Original subtitles

This story is not necessarily true. But it is based on real events.

GEORGETOWN

So, you're a first-timer?

Mm-hmm. You?

A veteran. Two earlier dinner parties and a cocktail reception.

And?

Difficult to describe.

It's always memorable.

Mm.

Eleanor Price. I'm with Reuters.

Ted Parsons.

Oh! You should have said. Congratulations.

Yes, indeed.

Thank you.

This is a very big night for you.

It is.

You must be very happy.

- Well, I'm very relieved. - Uh-huh.

- And I'm grateful. - Mm.

How did he do it?

I have no earthly idea.

How do you know Mott?

Everybody in Georgetown knows Ulrich.

He's made himself indispensable to us at the embassy.

No, indispensable's not the right word.

Impossible to ignore.

Think Lawrence of Arabia with a Blackberry.

The last time I was here, I sat next to Scalia.

He officiated at their wedding. Can you imagine?

Have you met his wife?

I didn't know he was married.

Oh, of course he's married. This is her house.

Where is Elsa?

Invitation came through DOD. They sent me.

Never heard of this guy. What's his deal?

Not sure. Apparently a bit of a miracle worker.

I've only met him a couple of times.

- Have you heard the tales from Iraq? - No.

He sent us reports from the region for over two years.

Not that we'd asked for them.

Most incredible shit you've ever seen.

So, finally I was forced to say, "You're mad.

Take your ridiculous plan, stick it up your asses."

Diplomatically, of course.

They said, "Ulrich, you cannot say that

to the head of German intelligence."

And I said, "I think I just did."

I mean, come on.

If you're talking about planting a listening device

in some hotel room somewhere,

in the back of some underling's car, well, all right.

But Madeleine Albright's master bath?

Come on! Don't be silly.

Ah, then, you know, I went home.

Slept on it.

The next day they rang and made an offer...

How do they say? That you can't refuse.

What happened?

Well, maybe next time you're at Madeleine Albright's,

don't have any significant conversations in her bathroom.

May I invite you?

Thank you.

Oh, pardon me. Sorry to startle you.

You... You didn't.

She often takes a nap before dinner.

I've just come to wake her.

Excuse me.

Of course, he could always hire a caterer,

but he does everything himself.

Oh, I know.

I apologize for my late appearance. Hi.

Ulrich promised he'd wake me earlier.

Yes.

I thought you needed the rest, madam.

Oh, you see how he babies me?

You know how I hate to miss the cocktails.

Well, we all forgive you

if you wish to make up for lost time.

Ah. Now, before anything else...

To Ulrich and his marvelous achievement.

No, no, no, no. I was just one of many players

in a very complicated game. It's really the...

Oh, listen, I'm making the toast.

Oh. Sorry.

And to a woman

and her freedom.

And to all of you who are celebrating with us.

Hear, hear.

- Hear, hear. - Cheers.

Cheers.

Mm.

It's very warm.

Now, we're all hungry. Fetch the soup.

Yes, it is true.

One of our staffers was arrested in Iran.

She's a lovely lady. Married.

Daughter just started kindergarten.

Now, we don't hear from her for a few days,

and then the word comes back.

They have grabbed her, and they're holding her on espionage charges.

She was a spy?

No. We're a research shop. She's an economist.

It's bullshit. Nevertheless, the State Department, you wouldn't touch it.

You're too busy with this transition in Iraq.

We couldn't communicate with anybody over there.

We're completely helpless, out of touch.

Meanwhile...

Thank you, Mott.

Meanwhile, this poor woman

is rotting in a jail cell in Tehran.

And then a friend of mine,

a former ambassador,

refers me to our illustrious host.

Oh, for Christ's sake, Ted!

I step away for a minute, you start embarrassing me.

Oh, no, Ulrich. Let him tell his story.

Well, we met, and he said he'd take care of it.

Nah, nah, nah, nah. I said I'd look into it.

And?

And...

ten days later, she's released. Now, he did that.

- Mott did that. - How?

He still hasn't told me.

You can't expect a magician to give away his tricks.

Come on.

- No, no, no, no. - Mr. Mott...

No, no. Enough. Enough of that.

- Please, sit. - What?

Oh, I hope she's feeling all right.

I-I can't, I just can't.

I can't listen to any more of this.

It's the middle of the dinner.

I don't care about the dinner.

I didn't even know there was going to be a dinner.

I came here to see you, Mother.

You told me you wanted to spend some time together.

We never get to do that anymore.

And I get here, and it's all about him...

his celebration, his idiotic stories.

He's done a great thing.

Yeah, right.

Let me know when he wins the Nobel Prize.

- I'll meet you in Stockholm. - That's childish.

After everything you've been through,

you still let him live in your house, spend your money...

He is my husband. It's our house.

Yeah, I know. I know.

Mr. Mott...

You're punishing me.

Punishing you?

Look,

I'll do whatever it takes, okay?

I will move back to DC. I would... I would do that.

I'll teach here, okay? You could come to Boston.

I will do anything to help you if you will please,

please stop doing this.

You don't understand.

So go if you don't want to be with us.

Can't you do this in the morning?

Yes, I could. I'd just like to clear some of it now.

Yes, but then you'll be up until 2:00 a.m.

and you'll wake me when you come upstairs.

I'm sorry that my clearing up after our party disturbs your rest.

"Our" party? As if anyone could get a word in.

It's Amanda, isn't it?

She put you in this mood.

Why you invite that sour little bitch, I'll never understand.

Don't you talk about my daughter like that,

and don't you dare smoke in my house.

Nice beret, dude.

Hello?

She was fine.

She ate well.

She seemed to enjoy herself.

When was the last time you spoke with her?

Before I left the house last night.

When was this?

When she went to bed, I went for a walk

sometime after midnight.

I often do. She doesn't like...

Didn't like me to smoke in the house.

And when I returned, I found her

on the landing.

And that's when you called 911?

Yeah.

I called immediately. I suppose I hoped...

How old was your wife, Mr. Mott?

She was 91.

We must all be very brave now.

I know you left things on a somewhat sour note

after the party. I'm terribly...

