What day is it, anyway?
Alright!
Hi...
I needed to be somewhere today.
Instead, I'm talking to my twenty year old niece
who all of a sudden wants to become a private detective.
I'm just trying to help.
I don't need your help!
Where can we talk?
Should we go on the roof?
Good view point...
Okay, so what's his name?
His name is Ahmed.
Ahmed?
Yeah, and I talked to his brother.
Excuse me?
Well, to his half-brother, actually.
And that's his only living relative.
You contacted his brother?
No. The morgue did.
Well, a parish from Ridgecrest actually,
but then the morgue, sort of. It's...
And then he called, he called Henry.
Lana, what the hell are you talking about?
Well, they need help.
Uhm, the LA morgue e-mailed a photo of Hassan to Trona.
And his brother identified the photo,
but he doesn't have a car.
And Henry has offered to pay for the burial,
but he only has a truck and I don't think it's appropriate to trans...
I, now wait... Who's Henry?
He's the pastor from here.
You've entirely disrupted this investigation!
I mean, you don't have a damn clue
- what's at stake here! - Okay, I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to disrupted anything...
Okay, I thought that this information would help you.
How's this supposed to help me, huh?
Well, the brother, I mean he might have some information
that you could use, and...
Yeah?
...and if we woulda take the body home
then that might be kind of a good cover for you.
A good cover?!
That's great! That's just, that's perfect!
Okay...
It all worked out.
Oh, good.
Listen, I appreciate your help.
Likewise.
A lot of people wouldn't take the time.
No, they wouldn't.
So, uh, what've you got there, a little flag?
That's right.
So, uh, you're looking after my niece?
Well, I just gave her a room.
She's pretty good at looking after herself.
So, you're looking after her, then?
Yeah, of course. She's only twenty or so.
Over here!
Wheel it in closer!
In there?
Yeah, in here. What'd you think?
We're gonna tie him up on top?
Okay, let's go!
Wow, wow...
Oh, I've never seen a set-up like that before!
Excuse me!
You got everything?
I'm..., no.
You're going to need the coroner's report.
- Did they put that in there? - Yeah.
You're all set.
Alright, thanks.
Touch base, if you can.
Just give me a call.
God speed!
I guess, you probably think I'm...
one of these vets that got all screwed up in 'Nam, right?
On the brink of insanity,
- right? - Nope...
I'd love you anyway though, "Uncle" Paul.
You want me to tell you something about the Vietnam War?
Yeah.
We won!
The war?
That's right!
Metaphorically?
No, in actuality.
It wasn't just the Vietnam War, you know.
There was a little thing called the "Cold War", too.
Right.
We stopped the spread of Communism for ten thousand days.
We drew a line in the jungle,
and eventually they crossed it, but when they did,
they were already depleted.
They were completely exhausted.
It was a critical time.
A critical place.
We won!
Uncle Paul, can I ask you a question?
Sure. What do you wanna know?
How come you never wrote my mom back?
She sent you all those letters over the years,
can you just tell me why?
I just never opened them, that's all.
Why?
Well, it's hard to explain.
Listen, sometimes in life, you just can't sit there, you know.
Sometimes you have to make a break.
The only way to leave something behind,
is to leave it all behind.
We didn't always see eye to eye, you know.
All that fanatic commie liberal stuff,
and dragging you around to all those
god-forsaken countries...
But I guess she was a good mother.
She was.
She should have taught you what America means.
What it stands for.
She did.
She taught me everything that it's supposed to stand for.
I think that's the reason I came back.
Supposed to?
We're in Trona.
Paul Jeffries, September eighteen,
heading north on one-seventy-eight...
Now entering the town of Trona.
He lives in the trailer park.
But it doesn't say which trailer.
Excuse me, please.
We've arrived at position one, the trailer park.
Outskirts of Trona, California.
Greenwich Mean Time fourteen hundred hours...
...Fourteen twelve!
What?
It's actually fourteen twelve.
I don't know if that matters?
General time frame is all I'm looking for.
Preliminary observation detects inconsistencies,
right off the bat.
There are approximately
twelve to fifteen dwellings in the compound,
yet for some reason, there are about forty mailboxes.
I'd like to see someone explain that one!
Paul...
I was thinking that it might be best
if I went in and spoke to the family while you took care of the body.
If that's okay with you.
I just thought that it just might seem a little bit strange,
driving there with him in the back.
- It's fine with me. - Okay...
So why don't we meet back somewhere over here,
when you're done with the funeral home, huh?
Sure.
Okay.
Great!
Hey! Hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
What do you think you're doing?
What?
What?!
Does this look like an amusement park to you?
Do you see any roller coasters?
I don't see any ferries-wheels.
I don't know what you mean.
Listen, don't get delusions or anything like that,
but you're not an operative on this.
