Original subtitles

enabling many recent terrorist actions to be successful for their perpetrators.

These successes increase the various groups’ perceived legitimacy.

In overseas news,

US Special Forces have made a disastrous attempt

to free 52 Americans held captive in Iran.

Casualties…

Back at home, exactly one year ago tomorrow,

the British people voted Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher into power.

Mrs. Thatcher’s unswerving commitment to economic and social reform

has been controversial,

and she remains a divisive figure in a tenuous position.

On today’s program…

That kind of resource is not adequate.

There we have to leave it, Mr. Timms. Thank you.

With the bank holiday nearly here, many Londoners will be planning to go away,

but for those left in the city, there’ll be plenty of diversions.

God is with us.

Get down or you die!

Keep your eyes upstairs!

Look upstairs with Salim!

Everyone out! Out!

Hurry up! Get out!

Sim Harris, BBC.

Everyone, on your knees! Down!

-Down! Down! -Do as he says.

Okay. Good.

Hassan.

Don’t be stupid. You’ll get us killed.

Shut up! Don’t move! Don’t talk!

You.

You want to die?

I said, you want to die?

Hurry up and close it.

It’s definitely the Iranian embassy.

Weren’t Chris and Sim getting visas for Iran today?

Oh, bloody hell.

Ma’am. No closer.

BBC. I have colleagues in there.

Yeah. Back, I said.

What’s going on?

Hey, you can’t do that.

Free country last time I checked, pal.

No, no, no, no, no! Get back! All of you get back!

- Wait, wait, wait, wait. - I’ll be back, Bill.

- Bring negotiator now! - Shit.

I want a negotiator here now!

Tony, you’re not going to believe this.

Clear! Go! Go! Go!

That was shit.

How’s that then, Roy?

You never checked behind the door.

-Oh, fuck off. -You’re dead. So’s he.

Sorry.

Right, boys, get yourselves outside now.

- No. - Outside, boys.

Someone’s pushed the wrong button.

Thirty seconds and we’re out of here! Let’s go! Go!

Stand by.

John.

Right, lads.

What’s the deal, mate? Don’t tell me it’s another fuckin’ exercise.

Terrorists in London.

Multiple hostages.

Yeah?

Aye. We’re finally fuckin’ on.

Right, lads.

We’re off to London to meet the fuckin’ queen, do some shopping.

They say they are the Democratic Revolutionary Front

for the Liberation of Arabistan.

They demand the release of 91 Arabs held in prisons in Iran.

What is it?

Unless these demands are met, they will kill a hostage at noon tomorrow.

Perfect timing.

-You know DS Tucker. -Of course.

Max.

Tom Lovett. You’ll be supporting him on the day shift.

We were both on the Bramshill negotiators course.

I remember.

Good. Well, time to put theory into practice.

We know they have one of ours.

PC Trevor Lock of the diplomatic squad.

Yeah. “Armed with Smith & Wesson .38 revolver.”

Don’t know if he’s used it, still got it or what.

If he’s still got it, they won’t expect an English copper to be armed.

Yes. Could be a good or a bad thing.

You’ve got to keep ’em talking.

Standard army field phone.

No listening devices, so nothing to find. But, we hang up here, it’s off.

They hang up, it stays open, never switches off,

which means that we can hear anything they say within range.

-That’s very clever. -Yeah.

Let’s get on with it, shall we?

Police are settling in tonight for a long wait around the embassy in Kensington.

The embassy’s in Princes Gate, just off Kensington Road.

An area almost from the Albert Hall to Ennismore Gardens has been sealed off.

Dozens of people from nearby houses and offices

on this most fashionable part of London have been evacuated.

I lived right through London throughout the war,

and so bombing was something that I was brought up with.

Metropolitan Police are by now all too experienced in this kind of incident,

and well-oiled plans have sprung into action.

In scenes more reminiscent of Northern Ireland or America,

guns appear on the streets of the capital.

The question here too is,

do authorities face terrorism with negotiation or force

on British soil?

This is Kate Adie, live from Princes Gate.

The rest of today’s news a little later,

and of course we’ll be going back to the embassy if there are any developments.

I’m starving.

Huh. You’ll need to be.

-Oh, guess what I just heard. -What?

The terrorists called BBC Television Centre.

-What are they demanding? -I don’t know.

Well, I guess the real question is,

what will Mrs. T and the government concede to them?

Well, not these bloody sandwiches, I hope.

We’ve had worse.

When?

