Original subtitles

Open the door

Open the door

I'm the superintendent. The police officers are here.

How many times has it gone off now?

Three

Let's both call in sick and stay in bed all day.

Sounds nice.

I gotta be at the airport in an hour.

What for?

The big boss is flying in from China today.

David and I are going to say hello.

Just hello?

Company protocol.

Plus, it's not everyday I get to

hang out with one of the richest people in the world.

I never knew you were so ambitious.

Well

I believe was Napoleon that said,

ambition is a sign of great character.

Was that before or after he was put on a deserted island and left to die?

Alright, Smart-ass.

Your coffee.

Good morning.

A provisional order for extradition.

Feng Xiaozhou?

According to the flights manifesto,

she's landing here before getting a connecting flight to Mexico.

The RCMP plan on arresting her when she gets off that plane.

Good morning, is Jane in here?

Okay, when would the building permits be issued?

Thank you.

I see...

Can you tell me which companies have made applications?

The RCMP just arrested the CFO of Huaxing.

Where?

At the airport.

I'm gonna call you back.

Cancel all my meetings.

And get a message to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Now!

You want to see me?

Yes. Give me the Cole's notes on Feng Xiaozhou.

She's married. Has a family.

Two houses here in Vancouver, but she primarily lives in China.

Her father, Feng Zhifei,

was a military engineer for the People's Liberation Army.

He started Huaxing.

The company now outranks Apple and Ericsson

in manufacturing smart phones and other related technology.

But they screwed up.

Huaxing is linked to Skycom, which has been doing business in Iran.

We have no sanctions on Iran, why the hell do we care?

Because the Americans do.

Every industrialized country in the world

is developing a cyber division in their military.

It's faster, easier and ultimately cheaper

to achieve power through cyber- technology

than it is to build traditional military weapons.

Huaxing is a key player

in the Chinese Communist Party's "Made In China 2025" strategy

part of which is to dominate the world on the high-end tech side.

The Chinese government has helped the company

form partnerships in other countries,

invest billions in research and development,

and file thousands of patents worldwide.

In short,

Huaxing is their Trojan horse.

Doesn't your boyfriend work for Huaxing?

He's Vice President of Public Relations here in Vancouver.

What does he have to say about all this?

I haven't had time to ask him yet.

Well maybe you should.

I'm sorry?

I think you should take the lead on the story.

I don't think that's a good idea.

Why not?

There are plenty of other people who're way more experienced than I do.

You know the terrain better than most. And you're a good writer.

My grandma and aunt live in China.

My parents are visiting them right now.

I don't want to put them in danger.

Jane, I appreciate your concern about family,

but we're here to report the truth.

Do you really want someone else to do that,

while you sit on the sidelines?

I should have stayed in government.

There'd be fewer messes like this to clean up.

The Vanity Fair days are over for Tremblay.

But remember,

our life in China, our children's careers,

all depend on your diplomacy.

As if I needed more pressure

As soon as I get this cleared up, I'm flying to Ottawa.

We'll be waiting for you.

With a good stiff drink in hand, I hope.

Love you.

Love you, too.

Mr. MacAvoy,

what are you going to do to ensure Feng Xiaozhou is released?

You understand we are in an uncomfortable position

because we have an extradition treaty with the Americans?

Huaxing is the most important company in the world.

It has benefited many countries, including Canada.

I am well aware of Huaxing's presence in my country,

and the benefits it has provided for universities and businesses.

Good.

Then you understand that whatever the Americans are claiming is a lie.

I won't argue with you on that point.

But by law, we cannot look into, or rule on the American's legal case.

Our President is furious about the situation.

My wife is Chinese.

Our sons married Chinese women.

For years, I was a Member of Parliament

representing a riding where forty percent of the voters are Chinese.

The government of Canada wants strong ties with China.

That's why they sent me to be the Ambassador.

So I will fight to see the situation is rectified.

I can assure you that what's best for Canada,

is to maintain and build its relationship with China.

I appreciate your desire to help.

The only way to correct this betrayal,

is to see that Feng Xiaozhou is released immediately.

