Mercenary

- Would you mind stepping out of the car?

This is Hound Dog.

Keep those screenings tight but polite.

Watch the handbags for cameras.

Roger that, Hound Dog.

Professor Majdi.

Jack Cochran, head of security, Ambler Electronics.

Everything alright?

Yes, thank you.

- Got people everywhere, shouldn't be any problems.

Thank you very much.

Would you excuse me? - No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Merger is spelled T-A-K-E-O-V-E-R,

and there's nothing wrong with that.

Kinda the way life works, you know?

SEC is coming on Monday to do the

gee whiz, do we really have to audit.

So by Wednesday, what?

What, what financial improprieties?

That's bullshit, cowardly bullshit.

Look, you tell them that if they don't stop spreading lies

that I am gonna switch from hard ball to wrecking ball.

You got that?

Well you can tell them that!

Oh, my hero.

Don't shoot, I'm unarmed.

- Yes, but still very dangerous in this dress.

Don't mind me, not that you would.

Hey, don't you two know marriage is supposed to put a stop

to that sort of thing?

Perverts.

Yes sir, go right up there

and stop for security clearance.

Come on, bring it up.

- Shepherd Two here, Hound Dog.

We've got Headmaster inside the loop.

Copy that, Two.

Sitrep on Kingfisher.

Hi, how are you?

- It is an honor to finally meet you, Professor.

My wife and I are great admirers of your work.

We love your poems.

I'm flattered, but I don't write poetry.

I write novels.

You have read my books.

- I have not, but my wife tells me they are wonderful.

- Aha, so she is the power behind the throne.

The empress of Ambler Corporation.

Empress, I like that.

Oh, I'm sorry, I apologize.

Don't worry bout it.

My husband takes his shoes very seriously.

When he was a boy, he had to wear hand-me-downs

from his older brother.

Yeah, he wore one size too small.

It's no problem, Professor.

Would you care for some more wine?

Longbow here.

Perimeter looks good, beach is clear.

- Today, we are honored by the presence of a man

whose courage is exemplified just by his being here.

But before our honored guest speaks, we must thank our hosts

whose charity has made this event a reality.

Chief executive of Ambler Electronics Corporation,

Mr. Jonas Ambler and his wife, Joanna.

Hey, partner.

I'm not going to this party.

I just live on down the road.

- My good friends, I am truly happy this evening

to receive the ILA's most generous award.

Yet, it's also a sad occasion,

for the forces of primitive fanaticism have not yet

calmed their souls.

I ask you now, can we keep silent when all around us

demand that we cry out?

Do stand idly by while throughout the world

Hatred and prejudice are not created.

They are nurtured--

Keep your head down.

Get us out of here!

Get up, Joanna.

Come on, come on!

Joanna.

Joanna.

- This is a special news report.

World-renowned author Nasir Majdi was gunned down today

in an apparent terrorist attack by a previously unknown

extremist Islamic faction.

15 people were killed and at least two dozen

severely wounded in the attack that took place

at an awards ceremony--

My wife, is she?

Could you find out, is she okay?

Sir, I'm sure everything's fine.

Just try to relax.

Breathe deeply into the mask and relax.

Oh God.

It's just such a shock.

I don't know, if it was me.

I'm just, how long do you?

Just a second.

Jonas?

Are you in much pain?

Joanna, how is she?

Please.

She made it, right?

She made it.

I'm sorry, so sorry.

No, no.

No.

Yes, yes I understand.

Uh huh, I see.

I'll talk to you later.

- Mr. Ambler, this is Special Agent Ranklin.

- Mr. Ambler, the senator wanted me to extend to you

his deepest regrets.

Majdi's killing rattled a lot of cages in Washington.

And naturally, we're very sorry to hear about your loss,

but the man that you're looking for

is an international terrorist for hire,

completely out of our jurisdiction.

We can't just pick him up.

Define can't.

Is this can't as in humanly impossible

or can't as in we just don't care enough about

individual human lives to exact retribution?

- We are fully aware of the seriousness of this crime,

but this particular guy is completely unapproachable.

If I've learned anything from business,

it's that no one is completely unapproachable.

Now you tell me where he is and who he is!

He's called Phoenix.

He operates somewhere out of the Middle East.

It's most likely that he was hired by an extremist faction

to hit Majdi.

Unfortunately, you and your wife were innocent bystanders.

- I am not a bystander, Mr. Ranklin, I am a player.

And no one who ever fucked with me got away with murder.

Am I fucking clear?

Please.

Mr. Ambler.

Mr. Ambler, is there anything I can do?

- No one can do what this Phoenix does for a living

without making enemies.

Somebody somewhere hates this guy, perhaps as much as I do.

Let's find that man, shall we?

As it says in the Bible, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

- Well, there is somebody in the community.

Decorated for bravery, real professional.

As good as Phoenix if not better.

In the old days, they played the game against each other.

Both the best in their field.

Reds had Phoenix, we had Hawk.

Now that the Cold War's over, everybody's freelance.

We gonna make a deal, huh?

Halfback is in the hole.

Spread 'em.

Come on.

Just a pen and a credit card.

Hello, bag man, you want a drink?

The girl first.

The girl, she's a pretty one, ain't she?

Yeah, pretty girl.

Oh, this is gonna hurt you more than me.

Oh yeah.

Oh yeah, medium rare or well done?

I swear I'll burn her, I swear to you.

Gimme that money or I'll burn her.

Good boy.

Looks like a million.

One million?

I meant two million.

Now, bag man, you go back to Dad,

and you tell him to send another million.

Then I'll think about lettin' Little Miss Rich Bitch go.

Gentlemen, please be professional.

Give me the girl.

Screw you.

Okay.

Let's go.