No, don’t get up, gentlemen, please.

I think you know everyone. MI5, MI6, Metropolitan Police.

-Colonel Rose? -Special Air Service.

Colonel.

Well, I have spoken to the prime minister, and she is firm.

The rule of British law must be applied here.

On that, she will not be swayed.

So…

uh, what is the first order of business?

Uh, to determine the government’s bottom line on negotiations.

And under what conditions the SAS would take over from the police.

We can’t give them what they want, I’ll tell you that much.

The Iranian government are point-blank refusing to play ball.

They’re not releasing anyone from jail.

Well, are your men ready to go in, Colonel, if need be?

An immediate assault plan has been drawn up,

based on what little intelligence we have.

If it comes to it, it won’t be pretty.

Fuckin’ press are everywhere. Do not let them make you.

All right, just remember, lads…

…we’re cleaners.

Aye. Cleaners armed to the fuckin’ teeth.

Cleaners going up to the second floor...

Now, this is more like it, lads.

Very soon after the raiders burst into the Iranian embassy,

a police interpreter made the first contact with them

to begin the delicate task of trying to get the hostages released

and find out what precisely the raiders wanted.

They are demanding the release of 91 Arabs held in prison in south Iran.

If the demands are not met, they will blow up the hostages and themselves.

The police are keeping the Foreign Office informed of developments,

but they are in full charge.

Most of the negotiations are being conducted with one man.

The police are operating with their customary caution.

The fewest possible details of the police operation have been disclosed.

In a terse reference to the siege in the Commons this afternoon,

the home secretary said, “We are in the middle of delicate operations”…

And of course we assume

there is a significantly greater number of Iranian hostages,

mostly staff of the embassy.

That's where he reiterated

the police aid the release of the hostages without bloodshed.

Iranian governments accuse Western governments.

It’s the West’s fault, as usual.

Have you seen this?

Dear old Mail never fails.

This apparently is our fault.

Watch out. BBC are here, inflaming the situation as usual.

Piss off, Jimmy.

Yeah. Piss off, Jimmy.

Okay.

Let’s get on with it.

Nice cape.

Thank you.

Hey.

Tom didn’t go home last night.

-You’re joking. -I wish I was.

Stayed here with the night shift. He’s wound tighter than a horse’s ass.

Seen this?

A hostage in the embassy called the BBC’s London office.

-It was leaked from there. -Thought they cut everything.

Apparently, there’s a phone still operating.

We can’t negotiate in the bloody press.

One hour till deadline, boys.

Maggie’s made it clear, anybody gets killed, she’s sending us in.

- Is there anything else we should know? - No.

It’s a black hole.

So it’s in through the front door and hope the whole place doesn’t go bang, then?

Right.

-You all right there? -Yeah.

Get him talking. We need to buy time.

Hello.

He demands the release of his comrades in Arabistan.

Your government must, or they will take action.

Tell him our bosses are looking at their demands, trying to contact Iran.

They have already talked to Tehran.

Tell them they have no power in this situation. They’re trapped.

-Don’t they understand? -Tom.

What did the Iranians say to them?

They welcome all the hostages to be martyrs

for the great Islamic state of Iran.

Do whatever the hell you want.

I have nothing more to say.

This is Sunray. Stand to.

Fifteen minutes till deadline. Stand to.

We’re on, boys.

Let’s fuckin’ have it.

Max.

The army’s next door, champing at the bit to get in.

I think the boss said it’s the SAS.

Are you serious?

That’s all we need.

Word from upstairs is, if someone’s shot, they go in.

We better make sure no one is.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

Hello?

Hello.

Can you speak English to me?

Do you speak English?

Yes, I speak.

My name is Detective Chief Inspector Max Vernon.

Where is the woman?

She’s not here.

Will you speak directly to me?

I want to help you, Salim.

If you don’t help, we will kill them.

No, no.

If you do that, then I won’t be able to help you. Do you understand?

In five minutes, we kill unless you follow our demands!

Salim...

listen to me, please, very carefully. Will you do that?

My government is not on friendly terms with your government.

Even if they were,

we can’t force the Iranians to do anything they don’t want to do.

Please,

understand, we can’t release prisoners in Iran.

That’s simply beyond our power.

The Iranians have washed their hands of us.

You and I

have to solve this now.

If you were to release a hostage, it could help.

You think I don’t know what you are doing.

Hmm?

I’m trying to help you.

You are preparing to attack!

No. Believe me when I say this, Salim...

