The Ace of Spades Page #3

It’s his identity.

MELANIE:

You’re not here to get his life

story. Time is short. We need to

get his take on the video.

KYLE:

I know, I know. I have to get his

trust.

Stress is written all over his face.

MELANIE:

When are you gonna show him?

She points to the television.

KYLE:

I don't want to piss him off too

much yet. He's finally opening up

a little.

MELANIE:

Is that what you call it? He’s

only insulted you half a dozen

times.

KYLE:

Better than a dozen.

MELANIE:

Can't wait for you to show him.

(laughs)

He might punch you in the face

within the first three minutes.

Kyle continues at his keyboard. He abruptly stops. Then

spins his laptop around.

KYLE:

Here, check out this part.

Kyle presses the play button on the laptop.

12

INSERT - TELEVISION SCREEN

INT. PRIVATE RESTURANT - NIGHT

ABU ABBAS, 50’s and professionally dressed, with TAHIR JALIL

HABBUSH, 50’s in his robe sit comfortably over lunch.

KYLE (O.S.)

(points to the screen)

That's Abu Abbas, Palestine

Liberation Front and Tahir Jalil

Habbush, Director of Iraqi Intel

Service.

MELANIE (O.C.)

Just like the dossier.

ABU ABBAS:

Thank President Hussein.

HABBUSH:

Most certainly. The flow of money,

training, weapons, and

transportation to carry out. Your

missions to attack Israel will be

on the forefront of our minds.

ABU ABBAS:

God is great.

BACK TO INTERROGATION PREP ROOM

MELANIE:

There's no way he can deny it.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - MORNING

SUPER:
BIAP - Operations Center - 10 February 2004

KYLE:

Could you have done more to help

Syria during their war with Israel?

SADDAM:

What more could we have done? I

sent all of our military men to

fight under Egyptian and Syrian

command.

13

KYLE:

Does it bother you that they didn't

welcome you with open arms?

SADDAM:

A loser does not know where his

head and feet are. It was a

difficult situation to come

together like this anyway.

KYLE:

I've seen a video of Abbas and

Tahir at a meeting.

Saddam immediately becomes defensive.

SADDAM:

So.

KYLE:

There was a deal.

Saddam waits ready to pounce on Kyle’s words.

KYLE (CONT’D)

Do the actions against Israel

constitute a legitimate defense of

Palestine? Some say it was

terrorism.

SADDAM:

(aggressive)

What did the Iraqi government do?

KYLE:

That's what I'm asking.

SADDAM:

If you have the recording, then you

know. Why pester me with this?

KYLE:

Can you at least elaborate?

SADDAM:

To what? Attempts to regain the

Arab lands that were raped and

taken.

KYLE:

Abbas asked for many things.

Weapons, transport--

Saddam is quick to cut Kyle off.

14

SADDAM:

If Abbas asked for things, it does

not mean we gave them to him.

KYLE:

So you didn't?

SADDAM:

If Abbas carried out any attacks,

that means we helped. If he did

not, we did not help. We have the

right to help anyone that

struggles. Who are you to question

a sovereign country’s actions?

KYLE:

Including the intelligence director

of the PLO?

SADDAM:

No. I am talking about

organizations in Palestine. The

work you are talking about is

entirely different. It is

intelligence work.

KYLE:

You don't know exactly what the

Director of the Iraqi Intel Service

did?

SADDAM:

Does the American CIA Director call

the President every time he meets

someone? Of course not.

INT. INTERROGATION PREP ROOM - DAY

MELANIE:

Did you hear?

Kyle looks up from his laptop. Expecting more explanation.

MELANIE (CONT’D)

He's hardly eating.

KYLE:

Damn it. He's gonna play that card

with me?

15

MELANIE:

(laughs)

Well, it's one way to get our

attention.

KYLE:

The longer he does it, we lose.

INT. SADDAM'S PRISON CELL - DAY

Food trays with large portions of food remain.

A GUARD comes to retrieve it. Pulls out a green logbook.

INSERT - GUARD LOGBOOK, which reads:

"1300 Food Entry. Prisoner Number

1:
Continues minimal food

consumption. 10 percent consumed."

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

Saddam looks more thin but still heathy -- ready to talk.

SUPER:
BIAP - Operations Center - 13 February 2004

SADDAM:

Let me ask a direct question.

KYLE:

Of course.

SADDAM:

I want to ask where, from the

beginning of the interview process

until now, has the information been

going?

KYLE:

Good question--

SADDAM:

For our relationship to remain

clear, I want to know.

KYLE:

They’re no doubt being reviewed by

many officials...maybe even the

President.

SADDAM:

Good, I appreciate.

16

KYLE:

You’re welcome.

Saddam turns verbose, even nonsensical.

SADDAM:

But I don't mind if this

information is published but...it

has to be in both English and

Arabic.

Kyle’s shoulders relax -- he’s building much needed trust.

KYLE:

(smirks)

Yes. I will do what I can. I'm

curious though.

SADDAM:

About?

KYLE:

Doubles.

SADDAM:

(laughs)

Movie magic.

KYLE:

Did others have doubles?

SADDAM:

Not that I'm aware of.

KYLE:

Uday or Qusay?

Saddam's face instantly becomes serious.

SADDAM:

I think my sons would not do this.

They might have considered such a

tactic during war, but not in

peace.

KYLE:

But you were at war.

Saddam begins to rub his palms with his thumbs -- trying his

best to stay stoic.

SADDAM:

Do you think I'm getting upset when

you mention my sons?

17

KYLE:

I would hope not. It certainly

isn’t my objective but I understand

somewhat.

SADDAM:

(inquisitive)

You have boys?

KYLE:

(dispirited)

No. Soon though.

His pencil taps against his clipboard.

SADDAM:

Well then, you couldn’t possibly

know. But you will know that bond.

The pencil tap stops completely.

SADDAM (CONT’D)

...but I still think about them as

martyrs.

KYLE:

Do you recall the day?

SADDAM:

Bits and pieces. I was fighting in

other areas at the time.

KYLE:

I have read the report. I can

describe the day for you.

BEGIN FLASHBACK:

EXT. IRAQ - MOSUL - HIDEOUT - DAY

Clear Arabian skies as the sun cooks two dozen HUMVEES from

the 101st Airborne Division while a platoon of TROOPS

encircle a multi-level brown stained building.

One Lamborghini SUV and Mercedes C-series serve as a beacon

of extravagance on a black-topped driveway.

SUPER:
Uday (Ace Of Hearts) and Qusay (Ace Of Clubs) Hussein

Hideout - Mosul, Iraq - July 2003

Two large speakers sit on the hood of the COMMANDER’S Humvee.

18

SOLDIER:

(through speakers)

Come out. Do not attempt anything.

INT. HIDEOUT - LIVING ROOM - SAME

UDAY, 39, smug, tall, and QUSAY, 37, mustache, lanky, and his

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