The Ace of Spades Page #14

The Iraqi OFFICER IN CHARGE (OIC) hops out of truck, slams

the door. His pistol holster slaps his thigh.

Williams and the OIC head toward each other. Now toe to toe.

INT. KIRKUK AIRFIELD - WAITING AREA - SAME

UN PERSONNEL plant their faces against their oversized

windows like kids in a candy store.

UN PERSON 1

What's going on?

UN PERSON 2

A problem.

UN PERSON 3

A big problem.

EXT. C-5 - SAME

Hot wind blows against their face as sand pelts their feet.

The two men are close but far agreement.

83

OIC:

(devilish smile)

You wait.

WILLIAMS:

Why?

OIC:

We are not ready.

WILLIAMS:

How could that be? You've known

our demand for weeks.

OIC:

A request, not a demand.

WILLIAMS:

No. A demand.

OIC:

According to--

WILLIAMS:

United Nations Monitoring,

Verification and Inspection

Commission!

OIC:

You will have to wait.

(points)

Right here.

The Iraqi officer does an about face.

WILLIAMS:

What about my crew?!

OIC:

They will be fine.

Williams turns in disgust.

INT. C-5 - CONTINUOUS

The crew MOPES in their sling-seats as minutes pass. The

heat becomes the enemy more than the Iraqis.

WILLIAMS:

This is absurd.

Williams storms off toward the ramp. He sets his sights and

MARCHES to the terminal, two hundred yards away.

84

The Iraqis see his defiance and STREAK to intercept.

WAITING AREA - SAME

The crowd sees Williams is irate. His face red as the sun.

UN PERSON 1

Whoa, he looks very unhappy.

UN PERSON 2

I honestly don't think the

Iraqis give a sh*t.

TARMAC - MOMENTS LATER

Williams turns around in frustration. He removes his hat and

wipes his brow. His patience meter is peaked.

WILLIAMS:

Now! If you don't move aside we

are coming down that ramp and

heading straight to Halabja.

The OIC draws a slight grin.

Williams quickly swings around to the plane to offload.

WILLIAMS (CONT’D)

We, and our gear...will be right

back.

INT. IRAQ MILITARY VEHICLE - MOMENTS LATER

MILITARY OFFICER

(in Arabic into walkietalkie)

Halabja.

MAN (V.O)

(in Arabic)

On our way.

INT. C-5 - MOMENTS LATER

WILLIAMS:

Everyone get your gear. We're

gettin' the hell out of here.

They're exasperated but relieved and gather backpacks,

suitcases and metal boxes for the trip.

85

EXT. KIRKUK AIRFIELD - MAIN GATE - LATER

Eight UN vehicles are packed to the brim with gear.

As gestapo as they can be, Iraqi guards wearing black

reflective sunglasses impede the convoys departure.

INT. UN TRUCK - SAME

The DRIVER honks his horn as the guards stand like stone

statues.

Williams grabs the door handle practically ripping it off and

steps out of the truck.

INSPECTOR 1

Sir--

Williams slams the door, rocking the truck from side to side.

MAIN GATE - MOMENTS LATER

WILLIAMS:

Who's in charge here?

The guards remain solid.

WILLIAMS (CONT’D)

Are you ignoring me, soldier?

Williams moves as close to the gate as possible. He

contemplates jumping over it.

SOLDIER 1

(looks to his left)

Go.

SOLDIER 1

(in Arabic. looks to

his left)

Musawala.

Soldier 2 casually brings himself to attention. Performs an

about face to the guard shack and steps inside.

SOLDIER 1 (CONT’D)

Any moment.

(whispers)

Kiss Ekh-tak.

WILLIAMS:

(turns toward the vehicle)

What did you just say?

The soldier ignores him and steps away.

86

INT. UN TRUCK - MOMENTS LATER

Williams plops down in the seat with a perplexed look.

INSPECTOR 1

Sir?

WILLIAMS:

I could have swore that soldier

called me, ahhh...

INSPECTOR 1

A what, Sir?

WILLIAMS:

Kissy tock?

The Inspector almost chokes on his own spit.

WILLIAMS (CONT’D)

What is it? Is that bad?

INSPECTOR 1

He called you, uhhh...sorry, Sir.

He said for you to go, ummm, f***

your sister.

LATER --

A military truck arrives amid a cloud of dust. The OIC peels

out of his truck. He's in a chipper mood.

OIC:

Is there a problem?

WILLIAMS:

We’re hot, tired, hungry, and now

behind schedule.

OIC:

I beg your pardon, Sir.

WILLIAMS:

How much longer?

OIC:

Sir, this is for your protection.

Williams knows from the OIC’s look that he’s full of sh*t.

WILLIAMS:

We've done this for years and now

all of a sudden?

87

OIC:

Times change.

SERIES OF SHOTS - HALABJA SUSPECT WMD SITE

-- A massive double-fenced military secure facility. Metal

guard posts on each corner.

-- Earthen bunkers, more than one can count are constructed

in all different areas.

-- Radioactive warning signs are affixed everywhere.

INT. UN TRUCKS (MOVING) - LATER

Williams and two INSPECTORS flip through a folder full of

papers. They are gruesome in nature.

INSPECTOR 1

Sir, have you been to Halabja?

WILLIAMS:

Long ago.

INSPECTOR 1

Are there still remnants?

WILLIAMS:

No, not much.

INSPECTOR 1

Just the thought is what's sad.

INSPECTOR 2

(looks out the window)

Can't imagine what these people

went through for those five hours.

WILLIAMS:

See that?

Williams points to the a tall immaculate memorial in the

center of the roundabout. Its menacing in a weird way.

INT./EXT. HALABJA SUSPECT WMD SITE - BUNKER 34 - DAY

A dozen MEN streak between idling covered trucks and an

unlocked earthen covered bunker. They grab plastic tubes and

scientific gear, clearing out the bunker.

SUPER:
Halabja Suspect WMD Site - Iraq - Late 1990’s

88

INT. HALABJA - ENTRY CONTROL POINT BUILDING - SAME

The office is small, hot and musty. Papers litter the desks

and the floor. It's a ruckus and very suspicious.

HALABJA DIRECTOR

Feel free to look through our

files.

The Halabja Director waves his hands around wildly.

WILLIAMS:

Fine.

(to Inspectors)

Go through them.

The inspectors SLAM open drawers. They sit mostly empty.

INSPECTOR 1

Sir, there's nothing here.

WILLIAMS:

(to the Halabja Director)

Did you just move in? Or--

HALABJA DIRECTOR

No--No. Of course not.

WILLIAMS:

Then why are you thinned out?

The Director’s face goes from defensive to confusion.

HALABJA DIRECTOR

Thinned out?

WILLIAMS:

Your filing cabinets. They’re

empty!

HALABJA DIRECTOR

They were full. We have done...as

you would call some...some house

cleaning.

The Director grabs a folder from a nearby desk.

HALABJA DIRECTOR (CONT’D)

There is more here if you like.

Look! Look!

Williams snags it from his hand and flips through it while

shaking his head.

89

WILLIAMS:

This is Baji!

HALABJA DIRECTOR

Ohhh, yes, yes. Excuse me?

The Director looks over Williams shoulder to get a peak.

HALABJA DIRECTOR (CONT’D)

Let me see that. Why yes it is.

MAIN GATE - LATER

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