Iraq Dispatches

IRAQ DISPATCHES
Screenplay by
JR KAMBAK
Story by
Dahr Jamail
Based on Dahr Jamail’s Iraq Dispatches Weblog 2003-2005
JR Kambak
8612 Lodestone Circle
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Tel: 916.230.4320
WGA #1037474
1.
"IRAQ DISPATCHES"
FADE IN:
EXT. HIGH ABOVE IRAQ – DAY - ESTABLISHING
A C-130 banks over Baghdad.
INT. C-130 - CONTINUOUS
Cargo bay opens. The FLIGHT CREW roll PDY-5B break away CRATES of bundled
LEAFLETS out the back ramp.
Plummeting to earth, a CRATE bursts open, filling the sky with white paper LEAFLETS.
INSERT: AUDIO CLIP - PRESIDENT BUSH RADIO ADDRESS (MARCH 22, 2003)
PRESIDENT BUSH (V.O.)

I want Americans and all the world to know that
coalition forces will spare innocent civilians from
harm…
The leaflets scatter in the wind. Some leaflets come into FOCUS.
SUPERIMPOSE TEXT:
"For your safety return to your homes and live in

peace."
"Nobody benefits from the use of weapons of mass

destruction."
"Coalition forces do not wish to harm the noble people

of Iraq… avoid areas occupied by military personnel."
"We can see everything."
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP: FOX NEWS BILL O’REILLY (MARCH 24, 2003)
O’REILLY
I think they should have taken out the television, the
Iraqi television… Why haven’t they taken out the
Iraqi television towers?
2.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP -- MSNBC DAVID SHUSTER
SHUSTER
A lot of questions [remain] about why state-run
television is allowed to continue broadcasting. After
all, the coalition forces know where those broadcast
towers are located.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP -- AL-JAZEERA ATTACKED - TARIQ AYOUB KILLED.
INSERT: VIDEIO CLIP -- OLIVER NORTH REPORTING FROM IRAQ
OLIVER NORTH
Does Fox rock? Does Fox rock?
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP -- CNN AARON BROWN
BROWN
…a lot of people wondered why Iraqi TV had been
allowed to stay on the air, why the coalition allowed
Iraqi TV to stay on the air as long as it did.
EXT. SKY - DAY
SUPERIMPOSE: APRIL 2003
SIX Hercules C-130 cargo planes, known as COMMANDO SOLO II, lumber high above the
Middle Eastern terrain.
INT. C-130 PLANE
WE SEE a complete state-of-the-art broadcasting station control panel encased in the fuselage,
staffed by FIVE military personnel with 193rd Special Operations Wing insignia on their pea
green jumpsuit uniforms.
ON LEAD COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER with headset and eyes FOCUSED on a TV

monitor.
EDITOR
Ready to launch Toward Freedom in… five… four…
three… two… one...
INT. HOUSE - BAGHDAD – SAME TIME
FOCUS ON: Static TV screen, when appears…

3.
VIDEO CLIP: PRESIDENT BUSH
PRESIDENT BUSH
(Arabic subtitles)
Hello, my fellow Iraqis. I am President Bush and along
with Prime Minister Blair we bring you our ‘Trust us!
We care! liberation message and new television
program, Toward Freedom.
INSERT: PBS NEWS CLIP (Jim Lehrer)
PRESIDENT BUSH
I assure every citizen of Iraq:
INSERT: ABC NEWS CLIP
PRESIDENT BUSH
Your nation will soon be free.
INSERT: FOX NEWS CLIP (Brit Hume)
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

Our forces are friends and liberators of the Iraqi
people…
INSERT: NBC NEWS CLIP
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

…not your conquerors.
INSERT: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD H. RUMSFELD (APRIL 11, 2003 – DoD

News Debriefing)
RUMSFELD
The images of thousands of cheering Iraqis,
celebrating and embracing coalition forces are being
broadcast throughout the world, including the Arab
world. And possibly for the first time, Arab people are
seeing the people of Iraq waving American flags and
thanking the men and women in uniform for risking
their lives to free them from tyranny.
(splice time cut)
Meanwhile, we’re working to expand the flow of free
information to the Iraqi people.
(splice time cut)
We’ve begun broadcasting a one-hour news program
and are moving to restore Iraqi radio and television
(MORE)
4.
RUMSFELD (CONT'D)
networks. We’re doing this because access to free
information is critical to building a free society.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – TOM BROKAW (March 19, 2003)
BROKAW
One of the things we don’t want to do is destroy the
infrastructure in Iraq because in a few days we’re
going to own that country.
CUT TO:
INT. PASSENGER TRAIN CAR - DUSK
DAHR JAMAIL, (30ish) American-Lebanese, tough on the outside, soft in heart, dozing in the
COACH section. His cell phone RINGS, packed in his travel case.
We see him push aside a worn small stuffed DONKEY, while rummaging for his cell phone.
DAHR (V.O.)
For these last three months, I’ve been bound up inside,
living two lives – my body is walking the streets of my
homeland, my heart and mind is still wandering war-
ravaged Iraq. The morning papers reported at least
four car bombs detonating in the Baghdad. I’m
obsessed about talking to Abu Talat, my friend and
interpreter in Iraq to see if he… is still alive.
Dahr on CELL PHONE.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

(cheerful)
How are you my friend?
DAHR
Abu Talat. Salaam Aleikum. I’m good, habibi.
TRAIN CAR - CONTINIOUS
DAHR (V.O.)
I remain glued to the daily reports out of Baghdad.
Abu Talat calls me to give me inside reports.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

There have been ten car bombs in Baghdad today,
habibi…
5.
Cell phone STATIC.
DAHR
Abu, are you there? What did you say?
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

(static cell phone echo)
At least 30 people killed with over seventy wounded.
INTERCUT:
EXT. BAGHDAD - DAY
The SKYLINE. Thick black SMOKE rises from various locations. In the distance, a car bomb
EXPLOSION.
TRAIN - CONTINUOUS
Dahr on cell phone.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

I must take my family to her father’s house. It’s too
dangerous here.
DAHR
Please be safe, habibi.
ABU TALAT
Insh’Allah. I will stay safe and will see you soon,
habibi. Insh’Allah. Remember what I told at the
Euphrates River.
WE HEAR AK-47 GUNFIRE in the distance coming through the phone’s receiver. Abu Talat
is cut off.
A PALPABLE BEAT.
Dahr’s FINGER pushing the OFF button on the cell phone.
ANGLE ON: Dahr staring out the train’s window at the tranquil plush estates of the Hudson
Valley.
DAHR (V.O.)
For ten weeks now, I’ve traveled coast to coast,
presenting evidence of what happened in the two
sieges of Falluja. The session halls, auditoriums,
(MORE)
6.
DAHR (V.O.) (CONT'D)

churches are always filled to capacity. But I see
American civil liberties slowly eroding like that in
Iraq, in the name of national security.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CANADA/U.S. BORDER - BLAINE - DAY
SUPERIMPOSE TEXT: “War satisfies neither the victor nor the vanquished. Perfect peace
alone satisfies.” September 6, 1921, Samuel Hill
WE PAN the INTERNATIONAL PEACE ARCH.
-- L.O.V.E. SIGN LANGUAGE SCULPTURE
-- CIRCLE OF PEOPLE SCULPTURE
INT. U.S. BORDER - BLAINE - DAY
A U.S. BORDER AGENT scans Dahr’s PASSPORT. Flips through the pages. Stops at the
pages with Arabic scripts and stamps. Alarmed.
BORDER AGENT
What were you doing in the Middle East?
Dahr glances about the office to see US government POSTERS warning non-US citizens that
they will have their pictures taken and index fingers scanned.
CUT TO:
EXT. FALLUJAH – IRAQ – DAY
A young IRAQI woman is stopped by Iraqi National Guard soldiers on the outskirts of town at
a heavy fortified sandbagged checkpoint.
IRAQI WOMAN
I lost my identification at the market. Please, I just
want to go home.
A NEIGHBOR appears.
NEIGHBOR
(desperate)
She is my neighbor.
7.
GUARD
(uncompromising)
No. No identification badge.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM
Dahr is talking to the Young Woman on his cell phone while typing her story on his laptop.
DAHR (V.O.)
She called me from Baghdad, desperate to get back
with her family.
EXT. FALLUJAH CHECK POINT
A Man arrives. It’s the Young Woman’s HUSBAND.
HUSBAND
She’s my wife. Here are her papers.
The Husband holds out a stack of tattered documents.
GUARD
These are outdated. She can’t enter without the
coalition’s authorized identification.
HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
YOUNG WOMAN (V.O.)

I lost nine relatives when the Americans attack my
city. The soldier’s won’t let me in without the
identification card. Even my husband’s word is
worthless.
CUT TO:
INT. TRAIN
A BUSINESS MAN, 50ish, takes a seat across from Dahr. He lays down a well-read NEW
YORK TIMES beside him.
A BEAT.
BUSINESS MAN
(agitated)
Did you see Bush’s press conference yesterday?
8.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP PRESIDENT’S PRESS CONFERENCE (APRIL 20TH, 2005)
REPORTER
Your top military officer, General Richard Myers, says
the Iraqi insurgency is as strong now as it was a year
ago. Why is that the case? And why haven't we been
more successful in limiting the violence?
PRESIDENT BUSH
I think he went on to say we're winning, if I recall. But
nevertheless, there are still some in Iraq who aren't
happy with democracy. They want to go back to the
old days of tyranny and darkness, torture chambers and
mass graves. I believe we're making really good
progress in Iraq, because the Iraqi people are beginning
to see the benefits of a free society. They're beginning -
- they saw a government formed today.
PASSENGER TRAIN CAR
DAHR
(sotto)
No. I didn’t.
BUSINESS MAN
I’m a Vietnam combat vet. Ya know, Nixon’s ‘peace
with honor’ war. Bush’s speech reminded me of
Nixon’s Silent Majority speech.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – PRESIDENT NIXON’S ‘SILENT MAJORITY SPEECH’

(NOVEMBER 3, 1969)
PRESIDENT NIXON
I believe that one of the reasons for the deep division
about Vietnam is that many Americans have lost
confidence in what their Government has told them
about our foreign policy.
(splice time cut)
We have adopted a plan, which we have worked out in
cooperation with the South Vietnamese for the
complete withdrawal of all U.S. combat ground forces,
and their replacement by South Vietnamese forces on
an orderly scheduled timetable. This withdrawal will
be made from strength and not from weakness.
9.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP (MSNBC) – PRESIDENT BUSH “REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO

DEFEAT TERRORISTS” (AUGUST 23, 2005)
PRESIDENT BUSH
(US Army College Speech, May 24,
2004)
At my direction, and with the support of Iraqi
authorities, we are accelerating our program to help
train Iraqis to defend their country. A new team of
senior military officers is now assessing every unit in
Iraq's security forces. I've asked this team to oversee
the training of a force of 260,000 Iraqi soldiers, police,
and other security personnel. Five Iraqi army battalions
are in the field now, with another eight battalions to
join them by July the 1st. The eventual goal is an Iraqi
army of 35,000 soldiers in 27 battalions, fully prepared
to defend their country.
(spliced time cut)
I have not and do not intend to announce the timetable
for our program. And there are obvious reasons for
this decision, which I am sure you will understand.
PRESIDENT BUSH
(National Guard Speech, August 25,
2005)
Withdrawal of American troops from Iraq would only
embolden terrorists and make America and its allies
more vulnerable to attack. Withdrawing the troops
now – as Ms. Sheehan advocates – would ‘only
embolden the terrorists to create a staging ground to
launch more attacks against America and free nations.
PRESIDENT NIXON (CONT’D)

(splice time cut)
If a vocal minority, however fervent its cause, prevails
over reason and the will of the majority, this nation has
no future as a free society. I want to end the war to
save the lives of those brave young men in Vietnam.
PRESIDENT BUSH
(August 24, 2005)
What’s important is that the Iraqis are resolving these
issues through debate and discussion, not at the barrel
of a gun.
10.
PRESIDENT NIXON (CONT’D)

(spliced time cut)
But I want to end it in a way which will increase the
chance that their younger brothers and their sons will
not have to fight in some future Vietnam someplace in
the world.
PASSENGER TRAIN CAR - CONTINUOUS
BUSINESSMAN
My son just got back from Iraq. He was with the 24th
Marine Expeditionary Unit that punched across the
Euphrates into Fallujah. He won’t talk about it. Just
like I was when I got back from ‘Nam. Now we have
a name for it: PTSD. I’m trying to get him some psych
help at the VA, but all that paper work is a nightmare.
(disgusted)
Chrissakes, what’s this country coming to?
FLASHBACK: DAHR WITH FAMILY AT DINNER TABLE
A Dinner in Dahr’s honor. AB LIB family cross talk. Then,
FAMILY RELATIVE
I just can’t understand why you think you need to go
back there, Dahr. President Bush has said that all
combat operations have ended, mission accomplished.
They have their freedom.
DAHR
(overreacting)
How can I not go back? The media is lying to the
American people.
Dead silence. All are staring at Dahr.
CUT TO:
PASSENGER TRAIN CAR - CONTINUOUS
BUSINESS MAN
This whole thing is going to make us all raving
lunatics.
Train slows to a stop.
BUSINESS MAN
This is where I get off. What’s your name?
11.
DAHR
Dahr Jamail.
BUSINESS MAN
(standing)
Isn’t that an Arab name?
DAHR
Lebanese. I was born in Texas.
BUSINESS MAN
(shaking hands)
Take care of yourself, Dahr.
Dahr notices the NEWSPAPER lying on the seat across from him.
INSERT: NEW YORK TIMES HEADLINE:
"THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: INVASION'S

PRELUDE; British Memo On U.S. Plans For Iraq War
Fuels Critics "
Dahr stares out of the train window at the plush Hudson Valley estates…
FADE TO:
BLACK SCREEN
SUPERIMPOSE: NOVEMBER 2003 – JANUARY 2004
INT. JORDAN – AMMAN – HOTEL LOBBY - DAY
Through the hotel lobby’s beehive of pedestrian traffic, WE SEE Dahr, long hair, seated with
ADAM NASH, muscular and bald headed chain smoker, and JULIE BURKE, sharp features,
both 30ish, waiting. Black Pelican Cases next to them. Seasoned international journalists.
ADAM
(looking at watch)
Bloody late. It’s ten o’clock. We can’t delay.
Takes out a pack of cigarettes. Taps out a cigarette, playing with it between his fingers.
JULIE
You a journalist, Dahr?
12.
DAHR
Ah, no. I just want to go and see for myself, maybe
write a blog.
ADAM
Oh, chrissakes, not another bloody blogger.
JULIE
Don’t mind him, Dahr.
DAHR
What about you?
ADAM
Independent documentary assignment on the
preservation of Babylon’s archeological artifacts. I’m
the shooter, Julie’s the hack writer. Veterans of the
Gulf War.
DAHR
Sounds impressive.
JULIE
Adam worked for the BBC. I used to be with the
Guardian. We got a tip that U.S. special forces are
backing an Iraqi militia called the Iraqi Coalition of
National Unity that’s robbing national treasures.
ADAM
Yea, there’s eyewitness reports they’re driving around
in American made SUV’s looting the museums and
terrorizing civilians.
DAHR
How do you know?
JULIE
We got a dispatch from some museum directors. It’s a
direct violation of the Hague Convention of 1954 and
Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions.
ADAM
(offering a cigarette)
You want a fag, Dahr?
DAHR
Don’t smoke.
13.
Adam shrugs and lights up. Takes a long drag.
JULIE
(to Dahr)
The basic field application, and I quote, “to ensure for
and protection of the civilian population and civilian
objects… and at all times distinguish between the
civilian population and combatants.”
ADAM
She’s an expert on international law.
JULIE
You might consider freelancing for Electronic Iraq.
That’s the ticket if you’ve got something worthwhile to
report. Carve your own niche.
DAHR
Sure. Thanks. I’ll check it out.
ADAM
(philosophical)
But you got stiff competition with six hundred embeds
and 2000 unilaterals all clamoring over each other to
make a name for themselves.
DAHR
Unilats?
ADAM
The military calls them that because they aren’t towing
the line with Pentagon’s CENTCOM controlling the
news sources. Unilaterals or unembedded journalists.
which sounds like a bunch of celibate writers.
HUSSEIN (O.C.)
El Salaam Aleikum.
Dahr, Adam and Julie turn around to SEE…
HUSSEIN, a plump, (30ish) brusquely energetic man that looks like a hooligan with childish
charm.
HUSSEIN
(boasting)
I am driver!
Hussein reaches out to shake their hands.