Hello

Hey, where are you?

Still at work. Things kinda got crazy around here.

So I heard.

You alright?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Are you on the story?

No, not really.

Probably a good thing, right?

I gotta go.

Okay, bye.

Word is, Feng's hiring every lawyer in town.

Makes for a good show,

doesn't change the argument, or her chances.

I don't know.

Any one of them makes more in a month than I do in a year.

High-priced lawyers and Chinese politics aside,

we oppose bail and make sure she stays put.

This is Canada, not Communist China.

Your honour,

Ms. Feng is an extremely wealthy woman.

She has means and can afford to get

from here to China at a moment's notice.

She also has very few meaningful ties to this jurisdiction.

In fact, Ms. Feng spends most of her time in China,

which as you well aware of, does not have an extradition treaty

with Canada or the United States of America.

If she were to make her way to China,

we would have no means to ensure her return.

Therefore, due to the fact of being a flight risk,

the Crown is asking that her bail be denied as of today.

Your Honour

My client believes that fleeing the country

would bring dishonour upon her family, Huaxing and China.

She poses no flight risk whatsoever.

As Ms. Feng also owns two homes in Vancouver,

has ties to the community and no criminal record in Canada,

I'm inclined to release her.

But I will spend some time on the plan of supervision.

So I will reserve my decision until our next court date,

Thank you.

Tell me the truth.

Are you a spy?

No

Who are you working for?

No one.

You're collecting information for FBI, right?

No

Be honest, are you a spy?

What are they saying?

Not keeping up on your Chinese lessons?

I got hired for my good looks, not my language skills.

You know these papers are backed by the Chinese Communist Party.

It's not unusual.

The CCP funds news companies abroad,

Chinese student associations, cultural and community groups.

It's their way of controlling the message with fake news.

Which in this case is what?

That Feng is a visionary whose human rights have been taken away.

There's also one of other two Canadians they just arrested.

They're being linked in a spy scandal,

as if we're attacking China from all sides.

They're probably right.

C'mon, just cause these papers get funded by the Chinese government,

doesn't mean they don't count.

Every news outlet is funded by some sort of entity with its own interests.

Nobody has ever stopped me from telling the truth.

So you think.

Anyway, unless this is the answer to a few math questions, or cancer diagnosis,

there aren't many ways to define the truth.

Anything else is like shining a light into the fog, right?

Ms. Feng Xiaozhou,

I am releasing you on bail forthwith.

You will be released on a number of conditions

including that you wear an ankle bracelet,

that you surrender your passports to the court

that you stay in Vancouver and its suburbs

and confine yourself to one of your two Vancouver homes,

with a curfew,

set from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Bail is set at ten million dollars,

seven million in cash and three million in sureties.

Ms. Feng, can I ask you a few questions?

I want the story.

Have you heard of an American engineer named Jackson Toth?

Who?

In 2012, he was found hanging in his apartment, in Singapore.

The authorities ruled it suicide.

But his family believes he was murdered,

to cover up Huaxing's theft of American technology.

There was an independent autopsy that stated

that he had undergone a violent struggle before he died.

No one was ever charged.

Jesus, you know I have enough to worry about.

Smart people get depressed too, just like the rest of us.

Okay

How about a scientist named Chang Shumin? Ever heard of him?

Doesn't ring a bell.

He was a professor of physics at USF.

The Chinese recruited him to work for a subsidiary of your company,

as part of their Thousand Talents program.

Their what?

They pay people who've been educated outside of China a lot of money,

to work on Chinese based technology.

And?

He jumped off his balcony, the same day that Feng was arrested.

Okay, you don't seriously think that I'm gonna end up dead, do you?

A PR Guy who spends hours in meetings

where I don't even understand the language and can't read the emails.

You don't even know what you might be implicated in.

I thought you weren't covering the story.

I changed my mind.

Look, I gotta fly out to Toronto in the morning.

Just out of the blue.

Just found out about an hour ago. I gotta go pack.

It is important to let our staff and our clients know

that the arrest of Feng Xiaozhou is really about political persecution

on the part of the Americans.