I want this to be resolved peacefully,

without violence.

Every day in my land,

it is violence on my people by the Persians.

I can’t do anything about that.

I wish I could, but I can’t.

But right here,

right now, you and I can stop violence.

If you help me…

there’s still a chance.

Christ, what’s going on in there?

Stand by.

Salim?

It’s finished! Don’t talk anymore.

Salim?

He’s been shot.

Salim?

- Where are you shot? - What?

No. I’m sick. I’ve got gut-rot. Look, I need to talk to the bloody police.

-All right, just lie back. -No. Let go!

You mustn’t go in there. You’ve no idea what’s waiting for you.

Yeah.

They’ve released a hostage. Says they’re armed to the teeth.

That man was ill. We let him go.

Thank you, Salim.

Stand down. I say again, stand down.

Thank you.

Now, if you don’t meet our demands, they die.

We have food. You must be hungry.

Let us feed you.

You bring, Mr. Max.

-Right. -Only you.

Do we have any food?

Whitehall is saying back off.

You’ve got to be joking, boss.

Fuck.

They’ve released a hostage.

There have been developments with the siege

at the Iranian embassy in London.

We now cross to Martin Young.

The hostages, most of whom are Iranian, are about to receive

-their first meal in over a day. -Mum, it’s Dad!

Policemen have brought food in containers,

which have been placed on the ground near the front door to the embassy.

A lone policeman now carefully opens some of the compartments

for the gunmen to inspect at a distance.

The policeman takes care that none of his movements can be misinterpreted.

The containers are now placed in a box that is fixed to a pole…

Who the fuck is this?

...now waits for the container to be removed from the...

The gunmen move cautiously as they take the food inside.

Mr. Max.

Yes.

You tell them we will kill a hostage if our demands are not met.

You tell your government we will kill.

We want Arab ambassadors now.

- The policeman appears to be… - One of the Met boys.

He’s gonna get himself killed.

I’ll bet he’s never seen a weapon in his life.

Can you give me more time?

I want to help you. I need more time.

And we want two buses to take us to Heathrow.

All right.

I’ll ask the bosses.

Please understand, it won’t happen quickly.

He’s lying. He’s playing with us.

Give them a chance. This is not our land.

One more day. That is all.

-Forty-eight hours. -No!

Salim, please.

Everything takes time here. It’s complicated in London.

I want to help you.

Please, let me help you.

Forty-eight hours.

After that, we begin shooting them.

- …closes the window… - Fuckin’ police.

…and the conversation appears to be at an end.

That was Martin Young from the siege at Princes Gate,

where all but one of the hostages…

London senior policemen seem confident that caution and patience

will bring this matter to what they call “a non-violent conclusion.”

Well, this softly-softly approach is designed to put pressure on the gunmen,

who, it’s assumed, are already nervous and getting tired.

What do you think might be in the minds of the terrorists now?

I imagine they feel quite excited and elated.

In a sense, things are going their way pretty well.

Post-World War II Soviet anti-personnel fragmentation grenade,

also known as the RGD-5.

Very destructive in confined spaces.

Four ounces of high explosive, 350 steel fragments, if you’re interested.

The X-rays have got at least one each.

And they claim to have a doomsday device.

So, 30-plus rooms over six floors rigged with explosives.

Each terrorist ready to pull the pin for Arabistan.

Aye, it’ll be a real Wild West show, boys.

Right.

The new deadline’s 48 hours.

The head shed’s drawn up plans that avoid storming the embassy,

but we need a new immediate action plan

in case these inmates go off their medication sooner.

Preferably one where everyone doesn’t die.

I have nothing more to say about this. Okay?

I have nothing more to say about this. Okay?

We know there are some hostages on the second floor.

The intel’s never going to be perfect, ever.

And the clock will be fucking ticking.

What about assault ladders here and here?

Too exposed.

Always fight down, right?

What… Excuse me. Stop a minute.

Based on the intel that we have right now…

we make our approach…

from the roof, yeah?

We use caving ladders down to these top windows,

we make entry, dominate the area where the hostages are being held,

and then fight our way down from there.

Clear the stronghold.

Fuckin’ Einstein over here, huh?

There’s at least 25 of them.

Five women, maybe more.

All got families, all got lives.

It’s a bloody nightmare.

And Trevor Lock.

Yes?

You tell your government one more day.

We will kill a hostage unless our demands are met.

We will kill until you bring an ambassador here with the bus.

