Damascus Cover Page #2

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there will be plenty of time...

to get to the girl.

I will have a back-up plan,

if we need it.

Good.

MIKI:
Prep starts immediately.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Let's review.

We meet there, 6:00pm.

Right. What if Shaul

does not show?

Then Plan B.

Which is?

Cafe Teyrouzi, 24 hours later.

Good... and where is the

Jewish Quarter?

- Over there.

- Let's go!

ARI (V.O.):
Remain dark.

No communication...

no calls, no messages.

MIKI (V.O.):

Last time. Password?

ARI (V.O.):

Caleb home.

MIKI (V.O.):

And The Angel's response?

ARI (V.O.):

Knock on the door.

MIKI (V.O.):

Good.

I am the only one who knows

The Angel's identity...

and I am certain he is clean.

Go to him, but only if your

life is in danger.

I'm not losing another agent.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

Next.

Next.

Have you ever been

to occupied Palestine?

No.

(PHONE BUZZES)

(SPEAKING IN ARABIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

AL-HUSSEINI:

He has been fully checked out...

by our people in Germany.

LUDIN:

You say his father was SS?

Yes, he served at Dachau.

Among other things, he funds

right-wing parties in Germany.

Trust me... he is a friend.

And he wants what?

To buy carpets and sell them

in Europe.

And what do you want from me?

Help him to feel at home.

The more comfortable he is,

the more he spends.

The more he spends, the more

thanks I owe you.

He is here, Herr Hoffman!

Yeah.

Welcome to Damascus.

I am Main Al-Husseini,

the Minister of Trade.

My pleasure to meet you.

I hope you don't mind,

I invited a friend...

Herr Hans Hoffman...

meet Herr Franz Ludin.

- Guten Abend.

- Guten Abend, Herr Ludin.

Hans, bitte.

Please.

Ambassador Al-Diri tells me

many great things about you.

Don't believe a word!

You are interested in carpets?

Syria has the finest in the

world.

That is why I am here.

A drink?

I will have whatever

you are having.

So, another arak, please.

First time in Damascus?

Yeah, I'm looking forward

to exploring the city.

It's not Germany, but it has

some redeeming qualities.

Herr Ludin has lived here many,

many years.

He knows the city well.

The oldest inhabited city

in the world.

The past looks a lot more

appealing...

when you get to my age.

You should show him around,

Franz.

I'd be happy to.

I wouldn't want to impose.

Friday is a Muslim holiday,

hopeless for business.

- If you are free?

- Good.

To exploring the city!

- And to new friends.

- Prost!

Prost!

It was a pleasure doing

business with you.

Thank you, it was a pleasure

for me.

- Thank you.

- See you again soon.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC FADES UP)

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

See you tomorrow, sir.

Thank you.

Hey!

Are you following me?

What are you doing here?

I am here on an assignment

like I said...

or have you forgotten me

completely?

I am sorry, I didn't call.

This is crazy! What are you

doing here?

Unexpected business opportunity.

Is this your hotel?

- You, too?

- ARI:
Yeah.

- Come on, Kim.

- Ah, got to go.

- Good seeing you.

- And you.

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

LUDIN:

Muslims, Christians, Jews...

it's not going to end well.

So much older than Europe.

Do you miss Germany?

Of course.

But the Germany I knew doesn't

exist any more.

They were the greatest country

in the world.

United, we would be again.

You remind me... I used to talk

like that.

- This place is such a maze.

- Yes.

And sometimes you end up...

where you do not want to be.

The Jewish Quarter.

Yes, they can come and go,

but never a whole family.

Why?

President Assad wants to keep

them.

They are a bargaining chip.

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

Bam! Bam!

Agh!

- Thank you.

- Are you hurt?

- No, no...

- Allow me to defend you.

- Bam!

- Agh!

Kids!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello?

ARI (OVER PHONE):

It's Hans.

I'm sorry to call you so late.

You left your wallet in my car.

Oh, thank goodness. I have been

searching everywhere for it.

I can drop it by in the morning.

LUDIN (OVER PHONE):

No need.

Some friends are coming over

for drinks tomorrow night.

A few local Germans.

If you are not busy...

What time?

LUDIN (OVER PHONE):

8:
00 o'clock.

Sounds good.

LUDIN (OVER PHONE):

You can bring the wallet then.

Good night.

ARI (OVER PHONE):

Good night.

Where are you from?

You really do not let up,

do you?

MAN:
Have a drink with me.

Really, no, thank you.

- BARTENDER:
Good evening, sir.

- Good evening.

- Hello.

- Hello.

Save me! I told him I am waiting

for my husband.

What's it worth?

I'll let you buy me dinner.

Deal!

We have been on the road

for two months...

Egypt, Jordan, Israel

and now here.

We're just trying to give our

readers a little insight.

To be honest, I am just starting

to understand...

how complicated it is here.

And what about you?

What brings you to Syria?

Cheap carpets.

And here I thought you were

just following me!

Would that have been a better

answer?

And... apart from work?

What would you like to know?

The thing that you least want

to tell me...

your deepest, darkest secret.

And if I have nothing to hide?

Well, that would be very

disappointing!

All I can tell you is,

it involves...

a lot of vodka and a strip club!

Oh, booze is in my blood!

- Thank you. Cheers!

- Cheers!

Hans, where are you from?

Berlin.

We were just talking

about Berlin.

I have got a couple of friends

posted there.

I don't think they have been

sober since the wall fell.

Lucky for them!

I can imagine it is crazy

there right now.

Makes you wish we were there.

Help me!

Free Syria!

Help!

DMITRY:
Oh, that's tough, man.

Are you okay?

What the hell was that?

KAREN:
They don't even hide

what they do.

Because they want you to know.

Know what?

That they're watching and

listening...

everybody, all the time.

Sounds like East Germany.

Well, not any more.

Well, things could change here,

too.

That's what they said about

Berlin...

and now the wall is down, so...

If that wall fell, anything

is possible.

I'll drink to that.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

I... got to get up really early,

I have an assignment.

You know where to find me.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

It is made with my finest silk.

I'll take 50.

My pleasure.

For you...

the traditional Syrian dress.

Hope you like.

It's beautiful.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

ARI:
Good evening.

Good evening.

Guten Abend. Welcome.

Thank you.

Ah... your wallet.

Oh, thanks.

Gentlemen, meet Herr Hans

Hoffman.

May I present...

Herr Heinrich Wolff.

I prefer Steffen Schmidt.

Ignore him.

A Mossad letter bomb blew off

two of his fingers...

and it makes him feel more

important than he is.

And this gentleman is Colonel

Ludwig Streicher...

advisor to the Syrian Army.

That was a number of years ago,

Franz.

Can I get you something to

drink, Berlinerwasser perhaps?

Whisky, if you have it.

LUDIN:
Can you get Herr Hoffman

a whisky?

Hans, is it true your father

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