None of that matters now.

Do you want to discuss the arrangements?

You should know I want her to be buried in Arlington.

Well, I want her alongside my father.

Yeah.

I think Arlington would mean a great deal to her.

Why?

But, of course, I understand completely how you feel.

There are other issues.

We have to discuss

the house and my mother's papers and her estate.

It's all taken care of.

I'll be in touch very soon.

There will be time for tears and remembrance,

I promise.

But now there's important work to be done.

What work?

I must find and bring to justice

the men who killed your mother and my wife.

The intern

We are about to enter

the inner sanctum, so to speak.

The nerve center, the holy of holies.

This is where information is gathered,

options weighed, decisions made.

Decisions that affect lives: yours, mine.

Yes, even the fate of nations.

No! I'm afraid I shall have to ask you to refrain from taking photographs.

National security considerations.

No, no. It's okay. Take all the photos you like.

- Where are you folks from? - Akron.

Cincinnati.

Look, they're visiting their congressman's office.

I'd expect a 50-year-old intern to know that it's constituent service, okay?

I think inculcating

an appropriate sense of the importance of the work we're doing here

is very much of service to the constituents.

How long you been in the US, Ulrich?

Just a year.

But I'm on the accelerated track at American University.

In fact, I've just been accepted into the PhD program.

That's great. I'm just wondering if maybe this job might not be the best fit.

Gordon, it is so funny you should say that.

I couldn't agree more.

I feel miscast guiding tours or arranging tickets to the Smithsonian.

Diplomatic history and practice are my real passion.

Kissinger, Bismarck, Talleyrand.

What a genius, Talleyrand. Have you read him?

Anyway, I was thinking

I could put together some policy memos for the congressman.

Talk him through some of my more complex ideas over lunch, perhaps?

No! I mean here.

Here might not be the best fit.

Are you firing me, Mr. Nichols?

I'm encouraging you to find a better place

to develop your unique set of talents.

- Gordon? - Yeah.

- Can we go over the meeting schedule? - Yes.

Excuse me.

White House Correspondents' Dinner

Nichols. Congressman Guyer's office.

I'm his chief of staff.

He's going to have a stroke if I'm not at his table

when the speeches start.

- Okay. - Thanks.

When I spoke to him about the event,

he completely surprised me because...

- Pardon me. - ...attending... What?

Oh! Thank you.

Oh, you must be Elsa Breht, the journalist?

- Yes. - Oh, I'm Ulrich Mott.

It's an honor.

Your work is brilliant.

I read the Handelsblatt religiously.

Oh, really? Thank you very much.

I'm working on the Hill while finishing a doctorate

in international relations.

Perhaps we could have lunch sometime?

I believe there is a great deal

I could learn from you.

Oh, well. Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh! Pardon me.

Here's the car.

Thank you.

When may I see you again?

Well...

Mr. Mott, you are aware that I'm married.

Yes. So?

So, uh, thank you for a very enjoyable lunch

and good luck to you.

You let me know if anything changes.

What?

No, I don't know. Nothing.

You're very amusing.

She hasn't answered any invitations.

I used to see her every week at the symphony,

but she stopped going.

Hi, Mother.

Who's here? I heard voices.

Katherine.

Ah, the rescue party. Hmm.

She hadn't heard from you in weeks, she said.

You shouldn't have brought her here.

Well, what am I supposed to do?

Just stand by and watch you slide into apathy here?

I'm not apathetic. Don't be ridiculous.

I just don't wish to be treated like an infant.

Nobody's treating you like an infant. We only...

Hello, darling.

Now, we're all going to get our nails done.

And then Brzezinski's giving a talk at the National Press Club at 3:00,

which is right up your alley,

and then dinner at La Chaumière.

No arguments, darling. The reservation's already made.

Please, Mom?

Now there you have it, there you have it!

A new year and a new millennium.

Finally, a day that many thought would spell the end of the world...

Yes?

Truly an historic day.

Hmm? What?

Well, surely you're watching.

- Who's this? - Ulrich Mott.

I took you for schnitzel.

Oh, get to the point, Ulrich.

Mozart, Schumann, Berlin Philharmonic

at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night.

It's completely sold out, but I obtained two tickets.

Don't ask me how. I won't tell you.

Hmm, call me in an hour.

It is a new millennium.

The future is now here...

Hmm.

Your mother never ceases to amaze.

I hope I look half as good at her age.

- Me too. - May I?

Thank you.

And suddenly

the ascendant queen of Georgetown society.

She's been holding a party a week, it seems.

Watch out, Sally Quinn!

What's her secret?

If you find out, let me know.

Oh, your father would be so glad to see it.

Darling, there's something I need to discuss with you.

- Oh? - Now, you remember the time when you said you felt

that I needed some companionship,

and I was too dismissive at the time,

and I apologize because you were right.

Well, uh...

Well, I have something I need to tell you too.

I got the position.

At Harvard.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Full professorship and tenure.

They just sent the formal offer.

Tremendous! That's marvelous!

Yes!

They don't know how lucky they are.

- And it's all arranged? - Well, I have to...

No, no, no, no. No, you take it.

I wanted to discuss it with you.

Shh. You take it. That's all there is to it.

- Well... - Oh, that's marvelous.

- And maybe you'll meet someone there, darling. - Oh!

Yes, I'm not particularly focused on that right now.

No, I know things have been very disappointing for you in that arena.

Mom, can we not?

Look, I-I thought maybe you'd consider going with me.

Now, I know how attached you are to Georgetown,

but it would be so much easier to help you out there.

Oh, darling. I don't need help.

No. But I thought you just said you wa...

I have everything I need here.

What?

- Come. - Good afternoon, my friends.

I wish to make an announcement.

There is an ulterior motive for our little party today.

We didn't want to make a big thing of it,

but we also wanted to share our joy with you.

So, please raise your glasses with me

as I celebrate my great good fortune in becoming engaged to marry

the extraordinary, the dazzling Mrs. Elsa Breht.

- Hear, hear! - Cheers!

How long have you known him?

Lower your voice.

And I don't appreciate being spoken to

like a virgin teenager from some convent school.

