would be enough to feed my family for years. Don't talk to us about poor people. We are policemen but we are very poor people. If people like you did not steal from the people and sell the secrets of our country to countries like Iran, we would all live much better lives. Instead, we must fight for every piece of bread that you throw to us from your table, like crumbs one gives to the birds. But you do not even treat us as well as I do to the birds. We are treated like rodents. Even when you help us with a little money, there is a look of disgust on your faces. I have seen that look all my life. I am tired of seeing that look on the faces of the people of your kind.

There is silence for a minute as the car drives farther into the country.

NAFISI

You have seen American western films, haven't you? I am sure you have. Everyone has seen the American western films. Maybe you have seen the American western films that were not made in America but in Italy. With actors like Clint Eastwood and Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson. One of these was called Once Upon a Time in the West. It was not even American or Italian. It was made in a part of Spain that looked like the American west. But there are parts of Syria that look very much like the American west. A dry country with large mountains and wide deserts. In this film there is a rich man who is building a railroad that will cross the entire country. But he is crippled and lives in a luxurious railroad car. His enemies send men to hold him prisoner. He is crippled so he cannot easily escape so he has to get the men who are holding him prisoner to help him escape. He sits at a table in the train carriage and asks his captors if they would like to play cards with him. They say they will. They sit around the table. He tells them that they are going to play a game that they cannot lose. Then he takes a stack of hundred dollar bills and deals them to the men like he is handing out cards. Soon all the men have many hundred dollar bills in their hands. Do you understand? He is giving them a gift to help him escape from the bad man who is holding him prisoner. Now, officers, I would like you to play a similar game with me. It is a very simple game that you cannot lose unless you do not play. Then it will be not only you but your families who lose. Do you want your children to be hungry when they can have food? Do you want your mother to suffer because you do not have the money to buy her medicine? Play my game. There will be no losers. I do not ask you to steal money from anyone. It is my wealth that you will share. You will be taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Allah surely blesses a man for this.

RIHAWI

How do we play your game?

NAFISI

You know how the merchants do not have prices on many things they sell, especially expensive things like jewelry? They have a code written instead of a price. To the jeweler and his employees this code means a price. My wife and I both know about these codes. We have codes for other things, too. We both knew that at some time she or I might be in a position where we had to give up something for our liberty. We have some codes set aside for this. Do you understand me?

RIHAWI

Yes, we understand. What are you going to give us?

NAFISI

I will not give you American money. I will give you something even better: Diamonds. Not large diamonds that would be difficult to sell because they would arouse suspicion. Small diamonds but of very high quality. Each one should bring you at least 500 dollars. My wife will give you each 10 of them so you will have five thousand dollars each, but in a packet that will easily fit in your pocket.

RIHAWI

Let's say we agree to play your game. How do we get these diamonds and what do we do with you?

Nafisi sits up sharply and smiles.

NAFISI

Now you begin to see that this really is a game which you can win and without gambling. We will have to call my wife and I will tell her in code that she is to put 600 dollars and a small packet with 20 diamonds worth 500 dollars each in an envelope. We will tell her who you will send to pick up the envelope in the morning. That person must go and identify himself to my wife but it can be with any name we chose to use so it does not have to be a real name and the person does not have to show any identification. The person should take the envelope to one of your houses and open the envelope. The currency notes will obviously be worth what is written on them.

RIHAWI

How do we know the diamonds you give us are not pieces of glass?

NAFISI

Like this: To prove the value of the diamonds the person must carefully open the packet with the diamonds. They must take one diamond from the packet and put it in a piece of paper in a purse to protect it. You do not want the dealer that they show it to think that there is more than one diamond. They should go to more than one dealer and show them the diamond. Have them make up a story about receiving the stone as a wedding gift years ago and keeping it in the family until now. They should let the dealer know that they are going to ask other dealers for a price and will only sell it to the dealer who gives them the best price. When they have the best price, they should sell the diamond and take the money. This will prove it is not a trick. But none of this will happen unless you take me to a place where I will feel safe.

RIHAWI

I suppose that is Teheran?

NAFISI

You joke but I am not joking. I have many friends in this country. They will not help me if I bring the police. It must be in a souk in a village near Homs. You will not be comfortable there but I will look like another poor man beaten by the police. You give me enough money to make a telephone call and I will arrange for someone to come for me. When my friend arrives, I will have him call my wife and she will call whoever you would like to come and get the envelope.

RIHAWI

How do we know you will not cheat us?

NAFISI

You know where my wife and my family are. If I were to cheat you, you could always go to them. You would tell your boss that when you let me relieve myself in the night I had escaped and it was too dark to find me even though you searched all night. That would be why you would go to my wife. Since I do not want my wife to be in trouble with you, I will not make trouble for you. I will disappear. I will leave the country and never be seen here again. All I need to tell my wife is to leave the country and she will know what to do. Remember this is not the first time we have fled from a regime that would not tolerate us.

Rihawi turns to his partner and raises his eyebrows in question. The partner nods his approval of the plan.

BACK TO PRESENT

ADDEM

You got the money and the diamonds?

Rihawi nods his head.

ADDEM

But you would not take this risk for that little money. It must have been more.

RIHAWI

Yes, sir, a little more but I have many people in my family to feed. And I hurt no one.

ADDEM

OK, Rihawi, I will not tell anyone anything except that you took Nafisi to the desert and thought you had killed him but he must have somehow survived. Tell your partner that night that if he is questioned this is what the story must be. The fact that Nafisi and his family have left the country is the only thing that is saving you two. If he or his family were still here, you would be in a lot of trouble and might end up in the desert yourself. So don't go getting any ideas about saving anyone else for a little gift. I don't want any of the diamonds he gave you, but make sure you sell them very slowly so it does not raise suspicions. You must continue to be very poor but you will have enough money for medicine for your mother and for food to keep your family from starving. Don't go buying any TV sets or cell phones for your children. You are a poor policeman, understood?

RIHAWI

Yes, sir, I understand very well and I will be very careful. If you need any assistance from me or my partner, you need only ask.

ADDEM

I will remember that. And I won't call on you to make anyone else disappear.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE OFFICE AREA - DAY

Addem walks to his desk and sits down as Kuzbari and Alexei look at him questioningly.

ADDEM

Let's just leave it that Nafisi will never be seen alive in Syria. However many lives he may have in other countries is not my problem. He can live in France and spy for the British for all I care. If he interferes in Syrian politics -- which I do not think he is so stupid as to do at this point -- we will see to it that his previously assumed death becomes his proven death. I will have his head on my wall. And the next time we chose someone to act as an escort into the next world we must chose more carefully. Old street policemen with large families to support are not the most free thinkers. Their views do not extend much beyond the next large meal they have to provide.

ALEXEI

I assume from that statement and your long absence that you believe the message I got from Moscow.

ADDEM

I am not saying Moscow can predict the future but at least they seem to have a better knowledge of the recent past than our local people do. Not that any of this will quiet the unrest, but we know Nafisi has lots of friends in Syria. I think it is time to find out if Al-Yamani is one of those friends.

INT. AL-YAMANI APARTMENT - DAY

Ibrahim eats breakfast with his mother. The door chime rings. Ibrahim looks at his watch.

IBRAHIM

Mother, were you expecting anyone this early in the morning?

MOTHER

No, Ibrahim, it is much too early for the cook or the cleaner. Possibly it is a special delivery from the post office. They sometimes come very early. You finish your breakfast while I see what it is.

There is the sound of the front door opening and the voices of men as well as of Mother. Mother and the two detectives enter the dining area.

MOTHER

Ibrahim, these men say that you know them. Is that true?

IBRAHIM

Yes, Mother, I know them. What can I do for you so early in the morning. I hope you didn't come to tell me my shop had been broken into.

KUZBARI

No, Mr. Al-Yamani. It is not about the shop. We would like you to come with us so we can ask you some questions.

IBRAHIM

I was going to go open the shop in a little bit. Do you think it will take more than an hour or so? If so, I will ask my nephew to take my place until I arrive.

KUZBARI

Yes, this could take a while. It would be a good idea to have someone else manage the shop for you today.

IBRAHIM

Fine. I will call my nephew and then we can leave.

The detectives return to the entrance while Ibrahim calls his nephew on his cell phone.

INT. AL-YAMANI APARTMENT - DAY

The three men and Mother stand at the door of the apartment.

IBRAHIM

Mother, I think everything is in order. I will try to call you if I am going to be late for dinner.

MOTHER

(concerned)

Ibrahim, I will be waiting to hear from you. I love you, son.

IBRAHIM

I love you, too, Mother. Don't be concerned. Gentlemen, are there any documents I should bring with me, about the business?

ADDEM

No, sir, that won't be necessary.

INT. POLICE STATION INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim sits in the questioning room while the three detectives look at him through the one-way glass window.

ADDEM

I will go first. I will ask all the basic questions and try to gain his confidence. I will not mention that we know Nafisi is alive at this time.

Addem enters the room with a tea tray. He places the tray on the table and pours tea into two glasses, one of which he gives to Ibrahim. He turns on a tape recorder on the desk.

IBRAHIM

Thank you for the tea. I usually have my second cup about now. I hope your tea is as good as that from the restaurant near me.

ADDEM

I don't know that much about tea, Mr. Al-Yamani. What I do know about is that these rioters are trying to tear this place apart. There is no fucking way I am going to let that happen. I will stop whoever I have to using whatever tools I have available to me. Foreigners are causing a lot of this trouble. We know that you are from Iran, that you are a Jew, and that you hold resentment towards this government because of the death of your wife.

IBRAHIM

(angrily)

And child! My wife and child! If we had been treated like normal Syrian citizens they would still be alive now. You expect me to accept their deaths with a smile on my face? I am a generous, forgiving man. I try to avoid thoughts of the past. I try not to carry my anger openly or to act against the government that is responsible for their deaths but as long as this government and its employees insist on treating anyone who is slightly different as an enemy, then I will not stand by and sing their praises. It has nothing to do with my religion. I have many Muslim customers and friends with whom I have the most cordial relationship. I respect everyone's right to believe what they wish and I do not treat them badly because their beliefs are different. Is it asking too much for the government to exert its powers to have its employees behave in a fair and open manner? As to my being from Iran. There are a great number of people in this country who were born in Iran but now feel at home in Syria. I love this country and its culture except when that culture tries to exclude me as a full member.