But anyway, I have some stuff here...
Police-issued pepper spray...
Don't point that toward your face!
You may need this...
Do you really think that I'm gonna need a flashlight?
And this.
If you have to ditch everything,
you do not ditch this!
Alright, maybe you don't need that.
Okay, channel three. It has a twenty mile range.
Now, you tell me you need me, I'm there.
I'm your uncle,
but that part doesn't really matter...
You're on my Op. Remember,
- okay... You got it? - Got it!
I said three, right?
- Channel three? - Channel three.
Okay.
Hello?
What?
I'm sorry, I don't mean to disturb you.
I'm looking for Mr. Ahmed.
What do you want?
I'm helping out with a family issue. He's expecting me.
What? What's the matter?
Well, uh, Mr. Ahmed, I'm just trying to find his home.
I don't know anybody like that, no!
Is he... Is he dark-skin?
Excuse me?
The dark-skin guy lives in the last trailer up the hill.
The last trailer up the hill...
It's Paul Jeffries.
Fourteen hundred and twenty hours,
one hundred and eighty miles from the epicenter of Los Angeles.
Striking distance,
but a world apart! Trona.
Look at this place!
A couple of pedestrians,
a few stool pigeons sitting around without a clue...
But they're here!
Sleeper cells. I can feel 'em!
Hello?
Massive numbers of burned dwellings.
Completely... charred, flamed to the ground.
At first pass I can determine no clear pattern,
aside from arson.
Somebody lit these fires.
Probably to cover their traces...
I bet I'm being observed myself...
It's just like in 'Nam. Burnin' the damn Elephant Grass...
They know I'm here. Somebody does!
Mr. Ahmed?
This is the body from Los Angeles.
Somebody is expecting it.
Me?
I don't know? Are you expecting it?
We use a gurney for that.
Well, I don't really like gurneys.
And I'm on kind of a schedule.
What's the matter with you?
You've never seen a dead body before?
Put that thing over there in that room!
Jesus!
I'm watching you!
Hello!
You are from the mission? With Henry?
Yeah!
God bless you! God bless you.
I am eternally grateful to you. Whoever you are.
I'm Lana.
And I am Joe.
Nice to meet you.
It's good to meet you, Lana.
Huh, let's see. Um,
I have tea, water and some very bad vodka.
Tea sounds lovely.
We'll have tea. Come, go!
They just throw things out.
Perfectly good things.
Not in the mood for it anymore?
...Trash it!
I'm gonna take it!
What is that?
Chemicals!
Located probable retired mobile
chemical and or biological manufacturing unit.
Going aboard.
Pistol targets! Ah, huh!
Wood stove!
Strange green liquid...
Holy shit!
It's Borax boxes!
Who is this?
Two new suspects approaching in van.
They're getting out...
They're loading the boxes!
They're loading the boxes into the vehicle!
Jesus!
I go in for closer observation.
Observe, track and report. I just hold off for now...
Never interrupt the enemy when he's making a mistake!
Just lay chilly, wait it out.
Suspects fleeing. I'm going for the van.
On Yasuf's porch
Got it! Alright.
Let's... look at these.
Oh, who is that?
This is my father. And Hassan's father.
Where was that picture taken?
This is in Pakistan...
- Look at his pants. - Aha...
Funny, huh?
They're pulling out of town!
Going south now on one-seven-eight.
They're baiting me.
They think they're luring me in.
That'll be the day, my friend...
You back me into a corner
and you'll rue that day, Chuck!
You'll rue that day for a long time!
He's turning left into the side road.
Suspect vehicle parked in front of isolated house.
That's perfect!
It's a perfect sleeper hide-out...
Probably goes underground.
Probable chemical weapons containers
being transported into what is most likely
Trona headquarters.
Suspects out of view.
Huh... This is it!
You've done your job.
You've done your job well.
Every time I told you to be patient
and you wouldn't listen,
well this is why.
You stick to your game plan,
you stick to your strategy
and you never fluctuate.
And then you find yourself here!
These are the moments that define your life.
My father and his brother at his
brother's wedding, and...
Oh, and here is my mother. Look at her!
This is a picture of Hassan and me together,
at his wedding.
Suspects loading full chemical containers into cargo van.
License plate has been recorded,
clear photographs had been obtained.
Individuals leaving the scene.
I will not continue surveillance of the vehicle.
Repeat, vehicle is free of observation.
SSG Jeffries, SSG Jeffries.
Copy?
SSG Jeffries, come in.
Oh! I'm sorry!
SSG Jeffries, SSG Jeffries, copy?
Uhm, uh, that's my uncle. Uh, he...
SSG Jeffries, SSG Jeffries, come in.
SSG Jeffries. Copy?
Um, this is... L. Swenson... reporting...
Do you have my cell phone number in your possession? Over.