Hector’s got a new plan.

We’re gonna give ’em a bus,

gonna let ’em take the hostages to Heathrow,

and then we’re gonna take the bus.

Piece of fuckin’ cake.

Get down!

-Clear! -Clear!

-Now! -Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

Get down!

You’re a dead man walking.

The army now appear to be directly adjacent to the Iranian embassy,

although officials continue to deny their involvement.

The police haven’t actually seen any of the hostages so far.

They will say that food has been taken in,

but no personal contact has been made between the police and the hostages.

For their part, the police feel

that as long as the government are letting their deadlines pass,

then there’s a strong hope that their suicidal fervor will wane…

That was shit.

Set!

Well, here don’t seem to be any hard and fast rules,

but in general, uh, experience suggests that the longer it goes on,

the less likely it is to end in tears, so to speak.

- No. Too slow. - Need to get it down to six seconds.

To assume that they are going to break down

by certain techniques that we know work on Western people is a false assumption.

So, to sum up, I mean, everyone involved there,

police, psychiatrists, and psychologists,

are facing perhaps the trickiest situation we’ve experienced in London, in your view.

Uh, that would be so. Yes.

Down! Down!

Get down! Get down!

Clear!

That’s more like it!

Clear!

There’ll be no bus assault at the airport.

It’s ready and workable.

It didn’t work for the Germans at Munich,

and this government will not copy their failed plans.

The special projects team are elite soldiers…

but they are not superheroes.

They’ve never been used on British soil,

certainly never assaulted a six-story building filled with civilians.

And terrorists ready to blow themselves up if we attack.

Are you saying your men can’t handle it?

I back them a hundred percent.

They know the risks, but be certain you do.

Now I would advise you to seriously consider any plan

that avoids a stronghold assault.

On a positive note, the Arab League have agreed to help with negotiations.

There may be an impediment to that.

The prime minister believes it is vital

that this country is not seen as a soft target for terrorism,

especially in the light of the Troubles.

She has instructed me to make it plain

that the terrorists will be subject to the laws of this land,

and under no circumstances will they leave this country.

So it’s jail or a box?

We’re still talking to the Arab League to see if they will help,

so it’s not a total dead duck.

We need to give them something tangible...

make them feel they’ve achieved what they set out to do.

Then maybe they’ll give up.

Well, you’d better think of it before noon tomorrow,

because if they do start shooting, the SAS will go in.

It’ll be a fucking bloodbath.

Careful, mate.

All right, this is good. Perfect point for abseiling tie-offs.

Watch ya.

Sit the fuck down! You’ve gotten so old.

Oh, my.

Didn’t I tell you to sit the fuck down?

We’re going to make you pay.

Looks like happy families down there.

And that, uh, miss of Kirk’s on the green might well be the…

Eleven.

…deciding shot in this tremendous match.

Well, that one really was a lovely little shot there.

Hey, Roy, mate.

I need a word.

A lovely shot.

Fuckin’ hell.

The, uh… The brass won’t sanction the bus plan.

-Why? -Politics.

Fuck’s sake.

The colonel’s ordered us to prepare a stronghold assault.

We’ve waited too long, man.

Right. They’re gonna be fuckin’ waiting for us, set up--

No.

We’ve found a, um, a light well on the embassy roof that wasn’t in the plans.

It leads all the way down to a glass panel on the second floor.

-That’s perfect for a distraction charge. -Exactly.

Hector wants me to detonate it, right?

So I want you to step up and take my place as assault team leader with Tom.

Don’t you think it’d be better to use one of the… one of the older guys?

-I mean, I’m only three years in. -I’ve thought it through.

Do you want the fuckin’ job or not?

Yeah, I want it.

Call signs.

And Rusty, mate,

aggression’s good, control’s the key. Yeah?

This is how it will go down, mark my words.

Mrs. Thatcher’s gunning for a fight.

They’re dreaming if they think we’re gonna go in and clean this up nicely.

We have an alternate plan that will guarantee every hostage comes out alive.

We have entry into the embassy through a skylight.

An assault squad could enter under cover of darkness

with silenced weapons.

We could neutralize the terrorists.

You can’t be serious.

Who do we think we are? John Wayne?

I can hear the sphincters tightening in Whitehall as we speak, Mike.

And the headlines. “SAS Assassination Squad”?

I’m sure, but no other plan comes close.

I’ll take it to the prime minister,

but I know what the answer will be.

It’s down to the negotiators to break the deadlock...

or your men will have to storm the embassy.

