Original subtitles

Merci.

So, Mr. Bonet...

It's Bon-e... The T is there, but you don't pronounce it.

-And you can call me Sebastian. -Okay, Sebastian.

Your portfolio is very impressive,

but I like to get to know the people I work with better

So, tell me a little bit more about yourself.

Yes...

I was born in 1981 in Toulouse.

My parents are originally from Algeria.

In 1998, I started learning... How do you say it in English?

Political Science, at the University of Toulouse,

but I quit during the second year in order to learn what I really liked,

which is photography.

You were in Afghanistan in 2004, is that correct?

Yes, that's correct.

So was I. I was sent there to do a profile piece on Hamid Karzai.

Tell me, what hotel did you stay in Kabul?

Uhhh... What hotel?

There are only 7 in the whole city.

Yes, yes. I'm just trying to remember.

I was at the Hilton, Hilton...

There's no Hilton in Kabul.

Of course there is a Hilton, the one with the...

No, there isn't.

There was until 1984, but then they closed down.

Yes, maybe it was Sheraton, maybe I forgot the...

Oh, here's dessert, bon appétit.

The bitter taste of failure.

Would you like some water, Monsieur Bonet?

Mr. Sebastian Bonet,

nobody here believed you were a French journalism photographer.

Cover stories, people!

In this line of work, we live and die by our cover stories.

Starting today, we will send you on field-assignments

to test your ability to convince the suspicious world

that you are a businessman from Brussels,

a pedagogical counselor from Sao Paulo,

and...

a Persian accountant on a diet.

Watching our figure, Mr. Frachdel?

I'm a Jew; I don't eat vermin.

Not according to your cover story.

Bon appétit.

Agent operators

get no second chances.

Neither will you.

When you're on an assignment,

you do not abandon your cover stories.

Whoever blows their cover while on a mission, for any reason whatsoever,

will be kicked out of the course.

Mr. Vexler,

you're up.

Good luck.

-How are you, Doris? -I'm fine.

Aside from feeling old, next to your chicks.

They can learn from you.

You know I...

I was very close to Aaron.

He was a bit of a mentor to me.

I think about him a lot.

So do I.

I also wanted to thank you.

You know, the fact that I'm here, in this course,

somehow makes me feel close to him.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Bon appétit.

Do you remember Chez Mimil?

The foie gras here is almost as good. You've got to try it. Come on.

Shall we?

Follow me.

Here's the first round of trainees to act out today in front of potential targets.

Avital Vexler.

Cover story: Rushto Famik, 40 years old.

Ranked at number 14 by the PDU, an up-and-coming Turkish chess player.

Sveta Sharansky,

she is going to import caviar from Kiev.

And Hanoch Gat,

who is going to meet with Emilia Yaning, first thing tomorrow morning,

-a German freelance journalist who-- -Yeah, about that,

she works with a regular photographer, one Thomas Einer, according to this.

Currently suffering from indigestion.

Shawarma.

I don't care how you've neutralized him,

all I ask is for these things to appear in the assignment folder.

What for?

Since the fiasco that was our opening drill, nothing can go undocumented

in the assignment folders.

-Avi, you have no proof that we shot. -I don't need proof.

Here is this morning's HQ meeting memo.

Can we get the Cliffs Notes?

Sit!

No, I can't. All this stress. I'm too old for this.

Sit down.

What was decided in the HQ meeting was that from now on,

I will be the commanding officer of this course, of you.

No assignment shall be executed before I put my John Hancock on it.

I decide which of your trainees stays and who goes home,

and no drill or assignment shall commence

-without my say so. -Or else?

This course is done.

As it is, HQ already feels like this whole thing is...

-too risky. -Too risky.

A course commander with no training background, but more field experience, and

a dubious

reputation.

-Now I'm offended. -That's how it is.

If you decide not to continue under these conditions, I will totally understand.

I'll be upstairs in my office.

Avi...

Wait a second.

It's nothing personal, Yona.