Copy... Yes, I have it.
Listen to me very carefully.
If you do not hear from me within the next twenty minutes,
I want you to call that number.
It will be forwarded to an operative.
And he'll make arrangements for you. Over.
What do you mean? What arrangements?
In the event I become indisposed,
he will transport you back to base.
To your mission. Over.
If you become "indisposed" in the next twenty minutes,
I'm supposed to call a number that will be forwarded to an operative?
Affirmative.
No fucking way!
What?
No! Tell me where you are and what the hell you're doing?
You watch your mouth, young lady.
Wait, uncle Paul, please!
I am not at liberty to disclose this information.
And I also strongly suggest you refrain from
addressing me in that manner.
This is simply a precautionary procedure. Out!
Wait, Uncle Paul!
This is Staff Sergeant Paul Jeffries, US Army Special Forces.
It is seventeen hundred hours, September eighteen.
I'm going in!
First of all, I want to thank you all for coming.
It warms our heart. It's a big crowd.
We're honored.
The last two and a half years,
our nation has acted decisively,
to confront great challenges,
You dress funny.
But I guess you could say the same thing about me.
I came to this office to solve problems,
Whatever is left to pack is back there in the corner.
There should be some boxes.
For two months, no one has been able to fix this.
I've been stuck on the same channel!
I can only control the volume!
Terrorists declared war on the United States of America.
And war is what they got.
Oh!
Thank you, friend.
You're welcome.
You're in the shit?
No. I checked it out.
Those people are the wrong people.
A subdivision, maybe...
Uh, look, I got some critical information.
You wanna call me from a secure line?
No. Go ahead!
They made an arrest on the Humvee drive-by.
Names?
Nothing yet. Uh, they brought in two suspects,
that's all I know.
And I'm waiting for a call from Zucker.
I'll have something in less than an hour.
You call me immediately.
Alright. Will do. Uh, and Paul?
What?
Uh, your niece called me on my line.
It was forwarded from your phone so I answered it.
I know how to handle that...
You know when to call me.
I'll have something in less than sixty.
- Hi. - Are you okay?
Paul, this is Hassan's brother, this is Joe.
You brought my brother home.
I am always grateful to you.
Well, you're welcome.
Well, uh, we're drinking some really bad Vodka.
Will you join us?
Sure.
Alright! Come go!
Come in, come in, come in!
Paul, make yourself at home.
Please, have a seat on the couch...
Paul? It has been a long
discussion in my family, whether "Aristocrat's Choice"
or lighter fluid is easier to swallow.
And lighter fluid lost, but not by much...
Cheers!
How, uh, how long has it been since you talked to your brother?
Oh, yes...
Really, it'd been a long time!
You don't have a telephone?
No. Not any more.
How do you communicate from here?
Oh, there is one pay phone adjoining the gas station.
But I get no calls.
Except from Henry.
Paul? Paul!
What have you been doing all this time?
What do you think I've been doing? I've been trying to...
learn some...
stuff about... Hassan.
I'll help you.
Anything I can tell you. Anything I know.
Okay, well, uh...
who'd wanna kill him?
No one.
No one?
No, if...
if anyone knew Hassan, had met Hassan...
They would wish him no harm.
Poor fellow had no possessions.
Nothing to eat, nothing to steal...
He took a hollow point forty-four right straight to the chest.
And that... that doesn't exactly sound like a...
case of mistaken identity.
Paul, can I talk to you for a second?
Look, if you...
you need to give me something.
If you want me to help you,
we, we can't play this little game of riddles,
okay? Um,
what was he making with the Borax?
Borax?
Money!
He was trying to make money to eat.
Okay, well that, good!
I can understand that. He was trying to turn a profit.
So, I'm gonna need to know, uh,
the source, and I'll need to know the buyers...
When the old factory shut down I was able to borrow a truck.
And I loaded it with many boxes of Borax.
Remind you, I did not have permission...
Go on!
And Hassan, uh,
...he, uh, he found a company in Los Angeles to, to keep it.
And, and he would try to sell it
and, and, uh...
to other businesses and the company would get some free boxes.
Free boxes to do what?
Oh, um, to clean their carpets.
They, uh, they imported these, uh, carpets.
So, uh...
how was he... what, what was he, uh,
to get... uh... expecting... from... the other companies...
that he sold to?
I don't know.
Whoever would give him a few goddamn dollars.
It's easier than selling cans.
What is that?
Oh, it's just a photo, of Hassan.
Excuse me, please!
Hassan!
Will you please tell me what's happening?
I don't know.
I, I'm just... I, I'm not, uh...
I can't follow the right leads...
Uh, uh...
You're okay?
I, I can't... control it all, anymore.
My things, these things that...
You don't have to.
Yeah.
Go ahead?
Go ahead.
It's not what we thought.
