Original subtitles

So let's just do this and get it over with.

Previously on The Border. So how long is the deep freeze going to last?

Get a parka.

I've seen people who've lived in peace for over 30 years start killing each

other overnight.

Careful, Dad.

You almost said Bosnia.

Karnak, move her. There's a bullet lodged in your shoulder, and we don't

shifting. How's the boss? Internal bleeding from a bullet fragment is a

and go.

If you try to escape, I will kill you.

I've got Fortune 500 CEOs who can schedule time to see a doctor.

And they're not recovering from gunshot wounds.

I've recovered.

Your labs say otherwise.

Elevated white cells and sed rate.

Could be a low -grade chronic infection.

Or it could be nothing.

Like oxytocin?

Twice a day.

Twice a day.

Antibiotics.

As if it costs.

Try to take it easy.

NATO has asked for a joint consult on border security in Afghanistan.

ICS is sending Kessler. When do we leave?

Henry Massoud is going on behalf of DHS.

But Henry's an analyst. He may not have as much experience in the field, but

he's got the language skills. So I'll take an interpreter.

I think I made myself clear.

You're sitting this one out.

This is the most recent information supplied by NATO to us at D &D.

The new American administration understands that Afghanistan won't

until the Pakistan border is secure.

The Taliban have been hiding out in Pakistan from NATO forces in Pakistan

then returning to attack once they've regrouped.

The Afghans must take over at some point.

This is where we come in. ICS and DHS are going to help the Afghans overhaul

their border security system.

Overhaul? Install security protocols, introduce new technology, train border

guards, you name it.

Thanks, man. We appreciate D &D's involvement on this.

Sounds like a DHS party. Why'd they invite us? This is a joint NATO mission.

So it's just optics.

We do have experience managing 3 ,000 miles of rugged borderline.

This is an orientation trip.

We'll be putting together an implementation plan on my return.

I'll be looking for your input.

Homeland Security is on their way in, but are you sure you're up to this?

You'll be acting head while I'm gone.

Did the doctor clear you to travel?

Agent Carver, come in.

Major Kessler, I think Massoud will be accompanying you to Afghanistan on

of DHS.

Call me Henry.

Just so you know, I've been spearheading the DHS International Research

Directorate for the last two years, so if you have any questions about

Afghanistan, I'm your man.

I'll keep that in mind.

It's about 18 hours to Kabul, so there's plenty of time to brief you.

Also, I understand you were in some heavy action in Bosnia.

Bet you got some great stories.

I'll see you on the plane.

Listen.

What? There's something wrong. You look pissed.

You sidelined me on this Afghanistan trip.

From what I hear, you can count yourself lucky.

It's a chance to make a difference.

You do make a difference.

They also serve who only stand in wait. Yeah, right.

Come on, you never stood by and waited for anything in your life.

What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing. It was a compliment. Jesus, Liz.

Don't.

You know, there's an official warning against traveling to Afghanistan on the

government website.

That was issued in 2001.

Still a war zone.

Not cool.

Is this a macho thing?

Are you trying to prove that you're indestructible or something?

I'm going as a consultant.

Okay. I'll be surrounded by security.

You're messed up.

I've spent half my life worrying about my father. I'm pretty sure it's supposed

to be the other way around.

You're welcome to use ISF HQ as your situation room, get your bearings.

Appreciate it. We're scheduled to meet General Zaki this evening.

Pay your respects, smart move.

I hear Zaki's old school.

Fought with the Northern Alliance during the Russian occupation.

Got into politics after the Russians left.

Even managed to hang on to power when the Taliban ran things.

Wonderful.

Depends on what's in it for him.

My advice, take it slow.

Get him invested.

The only thing these people respect is power.

If we indulge in too much, they'll walk all over us.

We've assigned you a security element.

Take it minimal.

We don't want to insult the general.

This border area has been a problem for hundreds of years.

Well, it's a problem that must be solved.

Washington has made it a top priority.

My parents are Afghan. I was born in the U .S.

then you cannot possibly understand.

It is madness to talk about border security.

There are still bullets flying. And Afghanistan has to be ready the day they

stop.

We can help you prepare.

Train personnel, upgrade and standardize protocols.

The people there do not recognize a border.

They are tribal.

Some of them have animals on both sides.

Some take money to bring things across the mountains. They always have.

Border security does not have to disrupt traditional trade or farming.

General, we're here to help Afghanistan, not impose our own agenda.

If that is true, then I welcome your assistance.