You know, he looks like he could be my brother.

It's not like you don't have any choice.

You must have other suitors.

They're old and boring. Mott is young and interesting.

I think he has enormous potential.

Okay.

Can we just stop, please,

playing these games, all right?

This is me.

All right? Your only daughter, Amanda.

Do you know anything about him?

Amanda, I don't need your approval.

I managed to survive the war.

I managed to come to this country and learn English

and raise a baby and have a career.

So, I think I can manage to marry

a very fascinating and devoted and, yes,

somewhat younger man.

Ah, thank you. Thank you, Grant.

I just want him out of my house. I want him out of there now.

Miss Breht, let me explain.

Detective, I teach constitutional law,

so please just remove the layer of condescension

from your voice.

Explain to me why you've left a probable suspect alone,

at liberty, in an active crime scene?

This is not a criminal investigation, ma'am.

And as of now, all we have is a deceased 90-year-old woman

and a grieving spouse,

who we intend to interview first thing tomorrow morning.

And what about the ME? Have they established the cause of death?

Your mother had a head injury likely due to falling on the stairs.

You don't know that.

No, we don't.

Which is why we'll be waiting for a full autopsy, ma'am.

Shouldn't take any more than a couple of days.

Mr. Mott, I want to remind you again,

you may have an attorney present.

I'm fully aware of that, and I don't require any attorney.

Good. I want to go over what happened

after you first discovered your wife's body.

I was coming home, expecting her to be asleep in her room.

I didn't expect to see her at all until the morning.

So, of course,

I was deeply in shock when I saw her there.

You had separate rooms?

Yeah.

Why is that?

She was 91 years old, Detective.

Have you ever had conjugal relations with a woman in her early 90s?

- No. - Neither have I.

Did you touch your wife's body at any point after you discovered her?

I may... Yes, I may have touched her briefly

to check for a pulse or something.

May I say something at this point?

- Please. - As I told you before,

I was out for a portion of the evening

after my wife went to bed.

I was away from the house for several hours.

- Where did you go? - For a walk.

For several hours?

I have very little time for exercise during the day,

and after a heavy meal, I find it's a necessity.

The point, gentlemen, is this.

It seems very likely to me that it was during this period,

between approximately 11:00 and 2:00 in the morning,

that someone broke in and murdered my wife.

Mr. Mott, there was no evidence of any break-in.

No, there wouldn't be, would there?

- I don't understand. - No, you clearly don't.

You don't understand what you're dealing with at all.

- What do you mean, Mr. Mott? - I mean...

Frankly, I can't believe I have to spell this out for you.

That the sort of people capable of committing this crime

would be far too sophisticated to leave convenient clues

for the likes of the DC police to stumble over.

Mr. Mott, do you know what this is?

It is a criminal complaint.

That's right.

A complaint your wife filed against you for assault.

Is there anything you'd like to tell us about this?

This refers to an incident that occurred in New York City some time ago.

That there was an argument between my wife and I.

That, while deeply painful and embarrassing,

it was not atypical of the sorts of dispute

that arise between passionate and long-married people.

That it precipitated a break in our marriage

that was mended, to our great mutual happiness,

after two very difficult years apart.

Well...

given this history and given the fact

there was no evidence of any intruder...

We're declaring this a homicide investigation.

Ah. I see.

And am I under arrest?

Not at the present time.

However, we have obtained a warrant ordering your house sealed

pending further forensic investigation.

You can't go back there.

And we're instructing you not to leave the DC area.

It's Ulrich Mott. Can you meet? It's urgent.

David Weatherford State Department of the United States

Mr. Mott.

Thank you so much for meeting me.

- Of course. - Yeah, but let's walk, shall we?

We heard about Elsa on the news.

Terrible shock. I'm so sorry for your loss.

It's a very difficult time, and I fear it's only going to get worse.

What do you mean?

I hope only a few days, but, um...

The coroner's report's due about 11:00. I should know more then.

Oh, thank you.

This came for you at the front desk.

Yeah, thanks. Okay.

Yeah, believe me, I don't want to stay in DC

another moment longer than I have to.

Thanks. I really appreciate it. Okay.

She left him $250,000.

Plus an additional 50 if her liquid assets exceed $600,000.

Liquid assets. I assume that means the house,

which has got to be worth... close to a million.

Probably more.

And he gets that too?

Yes.

No problem, Detective.

No, no, no. We appreciate it.

I see.

Uh, no. I'll tell her right now.

All right. Thank you very much.

The ME has determined Elsa suffered injuries

consistent with blunt force trauma.

They're opening a homicide investigation.

- Where is he? - Ma'am? Sorry...

That son of a bitch. He killed her.

- Okay, ma'am, if y... - Don't touch me!

Hang on. Ma'am, calm down.

Don't tell me to calm down.

There's no one here right now. Do you have any idea where Mott might be?

How should I know? He might have fled the country by now.

You've got to put a hold on his passport.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on.

- Are you Ulrich Mott? - Yes.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

You have the right to an attorney.

If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided.

The butler

The mail just came.

And here's my latest acquisition.

Oh, ho, ho!

Ah, bravo!

Most inventive thing I've ever seen.

- Oh. - Goodbye, dear.

So, we'll see you Sunday at the Scowcroft's?

Go fetch the car.

He's very charming.

Isn't he?

Have I done something wrong?

No.

It's all perfect.

Thank you.

You are the perfect butler.

Is that all you want to be?

You know it isn't.

So what are you waiting for?

An opportunity. I'm trying.

Are you?

Am I the opportunity?

You're my wife.

Vladimir Petrovsky.

He's a very dear old friend.

A diplomat in the Soviet era,

and now he works in the United Nations in Geneva.

We make our opportunities.

Mr. Petrovsky?

I believe we have a mutual friend,

Elsa Breht.

Um, no. She sends her best.

Certainly, I-I will tell her.

The reason for my call, you see, um...

I-I was just thinking...

I was wondering...

I recently left my position on the Hill...

I was leading study groups for members of Congress

in foreign relations...

to form my own company, my... consulting firm.