Did you copy?
Yeah, I heard you.
It was kids, I just confirmed it.
Completely non-related.
What do you mean, kids?
Zucker said they got a legit confession.
Some random act...
a couple of white kids.
A couple of white kids?
Affirmative.
Where did, where'd they get the Hummer?
Parents.
Uh, they also got a match on the gun
and Zucker said they tested positive for Crystal Meth.
And one of them for Crack.
Just bad kids, on drugs...
What should I do now?
Listen. I got to, uh...
I, I'm... working on something.
I, I'll contact you later.
Yeah. Okay.
Good work, Jimmy.
Thanks, Paul. Uh, Serge.
Okay!
Oh, I can't believe the situation... here...
Paul?
Oh my God, Uncle Paul!
- Uhuh. - Come here! Are you okay?
Just, uh, minor injuries.
I'll take a butterfly... stitch.
I'm getting you a wash cloth.
Leave the quack... in the tent.
He couldn't stitch a baseball.
Oh, shit! Yeah.
That is... it's probably the... worst day...
Shit! Oh, shit.
We're hot! We're, we got hit on the left!
- Left side! Left side! - Uncle Paul!
Pull it up, pull it up, Little John! Pull it!
Ah! Pull it up, Little John! Pull it up! We're gonna fucking dive!
You wanna mess with me, you...
Okay, let's go! Let's go, you fucking, you fucking gooks!
Let's go! Come on, you fucking little gooks!
Come on! Oh, no, my God, we got flamed!
We got flamed in the bird. What?
Shit! We're in deep shit! In deep shit! Rip the belt! No!
Oh God! Don't!
No, don't. We're jumping.
Please, don't, don't, don't!
Help us, God, help us! Help us in our helplessness.
Help my uncle in II his pain and suffering.
Grant him peace!
Dear Paul.
If for nothing else, I hope you can forgive me for this letter.
I have found myself in an African hospital,
away from my home,
and all attempts to reach you have been unsuccessful.
The doctors here tell me that I am dying and I believe they are right.
We each have our last day on this earth
and I have always been okay with that,
but of course I wish I had more time.
Enough, at least, to come find you.
Since that doesn't seem possible,
I am giving this letter to Lana.
She has grown into a beautiful human being
and reminds me of Mom more and more each day.
She seems to have gotten the best parts from all of us and
hopefully none of the bad.
Aside from her father, you will soon be her only living relative,
so when she brings you this, there is one thing I ask of you...
You had a horrible dream last night.
It really scared me.
I'm sorry.
You said that you were falling...
Do you remember?
That was the Huey I went down in.
We all fell...
Only two soldiers walked away.
I was one of 'em.
It's a gift.
A gift?
I'm not so sure about that...
It is to me.
That dream went away for a long time.
And then, when that plane hit the tower...
and then a second one,
but they were still there...
I was watching that shot of
the New York Skyline with those beautiful towers.
They were burning inside, but they just kept holding on.
Right there.
I, I knew it was bad.
Over two thousand gallons of fuel,
two seven-sixty-sevens,
but I thought they could handle it.
They took the blow and they were standing strong,
and I thought:
They're refusing to fall!
They're too proud!
But then,
that dream just started coming back.
I was so far away that it was night time,
when the towers fell.
And at first, I didn't,
I didn't know what was going on... I just heard people...
cheering.
Cheering?
There was a crowd
gathered out in the street. Close to where we lived.
Terrorists!
No.
No, I think that that's the part that hurts the most.
They weren't, they were just...
just ordinary people.
Well, why in the hell were they cheering?
Because they hate us.
And because they hate America.
And it came from such an honest place
and from so many people that...
I just, I knew that something had gone wrong, and,
and that's, that's become my... nightmare.
Over three thousand civilians were killed on that day...
They were innocent people!
Yeah. And... and it's their voices that I need to hear.
Because I really don't think that they would want
any more people killed in their name.
Aside from her father, you will soon be her only living relative,
so when she brings you this, there is one thing I ask of you.
Something I fear her father will not be able to provide.
She is as courageous as a woman her age can be,
but you and I both know life has a way of changing that.
You, more than anyone,
know how everything can turn upside down in a single moment.
I worry about the times we live in,
and the world Lana will face when she'll be our age.
One day I know she will need real courage,
the kind of courage and strength that only you may be able to teach her.
I'm so sorry I let our petty differences come between us.
Only now do I realize how absurd I've been.
I love you and I've always loved you, Paul.
And when the day comes that I see you again,
I will beg for your forgiveness.
Until then, please watch over your niece.
I'll be watching over both of you.
My deepest love, your sister Virginia.
You seem disappointed...
I thought it'd be different.
Like what?
Something more!
I don't know. Not just a construction site.
Let's just be quiet!
Let's just try and listen...