14.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREETS OF AMMAN - MIDNIGHT
A beat-up BLACK GMC Suburban careens through the traffic.
INT./EXT. BLACK GMC - CONTINUOUS
The windows are rolled down. It’s breezy, noisy. Occasionally, sand blasts in their faces.
ON ADAM
ADAM
(to Dahr)
We have to make the Jordan-Iraq border between two
and four a.m. It will give us an hour to go through the
border check, leaving plenty of time to reach Baghdad
before nightfall.
JULIE
You don’t want to be caught out at night in Iraq.
DAHR
Why?
ADAM
(holding up two fingers)
Two good reasons. The Coalition Provisional
Authority and the resistance fighting against them.
Either one will fucking shot first before asking for
identity papers. You can wipe your ass with the
Geneva Conventions once you’re in Iraq.
Hussein pops in one of his Arabic POP MUSIC tapes. Could be Cheb Mamai. Cranks up the
premium sound volume in the GMC.
The ENGINE ROARS as Hussein steps on the gas pedal.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE OF AMMAN - NIGHT
The GMC ROARS down a two-lane black top desert highway headed east. WE SEE flashes of
LIGHTNING in the distance.
DISSOLVE TIME CUT:

15.
INT. GMC - JORDAN/IRAQ BORDER - NIGHT
Dahr, dozing, is abruptly awoken up from the sound of…
BLARRING CAR and TRUCK HORNS. SPINNING WHEELS in the SAND. PEOPLE
ANGERLY YELLING in ARABIC. BLARRING TECHNO MIX ARABIC MUSIC.
EXT. BORDER CROSS – CONTINUOUS
WE SEE the traffic jam from hell all shoving their way forward to nudge their way ahead of
one another to fit into three narrow lanes.
-- HUGE CLOUDS OF SAND DUST is stirred up as some cars drive into the sand, spinning
their wheels, trying to skip past others.
INT./EXT. GMC – MOMENTS LATER
A JORDANIAN BORDER GUARD waves them through, passing under a lit ARCHWAY,
past an ARMED GUARD, arriving in a virtual parking lot that is still the main road to
Baghdad.
Hussein inches the GMC forward, creeping ever so slightly, then stops.
HUSSEIN
Passports.
(to Dahr)
You. Come.
(to Adam)
You. Drive.
EXT. BORDER CROSSING - CONTINUOUS
Hussein and Dahr hop out of the GMC, into a THICK crowd of Arab men in traditional white
dishdashas and western clothing. Some are Iraqi, others Jordanian. A haze of cigarette smoke
fills the air. Dahr tucks his long hair ponytail under his shirt collar as he hops out of the GMC.
Hussein and Dahr push their way toward the CUSTOMS BUILDING in the f.g.
INT. CUSTOMS BUILDINGS - CONTINUOUS
The CROWD of yelling Arab men packed together chaotically queued up to receive their
stamped passports. Pushing and shoving. Smoking.
-- A NAME is called out in ARABIC. An MAN fights his way forward to where an
OFFICIAL BORDER GUARD sits, stamping passports at a wooden table.
16.
-- HUSSEIN pushes in behind the man to jump ahead of the others. There’s jostling and
complaints, but Hussein threatens them with a fierce look of hostility, while he hands the guard
a bribe.
ANGLE ON: Dahr losing contact with Hussein. A brief panic washes over his FACE.
In a moment, Hussein is back by his side.
HUSSEIN
You get passports when name called. I must watch my
car to make sure it is not stolen. You understand
Arabic?
Dahr having no choice, NODS.
WE PULL back to show Dahr lost in a sea of YELLING Arab men, drowning in the chaos.
CUT TO:
EXT. IRAQ – OUTSIDE FALLUJAH - DAYBREAK
The morning sky breaks in to a reddish glow. The GMC speeds down the highway at over
hundred miles-per-hour, honking at other vehicles to get out of the way.
The desert landscape brightens to reveal:
-- U.S. Military Humvees randomly parked along the roadside with Machine Gunners on top.
-- Two APACHE helicopters swoop in low, circling overhead as the GMC drives past two
smaller military tanker trucks.
-- Burned out smoldering vehicles litter the side of the highway.
-- A large column of thick black SMOKE rising from a burning oil well on the horizon.
EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS
A convoy of U.S. MILITARY HUMVEES and BRADLY PERSONNEL CARRIERS suddenly

cuts off the GMC. They PURPOSELY slow down the GMC as well as all the vehicles
following behind by threatening to shot anyone who challenges to pass them.
INT./EXT. GMC - CONTINUOUS
Hussein, anxious to pass, dangerously tailgates the last U.S. MILITARY HUMMER.
17.
SOLDIERS riding in the back; give hand signals and point their WEAPONS directly at the
GMC. Locked and loaded.
ADAM
Hussein, for bloody sakes, have you seen how one of
those 50 caliber bullets splits your head open?
Hussein eases off the gas pedal.
ADAM
Dahr, does seeing these U.S. flags patched on their
arms make you feel safer?
DAHR
It’s not so much the flag as it’s the constitution.
ADAM
Spoken like a fuck’n patriot. We’ll see how you feel
after your first baptism of fire. That is if you survive.
Hussein starts to accelerate.
ADAM
(looks at Hussein to slow down;
then Dahr)
Let me give you a word of advice; anyone who stands
in the way of coalition interests will be arrested, or
worse yet… locked in on a sniper’s crosshairs. Don’t
be mistaken for a member of the anti-coalition forces
because this is a fuck’n propaganda media war.
-- Dahr looks out the side window of the GMC to see…
-- An IRAQI FAMILY of FIVE CHILDREN in the car next to them.
-- WE SEE the look of fear upon the children’s FACES; some pressed against the backseat
windows.
EXT. HIGHWAY – MOMENTS LATER
The convoy turns off the highway, regrouping with another Humvee patrol parked in a nearby
field. The U.S. soldiers keep their weapons trained on the civilian vehicles as they pass by.
18.
EXT. HIGHWAY – ENTERING BAGHDAD - DAY
The GMC drives past a dark blue CIVILIAN CONTRACTOR TRUCK parked along side the
highway. Caucasian workers in Western clothes are seen working on a power line. There are
two BRADLEY PERSONNEL CARRIERS parked right next to the civilian workers.
Atop each Personnel Carrier are FOUR SOLDIERS, in prone positions with their machine guns
aimed in all directions.
INT./EXT. GMC - CONTINUOUS
ANGLE ON: Dahr observing the growing civilian population as they drive into Baghdad.
-- Two blocks down the road, Iraqi men working on a building, unarmed, no military
protection.
-- Whole buildings flattened by bombs – twisted re-bar sticking out from chunks of huge
fragmented concrete chunks in bomb craters.
-- Iraqi civilians go about their business amid the massive bombing rubble.
ON DAHR
Heartbreaking gaze. GUNSHOTS O.C. Dahr flinches. A RUMBLING of a U.S .M-1 TANK
O.C.
-- TRAVELING: On a wall a poster designed in a childish comic book manner (Leaflet

IZG9251) warning children about unexploded munitions written in Arabic.
SUPERIMPOSE TRANSLATION:
"DANGER. ATTENTION CHILDREN. These are

not toys!! Leave them where found. Tell an adult so
they can inform Iraqi Security forces in your area."
DAHR
(to Adam)
I’ll take one of those cigarettes.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAGHDAD – GREEN ZONE – DAY - ESTABLISHING
Aerial of the Coalition Provisional Authority compound. Heavily guarded Palestine and
Sheraton Hotel’s come into view surrounded by a veritable fortress of concrete blocks, razor
wire, tanks, Humvees, SUV’s, U.S. soldiers and Iraq police. The Green Zone is symbolic of a
U.S. corporate stronghold, and it appears such way in this establishing shot.
19.
-- An APACHE HELICOPTER, flying low underneath the crossing SABERS, punctuating the
CPA’s dominance, continuing low over the River Dijla (Tigris) as if it’s going to strafe…
-- RASHID STREET that is blocked off with 15’high concrete BLAST WALLS. Every 50 feet
concrete blocks lay on the pavement. GRAFFITI: NO TO SUDDAM.
-- We PUSH down upon a less protected street of hotels that looks like slums in comparison to
the Green Zone. A U.S. TANK rumbles along.
ANGEL ON: TANK TURRET GUNNER
We follow the line-of-sight of the turret GUNNER, making a sweep with a 50-caliber machine
gun upon the windows of a hotel… its walls pock marked from bomb shrapnel and bullets.
Through the iron target SIGHT… to a hotel WINDOW.
We push through the window…
ANGLE ON: Dahr, seated on a couch, writing at his laptop computer. We hear the tanks
RUMBLING TREADS O.C.
DAHR (V.O.)
My hotel is in what is called the Red Zone, outside of
the cordoned off militarized Green Zone that houses
the Coalition Provisional Authority compound. I’ve
made contact with my first translator, Ahmed. We are
to meet later. The Iraqis are celebrating Ramadan.
CUT TO:
EXT. IRAQ – BAGHDAD SIDE STREET – DUSK
A PATROL of THREE U.S. Military HUMVEES cruise a narrow street lit by dim street lamps.
EXT/INT. HUMMER – TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS
WE SEE M-16 gun barrels pointed out from the side windows.
-- Seated in the front seat a WHITE MALE, 50ish, obviously a corporate executive, flanked by
heavily armed U.S. Marines.
-- A MACHINE GUNNER protruding from the Hummer’s rooftop, sits atop a plastic milk
carton. The Machine Gun is placed on a plywood board. There is no gun mount or armor plate
protection.
-- In the back of the Hummer, is a load of shipping BOXES with stereo brand titles, SONY,
PANASONIC, and HITACHI.
20.
It’s obvious that private contractors are using U.S. military personnel for protection.
DAHR (V.O.)
But tonight, I found a peaceful atmosphere. Today
marked the end of Eid Al Fitr…
-- A BURST OF FIREWORKS O.C.
-- ON THE HUMVEE GUNNER, pointing the machine gun in the direction of the noise. A
tense beat. Then, relaxes the grip on the trigger, sweeping the area through his iron sights
when…
-- Dahr comes into view. Next to him…
AHMED, (20ish) handsome Iraqi. Walking together.
We pull back to see a small part of the city ALIVE with CROWDS of Iraqis drumming in the
streets, cheering, dancing, balloons, and sporadic fireworks.
ANGLE ON: Dahr and Ahmed, nonchalantly eating ICE CREAM CONES as they stroll amid
the VIBRANT Islamic celebration.
DAHR (V.O.)
As I walked along with Ahmed, my interpreter and
fixer, I felt I was walking in an oasis of levity –
especially the children waving or trying to speak with
you. They are fascinated with my camera.
-- CARS jam the street, inching slowly.
-- A BRIGHTLY LIT FERRIS WHEEL ride filled with HAPPY children in the b.g.
-- CHILDREN swung by their PARENTS. OTHER’S SCREAM with excitement to meet a

GIANT YELLOW BIRD.
ON DAHR
Taking random pictures with his digital CAMERA of the festivities.
AHMED
(proudly)
These are the people of Iraq.
INSERT POV: DIGITAL CAMERA VIEW FINDER
TWO YOUNG BOYS with huge smiles.

21.
DAHR (V.O.)
These two boys, Muhammad and Nasir asked my
name. They were surprised to hear it was “Dahr.”
AHMED
(to Dahr)
They thought everyone in America had a name like
‘Joe’ or ‘Bob’.
DAHR
That’s just like how most people in America think
everyone in Iraq is named Saddam.
LAUGHTER
MUHAMMAD AND NASIR

(perfect English)
Good to meet you, Mr. Dahr.
MOMENT’S LATER
Dahr and Ahmed walking along a side street. Dahr glances at his wristwatch.
DAHR
Ahmed, it’s nearly nine p.m.
AHMED
Not safe to stay out.
They HAIL a TAXI and climb in the back seat, driving off…
DAHR (V.O.)
Ahmed and I have quickly become good friends.
Without him, I would be lost here.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL AGADIR – ROOM - MORNING
Dahr is sound asleep on a couch. There are a couple of tiny tables, a little fridge. A makeshift
clothesline filled with drying socks, boxer shorts, t-shirt. Spartan. Neat.
-- TWO EAR DEAFENING EXPLOSIONS O.C.
-- Rattles the apartment windows. Shocks Dahr out of bed.

22.
-- BARRAGE OF AUTOMATIC WEAPON’S O.C.
-- Dahr scrambles to the apartment window.
DAHR’S POV
Below, two blocks away, PEDISTRIAN chaos. A smoldering CAR is surrounded by an

anxious CROWD.
-- FOCUS ON: An Iraqi MAN is being pulled out of the car, bloodied and clothes shredded,
writhing in pain as the crowd quickly disperses upon the arrival of a patrol of U.S. military
HUMVEES.
-- A M-1 TANK FIRING SOMEWHERE IN BAGHDAD O.C.
-- WE SEE a HUGE CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE rise from the CITYSCAPE’S horizon.
Dahr’s cell phone RINGS.
AHMED (V.O.)
I’m on my way to see the casualties. Do you want to
come?
DAHR
Meet you out front of the hotel.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAGHDAD - SADDAM MEDICAL CITY - DAY
The perimeter is completely sealed off with CONCRETE BLOCKS and coils of RAZOR
WIRE. The Italian Red Cross Field Station is in the b.g.
INT. ITALIAN RED CROSS - FIELD STATION - CONTINUOUS
WE SEE an overcrowded hospital ward of severely injured Iraqi civilians.
ON DAHR and AHMED
Surrounded by men, women, and children lying on cots, moaning from insufferable pain. A
trauma ward in a makeshift first aid tent. Unsanitized. Flies buzzing everywhere. Doctors and
Nurses attend to the injured.
DAHR (V.O.)
Every day there are civilian deaths in Baghdad, let
alone all of Iraq, caught in the coalition’s crossfire.
23.
As they walk through the Ward they approach the bed of an older Iraqi MAN, bandaged all
about his body with reddish stained gauze. Two NURSES are pulling the bed sheet over his
head, bundling up his stiff, lifeless body.
AHMED
Do you think all these people, these innocent people
being killed don’t have families that are now joining
the resistance?
DAHR’S POV
Of a little girl, badly burned about her face and arms, lying helplessly on the bloodstain sheets
of her bed. She can only blink in recognition of Dahr’s presence.
DAHR (V.O.)
I’ve only been here three days, and I’m grinding my
teeth in my sleep, clenching my fists. If I didn’t purge
all that I see everyday with my writing I’d have an
emotional meltdown.
EXT. BAGHDAD STREET - DAY
Dahr and Ahmed, having left the hospital, walk past a concrete barrier that reads: USA NO!
CPA= DEATH. Then, ahead of them.
-- A CAR is stopped by IRAQ POLICE. They pull an IRAQI MAN out of the car, pleading for
his safety. The man is kicked and beaten till he falls to the concrete pavement.
ON AN IRAQI POLICEMAN
SLAMMING the BUTT of his AK-47 against the man’s HEAD. BLOOD GUSHES from the
man’s scalp.
As the man holds his bleeding head, the other IRAQI POLICEMEN viciously KICK the man.
Dahr and Ahmed APPROACH from the b.g. Dahr holds out his PRESS ID.
AHMED
(Arabic; English)
We’re journalists.
The Iraqi Police SHOUT at Ahmed in Arabic, while jumping back into their Police CAR,
speeding away.
The man lies semiconscious, his scalp has a deep avulsion wound. A POOL of BLOOD under
his head.
24.
DAHR
What the hell happened?
AHMED
They say he was looter.
DAHR
Help me stop the bleeding. Put your hand there and
press.
Ahmed, timid, then applies pressure.
AHMED
(frantic)
You can see that the Iraqi police don’t care. They are
taking revenge.
Dahr, tears off his shirtsleeve, wrapping it about the man’s head.
AHMED (CONT’D)
What’s the difference with Saddam?
DAHR
The difference is we’re taking him back to that clinic.
Help me get him on his feet.
They pull the injured man to his feet and shoulder carry him.
EXT. ALONG A STREET OF BAGHDAD – LATE AFTERNOON
Dahr exits an Internet Café, hurriedly walking along the sidewalk in a light drizzle of rain. He
still wears the bloodstained shirt.
-- WE SEE a veritable fortress of CONCRETE BLOCKS standing on end – fifteen feet high,
draped in coils of RAZOR WIRE. A concrete block obstacle course in a deserted city.
-- We follow Dahr along concrete sidewalks, avoiding gravel or muddy patches, watching for
mortar trip wires. Behind him, plastered upon the city street’s walls are posters:
PICTOGRPAHIC SIGNS warning Iraqi’s of LANDMINES.
-- He walks past the NATIONAL THEATER: Looted with black-scorch marks streaking up
from the blown out windows and doors. TRASH and RUBBLE lay about outside.
-- Next to the Theater is the IRAQI AIR FORCE BARRACKS, lying in bombed out rubble.
-- A PATROL of FIVE HUMMERS cut Dahr off as he tries to cross a street intersection.
25.
INT. HUMVEE
The soldiers point their M-16’s out of the Humvee windows in every direction. One SOLDIER
takes an iron sight bead directly at Dahr. Then,
-- AN M-1 TANK follows, the gun turret with graffiti NEW TESTAMENT on the barrel,
rotates side to side, scanning the street.
-- The tank BARREL stops on Dahr -- pointed directly a few feet from his FACE.
DHAR’S POV
Of the rifled CANNON’S BARREL
-- A MILITARY HELICOPTER punctuates the tension by flying low overhead, briefly

stopping to hover. The ROTOR BLADE WHOMPING ROAR is deafening to the ears.
-- A SOILED HAND grips Dahr’s SHOULDER.
Startled, Dahr jumps back, spinning wildly to see…
An OLD HAGGARD BEGGER, in rain soaked rags.
OLD HAGGARD BEGGER

(feebly)
Salaam Aleikum. Dinar? Dinar?
EXT/INT. AGADIR HOTEL - LATER
Drizzling rain. As we follow Dahr entering the hotel.
-- Muffled CRACKS of GUNSHOTS O.C.
-- A distant BOMB exploding WHOOMPH O.C.
-- SIRENS BLARE
INT. HOTEL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Ahmed, with two IRAQI FRIENDS, stand in the lobby. Anxious looks are exchanged, then
warm smiles. Hugs.
DAHR
(hugging Ahmed)
Salaam Aleikum.
26.
AHMED
Salaam Aleikum. We have been waiting for three
hours.
DAHR
I’m sorry. I had a story to send off. Let’s go to my
room.
INT. AGADIR HOTEL – ROOM - NIGHT
The four of them are seated about Dahr’s apartment. For the moment, there is electricity
lighting a single incandescent bulb hanging from a cord in the middle of the ceiling. They are
sipping chai tea brewed on a hotplate.
AHMED
My friends tell me that the Shiite’s are biding their
time prior to making their move. They control the oil
in the south, the Kurds in the north. The Sunnis are
caught in the middle.
FRIEND ONE
(Speaks to Ahmed in Arabic.)
AHMED
George Bush is good at mixing the cards. We have
Iraqi resistance, genuine resistance, and others settling
tribal scores. But it is the Sunnis’ anger at the
illegitimacy of the occupation that is empowering the
Shiites who are in favor with the Americans. You will
see when you travel around… distribution of U.S.
reconstruction aid and medicine only goes to those
willing to submit to U.S. policy. As with the sanctions,
five hundred thousand civilians paid the price with
their lives. Not Saddam.
The electricity is cut off, casting the apartment into darkness.
GENERAL LAUGHTER.
Stumbling in the dark. A MATCH FLARES. Dahr lights a couple of CANDLES that casts a
mystical glow upon their faces.
AHMED
Most certainly the Shia will rule with the Kurds, and
punish the Sunnis for being allies with Saddam. I am
sure it is the coalition’s plan. Already we had Iraqis
killed in Fallujah protesting U.S. troops occupation of
27.
a school. Seventeen people killed, seventy-eight

wounded.
FRIEND TWO
(Speaks in Arabic.)
AHMED
(nodding in agreement)
Bremer just fired 28,000 Iraqi teachers as political
punishment for their membership in the Baath Party, so
ordered by Ahmed Chalabi. He is selling off all Iraqi
businesses to foreign interests. The Americans
certainly will not stop until this Bremer Pasha’s
Banana Republic of Mesopotamia has complete
ownership of our country.
DAHR
And what will happen in the Sunni Triangle?
AHMED
Annihilate Fallujah to send a message to other anti-
coalition groups.
DAHR
How do you know?
AHMED
This is where the CPA thinks they can fracture the will
of opposition for containment.
(beat)
Meanwhile, all our electricity, water supplies,
medicines and sanitation are being purposely regulated
to keep us under control. All our television and radio
towers were destroyed. Now we have one TV show,
Toward Freedom.
--AUTOMATIC RIFLE GUNSHOTS O.C. Dahr flinches. The others laugh at his reaction.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAGHDAD – AL EWADIYAH NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
POV of NIGHT GOGGLES as TWENTY U.S. SOLDIERS bust down the door of an Iraqi
home.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – CPA BRIEFING, BRIG. GEN. KIMMET (DECEMBER 24, 2003)
28.
BRIG. GENERAL MARK KIMMET