Of course,

we want to be the world leader in the development of 5G technology.

And we want to make a profit from that.

But we have no intention to use our technology for any bad purposes.

This is a crazy accusation,

by countries who are jealous of our success.

I was informed an hour ago

that Wang Weijing, our Director of Sales in Poland,

has also been arrested on charges of espionage.

This of course is another baseless act.

Mr. Bowden?

I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer continue

as Vice President of Corporate Affairs here in Canada.

I am resigning my position. Effective immediately.

Madam Consular, could I ask you a few questions?

Ms. Feng, may I have a minute of your time, please?

Ms. Feng, one minute.

To lose your Canadian VP is extremely unfortunate.

We took the usual security measures when he left.

I do not think he will be a liability.

We have a non-disclosure agreement.

Have you spoken with our Canadian partners and clients about the situation?

Yes. All of them.

Are they nervous?

Yes.

But I assured them the matter will soon be fixed.

They have no hesitation in continuing with the 5G research.

Good.

I have been instructed to increase our public relations efforts.

Our assurance that Huaxing is of great benefit to Canada.

And that the arrest of Feng is a gross violation.

For our part, we have contacted Chinese Canadian groups and businesses

who receive generous donations and funding from us.

They are being encouraged to speak out.

I will draft a memo to all Huaxing employees

a common line to take when talking to anyone about the matter.

Be sure to underline

that we always operate in strict compliance with the laws of any country

in which we do business.

These allegations about us spying

have already created hostile environment in too many markets.

Noted.

I also suggest hiring some Canadian writers.

People with connections to major news agencies.

Have them construct op-eds

that support Huaxing's business and technological presence here,

as well as the injustice done to Feng.

Those are some key talking points.

And a list of possible Canadian journalists

or spin doctors who also have useful political connections.

There is one more thing...

You leave today?

Last flight out.

How was your trip?

Oh, good.

But until we find a replacement for Bowden,

we need to work together even harder as a team.

How soon do you think before we find a replacement?

Not long.

We may even promote from within.

You have been with us now for two years?

Yes

Would you like to be considered?

Frankly I don't know if I'm qualified.

I haven't spend too much time with the corporate side.

You are a smart guy, Ryan. You will learn quickly.

What's important

is someone who already understands our corporate culture.

Someone loyal.

You would be entitled to a much higher income.

A bonus for taking the position.

And a new luxury apartment, leased in your name.

How does that sound?

Amazing.

Good.

Of course, these are only preliminary talks. No promises yet.

I am told that Jane Li is your girlfriend.

We've been together for a while, yes.

And that her parents came over from China.

Yes

Surprising that as a first generation Chinese-Canadian person,

she already has poorly formed ideas about our country.

I was given an article published by her yesterday.

Have you seen it?

No, we make it a point, not to talk business, or politics.

In most circumstances, I can see that works.

But in this case, I don't think it possible.

Some facts that may interest her.

Something worth publishing.

I'll see what I can do.

We'll take all your efforts into consideration,

when we name our new Vice President.

Ms. Li's parents are actually in China right now,

visiting family, are they not?

Yes

Sorry, how did you know that?

It would be unfortunate

if a few articles published in a Canadian newspaper

would caused such innocent people any difficulties.

Michael

Sit

They'll only allow us a half- hour visit every four weeks.

What the hell is going on?

We can't know for sure,

but we think you're being used in retaliation

for extradition arrest in Canada of Feng Xiaozhou.

I haven't done anything.

I know.

We're doing everything we can to clear up the matter.

Like what?

The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign affairs

are making waves with our allies.

But we're handcuffed by this American extradition request.

That involves a complicated process.

C'mon, I used to play the same game.

Give the detainee some hope, even though you know it's bullshit.

Is Feng being interrogated every day?

Is she being subjected to hours and hours of questions that make no sense?

Do they keep a light on in her cell and deprive her of sleep?

She's out on bail.

Well that's great.

I need you to tell me what you are unwilling to say.

You need to be straight with me,

because if I am gonna survive in here, I need the truth.