My interpersonal services and consulting firm. Um...

We are now a second year of operation,

and we have a number of clients, like yourself,

who are looking for an informal kind of representative in Washington

on an ad hoc basis.

Yeah.

Well, if there's a conference,

a meeting...

...maybe even a party that you might have an interest in

but are unable to be in attendance,

and we are your Washington eyes and ears,

so to say.

Yes?

Indeed.

It's remarkable that no one's ever thought of it before, but...

Ulrich Mott and Associates.

Let me give you my private number.

There's no need for you to go through my secretary.

Can I just interrupt the conversation?

Yes, of course.

Okay.

Go ahead. Go.

Pardon me. Ulrich Mott,

representing Vladimir Petrovsky, the UN in Geneva.

Mr. Petrovsky sends his regrets

at not being able to attend today.

With your kind permission, I will read his remarks

and, after, answer any questions you may have.

You should speak to my husband about that.

That's exactly what Mott and Associates was set up to handle.

May I, um... leave my card with you?

Please, feel free...

"Ulrich Mott and Associates." No, I don't like it.

International...

Solutions Symposium, you know?

Keep it short. Keep it short.

Global Solution Group?

Prominent Persons Group?

No.

No, no, no... near.

Um, T-T...

Eminent Persons Group.

Eminent Persons Group.

So, she has them... Oh, there she is.

Oh, he is so sweet!

He's very intelligent.

Yes. Well, I assume so.

If only one can have grandchildren. I don't have...

He's with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Excellent contact. Could be very valuable to us.

Good.

All right. This is a preliminary detention hearing

in the case of United States v. Ulrich Gero Mott...

Uh, uh, Your Honor, there are a few issues

that Mr. Mott would like to raise before the court.

What sort of issues?

Mr. Mott hasn't told me in detail.

He made it clear he'd like to be heard on this as opposed to me, so...

All right.

Thank you, Your Honor, and good morning.

Good morning.

I wish to lodge the following complaints:

The United States is in open violation

of my rights under the Geneva Convention.

I am, and remain, a serving officer in a foreign army,

and as such am entitled to my uniform and insignia,

as well as to be addressed by my full rank,

Brigadier General Ulrich Mott.

I'm sorry, did you say brigadier general?

That is correct.

In the United States Army?

No. The Iraqi Special Forces.

Well, as regards the legal issues you raise,

I'll ask the government to look into them and respond.

All right?

Are we ready to proceed?

Yes, Your Honor.

Could you get us some documentation on that?

The court's going to want to see it.

Proof of my rank, you mean?

Yeah.

Well, of course. That goes without saying.

I can arrange it immediately.

Mr. Mott, it would have been helpful

if you had told us ahead of time about your military...

affiliation, or whatever you choose to call it.

Tell me...

why is it my job to do your due diligence?

I didn't ask for you to represent me.

And I can't say I'm particularly impressed so far

if something as basic as my military service takes you by surprise.

I've been active in the international community for years through the EPG.

The EPG?

The Eminent Persons Group, my NGO.

Non-governmental organization.

Right, got it.

Is there anything else that we should know

going forward that you haven't told us?

Absolutely not.

I have at every stage been completely candid.

I was candid with the police when I was told I was a suspect.

I surrendered myself willingly when they came to my home

to arrest me for a brutal and sickening crime

because I am innocent of that crime.

Why did you leave the house on the night of your wife's death?

I went for a walk.

Yes. Why?

Why do people go for walks?

For fresh air. For exercise.

To smoke a cigar.

Because I'd been sitting at a dinner table all night long.

Because it's my regular habit. Shall I go on?

Mr. Mott, where did you go?

Around the neighborhood.

And is there anyone who can corroborate this?

If you find a pedestrian who took note

of a perfectly ordinary man taking a perfectly ordinary stroll,

then, yes, they can corroborate.

Otherwise, you and the DC Superior Court

will somehow have to acquaint yourselves with the concept of a man taking a walk.

The diplomat

That is our mission. Thank you.

Michael Rocard Former Prime Minister of France

It is absolutely imperative to continue

to get absolutely everybody on board.

Sorry.

Monsieur le Premier Ministre. Excusez-moi.

Um...

I was extraordinarily impressed by your remarks.

Particularly your emphasis on reform

of the UN Security Council.

You are absolutely right.

It could not be more essential,

especially for those of us who care about nonproliferation.

Thank you very much, Mr....

Mott. Ulrich Mott.

I am with the Eminent Persons Group.

Sorry.

You know, we're becoming increasingly involved

in counterterrorism issues.

Perhaps sometime we could discuss some areas

where we might work together?

Perhaps.

Are you free for lunch next week?

Uh, the embassy keeps my schedule

while I'm in the States. I really don't...

- Let me give you my card. - Call the embassy.

I'm so sorry. As I mentioned...

Yes. Monsieur Michel Rocard, please.

Ulrich Mott from the Eminent Persons Group.

Ulrich Mott!

Yeah, I'd like to discuss that personally with Monsieur Ro...

Well, we're good friends.

He asked me to call and arrange for lunch.

Is he in?

I think it would be best if I spoke directly...

Well, all right. I'll leave my number.

Where did you live when you first came to America?

What was it like?

In Nebraska?

All of it.

Coming here after the war.

First home in ruins, this new one beckoning.

Was it exhilarating?

Was it terrifying?

Bit of both.

You were quite the adventuress.

When Tom left the army

and proposed to take me home to Lincoln,

I thought he was crazy.

It was a big change from Bavaria.

And I liked it. The people were...

Well, they didn't treat me as a German or an enemy

or even as a stranger.

They were extraordinarily kind.

It's what I love about America.

Mm.

It's a rather small state, Nebraska, isn't it?

You could fit the entire population into Georgetown.

Did you know everyone?

We were very close-knit.

Yeah.

Did you know Chuck Hagel, the senator?

Elsa? It's Chuck. How are you, my dear?

Chuck Hagel United States Senator, Nebraska

Well, such a treat to hear from an old friend

after such a long time.

Look, we'd be delighted to be at your party

honoring the French PM, no less.

Uh, well,

I hope your caterer's up to it.