To that end, in the past 24 hours, the coalition has
conducted 2,000 patrols, 19 offensive operations, 31
raids and captured 54 anti-coalition suspects in the past
24 hours. In the North, coalition forces conducted a
series of neighborhood cordon and knock operations,
covering more than 565 homes.
INT./EXT. HOME - CONTINUOUS
U.S. SOLDIERS force FIVE Iraqi family members, still in their bedclothes, outside at
GUNPOINT.
EXT. HOME - CONTINUOUS
-- HUMMERS and LIGHT TANKS are SEEN in the b.g.
-- BLINDING FLOOD LIGHTS.
An Iraqi WOMAN begs talking through a…
MILITARY INTERPRETER
(to Military Officer)
She suffers from diabetes. She will allow a soldier to
accompany her to restroom.
-- A COMMANDING OFFICER waves off the request.
-- The WOMAN URINATES staining her white bedclothes.
-- SOLDIERS and INTERPRETER LAUGH at her.
-- TWO APACHE HELICOPTERS circle above. Deafening noise.
DAHR (V.O.)
On December 9th, at 10p.m., U.S. soldiers stormed a
home in Al Ewadiyah neighborhood of Baghdad.
Taharoh Muhammad Munahi Al Rufayai, a 43-year-
old college professor, Leith, her brother and a retired
army officer and their elderly aunt Fahad. The soldiers
forced the inhabitants to stand outside at gunpoint for
five and a half hours in their bedclothes while they
ransacked the house for weapons and members of the
resistance.
29.
INT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
U.S. SOLDIERS recklessly search for WEAPONS or VALUABLES. They smash TABLES,
CHAIRS, dump out dresser DRAWERS on the floor.
Taharoh’s BOOKS are carelessly thrown to the floor. DISHES and GLASSES are deliberately
broken. Antique FURNITURE is ripped apart and smashed. Back CUSHIONS and padded
CHAIRS are cut apart, the stuffing ripped out. Flour and rice poured out of their SACKS.
DAHR (V.O.)
Om Fadah, 44-years-old and a psychologist who owns
a home with her husband lives nearby. She lives in
fear now, for when the soldiers finally left that night,
they took her brother Leith with them.
U.S. SOLDIERS forcefully dragging away, LEITH, Om Fadah’s brother.
DAHR (V.O.)
Terrible as it was that Leith had been taken to prison
for no reason, he wasn’t the only thing taken illegally
from the home. Om Fadah tells me jewelry and gold
were taken; $1,900 of Taharo’s money, Fahad is
missing $60 of her retirement money, two expensive
watches, and between $1,750 and $2,500 of Leith’s
money, which he was saving for his marriage.
-- FAMILY MEMBERS rush on top of the house ROOF.
-- A BED MATTRESS is in FLAMES. Their BELONGINGS are carelessly strewn about the
roof.
-- AN APACHE HELICOPTER swoops in low, ENGULFING them in a BLINDING

SPOTLIGHT and deafening engine turbine THUNDER forcing them to flee.
CUT TO:
INT. FADAH’S HOME – NEXT DAY
Dahr is seated with Fadah in her ransacked house.
FADAH
Let them search. OK. But why burn these things on
our roof? Why steal from us? Why destroy our home?
We want to know why? We didn’t fight them when
they came here.
Fadah SOBBING.
30.
DAHR (V.O.)
She doesn’t know where her brother and sister are
being held. They went to the CPA to ask, as they had
heard a rumor that they were being held at the airport
prison. But the CPA told her they did not have any
information about her brother and sister.
FADAH
I’ve lost all my things. All I can think of are my
brother and sister now.
INT. AGADIR HOTEL - ROOM - DAY
Dahr is furiously typing the story on his laptop. A lit cigarette dangles from the side of his
mouth.
MONTAGE:
-- 100,000 men marching in protest for elections chanting: “Yes, yes elections, no, no
selections.”
-- Banners held up that demand elections, not caucuses.
-- Posters of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani carried by demonstrators.
DAHR (V.O.)
President Bush is having to backtrack, as his proposed
regional Caucus government plan to select
leaders instead of holding democratic elections,
presented through the IGC, was met with outrage from
both Shiites and Sunnis.
(beat)
Some men who attended the demonstration say they
witnessed five Iraqi men who were wounded by the
American soldier’s gunfire. They say that these five
men were taken under a nearby bridge and executed
bythe Americans.
(beat)
This was substantiated by photos of their bodies inside
the Al-Adhamiya morgue, each shot at close range,
execution style.
INSERT: FLASH PHOTOGRAPH OF BODIES IN THE MORGUE – FLASH ZOOM ON

THREE CUTS INTO THE WOUNDS LIKE A FORENSIC’S INVESTIGATION
31.
DAHR (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Gunpowder burns mark the skin on them. One man
has been shot at close range in the back of the head.
(beat)
The people of Al-Adhamiya claim that the family
members of those slain, in order to retrieve the bodies
from the morgue, first had to report to the U.S. camp
near Al-Adhamiya. They claim they had to sign a
form stating that their family member was shot by Iraqi
Police, not U.S. soldiers.
CUT TO:
INT. SAMARRA – HOME OF SHEIKH ABBAS NAQSHABANDI - DAY
Dahr is seated with SHEIKH ABBAS NAQSHABANDI, head of one of seven families in
Samarra, interviewing the Sheikh. HAMOUDI, (30ish) translates between Dahr and Sheikh
Abbas Naqshabandi.
DAHR
Sheikh Abbas Naqshabandi, the Americans claimed
there were 54 resistance fighters killed in a street battle
this past Sunday with U.S. troops here in Samarra.
SHEIKH ABBAS NAQSHABANDI

No, this is not correct. There were eight dead, one of
them an Iranian, and fifty wounded.
DAHR
I had heard about another attack on a mosque.
SHEIKH ABBAS NAQSHABANDI

There were people praying inside. If the U.S. continues
to aggressively attack and kill civilians, shooting up
mosques, humiliating civilians. Go to Samarra and see
for yourself.
INSERT: CNN – TAKE NO PRISONERS (DECEMBER 11, 2003)
CNN REPORTER CROWLEY

Wounded, another Iraqi writhes on the ground next to
his gun. The Marines kill him – then cheer.
RIDDLE
Like, man, you guys are dead now, you know. But it
was a good feeling.
32.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE #1
Fire!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE #2
Yeah!
CNN CROWLEY
When the battle is over and you are still standing, the
adrenalin rush is huge.
RIDDLE
I mean, afterwards you’re like, hell, yeah, that was
awesome. Let’s do it again.
CUT TO:
INT./EXT. SAMARRA – BATTLE SCENE – CAR - LATER
The CAR is surrounded by a YELLING Samarran crowd.
Through the car window, HAMOUDI pleads with the people mobbing the car. Dahr, in the
back seat, nervously watches, gripping the DOOR HANDLE. The Driver is pounding on the
car’s HORN.
DAHR
Hamoudi, tell them we want to the truth.
HAMOUDI
(Arabic)
We are here to get the truth.
CROWD
(Arabic)
No truth. Foreign press lies.
HAMOUDI
(Arabic)
Please. He is Lebanese. We are will write the truth.
The hostile crowd relents, allowing the car to move through. Some kick the car. Others pound
on the trunk and hood with their fists.
EXT. SAMARRA – LATER
-- Outside a BUILDING, riddled with dozens of bullet holes.
-- DEPLETED URANIUM shell CASINGS littered the ground.

33.
-- A small crowd of CHILDREN mill about, as Dahr, with Hamoudi translating, interviews
Samarra residents.
OLDER MAN
(pointing to spent DU casing about
his feet)
This building is empty, and everybody knows its
empty, but the U.S. shot it all these hundreds of times.
And they use these special bullets that sound different
and exploded everywhere.
TEA STALL OWNER

The Americans say the people who fought them are
Al-Qaeda or Fedayin. We are all here in this small city
living here. Why have we not seen these foreign
fighters and stranger people in our city before or after
this battle? Everyone here knows everyone, and none
have seen these stranger people. Why do they tell lies?
FIFTY-YEAR-OLD SHOP KEEPER

There is blood on top of that building, and there were
only American soldiers up there. And over here on
this road, everybody saw three dead US soldiers on the
ground, burning and bleeding.
FORTY-TWO YEAR OLD MAN

If the American can shoot every child walking in the
street, it means the end of the world.
THIRTY-ONE YEAR OLD MAN

At an American checkpoint I was dragged from my car
and they put their shoes on my chest.
IRAQI MAN
They shot a lot of bullets to cut these wires. The U.S.
soldier was laughing and shooting the wires. Are they
Fedayin wires? Were the wires attacking the
Americans? He was laughing like a crazy man.
An IRAQI MAN, (30ish) approaches Dahr and Hamoudi, holding the hands of a little IRAQI
BOY and IRAQI GIRL in ragged clothing. The boy and girl have vacant stares.
IRAQI MAN
This little boy and girl, their father was shot by the
Americans. Who will take care of this family? Why
did they kill my brother? He was a Lorry driver. What
is his crime? Did they kill him just because they
(MORE)
34.
IRAQI MAN (CONT'D)

wanted to shoot a man? That’s it? This is the reason?
Why didn’t anyone talk to me and tell me why they
have killed my brother? Is killing people a normal
thing everyday? This is our future? This is the future
that Bush promised Iraq?
A 27-year-old IRAQI MAN emerges from the milling crowd around Dahr and Ahmed. He
presses in hard, getting into Dahr’s face.
TWENTY SEVEN YEAR OLD IRAQI MAN

He was a Lorry driver! They shot him with one
hundred fifty bullets.
Another SAMARRA MALE RESIDENT, (40ish) pushes people back from Dahr and Ahmed.
He appears as if he is going to attack them.
SAMARRA MALE RESIDENT

(to crowd; pointing at Dahr)
All the media is not telling the truth. They are lying,
all of them! Don’t talk to them. I made hundred
interviews with media and nobody is telling my truth!
Nobody has told what I told them. Why should I even
talk to them? They are lying all the time. Don’t talk to
them.
INT. TAXI - TRAVELING
Dahr and Hamoudi are returning to Baghdad riding in the backseat of a taxi.
HAMOUDI
I have information for you about Saddam. About his
capture.
DAHR
What’s that?
HAMOUDI
There were negotiations between the Kurdish militia,
mediated by Jalal Talabani.
DAHR
How do you know this?
HAMOUDI
Common knowledge. It was a botched kidnapping
because the Kurds stole him from Saddam’s
(MORE)
35.
HAMOUDI (CONT'D)
bodyguard, Mohammed Ibrahim Omar al Muslit, who
initially contacted U.S. forces about exchanging
Saddam for the reward. After his last audio speech in
November, Saddam was drugged and kept in a sealed
hole. It was Kosrat Rassul, head of the PUK and
deputy to Talabani who worked with those close to
Saddam in Tikrit, so he could negotiate a trade with
Al-Muslit for a ransom. But it was a trick.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – PRESIDENT BUSH ADDRESSES NATION ON THE CAPTURE

OF SADDAM HUSSEIN – (WHITE HOUSE VIDEO DECEMBER 14, 2003)
PRESIDENT BUSH
Good afternoon. Yesterday, December 13th, at around
8:30 p.m. Baghdad time, United States military forces
captured Saddam Hussein alive. He was found near a
farmhouse outside the city of Tikrit, in a swift raid
conducted without casualties. And now the former
dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to
millions.
TAXI - CONTINUOUS
DAHR
But he was found by US forces hiding in a spider hole.
HAMOUND
Yes, in Adwar, where he was kept sedated. Saddam
was not hiding. He was a prisoner of Al-Muslits.
And…
ON TAXI DRIVER
DRIVER
Saddam’s capture was first announced from Tehran. I
was at Saddam’s favorite café in Baghdad when the
Tehran news reported, “Saddam Hussein was captured
by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.” A special
intelligence unit led by Qusrat Rasul Ali, a high-
ranking member of the PUK, found Saddam Hussein in
the city of Tikrit, his birthplace.
HAMOUND
The opening to the hole was sealed by a concrete block
and camouflaged with mud. There was no way Saddam
(MORE)
36.
HAMOUND (CONT'D)
could have climbed out without someone removing
the covering or anyone finding it, without being told
exactly where it was.
TAXI DRIVER
And his pistol… it wasn’t loaded.
DAHR
And the money found on him?
HAMOUND
The seven-hundred thousand in Benjamin’s? The
PUK’s payment to Al Muslit to turn over Saddam. But
the PUK betrayed his trust, and tipped off the
Americans, after the $25 million was transferred into a
PUK’s Iranian bank account.
DAHR
Then, Saddam wasn’t captured by any U.S. or British
military intelligence.
HAMOUND
Saddam was betrayed and drugged by his own
bodyguard. Typical Ba’athist.
DAHR
And kept in that spider hole while negotiations went on
between the Kikrit rebels, PUK and covertly with U.S.
intelligence.
HAMOUND
Talabani’s intelligence links in Iran short cut the
negotiating process.
DRIVER
But, then, who’ll believe your story? Remember, what
they said about you today in Samara?
CUT TO:
INT. AGADIR BREAKFAST ROOM - MORNING
Hotel guests mingle among the buffet. Dahr is seated by himself, eating breakfast. Across the
crowded room he notices an Iraqi man, ABU TALAT, (50ish) husky with an amiable
demeanor, animatedly talking to a Japanese journalist.
37.
For an instant, Dahr and Abu Talat eyes meet.
MOMENT’S LATER
As Dahr is walking out of the hotel’s breakfast room, Abu Talat catches up with him in the
hotel lobby.
ABU TALAT
Excuse me. I’ve seen you around here. Are you a
journalist?
DAHR
Yes. Independent.
ABU TALAT
I was just talking to a Japanese reporter about the
growing unrest in Fallujah. He doesn’t believe me.
DAHR
Do you have contacts?
ABU TALAT
I am a former Iraqi Army officer. I have connections.
I can take you where you want and protect you.
DAHR
I don’t have lots of money.
ABU TALAT
Do you want to report the truth?
DAHR
I want to write about what is happening to the
civilians.
ABU TALAT
We can begin whenever you are ready.
Abu Talat reaches for his wallet, and takes out a yellow wallet CARD.
FOCUS ON: U.S. PSYOPS WALLET CARD written in Arabic.
ABU TALAT
(smiling)
This is my new business card. It is asking for
information leading to anti-coalition forces. My phone
number is on the back.
38.
CUT TO:
EXT. FALLUJAH – DAY - TRAVELLING
Abu Talat is driving Dahr along the bustling streets of Fallujah.
DAHR (V.O.)
In a city where graffiti was once punishable by death,
the people’s attitudes have become the writing on the
wall.
-- The CAR drives by a crudely spray-painted graffiti on a wall that READS: CHALABI,
SYMBOL OF EMBEZZLEMENT.
INT./EXT. CAR – TRAVELING - CONTINUOUS
DAHR
(to Abu Talat)
We’re going to see the family of Sheikh Haji Baraket.
He’s a law professor, and has been detained at Abu
Ghraib prison for three months. The U.S. Commander
of Fallujah has agreed he is innocent, but they refuse to
release him.
EXT. HOME OF SHEIKH HAJI BARAKAT - LATER
Dahr is seated with the Sheik’s cousin, KHAMIS, (40ish) a nephew OMAR, (20ish), outside
under palm trees formally drinking tea. The lush green rural landscape belies the fact that Iraq
is a war ravaged country. They sit in the shadow of a magnificent mosque.
KHAMIS
Sheikh Haji Baraket is a great honorable man. The
Americans accused him of financing the resistance.
But even the Sheikh told the Americans his seven sons
are involved in the resistance. This doesn’t mean that
their father is guilty. But they have detained him
illegally anyway.
OMAR
The Americans came and smashed in the door of my
house, taking papers and passports, the manifest for the
family car and all the money in the house. They took
me to Abu Ghraib for interrogation.
39.
DAHR
How were you treated?
OMAR
I only saw a civilian. He had a German Shepard dog
and threatened to have it attack me.
KHAMIS
What was the speech Bush gave on the television,
Toward Freedom? It is more like toward civil war.
EXT. EUPHRATES RIVER - LATER
Dahr and Abu Talat are kneeling next to the river.
ABU TALAT
The Euphrates is the visible garment of God. My
father used to tell me that we could trace our lineage
back to Adam. You don’t believe me? You are
Lebanese. I think your ancestors have brought you
back to protect the cradle of humanity. Perhaps not,
but please cup your hands to cradle God… and taste
humanity for one sip makes the whole world one tribe
in your heart.
Dahr cups his hands into the river and sips the water, spilling it out of the sides of his mouth.
For a moment, Dahr scans the landscape of Iraq. The peaceful tranquility is disrupted by an
Apache helicopter flying low in the distance.
ABU TALAT
Enough. Let’s go eat some kabobs.
INT. CAFE - LATER
Dahr and Abu Talat are seated at a table.
DAHR
So let me get this straight. The Sheikh and his thirteen
brothers all fled after being tortured by Saddam for
standing up against him. After the Americans invaded
Iraq, the Sheikh and one of his brothers returned from
Saudi Arabia where they were seeking refuge. Now the
Sheikh and his brother sit in Abu Ghraib, detained by
the Americans.
40.
ABU TALAT
That is because coalition forces believe that this was
Saddam’s stronghold. But they selected Taha Bidaywi
Hamed, a pro-American tribal leader to be in charge
after Saddam was overthrown. The coalition victory
polarized a combative confrontation with the Fallujans.
If they had just respected their wishes to keep the
military on the outskirts of the city, to respect this holy
ground.
DAHR
Seventeen Iraqis were killed, about eighty wounded,
protesting the occupation of the school. The U.S.
military reported there were armed insurgents in the
crowd.
ABU TALAT
(heatedly)
It is a lie. They wanted the military to leave, because
this is a 1,500-year-old holy city. Is nothing sacred to
Americans, except their arrogance?
A WAITER brings kabobs. The Waiter eyes Abu Talat suspiciously. Abu Talat avoids
looking at him. Dahr notices the tension between them. The Waiter lays a leaflet on the table,
written in Arabic. (PSYOPS Task Force 20 Leaflet IZG-7525)
Abu Talat wants to ignore it. Dahr doesn’t.
DAHR
What does it say?
A BEAT.
ABU TALAT
Avenge the murder of Hamas.
(beat)
Ten Iraqi police in three cars chasing bandits were shot
by U.S. soldiers, fearing they were insurgents planning
a suicide car attack.
DAHR
(looks at watch)
Come on, we still have time to meet Dr. Al-Ani at the
Ramadi hospital.
CUT TO:
41.
INT. RAMADI HOSPITAL – HALLWAY - DAY
Dahr is talking with, DR. AL-ANI, Assistant Director of the Ramadi Hospital, where dozens of
Iraqi casualties from an IED bombing are lined up on gurneys.
They stand next to the bed of MOHAMMED HAMMAD, (36) recovering from gun shot
wounds to the face, chest, and right leg.
MOHAMMED HAMMAD
I was riding in a taxi going from Ramadi to Khaldiya
when a roadside bomb hit a U.S. patrol.
Moving down the hallway they come upon a boy, YAS HAMMAD, (14) moaning in pain from
shrapnel wounds in his arm, chest and foot.
DR. AL-ANI
U.S. soldiers raided Yas Hammad parent’s home and
left a grenade. The next day he picked it up and it
exploded.
(beat)
I want you to meet Sheikh Turlki Muslu. He was
beaten by U.S. troops.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – MOMENT LATER
Dr. Al-Ani and Dahr stand next to the bed of SHEIKH TURLKI MUSLU, bandaged from
wounds received after being beaten on the head, chest, shoulders, and legs.
-- SPORADIC M-16 GUNFIRE O.C.
Dahr reacts to take cover.
DR. AL-ANI
No, No. It’s ok. They are American soldiers on the
roof shooting bottles for target practice. I wish they
would stop, it’s too stressful for my heart patients.
Dahr looks anxious. Uncertain.
DR. AL-ANI (CONT’D)

Sheikh Turlki Muslu, I want you to meet Dahr Jamail.
He is a journalist, writing about the injustices. You
can trust him.
Sheikh Turlki Muslu sits up, groaning in pain, barely able to shake Dahr’s hand.
42.