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM OF THE INTERROGATION ROOM \- DAY

Kuzbari and Alexei sit watching the questioning through the one-way glass.

KUZBARI

Addem is good. It didn't take him long at all to stir the traitor up. It's like watching someone poke a scorpion with a stick and then the scorpion stings the stick. He will wear him down and make it easier for me. Al-Yamani has already said enough to send him to prison for a very long time. You cannot libel a government and expect to be treated like a loyal citizen.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Amir, the 22-year-old son of Basil is polishing the showcase glass when the front door chime sounds. He looks at the monitor to see who is at the door then goes to open the door. Qamar and Shazadi enter the store.

AMIR

Good morning, ladies, how may I be of service to you?

QARAM

We would like to speak to Mr. Al-Yamani.

AMIR

I am Amir Al-Yamani but you probably mean my uncle, Ibrahim. I am afraid he is not in today.

SHAZADI

Yes, your uncle mentioned he was training you to manage the business. The shop looks in very good order so he is training you well. When can we see your uncle?

AMIR

I wish I could tell you but I don't know when he will be back.

QAMAR

Is he sick? He seemed so well the last time we were in here.

AMIR

I can't say how he is. The police took him away to question him three days ago and we have only heard from him once since then. We don't know why they are holding him.

QAMAR

We are sorry to hear that. I had ordered a pendant with a black stallion for my daughter. Do you know if it is ready?

AMIR

Yes, it arrived two days ago. Let me show it to you and see if you approve. Excuse me a moment.

Amir goes to the back room for the pendant.

QAMAR

That is very strange about them arresting him. Do you think your husband can find out about it?

SHAZADI

I am certain he can but the question is if I should ask him. He has been in such bad spirits lately that it might do more harm than good to ask. I will see how he behaves tonight.

Amir returns with the pendant and places it on the counter under a bright light. Qamar looks at it and laughs in delight.

QAMAR

Oh, it is beautiful! My daughter will love it!

Shazadi takes her jeweler's loupe from her purse and holds it close to the pendant, examining the workmanship and the quality of the jewels.

SHAZADI

Yes, Mr. Al-Yamani, it is a lovely piece of work. You must pass our compliments on to the craftsman who made it, and to your uncle.

AMIR

I will have to take your word on the quality. I don't know enough yet about the jewelry itself to be able to judge. I have been concentrating on the financial aspects of the business.

SHAZADI

Maybe I can help you there. Your uncle had mentioned he needed to educate you on jewelry. I myself know little about the business but I do know a bit about the quality of jewelry. It is a hobby of mine since many years. I would be glad to come by and give you some lessons. When would be a good time?

AMIR

My problem right now is that I am still attending classes so I do not even have time to keep the shop open all the time.

SHAZADI

I have more than enough time to take your place in the shop for a few hours now and then. I enjoy being around fine jewelry. My friend here Qamar will vouch for my honesty.

QAMAR

(laughing)

Mr. Al-Yamani, Shazadi is the wife of a high government minister who oversees the security of this whole country. If she is not to be trusted, no one is.

AMIR

Mrs.... I am afraid I did not get your names.

SHAZADI

I am Shazadi Taja and my friend is Qamar Al Utari.

AMIR

Mrs. Taja, I would certainly appreciate your help in the shop. I don't know how much I should pay you though.

SHAZADI

Let's just say if I see a piece of jewelry I particularly like you can give me an employee's discount on it.

AMIR

You mean like cost plus 10 per cent?

SHAZADI

I see you have a good sense for the business. Yes, that sounds very fair. And maybe you can sell some of the pieces in my personal collection that I am no longer interested in. Do we have a deal?

AMIR

As far as I am concerned, we do. Of course, when my uncle returns you will have to deal with him.

SHAZADI

Yes, Amir, of course. When Ibrahim returns.

INT. TAJA APARTMENT - NIGHT

Omar and Shazadi sit at the dining table. A waiter stands by the side.

SHAZADI

Omar, dear, Qamar and I went to a jewelry store today to pick up a gift for her daughter. The owner of the shop was not there so we dealt with his young nephew who is operating the shop in his absence. He said his uncle was being held by the police. This seems very strange to me. Could you make an inquiry as to why this man is being held?

OMAR

I do not need to make an inquiry. I know precisely why he is being held and you should, too. Some months ago a political activist from Iran who had given this government unlimited problems thanks to his encouragement of the insurgents was arrested. He eventually admitted to receiving instructions from his masters in Iran. He was a jeweler just like your friend.

SHAZADI

Yes, you are talking about Nafisi. In fact, Al-Yamani now has much of Nafisi's stock which is why I went to him. Does being a jeweler make a man a criminal?

OMAR

If he is receiving his instructions from the same people in Iran, it does. That is why we arrested him and that is why we will question him until we are certain he is not involved with the insurrectionists.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE OFFICE AREA - DAY

Kuzbari and Addem sit at their desk as Alexei approaches.

KUZBARI

Good morning, Alexei. Did you and your Russian colleagues have a good day off? Did you roam the desert in your off-road vehicles seeing how many of our local species of flora and fauna you could remove from the surface of the earth?

ALEXEI

Yes, we had a good time. We had hoped to find a wild goat to roast for our dinner but your local hunters are so skilled at killing the wild species that all we found were snakes, spiders, and desert rodents, none of which are as good as grilled goat. It is unfortunate that the skills of your interrogators are not as advanced as those of your hunters. They seem to have stopped advancing after they learned the techniques of the Spanish Inquisition.

ADDEM

There is a school of thought that says in return for the Christians giving us the ways of the Inquisition, Islam has given the west the algebra with which to torture their young.

ALEXEI

This process is too inefficient and taking much too long to extract the truth. There are modern drugs which can let a person know what is going on in a person's mind. Many of these drugs are manufactured in France, Switzerland, and Germany.

KUZBARI

We do not have the funds to buy these expensive western drugs so we must use our old tools which do usually work eventually.

ALEXEI

In Russia we do not have so much money either but we have good chemists who can analyze and copy the drugs of the west. I requested some of them be sent down in the last shipment and I have a vial for you today. It is very powerful so you must not exceed the recommended dosage, but it is very effective.

Alexei takes a small vial from his pocket and hands it to Kuzbari who looks at the label.

KUZBARI

This does not look like a commercial drug.

ALEXEI

No, it is not commercial. Our chemists make small batches of these drugs and supply them to us when we need them. The drugs lose their potency very quickly when stored so we use only small quantities that we are certain are fresh. The dosing instructions are on the side of the bottle.

KUZBARI

Yes, I see them. I will take this over to the prison and maybe we will make some progress. Our bosses are growing anxious as the street violence increases.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Amir opens the door and smiles at Shazadi.

AMIR

Good day, Mrs. Taja. I am grateful that you can come and help me. It will be a big relief when my uncle returns.

SHAZADI

He should be released as soon as the police are sure he is not involved with the insurrection and I can tell he is not that type of a man. He is just caught in the same net with all the other people who have similar profiles to some of the people causing this trouble. What would you like me to help you with today?

AMIR

I've seen my Uncle Ibrahim and you use a loupe to look at jewelry but what is it you are looking at? Can you show me how to use the loupe?

SHAZADI

Certainly, I can. I was about your age when I first learned to use it.

FLASHBACK TO

EXT. BEIRUT SEAFRONT - DAY

A much younger Shazadi walks arm in arm with a dark complected young man of about 30. Both are casually dressed.

SHAZADI

Jonus, you know I am going to return to university in Damascus in a few weeks. How will we see each other then?

JONUS

Don't you worry your beautiful head about how it will happen, just know that it will...and it really will.

SHAZADI

You don't ever seem to work, I don't know where you will get the money to come see me.

JONUS

I told you before. I sell insurance. I am an independent agent. That means I represent many companies and sell insurance for many kinds of applications and in different locations. In Beirut with all the reconstruction going on there is a great market for all kinds of insurance, not just simple things like car insurance. If I sell a policy for a cargo ship for a year, my share is enough to live for that year. That is why I am constantly walking around and talking to people. The more people I talk to, the more I learn about what is happening and who might be in the market for an insurance policy.

SHAZADI

Yes, I know you like talking to people. I hear you selling them things in your sleep.

JONUS

It is really a wonderful occupation. And when we go out for dinner with other people, you must be aware that these are not just students we are dining with. They are always potential customers. Even when we go around to the shops looking at jewelry and precious gemstones, it is part of my business. I always enquire how their business is. If they have made a large sale to an important person, they will mention it. Then I know that person has money to spend, on insurance. No matter what they do, they need some kind of insurance. Maybe many kinds of insurance. Since I represent so many companies, I can always find a policy that gives them better coverage or a lower premium.

SHAZADI

Jonus, you are such a good talker I don't know when to believe you and when not.

JONUS

When I tell you that your are wonderful and I love you, how can you doubt me? I could never make such a thing up. It is so obviously true. Now let's find one more jeweler before lunch so I can see a gem just half as beautiful as you.

As they walk along the seafront they pass a street vendor selling optical devices. All of them are imported from Russia. There are binoculars, small telescopes, magnifying glasses, reading glasses, and a box with jewelers' loupes. Jonus looks through the box of loupes and takes one out. He examines it closely and then haggles with the seller for a better price. He hands the loupe to Shazadi.

JONUS

I want you to have this loupe. It is a very useful tool. You can study jewelry and gemstones, look at insects, remove splinters, find a spec of dirt in someone's eye...the list just goes on and on. It is the Swiss army knife of optics.

SHAZADI

Can I use it to look into your eyes and see your soul?

JONUS

You can try. I don't know what you might see there. It might not be something you really want to see.

SHAZADI

Jonus, how can you say that? I know behind that calculating brain there is a hot-blooded Lithuanian soul yearning to correct all the world's problems.