With you and me, it's always personal.

Anyway, I've given it some thought,

and fine, I accept the new situation.

After all, I couldn't have asked for a better commanding officer than you.

Okay.

Oh, and either way,

I've cleaned up my drawers,

look what I've found.

It was too precious for me to just toss it away.

15 Euros at the Istanbul market.

I meant its sentimental value, Avi.

Then I'd say about a Euro to 1.5 Euros.

Lovely.

It looks lovely on you. I said it looked lovely on you back then, too.

Emilia?

Hanoch Gat

Mr. Famik,

welcome to Israel.

Avital Vexler Cover story: Turkish chess player

We both know why I'm here.

I'm here because you're in trouble.

First mistake.

-What? -Notice the bag, when he's keeping it.

So?

A Canon 5D camera is worth at least $5,000 without the lenses.

A photographer in a foreign country would keep his bag as close to him as possible.

Any chance you're out to get him, Yona?

Why would I be?

Perhaps because he's the only trainee that came here with internal recommendations

and fits the traditional profile?

Perhaps.

-At the hotel? -At the hotel.

You've tried everything; Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan,

you've made it all the way to Turkmenistan,

not to mention Iran.

Quite simply, you're in over your head,

and you're wondering whether I'm the solution.

Perhaps. Do you have a concrete suggestion?

Oh... Beluga.

Straight from the Caspian Sea.

Do you mind if I taste it?

Go ahead.

The chef is completely smitten with our Russian.

Yes, when the Black Sea has only two fish left in it,

it doesn't take a genius to sell caviar, Simon.

Only an Israeli would call this operation that.

Cutie.

Going in.

-Put them by the passage over there. -By the passage.

I told you this was a great restaurant.

Ah, she's on to them.

From 80 to 205. Her heart's racing.

-Her husband. Was he difficult to manage? -No, not particularly, hi tech person,

works nearby.

Indeed, beluga is interesting.

Yes.

So, about the price...

You won't find beluga of this quality in NY for less than $1,500 for 50 grams.

I need to think about it.

You think, while I...

Yes, of course, it's on the right.

Thank you.

Approach him.

Here, she's about to approach them.

And bang her husband's head on the table.

She's stronger than you think.

Shall we put it to the test?

Tell the bait to kiss him.

Okay.

She should kiss him.

Well, are we doing business?

-Hanoch Gat? -What?

-ISA. -What? What is that?

Do you think he's surprised?

Heart rate has gone up from 80 to 205.

This EKG is really something, it's like an ER here.

Can we connect?

This device is for people with a heart, Simon.

It's gone back to normal now.

You don't let a person that buckles under pressure

fly an F-16.

And the pressure hasn't even begun.

He's got at least 20 more minutes to go. 30, with traffic.

What are you so uptight about? Need something to watch? Here.

Your appointment.

Thank you.

Doris Levi Cover story: Bulgarian movies producer

I know who you are.

If you have any wiretap devices on you, get rid of them now, it's important.

You're Doris, Aaron's wife.

Please get rid of the wiretap device.

There's a hidden camera. Turn off the wiretap.

-We have a problem. -We've lost sound.

No transmission here.

I'm a retiree of The Ministry.

They sometimes use us to test you.

What are you doing in Yona's course, Doris?

I know who you are?

I cleaned out your apartment after Aaron... was killed.

"Yarid" crew.

Yona didn't randomly send you to me, don't you see?

He's testing both you and me.

I suggest you leave this course before things get even more complicated.

I won't mention any of this in the report,

but that is the most I can do for you.

Keep away from Yona.

He is much more dangerous that he appears to be.

And he has much more to do with the incident in Bulgaria than you may think.

I can't believe he let you in his course,

the man knows no bounds.

Boundless and heartless.

Do you know why you're here?

Hold on, wait a minute. Let's see how he manages.

He's a pilot who's had captivity training. He's right in his element. Nostalgia.

Come on.