Did you inspect the border areas yourself, or is it too dangerous?

Of course it is dangerous, but it is part of my job.

You travel with the army?

I travel with my men.

They are from my home in the north, and they are loyal to me.

We'd like to get a sense of the terrain.

I will take you to the border.

You will be safe with me.

Thank you.

How's your hotel?

Where are you? The Oasis? The Continental.

The Oasis is much better.

Everything's a power play. It's like he's got his own private army.

You can hardly blame him. Security's his premium.

Back up!

I cannot.

Pull around.

Do not

move.

So much for that. So much

for

that.

If you try to escape, I will kill you.

Hi, honey.

What's going on?

Let's go inside.

What is it? Tell me.

Your father's been kidnapped.

We're doing everything we can to get him back, Zoe.

Everything.

I told him not to go there. Why wouldn't he listen to me? Let's go inside, okay?

I'll call you as soon as I hear anything. Thank you.

How's his shoulder? The bleeding stopped.

Zaki can't risk being implicated, so he hired some thugs to do it for him.

The general has nothing to gain by abducting us. Are you kidding me? Half

politicians are drug barons. He could easily be in bed with the Taliban.

We improve border security, it reduces his power base. Calm down.

That's why he was asking about the hotel. He wanted to know our route back

the meeting. Henry.

Quiet.

What?

Just listen.

You hear that?

No.

How long were we in the car for?

I don't know, like a half hour? 20 minutes tops.

Road was hard pack.

We could have been going in any direction.

We'd be here 9, 10 hours.

Yeah, I guess if I had my watch I could... Shh.

Traffic. Morning rush hour.

We're still in Kabul.

General Zaki claims to have no information on their whereabouts. There

no demands yet, and no one's taking credit for the kidnapping.

Did they catch the driver? No. The NATO techs haven't been able to trace the GPS

on either phone.

Whoever the kidnappers are, this ain't their first rodeo.

Taliban know their tech. Let's not jump to conclusions.

Ottawa and CSIS have been apprised.

JTF -2's on standby in Afghanistan.

A Washington Post correspondent filed a report late last night about a

carjacking, but we shut it down.

The media relations put an embargo on Canadian reports as well.

Okay, good. You two are on a flight to Cabell.

Moose, Gray, contact ISAF, check the route.

Find out what else the boss had scheduled.

Slade, we need to be in constant contact with NATO. Up to the minute. They don't

know anything.

Nada.

We don't even know if... What?

If he's alive?

Don't even think it.

Not for a second.

You think the two from the car are the same guys who brought us in?

One of them is.

At least three, then. And I've heard others.

Maybe six in total.

They're speaking Dari.

Taliban usually speak Pashto.

Zaki's men speak Dari.

Most kidnappings here are for profit, not politically motivated.

Could just be family business.

Whatever you're doing in Afghanistan.

Just tell us what you want. Answer.

We're consultants working with NATO.

You were supposed to call.

Where are you?

She has called three times.

My daughter.

I also have a daughter.

I will call for you.

Explain our demands.

No.

Not my daughter.

Who?

Colonel Duncan.

NATO HQ in Kabul's got something for us.

I'm sending the file through now.

Hey, Figwit.

Figwit? It's a handle. It's the name of an elf extra from the Lord of the Rings

movies. It's an acronym.

Frodo is great. Who is that, you know, Figwit?

Kindred Spirit?

What?

Oh.

No.

Elves.

Totally lame, right?

Yeah.

I've got it. I've got it.

We have your men.

Major Michael Kessler.

Who is it? There will be no publicity.

No television.

You will deal only with me.

Two million euros.

That's the kidnapper talking to the colonel at NATO.

I'm not sure we'll be able to get that much. Then we will kill them.

Wait. No negotiation.

Two million euros.

We will call to tell you when and where to deliver the money.

That's all there is.

The conversation didn't last long enough to trace the call.

They're not Taliban.

How do you know?

Taliban would make it political. They'd demand a prisoner swap or an outrageous

ransom. The boss changed his route same day based on an ISAF security alert.

That would make it pretty tough to set up an ambush.

Unless somebody on the inside knew about the route change.

That was completely random.

Crime of opportunity.

We might be able to get something off the accent.

I mean, it sounds like the kidnapper's first language is Dari, but that's half

the country.

We'd need someone who knows the dialect to narrow it down.

Call that D &D advisor, Ahmad Waleed. See if he can help.

Hey, it's not hopeless, right?