Motti, I don't understand.

Is Senator Hagel or Rocard the guest of honor?

Both.

Oh, are they aware of that?

Yeah, well, just stop asking so many questions.

Be dressed and ready on time, and everything will sort itself out.

Is Michel Rocard coming?

Yes!

Hagel is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He'll come.

Do you still have the dog?

Do I have a dog?

It only became famous because of the Oregon Trail.

It's not so much where we come from.

Well... ...it was what they could grow cheap in the climate.

- Mm. - It's a brutal climate in the winter,

and we've got a short growing season.

You need something that'll grow quickly.

- My father was in corn. - Oh, really?

Um...

I think we just proceed.

- Oh, well, sure. - May I invite you?

Come on, love.

Please.

Madam, I think if I put you here,

that's where you belong.

Excuse me. Um, sit.

Remarkable.

Ah! Oh, just something I threw together.

You did the cooking?

Mm.

Pardon me, but weren't you wearing an eye patch the last time we met?

An eye patch? I don't think so, no.

I think a toast is in order.

Mm-hmm.

To our guest of honor...

Elsa Breht.

Not exactly as announced, I know,

but suddenly I realized none of us would be here

enjoying this marvelous evening without her.

So, after all,

that's the most important thing, isn't it?

- Hear, hear. - Santé.

Pardon me to interrupt.

- Ah! You are a man... - Oh!

...of refined taste.

Thank you.

Lovely.

As you both well know, only 110

out of more than 190 UN member states

have designated these agencies.

And only round about 30

have actually established national exchange mechanisms.

Yes.

Now, this is exactly where the EPG's ideally positioned

to generate some concrete progress and momentum.

Well, it's a very compelling presentation. Peggy Mason Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations

And, of course, Michel's a dear friend.

I'd be delighted to help out with anything he's involved in.

- Mm. Wonderful. Thank you so much. - Thank you, Mr. Mott.

Or should I call you Count Albi?

Did my assistant use my family title? I told him not to.

It's not very democratic, is it? Ah!

I'll speak to him about it. Thank you.

Thank you.

University of Michigan.

Good school, but not top tier.

Very little experience...

no contacts.

No roommate from Yale in the West Wing,

or Daddy's law partner on the Hill?

Well, I just moved here from Michigan.

You remind me very much of a young Ulrich Mott.

You're hired.

Michel Rocard and Ambassador Mason

recommended I reach out to Mr. Soros directly. The Office of Geroge Soros Activist, politician, billionaire and philanthropist

I hope you don't mind, uh, but I took the liberty

of bringing our materials myself.

Why send a staffer?

I'd like to walk you through them.

Um, so I said to him, Robert Mcnamara Former Secretary of Defense

"Well, that may have worked in Jackson's time."

- Mr. McNamara? - Yes?

We haven't met.

Ulrich Mott from the Eminent Persons Group.

Forgive me, but the coincidence is extraordinary.

Just this morning, Mr. George Soros was recommending

I get in touch with you.

Would you have a minute?

George?

Certainly. Pull up a seat.

President Bush

regards this as an historic moment...

Now that a new chapter is beginning

for both of our countries,

we hope that you'll consider our home a sort of second embassy.

Oh!

Just a few years ago, when I was just out of the service...

Were you in the military?

Um, yeah. French Foreign Legion.

Don't get me started on those stories.

We won't.

Anyway, I was, uh, weary, I admit.

Burned out.

But then I formed the EPG.

He's not only the most successful cricket captain

in the history of the sport...

You do know what cricket is, don't you?

He's also a member of the Pakistani fucking parliament.

Therefore, you cannot seat him

next to the fucking waiter's station!

The only thing that looks good is this.

Diplomacy, Winston Churchill once said,

is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way

that they ask for directions.

With apologies to the prime minister,

I prefer to think of it as the art of helping people

to find their own path to heaven.

A Ponzi scheme?

You get one name, and you use that

to get the next and the next and the next and the next.

I think that's just a bit unfair.

Ponzi stole money.

He bankrupted people.

I was holding conferences.

But all right. I'm self-made. So what?

Is that a crime? Maybe in Washington it is.

So, a senator's son was not my roommate at Yale.

I built something myself.

What about Elsa?

- What about her? - You used her.

Her money, her... connections.

I did not use Elsa.

How could you suggest such a thing?

She gave me what she did out of love.

She gave me courage and a belief in myself.

I owe her everything.

Which makes the accusation that has put me in here

all the more ludicrous.

Mr. Mott,

were you ever violent with your wife?

Were you?

Violent?

No.

Did I do things of which I've come to feel ashamed?

Deeply ashamed? Of course.

Show me a marriage where both partners have not made mistakes.

Show me a marriage without regret.

The incident

The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people.

Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely.

They have done everything we have asked them to do.

Where mistakes have been made,

the responsibility rests with me.

Iraqi embassy Washington, D.C.

What I am suggesting

is simply that the EPG

is now ideally positioned

to play a much larger role

in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.

Well, let me, let me first say

how grateful we are to you already, Mr. Mott.

You and your wife have organized some marvelous events.

We've so enjoyed ourselves at your parties...

Fine, fine, but now it's time to go beyond that.

It's all very well chatting with friends over cocktails,

but now is a moment for action.

I see.

And, uh, what sort of thing did you have in mind?

Well, it's all detailed in this proposal,

but, broadly, we bring together in one location

all the enemies of the United States

and a free Iraq.

So, uh, the Taliban, al-Sadr and the Madhi Army,

the other jihadists, everyone.

We meet on some relatively neutral territory,

let us say Kurdistan.

And there we launch the mother of all peace conferences.

Refereed, so to speak,

brokered, shepherded,

whatever word you like,

by the EPG.

By you.

Well, yes, in my capacity as the head of the EPG,

I would oversee this process.

I sent an identical proposal to Kofi, and, uh...

Sorry!

To the secretary general's office at the UN,

and we're going to discuss it Thursday.

What are those medals?

I'm sorry?

Those insignia on your chest. I'm just admiring them.

But I'm afraid I don't recognize any.