No, they're quite gentle with him.

-All right, I'm coming with you. -No, no...

You stay here with Abigail.

Why?

Some quality time together. You can work on the...

-new hierarchical structure. -Yes.

Later.

-How is he? -Stubborn.

Maybe this'll help.

Game over.

What?

That's a shame.

The ref has already blown the whistle and you're still running around on the field.

You are Hanoch Gat,

former pilot, salt of the earth.

Currently in the Mossad's IC course.

-That girl you met today... -Emilia...

-Emilia Yaning. -Yes, Emilia.

-Journalist for the British Guardian. -Yes, the Guardian.

Two months ago, she published a piece that

made waves, so to speak. You've surely heard.

Salah Shehade in Gaza,

Dahieh in Beirut,

Operation "Cast Lead."

-This is not me... -Following this article by this antisemite

Emilia, 3 pilots, who you personally know

are now being charged with war crimes in the International Criminal Court.

How much did the newspaper pay you

to rat out your buddies from the squadron?

All right, it's a rhetorical question. We know how much.

We also know when.

It was two days after your failed attempt at an executive plane business fell apart.

And 6 weeks before you were notified of your acceptance to this course.

$60,000 direct transfer,

not too shabby for a loser like you.

Here's you, drinking coffee in London.

-Yes, it's me, okay... -This is where you first met

the reporter from The Guardian, presumably.

We've got the call log from your cell.

6 calls, three to ten minutes long, to The Guardian's front desk in London.

This is not a drill, dummy.

This is a royal screwup.

Well, you can keep shouting that you're Sebastian until the cows come home.

It's nothing but a waste of time.

You'd better take a good look at this file, see how serious it is,

and start looking for a good left-winged lawyer.

He might even make you out to be the hero.

I presume Mr. Vexler doesn't know how to play chess.

He can barely play checkers.

Who is she?

Darling.

Where are you going?

Sveta, don't go, listen.

I can explain it all.

Abigail, may I ask you something?

What exactly did you feel when you asked the bait to kiss the trainee's husband?

What I felt was irrelevant.

You heathen.

You belong to an era long-gone, Simon. Get with the times.

What does that mean?

It means you're a chauvinist.

You think that girls in this course, the weaker sex,

ought to be treated differently.

I'm not a chauvinist.

If I were a man, I'd be dead right now.

See?

Great quality time.

-Dad. -Hanochy?

What's going on? Listen...

I'm in a terrible mess. Collections has come today.

They want to repossess Hagit's car, they want the apartment. I...

-I'm screwed. -Hagit?

Yes. Listen, she doesn't know everything has turned out this way.

Dad, I need your help, I...

I have to sell a part of the ranch, I have to...

I think he's been hung out to dry long enough.

Financial hardships have taken down the best of 'em.

Still English? Still Sebastian?

Don't call anybody, you jerk

-All right. Are we done? -Yes.

I just need the report on Doris. Do you know our informant?

Eli Sofer? Definitely, I know him. He's a good guy.

Very well, then besides the written report, I want you to see him in person.

Yes, ma'am.

And Simon, your being a chauvinist...

There's also something sweet about it.

Are you trying to sexually harass me now?

See you tomorrow.

Now what?

Leave him hanging just a little while longer and then let him go.

The number you've dialed is unavailable.

You are now being transferred to voicemail.

You keep disrespecting me.

Sooner or later, I will find out who you're seeing.

-Why don't you just save me the time? -It's none of your business.

Freddie, that's from The Ministry, isn't it?

You've always been held back because of your obsessiveness.

I'd rather call it persistence.

Of course you would.

We shouldn't have split up.

-We both gave up too quickly-- -Yeah? Too quickly?

-Five years. -Of which, how many were we together?

Precisely.

-Your choice. -Our choice.

If there's even such a thing as a choice.

This look...

I thought we agreed it didn't work anymore.

Abi...

Here, this is what is left of you,

a collection of tactics.