(to Dahr)
On top of this, he is diabetic.
The Sheikh nods YES and slumps back down on the bed.

Have you received your insulin shot?
The Sheikh motions to Dr. Al-Ani that he wants to talk to Dahr.
-- MORE SPORADIC M-16 O.C.
SHEIKH TURLKI MUSLU

(Dr. Al-Ani translates)
Two weeks ago the Americans came and asked me to
give them names of resistance fighters. I don’t know
any resistance fighters. We were always against
Saddam here. They roughed me up some, than said
they would come back in a week and I’d better have
some names. They came back a week ago, sent my
family outside and locked the door.
-- RELATIVES enter the Sheikh’s room, bringing lunch. Muslim greetings.
SHEIKH TURLKI MUSLU (CONT’D)

I told them I don’t know any names, so they tied my
hands, put a bag over my head, and took me away in
an armored vehicle. They beat me on my head, neck,
shoulders and chest. They kicked my legs. They took
me home and told me they could kill me. I told them I
just don’t know anyone they are looking for, because
I’m not in the resistance. They said they would come
back.
-- Relatives take out a meal of meat, rice and salads, flat bread.
SHEIKH TURLKI MUSLU (CONT’D)

Please, Dahr stay and eat with us.
DAHR
It would be my pleasure.
MOMENT’S LATER, a MALE RELATIVE of the Sheikh’s speaks up…

43.
MALE RELATIVE
The Sheikh is in charge of 30,000 men. What are the
Americans thinking? Do they think we will not fight
them now? If this happens again, how will the Sheikh
keep his men from fighting? What will his 30,000
people do when they find out he has been beaten?
DR. AL-ANI
He is not the only Sheikh here who has had similar
experiences. Do you want to meet him?
DAHR
Of course.
INT. HOSPITAL – LOWER LEVEL – MOMENTS LATER
Dahr and Dr. Al-Ani walk down a hallway lined with twenty IRAQI MEN, waiting outside of a
room. A grave, solemn mood fills the air.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Dahr and Dr. Al-Ani enter the hospital room of SHEIKH MUHAMMAD NASSIR ALI,
heavily bandaged after receiving a severe beating. A handful of IRAQI MEN stand around the
bed.
When Dr. Al-Ani enters, Sheikh Nassir Ali tries to rise up, but is in too much pain to move.
DR. AL-ANI
(in Arabic; subtitled English)
Please, relax. This is Dahr Jamail… he has been
talking to your cousin upstairs. Could you speak with
him for a moment?
Sheikh Nassir Ali obliges Dahr, weakly waves off his visitors in the room for the moment.
They hesitate to leave. The Sheikh gives them a nod of reassurance.
SHEIKH NASSIR ALI

(Dr. Al-Ani translates)
The Americans should not be using force on us. We
would welcome them if they treated us with respect
and dignity. Instead, they are humiliating and
infuriating us. Why are they taking our freedom? My
people are ready to do what they need to do here.
44.
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY – MOMENT LATER
As Dahr and Dr. Al-Ani enter the hallway, the Sheikh’s men waiting outside rush into the
Sheikh’s room
From down the hallway, DR. RHAMI BARKI, comes running up to Dr. Al-Ani and Dahr.
DR. AL-ANI
Dr. Rhami Barki, this is Mr. Dahr Jamail. He is a
journalist.
DR. RHAMI BARKI

Mr. Jamail. Dr. Al-Ani, the Americans sealed off
Khaldiya yesterday. What are we going to do with
emergency cases? The entire city was sealed from five
p.m. yesterday until this morning! Are ambulances
aren’t allowed inside. Where are our human rights?
Dr. Al-Ani, Dahr and Dr. Barki stare up at the hallway ceiling.
DR. AL-ANI
There’s our human rights.
CUT TO:
INT. AGADIR HOTEL - DAY
Dahr, JOANNA, (20ish) with the British Occupation Watch; DAVID ENDERS, (20ish) with
the American Occupation Watch, and Abu Talat are seated together in the hotel lobby.
JOANNA
We have reports of the killing of civilian’s Ibrahim
Oday, his brother and cousin in Ramadi by U.S. forces.
DAVID
The men were executed…
JOANNA
Shot in the back of the head…
DAHR
How can you be sure?
DAVID
The death certificate issued claims shrapnel killed
them.
45.
JOANNA
But the doctor performing the autopsies failed to sign
the death certificates.
ABU TALAT
I can take you to Ramadi. You know where the family
lives.
DAVID
Yes.
DAHR
Abu Talat, you have enough gas?
ABU TALAT
(winking)
What do you think is beneath the sand of Iraq?
INT./EXT. CAR - BAGHDAD
Abu Talat driving, with Joanna, Dahr and David. Stuck in a TRAFFIC JAM. Ahead we can
see that CPA forces have closed down side roads adding to the congestion of a long line of cars
waiting to fuel at a gas station.
ABU TALAT
(frustrated)
Iraq had a proud army, the envy of Arab countries.
The Americans displaced the Iraqi soldiers, with no
income, no work. Do you know how many Iraqis have
been killed in all these wars? Do you know how many
died because of sanctions? Do you think this is the
resistance you are seeing? This is not the resistance.
The resistance is keeping medicine, gas and electricity
from us.
CUT TO:
INT. RAMADI – FAMILY HOME - BATHROOM
WE SEE a ransacked home. The walls of the bathroom are stained with dried blood. Dahr,
Joanna and David stand amid the gruesome scene, with IRAQI FAMILY MEMBERS behind
them.
IRAQI FAMILY MEMBER ONE

We had exited the house before the Americans arrived,
storming the house with guns blazing. They killed
four of their own.
46.
AN IRAQI FAMILY MEMBER points out hundreds of bullet holes in the walls of the house.
IRAQI FAMILY MEMBER TWO

When the Americans realize their mistake, they shot
three of our family in the back of the head.

Outside, there in the mud. Face down. Handcuffed.
ON IRAQI FAMILY MEMBER ONE
Pointing through the open front door.

The doctor was forced to write out the death
certificates, while the armed soldiers stood over him.
-- Ibrahim’s only SON, (9) stares vacantly at Dahr, Joanna and David.
-- Many curious CHILDREN have started to crowd around them as they move through the
house.
-- A SMALL CHILD CRIES O.C.
JOANNA
(to Iraqi Family Member One)
Can Mrs. Oday sign a power of representation? We
want to open up a case with the British government
concerning the death of these men.

It’s not possible. She is hysterical with grief. No one
can visit her today.
Another IRAQI FAMILY MEMBER leads Dahr, Joanna and David into another part of the
house, where a PASTRY CAKE sits upon a partially demolished table.

After they killed three of our family in front of us, the
next day the soldiers bring us a cake to say they are
sorry.
LONG FOCUS ON: PASTRY CAKE
MATCH DISSOLVE TO:

47.
INT. BAGHDAD - RESTAURANT - NIGHT
A CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE. Dahr’s birthday celebration. The restaurant table is

filled with pastries, lit candles and gifts; attended by Joanna, David, Ahmed, ATILLA, (30ish)
Hungarian journalist, and BRUCE, (30ish), Israeli journalist.
BRUCE
(to Dahr)
As a recently exiled journalist with Israel’s ISM for
reporting the truth, this rogue band of unembedded,
meaning we haven’t been laid since we arrived in Iraq,
a present for you, Dahr, the coveted and highly
esteemed Unembedded Journalist Trophy… drum roll
please.
Everyone pats their hands on the table top drumming to a climatic pitch.
Bruce reaches into the center of the table to pick up a package wrapped in tissue paper. He
hands it to Dahr, seated at the head of the table.
Dahr ceremoniously tears off the wrapping to reveal a…
STUFFED DONKEY.
BRUCE
You have been elected our new president of the…
ALL
Donkey Resistance Movement. The DRM.
DAHR
(impressed)
Whose idea was this?
DAVID
Hell, your neighborhood donkey, remember? The one
that lived across the street?
JOANNA
The donkey the police followed home after they
suspected it fired missiles on the Palestinian and
Sheridan hotels from its cart.
BRUCE
And now for the DRM anthem. Press it, Dahr.
Dahr squeezes the Stuffed Donkey. It plays an obnoxious ARAB POP SONG.
48.
EVERYONE MOCKS THE TUNE.
DAHR
I guess this makes me the head… jackass.
LAUGHTER.
ALL
(hands fanning from ears)
Hee Haw. Hee Haw. Hee Haw.
JOANNA
And, now that you have the bloody honor of being
head jackass…
DAVID
Of the Donkey Resistance Movement…
JOANNA
You have been given the privilege to quarter with Paul
Bremer and the IGC who sleep in Kuwait each night,
returning to work in Baghdad by day…
DAVID
And a hundred shares of Halliburton stock that should
make you a king’s ransom.
ATILLA
Considering the Iraqi’s have to import their benzene
from American corporations.
BRUCE
And your own private military escort, of course.
DAHR
And I get to wear combat boots, like Paul Bremer?
AHMED
(modestly)
I don’t have combat boots, but I hope you will accept
my gift.
The Group’s mood shifts to endearing sentiment.
-- Ahmed gracefully hands Dahr a beautifully wrapped package.
-- Dahr takes the gift honorably. Upon opening it he discovers it to be an…

49.
IRAQI KEFIR SCARF.
-- Everyone is visibly moved by the gift from Ahmed.
-- Dahr puts on the Iraqi Kefir. Everyone says, “Salaam Aleikum.”
DAHR
(to Ahmed)
Shukian Jazeelan.
Affectionately, they start to sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY, tat ends rather raucously.
LATER
ON AHMED AND DAHR
AHMED
I must tell you that my friend, a driver for CNN,
Yasser Khatab, connected me up as a translator with
them.
A BEAT.
DAHR
That’s great. I am sad to lose you Ahmed, but you
earned this.
AHMED
Abu Talat will watch out for you.
DAHR
So you will be an embed.
AHMED
(laughter)
With a thousand virgins, god willing.
DAHR
Insh’Allah. See you on the front lines.
They embrace.
CUT TO:
INT. AGADIR HOTEL – ROOM - NIGHT
Dahr, wearing the Kefir, is typing at his laptop under a single ceiling light bulb. The stuffed
DONKEY is nearby.
50.
-- REPETITIOUS LOUD THUMPING EXPLOSIONS O.C.
-- SIRENS WAIL O.C.
-- RETALIATORY HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE O.C.
-- THE THUNDERING OF HELICOPTER ROTOR BLADES OVERHEAD O.C.
-- MILITARY VEHICLES ROARING DOWN THE STREET BENEATH THE HOTEL O.C.
-- TANKS GUNNING THEIR ENGINES – TREADS GRINDING O.C.
DAHR (V.O.)
It is past midnight as I type… the main U.S. base in
Baghdad was just attacked.
Atilla, unshaven, soiled shirt, boozy gait, barrages into Dahr’s apartment.
ATILLA
(robust)
They are attacking the U.S. base. I saw the explosions
from the rooftop.
-- MACHINE GUN FIRE UNDER DAHR’S APARTMENT WINDOW O.C.
DAHR
Don’t stand so close to me, Atilla, you stink.
Atilla stumbles over to the window and peers out the curtains.
ATILLA
(boasting)
Just like in Bosnia, censorship by gun. Those are rules
of engagement.
DAHR
Atilla, I’m trying to write.
-- MORE EXPLOSIONS O.C.
ATILLA
(back to Dahr)
I would jump toward grenades to get pictures. I was
sprayed by bodies blood mist blown up by bombs,
watching soldiers kicking dead bodies like a soccer
ball, mothers cut down by snipers.
Atilla eyes the Donkey. Squeezes it. Dahr gets up from his table.
51.
ATILLA
Ah, you jackass, you play such nice music.
DAHR
(taking Donkey from Atilla)
Atilla. Please leave.
ATILLA
I’m hungry. Can you spare some cash?
DAHR
(annoyed)
Ok, you have a pack of cigarettes?
ATILLA
Atilla always has cigarettes for bribes.
DAHR
Fine. I’ll give you ten bucks, for the pack of cigarettes,
but you will pay me back twenty.
ATILLA
(taking pack of cigs from his shirt
pocket)
This is good bribe.
Dahr takes out his wallet and hands Atilla a ten-dollar bill in exchange for the cigarette pack.
ATILLA (CONT’D)
I repay you.
Atilla starts to leave.
DAHR
On second thought, you still owe me ten dollars from
last week, so I will make it easy for you.
ATILLA
Easy? I like easy.
DAHR
You give me the ten bucks I just gave you, then you
will only owe me ten, not thirty.
Atilla contemplates this a moment in his drunken haze.
ATILLA
That is easy.
52.
He hands the ten-dollar bill back to Dahr.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAGHDAD – SHERATON/PALESTINE HOTEL COMPOUND - DAY
WE SEE a GRAY BLAST SCAR beneath the letters ‘T’ and ‘O’ on the Sheraton SIGN. All
about the front ENTRANCE are coils of RAZOR WIRE.
-- Dahr walking to the entrance where an IRAQI GUARD stands.
-- Dahr is challenged to show his PRESS ID.
IRAQI GUARD
Before Americans turned this hotel into a compound
with their tanks and razor wire, we were never a target.
I have to have this job, how else can I feed my family?
What else can I do? Now we are getting hit.
The Iraqi Hotel Guard points to a nearby apartment complex. A huge blast hole on the sixth
floor.
DAHR’S POV
Looking at the line of trajectory.
Outside the apartment building a group of IRAQI MEN mill about in the parking lot. Talking.
Smoking. The air is tense.
-- A THRONG of BOYS exit the apartment building, crossing the street to Dahr.
As Dahr peers through his CAMERA viewfinder and sees an IRAQI BOY running up to him.
IRAQI BOY
Where are the Americans? Why did they not come
here? People here were injured, and no one at the
hotel was even hurt?
Suddenly, Dahr’s attention is caught by an outburst of a CHANTING demonstration down the

street in a city square.
Iraqi MEN are holding BANNERS written in Arabic.
ON DEMONSTRATORS
ALL
(chanting)
Mujahadi Khalk Iran.
53.
EXT. SQUARE - CONTINUOUS
Western news CREWS are confronted by angry MEN thrusting their fists and yelling in Arabic
(subtitled English): WE’VE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
In front of them is an M-1 TANK. The CANNON pointed directly at the demonstrators.
From out of the crowd, Ahmed, carrying a still camera, emerges with a CNN news crew. He
sees Dahr. Waves.
ON DAHR AND AHMED
AHMED
They’re angry because the IGC voted them out of Iraq.
DAHR
Tribal politics.
The Mujahadi Khalk Iran group chants louder while marching down a side street toward a
building their group occupies.
-- DEAFENING GUNFIRE ERRUPTS ECHING OFF THE BUILDINGS O.C.
ANGLE ON: Dahr ducking down as Iraqi Police fire their KALASHNIKOV’S in the air trying
to restore order.
-- Above them, Iraqi MEN are indiscriminately shooting from the building’s apartment
windows in the b.g.
-- An IRAQI POLICEMAN waves up at the men shooting from the building to stop.
-- MORE GUNFIRE ERRUPTS around Dahr and Ahmed.
-- TWO U.S. HUMVEES ARRIVE ON THE PERIMETER.
WE SEE a MAN chased by several IRAQI POLICEMEN down a side street between slow
moving street traffic.
A pudgy IRAQI POLICEMAN sprays bullets from his Kalashnikov over the man’s head
ricocheting off the side of buildings. Bullets hit the man, fatally wounding him.
ON AHMED
Taking photographs. His CNN PRESS PASS is clearly visible. Dahr is taking pictures in the
b.g.
54.
-- A SODA CAN bounces off the pavement at Ahmed’s feet, bursting open and spraying him
with soda.
ON A HUMVEE ROOFTOP GUNNER
U.S. SOLDIER
Get the fuck out of here, ya tango.
DAHR’S POV
of the U.S. SOLDIER aiming the Humvee’s MACHINE GUN directly on Ahmed.
Ahmed slowly starts to back away. Then…
ANOTHER U.S. SOLDIER (O.C.)