JONUS

We Lithuanians do not survive by curing the problems of the world. In that area every day is a struggle. We do not have the warm sun that you Middle Easterners have. We must constantly seek sources of warmth for our homes and food for our bellies. Here you go out and take your food from a plant or a tree then after you have filled yourself, you rest in the warm afternoon sun. Such a life. Even the most lowly person here lives better than in a king in the north.

SHAZADI

I love it in this part of the world. I cannot think of anyplace I would rather live. It does not surprise me that human life began here. I am afraid though that it may also end here. Look at what this tribal competition has done to Lebanon.

JONUS

Let's discuss that later. I grow hungry and we must see one more stone with your new loupe.

They walk into an area of shops. Many of the merchants stand outside their shops. As they approach a jewelry shop the proprietor smiles at Jonus and nods. Jonus responds with a low bow and a wide smile.

PROPRIETOR

My friend Jonus. It has been many days that you do not come to see me. I have done something to offend you? If I have, please tell me and I will not do it again.

JONUS

You know, sir, that you are too kind. I have been very busy. I bring a beautiful new friend to meet you. I tell her that you have a very nice choice of items to inspect.

PROPRIETOR

And you must buy a large stone for such a beautiful woman.

JONUS

Yes, I must. Let us examine some stones so that she may see what a good selection you have.

They enter the shop and for many minutes Jonus shows Shazadi how to use the loupe to look at both the surface and the interior of gemstones for flaws. When they have finished they proceed down the street to a cafe where they take a table.

JONUS

You see how pleasant an experience it is to look at jewels under magnification? Only with a loupe can you easily detect flaws or even better is to find stones which are well cut and have no flaws. When you find those you ask the price. After a time of doing this with different merchants you will realize when you have found a good choice. I always like to keep in mind my last purchase and compare it to the stone I currently view. That way I am constantly trying to improve my stock. It also works that if you find an equal stone but at a much lower price, then again you improve your stock.

SHAZADI

But do you ever sell from your stock?

JONUS

Yes, but I try to do it only when I also want to buy something from the dealer. That way he can still earn some money on the transaction. I try to buy something of greater value than what I am selling. I spend some money but both sides of the transaction feel good about it. After lunch I want to show you fabricated jewelry and show you how to examine it for quality of workmanship and characteristics of its manufacture. There are usually indications in how it is made and where it was made. Since the cost of labor varies from one area of the world to another, the price must also vary accordingly. A ring made in the far east should cost much less than a ring made in Italy. You can use this knowledge to negotiate better with the dealer. When he sees that you know how to judge the true quality of a piece, he will be less likely to try to overcharge you.

INT. SMALL BEIRUT APARTMENT - NIGHT

Jonus and Shazadi sit together on a small worn couch.

SHAZADI

Jonus, I've known you for two months now but sometimes I feel like I don't know you any better than the first day we met. I see you enjoy your life. You enjoy the buying and selling, the haggling and dealing with people. But there are times when I can almost see you wince when you see the news and you see how this region is about to explode again. What do you really want to do?

JONUS

You may know me better than I know myself. If I could do it -- and I know I can't -- I would bring a little peace and order to this region. But I do feel I can help to keep it from exploding or falling apart. These countries are really large groups of tribes. They have been packaged together by past colonial masters to make it easier to manage, the same way a manufacturer of sweets has different types for different tastes. In the past the Arab tribes and countries have frequently tried to conquer each other. Sometimes they succeed and remake the map for a while.

SHAZADI

What difference does it make if these leaders redivide their lands?

JONUS

There is always a lot of blood spilled and only a few people at the top of the winning side really benefit. Look at the situation here in Lebanon. So much potential but because of tribal animosity there is continual war. What reduces the bloodshed now is Israel, the Zionist usurper. They do not do it intentionally. They would probably like to take all the Arab lands for themselves but they know they cannot do that. So they maintain an armed truce in the region. As long as the Zionist state exists there is a chance for the Arab tribes to have a degree of peace. They all have this common enemy against which they unite. Remove the Zionists and the Arabs will be back at each other's throats.

SHAZADI

How do you play any part in this? Is there an insurance policy against war?

JONUS

No, but there is a part that I can play. I will act as an intermediary as far as my skills permit me. I pass a little information to one side and different information to the other side. Both of them are happy to have the information and both pay me a little. They are happy to let me conduct my business as long as it is clear I am not an agent of one or the other. Is this clear? Do I seem to be doing something honorable or do you think I am a lying monster who steals from both sides just to make myself richer?

SHAZADI

Even if I did not love you like I do I can see that you enjoy what you do more than you want the money. Otherwise, you would not be living in this miserable flat. You could have a job with many large international companies. My father has contacts who could put you in a regional manager's position in two weeks time. Obviously, that is not what you want.

JONUS

Good, I think you understand me about as well as I understand myself. My mother in Vilnius would be happier to see me as a regional manager as well. You are leaving soon. I don't know when we will see each other again. I work with other people who share many of my views. We all make a small living by exchanging information. We all want to see this current uncomfortable peace remain in the middle east. Would you be willing to help, if it meant keeping the peace a little longer?

SHAZADI

Of course, what decent person wouldn't want to help? What would my role be?

JONUS

When you are in Damascus you will be in a geographic position to help me -- to help us all. I showed you how to examine jewels and jewelry in close detail. I think we both find it to be a pleasant hobby. There are people in Iran who have access to information which is useful in helping the opponents of the current regime in Iran restrain the regime's aggressive nature towards the other tribes in the region. Many of these people do not have modern technological capabilities. They cannot operate fancy cameras and small satellite transmitters to send information out of the country. But they can package small pieces of microfilm in a pendant or another large piece of jewelry. Sometimes large rings. It is easy to send this jewelry abroad so once it goes into the jewelry stream, it is easy to move it from one place to another.

SHAZADI

Will it go to you?

JONUS

No, I am just another link in the chain like you will be. I will show you how to spot the pieces that contain information. You would need to find these objects and then send them to an address I will give you. You will actually be selling the piece to the recipient so you will receive payment for the object. You will not lose any money on this. The person you send the jewelry to is a collector and a casual dealer who would be most happy to conduct normal collector trading activities with you. If you enjoy being an active collector and trader, there are circuits and clubs to support this type of activity. And it is almost in your blood since you are from Damascus. What do you think so far?

SHAZADI

It sounds exciting. You know I have travelled a lot and lived in many places. I have collected a lot of souvenirs of places we have lived but some of these are not practical now. How many stuffed animals does a young woman need? Show me what I need to do and we will make a couple practice runs before I return to Damascus.

BACK TO PRESENT

Amir looks at ring with a loupe.

AMIR

Yes, I see what you mean about the differences in quality. The stones in this ring are much better positioned than in the other ring.

SHAZADI

There could be a number of factors which account for this: the use of better optic and measuring devices, the pay to the workman, the final price the manufacturer expects to receive. It is not wrong to sell poorer quality goods because some people are only buying a piece as a gift to a business associate who will throw it in a drawer and never look at it. But when you are the buyer, you want to ensure that you receive value for money. You don't know who you are going to sell or trade it to, and the better the quality you receive, the higher the price it can legitimately command.

AMIR

I understand, Mrs. Taja. I really appreciate these instructions. I intend to examine the entire stock here and recommend to my uncle which pieces I think we can reprice.

SHAZADI

You learn very quickly, Amir.

INT. PRISON INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

Ibrahim sits on a hard chair in the middle of a room with a bright light over his head. He is strapped to the chair so than he cannot fall from the chair. He has a very tired look on his face and a growth of beard. His prison uniform is dirty. There is a table nearby with a tape recorder and microphone on it. Three men enter the room: Kuzbari, an older man who is dressed like a doctor and a muscular younger man in dirty uniform.

KUZBARI

Ibrahim, you look like you have not rested enough. All you need to do is tell us what we want to know and we'll let you go home to your mother. All we ask is a little cooperation. But today I think it should be better. I have a little drug which will make it easier for you to answer my questions correctly. The doctor is going to give you a small injection and then I will ask you to tell me what I need to know. Doctor, please administer the drug.

DOCTOR

(concerned)

These dosage levels are not written in the same way that I am used to seeing them so we will start with a very small dosage. The doctor puts a rubber tube around Ibrahim's left arm to raise a vein. He charges the hypodermic from the bottle of Russian chemicals and injects it into Ibrahim's vein. He removes the rubber tube. For a few seconds there is no reaction, then Ibrahim begins to breathe very spasmodically. His eyes become wide, his mouth grimaces in pain and a gasping sound comes from his throat. The technician and the doctor unfasten him from the chair and place him on the dirty floor. The doctor feels for a pulse then places his stethoscope on Ibrahim's chest. The breath leaves Ibrahim. The doctor looks at Ibrahim's glazed eyes and closes the eyelids. He stands.

DOCTOR

I'm sorry. I don't know anything about this drug. It could have been a dozen things that killed him. Tell your Russian friend to keep his drugs for his Russian prisoners. If we want to kill our prisoners we know better ways to do it without his help.

INT. LARGE DETECTIVE OFFICE AREA - DAY

Addem and Alexei sit at the desks talking. Kuzbari enters the room in a very angry manner. He stands in front of Alexei and slams the vial down on the desk in front of him.

KUZBARI

(angrily)

Alexei, what is this shit? Our prisoner is dead! The doctor gave him a small does and the prisoner was dead 30 seconds later!

ALEXEI

Kuzbari, I am very sorry to hear this. As I said, these are not commercial drugs. They are not tested. They are made in very small batches by different chemists. We have had similar problems in the past but I was told that other vials from this batch had been used without harm. It could be your prisoner had an allergy to something in the drug or the doctor gave him too large a dose.

KUZBARI

You aren't the one who has to tell his family, or worse yet our boss. This is not going to improve Russian-Syrian relations, not in this office anyway.

INT. JEWELERY SHOP SHOW ROOM - DAY

Shazadi and Amir are looking at a large pendant with the loupe.

SHAZADI

Amir, this is a lovely pendant. I don't recall seeing it before.

