National Geography: Surviving 9/11

We've taken your son, and you've taken my country.

This is our son. You have to talk to me.

What was so important that you couldn't bring George swimming?

A reporter -- Martha Franklin.

I had to get back the film, and I had to destroy it.

Did you tell your wife where you were going on Christmas day?

I don't want a baby.

I don't want two babies.

The boy?

~

They've taken the boy.

I think the NLF took Malik to force Yusra.

This suggests you're wrong about that.

Have you got it? Do you know where he is?

You have to move fast.

This is your one chance.

Joe, I think it's George. We've got him. George!

- George, come on! - Hey!

George!

We're going to get you to a hospital, but you bloody well stay with me, OK? Do you hear?

Breathe, breathe, come on!

Help!

Why can't he breathe?

Collapsed lung. His chest cavity is full of air so his lung can't reinflate.

- This way! - We need to go. - This way! - Go!

You stay with us, OK? Jesus Christ! You stay with us, damn it!

Damn it!

Take me to the hospital now!

They're all out, ma'am, looking for George -- the whole unit.

It's just me.

So you drive me. What's the bloody problem, Orchover?

An officer's wife has to be...

What? What?

Protected, ma'am. Someone needs to ride shotgun.

I can't drive you and keep you safe at the same time.

- Well, give me your gun. - Ma'am?

Give me your stupid gun and I'll protect myself.

I don't think I...

My husband has been shot! He needs me there.

Christ, has the Army shut your brain down, Corporal?

Is he dying?

- I don't know. - Don't lie to me.

I really don't know, ma'am.

Let's go.

Ed was close.

He nearly made it. He was moments away from rescuing George.

Your husband is a hero.

Aden -- where East meets West.

Vital as an oil refinery, as well as a Gulf trade route.

The beach here at Aden is lovely.

The sand is warm,

and the sharks are not always hungry.

The occasional outbreaks of violence are

caused by what are officially called dissident tribesmen.

As long as there's trouble, there must be troops.

The Queen has full confidence in Aden's future,

describing it as the perfect example of colonial rule.

What's the pressure doing?

Hold him! Hold him down!

What did she think about you?

What's that?

Yusra. You were head over heels. What about her?

You wouldn't understand.

Ah. The love that passeth all understanding, eh?

Your understanding, anyway.

Has anyone heard from my husband?

No, ma'am.

Still at the hospital, ma'am.

What are you doing?

The Royal Scots had a grenade lobbed into the Land Rover.

What happened?

It got stuck under a seat.

Why do they want to do this to us?

Don't know, ma'am.

But we should know, shouldn't we?

The NLF, we think, delivered the film this morning.

- I want to see it. - I don't think that's a good idea.

I have a right to see what they did to my son.

- Mary... - Don't you dare patronise me.

He's my son. You will take me to see this film, and you will do it now.

- Again. - Mary.

Play it again.

The parting! In his hair.

What?

Yusra does that. She's sending us a message, Harry.

She's with him, and she's helping him.

I knew it.

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Malik! Malik!

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Malik!

~

You go on, darling. I'll catch you up.

What monsters these people are. What do they want?

Kadir, in exchange for George.

They're offering a swap, Harry.

There's a rule.

We have a rule.

We don't talk to terrorists.

They have to know where they stand, these people.

There's one more thing.

But I don't quite know how to put this, Harry.

Then just say it.

Like with children?

Hm?

We let them get away with it once.

Mary, there's something Harvey didn't want you to know.

I'm afraid there's a deadline.

How long?

Eight hours.

Does Harvey Tilbrook have children?

Don't go.

Stay with me.

I'm here.

Joe saved your life.

Baxter?

Sir.

At 18.00 hours...

Sir.

At 1800 hours,

I have it on good authority that the NLF will be ending my son's life.

- I want you to... - We'll do everything we can, sir.

What's the point, Alec? What good could it do their cause?

What's in it for them?

They'll say that they made an offer and that, by refusing that offer,

they'll say that it was us who killed him, not them.

That's what they'll say, sir.

- You've always been honest with me, Baxter. - Yes, sir.

That's why I trust you. That's why I trust you.

Permission to carry on, sir?

Yes, yes, of course.

- Ma'am. - Oh! - I was looking for the CO.

Come in. Please.

Would you like some lemonade?

No, thank you, ma'am.

I was just making summer pudding -- George's favourite.

Yes, ma'am.

I wanted to say, um... Sorry, I know he's not dead, I just...

I just wanted to tell you that, um...

.. he was such a good lad.

Sorry, I keep saying "was", like he's, um...

I shouldn't have come.

I'm so glad you did, Corporal Stoneham.

People have become frightened of me, because of what's happened, you see.

But not you.

And I'm very grateful. Thank you.

How's Lieutenant Laithwaite, sir?

He's a fighter, Sergeant. He wants, very badly, to live.

How did you get him back on your own, sir?

I just did.

Bloody hero, if you don't mind me saying, sir.

You don't think, do you? The training takes over.

So not brave, not a hero, just... being in the British Army.

Just doing your job.

And now that you've finished buttering me up,

why don't you tell me what it is you want?

It's the CO, sir. He's not himself.

That's hardly surprising.

Would you do me a favour, sir? Drop the English.

I'm sorry?

Keeping calm and carrying on -- it's just posh folks' idea of virtue,

like cold showers and thrift.

But where I come from, it's all bollocks,

if you'll excuse the Glaswegian.

I'd walk through fire for that man. In fact, I have -- more than once.

So please don't ever tell him I said this.

It would kill him if he knew.

You've lost trust in him.

He'll get it back.

Yes, sir. But we need a leader, sir -- now.

I don't know if I can do this, Honor.

Joe!

Mm.

Joe?

My husband's tired.

He wants you to bring me to the hospital in his place.

Time to go home, Mrs Laithwaite.

I'll stay here, thank you.

You can't do that.

Why not? What will happen?

Is there a problem?

No.

Mrs Laithwaite, visiting hours...

Jesus Christ! Rules, rules, rules!

There's a reason why...

Yes! Everything put in a box.

Everything described and put in a fucking box

and made never to leave or else the world might end!

- You're getting needlessly... - What?

I'm getting out of my box, and you can't stand it or understand it.

You're a pregnant woman. You don't know what you're saying.

You're the one making me have these babies!

What else is there, Mrs Laithwaite?

What exactly am I stopping you doing?

Is there anything more cowardly than a man asking questions

he already knows the answer to for the purpose of humiliating someone?

- What's the matter with you? - Oh, yes!