Speculation is mounting…

I just wish the army would hurry up and storm the place.

What?

“If it bleeds, it leads.”

-It’s gonna make our careers, Kate. -Are we part of the same profession?

I don’t think we’re part of the same species.

When was the last time you printed the truth?

You know the old saying: “You make it sing, you make it dance, you make it up.”

Jimmy. Omit emotion, report the facts. Remember?

It’s not a football match.

That’s boring, isn’t it? Look, trust me, all right?

I have covered every siege since Troy, and the army are not going to attack.

Oh, yeah? How’s that then?

Look at it. Place is a fortress.

Be an absolute slaughter.

Release him to me.

Come on!

Hassan.

Hassan!

Faisal.

Faisal, what on earth are you doing?

Now we’ll show them. Hmm?

Hurry! Hurry!

Up! You up!

- Leave that! - Sit! Sit!

Something’s got them wound up.

- I said up! - Can’t you see he’s not well?

Talk! Talk!

Let him go!

- Talk! - Please, no more!

What are we doing?

Huh?

- Quiet. - They lied to us.

The Iraqi lied to us.

One day, they said, and the police would give in.

I don’t want to die here.

- Salim. - Okay.

Salim.

There is an argument between Salim and this other one called Faisal.

Faisal says all they do is talk.

They need to show they mean their threats.

They have agreed they will kill a hostage unless their demands are met today.

Max.

Can I have a word?

The Arab League has refused to be part of the negotiations, so, uh,

no ambassadors.

Why?

The Arabs want to give the terrorists safe passage out of the UK.

And our government refuses.

We trained him to be a killer.

He’s detached, professional. Drop of the hat, he’ll pull the trigger.

He’s my choice.

Isn’t he up in court for a drunken street fight?

Well, he works hard, plays harder. I’ll give you that, boss.

That’s not my point. It’s about leadership.

Boss, this is the SAS.

We’re not philosophers. We’re not warrior poets.

We’re the enforcers.

Once we let these dogs off the leash, we know what they’ll do.

It won’t be pretty.

And when it comes time, we need someone up front with the heart of a lion

and the brains of a fuckin’ judge.

All right, Sergeant.

But you’d better make sure he doesn’t go off grid.

Sir.

Max Vernon.

Where are the Arab ambassadors we asked for?

Why have you not brought them to us? And the bus?

-Salim, there’s a problem. -We can no longer wait for problems.

The ambassadors, they’re…

they’re coming…

but it may take some time.

Your army is going to attack us.

Nobody is going to attack you.

We can hear them in the walls and outside.

Stop the noise, do you hear?

Are we doing that?

Hey. Psst.

Consider it done.

I want to speak to the BBC.

The BBC? That I can do.

Um, it may take a day or so to organize.

No! Now!

Salim, you have to understand that this is a free country.

I can’t order the BBC to do anything.

If you were to release another hostage, it could help. Believe me.

Salim.

Salim.

Salim. Don’t give them another day, you hear?

What can I do? They need another day. That’s it.

Every day, Salim. Every day, “Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow”!

Come. You will come. You.

You! Sit down.

Come. Come.

One more day. Do you hear me, Mr. Max?

- Yes. - Take him with you, quickly.

Talk, talk, talk. Hmm?

There are others here who would not be so kind.

Do you know my country, Mr. Max?

My people are tortured and oppressed by the Persians.

Do you understand what is at stake here for us?

I’m trying to help you, Salim.

Good.

Because this is your last chance.

After four days, as more deadlines pass,

another hostage was released from the Iranian embassy today.

Tensions are easing

as hope grows ever stronger for a peaceful solution.

But do you think there could be a situation like in Tehran,

where the hostages are held for months?

Well, that’s all right, as far as we’re concerned.

We all have to agree to be gentlemen,

but the Sword of Damocles is hanging over everybody’s head.

The hostages are in a terrible state now.

But even they do not know what the terrorists are saying.

What are they saying?

They are preparing to kill…

all the hostages if they do not get what they want.

Right, the boss has approval

for the deliberate action plan to storm the embassy.

When there’s proof of murder, we’re in.

Stand by! Stand by!

Go! Frame charge!

Room clear.

-Clear! -Go!

You two clear that room there. Where’s Jerry?

Jerry, mate, watch the stairs. X-rays may escape down.

They’ll be shooting, so watch your ass. Tak, basement’s that way.

So, Mink, you head on upstairs, take control, all right?