They’re embeds.
(comes into view)
You can’t talk to them that way. Knock it off.
-- Ahmed, reassured, continues in the chaotic GUNFIRE and HOVERING APACHE

HELICOPTERS, crisscrossing above the street demonstration.
-- Amid all the THUNDERING HELICOPTER NOISE, SPORADIC GUNFIRE and

ROARING TANK and HUMVEE ENGINES, Dahr focuses his camera when…
A HAND GRASPS his SHOULDER.
Dahr spins around to SEE…
The OLD HAGGARD BEGGER, much weaker.
OLD HAGGARD BEGGAR

(oblivious to the gunfire)
Salaam Aleikum.
-- BEHIND HIM WE SEE GRAFFITTI: WHERE ARE THE HUMAN RIGHTS?
-- BULLETS PEPPER THE WALL BEHIND THE OLD HAGGARD BEGGAR.
ANGLE ON: Dahr lying on the street. Looks up amazed that the Old Haggard Beggar wasn’t
hit.
DAHR
Merry Christmas, old man.
Ahmed comes running over to Dahr.
AHMED
Dahr?
55.
DAHR
(getting up)
I’m ok.
-- ON THE IMAGE of a stenciled airbrushed Iraq family. Bullet HOLES pock the
CONCRETE WALL.
AHMED
Art conquers chaos.
CUT TO:
EXT. SHERATON AND PALESTINE HOTEL COMPOUND - DAY
Mangy DOG eating out of a huge pile of garbage.
WE SEE Dahr walking beneath the two tan monoliths with chunks blasted out of their exterior
by rocket attacks.
EXT. SECURITY GATE - CONTINUOUS
Dahr, carrying an oversized BACKPACK, is searched by IRAQI SECURITY GUARDS at the

first GATE. U.S. SOLDIERS stand nearby, nervously watching every person queuing up.
Dahr, looking around, sees U.S. soldiers questioning the OLD HAGGARD BEGGAR across
the street.
-- The Old Haggard Beggar is forced to lay down on his stomach, zipped cuff then hauled off to
a Humvee.
But a one moment, the Old Haggard Beggar’s eyes meet Dahr’s.
TIME CUT:
Dahr makes his way through concrete blocks and coils of razor wire, three deep to deter suicide
car bombers. BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES are parked in the b.g.
Dahr walks along side an M-1 TANK where he turns left to enter the Palestine Hotel.
WE FOLLOW Dahr through the doors…
INT. PALESTINE HOTEL LOBBY – MOMENTS LATER
Western tourism plush lifestyle in the LOBBY of polished marble floors and ornate Middle
Eastern decor. If not for the swarm of corporate JOURNALISTS wearing flack jackets and
military helmets coming and going, one would be deceived that this was a war zone.
56.
-- Easy listening western pop MUSIC plays.
ANGLE ON: Dahr scans the scene, spying a Western Journalist sheepishly holding a brown
paper BAG that obviously contains booze, than saunters over to a vacant chair.
Emotionally bruised and batter, Dahr slumps down in an overstuffed chair emotionally
crumpled up and habitually takes out a cigarette and smokes.
MOMENT LATER
From across the lobby, Ahmed approaches, ashen faced.
Taking a seat next to Dahr, Ahmed covers his face with his hands in anguish.
DAHR
(sigh)
Ahmed.
Dahr leans forward.
DAHR
What did you see? Hear?
AHMED
My friend, Yasser Khatab, the CNN driver was killed
on his way back from Mahmoudiya today.
(beat)
It was an ambush.
DAHR
I’m sorry for his loss… your loss.
AHMED
I should have been with him.
DAHR
What do you mean?
AHMED
Another translator for CNN, Duraid Isa Mohammed,
took my place. He was killed, too.
(beat)
Dahr, it’s not safe for you to return. Stay in America.
WE PULL back to an overview of the hotel lobby, contrasting the hotel guests gaiety with
Ahmed and Dahr overwrought.
FADE TO:
57.
BLACK SCREEN
SUPERIMPOSE: APRIL - JUNE 2004
EXT. SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE RAMADI - IRAQ - DAY
A CAPRICE zooms down the highway at over a hundred miles per hour under the desert sun.
A loaming sand storm is the distance.
DAHR (V.O.)
I didn’t take Ahmed’s advice. After a brief sabbatical
stateside, I returned to Iraq, crossing the Jordanian
border with another journalist named Rahul.
INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
Dahr, RAHUL, (30ish) Middle Eastern appearance and an Iraqi bearded DRIVER, (40ish).
The CAR plows through the SAND STORM.
DAHR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
This time, the ride was a bit more precarious as
security conditions in Iraq had deteriorated.
TIME CUT:
-- A large U.S. MILITARY MUNITIONS CONVOY loams up in front of them, parked along
the road.
-- It is guarded by hundreds of U.S. troops, hyper vigilant for an attack by insurgents.
INT./EXT. CAR
Driver frantically makes a quick detour to avoid the convoy.
EXT. HIGHWAY – MOMENT’S LATER
The Caprice tries to get back on the main highway, but an old beat up OPEL stops in front of
them, filled with menacing and heavily armed ALI BABA’s.
Suddenly, an old model CHEVY quickly approaches from behind to block the Caprice from
behind.
INT./EXT. CAPRICE - CONTINUOUS
DAHR
It’s a trap.
58.
EXT. CAPRICE - CONTINUOUS
The Driver pulls off a three-point turn to get to another entry onto the highway. CLOUDS of
sand dust engulf the Caprice.
The commotion sets off a hail of GUNFIRE O.C.
INT./EXT. CAPRICE
The DRIVER points back at the two cars.
DRIVER
(terrified)
Ali-Baba.
RAHUL
Well, they certainly aren’t missionaries.
INT./EXT. CAPRICE - LATER
Dahr, Rahul and the Driver, feeling relieved to have escaped the thieves.
Catching their breath. Smiling. Then…
EXT. HIGHWAY – MOMENT’S LATER
A black beat up TOYOTA PICKUP is parked along side of the road, just outside of Ramadi.
Three MEN are seated in the cab. Two MEN in the back armed with AK-47’s.
INT. CAPRICE – SAME TIME
DRIVER
(pointing to Toyota)
Ali-Baba, this car.
EXT. HIGHWAY - CONTINUOUS
The Ali-Baba Toyota, spinning its tires in the desert sand, takes off in hot pursuit of the
Caprice.
INT. CAPRICE - CONTINUOUS
RAHUL
Don’t let them catch us.
59.
Dahr and Rahul nervously look back at the Ali-Baba Toyota.
In the next moment…
DAHR
We’re losing them.
DRIVER
Look.
WE SEE a U.S. MILITARY CONVOY parked around a sandbagged roadblock in the f.g.
RAHUL
We’re fucking dead either way.
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF FALLUJAH – CONTINUOUS
Heavily fortified U.S. Military roadblock loams directly ahead. Along the highway shoulder
parades a long stream of Iraqi refugees.
DAHR (V.O.)
The second time I came back to Iraq, the U.S. military
had already initiated Operation Vigilant Resolve upon
Fallujah. I had entered hell’s inferno.
EXT. TOYOTA - CONTINUOUS
The Thieves in the back of the Toyota open fire with their AK-47’S at the Caprice.
Alerted, U.S. Soldier’s fire off a couple of M-16 rounds in the air as warning shots.
ON DRIVER
DRIVER
(split second)
I know a side road.
DAHR
For chrissakes, go!
-- AK-47 BULLETS shatter the Caprice’s back WINDOW.

60.
EXT. HIGHWAY – SAME TIME
-- A HAIL OF MILITARY WEAPONS FIRE OPEN UP FROM THE SAND BAGGED

ROAD BLOCK
The Caprice just barely escapes the crossfire, careening down a narrow side street.
Refugees run screaming away from the road’s shoulder.
The Toyota drives directly into the military roadblock’s firepower, causing it to crash off the
road and EXPLODES.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. CAR
Wildly driving around the outskirts of Fallujah. Down alleys. Side streets.
DAHR (V.O.)
As the world knew by now, four Blackwater USA
private military contractors were victims to what
Arab’s call “shel”, in retaliation for the assassination of
Palestinian Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by
Israel.
The Caprice drives past Iraqi MUJAHEDEEN, banishing AK-47’s.
ON DRIVER
DRIVER
This is too dangerous. I don’t want to die.
-- The Driver takes a side alley. Slams on the brakes. Gets out.
RAHUL
What the fuck you doing? You agreed to take us to
Baghdad.
-- He opens Dahr’s side door. We see fresh bullet HOLES.
-- Dahr braces himself to put up a fight.
-- The Driver reaches across Dahr to take a towel from the backseat floor.
61.
-- The Driver takes a SUNSHIELD COVER with a graphic of an American Eagle from
underneath the front seat, walks around to Rahul’s side and puts it in the rear shot out window.
He throws the towel at Rahul.
DAHR
Rahul, you’re bleeding.
Rahul is bleeding about his neck and shoulder.
RAHUL
It’s nothing. Just get us to Baghdad.
The DRIVER jumps back in the front seat.
DRIVER
Please cover your faces.
Dahr wraps his Kefir about his face, and then assists Rahul, checking his wounds.
MOMENT LATER
They drive past a U.S. PSYOP HUMVEE, blaring out warnings in Arabic through the rooftop
speakers.
LOUDSPEAKER VOICE
(Arabic; subtitle English)
You shoot like a goatherd. May all the ambulances in
Fallujah have enough fuel to pick up the bodies of the
mujahadeen.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP BUSH, BLAIR; FUTURE OF IRAQ IN PRESS CONFERENCE

(APRIL 16, 2004)
EXT: WHITE HOUSE ROSE GARDEN - DAY
BLAIR
Thank you very much, Mr. President. George and
Laura, thank you very much for welcoming myself and
Cherie back to the White House.
(splice time cut)
We have resistance now by assorted terrorists in
Fallujah, by supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf.
We shall deal with both with the right balance of
firmness in the face of terror and a clear offer to all
people in Iraq, including those who might be tempted
to support lawbreaking.
62.
CUT TO:
INT. AL-ADHAMIYA – COFFEE SHOP - DAY
U.S. SOLDIERS, at gunpoint round up thirty-five MEN, among them teenagers.
DAHR (V.O.)
Al-Adamiyah has been the target of the occupation.
EXT. COFFEE SHOP - CONTINUOUS
Among them are WOMEN, all of which are LINED UP in broad daylight. The men’s hands
are clasped behind their heads. Some soldier’s point the barrels of their M-16’s at the captive’s
faces.
HUMVEES and TANKS in the b.g.
DAHR (V.O.)
Al-Adamiyah stands as the symbol of the Sunni, where
the most essential Muslim mosque, Abu Hanifa,
stands.
ANGLE ON: IRAQI WOMAN
As a U.S. SOLDIER rips off her HIJAB (hair cover), disgracing her.
DAHR (V.O.) (CONT’D)

More importantly, Al-Adamiyah is the symbol of
“Kholmi” that represents one united Arab nation.
CUT TO:
INT. BAGHDAD CAFE - DAY
DAHR and ABU TALAT seated at a table. Continuing conversation.
ABU TALAT
All the people in the Sunni Triangle simply cannot
accept a foreigner occupier in their home, because this
is holy ground. All Iraqis may not share this belief, but
they have given this timeless respect.
DAHR
The bedrock for all Islam traditions and customs for
the Sunni?
63.
ABU TALAT
Such as the bride and groom’s hands are painted with
henna the night before the wedding ceremony. People
of Al-Adamiyah don’t consider themselves a part of
Baghdad. They speak of Baghdad as “the city.”
Others say they only can breath in Al-Adamiyah where
the air is pure.
DAHR
Then U.S. forces are using collective punishment to
break the will of Al-Adamiyah?
ABU TALAT
While I was in the Iraq army, I heard of spies with Iraq
Red Crescent sent into Al-Adamiyah as a psyops
operation for such purposes.
DAHR
Abu Talat, I must go. I have a radio interview to do
over the phone in an hour.
ABU TALAT
There is someone I want you to meet. She is a good
contact. Perhaps later?
DAHR
Of course. Later.
ABU TALAT
If she’s still alive.
CUT TO:
INT. BAGHDAD – CAFÉ - LATER
At a table, Dahr, Abu Talat and AISHA DULAIMY, (30ish) strong facial Arab features that is
emblematic of Iraqi culture. She speaks excellent English. Middle Eastern music plays in the
b.g.
AISHA
So what plots are you going to give to our reality in
your stories, Mr. Jamail?
DAHR
Plots?
64.
AISHA
Propaganda plots.
DAHR
I am not a member of the “coalition of the willing” if
that’s your point about plots.
AISHA
The plots are desecration of our holy mosques, Bush’s
proclamation Toward Freedom, but then profiteering
from our resources. Does Bush think we are so
grateful that we would beat our own brother to death
for him?
DAHR
I don’t think so.
AISHA
Here are your president’s propaganda plots.
Aisha reaches into her handbag and produces a batch of leaflets.
-- 1) “We are Protecting Iraq’s Future. Let us come Together”
-- 2) “Baghdad Now” Newspaper (published by the 1st Armored Division)
-- 3) “No matter where you run, no matter where you hide, Coalition Special Operations Forces
will find you and bring you to justice.” Superimposed on graphic of two steely green eyes
-- 4) British Leaflet HO86 – depicts a photograph taken in Basra with Black Watch Captain
Tim Petransky telling a young Iraqi boy and girl the time of day
-- 5) Leaflet IZD3507a – black and white printed on both sides depicting a radio antenna at the
center and radios at the right and left giving station information as a consolidation leaflet
-- 6) IZD-024 –“The coalition is here to put an end to the oppression caused by Saddam and his
regime”
-- 7) IZD – 057 – “Do not risk your life and the lives of your comrades! Leave now and Go
Home… Watch your children learn, grow, and prosper”
-- 8) IZD-7509 – [Picture of Saddam Hussein] “Our fight is against Saddam and his regime –
Not the Iraqi People. We wish only to liberate the people of Iraq from Saddam’s tyranny. For
your safety, return to your homes and live in peace.”
DAHR
Empty rhetoric.
65.
AISHA
There was a time when Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria,
Palestine, and Egypt were confused by the conflict of
Magian mysticism, Jewish conservatism and Christian
intolerance.
ABU TALAT
Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam all share references to a savior
of humanity. They all share scriptures instructing
compassion over hatred towards one another.
AISHA
The Jews believe in one God, Prophet Muhammad
discarded 360 gods and goddesses housed in the holy
shrine of Ka’bah. Jesus infuriated the Jews by
teaching in their synagogues; Muhammad infuriated
Mecca by claiming one god. Jesus preached peace and
enlightenment; Muhammad was tortured and
persecuted for preaching nonviolence.
ABU TALAT
In the Quran it says, we ordained, for the Children of
Israel, that if anyone slew a person – unless it be for
murder of for spreading mischief in the land – it would
be as if he slew the whole people. And if anyone
saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the
whole people.
AISHA
If not, just as in ancient times, we give in to our
common human weakness, regardless of the social
condition… to murder one another, the seduction of
Beelzebub.
Aisha casts a long look at Abu Talat. She pulls out one more leaflet (IZD – 070):
INSERT LEAFLET:
-- On the front it pictures an oil refinery with a father and child at the upper left. The text is in
Arabic (“The oil industry is your livelihood! Your family depends on your livelihood.”) The
back of the leaflet depicts an Iraqi family looking at a burning oil refinery. The text is in
Arabic (“If the oil industry is destroyed, your livelihood will be RUINED! Help to prevent the
sabotage of the Iraqi oil industry! Your family depends on it!”)
66.
AISHA
(to Dahr)
For anyone who wants to defend this country, the
Americans make them look like traitors to Bush’s war
on terrorism.
DAHR
Apostates.
AISHA
Fitting for a kleptocratic regime.
Abu Talat looks at Aisha to shift the topic. Aisha draws a long breath to gain composure.
AISHA
Abu Talat has asked me to take you to Muqtada al-
Sadr’s Madhi stronghold in Sadr so you can be more
informed. But we must hurry. Coalition forces are
preparing a siege.
CUT TO:
INT. SADR’S SHU’ALLA OFFICE - DAY
Imam Mehdi Army Headquarters. Dahr and Aisha are seated among several MADHI
SOLDIERS and ASSAD TURKEY SUARI. There are PICTURES of Muqtada Al-Sadr all
about the office. A non-stop stream of armed men are being ordered where to go post
themselves in preparation for a imminent U.S. military siege.
ASSAD TURKEY SUARI

Al-Sadr’s followers demonstrated in the thousands
protesting the closing of the Al-Hawza newspaper.
The Americans ignored the peaceful protests as if we
were dogs, so al-Sadr urged the dogs to bite back.
Iraqi people will defend themselves because
Americans call us terrorists. We are not terrorists.
MADHI SOLDIER
Americans are killing women and children. Our case
is the same as that of the Palestine people.
DAHR
But what do you plan to do? You only have guns and
mortars. They’ll tear you to shreds.
67.
ASSAD TURKEY SUARI

I was in the intifada in 1991 against Saddam, an officer
in the Iraqi Army. While the fighters were advancing
on Baghdad to overthrow Saddam, American aircraft
flew in the south to protect Saddam’s choppers when
they were attacking us. This happened in Hilla, Najaf
and Diwaniyah. I saw it with my own eyes. So I left
the army and ran from Saddam. I stand with Muqtada
al-Sadr, and the Imam Mehdi Army. Ayad Allawi and
his Iraqi Interim Government is a traitor to his people.
Al-Sadr is hojatolislam.
(beat)
As the uprising has started in Fallujah, so it will be in
Najaf.
INT./EXT. SADR OFFICE – MOMENTS LATER
As Dahr and Aisha walk out of the office a MADHI SOLDIER walks past them, carrying a
MORTAR in a BAG, placing it in a parked truck.
ON DAHR AND AISHA
DAHR
I need to find out what is happening in Fallujah.
AISHA
I can get you information.
CUT TO:
EXT. AGADIR HOTEL - ROOF - NIGHT
Dahr, smoking, is talking on his SATELLITE PHONE.
DAHR
According to my sources hundreds of civilians were
seen heading towards a village just south of Fallujah,
which is under siege by the U.S. since Monday. When
U.S. Marines announced that civilians would be
allowed to leave, they refused to allow any Iraqi men
between 15 and 50 to leave. Because of this, many
families returned to their homes in Fallujah not
wanting to be separated.
-- Random MACHINE GUN BULLETS ZIPS over the ROOFTOP ABATEMENT.

68.
-- Dahr flinches and ducks for cover, continuing his report.
DAHR
Three hundred Iraqi’s killed in Fallujah. Well over
500 wounded civilians since Monday. Bodies are
literally rotting in the streets. The military siege is
facing mounting criticism of its bloody offensive
against insurgents in Fallujah, so they are offering a
cease-fire to establish a legitimate Iraqi governing
authority there.
-- HUGE RPG EXPLOSION FLASH O.C.
DAHR (CONT’D)
U.S. Marines have managed to push one mile into
Fallujah suffering forty casualties. Marines who
fought against Saddam’s Republic Guard say the
fighting in Fallujah is far worse. There are reports
that civilians in Al-Adamiyah have voluntarily formed
a humanitarian effort to bring medical and food
supplies into Fallujah.
CUT TO:
EXT. AL-ADAMIYAH – LATE AFTERNOON
Over a THOUSAND Iraqis are crowded in mass outside a mosque, frantically shouting with
fists jabbing the air.
-- AS WE PAN through the crowd there appears…
-- Pickup TRUCKS being loaded with bags of food, boxes of bottle water, and death shrouds.
In the crowd, Dahr is interviewing OMAR KHALIL, (40ish).
OMAR KHALIL
My name is Omar Khalil. This is Islam! We give all
of this aid on our own. We are calling for more trucks,
because we have five lories full of supplies.
-- A LOUDSPEAKER blares in ARABIC directing people frantically loading bags of potatoes,

rice, flour, and other foodstuffs onto all makes of trucks.
-- When one TRUCK is loaded and drives off, another empty TRUCK takes it place.
-- Dahr interviewing SALAM KHASIL.