Tell me we're not completely screwed.

Ada, we'll try to negotiate our release.

That'll take some time.

So we just sit here and wait?

We try to stay mentally and physically active.

Our friends here need to keep us alive.

I mean, you have experience, right? I read your profile. You were JTF2.

Forget that.

The less they know about us, the better.

Why are you so calm?

I guess that comes from being in the shit.

Nobody uses that expression.

Ma 'am.

Good. I'm glad I caught you. All due respect, I have every intention of going

Kabul. I have every intention of sending you, but you're going to have to be

briefed.

Yeah, I guess we just got our wires crossed.

Sorry to bother you again.

So you could have told me you already talked to NATO. Should I tell you when

going to hit the can, too? I'm trying to do my job here, okay?

Yeah, well, you do yours. I'll do mine.

Hey, Liz.

I got a plan to catch.

Take care of yourself, all right?

Do you think General Zaki is behind this?

I can't say.

He could have anticipated the change of route, but he maintains he has no

knowledge. Well, then he's either incompetent or lying.

He must know something.

Who's the point person for the Afghan government?

That's the problem.

As head of national security, General Zaki also handles abductions of foreign

nationals.

How long are these negotiations supposed to take?

That won't be quick.

Ottawa and Washington will have to agree on how to play it.

How much money are they going to ask for? Millions? I mean, I'm nobody.

You're head of ICS. You gotta be worth serious money.

Major?

Major?

Hey.

Major?

We don't negotiate with terrorists. You know that.

Oh, come on. Exceptions happen all the time.

Not anymore.

TM doesn't want to be seen as weak by the international community. And by

international community, I mean Washington.

For Christ's sakes, Holland.

This is Mike Kessler we're talking about.

I'm sorry, Maggie.

I really do wish there was something I could do.

servants. Paul's not going to put up the cash?

I won't even move it up the food chain until we've ID'd the kidnappers.

We've made our demands.

I pray that you will be home soon.

Can't you see the wound is infected? This man needs a doctor.

The medicine I had with me.

I am pleased to have it back.

I will ask the others.

Believe me, I sympathize.

Kidnappings are a terrible problem in Afghanistan.

That must cause you great pain and embarrassment.

Major Kessler and Mr. Massoud were going to play a vital role in our border

security project.

This kidnapping only harms Afghanistan.

Then help us get our people back.

I have my men looking for the driver. He is probably still in Kabul.

But your governments refuse to negotiate with the kidnappers.

This is regrettable.

You think we should pay the ransom?

Money talks.

I could perhaps act as an intermediary. Does your commission come off the top or

is it added to the ransom?

suggesting the most effective way of returning your men to you. We appreciate

your offer, General.

Unfortunately, we're not in a position to accept.

What do you think?

Definitely a Dari speaker, but more specifically a Tajik.

The Tajiks live in the valleys north of Kabul.

Your people should search for any known Tajik criminals in or around the city.

That is your best chance.

Styling and profiling.

Notify Darnell and Agent Carver right away.

Done. Listen, thanks for your help, Ahmad.

We'd like you to stick around. We may need you.

Hey, Slade.

Can I get a copy of that recording?

Sure. What's up?

Probably nothing.

The United States has decided, after due consideration, that paying the ransom

is the best course of action.

Really? I thought the Americans were driving the hard line.

Well, they've made an exception, which forces our hand.

Well, we can't let them foot the bill for our guy, can we?

PM doesn't like those optics.

And our policy against negotiating with terrorists?

Oh, it remains intact.

The payment will be made by proxy, and no word of this will reach the press. Is

that clear?

These are primarily Tajik neighborhoods here, here, and here.

We'll put the word out to our contacts.

What's our time frame?

Reliable intel is a scarce commodity over here. We're pushing our sources as

hard as we can.

William. Harvard.

Canadians are on board.

Money's being wired to Kabul as we speak.

U .S. forces, I thought, will deliver it to you once it's come.

We're going

to

get them back, and that's all that matters.

Bullshit. When the kidnappers find out Henry's CIA, either the price goes up or

they kill him and Kessler.

We need a reliable middleman.

We just heard from General Zaki.

He's found the driver.

Aji Abasi.

Aji Abasi.

I have my men looking for this man, Abasi.

We'll find your people.

General Zaki's men found the driver. He claims the kidnapper's a man named Aji

Abasi, known as Zorah Criminal.

Azorah?

That's his ethnicity.