It's a mess, Michael.

And...

I'm not sure how it's going to be fixed, or when.

MacAvoy

When?

My god...

Get me a briefing as soon as you hear.

Hi

Hey, you made it.

Yeah

How's your trip?

I won't talk about the work right now.

I got more important things to do.

Hey, morning

Thanks

What's this?

Just some information.

I was hoping you could write an op-ed piece with it.

This reads like propaganda.

Not if you change the tone.

You can't be serious?

Look, I've never asked you for anything,

but I could really use your help with this one.

I can't believe you're even proposing this to me.

A month from now, nobody will even remember that you wrote it,

but this could change everything for me.

So, this is all about you.

Jane

I'm sitting on a real opportunity here.

A big promotion, whole new condo and loads of money.

I'm talking about a whole new life, for the both of us.

You have no idea how lucky we are to be living in a free country

where we never have to keep our opinion to ourselves,

or worry about who's listening at the door, if we don't.

If I do what you're asking me to,

I'd be nothing. You'd be nothing.

All the money in the world wouldn't change that.

Look, you said it yourself,

everyone's entitled to an opinion.

So why not this one?

C'mon, you know what I mean.

Pretending to follow the law,

while circumventing sanctions against Iran, is a crime in the U.S.

Allowing it to happen by ignoring it,

or worse, justifying it for the sake of progress or jobs,

is just as bad as the crime itself.

Look at you, all high and mighty.

You know it's funny you didn't seem to complain

when I took us on a trip to Mexico last year.

Or bought you lunch the other day.

You know what,

Wouldn't be able to do any those things without Huaxing's payroll.

Jane

Is there any chance Trump will intervene?

I think the entire U.S. Government

is fed up with China going afoul of international laws.

They just arbitrarily sentenced a Canadian to death!

There's no telling where this retaliation will end.

Can't the Chinese just wait it out?

You have to understand,

that everything in China is about saving face.

And right now they feel betrayed,

embarrassed and by a friend.

You could intervene.

That's not an option.

We leave the Minister of Justice to handle it the way she sees fit.

It's complicated, James.

Our allies need to increase the pressure for us.

The breakdown of support

among the Chinese in this country for releasing Feng

is sixty-forty.

Yeah. Long time Canadians and those from Hong Kong

believe we're doing the right thing.

They say, 'Look, this is a different country.

We have rules and freedoms.

The case should take its course.'

It's mostly new immigrants and a few old guards

who still wave the Chinese Communist flag.

It's hard to believe that Feng gets to sit in her mansion with her family

hosting dinner parties,

while Freeman and Spader disappear down a rabbit hole.

And poor Scheller's facing the bloody death penalty.

I know it seems ironic,

but they're playing on perceived Canadian values

about legal rights and fair play.

How worried should we be about these three Canadians?

This is the first time, they are torturing

and possibly killing white foreigners

like they do, every day, with ethnic Chinese.

Can you comment on why the Chinese government

has responded so strongly to the arrest of Feng Xiaozhou.

I don't know why China is responding so strongly.

I do know the President of China is very angry about this.

Perhaps because Huaxing is a national flagship company.

It's a special Chinese company.

Look,

there are basically three options.

One, she is extradited.

That would not be a happy outcome.

And that would take years

because she would have the right to appeal

all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Two,

the American government makes some sort of deal with China.

A deal that would...

part of which would be that they no longer seek extradition.

And we would hope the deal would also be

that they save the three Canadians.

The third option would be Ms. Feng is released by Canadian court.

What the hell is he doing?

So MacAvoy goes back to his old riding,

invites only the Chinese- language media and then spouts off a statement

that could be easily come from Feng's lawyers, or the Chinese embassy.

Is this an actual Liberal strategy,

or did he just go rogue?

I mean it's hard to believe that the government would tell the English media

that they're following a legal process

that Trump should stop waving a trade deal as a solution

and then tell the Chinese government

that they need U.S. political intervention to solve this .

Yeah, it's typical Canadian, suck and blow diplomacy.