Um,

the various honors I've accumulated over...

Any of them from the French Foreign Legion?

I remember hearing you served.

No, these are different.

Ah, I see.

Back to the matter at hand.

Mr. Mott,

surely you must be aware that we want no association

with the Taliban, the Sadrists

or any of the parties you mentioned.

Moreover, such an ambitious plan,

if it's indeed possible, would have to fall under the purview

of the US State Department

or the Organization of Arabic States or the UN.

Read the proposal, why don't you?

Perhaps the French Foreign Legion could help.

Thank you for your time and for your concern.

If you have any other ideas,

please don't hesitate to let us know.

Our door is always open.

Mr. Mott, how'd it go? What'd they say?

Very receptive. I'm very encouraged.

- Do you want to go back to the office now? - No. You go.

I'm going to need a fucking drink.

Where have you been?

Working.

Liar.

Whoa! You stink of alcohol.

And you reek of the grave.

Motti?

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

They laughed at me,

today at the embassy.

I brought them something magnificent,

and they laughed at me.

Ah, Motti.

Sometimes I...

I think they are all laughing at me, you know?

The whole town, the whole... the whole world.

"Who does he think he is?

A little nobody from nowhere."

Mm.

"His parents were failures, and he is a nothing.

Just a pathetic little joke to be laughed at."

Oh, Motti.

I believe in you.

I will never laugh at you.

Promise me.

Please.

I promise.

Elsa.

And just right this way is our Ambassador Suite.

Oh, no, no, no. We booked a normal room.

No, it's correct. I upgraded us.

I hope you don't mind. We deserve it.

Oh, Motti! Oh, you are a devil.

I'll call you after my meeting.

Are you sure you'll be all right?

- Of course. - Taxi.

I've been coming to New York since before you were born.

- Where will you be? - Bergdorf, Bendel's, Chanel.

Within a six-block radius, and I'm having tea with a friend.

Be good now.

I'll be back around 6:00.

Don't bankrupt us.

Yes, darling?

How is it in Boston?

Now, listen, I'm in New York, and I have just found

the most gorgeous Chopard watch for Ulrich.

No, no, no, no! Listen, listen, listen.

He deserves it because he's speaking at the United Nations conference for the EPG.

I'm so proud of him.

Hmm.

I thought you were out shopping.

I thought you were at the United Nations!

I finished.

- Who's this? - A friend.

Ow! Goddamn it! Are you mad?

You! How could you? You disgrace!

Don't make such a fuss.

Why did you do this?

You didn't expect me to stay celibate all these years.

You had to keep it out of our life,

out of my bed, out of my sight!

There never was a UN meeting, was there?

How could there be?

Whoever would want to meet with you?

Don't you ever speak to me like that!

You lie! You lie, you lie, you lie!

Every syllable you utter is a lie!

I'm really sorry.

If he had told me that his mother was staying here, I...

Yes! Why don't you knock next time, Mother?

Go ahead, bitch. Do it.

Out! Out!

Go!

You are nothing.

You're just a lying, depraved,

disgusting gigolo!

Oh, my God.

This could take all afternoon.

Here, let me help you.

Better yet, let's do yours, shall we?

You stop it! Stop it!

This suite is in my name,

and you are no longer welcome here.

So you've no idea where he is?

No.

Had you been having problems?

Only what any normal couple goes through.

Don't say we're not a normal couple.

No.

I only wish I knew where he was.

Was there a complaint signed against Mr. Mott in 2006

- by the decedent, Mrs. Breht? - Yes.

In which she was locked out of her hotel room and assaulted?

And Mr. Mott threw a bowl of, uh, soup at Mrs. Breht?

- Objection. - Sustained.

Well, I beg your pardon.

The report merely stated

she had "soup in her hair

and on her clothes,"

and when the police arrived, they found a woman in her 80s

locked out of her suite with all of her baggage.

Yes.

No more questions.

You've identified Government Exhibit 4,

which is the document

presented to Mrs. Breht's daughter

the day after she was found dead.

Yes.

So, if the will you identified stands,

- would he stand to gain anything? - Yes.

Between $250,000 and $300,000, as well as Mrs. Breht's house.

Exhibit 24, very helpfully provided by the defense,

confirming Ulrich Gero Mott's appointment

as brigadier general of the Iraqi Army

by Nouri al-Maliki,

the prime minister and acting minister of defense of Iraq.

And this is confirming my own appointment

as People magazine's sexiest man of the year,

certified by Her Majesty, Queen...

Objection!

...the second of England, and it's printed via...

- Objection! - ...the website

FreeQualityCertificates.com.

That was a fucking disaster.

It was a bloodbath.

You just sat there doing nothing.

Well, you tell me what we were supposed to do.

You have an assault charge.

That's probable cause right there.

And I was so mortified, so ashamed,

that I left the country for two years.

Why don't you let me tell them about that?

Sure, so you can also tell them

how you became an Iraqi brigadier general.

My credentials are 100% genuine

despite that moronic courtroom stunt.

How could you two amateurs have let that go unchallenged?

That alone is grounds for a mistrial.

You're sure someone else killed your wife, but you have no idea who.

You won't even tell us where you went the night of the 11th.

I told you a thousand times, I went for a fucking walk.

That isn't good enough!

I'm sorry. It's bullshit.

Yeah, it is.

And you're right. This is not going your way.

So, if you have another theory on this case,

then you should really share it with us

because we're running out of options here.

I was reluctant to do this.

Could create difficulties for a number of innocent people.

People who do not deserve to be dragged into this mess, but...

If you want to know my theory of the case,

as you call it...

I urge you to speak at the earliest opportunity

to a Mr. David Weatherford.

Weatherford?

Weatherford.

He's deputy assistant for Mideast affairs at the State Department,

and he has my complete confidence and trust.

He's in possession of materials that, properly analyzed...

may expose the actual parties responsible for Elsa's death.

I advise you to prepare yourselves.

The information is bound to be

disturbing at best,

but in a worst-case scenario, geopolitically destabilizing.

Ask him for my communiqués.

Ask him about Zarathustra.

Here we go. Just... Yeah, Weatherford?