Well, we've got the money. Why don't we just pay the ransom?

We still need to execute payment and release.

And what if the kidnappers find out Henry's CIA?

The general's confident we'll get a location on Abbasi soon.

If we don't, we go to plan B.

Deliver the ransom.

Copy that.

You are dead wrong about the kidnappers. They're Hazara, not Tajik.

I'm certain.

Yes. They found the driver. He gave us the name of a Hazara man.

He's lying.

No, he's not.

How could you make a mistake like that?

I was just trying to help.

You wasted our time.

Perhaps I can make amends.

I have many contacts in Kabul.

If I have the kidnapper's name, I might be able to track down his location.

Atiyah Basti, let me know what you find.

This is the address General Zaki provided.

We should move immediately.

First we have to prove the route. Every second we wait reduces their chances of

survival. Making sure we don't walk into an ambush increases everybody's chances

of survival.

James, where are we?

Setting up a perimeter.

Combat search and rescue is on the way.

You should have your people back within the hour.

They're arguing about you.

What to do about your wound?

We can't get a doctor now.

What if he dies before we get our money?

There will be no doctor I

do not want you to die

I only want money for my family

Why did he have to go to the most dangerous place on the planet?

You know, your father.

I ring the bell, he's good to go.

Thanks for coming.

Never thought I'd be here again.

Sitting and waiting.

Thought I was done with this.

How did you handle it?

I didn't.

I don't think anyone can.

If he makes it through... Not if.

When.

Can we have dinner together?

You know, like a family?

Sure.

We are a family.

Your father is a tough guy.

This is barbaric.

You need a doctor.

I'm all right.

Look, there's only two of them that come in here.

We can get the drop on them. Grab the gun.

Have you had combat training?

We need to stay cool.

Or maybe I'm the one who speaks English.

We have to go.

This is what's left of Abassi's gang.

Taliban was seen leaving the area before we arrived.

Looks like an unfriendly exchange of prisoners.

That's exactly the way we found it.

Kessler's.

They were here.

The Taliban's been paying independent kidnappers for their hostages. Then they

either up the ransom or...

Use the hostages for political gains.

Looks like these guys don't want to play ball.

This is blood.

You know what?

You okay?

No, we're definitely screwed.

I heard you were unable to rescue

Major Kessler and Mr. Massoud. The Taliban got there first.

Perhaps if your army had moved faster.

Perhaps they were tipped off. Perhaps you notify the Taliban yourself.

Why does she insult me?

General, if there is anything you can tell us.

I have done all that I can. Except convince us that you're not involved.

If there is a traitor, he is among your people.

What the hell are

you doing in Afghanistan, Henry?

What do you mean?

You have no field experience.

Agent Carver should be on this mission.

You're telling me.

When you questioned Zach Key about his personal security, I thought you might

military intelligence.

Maybe you're not well enough, Green.

I was perfectly content as a DHS analyst.

Nine to five, good medical.

Six months ago, a guy comes into my office, tells me he read my personnel

that I speak Dari, and he wants to discuss an opportunity.

CIA.

My wife said I was crazy.

She was right.

They said I'd be safe. I was just supposed to profile the general, figure

his travel patterns.

You must have known why the CIA sent you.

We have the general on record securing smuggling routes for the Taliban.

He has to go.

You're the advancement.

The wet work comes later.

I was supposed to be home before anything even happened.

Tough break.

No shit.

I need to speak to you about something sensitive.

I'm not sure what the protocol is.

You're a member of the squad.

I expect you to speak your mind.

I think Ahmad may have misled us on purpose.

Ahmad came to us by way of D &D. He's got security clearance. Why would he

mislead us?

I tracked down an expert on Afghan linguistics. I played her the ransom

recording. She said there's absolutely no way an Afghan would mistake that

accent for Tajik.

And there's something else.

I told Ahmad about Aji Abassi.

What's all this?

Maud Walid's immigration file.

Kelly thinks he may be a leak.

You find anything?

No, I'm just getting started.

I can't believe I'm going to die in here.

Don't think that way.

Jesus, what if they find out I'm CIA?

They won't unless you tell them.

If anyone was born to die in their sleep, it's me.

Do you have any interrogation resistance training?

I took a half -day seminar.

They'll probably take us in one at a time.

You mean to be tortured?

They do whatever they can to make us talk.

Break us down psychologically, cause physical pain.

The less you tell them, the more likely they are to keep you alive.

Keep going.