69.
SALAM KHASIL
(tears in eyes)
I am Salam Khasil. All Muslims have one heart. We
help each other no matter what. We want the
Americans to leave Iraq. It is the right of the people to
be free in their own country. We are all one now-
Sunni and Shia! Kerbala, Najaf, Shu’ala, we will help
them all.
-- Khasil points to the crowd of people moving into the mosque.
-- From inside the mosque people are shouting, ALLAHU AKBAR!
MOSQUE - CONTINUOUS
ON DAHR
Making his way into the mosque, Dahr is suddenly pulled aside by an Iraqi man named
KHALIL, (40ish).
KHALIL
(shouting)
Why are innocent people in Fallujah killed because of
four American mercenary deaths? If the American
Army wants to stay in Iraq, you must kill all of the
Iraqi people.
-- The chanting of ALLAHU AKBAR is echoing off the huge mosque interior with deafening
resonating power.
-- Dahr raises his CAMERA above his head to take a picture, his hands shaking from the
adrenaline rush.
-- All about him, MEN are thrusting their fists into the air, chanting: ALLAHU IS THE ONE
GOD. Intoxicating. Impassioned. Solidarity.
-- Dahr SEES people pushing their way to a corner of the mosque. WE FOLLOW the surge to
find…
-- A massive human blood drive: Men sitting in small groups around BAGS of BLOOD on the
floor of the mosque. Some of the MEN are furiously pumping their fists with an IV NEEDLE
in their ARM, to make the blood flow faster into the bag.
-- Doctors attend setting up IV needles into their arms to start fresh bags of blood.
WE PULL back to see Dahr standing amid numerous PLASMA BAGS about the mosque floor.
70.
INSERT: CABLE NEWS BROADCAST – VIDEO CLIP OF PAUL BREMER (APRIL 9,

2004)
BREMER
As of noon today coalition forces have initiated a
unilateral suspension of offensive operations in
Fallujah.
SMASH CUT TO:
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP BROADCAST -- GENERAL KIMMIT
GENERAL KIMMIT
There is no ceasefire.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP OF MILITARY AIRCRAFT TARGETING AND FIRING MISSLE

AT RUNNING CIVILIANS IN THE STREET (OGRISH)
INSERT: GENERAL TOMMY FRANKS VIDEO CLIP (MAY 3, 2003)
GENERAL FRANKS
We don’t do body counts.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP - AL-JAZEERA NEWS REPORT
ANCHOR
Men, women and children were fleeing on foot through
back streets and paths that cut through fields, carrying
small bags, food and medicines. Most have been seen
heading towards the nearby village of Naimiyah,, south
of Fallujah, which has been under effective U.S. siege
since Monday. Shia militia has pounded U.S. Marines
with anti-tank rockets and mortar fire, forcing coalition
forces to retreat.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – PRESIDENT BUSH AT UNITED STATES ARMY COLLEGE

(MAY 24, 2004)
PRESIDENT BUSH
In the city of Fallujah, there’s been considerable
violence by Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters.
American soldiers and Marines could have used
overwhelming force. Our commanders, however,
consulted with Iraq’s Governing Council and local
(MORE)
71.
PRESIDENT BUSH (CONT'D)

officials and determined that massive strikes against
the enemy would alienate the local population, and
increase support for the insurgency.
CUT TO:
INT. KARRADA DISTRICT OF BAGHDAD - APARTMENT - NIGHT
Huddled together are JO WILDING, (20ish) DAVID MARTINEZ, (30ish) Atilla and Dahr.
-- CONTINUOUS SPORADIC GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS O.C.
DAVID MARTINEZ
So here we are, on the one-year anniversary of the
military’s liberating thunder roll into Baghdad.
JO WILDING
Reminds me of Afghanistan. Anywhere outside of
Kabul is dangerous. Here no one is safe outside the
Green Zone.
DAHR
The U.S. lead coalition has lost control of the holy city
of Najaf to Muqtada Al-Sadr’s Madhi militia. There
was fierce fighting in the ancient cemetery. I heard the
military attacked Sadr’s office in Thaora. I just
interviewed his spokesman there.
ATILLA
Arab television showed the coalition making Swiss
cheese of it with aerial bombs and Apache strafing.
DAVID MARTINEZ
I heard a huge demonstration of Shia and Sunni people
broke through a U.S. military checkpoint on the
perimeter of Fallujah, chanting, ‘Sunni, Shia, we are
united against Americans and fight for our country
together.’
DAHR
Is the Red Crescent getting there to aid the civilians?
JO WILDING
They’ve been refused. And the Al-Adamiyah civilian
effort was mostly turned back. Only a few got in with
supplies.
72.
DAHR
(lighting a cigarette)
Can we get something organized under an NGO flag?
JO WILDING
I’ve got a bus we can use.
DAVID
I can round up some volunteers and medical supplies.
ATILLA
Do you know what you’re walking into?
Everyone searches each other’s eyes.
DAHR
We are nothing if we are not critical of this war.
ATILLA
(sipping from a flask)
Do you think your stories will make any difference?
I’ve seen the mass graves, the concentration camps.
Did my pictures of these atrocities stop war? Will
your death stop the war? You are all martyrs.
DAHR
(lucid)
To be brave, one dares the danger nature shirks from.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - OUTSIDE FALLLUJAH - TRAVELING - DAY
A battered passenger BUS drives along the desert highway with NGO – MEDICAL AID
painted on the sides in white paint.
INT. BUS - CONTINUOUS
Dahr, Jo, David and a small group of NGO Volunteers sit around medical supply BOXES.
ANGLE ON: DAHR
Peering out the side window at…
-- A desolate desert road littered with demolished, smoldering tanker fuel trucks.
-- An M-1 TANK burns under an overpass in the distance.

73.
EXT. ABU GHRAIB - LATER
The BUS drives past a row of deserted bombed out homes in Abu Ghraib.
A SMALL BOY comes running out of one of the houses toward the bus with clenched fists
above his head.
SMALL BOY
(Arabic; subtitled English; repeated)
We will be mujahedeen until we die!
EXT. HIGHWAY – LATER - TRAVELING
The BUS drives past smoking fuel tanker TRUCKS, destroyed TANKS and ARMORED
PERSONNEL CARRIERS.
-- They come upon a LORRY that has been hit by a bomb.
-- Iraqi CIVILIANS from a nearby village are pillaging BOXES spilled out of the Lorry.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The BUS winds through farmlands nearing Fallujah. They pass a group of Iraqi MEN walking
along the roadside. They wave and give THUMBS UP to the Bus.
IRAQI MAN
(Arabic; subtitle English)
God bless you for going to Fallujah.
EXT. HIGHWAY – OUTSIDE FALLUJA - DAY
A GROUP OF CHILDREN along the side of the road, handing out bottled water and flat bread
for people coming into Fallujah, stop the Bus.
INT./EXT. BUS - CONTINUOUS
-- The Bus Driver opens up the door.
-- SEVERAL CHILDREN toss in stacks of FLAT BREAD.
-- OTHERS are CHEERING the BUS on. SUDDENLY…
-- A DEAFENING BOMB EXPLOSION GOES OFF IN FALLUJAH.
-- A HUGE FIREY MUSHROOM CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.

74.
CUT TO:
EXT. FALLUJAH - MUJAHADEEN CHECK POINT – MOMENT’S LATER
The Bus passes through a group of Mujahedeen, holding AK-47’s, and sporadically shooting
them in the air, eager to fight. Some shout, “Allahu Akbar.”
MOMENT’S LATER
-- The BUS makes a turn and drives down a street stopping at a small CLINIC, identified by a
bullet riddled AMBULANCE parked in front.
-- The Volunteers file out, carrying medical supply BOXES labeled, INTERSOS.
-- We FOLLOW Dahr as he approaches the clinic’s entrance among his colleagues.
-- A speeding CAR comes careening up on the curb, just stopping short of running them down.
-- An IRAQ MAN jumps out, frantic, going to the passenger side to take out his
unconsciousness WIFE. She is severely bleeding from the neck. Her clothes are soaked in
blood.
IRAQ MAN
(Arabic: English subtitle)
American soldiers did this to my wife and child.
-- WE SEE in the backseat a young CHILD, also shot through the neck.
-- Medical STAFF come rushing out of the clinic to assist in bringing them inside.
INT. FALLUJAH - CLINIC - CONTINUOUS
The clinic looks like a trauma ward with dying patients everywhere. CHILDREN CRYING.
WOMAN MOANING. MEN pleading in prayer.
In the chaos appears a fatigued, MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL.
DAHR
Are you the doctor?
MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL

No. I’m Mr. Makial-Nazzal hired four days ago to
manage the clinic. We can use all you have. Praise
Allah.
Mr. Maki Al-Nazzal points to where the Volunteers can stack the medical supplies.
75.
MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL

(to Dahr)
We have three doctors here. The Nazzal Emergency
Hospital was destroyed by U.S. howitzers.
Ambulances have been confiscated. The Fallujah
General Hospital has been taken over by U.S. troops.
DAHR
But these are medical institutions.
MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL

The Central Health Center was hit by three aerial
bombs, killing dozens of patients, doctors and nurses.
Many Fallujans are dying from lack of medical care or
starvation. The Americans have cut off our water
supply.
-- Behind them the WOMAN and CHILD are put on makeshift BED.
-- A DOCTOR races to her side and the child, trying to keep them alive with little more than an
IV and some pain medicine.
-- The WOMAN is gurgling with each breath. They have nothing to clear her airway.
-- The CHILD is violently VOMITING BLOOD.
-- The FATHER is SOBBING.
ANGLE ON: Dahr scanning the carnage. The floor is filled in pools of fresh blood.
The Volunteers have finished bringing in the medical supplies. They’re ripping open boxes
filled with IV’s. SALINE SOLUTION. BANDAGES. ANTISEPTICS. MORPHINE.
SYRINGES.
Dahr’s FOCUS lands on a woman severely LACERATED.
DAHR
(to doctor)
What happened to her?
DOCTOR
Cluster bombs. They are shredding our people alive.
There are more victims out there, but our ambulance
driver was shot by a sniper.
The Doctor points to a wounded man seated in the corner.
The FATHER screams in anguish.

76.
DAHR’S POV
Of the Father weeping over his dead wife and child.
Jo Wilding and David Martinez overheard the doctor.
DAVID MARTINEZ
We’re Westerners.
JO WILDING
The military can’t shot us.
DAHR
I’ll go with you.
JO WILDING
Dahr, stay here. If something happens to us you can
get word back to Baghdad.
EXT. CLINIC – MOMENTS LATER
Jo and David climb into the ambulance. The front WINDSHIELD has three bullet HOLES. A
WHITE FLAG has been tied to the antenna.
As they drive off, BOMBS and SPORADIC gunfire are heard throughout the city O.C.
EXT. CLINIC - DUSK
A small BOY, (11) his face covered by a KEFIR and toting a KALASHNIKOV, patrols the
clinic entrance.
Dahr appears at the doorway, his clothes bloodstained. Looks at his watch. He lights a
cigarette. Stares at the sunset.
DAHR
(under breath)
Curfew. God, I hope they’ve found a safe place to stay
for the night.
-- SPORADIC GUNFIRE O.C.
CUT TO:
77.
INT. FALLUJAH - HOME - NIGHT
Jo Wilding, and David Martinez in an IRAQI MAN’s home. He is showing them video footage
he made that day on the video camera viewfinder.
INSERT: VIDEO FOOTAGE
The body of an IRAQI WOMAN, laid out on the street pavement with her belly sliced open.
Her unborn baby, torn from the womb lies a few feet away.
IRAQI MAN
I saw the Marines do this.
-- A MILITARY DRONE IS HEARD FLYING OVERHEAD O.C.
-- A U.S. FIGHTER JET ROARS LOW OVER THE ROOFTOPS RATTLING THE
WINDOWS IN A DEAFENING ROAR. And then…
-- A GRUSOME prolonged BUZZ sound, turning into a ROAR, EXPLOSION, ROAR

followed by random EXPLOSIONS.
Jo and David dive under a table while the Iraqi man must stares at them.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – PRESIDENT BUSH MISSION ACCOMPLISHED SPEECH

ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER ABRAHAM LINCOLN
PRESDIENT BUSH
With new tactics and precision weapons, we can
achieve military objectives without directing violence
against civilians. No device of man can remove the
tragedy from war, yet it is a great advance when the
guilty have far more to fear from war than the
innocent.
IRAQI MAN’S HOME - CONTINUOUS
IRAQI MAN
I can’t believe what I’ve lived through. My family
didn’t want to leave me, but I ordered them to leave
the city. The U.S. soldiers wouldn’t let me leave. And
there are those bombs with fire that have terrified me.
INT. CLINIC - MORNING
Dahr is comforting a little girl heavily bandaged from multiple wounds.

78.
MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL

Mr. Jamail, can we use your bus to evacuate these
patients. If we can’t get them to Baghdad, they will
certainly die.
DAHR
We don’t have a choice.
EXT. SMALL CLINIC - CONTINUOUS
The AMBULANCE comes speeding up. Jo Wilding jumps out, wild eyed, running up to Dahr
who is carrying a patient to the Bus.
JO WILDING
(to Dahr; others)
The Marines are going to start clearing the city with air
support.
-- BOMBS EXPLODE not far from the CLINIC O.C.
-- MORE SPORADIC GUN FIRE O.C.
-- MUJAHEDEEN armed with AK-47’s are taking up positions along the street in the b.g.
INT. BUS – TRAVELING – MOMENT’S LATER
The severely wounded laying on stretchers, seated and crammed into every available space,
along with Dahr, David, Jo, the Volunteers, Mr. Maki al-Nazzal, Doctors and Nurses.
INSERT: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appeals to President Bush to show restraint at a
New York news conference.
ANNAN (V.O.)
The more the occupation is seen as taking steps that
harm the civilians and the population, the greater the
ranks of the resistance grows.
TIME CUT:
The Bus is stuck in a long line of vehicles loaded with families, escaping the embattle city of
Fallujah. YELLING. HONKING.
A patrol of U.S. Military HUMVEES and PERSONNEL CARRIERS drive by the long traffic
jam, in the opposite direction.
-- SPORADIC GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS O.C.

79.
BRITISH DRIVER
For bloody sakes, we can’t wait here. We’ll all be
killed.
He turns the bus down a side street.
SIDE STREET – MOMENTS LATER
The Bus drives into a group of MUJEHEDEEN, who promptly surround the bus, COCKING
their AK-47’s; pointing the gun barrels directly at the bus windows. SHOUTING.
INT. BUS – SAME TIME
ON MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL
Quickly moving to the front of the bus.
MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL

(Arabic; subtitled English)
Open. Open. Quickly.
The British Driver reluctantly opens the side door.
As soon as he does, several armed MUJAHEDEEN rush on board; shoving Mr. Maki Al-
Nazzal aside, knocking him down.
MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL

We are humanitarian bus. These are Fallujans we are
taking to Baghdad hospitals.
-- The Mujahedeen menacingly move down the aisle of human carnage.
-- Dr. Al-Ani begs in Arabic not to shoot or take anyone off the bus.
-- A Mujahedeen faces Dahr, Jo and David pointing his AK-47 at their faces, one by one and
abruptly motions them to get off the bus. As they walk down the aisle a Patient reaches out to
the Mujahedeen.
PATIENT
(Arabic: English subtitle)
I beg you to let these westerners go. They are our only
hope to survive.
A PALPABLE TENSION
-- APACHE HELICOPTER GUNFIRE O.C.
Another Mujahedeen motions to the others to leave the bus.

80.
MR. MAKI AL-NAZZAL

(sotto)
Praise Allah. Praise Allah.
CUT TO:
INT. AGADIR HOTEL - ROOM – EARLY MORNING
Dahr wakes up on his sofa in his skivvies. Switches on his laptop next to his bed. The room is
disheveled. He lights a cigarette. Takes a long drag.
-- RATTLING KALISHNIKOV GUNFIRE O.C.
-- SEVERAL LARGE EXPLOSIONS O.C.
Dahr methodically gets up to take a look outside his hotel room.
-- WE SEE that the middle cushions of the sofa have a permament indentation from where he’s
been sitting to write.
Just as he starts to pull back the curtains to the windows…
-- A HUGE EXPLOSION RATTLES HIS WINDOWS.
A BEAT.
-- Pulling back the curtains, the windowpanes are cracked from the explosion percussion.
-- Dahr’s cell phone RINGS on the table. He stares at it for a long moment. Takes a long drag
off his cigarette.
DAHR
No rest for the wicked.
CUT TO:
INT./EXT. BAGHDAD – CAR – TRAVELING - DAY
At the driver’s wheel of a beat up white and orange Passat, HAYDA HAKEEM, (40ish). Two
of his FINGERS are stubs.
He SHAKES… gripping the steering wheel as they RATTLE down the street in congested
traffic, pass the smoldering scene of a roadside car bomb explosion.
WE SEE Dahr in the rearview mirror, nervously looking out at the car bomb aftermath.
81.
HAKEEM
I have just returned to Iraq after spending fourteen
years in an Iranian prison because I fought in that war.
I am saddened to see my country… compared to how
much better it was when I left it – even
during a time of war. I have to care for my two
handicapped sisters. No medical support anymore.
We have no heater. It is cold at night. Our parents
died while I was in prison in Iran.
INT./EXT. CPIC – MOMENT LATER
The CAR stops in front of the CPIC. Parked in the b.g. are rows of brand new Humvees, GMC
SUV’s, TACOMA’S, ETC.
Dahr pays Hakeem more than the fare. Hakeem refuses. Dahr insists, putting the money into
his hand and jumping out of the taxi, slamming the car door.
CUT TO:
INT. CPIC – PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
WE PAN a debriefing room filled with WESTERN journalists and fifteen U.S. SOLDIERS.
Dahr is seated next to an IRAQI WOMAN JOURNALIST.
At the front of the podium stage is GENERAL KIMMIT, and spokesperson for Paul Bremer,
DAN SENOR.
Off to one side, General Kimmit and Dan Senor have been laughing and smiling. They then
turn to the podium.
GENERAL KIMMIT
We are continuing to experience sporadic attacks by
anti-coalition fighters. But our arrests of anti-coalition
suspects, and suspected terrorists will hopefully bring
down these numbers.
SENOR
We have a video to show you on a raid at the Ibn
Taimiyah Mosque that proved successful.
Lights DIM.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP of U.S. soldiers in COMBAT gear rolling up prayer rugs in a mosque.
They walk about the mosque in their dirty combat boots.
-- EVIDENCE OF WEAPONS, TNT, and GRENADES are laid out on the floor of the mosque.
82.
-- SHEIKH MAHDI SALAH AL-SUMAIDI is seen being arrested with TWENTY of his
ASSISTANTS.
GENERAL KIMMIT
You’ll notice the technique of securing these
insurgents.
-- The Iraqi Woman Journalist puts her hand to her forehead, holding her head and shaking it
slowly.
IRAQI WOMAN JOURNALIST

(sotto)
No shoe has ever touched the floor of that mosque for
a thousand years.
Lights UP.
GENERAL KIMMIT
Of course we have fully integrated the IP’s and
ICDC’s in these raids.
SENOR
Because we have a whole new group of Iraqi’s coming
forward to assist us, who we call ‘Hopefuls’ we are
able to make successful raids such as these in capturing
weapons.
GENERAL KIMMIT
It is our intent to diminish the ‘Fearfuls’.
JOURNALIST
General Kimmit, who are ‘Hopefuls’ and ‘Fearfuls’?
GENERAL KIMMIT
Hopefuls are those Iraqi’s who want to help now that
Saddam is gone, and Fearfuls are those too afraid to
help while Saddam’s shadow is still at large.
CUT TO:
INT. BAGHDAD - BBC FIELD OFFICE - DAY
Dahr is filing his radio report in a recording booth. Smoking. BBC LOGOS on wall.
DAHR
Yesterday in Khaldiya, 60 miles west of Baghdad, a
(MORE)
83.
DAHR (CONT'D)
powerful roadside bomb exploded killing U.S.
soldiers. CENTCOM press release claims three task
force “All American” soldiers killed by an IED and
one Iraqi. Witnesses at the scene today told a very
different story, as did personnel at the Ramadi Hospital
where civilian Iraqi casualties were taken.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. KHALDIYA - DAY
Dahr stands next to an IED crater several feet deep in the median of the highway. Along with
Dahr’s driver, several Iraqi MEN are milling about. Several CHILDREN are playing near the
crater.
MOHAMMED
(25 years old)
I saw twelve U.S. soldiers killed. Body parts were
everywhere. There were also at least 5 injured.
ALI (IRAQI POLICEMAN)