You Volker?

This is Durant, my partner.

Hey.

You read all these?

Yes.

And?

You'll see.

The enlistment

Hello. Hello? Hello?

Hello, Elsa?

Motti!

Motti, is that you? Where-Where are you?

I've been busy. I think it's unlikely

you'll see me for some time.

Yes, but where are you?

The connection is poor.

And, in any case,

you may not have wanted to hear from me at all,

but this is the most exhilarating,

terrifying,

important work I've ever done,

and I can't enjoy it without you.

I miss you so much. That's all I called to say.

Yes, yes, yes. Where are y...

Dan?

Have you ever heard of someone called Ulrich Mott?

- No. Should I? - Yeah, I'm pretty sure we should.

- Why? - Because he seems more or less single-handedly

to be trying to stop the insurgency.

"Urgent. From: Ulrich Mott, Villa Zarathustra, Sadr City, Iraq.

To: Undersecretary for Mideast Affairs, eyes only.

Do not distribute.

November 14, 2006. Baghdad.

I am one of the few who is in direct contact

with both the leading heads of the national insurgency,

including Messrs. al-Sadr and Hakim,

and the foreign jihadists, notably Abu Ayyub al-Masri,

head of al-Qaeda."

It, uh, just came over the transom.

He's the head of a small NGO, uh...

Some pretty heavy hitters on his board...

Soros, Robert McNamara.

He seems to be working as some sort of envoy

to Muqtada al-Sadr.

Wait! What?

He says he's trying to steer the Madhi Army

away from violence and towards some sort of peace settlement.

"I am seriously thinking of accepting

Al-Sadr's offer to embed.

Let ours be the guns heard last. Ulrich."

Who the fuck authorized the embed of a German national with the Madhi Army

and said he could negotiate on our behalf?

Nobody.

And it appears he's doing all of this on his own initiative.

Well, make him fucking stop!

"December 7th, 2006. Villa Zarathustra, Sadr City.

Dear Mr. Secretary, thank you for the message of encouragement.

I regret I was unable to take your call,

but the brothers are very strict on non-intrusions from the secular,

especially during prayers."

You don't have any way of contacting him?

Is Mott running this organization or not?

He hasn't been in touch with me in a while.

All I know is he's somewhere in the Middle East.

If you find him,

could you ask him when I'm gonna get paid?

You wouldn't believe it. Mookie... al-Sadr... he wears these dentures.

You see, they don't fit him very well.

They give him a lisp.

When he tried to say the word "assassin,"

it came out "athathin."

Oh, my God!

And when he gets mad, he takes them out altogether.

I keep trying to discourage this,

and I emphasize there's two priorities...

keep the dentures in, make peace with the Americans.

But not necessarily in that order.

And, Mrs. Breht,

what your husband appears to be doing,

conducting a sort of

one-man, freelance diplomatic mission

in a nation with which we are actively engaged

is just extraordinarily counterproductive and ill advised.

It's frankly unprecedented.

We don't understand how anyone could possibly think it could succeed.

You don't know Ulrich.

"26 December, 2007, Villa Zarathustra.

As you are aware, I first outlined the proposition

to enlist Sunni insurgents and Shia militias in a memorandum

to then UN Sec-Gen Annan in 2004

and had the outline circulated at the Iraqi embassy.

It formed the basis of my original Iraq mission

upon arriving in Baghdad in fall 2006,

a mission I continue to pursue,

albeit one I sometimes fear I will not live to complete."

We've been studying your emails from Iraq.

I knew David would come through. He is a good man.

And he's taking quite a risk. These are highly classified.

That's actually something we wanted to ask.

Since you sent them, they are your messages.

Why couldn't you have just given them to us from the beginning?

A little test, Mr. Volker,

and one you've passed with flying colors.

Test. Okay.

You discuss a number of missions...

Hang on! One second, one second! One second.

You're not recording this, are you?

No. This is just us trying to understand.

Very well. Carry on.

The missions you went on

on behalf of al-Sadr...

Mookie, yes.

...you wrote that you had potentially antagonized

some of the insurgent factions,

groups affiliated with al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Groups that didn't want al-Sadr making a peace deal with the US,

who would blame you

if that came about.

Yeah.

Very good, Mr. Volker.

Very good indeed.

You've got the scent in your nostrils now. Keep hunting.

Okay.

Mr. Mott,

why don't you just tell us

who you think

killed your wife?

We're your attorneys. We are trying to help you.

But you keep throwing us these curveballs.

We've done all of this work, and...

you tell us to keep hunting.

I mean, we have been studying these things.

I mean, I just...

For God's sake, man.

Do we really have to go through this all over again?

Operational security, eyes only, need to know.

Do you really imagine I've achieved what I have

by being reckless with privileged information?

Oh, God, the two of you really are hopeless.

I'm afraid I shall be representing myself from now on.

Good day to you both.

So, you'll get the grocery delivery every week.

- It's all set up. - Mm-hmm.

- All right. - And if you want to change anything in the order,

the number's by the phone in the kitchen.

- All right. - I'll be back next month. It's the midterm break.

Call me if you need anything. I could come back earlier...

Stop it. I'll be absolutely fine.

And I left some casseroles in the kitchen in the freezer just in case.

Oh, you know I despise casseroles.

Oh, dear.

Oh, dear.

What?

He calls me sometimes.

What?

He sounds so far away.

But also like he's next door.

Don't take his calls. Please.

You are so much better off. You know that. Wherever the hell he is.

He's in Iraq.

Iraq?

He's doing extraordinary things.

I keep replaying that day in New York

in my head over and over,

and h-how you stood me, I can't imagine.

It's in the past.

And I was not always so easy.

When I'm finished here, is there a ch... No, no. I shouldn't.

No, no. Go on, go on.

Just knowing there is a possibility

would be enough to sustain me through the trials ahead.

Is there a chance that I could come home?

To Georgetown?

To you?

Oh, no. No, no, no, maybe.

I've experienced today one of the most sublime,

the most exquisite moments of my life.

I've been on watch at Mookie's camp all night,

and it gets very cold in the desert at night.

