The Ghost Writer Page #8

That's why I called you.

At the time that this photograph was taken,

Paul Emmett was an officer in the CIA.

Emmett?

- Foreign Resources Division.

- Oh, my God.

You realize how important this is,

don't you?

This explains why Lang went into politics.

Everyone knows he didn't have

a political thought in his pretty little head.

This is why he rose so quickly,

with a little help from his friends.

- Well, do you think it's possible...

- Okay, a quiz for you.

Name one decision Lang made in 10 years

as Prime Minister

which wasn't in the interests of the USA.

Well, come on, it's not a trick question.

Iraq, Middle East policy, Star Wars defense,

buying American nuclear missiles,

support of terrorist rendition.

The sacking of any minister

Washington didn't like,

including yours truly.

McAra was right.

This explains everything.

It's Amelia Bly.

Answer it.

- Hello, Amelia.

- Good evening. I have Adam for you.

Lang.

We're coming to get you.

What?

Ruth tells me

you're stuck at the ferry terminal.

We've just taken off from New York.

Pilot says we can stop by and pick you up.

Really? There's no need.

We've got a book to write, remember?

Hold on a sec, Adam.

He said he wants to

pick me up in his private jet.

- Say yes.

- What if it's a trap?

If you refuse, he'll get suspicious.

Tell him yes.

That'd be great, Adam. Yeah, thanks.

I'll get to the airport.

See you there.

He sounds worried.

I really don't think this is a good idea.

You have no choice.

Emmett must have told Lang

that I'd been to see him.

So, what's he gonna do about it?

Dump you in the ocean?

- Well, it happened before!

- Which means it can't happen again.

He can't drown two ghostwriters,

for God's sake. You're not kittens.

All this is just theory.

We don't have any proof.

- You'll get us the proof.

- Me?

You're his ghostwriter.

Presumably, he lets you tape him.

- I use discs, actually.

- Discs, tapes.

You've got to confront him with this.

Record his reaction.

Even if he denies it, it's something.

I'm in a tricky position here.

I signed a confidentiality agreement.

It's a bit late for that.

- It means the discs are his property.

- The court can subpoena them.

And what if I don't record any discs?

Then you'll be subpoenaed

and forced to repeat this whole story.

Then I'll deny it.

Then I'll give them this.

Frank is recording every word.

Aren't you, Frank?

Oh! Come on!

Don't look so shocked.

What did you expect?

That I'd come into a meeting

with a man working for Lang

without taking any precautions?

Except you're not working

for Lang anymore.

You're working for the good guys.

You know all this is pointless, don't you?

In the end, he'll just retire over here

with his CIA pension,

and he'll tell you and the bloody

war crimes court to go and f*** yourselves.

Good evening, sir.

Hatherton welcomes you aboard.

Thank you.

It's my first time in a private jet.

Well, let's hope it's not your last.

Hi, man.

- Take your seat.

- Thanks.

- Hey, bring my ghost a Calvados.

- Yes, sir.

Do you mind?

Leave it off for now.

Ruth said you were in New York

to see Maddox.

- That's right.

- How was he?

He was fine.

Full of energy?

- You know John.

- Yes, I do know John.

As a matter of fact, I was just with him.

You never saw him today, did you?

No.

Do you have something to tell me?

I went to see Emmett.

That windbag! Why?

I know about you and Emmett.

- Me and Emmett?

- I know that he was your...

- My?

...handler, if that's what they're called.

- My handler?

- Yeah, that he was your handler in the CIA.

Oh, my God.

You're serious, aren't you?

When McAra found this,

he went to Boston to show it to Emmett,

and he died on the way home,

and I think he was murdered.

I think you've had a few too many

of those already.

It was McAra who believed that Emmett told

you to go into politics in the first place.

- Emmett? I barely knew the man.

- And that story of yours

about why you joined the party and Ruth

and the canvassing, well, the dates don't fit.

I got the dates wrong. Big deal!

Then when he found this photograph,

and he heard the rumors

about Emmett being in the CIA...

- Rumors?

- It's on the Internet.

I've never heard such utter balls

in my entire life.

Mike would never have believed such crap.

He was too clever. Too loyal.

Mike betrayed you to Rycart.

- How do you know that?

- He told me.

Rycart?

He's lying.

This phone number on the back

of the photograph, it's Rycart's.

The handwriting, that's McAra's.

Mike.

- Mike, Mike.

- And you knew he was disillusioned.

You had a big row with him

just before he died.

Yes, I know, but he never mentioned this.

This is just... This is grotesque.

I've never taken orders from anyone.

Whatever I did,

I did because I believed it was right.

What, even supporting illegal kidnapping

for torture?

Oh, for God's sake,

spare me the bleeding-heart bullshit!

Do you know what I'd do

if I was in power again?

I'd have two queues at airports.

One for flights

where we'd done no background checks,

infringed on no one's civil bloody liberties,

used no intelligence gained by torture.

And on the other flight,

we'd do everything we possibly could

to make it perfectly safe.

And then we'd see which plane

the Rycarts of this world

would put their bloody kids on!

And you can put that in the book!

Go home!

Go home!

Here comes the killer!

Prosecute for torture!

Over here, Mr. Lang!

Mr. Lang!

Mr. Lang, will you live in America?

Mr. Lang, will you take

American citizenship?

When we get back to the house,

we need to have a meeting.

- Oh, my God!

- Murderer!

Firing from the roof!

Let me go to him! No! No!

Move, move, move!

How long had you known Mr. Lang?

- Couple of days.

- In what capacity?

I was his ghost.

His ghostwriter.

Do you recognize this man?

He was one of the protestors.

His son was killed in Iraq.

Did you ever speak with him?

He was in the bar one night

in the hotel where I was staying.

But did you speak with him?

He asked me if I knew where Adam Lang

was staying on the island.

- I told him that I didn't.

- Did you report this conversation?

Sorry?

Did you report this conversation

to Mr. Lang's protection team?

No.

What was Mr. Lang's demeanor

this evening?

He was... He was fine. He seemed fine.

One witness said she thought

she heard Mr. Lang shouting at you.

No.

- We're gonna need your passport.

- Why?

A serious crime was just committed

in US territory, and you're the key witness.

We need to keep you close.

Like a fallen soldier,

Adam Lang went home today,

home to a shocked and grieving nation.

Not just his family, but friends

and political opponents joined in tribute.

A great colleague and a true patriot.

We had our disagreements,

but we always stayed friends.

My heart goes out to Ruth and the family.

And I would like to say Adam will be...

Who is it?

Congratulations!

On what now?

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