National Geography: Surviving 9/11

At 1800 hours, the NLF will be ending my son's life.

They're offering a swap -- Kadir in exchange for George.

We don't talk to terrorists.

I took a look at your story, poor Valerie Cotton.

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

You're the one making me have these babies!

I'm here to see Martha Franklin.

I'm Captain Martin's wife.

So this is not a friendly visit?

No, I love him.

I don't want you to have anything to do with this, Armstrong.

You won't pull this off without me.

Tony.

One woman and a child, in exchange for your great leader.

Mummy! Daddy!

Captain Martin, I'm placing you under arrest,

for allowing the escape from lawful custody of a prisoner of war.

Open.

Legs apart.

What are you looking for?

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 sun 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 are you doing?

Cover for me.

Where are you going?

Look, the NLF will kill Yusra for what she did.

And we're letting it happen. I'm not having that.

Please, please.

Corporal Armstrong.

Where is he?

On patrol, sir.

- Get him back. - Erm, there's no radio contact, sir.

It's a problem up in Radfan.

- Bang! Bang! - I see. - Bang! Bang! Bang! - Yes.

Bang. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

- That's settled, then. Ten o'clock tomorrow. Goodbye. - Bang! Bang!

Bit quieter, darling, Daddy can't hear himself think.

Where's Yusra?

Go and play in your bedroom, George.

Well, they've taken a statement from me,

- which means I have to give evidence. - In court? Against Joe?

It's not "against" him, Mary, it's just the facts.

I gave the order, he disobeyed it.

He saved George!

- Mary... - I don't understand. He'd be dead if it weren't for Joe Martin.

An order is an order, there's nothing I can do for him.

You're part of the prosecution case against the man

who saved our son's life.

He saved me from the bad men.

Yes.

So why is he in prison?

Will they shoot him, Daddy?

Joe saw all of these.

He was there.

And was asked to deny that it had ever happened.

But he kept the film.

Yeah, you know a good man by what he does under pressure.

Do the British want these photographs destroyed

because they're embarrassing?

Yes.

Because they tell a story that isn't the official account

of what is happening here?

Sure. Do the families of these men deserve to see them?

I think so.

I should go to him.

Honor. The little man has to lose.

You do know that?

Every time.

What was it?

You know what the order was.

I can make this so hard for you.

Eczema.

The heat makes it almost intolerable.

He never gets through an interview without a good scratch.

Maybe this time.

The order was to escort a prisoner.

Who gave you the order?

Major Markham.

Did you obey it?

No.

Do you know what it means to disobey an order?

Yes.

Sit down.

I had a choice. A child with his whole life ahead of him...

Who do you think you are?

I want you to listen carefully,

because this is the most important thing you will ever hear.

The whole of High Command know who you are,

they're taking a real interest in Captain Babyface.

If you decide to fight us, we will expose you.

Does your new wife know about your sordid past?

What do you want?

Help me.

Help yourself.

Yusra! Yusra?

The NLF don't like it when you help the enemy.

The family.

Locked inside, burnt to death.

But not Yusra.

Where is she?

I know where she is, but you need to go.

Where is she?! Where is she?!

Where is she? Where is she?!

- Where is she?! - You should go.

You need to go now. Go now.

- Yusra! - Go! You should go! You should go!

You should go, go!

Cucumber.

Thank you.

I want an abortion.

That's against the law.

Yes. I'm asking you to help me.

Why do you feel you want to do this?

Why do you feel you can ask?

I'm a doctor. I can't just...

Really? Why not?

You know better than me what I want?

I didn't ask you here for moral guidance.

It's my duty...

It's none of your business!

I would do it myself if I could, but I can't.

Please.

What does your husband say?

Joe...

I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking of you. I should have been.

No. No, you were just being brave.

I'll be discharged from the army and I... It'll be years, Honor...

.. and when I get out...

don't wait for me. Find a new life.

- Take the handcuffs off. - I can't do that.

He's in a cell in the most secure building in Aden

with the British Army guarding him and you need to keep his hands tied

so he can't hug his wife?!

What kind of man are you?

Just tell the truth and everything will be all right.

There. That's what I loved about you.

Such uncomplicated innocence.

Here's Honor, as she is, as she always will be.

Loved? You said "loved".

- Love. - Then that's enough. Everything's unpicked by love

and the truth isn't frightened of anything or anyone.

It's not that simple,

I'm not that simple.

There's something you don't know about my past, Honor...

Shhh. Not now, hmm?

I brought the film to Martha. I've seen the photographs.

Honor... Why didn't you destroy it?

I think it's because deep down, you don't think

that concealing the truth can ever be right.

Time's up!

When my mother fell asleep on the chair on a Sunday,

my father would steal in and allow himself to go back

to their beginnings and whispered to her, "When you are old and grey

"and full of sleep, and nodding by the fire,

"take down this book, and slowly read,

"and dream of the soft look your eyes had once,

"and of their shadows deep.

"How many loved your moments of glad grace,

"and loved your beauty with love false and true,

"but one man loved the pilgrim soul in you."

Look at me.

Hold on to love for dear life, Joe.

When you have it.

So an accused is, erm, well, he's allowed someone alongside him

to talk to, to take advice from, to cross examine witnesses for,

as a kind of pal, you know,

so, well, they call it an officer's friend.

Did you know that?

I did what I did and I'd do it again.

There's no advice to give.

Do you know you almost sound as if you think you deserve to be

punished for this?

It's very nice of you to offer to be my... What's it called?

My friend. I don't really need your help...

Yeah, well, you don't have a choice, I'm afraid,

cos you saved my life.

Yeah, a life for a life.

I was dead, Joe. I was dead on that road.

They told me at the hospital.

I had minutes left to live when you came for me.

You dragged me back from the edge.

I can't imagine where you got the courage and the strength.

- So where's your fight now? - I have to plead guilty.

What about Honor?

Well, do you feel guilty?

Because if you don't, and you plead guilty,

then you'll wake up the morning after you've been sentenced

you're going to look at the wall of your cell and you'll

know that there is nothing you can do in the rest of your life that

will correct the mistake you made in not being honest with yourself.

I'm not sure you'll survive, Joe.

There's no defence, is there?

Why don't we trust in the moral high ground being a good place