We can evacuate the hostages from up there.

-Clear! -Any questions?

If we do it 20 times faster, we just might save someone.

Let’s go again.

Move it.

Placing charge.

Charge check.

Flashbang!

This is a tricky one, Rusty.

Maggie owes us a few fuckin’ pints, that’s for sure.

Hey, Rusty.

-Tell Maggie her gear’s shit. -Honestly, mate, I don’t think she cares.

Poor craftsman blames his tools, pal.

Ooh.

The fuck’s this?

Caretaker. Knows the place inside out.

Oh, it’s all wrong.

What do you mean, it’s all wrong?

- Here, it does not open this way. - What?

And this,

the door is on the other side.

Here, you will end up in a cupboard.

Great. Thank you. Let’s get it changed, mate, quick as you can, please. Yeah?

Yeah.

Let’s gear up, let’s go again.

We’ll rehearse it till we can do it in our fuckin’ sleep.

We need an ambassador there now.

The Arab League refuses point-blank,

until there is the option of freedom for the terrorists.

Couldn’t the prime minister be moved on this?

I’ll ask.

The Iraqis are willing to help.

I bet they are.

Sami Mohammed Ali, Iraqi intelligence.

Box 500 traced his movements to a boardinghouse in Earl’s Court.

Sami probably smuggled the weapons in diplomatic bags.

Left for Iraq one day prior to the attack.

Gentlemen…

we are plainly on our own.

Hello, Salim?

Well?

Your demands will be read out in full tonight…

at six o’clock on the BBC.

Do you promise this?

I promise you.

Six o’clock.

If not, I will kill a hostage, then one every half hour.

Why don’t you eat something, Trevor?

You’re not still thinking of using it? The gun?

I may have to soon.

Can’t you feel it?

We’re like animals to the slaughter.

All we do is eat and sleep.

But we know it’s bad news in the end.

Bravo Three in position.

Good evening. This is the BBC News at six o’clock.

Police released a statement today saying that the terrorists in the Iranian embassy

had requested a plane to take them out of the country.

As yet there’s no word from the government as to whether this demand will be met.

We’ll have more on the siege later in the program.

But now for today’s main news.

Alex Higgins ended at nine frames all.

Is that it?

They’re not reading it out. Stand by.

They were meant to read it in full.

Higgins, who is seeking to regain the title he won at his…

Christ, they’ll kill ’em.

Thorburn responded with a frame-winning break of 68

to pull it back to 5-2.

Hello?

Mr. Max?

Mr. Max?

Yes, Salim, it’s Max.

Thank you for what you’ve done, Mr. Max.

We are very happy.

Very happy.

Well, that’s good to hear, Salim.

The just read it out in full on the BBC World Service.

We will release two hostages.

Two hostage…

After five long days,

a further two hostages have been released

after the terrorists’ demands were read out on the BBC World Service.

The statement of the group holding the hostages:

“The reason for us to come to Britain to carry out this operation

is because of the pressure and oppression

which is being practiced by the Iranian government in Arabistan,

and to convey our voice to the outside world

through your country.

Once again,

we apologize to the people and the government

for this inconvenience.”

The terrorists want freedom from repression

for the Arab-speaking part of Iran called Arabistan.

There is now a growing sympathy for this oil-rich Arab-speaking state

ruled by the Persian-speaking Iranian majority.

Syrian News reports repeated instances…

-Looks like we missed our chance, boys. -…of torture and execution

-at the hands of the Iranian regime. -What do you reckon?

Whatever the message says, the Iranian government…

-What do you reckon? -…refuses to negotiate,

which puts the onus on the British authorities to deal with the terrorists.

Nothing.

But the British government doesn’t want to get involved in negotiations.

Doesn’t change a thing.

Indeed, the only official contact has been a note from Mrs. Thatcher

to the Iranian president, Bani-Sadr,

in which she said that she found this act of terrorism totally repugnant and…

I will gladly accept this death…

Our brothers die daily.

Khomeini is killing our brothers daily!

Daily!

Hmm? Talk! Talk!

Hmm?

Radio Tehran reports

that an assault is about to be made on the Iranian embassy at Princes Gate.

While officials deny any such action and insist negotiations are ongoing,

the Iranian government itself is calling for the use of force.

You got that wrong.

Bet you anything you like they’ll give up now.

I hope you’re right, Jimmy.

You. Come with me, now.

You’ll go blind the amount you stare at those boards.