AMIR

No, madame. It just arrived in a package from Iran. I think it sat in customs for a month before they let it through. They had opened the box and there were dirty fingerprints on everything but at least the contents match the shipping documents. I had to clean it very thoroughly.

SHAZADI

I think I am going to trade you this piece for another one I own which you can sell for a greater price than this one would bring. There is something particularly excellent in the workmanship in this one. Only a collector would appreciate it. In time you will be able to see the difference as well.

Amir's cell phone rings. He answers it and listens for a minute then hangs up. Tears come to his eyes. Shazadi sees his behavior and looks concerned.

SHAZADI

Amir. What is it? What is wrong?

AMIR

He's dead! My uncle is dead!

SHAZADI

Are your sure? Maybe he is just very sick and they are afraid he might die. We can take him to a good hospital for treatment.

AMIR

No, madame. They said he had been feeling ill and then he must have had a heart attack. The doctors did all they could to save him but it was of no use. They will return his body and we will have services tomorrow.

SUPER: JERUSALEM

EXT. LARGE GOVERNMENT BUILDING - DAY

Two men in casual business attire approach each other smiling. Teo is Jonus 25 years older.

LEV

Teo, I just saw the analysis on the message you received in the last piece of jewelry. It matched the electronic transmission we had three months ago. Those camels are slow.

TEO

Yes, they are but at least they corroborate the electronic messages. I am still reluctant to trust everything we learn through the airwaves. It is just too easy to generate false documents. We don't want to start a war because some clever bugger in a developing country wants to have us make a first strike. The costs of these old techniques is very low. We maintain the old skills.

LEV

You've had that source now for over twenty-five years. Do they know where you are?

TEO

I don't believe they do. They may suspect but I don't think they know where I am. But we do exchange a little message now and then.

LEV

What? How do you do that without them being able to trace it?

TEO

Oh, that is very easy. Every five years about the time we last saw each other I send them a pendant I order anonymously from another country. I pick one similar to the ones we looked at when we met. They are generally old, collector items. It is always from a different country. For them to contact me, they use their loupe and a scribe to inscribe a very small letter of the place we met on the item they send to us through our drop. You have to use a jeweler's loupe to be able to see it.

END FADE OUT:

******

The Backbone of Europe - E45: Milan

By

Max E. Harris and Valentina LaScala

FADE IN:

SPLIT SCREEN SHOT:

On the left side of the screen a road map scans up from south to north while pictures on the right depict both an aerial view of the highway and sights along the way.

The aerial views on the right include the road signs in each area on posts or overhead signs where there is both the designation of E45 and the regional numbering, such as the A1 south of Rome, the A13 south of Innsbruck, the 9 north of Munich, the Ostjyske Motorvej near Vejle, Denmark, and the Nordjyske Motorvej in Sweden.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

Not all the major highways in the world are 4 or more lanes of concrete. Some of the most extensive highways are really patchworks of regional and national roads given a uniform designation.

The backbone of Europe stretches from southern Sicily through central Italy, across the Alps past Innsbruck in Austria, around Munich and Hamburg, up across Denmark. It jumps to Sweden and runs north and east to the Finnish border.

Along the way are vast numbers of cultures and historical sites. Thousands of years of pageantry and tragedy now show their traces to anyone with the interest to look. Into this setting drive 2 young men, open to the flow of history and current events.

EXT. STREET IN MILAN - EVENING

An old tram rolls down the street but is blocked from proceeding by a double parked delivery van.The tram driver sounds the horn repeatedly. The tram passengers become increasingly agitated and louder in their protests. Finally, the tram driver opens the doors to permit riders who desire to exit to step down.

Roger climbs down wearing a linen jacket over a LaCoste shirt and linen slacks. His shoes are brown Gucci loafers.

Roger looks up and down the street and then stops 2 young women who are walking past.

ROGER (smiling)

Scusi, ma dove c'è una ferramenta vicino a qui?

The women discuss the matter a moment and then one replies.

YOUNG WOMAN

C'è una feramenta piccola drrito a 300 metri sulla destra.

ROGER

(smiling and nodding)

Grazia, signorina.

Roger proceeds down the street towards the hardware store.

ROGER (V.O.)

That's the bad thing about taking a flight in a hurry: you can't count on a seat on a reliable airline. So I rushed to get on and my bag is on the flight behind me, if I'm lucky. Now I don't have Junior at my side and that makes me uneasy. I'll have to find an alternative.

No, Junior is not a person, it's my foldable pocket knife, a Spyderco C150GP Junior to give its full name. It is not the first Junior I have left behind and it won't be the last. If I have to make a quick flight without checked luggage, then Junior goes in the trash, only to be replaced by a new Junior at my next stop. Maybe not exactly Junior, but a knife that behaves the same way.

What I like about Junior is that it is legal in most places and can cut through everything from envelopes and cords to flesh and small bones, tendons, cartilage, like chicken or rabbit.

EXT. DARK STREET WITH DISTANT STREETLIGHT CASTING SHADOWS

NIGHT

2 dark figures, 1 hooded and 1 with a watch cap fight at close quarters. The one in the watch cap suddenly has an open knife in his left hand with the light glinting off the blade. He reaches down and slices the back of the hooded man's leg. The hooded man falls backward.

HOODED AND WATCH CAP Grunts of exertion.

ROGER (V.O.)

And it works equally well in either hand if you are truly ambidextrous like I am. People notice if you are left-handed so I generally do everything with my right hand and save the use of my left hand and arm for special occasions when the use of the left side is advantageous or can be used for psychological impact. For example, when I play racket ball or tennis and it is a close match, I will change to my left side and inform my adversary, "I see I'm going to have to switch to my good hand to beat you." It usually works.

EXT. STREET IN MILAN - EVENING

Roger looks in the show window at the knives on display and then enters the shop. The shop is empty except for the proprietor. Roger enters the store and a chime sounds.

INT. HARDWARE STORE - EVENING

PROPRIETOR

Buona sera.

ROGER

Buona sera. Mi serve un Spyderco C150GP Junior o un coltello uguale.

PROPRIETOR

Una buona scelta. Non ho quello modello in Spyderco ma ho un altro molto simile.

ROGER

Va bene. Farmi vederlo.

The proprietor goes to the shelves behind him and finds a knife in a box from which he removes the knife. He hands it to Roger who examines it carefully, opening and closing it with his left hand.

ROGER

Sembra molto buono. Prenderlo io.

Roger hands the proprietor a banknote and receives the change and receipt.

PROPRIETOR

Vorreste la scatola e un sacchetto?

ROGER

No, grazia. Arrivaderla.

Roger clips the knife into his waistband and leaves the shop.

EXT. STREET IN MILAN - EVENING

Roger looks both ways and decides to proceed the direction he was going, looking in the shop windows as he goes. As he walks along he looks in the shop windows. Sometimes he looks at what is in the window and other times he looks at the reflections from the street for any indication of being followed or observed. Then he feels the vibration of his cellular phone in his coat pocket.

ROGER

(in a low voice)

Hello.

Roger behaves as if he is being told a joke, smiling and laughing quietly as he glances around.

ROGER

Yes, everything went reasonably well. You should be able to track the progress of the shipment by the satellite tracking. I gave the driver the usuual promise of a good bonus for prompt delivery. There is a follower about a click behind the truck and he knows what to do if there are any problems. I don't foresee any problems because all the documents are in order.

Roger listens, nods, laughs and glances around.

ROGER

(in a much louder voice)

That's a great story, Horst, thanks for the call.

Roger disconnects and returns the phone to his pocket. After 2 blocks he comes to a attractive bar with the sign identifying it as an osteria. The windows are not blocked and it is dark inside so someone in the bar can observe who is passing or entering without being too visible.

INT. BAR - NIGHT

Roger comes in through the main door of the bar, looks around and makes his way to the bar. It is early evening and the bar is almost empty.

Roger stands at the bar looking at the bottles and the drink dispenser handles.

BARTENDER Prego, Signore?

ROGER

Una birra Corona e un Jack Daniels, senza ghiaccio.

Standing next to Roger is a big young guy Jim drinking a beer from a bottle.

JIM (chuckling)

You must be American with that choice but your Italian is good. Did I hear a Sicilian accent in there?

ROGER

Yeah, I'm from Texas but my mother took us to the family house in Sicily every summer and I don't seem to be able to lose that accent.

JIM

My name's Jim, Jim Phelps. I was raised in Florida but I've been an expat for a while now. I hope I've lost most of my accent by now.

Jim shakes hands with Roger.

ROGER

Pleased to meet you, Jim.

I'm Roger Phillips. Phelps, Phillips: We're almost related.

JIM (chuckling)

Right, cugino.

The bartender sets 2 drinks in front of Roger.

BARTENDER

Prego, signore.

ROGER

Grazie.

Roger lifts a glass and turns to Jim.

ROGER

Salute!

JIM

A la nostra!

Both men take a long drink and pause.

ROGER

So, Jim, what brings you to Milan?

JIM

I'm currently a driller on an oil production platform offshore Angola. I just finished a 28 day rotation so I decided to spend a few days in a cooler climate. I'm trying to decide if I want to continue this line of work. I'm not too pleased with the way this operation is being run and maybe I'll try the far east or Australia.

What about you?

ROGER

Ah, well, for me I'm always looking for a better opportunity. I make a living selling stuff and I go where the stuff is.

JIM

Stuff? What kind of stuff are we talking about here?

ROGER (chuckling)

Don't worry. Nothing that would interest the police.

I spent some time in the service in the mid east and learned a lot about what people need and how to get it to them. There are always people looking for something on short notice and they are willing to pay a premium to get it. It can be oil field supplies, flu vaccine, telecoms equipment, you name it somebody is looking for something and somebody else has it. You take auto parts for example. 50 years ago every car maker made their own parts. Seats, starters, even batteries were make by some division of the main car company.

He takes a long drink.