It's a stupid tactic. It never worked for us, not in this century or the last.

Sorry guys, I gotta go.

I...

regret...

that my comments,

with respect to the legal proceedings of Ms. Feng,

have caused confusion.

I misspoke.

As Canadian government has consistently made clear,

there is no political involvement in the process.

Thanks a lot.

Mister MacAvoy,

I'm a reporter. I wonder if I could ask you a few questions.

I have a few moments, so, yes.

Okay, great.

What solution to the Feng issue would you hope to see?

Well, from Canada's point of view,

if the United States drops its extradition request for Ms. Feng,

that would be great for us.

Is that now the official position of the government

to have the United States drop the extradition request?

Look

Everything I say here is strictly off the record.

You knew I was a reporter,

so your first statement is on the record.

From here on, I will keep it off the record.

You'll have to excuse me, there's someone I need to speak to.

And the international news

Canadian Prime Minister Jules Tremblay

has asked ambassador to China James MacAvoy

to step down following comments MacAvoy made

regarding detain Huaxing executive Feng Xiaozhou.

I suppose

given everything that's just happened,

it's probably better I don't go back to China for a while.

Not exactly saving face, is it?

Tremblay went on to say that almost two decades,

James MacAvoy has served Canadians honourably and with distinctions.

MacAvoy's resignation comes after being quoted in Vancouver Post saying

it would be great for Canada

if the United States drops an extradition request against Feng.

Your article just got James MacAvoy fired.

I didn't get him fired. His own words did.

He was at a charity lunch.

On his way back to China, where he might have done some good.

But you just had to corner him, didn't you?

I was doing my job.

And that's more important than the ability of a successful company

to go on employing thousands of Canadians?

That's the public relations message you're trying to get across right now?

You got a better one?

Yeah, how about,

Feng puts an end to the posturing,

voluntarily goes back to the States and proves in a court of law

that the accusations against her and her company are unfounded.

No, not gonna happen.

Not now. Not ever.

You know, you could actually blow the whistle on some of this.

Help force the issue and create a better world.

Jesus. Then what?

Look at myself in the mirror with some sense of pride,

before I go off to the unemployment line?

What difference would I even make?

It would make a difference to me.

You know,

when people got past basic human survival

and started trading or buying things that we wanted,

we've all found ways to bend the rules.

Rules put in place by those who maneuvered and fought

and frankly cheated to gain an advantage.

People who'll do anything to keep that advantage.

It's how the world works, and always will.

A month from now, Feng will be back in China,

free to live her life and continue operating her company.

You won't give a second thought to the damage you've caused,

because everyone else will have moved onto different story,

I'm taking a risk covering this story, Ryan.

A big one.

But this is a democracy.

Reporters write the truth. Editors allow that truth to be published.

The legal system operates without interference.

Full stop.

A country full of rich executives with all their luxury goods

and no real freedom for them or anyone else is not worth a damn.

You keep this up and you could get hurt Jane.

Are you threatening me?

Is that why I found a dead cat on top of my car the other day?

I don't know anything about a dead cat.

Right now, I don't know that I believe you.

Look, I'm still here.

But these are serious people.

And they know everything about you, and your family.

Oh my god, I can't believe this!

I'm not threatening you! I'm trying to help.

Okay, I'll drop the story

if...

you'll give all of it up too.

Let's sort this thing out.

Put our life back together.

I'm sorry.

I can't.

Lawyers for Feng Xiaozhou have filed a notice

for civil claim in the British Columbia Supreme Court.

Feng's suit argues that her Charter rights were infringed,

It also seeks tort and punitive damages, and other costs.

Since her arrest in December,

Canada's relationship with China

its second-biggest trading partner has been strained.

On Friday, the federal Justice Department

had green-lit an extradition case against Feng Xiaozhou.

Hello

Is everything alright?

My parents were just detained in China

at the airport on their way back here.

Shit.

My cousin is there right now.

She's gonna call me when she has more information.

Look, maybe you should back off.

Let someone else stay on the story.

Somebody that's no connections to China.

No. I need to do this.

It's the only way I have to fight back.