I saw twelve dead US soldiers. They put them in black
body bags and flew them out by helicopters.
(beat)
We tried to help get the man out of the bus, but the
American’s wouldn’t let us. He died because they
wouldn’t let us get him out.
DAHR
What bus?
MOHAMMED
After the IED exploded, the soldiers opened up with
gunfire, shooting everything in sight, including a bus
full of people.
ALI
A man driving a truck, Hammad Naif Ermil, was shot
and killed. He is being buried, there.
Ali points to a funeral PROCESSION headed from a nearby mosque, up a small hill to the
village cemetery. Many men, openly crying, somberly carry the coffin, draped in an Iraqi Flag.
Around Dahr, children are gathering up BLOODY BANDAGES and used IV BAGS left over
by the military medics attending wounded soldiers.
84.
ON YOUNG BOY
as he proudly displays to Dahr a blood-stained military WATCH taken from a dead Marine.
CUT TO:
EXT. SADR CITY - DAY
A landscape of sewage run off, piles of garbage and squalor living.
-- AHMED ABDUL RIDA points to a tiny, dilapidated water pump.
-- CHILDREN play in the green and brown raw SEWAGE PUDDLES.
RIDA
We have one hour of electricity, then none for eight
hours. This pump is all we have to try to pull some
water to our home. When we get electricity we collect
what water we can in this bowl.
-- Rida points to a dented METAL BOWL. Next to the bowl is a BOTTLE half filled of the
last water he collected to drink.
-- Dahr picks it up, inspecting the contents. It has the color of tea. Dahr gags from the putrid
smell.
A LITTLE IRAQI GIRL, smeared in mud, runs to a sewage puddle and picks up a fragment of
RUBBER TIRE lying in the raw sewage and TOSSES it back to her friends as a ‘toy’ with
slimy sewage dripping off of it.
The STENCH causes Dahr to pull his Kefir up over his nose and mouth.
RIDA
The whole area is like this. We have over a million
people here, and all of us suffer.
(beat)
Sometimes we have to drink the sewage.
ANGLE ON: DAHR and RIDA
As they gaze at MANGY DOGS pawing at a pile of garbage.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – PRESIDENT BUSH AT UNITED STATES ARMY WAR

COLLEGE (MAY 24, 2004)
PRESIDENT BUSH
Over the decades of Saddam’s rule, Iraq’s
(MORE)
85.
PRESIDENT BUSH (CONT'D)

infrastructure was allowed to crumble, while money
was diverted to palaces, and to wars, and to weapons
programs.
(spliced time cut)
The IMF and the World Bank have so far pledged
$13.5 billion in aid. America has dedicated more than
$20 billion to reconstruction and development projects
in Iraq.
CUT TO:
INT. MINISTRY OF HEALTH BUILDING - DAY
Press conference. Dahr is seated with other ‘embed’ JOURNALISTS listening to MINISTER
OF HEALTH. An IRAQI DOCTOR stand behind him.
MINISTER OF HEALTH
There is no deliberate withholding of medical help to
the residents of Fallujah.
The group of network news broadcast journalists pack up to leave.
A FOREIGN JOURNALIST seated next to Dahr leans over to him.
JOURNALIST
There goes Al-Iraqia, the CIA news hacks.
A MOMENT LATER…
MINISTER OF HEALTH
But I am outraged that the U.S. military as been
intentionally targeting ambulances in Fallujah. I have
personally pressed the IGC and Bremer for
explanations about why these human rights violations,
as well as violations of the Geneva Convention are
occurring. I have tried to negotiate with the military,
promising to try to ensure that ambulances were
cleared, and not being used by the mujahedeen.
Dahr raises his hand. The Minister of Health acknowledges Dahr.
DAHR
Would you care to comment on the use of cluster
bombs being dropped in Fallujah? I took several
statements from citizens there that said cluster bombs
were being used on civilians.
86.
One of the DOCTORS seated next to the PODIUM immediately stands up and takes the
microphone from the Minister of Health.
DOCTOR
I am a surgeon so I know there is no way to
differentiate between bombs by the wounds they make
on bodies.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Dahr on cell phone.
DAHR
Abu Talat, U.S. troops are pulling out of Fallujah. Can
you get me there?
CUT TO:
EXT. FALLUJAH – MAIN STREET - DAY
The excitement in the air is palpable on this windy, gray day in a city that is slowly coming
back to life.
AT THE ENTRANCE OF FALLUJAH, the IRAQI FLAG is raised on a pole.
The U.S. Marines from the 1st Marine Division convoy is comprised of HUMVEES and
STYKER VEHICLES parading into the city as IRAQ POLICE (IP) and CIVIL DEFENSE
CORPS (ICDC) stand guard at every intersection.
The blocked off main street has kept many Iraqi residents watching from storefronts and
windows.
IP and ICDC are positioned as human shields, walking along side the military convoy and in
pick-up trucks.
WE SEE at an overpass, Marines positioned with RPG’s covering the convoy in case of a
surprise attack in the b.g.
EXT. TRIBAL COUNCIL BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
The Marine convoy rolls behind the eight-foot high concrete BARRIERS that surround the
TRIBAL COUNCIL building.
DAHR approaches ABDUL RAHMAN, captain in the ICDC.

87.
ABDUL RAHMAN
There were negotiations between the people of
Fallujah and the occupation forces for a truce. The
Americans will pull all of their troops out of the city.
Up steps ALLA HAMDALIDE, a member of the ICDC.
ALLA HAMDALIDE
We brought the Americans from the bridge into the
city. They couldn’t come in here alone. This is a
victory for Fallujah.
TIME CUT:
EXT. FALLUJAH – TRIBAL COUNSEL BUILDING - LATER
Scores of IP and ICDC load up into pick-up trucks, surrounding the Marine CONVOY as it
slowly makes its way back out of the city, a short two mile drive to the main highway.
ON ABU TALAT
ABU TALAT
(lighting cigarette, giving one to
Dahr)
There will be no fighting unless the Marines start it.
DAHR
Rest assured corporate media will be putting a blizzard
spin on a U.S. victory.
-- A FEW IRAQI RESIDENTS wave to IP and ICDC accompanying the convoy that
tentatively wave back to them.
-- A COUPLE OF MARINES see this and mistaken the gesture as gratitude for them. They
happily wave back, smiling.
-- The WAVING from the IRAQI RESIDENTS immediately stops.
TIME CUT:
As the Marine Convoy leaves the city limits a spontaneous celebration erupts as crowds of
residents flood in to the street.
-- IRAQI FLAGS appear everywhere as people are waving them wildly, CHANTING.
-- MEMBERS of IP and ICDC who were guarding the convoy join in the celebration, waving
their AK-47’s and giving the “VICTORY” hand sign.
88.
-- A PARADE is quickly formed… CARS honking, TRUCKS with BOYS AND MEN riding
in the backs. The IP promptly turned into participating parade escorts.
ON PICK-UP TRUCK filled with IRAQIS throwing handfuls of candy.
FALLUJAN MAN
(to Dahr)
Today is the first day of the war against the Americans.
This is a victory for us over the Americans.
-- MUJAHEDEEN, brandishing RPG’s, AK-47’s and MORTARS are paraded on trucks as

thousands of residents begin to move up and down the main street military truce victory parade.
-- LOUD ARABIC MUSIC BLARES from the MOSQUES’ MINARETS
-- Dahr comes across AHMED SAADOUN JASSIN, an IP, smiling ear to ear.
AHMED SAADOUN JASSIN

I can’t describe to you the happiness I feel right now.
This is victory for Islam.
Behind Ahmed Saadoun Jassin, IP and ICDC MEN are holding their weapons in the air with
one hand, giving the Victory hand sign in the other.
DAHR
Why were you cooperating with the Marines?
AHMED SAADOUN JASSIN

This was the negotiated deal. They couldn’t stay in
Fallujah for over on hour.
MOMENT LATER
Dahr is pulled into the back of a pick-up truck.
DAHR’S POV
-- TRAVELING down MAIN STREET.
-- GROWING MASSES of IRAQI PEOPLE waving IRAQI FLAGS, dancing and holding up
the Quran.
INSERT: VIDEO NEWS CLIP
LT. COL. BRENNAN BYRNE

Initially, it appears that the transition to the Fallujah
Protective Army is working.
89.
MUJAHEDEEN drive up and down the main street. IP and ICDC fire their guns into the air
along with the Mujahedeen.
MEN are holding their BABIES in the air.
DAHR (V.O.)
The press release for the 1st Marine Division about the
patrol stated, “Fallujans reportedly waved to the
Marines as they made their way in and out of the city.
Freedom of movement in Falluja, like that
demonstrated by today’s visit, is a crucial component
in the process of setting the conditions necessary to
rebuild and revitalize the city. This display of
teamwork serves as a notice to those who violently
oppose stability in Iraq; they are nothing more than
unwanted barriers on the road to a truly free Iraq.”
ON A MUJAHEDEEN FIGHTER
Jumps into the back of the pick-up truck where Dahr is riding -- purposely to talk to Dahr.
MUJAHEDEEN FIGHTER
They just made the people of the world laugh at them.
But I think they will come back, because American’s
don’t keep their word.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMIT
REPORTER
General Kimmit, are the Marines leaving Fallujah?
KIMMIT
Nothing could be further from the truth. We will
maintain a strong presence in and around Fallujah.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, CHIEF OF U.S. MILITARY OPERATION
IN THE MIDDLE EAST
ABIZAID
The coalition is sticking by most of the objectives it
outlined when the Marines stormed Fallujah on April
5… mainly to seize the men who killed and mutilated
four American contractors.
DISSOLVE TO:
90.
INT. AL-ADHAMIYAH – CAFÉ - NIGHT
Dahr with a group of Iraqi MEN. WE PAN their anguished FACES…
DAHR (V.O.)
Last night I was interviewing a group of men who
were detained by U.S. troops in Al-Adhamiyah. One
of them, Abdel Hamid Majed, claimed that his hands
were tied tightly, a sack was placed over his head, and
he was forced to lay on his stomach inside a shop for
six and a half hours while soldiers were deciding what
to do with them.
INSERT: AUDIO CLIP – RUSH LIMBAUGH (May 3, 2004) – RUN WITH PHOTO
MONTAGE OF PRISONER ABUSE IN ABU GHRAIB
RUSH LIMBAUGH (V.O.)

I’m talking about people having a good time, these
people… you ever heard of emotional release? You
heard of need to blow some stream off? This is no
different than what happens at the Skull and Bones
initiation…
INSERT: TIM RUSSSERT – MEET THE PRESS – SENATOR JOHN KERRY AND
PRESIDENT BUSH
RUSSERT
(to Senator Kerry)
You both were members of Skull and Bones, a secret
society at Yale. What does that tell us?
SENATOR KERRY
Not much, because it’s a secret.
CUT TO:
RUSSERT
(to President Bush)
You were both in Skull and Bones, the secret society.
PRESIDENT BUSH
It’s so secret, we can’t talk about it.
RUSSERT
What does that mean for America? The conspiracy
theorists are going wild.
91.
PRESIDENT BUSH
(chuckling)
I’m sure they are. I don’t know. I haven’t seen Web
pages yet.
INSERT: PRISONER HOODED WITH WIRES ATTACHED TO HIS PENIS, STANDING

ON A BOX. NEXT TO HIM IS SPEC. SABRINA D. HARMAN, MILITARY POLICE
OFFICER.
RUSH LIMBAUGH (V.O.)

Have you people noticed who the torturers are?
Women! The babes! The babes are meting out the
torture!
(spliced audio cut; ;May 6, 2004)
“Good old American pornography.
ADBEL HAMID MAJED

We were whispering, ‘Allahu Akbar’ to sustain
ourselves and the soldiers were laughing at us. Then, a
soldier standing over me said, “Do you want to pray.
Pray to me. I am your God.”
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – WHITE HOUSE NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SCOTT

MCCLELLAN
REPORTER APRIL
Scott, there’s a segment of society that differs with the
White House as it relates to these pictures and the
investigation of the U.S. soldiers’ conduct to include
Rush Limbaugh who, Tuesday, agreed with the caller,
equating the pictures to a college fraternity prank, and
said the U.S. soldier should not be punished because it
was an emotional release as they were letting off
steam. What’s the White House say about that?
SCOTT MCCLELLAN
April, I think the White House says what we said
yesterday and what the President has said over the last
few days.
INSERT: ABU GHRAIB PRISONER VIDEO ABUSE
DAHR (V.O.)
Later several of the men were taken to Abu Ghraib.
On April 20th, one of the men detained, Dr. Oubaidy
Nezar, a doctor of Physical Chemistry, died at Abu
(MORE)
92.
DAHR (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Ghraib prison. As the Bush administration scrambles
for damage control from the torture pictures taken in
Abu Ghraib prison, the de-Baathification continues.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – “PRESIDENT MEEETS WITH ALHURRA TELEVISION ON

WEDNESDAY” (May 5, 2004)
PRESIDENT BUSH
First, people in Iraq must understand that I view those
practices as abhorrent.
(splice time cut)
That stands in stark contrast to life under Saddam
Hussein. His trained torturers were never brought to
justice under his regime.
(splice time cut)
And – but people will be held to account. That’s what
the process does. That’s what we do in America. We
fully investigate, we let everybody see the results of
the investigation, and then people will be held to
account.
(splice time cut)
And when we say, you’ve got human rights abuses,
take care of the problem, we will do the same thing.
We’re taking care of the problem. This is not America.
America is a country of justice and law and freedom
and treating people with respect.
REPORTER
Transferring control of Fallujah, in Iraq, to former
army officers under Saddam Hussein led many people
in Iraq, and even in the Arab world, to believe that the
U.S. is lowering its expectations.
PRESIDENT BUSH
Quite the contrary. We’re raising expectations.
(splice time cut)
As a matter of fact, the general in charge of the
operation in Fallujah had been imprisoned by Saddam
Hussein.
(splice time cut)
People aspire for the same thing in Iraq as we do in
America, a chance to succeed.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – “VIDEOS AMPLIFY PICTURE OF VIOLENCE” WASHINGTON

POST/CAMERA WORKS (MAY 21, 2004)
93.
SENATOR KENNEDY (V.O.)

Who would prefer that Saddam’s torture chambers still
be open? Shamefully, we now learn that Saddam’s
torture chambers reopened under new management:
U.S. management.”
PRESIDENT BUSH (REPEAT)

People aspire for the same thing in Iraq as we do in
America, a chance to succeed.
CUT TO:
INT. AGADIR HOTEL - ROOM - MORNING
Dahr rises from his coach in his skivvies. Heads to a propane camp stove to get a cup of
coffee. It’s stifling desert hot.
-- He shuffles past, DAVE ENDERS, (20ish) a journalist friend, typing on his laptop computer
at a small wooden table.
-- WE FOLLOW Dahr into the KITCHEN. As he pours himself a cup of coffee…
-- A HUGE EXPLOSION shakes the very foundation of the apartment O.C.
-- The drawn CURTAINS on the open windows PUFF OUT from the blast.
INT./EXT. HOTEL ROOM WINDOW – MOMENT LATER
Dahr, bleary eyed, sipping coffee and Dave, both calmly look out the apartment window.
-- WE SEE a huge, brown MUSHROOM smoke cloud rising above the city skyline.
DAHR
Morning, man.
DAVE
Morning.
DAHR
Looks like Tharir Square got hit again. Guess I ought
to get ready. Adu Talat will be here in a few minutes
to take us there.
94.
EXT. THARIR SQUARE - LATER
In the aftermath of the car bomb explosion there is blood and chaos everywhere. A building
has literally had its front blown off, splattered in blood. Charred vehicles are smoldering, as a
crowd of demonstrators quickly grows in furor.
Dahr, David and Abu Talat are moving through the crowd; some are holding twisted metal
blown from the vehicles over their heads chanting in Arabic (subtitled English), “DOWN
WITH AMERICA” and “AMERICA IS THE ENEMY OF GOD” while others set the vehicles
ablaze.
U.S. TANKS with SOLDIERS in full RIOT GEAR arrive and seal off the area.
Dahr, David and Abu Talat are abruptly pushed away, even though Dahr and David show their
Press ID’s.
SOLDIER
All gatherings, pronouncements or publications calling
for opposition are outlawed. These Iraqis are in
violation of the coalition’s proclamation.
DAHR
(to David and Abu Talat)
There’s going to be retaliation by the Iraqi resistance.
CUT TO:
EXT. ADHAMIYA - CAFE - LATER
At a busy sidewalk café, roughly two hundred meters from Adhamiya Palace, the U.S. Camp in
the heavily pro-resistance area of Baghdad;
Dahr and Abu Talat are dining on kebabs.
-- THREE HUGE EXPLOSIONS come from inside the U.S. Camp, fired from mortars.
-- HUGE BILLOWING PLUMES OF BLACK SMOKE RISE in the b.g.
-- The PATRONS at the café break out in spontaneous cheers.
Unnerved, Dahr and Adu Talat continue to eat.
ABU TALAT
You know Dahr, I used to read about how the
Lebanese got used to the bombs in Beirut. I never
thought that could happen to me, yet here I am, acting
like it’s perfectly normal.
95.
DAHR
When we finish here I want to go see a Sheikh in
Baquda.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAQUDA - DAY
A deserted town, sealed off by the U.S. military. Shops are closed. Boarded up. Debris blows
about on the deserted streets in a dry hot wind. Torn Iraqi FLAGS flutter. Mangy dogs roam
in packs searching for scraps of food.
ON AN UNMANNED MILITARY DRONE
Circling overhead surveying the destruction. It zeros in on a CAR driving down a street.
DAHR (V.O.)
Four thousand troops, backed by Apache gunships, jet
fighters and patrol boats launched a siege on Baquda
along the Tigris River. Considered a hotbed for Sunni
resistance fighters, the raid targeted the Supreme
Council for the Islamic Revolution as ordered by Paul
Bremer for their declaration to boycott any interim
Iraqi government.
INT./EXT. CAR - CONTINUOUS
Dahr, CHRISTIAN PARENTI, (20ish) and Abu Talat are driving through the deserted city.
From their POV two APACHE HELICOPTERS, a few meters away, are strafing a part of the
city, dive-bombing above the date palms, then swooping out of sight, wisps of white smoke
trails behind their blazing guns. SUDDENLY…
-- BULLETS whiz past their CAR.
-- Abu Talat slams on the brakes.
-- They look over to their right to see a BRADLEY with soldier’s M-16’s aimed directly at
them.
ABU TALAT
Warning shots.
DAHR
Have to be… or we’d be dead.
96.
ABU TALAT
(turning around)
I know another way.
CHRISTIAN
(shaken)
Thank God.
CUT TO:
INT. SHEIKH’S HOUSE - LATER
Dahr, Abu Talat, and Christian are eating lunch with a SHEIKH and HAJI, (60ish).
-- MORE EXPLOSIONS, rattling the windows, shaking the foundation.
Dahr and Christian look at each other as if they were wondering what to do next.
SHEIKH
This is normal, even my beautiful children laugh at the
bombs.
From the next room WE HEAR children laughing excitedly.
HAJI
The mujahedeen are fighting for their country against
the occupation.
SHEIKH
(smiling to Dahr)
American’s want me to lie to my people in ways to
improve Americas image in Iraq. It is up to God to
show us the truth, not Americans.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAQUDA - DAY
On the road leading out of Baquda, Dahr, Christian and Abu Talat, traveling in their CAR,
come across a SEDAN parked in the median of the road. They stop to inspect...
-- The car has been ripped to shreds by heavy machine gun fire.
-- They walk around to the front to find…
-- The DRIVER’S BODY laying in the middle of the road, draped in a black mourning FLAG.
His bare FEET are uncovered, stained in dried blood. FLIES sworn all over the corpse.
97.
ANGLE ON: DAHR and CHRISTIAN
Looking about the scene they notice TANK TRACKS fifty meters further down the road.
-- They walk toward the tank tracks. Abu Talat stays cautiously behind.
-- WE SEE a large pile of empty machine gun SHELLS, glistening gold reflections from the
blazing hot sun.
DAHR
Must have been a checkpoint.
CHRISTIAN
He probably attempted to avoid it by turning around.
DAHR
Looks more like he got out to surrender.
INT./EXT. CAR – MOMENT’S LATER
They have driven a bit further when ahead of them APPEARS several HUMVEES, a M-1
TANK and SOLDIERS blocking their exit from the city.
DAHR
Pull over. Now.
ABU TALAT
But…
DAHR
Just do it or we’ll end up like that guy back there.
Abu Talat abruptly stops the car in the middle of the road.
DAHR
Christian, come with me. Get your press pass out.
Christian is reluctant. Dahr opening the car door grabs Christian as he gets out.
ROAD - CONTINUOUS
Dahr and Christian are holding their PRESS CREDENTIALS in the air, walking slowly toward
the military road block, yelling…
98.
DAHR AND CHRISTIAN