But that's changed. Now they write a spec for a radio and buy it from whoever can supply it cheap and on time. But sometimes something happens that they can't get the parts they need through the normal channels. Things fall apart. I put them back together again. I find a source. Call me an expediter. Maybe another user of the same part has a warehouse full of the parts stored but won't really need them for 2 months. So why let that hold up production for a company that can use them right now. I made a lot of contacts when I was in the service and I have expanded them pretty well in the last few years.

JIM

So why don't you just do it from Amsterdam like your partner?

ROGER

It's not quite that easy. Sure the contact says they have what you need and it's just waiting in the warehouse. But how do you know it's the right thing and there is enough of it? In some cases I have dealt with the people for a long time and I know I can trust them to deliver. But other times I have to go verify it, check it out myself. After all, its my reputation on the line to deliver the goods. And your reputation is only as good as your last delivery. For this security buyers come to me first and are willing to pay a better premium.

JIM

Sounds like a good formula. Ready for another round?

ROGER

Sure.

Jim nods to the bartender.

JIM

Di nuovo. So where do you call home now?

ROGER

I spend most of my time on the road so I don't spend much time in one place but I have a small operation in Holland that handles all the details for me. It is actually a small partnership with another guy from the service who is married to a Dutch gal and prefers living in Amsterdam while I do the leg work. It works out quite well, and very profitably, for both of us.

JIM

Not married?

ROGER

Nope. I've avoided that trap so far.

JIM

Good idea. Women can sure tie you down. I lived with a great woman for a couple years but she wanted something more permanent with a couple kids in mind and I told her I wasn't quite ready for that many restrictions, so we split up with a handshake. Well, it was a little more pleasant than a handshake.

ROGER

Right. No point making enemies if you don't have to. Jim, I made a date to meet someone for dinner. She said she was bringing a friend. Why don't you come along?

JIM

Thanks, that sounds like a great idea. Always better to eat a meal in good company, and the male company offshore gets a little stale.

Roger leaves a large note on the bar and they walk to the door.

WAITER

Molto grazie, signori.

EXT. BUSY STREET WITH CAFES - NIGHT ROGER

We agreed to meet here. I have seen this woman's picture but I have never met her before. Ah, that looks like her there.

Roger sees 2 attractive women and proceeds towards them. Both women look towards Roger and smile. The men approach the women and Roger smiles and extends his hand.

ROGER

Jessica, its so good to finally meet you. Roberto told me how beautiful you are and he was not exaggerating in the least. He had shown me family pictures but I would not have recognized you from them. You were just a little girl.

JESSICA

Roberto never likes to carry current photos. You are Roger and questo bello è?

ROGER

Scusi. Ma questo è Jim, un americano ho appena incontrato, but lets speak English this evening if your lovely friend does not mind?

JESSICA

Ah, but this is my friend Sylvia who is a travel agent and speaks all the European languages. Sylvia, this is my brother's friend Roger and Jim.

SYLVIA

Piacere.

All the parties exchange smiles and handshakes.

INT. STREET SIDE RESTAURANT - NIGHT SYLVIA

This is an excellent restaurant. It's such a lovely evening. We might sit outside unless you would rather...?

ROGER

No, actually I would prefer a table outside.

They take seats at a table for four under the tent.

ROGER

Drinks?

Roger waves his hand to bring a waiter.

SYLVIA

Un aperitivo per me.

JESSICA

Anche per me.

JIM

Un Jack Daniels senza ghiaccio.

ROGER

Bene, e un whisky per me, anche senza ghiaccio.

The waiter leaves to fetch the drinks.

ROGER

Jim is in the oil business and has been working in Angola.

SYLVIA

How interesting! I am currently arranging a trip for a youth group to Angola. I have never been there myself. Maybe you can tell me some things that are not in the travel guidebooks.

JIM

Yes, I can tell you many things that they don't print in the guidebooks. The guidebooks tend to become out of date a week before they are printed. It is always better to plan with news from someone who has just been to a place.

Jim and Sylvia start a private conversation. Roger turns to Jessica.

ROGER

Now, Jessica, I know this is not purely a social meeting although I am very pleased to meet you.

JESSICA

Yes, Roger, I need your help. Or I should say, we need your help.

ROGER

Your brother has saved my neck many times so any assistance I can give will be my pleasure.

JESSICA

Roberto is in the hospital and will be there for a while. He will recover but he will not be of any help to you, or his family, for many months.

The waiter brings the drinks.

JESSICA

I don't know how much my brother has told you about our family's business.

ROGER

Very little in fact. I know it has something to do with a winery but I don't know much more than that.

JESSICA

I am surprised he did not tell you more. We are all so proud of how successful my father has been in growing our wine business. The winery has been in the family for centuries but it was always small until my father developed it about forty years ago. He has expanded and modernized it with new facilities and techniques.

FLASHBACK TO

EXT. CAR PARK IN FRONT OF WINERY - DAY- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE JESSICA (V.O.)

And he is always looking for new markets so when he was contacted by a man who said he represented a large cruise line he was very excited. Not only would it mean more sales to the cruise ships, but it would spread the name of our wines worldwide. He invited the gentleman to visit our winery.

A car arrives and parks and a well dressed visitor steps out. From the winery Giulio in suit steps out. He looks at his watch and smiles. The men shake hands and they talk with Giulio nodding and listening with a smile as the visitor talks.

JESSICA (V.O.)

This man came and received a tour of the winery, but it is now apparent that he was already aware of how successful my father had been and was only interested in buying the business at a very low price. But my father did not know that so he told the man about some of his expansion plans and he mentioned a particular piece of new German equipment that he was planning to buy to improve the quality of the wines.

Jessica's father is shown leading the visitor around the winery, pointing out the fields of vines and then the wine making equipment.

INT. SMALL WELL FURNISHED OFFICE - DAY- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE JESSICA (V.O.)

They went to my father's office where they had coffee together.

The 2 men are in the office with Giulio seated behind desk and the visitor in a guest's chair.

Jessica (V.O.)

At this point the visitor said the winery was everything he had hoped but there was a little more to the business than just supplying wine to the cruised line. The cruise line was interested in buying a variety of wines. They could do this through a distributor but they preferred to deal directly with the producers.

The visitor is talking as Giulio nods understanding.

Jessica (V.O.)

The visitor in fact had his own small winery but only produced a single variety and had decided to expand by buying other wineries that would offer the range the cruise line sought. He had already purchased three other small wineries and ours would be the jewel in the tiara.

Giulio frowns and stands behind the desk.

JESSICA (V.O.)

The visitor said he would make us an irresistible offer that would make us wealthy once the cruise line contract was awarded. My father said he was not at all interested no matter how large the offer.

He led the man to the door and the man said to consider his actions carefully.

The visitor is at the door speaking in a determined manner but Giulio shakes his head and makes gestures of rejection.

INT. OFFICE - DAY (ONE WEEK LATER)- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

GIULIO is seated at his desk reading a trade magazine. He circles an ad with his pen and calls on his cellular. Momentarily Roberto enters the office and looks at the circled ad.

JESSICA (V.O.)

About a week later my father saw an ad for the exact piece of equipment in a trade magazine. The ad said it was for sale due to a failure of a winery. There was no phone number, just an email address. My father sent an email asking if the equipment was still available. Soon there was an email reply that the equipment had not been sold but they were dealing with another potential buyer so immediate action was required.

Giulio showing screen with email message to Roberto, then speaking to Roberto.

ROBERTO nodding understanding.

JESSICA (V.O.)

They agreed that Roberto would go examine the equipment the next day. They sent an email and received a reply soon with a time and directions to the location in the country. The location was about two hours south near the E45.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY- FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

ROBERTO driving and looking at navigator. He passes an E45 sign then turns off on a dirt road.

EXT. OUTSIDE FARM BUILDING - DAY-

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

ROBERTO stops car in large parking area near another car. A young man in a jacket comes out of the farm building smiling. Roberto leaves leaves his car and they shake hands and chat for a moment before the young man in a jacket leads him to the door of the farm building.

JESSICA (V.O.)

Roberto said the young man was so pleasant that he did not suspect anything and followed the man into the building.

INT. FARM BUILDING, EMPTY CRATES - DAY-

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

JESSICA (V.O.)

Roberto entered the building which was dark compared to the outside so he did not notice the young man had stayed behind him at the door. Then he was struck from behind and as he fell he saw two men step out from the crates.

The young man leads Roberto through the door who then strikes him on the neck with a small club. two men kick Roberto as he lies on the ground.

JESSICA (V.O.)

They obviously did not want to kill Roberto or they could have easily done it. Roberto woke later and managed to pull himself to the doorway. Sometime later a passing farm worker saw him and called for assistance.

EXT. DOOR OF FARM BUIIDING - TWILIGHT

FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

Roberto lying in open doorway with bruised face and dirty clothes. Small tractor parked nearby with farm worker talking to Carabinieri. An ambulance arrives. Roberto is loaded on stretcher and placed in ambulance which leaves with blue lights flashing.

BACK TO PRESENT

ROGER

I see the whole picture. The doctors say he will make a full recovery?

JESSICA

Yes, given time and care. When he is well enough we will send him to a rehabilitation facility in Switzerland.

JIM

I don't know what you two are plotting but Sylvia and I are both ready to eat.

ROGER

Sorry, Jim. Sylvia, I am sure you know what is good here. Why don't you order for the four of us.

SYLVIA

As you wish.

TIME CUT

INT. STREET SIDE RESTAURANT - NIGHT, LATER

The table has only liqueur glasses and coffee cups.

JIM

That was an excellent selection of foods, Sylvia.

SYLVIA

Thank you, Jim, but all I did was order.

JESSICA

Grazie for the lovely evening but we both have to be at work early in the morning.

JIM

But it's still early and the weather is so good. At least let us take you for a walk.

SYLVIA

We'd like to but we need to catch the metro before they stop running.

JIM

Fine, we will walk you to the metro.

EXT. METRO ENTRANCE - NIGHT

The 2 couples walk down into the metro.

INT. METRO STATION - NIGHT

ROGER

Let us take the metro with you.

JESSICA

Really that is not necessary.

JIM (hurriedly)

Actually, I'm for walking myself if you don't mind.