Why am I being held here like a criminal? We need you to answer some

I demand to speak to D &D. You deliberately misled us about the

ethnic background.

I told Agent Massey it was an honest mistake.

I truly thought the kidnapper sounded like a Tajik man.

Who did you tell about the kidnapping?

Nobody. That's absurd.

Then I'm sure you won't mind giving us the password to your PDA.

There is classified information on that phone.

You have no reason to keep me here.

I practice PDA like a walnut.

Lots of Afghanistan numbers. We could cold call everyone, but what are we

to say if they answer?

Hello, is this the Taliban?

All right, all right. But I did find his bank code.

Check this out.

He's been making scheduled payments to a number of parties in Afghanistan.

Could be family.

No, I pulled his immigration records.

The names don't match. I asked Figwit to run the list by their local

intelligence team. And?

Turns out most of these payments went to individuals linked to the Taliban.

You son of a bitch. You're going to jail. For what?

Doing business with a terrorist organization.

That's outrageous.

I'm not talking about Club Fed either. You're going to Millhaven where we send

the rapists and the murderers.

We've got your bank records.

You're sending money to the Taliban.

You must believe.

When the Taliban resurfaced in my mother's village last year, they found

was working in Canada.

They threatened to harm my family unless I agreed to send them money.

Extortion.

When I found out about the kidnapping, I made a deal.

I told the Taliban about the hostages.

And they promised to put my family under protection. You sold out our...

People. They said they would kill my mother and my nephew.

You know what? I need names and locations now.

If I tell you, they will die.

And if we put you away, then the payments will stop.

And then what happens to your family?

I'll make you a deal.

We have dropped your mother and your nephew.

And in return, you tell us.

Everything, and I mean everything that you know about your Taliban contacts.

Mike Kessler, Major.

B -13592.

Mike Kessler, Major.

B -13592.

He didn't give a shit. My name is Henry Massoud.

I work for the Central Intelligence Agency.

I am a traitor to my people.

Unless all Taliban prisoners illegally imprisoned at Bagram Air Force Base are

released within 12 hours, Major Kessler and I will be executed.

The U .S. will never swap prisoners.

It's just political posture. Put me in the room with some mad guy, I'll get

goddamn answer. We need his cooperation.

But they're going to kill the boss. Look, our best chance is to secure

family. We need him on side.

Turn that thing off.

You're back.

General, I owe you an apology.

When the NATO forces bomb innocent Afghans, they always apologize.

I was wrong to accuse you.

Must have been difficult for you to come here again.

You must need something.

The man who tipped off the Taliban has Afghan relatives. He won't cooperate

us unless we protect them.

The place where they live is near Kabul but under Taliban control.

NATO forces can't go in easily.

You want me to find his relatives?

We would be in your debt.

You're already in my debt.

Everybody breaks.

It's just a question of when.

And then they kill me.

They're keeping us alive for leverage until the deadline.

Listen, Henry.

Listen.

The next time they come through that door, we're going to have to make a

Henry. I can't.

Do you want to see your wife again?

We have your man's family.

Thank you.

We'd like to put them on the phone to our man in Canada.

Of course.

Perhaps you will remember this when you and NATO have left Afghanistan.

We did our part.

Now it's your turn.

There is a number on my PDA.

It is the satellite telephone number from my Taliban contact.

I believe he is the man holding your people.

How we doing?

Connected. We're on the line now. I'm patching you in.

It's scrambled.

Like eggs on Sunday.

You don't like your eggs scrambled? I can fix it. I've got it on this end,

Figwit. It's basic pre -installed hardware.

Easy as getting free cable.

The harvest is early this year.

We'll have to notify the buyers. They're not talking about the Canuck. Can you

track the phone?

Maybe. It's Leo.

We could try Doppler. Leo is low Earth orbit.

Figwitch should be able to triangulate the signal using Doppler shift

calculations from the satellite.

Plus minus 10 kilometers. That's about all I can promise. We don't have time

a search that broad.

Wait a second.

FigWit, what satellite system are they on?

Promethean. Why? Nice.

Promethean handsets are equipped with GPS transmitters, and some of the newer

ones will respond to external commands.

I'm basically, I'm just going to ping it and use the return signal to snag a

location if it'll let me.

We'll know one way or another in a few seconds.

I'm sending the coordinates.

Full of surprises, Mr. Baggins. May it govern and figure it.

It's selfish.

It's crazy.

That's never even hit anybody.

Would you rather die in your knees?

You too.