The chill creeps into your bones, and the doubt.

And I was wondering what it was all for.

Whether there was any real purpose for my being here at all.

And then I heard the music.

Mookie had found... God knows how...

a recording of a Prussian military march

and played it over the camp loudspeaker.

And I have no idea how he knew that I loved that music from childhood,

let alone how he found the recording.

Then the men formed up

and paid a tribute to me.

And he was telling me I belonged.

That my efforts here have not been wasted.

That I have made a difference after all.

And that, perhaps, now...

...it's time to come home.

Come in.

Sorry. I was just picking up the mail. One second.

Oh, okay. That's better.

The truth

Yeah. Right over there.

That way. Inside there.

I said that dozens, possibly hundreds of times.

I'm not guilty of the murder of my wife Elsa Breht.

It was my understanding

that you were no longer representing Mr. Mott.

Where is the defendant?

Your Honor, Mr. Mott has refused to communicate

with either me or my colleague for several weeks now,

so we're unable to proceed.

What's going on, Counselor?

Uh, Mr. Mott is currently engaged

in a hunger strike.

He's in a weakened condition and has since been moved to a hospital.

We're therefore submitting a motion

to have him declared unfit for trial.

The court will have to make a determination about that.

Of course.

- Thank you. - I'm so sorry.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Okay.

Are you really going to help him wiggle out of this?

We have to wait for the evaluation.

If he's found mentally unfit...

He's faking. It's obvious.

- Like he faked everything. - You don't know that.

I don't know that.

The more I find out about this guy, the less I understand.

You know every word he says is a fucking lie.

Maybe.

But what about Iraq?

How the hell did he do what he did there?

Can you explain that?

I can't.

Can't you do this in the morning?

Yes, I could. I'd just like to clear some of it now.

Yes, but then you'll be up until 2:00 a.m.,

and you'll wake me when you come upstairs.

I'm sorry that my clearing up after our party disturbs your rest.

"Our" party? As if anyone could get a word in.

It's Amanda, isn't it?

She put you in this mood.

Why you invite that sour little bitch, I'll never...

Don't you talk about my daughter like that.

And don't you dare smoke that in my house.

Yeah. Excellent. Um, can we talk?

Not on the telephone. It's not prudent. It has to be in person.

Who is that? Who are you talking to?

Quiet! Um...

Well, as soon as you can.

- I can meet you now. - No, you can't.

That would...

Shut your fucking face!

Can't I have a second's peace?

Why don't you crawl away to your bed? Go! Go to bed!

Excuse me. At the usual place?

Yeah. Excellent, excellent.

- What? - Who was that?

That is on a need-to-know basis, and you do not need to know.

You're late.

Is it Halloween already?

Should've worn my cowboy hat.

Very amusing.

Have a drink. I'm having another myself.

How's the old lady?

If you're still with her and, uh, if she's still with us.

Elsa's quite well, thank you.

And, yes, things are wonderful between us.

She's a remarkable woman.

Great.

I wouldn't be where I am now if not for Elsa.

I'm well aware of what I owe her.

That is not to say it isn't also plain to me

the extent to which I've outgrown her.

It's not her fault, of course. It's just the path life takes.

She's lent me the wings with which I now take flight.

Uh-huh.

Great things ahead.

Grand adventures.

Vast new horizons to explore.

I could use a good soldier at my side.

What do you say?

Like the old days?

Well, if I'd known the occasional mediocre fuck

in a hotel made me a good soldier...

I know I've been out of touch for a long time,

and I'm sorry.

I understand how hard that must have been for you.

I was doing difficult and necessary work.

- I couldn't risk contacting you. - No.

Of course not.

I warn you...

can't be like it was before.

Going forward, we shall have to be rigorously discreet.

I may have to impart some lessons in tradecraft,

surveillance detection, so forth.

I have more now to lose than ever.

Not just Elsa. Lives all over the world could be jeopardized

should my reputation be compromised.

You know what?

Better not risk it then.

- Wait. - That old lady was right.

You're pathetic.

Where have you been?

- Working. - Hmm.

Oh, yes. With one of your friends.

Shut up.

One of your disgusting sodomite friends.

Shut your fucking face.

Amanda was right.

I should never have let you back here.

Amanda? You say her name to me tonight?

After I do her the common courtesy of inviting her here,

including her amongst the great and the powerful on the evening of my triumph,

and she has to storm out sulking before the main course

like the silly, spoiled American little cunt she is!

Get out! Get out!

I don't want you here anymore.

- Oh! - Get out!

This is my house! I live here!

They should have carted you off to the mausoleum years ago!

- You stay here... - Where do you belong?

...by the grace and charity of Ulrich Gero Mott,

Count Albi, brigadier general of the Republic of Iraq!

Brigadier general, Republic of Iraq.

What?

The great brigadier general

with a horseshoe up his ass!

Oh, sad. You need to denigrate me to sustain yourself.

Your great American rescue.

That was a coincidence, wasn't it?

What a piece of luck!

You can't stand what I've become.

I've grown so much greater than what you imagined,

you can't comprehend it.

You can't stand that I don't need you anymore.

I've transcended you!

Oh, bravo!

You can't stand that I'm not your fucking butler anymore!

Oh, I know you're not my butler.

- You do, yeah? - You're a fucking hotel clerk.

Yes, a hotel clerk in a crappy hotel.

What?

Two years in a crappy motel

with TV and breakfast and a heated pool.

Yes! I looked it all up.

I have your tax statements.

All of your tax statements!

All of them!

You idiot!

You gave them this home address

as your permanent address.

You poor idiot.

Working for two years in a crappy motel.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Sorry, the Villa Zarathustra.

Oh, the Mookie and the troops saluting.

You idiot!

You're an idiot, do you hear? Idiot. Idiot! Fool!

And the men formed up

and paid a kind of tribute to me.

He was telling me I belonged...

that my efforts here have not been wasted.

That I have made a difference after all.

You should have come home in that uniform.

Albrecht Gero Muth, not to be confused with Ulrich Gero Mott,

is currently serving a 50-year sentence in federal prison

for the murder of his wife.