Mask on top of mask,

cover story on top of cover story,

with nothing underneath.

I haven't heard such a load

since the psych profile of Khaled Mashal.

If you think it would help you,

we could use the room here, I've booked it for a couple of hours.

I'm going back to the office. I've got work to do.

Who did you want to call? Me?

What do you want? You don't tell me anything about him.

What if he's making a case against me?

He's rambling on about how I've taken bribes, about showing me my tapes,

photocopies, bank statements, personal calls...

How have they set me up like that?

He's the one who has set you up. Don't you see that?

This whole drill was designed for this one phone call.

Why? What, does he know that I--

No. He suspects.

Why does he suspect? Because he is Yona Harari. It's his way of life.

You know,

back in the squadron, whenever anyone messed up,

first thing, they'd get grounded.

You let this psycho run a course?

We consider that grounding.

Listen, it would really help me if you told me

what it is that you think this person did.

What did he do? Tell me. Something more specific than...

"compromised national security."

Hanoch,

in our terms,

you're an agent that has almost burned his operator

after less than a day out in the field.

Less than a day!

You're new to this.

So if you feel like you don't trust me, or you...

can't go on, let me know now.

I can go on.

At the personal interview, you said we could come to you with any problem.

Of course, that's what I'm here for.

Well, here's the problem.

Is she one of yours?

Some of the drills in this course may seem extreme to you,

but they are meant to protect you.

You're sick in the head, aren't you?

This whole course is just a bunch of nutjobs!

I understand that you're upset.

Do you understand that Stefan and I have been together since we were 18 years old?

We're much more than just husband and wife.

We are friends.

No one made him do anything against his will.

He has left home, by the way.

I told him to leave.

Loyalty is always questionable.

It's a good lesson to learn, not just for the course, but for life itself.

You can take your lesson and shove it.

Mr. Avital, do tell us all what your cover story was.

Rushto Famik, a 40 year old Turkish chess player, an Ankara native.

And who do you play against?

Chairman of the Israeli Chess Association, plus five other players.

Good?

Let's just say that the one with the beard there, Donski,

ranked number 6 worldwide.

What were the scores?

Two wins, two ties, and two losses.

Mr. Avital, do you know how to play chess?

No.

Can you explain to the class how you've fared so well

without knowing how to play chess?

Magic...

Well then, allow me to explain what Mr. Vexler has done here.

Three boards,

Mr. Vexler is in the middle.

He's not up against 6 players simultaneously,

he's not even playing at all. What is he doing?

He's passing along the moves from one player to the next,

from one to the next.

And so on.

Meaning,

the chess players are actually playing each other.

Mr. Vexler, under the guise of Mr. Famik, takes all the credit.

Bravo!

Cover stories are as strong as the person standing behind them.

No more, no less.

There are no perfect cover stories,

just as there are no perfect people.

And I'm not looking for perfect people.

Only flawed people are good for us.

Mr. Vexler,

As far as you're concerned, this course ends today.

What?

Arrogance has killed more agents than all of our enemies have combined.

And we've got quite a few,

bless their hearts.

-But they wanted to play with me. -You could have said no.

If just two players had talked to each other,

your whole story could have collapsed.

You could have gotten out of it in numerous ways.

But no, you had something to prove.

And you did.

You've proved you are reckless, arrogant, irresponsible,

and undisciplined.

Here, we call it "dumb luck."

And your luck ends here today.

I wish you all the best.

Just so you know, the trainee you made me ditch

was some of the finest raw material I had seen here in 15 years.

So... since you had arrived?

The one that should have been kicked out of here was Hanoch Gat.

Why? He was precocious

and didn't blow his cover.

So, this is how it's gonna be from now on?

How did you think it was going to be?

That you would manipulate me into doing whatever you wanted?

Sorry to disappoint.

Was that Kinder crawling out of here with his tail between his legs?

So how is "Executive Course Commander"

planning to celebrate her new position?

Not here.

Then where?

The usual?