Just figuring out who not to shoot, mate.

Mac, this guy.

Faisal Jaseem.

Been in the army his whole life.

I know this guy. You back this guy into a corner, he’s gonna fight his way out.

Nothing to lose.

I mean, it could be me, John.

Apart from the “well-educated.”

Make sure you memorize all the faces, yeah?

Hmm?

Talk.

Talk.

Talk.

Talk as much as you want.

-Hello? -Constable Trevor Lock here.

Trevor.

What the hell’s going on in there?

They’ve got a hostage downstairs, sir.

They’ve got him tied up down there.

Unless they get what they want, they say they’re gonna kill him.

I really think they’re gonna do it, sir. I really do.

If we do not get what we want, we will kill him. Do you hear?

I want a bus outside to take us to the airport now.

Salim, calm down.

Not “calm down”! You have had long enough!

Where are they?

- Where are the ambassadors? - We’re working on it.

No more delay. You bring the bus here now.

Look, guys, I’m talking to them right now, okay?

We are fed up with talking.

We are fed up with talking.

Khomeini kills our brothers at home.

Our brothers die daily like dogs, Salim.

Like dogs!

While you sit up there and talk with them. Hmm?

Still want to talk?

I will gladly accept this death,

even if it’s by your vile hands, you piece of shit. No!

Faisal, my friend.

If you kill anyone, it’s the end for all of us.

Shots fired in the embassy. Get set.

Salim?

Salim?

Yes.

Was that one of the hostages?

You have 30 minutes to meet all of our demands…

or we will kill more.

You can collect the body.

-You ready? -Yeah.

I’m thinking that we should call the negotiators,

get ’em to keep the leader, Salim, on the phone when we assault.

We should steal as much time for these boys as we can.

All right. I’ll tell the boss.

-And, Rusty. -Hmm?

Check behind the doors, mate.

The prime minister has authorized the military takeover.

Do we think this man was killed accidentally?

No, we do not.

Colonel?

I’d like the record to show you signed over control to the regiment.

Maggie’s government’s hanging by the tits,

and it’s Lance Corporal Rusty Firmin who’s got a hold of them.

Just don’t shoot the fuckin’ hostages, John.

- Are we on? - Yeah.

I need a drink.

The prime minister asks that there be no smoke screen

to cover or block the assault from the television cameras.

Colonel Rose?

She wants the world and the British people

to see how this government deals with terrorism.

All stations. This is Sunray.

I have control. I say again, I have control.

Max. Had a call from Whitehall.

You gave the SAS time to plan. They’re very grateful.

There’s a request from their colonel.

Keep Salim talking during the assault.

If they haven’t got their leader, it might help.

What are you saying, sir? You want me to help kill them?

Oh, no. I want you to save the hostages.

What am I supposed to offer them?

The world now, for all we care.

I got a nice shot of heads.

Let’s move it.

What is it?

-Salim, it’s Max Vernon. -What is it, Mr. Max?

Do you have anything for me, or do we have to kill another and another?

I’ve been authorized to discuss buses with you

and get you to Heathrow Airport.

The government has accepted your terms.

The ambassadors are on their way.

-We’re arranging buses now. -You are lying.

No more lies.

No more lies.

I’m not lying to you, Salim.

One bus.

Enough for all of us.

One bus. All right.

-How is it? -A lot better, I’ll tell you that much.

-Lookit, this is an overview. -That’s great.

Distraction charge is set.

It must have curtains.

Curtains. Yes, we can do that.

And I want you to drive, Mr. Max.

Mr. Max,

here.

Here, Mr. Max. He’s here. Here.

Hello?

Advance to “A” position.

I say again, all teams advance to “A” position.

PC Trevor Lock, sir.

-Trevor, put Salim back on immediately. -Sir.

We’re all very concerned in here, sir.

Please assure me there is not an assault about to happen.

Shit.

Oh, shit.

Bravo One, rear team in position.

Trevor, I can assure you 100%

we are not about to attack.

We are genuinely arranging for their demands to be met.

Frame charge going in.

I just can’t believe after all this…

the promises you’re making.

Trevor, listen carefully to me.

I have my instructions from the government.

Those instructions are to keep the hostages alive.

Do you understand?

-Sir. -Good.

Now put Salim back on, please.

Cut him down, boys. We’re gonna let off the charge.

Yes, Mr. Max?

Salim, we need to know where you want to fly to.

Have to make arrangements immediately for the jet.

It needs to be of a certain size…

a certain fuel capacity.

