The Ace of Spades Page #9

50

(to crowd)

Even our own Ghanem, former

Director of the Office of the

President admitted his guilt.

Saddam reaches in his pocket for a handkerchief to wipe his

tears. The sound of a single crinkled piece of paper from

his pocket echoes in the room. He smooths it out.

SADDAM (CONT’D)

When your name is called, simply

stand.

As if the thermostat was turned to a hundred and fifty

degrees, sweat beads profusely on each face. PANIC sets in.

SADDAM (CONT’D)

Do not resist. Own your fate and

your treason to our Party. Just

stand. God will show you the way.

Muhyi Abdel-Hussein...

Saddam scans the room and finds him. They have a moment

together. Guards BURST towards him pushing others out of the

way and quickly grab him.

ABDEL:

(terrified)

No! I never!

ABDEL, 60, frail, struggles to no avail.

MAN IN CROWD:

Traitor! Kill him!

SADDAM:

Aman Aden...Hassan

Ibrahim...Jamel Khalil.

The guards go after them and force them out of the room.

Despair and SHOCK in each one's eyes.

LATER --

Tariq stands at the podium with “The List.”

Saddam grabs the microphone while he sits. His cigar billows.

SADDAM:

(agitated)

The dream of the conspirators are

many, but be assured I will pick up

my gun and fight.

TARIQ:

Malik Nasser.

SADDAM (CONT’D)

51

MALIK, 50's, in a worn suit. Waves his fists violently.

MALIK:

We will not stand for this!

SADDAM:

Get out! Get out!

TARIQ:

Samir Omar. Mohammed Zafir. Adnan

Huessen.

Tariq folds “The List” essentially ending the sleaziness and

then looks to Saddam for the next move.

Saddam grabs a handful of tissues to wipe away his tears.

TARIQ (CONT’D)

We will prevail. Long live Iraq!

The naming of individuals has ceased. The audience rises as

if they just witnessed a prize fight knockout.

CROWD:

Long live the party! Long live

Saddam Hussein!

Saddam has his win.

END FLASHBACK:

BACK TO INTERROGATION ROOM - SAME

Kyle knows but wants a reaction.

KYLE:

Sixty seven in total?

SADDAM:

I do not recall the exact number of

the guilty ones.

Saddam plays it off as a typical humdrum incident.

KYLE:

Many have said your tears weren't

authentic. Theatre, really.

SADDAM:

Theatre? I do not understand your

logic. I was back-stabbed.

Betrayed. Who would not feel

sadness?

52

KYLE:

I don't mean to be callous but it's

what’s been written.

SADDAM:

So? I can not defend history. I

know what I felt.

KYLE:

But the fact that you recorded it

leads people to conclusions. It

was brutal...and you had it

recorded. I saw it.

Saddam shifts from conversation to teacher mode.

SADDAM:

Treason is the root of a coup. I

had to exterminate the root. I had

to show we would not tolerate

traitors. With our Party methods,

there is no chance for any one who

disagrees with us to jump on a

couple of tanks and overthrow us.

KYLE:

And the video to all the Iraqi

ambassadors in other counties?

SADDAM:

I have no knowledge of where it

went but if it was shown to others,

that would have been a good thing,

not a bad thing.

KYLE:

It essentially showed you were in

charge.

SADDAM:

This is your opinion, you have the

right to think that way.

KYLE:

The video didn't show how the plot

was discovered.

SADDAM:

(matter of fact)

It did not.

KYLE:

Why?

53

SADDAM:

Despite being twenty five years ago

it will always remain a state

secret.

KYLE:

Some could have been proven

innocent.

Saddam finds this as comical as a joke at a comedy club.

SADDAM:

No. There were probably more

conspirators who were not

identified.

(beat)

When one is surrounded by monsters,

one must be one for a time.

ARCHIVE FILM FOOTAGE - IRAQ INVASION OF KUWAIT - 1990

-- Iraqi tanks charge through the desert. Dust trails each

ironclad track as they fly by a sign that reads, "KUWAITI

SOVEREIGN TERRITORY - KUWAIT CITY 150km".

-- Iraqi troops take positions throughout the city. Kuwaiti

citizens run to take shelter.

-- Military helicopters patrol the city overhead. Drops off

troops at the airport and the sea port.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - MORNING

SUPER:
BIAP - 3 March 2003

SADDAM:

No. So I told Saudi that if Kuwait

did not stop interfering I will

take the Kuwait dinar to fil.

KYLE:

But that doesn't necessarily make a

conspiracy.

SADDAM:

There are many incidents. We sit

here conversing. There is no way

for you to feel a conspiracy when

you have the freedom to walk out of

here?. You move on. I live it...

Kyle stares, hoping to get a better clue.

54

SADDAM (CONT’D)

I contemplate it now. A conspiracy

is an amalgamation of events, of

actions that you feel as a leader

threatens you...you would have no

idea...you never will.

KYLE:

Then tell me more about actions;

more events.

SADDAM:

Kuwait's lack of action toward us

for the price of oil confirmed a

conspiracy. I do not have to tell

you about what oil does to

countries. The Americans are

feeling it now are you not?

KYLE:

Depends--

SADDAM:

Really? I hear things. I hear

what is going on out there.

KYLE:

That's not why I'm here. Tell me

another.

SADDAM:

The visit of US General Schwarzkopf

provided further confirmation.

KYLE:

Our military--

Kyle tries to be objective but knows he’s slipped a bit.

SADDAM:

Our military?

KYLE:

We visit countries throughout the

world to conduct exercises. That's

not a conspiracy.

SADDAM:

In what other country did

Schwarzkopf do "sand planning" like

Kuwait?

55

KYLE:

It's called CONOPS, contingency

planning.

Saddam's mind wanders while he touches his side and GRUNTS.

KYLE (CONT’D)

Are you okay?

SADDAM:

(grimaces)

Fine. Fine. Where were we?

Kyle slows down. He feels something is amiss with Saddam.

KYLE:

Contingency versus conspiracy.

SADDAM:

Right. Schwarzkopf personally

conducted negotiations with Kuwait

in order to enter for defensive

purposes. I am smart enough to

know that Schwarzkopf would not do

that for any other country other

than South Korea, which in the

United States’ mind, there is an

evil neighbor. We’ve been labeled!

KYLE:

But you're planning just the same.

SADDAM:

For survival, yes. Not for oil

like the West. Do you see the

difference?

Saddam breaks eye contact.

SADDAM (CONT’D)

I know you do. You can not hide

what your eyes are telling me.

KYLE:

Please don't confuse my

understanding of the situation for

apathy. I'm trying to find

reasoning.

SADDAM:

I do not want nor seek apathy, but

in our mind a country like ours has

to be aware of conspiracy. I fully

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