ROGER

Jessica, I will be in touch with you tomorrow about this matter.

All parties kiss lightly as friends and the women go through the turnstiles.

JESSICA (waving)

Grazie di nuovo. Ciao.

SYLVIA

Grazie e buona notte.

Roger turns to Jim as they leave the metro station.

EXT. METRO ENTRANCE - NIGHT ROGER

What was that about? I thought you and Sylvia were becoming good friends.

JIM

Sorry. Yes, we got along very well. I'd like to see her again.

ROGER

Then...?

JIM

It goes back to when I was about eight years old in Florida.

FLASHBACK TO

EXT. DEEP SANDY DRAINAGE DITCH - DAY

Three 8 year old boys with sticks walking in the ditch and poking things with the sticks. Two go ahead while one falls behind poking at a brass object in the sand. He stops to pull on the object.

Sound of boys yelling.

JIM (V.O.)

There was a lot of property development going on then. There always is in Florida. Part of the work is excavating drainage ditches. We kids used to like to explore them. There were stories that Spanish gold had been found in these excavations. So when I saw the shiny metal I thought I had struck it rich. I dug with the stick and then with my hands. But when I tried to pull the object out of the side of the ditch the soil above suddenly collapsed upon me. I could hardly breathe.

The sandy soil collapses on the boy. The sand moves and muffled sounds can be heard from the sand. The other two boys stop walking.

BOY 1

Hey! Where's Jim?

BOY 2

I don't know. He was right behind us.

BOY 1

Wait! I heard a funny sound.

The boys turn and run back along the ditch.

BOY 1 AND BOY 2

Jim! Where are you? Jim! Jim!

The boys see the mound of sand and begin digging with their hands.

BACK TO PRESENT

JIM

They got me out in time but since then I am nervous in tight, unlit places. I like to sleep with a light on and I don't even like heavy bedding. That's why I prefer walking above ground to riding in a tube below ground.

ROGER

I understand. We'll walk back then.

As they pass a bar Jim walks into the bar. He turns back to Roger.

JIM

That food made me thirsty. Would you like something to drink?

ROGER

No, thanks, I'm fine.

They continue walking, Jim with a bottle of beer hanging from his right hand, until they are on a narrower street with no traffic and no signs of life. Four men approach from the other direction.

FOUR MEN

(indistinct talking and laughing)

One of the men steps out from the others with a small pocket knife in his hand in front of him.

MAN WITH KNIFE

Dammi i suoi portafogli!

Jim breaks the bottom off his beer bottle as Roger takes his new knife from his waistband and opens it with his left hand. Roger and Jim slowly wave their weapons in front of them so the street light flashes from the knife blade and the broken beer bottle.

JIM

No, cazzi! Dammi i suoi portfogli puttanati!

ROGER

(in Sicilian)

Si, e prendo io quelle i collane d'oro, con o senza i suoi sanguine su quegli!

The four men quickly turn and run away.

Jim and Roger look at each other and laugh.

ROGER

That was not half bad, Jim.

JIM

Yeah, it was fun but I wasted a half bottle of beer!

ROGER (laugning)

Look, you're in Italy! Just drink wine now.

EXT. STREET CAFE - DAY

Roger is drinking coffee at a table with an Italian newspaper in his hands. Jim walks up.

JIM

Buon giorno, amico.

ROGER

Jim! Buon giorno a te. Had breakfast?

JIM

Not yet.

Jim sits at the table with Roger and Roger waves to the waiter.

ROGER

Due caffe. Jim how do you take it?

JIM

Corretto per favore con un brioche.

The waiter nods and goes into the cafe for the order..

ROGER

Jim, you handled yourself very well last night.

JIM

With the girls or with the boys?

ROGER (laughing)

Both. But how you did with the boys interested me more.

JIM

Habits and training kick in when you need them.

ROGER

You said you were tired of the oil business. I've got some business to take care of south of here. I was planning on help from Jessica's brother Roberto but now he is the one who needs the help. I could use your skills.

JIM

And which ones would those be?

ROGER

From what you showed last night and what you told me before there are a number of things you could do. And I get the impression I have not seen all you can do.

JIM (shrugging)

What do you have in mind?

ROGER

I need to buy a vehicle and then head over towards Ravenna and down south of there to check on Roberto and his father. After that I was thinking of driving down to my family's place in Sicily.

All at a leisurely pace. Part business, but more pleasure. I pay all the expenses and give you a little cash for your bar tab. You give me a hand when I need backup.

JIM

I've got all the time in the world. Sounds like it could be interesting. Count me in.

The men laugh and shake hands.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

The vehicle drives past with the top down showing the two men and as the vehicle recedes in front the camera pans to show the countryside in the background and then focuses on the E45 road sign in the foreground.

*******

Faces to Let

By

Max E. Harris and Valentina LaScala

Copyright 2012 Max E. Harris

FADE IN:

INT. LARGE PANELED OFFICE - DAY

Closeup shot of a dueling pistol being held and the hammer being pulled back by a man's hand. The man pulls the trigger.

POP! (O. S.)

The camera recedes to show 2 men in suits. One has the pistol in his hand. The other has a champagne bottle spewing champagne onto the floor.

LARRY

Damned, Victor! Did you have to do that just as I pulled the trigger? You almost scared the piss out of me.

VICTOR

(laughing robustly)

But Larry, that was my intention. You need something to get you out of this depression you've been in. And if anybody should be excited it should be you. After all, the judge just awarded you a huge sum of money and gave you the film rights you were entitled to. So lighten up and enjoy yourself.

Victor goes to his desk intercom and buzzes his secretary.

VICTOR

Angela, please bring some paper towels in here. I seem to have had an accident.

ANGELA (O.S.)

Yes, Mr. Ross. Just a moment.

The door opens and tall, beautiful Angela enters the office with a roll of paper towels. She sees the spilled champagne and begins to clean up the spill.

VICTOR

Thank you, Angela. Let me introduce you to Larry Sullivan. I am sure you recognize him even without his makeup or costumes. Larry and I have been friends for many years and he usually enters through my private entrance. Larry, this is my new, temporary, but possibly permanent secretary who is standing in for Rose while she is recuperating from her fall. Angela, dear, please join us in celebrating another successful battle against the forces of greed and iniquity.

Victor pours 3 small glasses of champagne and hands one to Larry and Angela. They touch the glasses together and sip the champagne.

ANGELA

Thank you, sir, and I am very pleased to meet you Mr. Sullivan. I have always enjoyed your films.

LARRY

(laughing)

Yes, thank you, I am sure you have enjoyed them but I can see that you are thinking, He is much shorter and thinner than he looks in his films. Well, my dear, it is really amazing what those wizards can do with makeup and costumes.

ANGELA

(blushing)

No, sir, you are very handsome even

if...

LARRY

Even if I am shorter than your 10 year old kid brother?

ANGELA

No, sir, I don't have a brother. Please excuse me. There is no one in the outer office. Thank you for the champagne, Mr. Ross and it has been a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sullivan.

Angela places her champagne glass on the table, turns, and leaves the office.

VICTOR

Larry, what's the problem? This should be a very happy day for you, after all the time and trouble this suit has been.

LARRY

No, I'm very pleased with the outcome of the suit, not so much for the money as for having my proper credit. It's something different. My mother died last week and it has got me to thinking.

VICTOR

Yes, I saw the obituary. But your mother was 95 and had been in failing health for some time.

LARRY

That's correct. But it made me think of my son Frank that I have not seen in years. After my wife and I split up, he blamed me and we have never reconciled. I would like to change that but I don't think he wants to see me. And I have heard from family that he could use help.

VICTOR

What kind of help are we talking about? You could certainly give him more money than he could ever need.

LARRY

Not money. He wanted to be an artist and was never successful. He envies my success in acting but I can't get close to him.

VICTOR

Maybe I can help. Do you think he would accept help from you if he did not know it was you?

LARRY

Possibly, what do you have in mind?

VICTOR

I have had clients who needed or wanted to disappear, change their identity, for various reasons. Years ago I met a man with a business that enabled them to do this. The business was called Faces to Let. A catchy name but it is not in the phone book. If you wish I can contact him and put him in touch with you.

LARRY

Faces to Let? It sounds like some kind of bloody modeling agency. Let me think about it.

VICTOR

I assure you the name does not do it justice. They are really quite extraordinary.

LARRY

Alright, Victor, you've sold me. I can at least talk to them. And thank you, Victor, I appreciate your help, as always.

INT. LARGE PANELED OFFICE - MORNING, TWO MONTHS LATER

Victor is seated at his desk when his intercom buzzes.

BUZZ!

VICTOR

Yes, Rose, what is it?

ROSE (O.C.)

Mr. Sullivan is here to see you, sir.

VICTOR

By all means show him in,

Rose. And bring us the tea tray please.

ROSE (O.C.)

Yes, sir, right away.

Victor rises from the desk to welcome Larry. They shake hands.

VICTOR

Larry, you're looking so much better than the last time you were here.

LARRY

I'm feeling so much better, thanks to you and the people you referred me to.

VICTOR

That would be ...

LARRY

Yes, Faces to Let. Do you have a few minutes?

VICTOR

For you, Larry, I have hours. Tell me all about it.

Rose brings in the tea tray and serves the men tea. Then she leaves and closes the door.

LARRY

(leaning forward)

You know my son Frank and I had been estranged for a number of years and I wanted to help him but I thought he would reject my direct approach. I was just going about my normal affairs until about a week after we had met.

FLASHBACK TO

INT. LIBRARY OF HOUSE - NIGHT

Telephone on desk rings. Larry answers.

LARRY

Hello.

Ambrose is seen standing in the dark next to a tree across the street from Larry's house. He is speaking on his cellular phone.

AMBROSE (O.C.)

Good evening, Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Ross asked me to contact you about the hire or purchase of some cosmetic equipment.

LARRY

Yes, that's right. When can we meet?

AMBROSE (O.C.)

Is later this evening convenient for you? Say in two hours?

LARRY

Yes, that would be fine. Where should I meet you?

AMBROSE (O.C.)