I heard something suspicious.

-There’s nothing suspicious, Salim. -There is a… a suspicious sound.

There’s nothing.

Salim, talk to me.

-No. Wait. I will come back. -Salim, wait.

Go! Go! Go!

-Keep filming. -Where the hell are you going?

Bravo One, where is the frame charge on the ground floor?

If we blow it, we’re gonna fucking kill him.

Are we live, Bill?

Cutting in now.

At the Iranian embassy at Princes Gate,

an explosion has sounded from the rear of the building…

as police and press nearby have been told to take cover.

Now, two black-clad men can be seen on the front balcony.

They are placing an object of some kind

in front of the embassy window

and climbing back over the balcony to their side.

A second explosion has ripped through the front of the embassy.

Flashbang!

Fuckin’ cut him down!

Bravo One, where is the frame charge on the ground floor?

We’re changing the fuckin’ plan.

-What was that? -If we set off the charge, it’ll kill him.

What the hell is going on? Rusty!

Forget it, boss. He ain’t talking to no one now.

Cut the rope!

Smash it in!

Flashbang!

-You all right, Tom? -I’m all right!

Get in there!

Clear!

-Clear! -Clear!

Smoke covers it, obscuring everything.

Jesus Christ.

On your fuckin’ feet, Sim. Out! Out now!

Oh, my God, quick!

Mink.

Watch yourself, Mink.

-Clear. -Stairs clear.

Come on, boys. Let’s go.

Go!

Locked door.

Four female hostages.

Four female hostages.

We have four female hostages.

Stairs are clear. Send ’em down.

-Door’s jammed. -Right! I’ll go round!

Clear.

Basement clear.

Fuck.

Fuck!

Go, go, go. Keep it moving, John. We need to clear this floor.

Down!

Go! Go, go, go!

Get up! Get up!

-Go! Go! -Come on!

You’re all right, Trevor.

You’re all right.

Hostage PC Trevor Lock appears at a window.

He’s waving his police hat as identification.

Police shout at him, and he draws back inside.

Police dogs howl.

A woman relative of one of the hostages can be heard screaming.

Helicopters can be heard…

Clear! Get them out!

Move! Move!

Move! Move! Move!

Hurry up! Move! Fuckin’ hurry up!

Let’s go! Send ’em down to me!

Eyes forward! Move! Move! Move!

Keep moving!

-Get down! Get down! -Get down!

Stay down! Stay down!

Don’t move! Don’t move!

Get away! Get away!

We’ve got a room full of hostages.

Stay down! Keep your fuckin’ heads down!

Okay, lads. Let’s bring ’em out right now, yeah?

-Okay. Get up. -Start moving!

-Through the door! Let’s go! -Out! Out! Out! Out!

Fuckin’ move it!

-Move! -Come on! Move it!

Move it! Fuckin’ move! Go!

-Move! Move! -Let’s go! Let’s go!

There are still two X-rays missing.

Come on, move!

Keep movin’! Go! Go!

Trevor, get down the stairs! Move!

Move! Move! Move! Come on! Come on!

Move! Move! Move! Move!

Move!

He’s got a grenade! Stay there!

The pin’s in!

It’s all right!

Let’s bring ’em out! Let’s bring ’em out right now!

Come on! Stand up! Let’s go! Let’s go!

Get out! Keep moving! Keep moving! Come on!

Out! Out! Out! Come on!

Move! Move! Move! Move! Move!

That’s an X-ray, boys.

The boys all made it.

They all made it, boss.

Only one hostage killed.

It’s a miracle.

After six days and almost 11 hours exactly,

the siege at number 16 Princes Gate is over.

- See him come down those stairs? - I fuckin’ did.

-Huh? -He was a cheeky bastard, wasn’t he?

For the inquiry.

Wait, wait, wait.

Hello?

Max?

Is that you, love?

Yeah.

Thank God.

I just saw it now.

Are you hurt?

Max, please.

Will you say something?

I’m all right, love. I’m sorry.

I just didn’t want you to worry.

You know, in case you heard anything on the news.

I regret that it proved necessary to resort to the use of force.

But there was, in the end, no alternative.

I entirely agree with my honorable friend,

and if I might say one word, it was, I believe, a brilliant operation…

…carried out…

carried out by Special Air Services with courage and confidence.

And I agree with my honorable friend

that the performances of both the police and the SAS

made us all, on all sides of the House, proud to be British.

he House, proud to be British.