For this meeting it should be at your residence, otherwise, we should reschedule for another date.

LARRY

No, my place in two hours is fine.

EXT. DARK WOODED AREA ACROSS FROM HOUSE - NIGHT

Ambrose disconnects and places his phone in his inside pocket. He continues to stand in the dark and watch the house.

2 HOURS LATER

INT. ENTRANCE AREA OF HOUSE - NIGHT

Door bell CHIMES.

Larry goes to door and opens it. Standing outside is a nondescript man with a briefcase.

AMBROSE

Good evening, Mr. Sullivan. My name is Ambrose.

LARRY

Come in Mr. Ambrose.

AMBROSE

Just Ambrose, please. And thank you.

Ambrose carrying BRIEFCASE enters the door and extends his hand to Larry. They shake hands.

LARRY

Pleased to meet you, Ambrose. Come have a seat and we can discuss my desires and what you can offer. Let me take your coat. Ambrose removes his COAT and hands it to Larry who hangs it on a hanger in a cupboard of the entrance way.

INT. LIBRARY OF HOUSE - NIGHT

The two men enter the library and Larry indicates for Ambrose to be seated on a SOFA. Larry sits on a CHAIR facing the sofa.

LARRY

Can I offer you something to drink?

AMBROSE.

That's very kind of you, Mr. Sullivan, but no thank you. I would like to explain to you the services we have to offer and then tell you what we would need from you.

LARRY

Fine, let's proceed.

AMBROSE

Although the name may seem trivial, Faces To Let is actually quite a serious and thorough venture. We have been in operation for a long while and serve not only individuals and business but also various governments and their agencies. As we serve these governments we remain independent of them, but can call upon them for support services not available to many private companies. I will illustrate this in a moment. Our primary function is to offer changes of identity for various ranges of time, from one week to a lifetime. Naturally, the process for a permanent change is much more elaborate, and expensive, than for a short duration. Also, the short term changes are easily removed while the long term changes may involve difficult reconstruction. Do you have any questions?

LARRY

No, please continue.

AMBROSE

Have you considered for how long you would like to change your appearance?

LARRY

Initially I think a week or two should be sufficient.

AMBROSE

Fine. For that type of operation the changes are purely cosmetic and easily removed. We can easily make you a couple inches taller and make you appear shorter by just altering your posture. Similarly, simple stage prosthetics can add the appearance of weight. Certain clothing will make you look thinner. With cosmetics we can remove ten to twenty years of age but it is much easier to add age. Also, an older appearance generally attracts less attention to a person.

LARRY

I see. I think I would like to appear at least twenty years older.

AMBROSE

That should be no problem and we can possibly do it in a matter of a day.

LARRY

Is this done at my house or do I need to go someplace?

AMBROSE

All our interventions are done at our facilities as we must make certain medical tests to ensure there are no allergic reactions. On that subject, I would like you to list for me any medications you are taking and any allergies you have. Please complete this form for me now.

Ambrose takes a SHEET of paper on a CLIPBOARD from his BRIEFCASE and hands it to Larry. Larry takes a PEN from his pocket and begins completing the form.

LARRY

Does this include food allergies?

AMBROSE

Yes, it should include those as some cosmetics may contain components similar to those in foods you are allergic to.

Larry ticks boxes on the form and writes in some words. Then he hands the clipboard back to Ambrose who scans it quickly and returns it to his BRIEFCASE.

AMBROSE (cont'd)

That's fine then. Communications. We will generally contact you on your telephone or cellular phone. We will not leave any messages. For you to contact us you must send a short sentence to an email address which I will send as a text message to your cellular phone. Anyone seeing this message and address will think it is a joke or spam. We will then contact you. As I said, we have government cooperation and consequently our communications are extremely secure. You should not be concerned about being recorded or overheard by anyone but us. I will give you a common nickname that you should always use with us. In this case we have chosen Lawrence of Moravia. It will sound like a joke to anyone who overhears it and you can explain it as a college nickname amongst friends. Money. You will pay us by having the required funds in your bank account. When we have agreed upon a payment, the funds will be removed from your account much as banks use verification systems for testing account links.

LARRY

You mean you just take the money from my account?

AMBROSE

Always after receiving your authorization. You are trusting us to perform operations on your body, possibly permanent. Surely, money is less important that physical alteration.

LARRY

Yes, I understand.

AMBROSE

Do you have any questions?

LARRY

No, not for now.

AMBROSE

Then I will be leaving. You can expect the text message within an hour and the price of the operation within a day assuming my colleagues approve of the medical information you have given me.

LARRY

Thank you, Ambrose.

AMBROSE

It's been my pleasure, Mr. Sullivan. And by the way, Mr. Sullivan, all our representatives will identify themselves to you as Ambrose, even the women.

The men rise and walk out the door of the library.

INT. LIBRARY OF HOUSE - EVENING, THREE WEEKS LATER

Larry is seated in his lounge chair when his cellular phone rings. He answers the phone and he hears a new voice.

LARRY

Hello.

PHONE VOICE (O.S.)

Is this Lawrence of Moravia?

LARRY

Yes.

PHONE VOICE (O.S.)

The financial matters have been settled satisfactorily. I have just sent you a text message with an address you are to go to. If there are any critical drugs you require make a list of them and place it in your pocket. We will provide them. Carry nothing in your hands. You will stand next to a fire hydrant there and a limousine will arrive immediately upon your arrival. The driver will address you and you will get in the back seat. You must give your cellular phone to the driver. Bring no other electronics as they may be damaged. Is that clear?

LARRY

Yes, I understand.

The phone line goes dead and Larry hears the signal of an incoming message from his cellular phone. He picks it up and reads the message then turns out the lights and leaves the house.

EXT. STREET CORNER NEAR FIRE HYDRANT - NIGHT

Larry walks up to the corner looking at the street signs. He stands next to a fire hydrant near the corner. A large dark limousine pulls up in front of him. The passenger side window rolls down.

DRIVER

Good evening, Mr. Sullivan. Please get in the back seat.

Larry opens the back door and climbs in, closing the door behind him.

INT. BACK SEAT OF LIMOUSINE - NIGHT

The driver opens the partition

DRIVER

Please give me your cellular phone and any other electronic devices you have such as cameras, digital watch, calculators. They will all be returned to you unharmed. There is a mini bar in front of you. Please help yourself. There is a temperature control above you in case you are too cool or warm.

Larry hands his cellular phone and watch to the driver.

The driver closes the panel.

Larry feels sweat forming on his forehead and unbuttons his collar. He looks at the thermometer on the air conditioning control and turns the temperature down. The ventilators start to blow cooler air but Larry becomes drowsy and leans against the seat falling asleep.

INT. HOTEL BEDROOM - MORNING

Larry is lying on his back on a bed with his clothes on but his shoes removed. He slowly wakes up and sits on the side of the bed. There is a knock on the bedroom door.

KNOCK.

LARRY

(in a sleepy voice)

Yes, what is it?

ATTENDANT

This is room service. Would you like you breakfast served now?

LARRY

Yes, I would like that.

The bedroom door opens and a muscular young man brings in a tray which he sets on a table near the window.

ATTENDANT

If you would like anything else, just dial 11 on your telephone. Ambrose said to tell you he would be along shortly.

LARRY

Thank you.

Larry goes to the table and eats the breakfast. As he finishes there is another knock on the door.

KNOCK.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER (O.C.)

Mr. Sullivan, this is Ambrose. May I come in?

LARRY

Yes, Ambrose, please come in.

Another young man enters. He is not the same Ambrose who visited Larry's house.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

Good morning, Mr. Sullivan. Did you sleep well?

LARRY

Yes, very well thank you but I don't remember the trip here at all.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

Yes, I am told you fell asleep in the car rather suddenly and had to be helped to your bed when you arrived.

LARRY

As I said, I don't remember any of it. You are not the same Ambrose who came to my house.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

No, I am not. Most of the people you meet here will be named Ambrose. It makes remembering names much simpler if there fewer names.

LARRY

(laughing)

Yes, I guess it would. But how do I differentiate?

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

Like you just did it, sir. You said the Ambrose who came to your house and I am the Ambrose who came to your room this morning. Now if we may begin your program. It will be quite a full day and we hope to have you home again tonight. If there are any medications you require that you did not list, please list them on this pad. You will find standard toiletries in the bathroom as well as a change of undergarments. In the closet is a sportswear outfit in your size as well as some leisure shoes. If you require anything that you don't see, list it on the pad.

Ambrose hands Larry a pamphlet.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER)

This will give you all the standard information about our facility in the introduction. The second part tells the particulars of your treatment which will take place this afternoon. As you said earlier, it will be much easier to add 20 years to your appearance. You as an actor can probably alter your voice and posture to appear older, but we will give you some lozenges which will also age your voice for a few hours. You will be given a small cosmetic kit to take with you. It contains compounds in standard theatrical cosmetic packages but these compounds are more potent so please dispose of them after you have removed the exterior cosmetics from your body. We will also supply you with personalized prosthetics for your shoulders and midriff to give a more aged appearance. You may keep these or dispose of them as you wish. Now I will leave you to read. When you are ready for lunch, ring 11 on your phone. There is a menu on the bedside table from which you may order. I will return promptly at 1 pm.

Ambrose leaves the room and Larry begins the pamphlet.

INT. HOTEL BEDROOM - EARLY AFTERNOON

Larry has eaten lunch and the dishes are still on the dining table. There is a knock on the door.

LARRY

Yes?

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

It's Ambrose, may I come in?

LARRY

Yes, let's begin.

A woman in a nurse's uniform pushes a covered cart in the door.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

Mr. Sullivan, this is Jean. Jean is more than a makeup artist although she is very accomplished at that. She will make the arrangements to your face, neck, arms, hands, hair and any other areas which may appear uncovered. As the pamphlet explains, these changes will adhere for up to two weeks and are resistant to normal washing. The removal kit we will give you will restore you to your normal appearance.

LARRY

I'm pleased to meet you, Jean.

JEAN

Likewise, Mr. Sullivan. We will begin with your hair color so please dress yourself in the lounge ware we have provided. When you are ready, I will color your hair in the bathroom.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

I will leave you now and return in a few hours.

LARRY

Thank you, Ambrose.

Larry goes to the closet and takes out the lounge ware and then goes into the bathroom.

INT. HOTEL BEDROOM – EVENING

There is a knock on the door.

LARRY

(hoarse, older voice)

Come in, come in!

A twenty year older Larry stands next to the dining table which has the remnants of a meal and an empty bottle of wine. Ambrose, YOUNGER, enters the room and smiles at the appearance of Larry.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

I see Jean has done her usual excellent work. Are you happy with what you see?

LARRY

Well, Ambrose, I would not like to be like this forever, but for what I have in mind it is perfect.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

And your dinner was satisfactory?

LARRY

The dinner was excellent as was the wine. That wine is one of my regular selections but tonight there was something special about it. It made me feel even better.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

I'm most pleased to hear that, sir, and I will pass your compliments along to the cook.

LARRY

(laughing)

Whom I supposed is named Ambrose?

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

(laughing)

Well, no, sir, in fact the cook is named Gene

Both men laugh and Ambrose offers his hand to Larry.

AMBROSE, YOUNGER

I'll will be saying good night and good bye to you now, sir. Your driver will be here in a few moments to take you to to your home. You have the kit for the removal of the effects when you wish. We hope your endeavors will be successful and look forward to doing business with you again in the future. You know how to contact us.

LARRY

Yes, I do. And thank you for your work.

Ambrose leaves the room and Larry collects his case containing the cosmetic removal tools and hangs it over his shoulder.

EXT. LIMOUSINE IN DRIVEWAY OF SMALL HOTEL - NIGHT

The driver walks next to Larry to the back door of the car. Larry climbs in the back seat. The driver climbs in the front seat with the separating panel open.

LARRY

This car is so hot inside.

DRIVER

Yes, sir, I'm sorry about that, sir. When these dark cars sit in the sun they tend to become warm inside even on cool days. Please set the temperature to a more comfortable setting. Please fasten your safety belt, sir.

EXT. ENTRANCE TO LARRY'S HOUSE - NIGHT

The driver holds Larry's arm as they walk to the door. The driver is using a small torch.

DRIVER

I've taken the liberty to put your watch and your cellular phone back in your pocket, sir.

Larry searches his pocket for his house keys and opens the door.

LARRY

Ah, yes, thank you, driver. I'm still feeling a bit drowsy. It must have been the meal or the wine. I will just go up and go to bed.

BACK TO PRESENT

INT. LARGE PANELED OFFICE - DAY

Larry has just finished telling Victor about the change of his appearance.

VICTOR

So you had no problem with becoming older? Weren't you concerned someone else might see you?

LARRY

No, I rose early the next morning and packed a suitcase for a week. Then I closed the house up and drove into the city and parked the car in a garage. I took a cab to a small hotel. I was just another old man with a suitcase. I took a small room and paid for everything in cash.

FLASHBACK TO

INT. SMALL HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Larry is sitting on the side of the bed and talking on the telephone.

Yes, that's right. There is a courier delivery for Frank Sullivan but it cannot be delivered until 7 pm. If he will not be there to receive it, it will have to wait till another day.

Larry waits for the other party to reply. Larry nods and smiles as he listens to the telephone.

LARRY

Fine, then, please tell Mr. Sullivan the delivery will be made at 7 pm in the main lobby of his building. He should just wait at the guard's desk. Thank you, good bye.

EXT. OUTSIDE LARGE OFFICE BUILDING WITH PLAZA - 7 PM

A DELIVERY MAN carrying a large envelope enters the lobby of the office building and approaches the guard at the desk. Standing in front of the guard is Frank awaiting the delivery. The two men speak and Frank signs a receipt for the delivery. He opens the package and removes a large book. He looks at the front and back and then opens the cover to see if there is any identification of the sender. Seeing nothing he returns the book to the package, smiling broadly. He takes his shoulder bag and leaves the building. After he has gone about twenty paces Larry emerges from the shadows behind him and approaches Frank from behind.

LARRY

Excuse me, young man, but you seem to have dropped this money.

Frank, in good spirits from having received the book, stops and turns to face Larry.

FRANK

What's that? I dropped what?

LARRY

I saw this banknote fall from your pocket.

FRANK

(surprised)

Bu....t how could I have done that?

LARRY

I used to do it all the time. Someone gives you change for a larger note and you are in a hurry so you just shove the change in your pocket. Once my daughter was following me when I dropped both a five and a ten. Luckily for me she was there. There's no telling how much I've lost all these years.

Frank accepts the note. He looks at it and then shoves it back in his pocket.

LARRY

I say, sir, there you go shoving it in your pocket so you can just lose it again. Better to spend it than to lose it I say.

FRANK

You're quite right mister...?

LARRY

Rayburn, John Rayburn. Pleased to meet you mister ...?

FRANK

I'm Frank Sullivan. This is turning out to be a good evening for me, Mr. Rayburn. First I receive a wonderful gift from someone then I have twenty pounds that I would have lost returned to me. Care to join me for drink to celebrate?

LARRY

Well, I don't mind if do, but I can only be a bit. I have an appointment for later.

EXT. URBAN STREET - EVENING

The men walk along and come to a bar which they enter.

INT. BAR – NIGHT

The men go to a small table and are seated. A waiter comes from behind the bar.

WAITER

So what will it be, gentlemen?

LARRY

I'll have a pint of ale, please.

FRANK

Yes, the same for me, thank you.

So what is it you do, Mr. Rayborn was it?

LARRY

No, RayBURN like the prominent American politician from the last century. There is even a large office building in Washington with my name on it. Ha, ha.

FRANK

You were related to this politician?

LARRY

No, not that I know of. I was an engineer when I worked, but I've been retired quite a few years. Now I am a watercolor painter.

FRANK

Oh, an artist. That is what I would like to be, a sculpture.

LARRY

So you are a sculpture?

FRANK

(laughing)

No, I'm afraid not. I am an accountant. My father pushed me to do something that would earn me a good living so I became an accountant. But what I would have really liked to have done would have been was a sculpture, like Rodin.

LARRY

I see. Do you have any pictures of your sculptures with you?

FRANK

Yes, I have a few here on my cellular phone. But I am afraid the few sculptures I have sold have hardly paid for the materials much less my time.

Frank takes out his cellular phone and opens the picture viewer to a photo of a sculpture. He holds the phone out to Larry. Larry takes the phone and looks at the photo for a moment.

(LARRY

What is the size of this sculpture, Mr. Sullivan?

FRANK

It's 35 centimeters, a little over a foot tall.

LARRY

There's the problem, Mr. Sullivan. These days people are only willing to pay large sums for large objects, whether its sculptures or watercolors. That is unless you have a famous name, which at this point you don't. But that can change. What you need to do is think on a grander scale. Let me show you what I mean.

Larry takes a WHITE NAPKIN from the table and a PEN from his pocket. He sketches on the napkin. Now let's say this is your sculpture. You say it is a foot tall. Now let me draw in some people next to it, just stick figures but you get the idea, and a large building behind it. You see, your sculpture is now thirty feet tall, in the plaza before a large building.

FRANK

Yes, I see what you mean. But how do I get a commission like that?

LARRY

You take this photo of your sculpture which is very good but very small. You use some photo retouch software to draw in some models of people next to the sculpture as if the sculpture were thirty feet high. Then you find a photo of one of the more recent works by Raymond Borges, the architect. You place a very faint image of that building behind the sculpture and the people as if your sculpture were in the plaza. The building should only be slightly recognizable so Mr. Borges is attracted by his own work. I want you to change the surface of you sculpture to appear as though it were Carrara marble. Make a print of this picture and send it by overnight delivery to the office of Mr. Borges. Include a handwritten note saying that you had met a previous associate of his, myself, who thought the concept would be of interest to him for the plaza in front of one of his new buildings.

FRANK

But are you sure he will remember you, Mr. Rayburn?

LARRY

He may or he may not, but at least he will look at your picture and he will see something appealing in the background.

FRANK

(excited)

I will do just that, sir! Tonight. And how can I get in touch with you, sir, to let you know how it goes?

LARRY

(laughing)

There is no need for that. If it is unsuccessful, no one will hear of the sculpture or you. But, if as I suspect, it is successful, I will read about it in the press, and especially the journals on architecture and sculpture. Now I am afraid I must be going. Thank you for the beer.

FRANK

It was the twenty pounds you found that paid for it, so thank you, sir, and thanks even more for the advice and the reference. Good night, sir.

BACK TO PRESENT

INT. LARGE PANELED OFFICE - DAY

Victor and Larry are still seated talking.

VICTOR

How did you know about this engineer John Rayburn?

LARRY

There is no John Rayburn, or not in the sense that you mean. I made him up and gave him a name with enough recognition to an architect that he would think maybe he had known a John Rayburn and worked with him in the past.

VICTOR

And your son?

Larry leans over and takes an architectural magazine from his briefcase. He opens it to an inside article announcing the appointment of Frank Sullivan to provide the large plaza sculpture for Borges's new building complex. A photo shows Borges with his arm around Frank's shoulders and a large sketch of the sculpture and building on an easel next to them.

VICTOR

I am very pleased to see that. Now I guess you will return to your regular career?

LARRY

No, Victor, that exercise was most rewarding and I think with different appearances there are many other goals I can accomplish. However, some of them are going to require me to be more fit and have some rigorous training so that is what I am going to do for the next few months.

FINAL FADE OUT

******

About the Author

In his first life Max E. Harris was a computer system specialist living mainly in Houston but for periods in Scotland, Holland, Brunei and the even more remote wild lands of Sacramento, California. In his second life he moved to Como, Italy, where he walks in the woods with his dog Orso wondering what happens next. Harris wonders, Orso knows.

Discover other titles by Max E. Harris at Smashwords.com:

Confessions of a Drone Pilot -- Fiction of the Present and Near Future

Harris can be contacted at MaxHarrisWonders@gmail.com.