(taking turns)
We are unarmed journalists. Please do not shoot. We
just want to leave the city.
MILITARY ROAD BLOCK – SAME TIME
Three SOLDIERS position themselves across the hood of a Humvee, training their gun sights
on Dahr and Christian.
SOLDIER’S POV THROUGH THE IRON SIGHTS…
ON DAHR
Briefly turning around to see if Abu Talat is ok but to his dread a WEDDING PROCESSION
approaches in the b.g.
DAHR
(to Christian)
It’s a goddamn wedding party. They’ll think this is an
ambush.
Christian starts to head to the side of the road to let it pass.
DAHR
No, stay in the middle. Make noise.
Both quickening their pace and yelling louder hoping their presence will alert the lead driver in
the wedding procession.
DAHR AND CHRISTIAN

We’re journalists. We just want to leave the city.
Dahr turns around to check on the approaching WEDDING PROCESSION. It’s turned back.
MILITLARY ROAD BLOCK – MOMENT’S LATER
Dahr and Christian are standing among the SOLDIERS, talking with the SERGEANT. The
other soldiers have stood down, relaxed and smoking, but keeping a wary eye on Dahr. Two
rookie CORPORATE NEWS EMBED JOURNALISTS stand off to one side observing.
Christian has been given an ‘ok’ by the Sergeant to return to Abu Talat and retrieve their car, so
he takes off quickly toward Abu Talat in the b.g.
99.
DAHR
After seeing that bullet riddled car and the driver back
there we thought it’d be better to approach you guys on
foot.
SERGEANT
(smirks)
He tried to ram our tank. Crazy motherfucker.
INSERT: Dahr’s POV of the SEDAN’s undamaged front.
EMBED JOURNALIST
Hey, did you see any bad guys in there?
Dahr masks his disgust with the Sergeant.
DAHR
(seasoned, annoyed)
No, I did not see any mujahedeen inside the city.
Perhaps if you got out more often on your own, you’d
see some for yourself.
Abu Talat and Christian arrive in the car. Dahr jumps into the backseat.
ON THE CAR: Zooming off into distance.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. NEW YORK CITY – UPPER WEST SIDE - HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
Dahr is dead asleep in bed.
-- The ROAR of a LARGE TRUCK and LOUD BANGING O.C.
Dahr bolts up, terrified. Rolls off the bed onto the floor diving for cover.
SUPERIMPOSE: NEW YORK CITY – JULY 2004
Adrenaline rush of anxiousness washes over him. For a moment he searches the room.
Gasping breath. Staring at the ceiling. Slowly gets up.
DAHR’S POV
Of a New York City Hotel Room. Open window.
-- MORNING BIRDS SINGING O.C.

100.
DAHR
For chrissakes, you dumb shit; you’re in New York
City.
He drops back on the bed, pulling a pillow over his face.
A BEAT.
Dahr rolls out of bed. Heads over to the window air conditioner. Turns it on just because he
can. Lights a cigarette.
DAHR
Fucking American luxury.
DAHR’s POV
Of the UPPER WEST SIDE of New York City, a bustling metropolis.
On the street below a GARBAGE TRUCK, ROARS down the street. Garbage MEN
collecting trash, catch up. Their oversized metal garbage cans BANG against the side of the
truck as they toss in the garbage.
DAHR (V.O.)
For once in months, I slept through the night. No late
night bombing raids. No free-fire zone checkpoints,
no military vehicles roaming the streets carrying
soldiers aiming their guns at you as they drive by.
Dahr lays back down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Puffing his smoke.
DAHR (V.O.) (CONTD)

Here in New York, where the World Trade Center
crumbled under a terrorist attack, everything looks
civil. Americans sleep assured that no foreign troops
will barged into this house late at night and haul off
family members to a detention center where most
likely they’ll be tortured.
Cell phone RINGS. Answers.
DAHR
Interview? Sure what time?
DISSOLVE TO:
101.
INT. JORDANIAN AIRLINE – PASSENGER CABIN - DAY
Dahr, in full beard, wearing his Kefir, is seated next to the aisle. The plane dips the left wing
making a steep downward spiral to land at the Baghdad International Airport.
DAHR (V.O.)
My weblog dispatches had gained me international
recognition so much so that I was asked to go on a
national tour, presenting evidence of civilian atrocities
being committed in Iraq. But Bush’s 2004 re-election
corporate media propaganda continued to brainwash
middle America.
(beat)
Independent filmmaker Adam Nash had told me when
I first came to Iraq, this isn’t a war on terror; this is a
media propaganda war. For that very reason I
returned.
INT. BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL - LATER
A disproportionate ratio of foreign security GUARDS out numbering civilian passengers five to
one. Among them is a large influx of THIRD WORLD NATIONALS, either from Sri Lanka or
India. Some have “GLOBAL” insignias on their shirtsleeves.
-- Security Guards are crowding around to load onto a KELLOG BROWN & ROOT bus.
-- Dahr waits for a small airport transport minibus to take him to the front checkpoint.
INT./EXT. BUS WINDOW – MOMENTS LATER
ANGLE ON: Dahr noticing signs that remind soldiers to have their weapons ready and flack
jackets on as they enter the “UNSECURED AREA” which is anything outside of the Green
Zone.
MOMENT LATER
Dahr disembarks from the minibus with his luggage in tow and is approached by an Iraqi
security guard. Dahr displays his Press ID.
SECURITY GUARD
You don’t want to be here long. There are bad things
going on here.
(beat)
Very bad things.
102.
EXT. BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – PASSENGER PICK UP AREA -

CONTINUOUS
Line of cars being searched as they enter the pick-up area. Abu Talat, appears, waving and
smiling at Dahr.
TIME CUT:
DAHR and ABU TALAT reunited, sharing countless cheek kisses. Tears of joy. AB LIB
greeting.
MOMENT’S LATER
Abu Talat quickly loads Dahr’s luggage in a car. As they are getting in a new sleek black
BMW drives up, momentarily stopping next to Abu Talat.
An IRAQI MEN, brutish looking, speaking Arabic, leans out the front passenger window from
the BMW and asks Abu Talat if Dahr just arrived in Arabic.
ABU TALAT
I have just come to pick up a friend.
The MAN nods, staring at Dahr, then signals the driver to move on, parking a car length ahead.
ABU TALAT
Give me something to write with.
Dahr hands him his pen from his shirt pocket.
Abu writes down the license plate on his hand while telling Dahr…
ABU TALAT
That could be kidnappers… there is not another flight
after yours. I will watch to see if they follow us.
Abu Talat and Dahr get in the car and drive off.
INT./EXT. RPG ALLEY - CAR - TRAVELING – MOMENTS LATER
Driving past three burnt out cars from a recent suicide bombing at the airport, Abu Talat keeps
checking his review mirror.
Humvees and Bradley fighting vehicles are perched along the road, their weapons aimed
directly at Dahr’s car and others as they pass.
ABU TALAT
Everyone is being kidnapped. It is a booming
(MORE)
103.
ABU TALAT (CONT'D)

business. Crime gangs pay five hundred dollars for
information about Westerners. You must be extremely
careful Dahr.
Avoiding a CRATER in the road made by an IED, Abu Talat drives perilously close to a huge
moving Bradley with its growling TREADS within inches of the side of the car.
DAHR
Abu Talat, watch out.
ABU
(laughs)
This is our daily life.
DAHR
Insh’allah. (If God wills it.)
Abu Talat checks his rearview mirror and sighs.
ABU TALAT
No one is following us. It is best and maybe the only
time to go to this witness. She’s willing to talk to you.
(beat)
Y’allah, we go now.
INT. BAGHDAD – FRIEND’S HOUSE - DAY
Dahr is seated with a WIFE and her THREE DAUGHTERS, talking to them about the state of
their father, beaten into a coma while in U.S. military custody.
As they talk the house LIGHTS constantly flicker on and off.
WIFE
This is the first electricity we have had in seventy-two
hours.
DAUGHTER
While we are school we hear rockets flying over our
building. We are living like animals. How long can
this continue?
ABU TALAT
Dahr, we must hurry before nightfall, and find you
hotel.
104.
DAHR
Shukran Jazeelan. (Thank you)
INT./EXT. CAR - TRAVELING
With a deep red sunset on the horizon, Abu Talat and Dahr drive down a Baghdad side street.
Abu Talat continuously looks in the rearview mirror making sure they are not being followed.
ABU TALAT
One more thing, Dahr. Don’t ever speak English in
public. I will buy some food for tonight.
INT. STORE – MOMENT LATER
Dahr and Abu Talat are collecting groceries. Purchasing them at the cashier’s stand. Bagging
them.
DAHR (V.O.)
During my last trip, I was one westerner with one
interpreter, rarely more than that. A rogue band of
foreigners stayed in a dive hotel off the map and kept
our heads down, and didn’t do too much traveling
around the city without an interpreter.
CUT TO:
INT. BAGHDAD – HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Dahr typing at his laptop.
DAHR (V.O.)
Now… it is yet another country. As I type an intense
gun battle of automatic weapons rattles down the
street, Fallujah has been sealed prior to an imminent
attack called Operation Phantom Fury and the mood in
Baghdad is tense and gloomy, regardless of the
prospect of an election to choose parliamentary
leaders. The Iraqis are downtrodden, tense and angry,
as chaos reigns and nobody is safe… anywhere. And
I’ve heard rumors of government coercion to make
Iraqis vote.
INT. BAGHDAD – AL-AMBIA MOSQUE - DAY
Dahr is interviewing ABU MOHAMMED, a lawyer, and SABAH.

105.
ABU MOHAMMED
I am use to laws. The first priority is that who makes
the law should be legally authorized. Here in
Baghdad, martial law is a deterrent against the
resistance. The theme of the law to stop people even
from questioning the coalition. Do you think they can
limit how Iraqis think? Insh’allah they cannot. We
have to defend our land and so the resistance is legal.
Insh’allah the resistance will do their job and rid us of
the invaders.
Sabah breaks in, unable to contain himself.
SABAH
The Americans came thousands of kilometers to
invade Iraq and kill people, and they should now be
punished. Who gave them the right to kill us? We
have an illegal interim government, so we have to
defend our liberty by our flesh and blood.
INT. DAHR’S HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Dahr is typing at this laptop.
INSERT: LAPTOP MONITOR
The words appear in sync with the news clip voice over.
U.S. MARINE COLONEL GARY BRANDL (V.O.)

The marines that have been killed over the last five
months have been killed by a faceless enemy. The
enemy there has a face, and it’s called Satan, and it
lives in Fallujah.
-- ROAR OF SEVERAL FIGHTER JETS FLY OVER, RATTLING THE WINDOWS.
DAHR
Hello?
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

Dahr, I have information that food coupons are being
refused to those how willing take election ballots.
DAHR
Where?
106.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

(roar of jets)
I will try to take you there tomorrow, if these jets
haven’t blown up my house first.
CUT TO:
INT. FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER – AL-QUD - DAY
ABU ALI, (48) is sits behind a desk in a tiny office. Dahr and Abu Talat seated across from
him. Abu Talat translates.
ABU ALI
So many of the families who receive the rations, that
have been given since 1990, up till now have refused
to take the goods from me because they have to take an
election leaflet.
DAHR
This is going on all over?
ABU ALI
Yes. Since the registration started. The Iraqi
government uses the Oil for Food list to get their
names, and then registers them. You have to take it
[points to leaflet] with the goods or else you don’t get
your ration. That is by orders of the government, and I
have to obey them.
DAHR
So most of the people are taking the leaflet because
they want to vote?
ABU ALI
No. They are refusing. The people tell me they don’t
want to lose their honor by participating in this
illegal election. People say elections should only be
held when the U.S. occupation is over. When the U.S.
troops have left their country.
(beat)
We have Majida Star, Mosul’s education director and a
candidate for the Ninewa governorate council for the
local election, but she is not campaigning for fear of
her life.
DAHR
Are there more?
107.
ABU ALI
Atran al-Shamari is standing for the provincial council.
He carries a pistol all the time, and openly blames the
insurgents for creating an insecure situation. My own
life has already been threatened.
DAHR
But, the people seem to want to boycott this election,
regardless of the insurgency’s threats.
ABU ALI
Yes. But you see in the Kurdish areas campaign
posters where there are Sunnis there is no evidence of
a coming election. Some café owners will turn the
channel on their café TV’s if a pro-election
commercial comes on. But others feel if the election
doesn’t happen, Iraq won’t get control of its affairs.
Abu Ali appears pensive. Shuffles some papers on his desk as a distraction.
ABU ALI (CONT’D)

I am afraid that this refusal to take the election leaflets
will be seen as an anti-coalition threat to the
Americans. There may be retaliation, especially in Al-
Adhamiya.
CUT TO:
INT. DAHR’S APARTMENT – EARLIER THAT DAY
Dahr’s Iraqi journalist friend, SALAM TALIB, (30) crippled from polo since birth, uses old
wooden crutches which are leaning next to the coach. Salam is seated with Dahr, drinking tea.
DAHR
How is your newspaper coming. The Confronter?
SALAM
Al-Muajaha? We have run out of money. The
coalition forces wanted to fund us, but that would
mean censoring our copy.
(beat)
The Association of Muslim Scholars has been
boycotting the national elections. Their leader, Sheikh
Faidh Muhammad Amin al-Faidhi was just murdered
after prayers in Mosul.
108.
DAHR
Where’ve you been? Pacifica radio will be calling
soon to get our report.
SALAM
A few days ago I was held up by bandits outside the
Green Zone at knife-point, demanding all my money or
they would cut my throat.
DAHR
Didn’t you go to the provisional authority?
SALAM
They refuse to help me, and sent me to the Iraqi police,
who said they couldn’t do anything about it. Just like
the 10-year-old girl who was raped by Iraqi security
forces. There is no law enforcement
DAHR
Maybe you ought to write something about it in your
newspaper.
SALAM
I have, as an op ed piece. But, so many people are
being robbed and murdered and the Americans are just
ignoring it. How can you convey that over the radio?
INSERT: AUDIO CLIP – FSRN.ORG/PACIFICA – UPDATE FROM BAGHDAD

(NOVEMBER 22, 2004)
CUT BACK AND FORTH -- PACIFICA RADIO STATION STUDIO AND DAHR’S
BAHDAD APARTMENT
ANNOUNCER
Meanwhile, U.S. installed Prime Minister Ayad Allawi
said that media in Iraq is failing to report the real
situation in Fallujah.
DAHR
This is a fair statement. U.S.-appointed Prime Minister
Ayad Allawi says U.S. media, who are reporting that
the fighting is over, when the fact is that independent
(MORE)
109.
DAHR (CONT'D)
media are reporting the truth, coming from a few
journalists in the city and countless refugees, which are
reporting atrocities of civilians.
REPORTER
Refugee recovery?
DAHR
Refugees are not being allowed back in the city. No
relief teams are being allowed to report on the situation
on the ground. There are 200,000 refugees and
100,000 people still trapped in the city. Fierce
resistance is breaking out all over Iraq, sustaining 100
attacks a day, which has dramatically increased before
the invasion of Fallujah. The military claims to be
breaking the back of the insurgents but the siege on
Fallujah has only strengthen the resistance.
TIME CUT:
INSERT: AUDIO CLIP – FSRN.ORG/PACIFICA U.S. ATTACKS THREE MORE CITIES

(NOVEMBER 24, 2004)
INT. PACIFICA RADIO NEWS STUDIO – KPRK - BERKELEY
ANNOUNCER
Yesterday morning a force of over 5,000 mostly U.S.
soldiers launched an invasion of three cities south of
Baghdad. The military aggression, which included
tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and Humvees lay
siege to the small cities of Latifiya, Jabella and
Mahawil, all of which are located between 30 and 50
miles south of the capital. Four governorates in
southern Iraq are now threatening to boycott the
elections scheduled precariously for January 30th. The
Governorates, which include over 5 million Iraqis,
have stated they will not participate in the elections if
the military operations continue. Salam Talib, a
correspondent for Free Speech Radio News, was born
in a village, which is included in the siege that is now
underway. He produced this report with Dahr Jamail.
SALAM (V.O.)
Yesterday, I heard about great offense, include my city
where I have five brothers and sisters living there in
(MORE)
110.
SALAM (V.O.) (CONT'D)

different houses, and I have no way of calling them, or
going there to see if they are safe. I can only imagine
what happened in Fallujah will happen in my village.
HOTEL ROOM – AFTER PHONE INTERVIEW
Salam answers his RINGING cell phone. His face turns ashen.
SALAM
(hanging up)
Thank you.
-- Slowly he pulls from his shirt pocket a piece of worn folded paper and his pen.
-- Carefully he unfolds the paper, laying it down on the table in front of him.
-- Salam writes a name in Arabic on the paper.
DAHR
What is it?
SALAM
Another friend has been killed by soldiers. That brings
my list of names to 32…
-- Folding the paper neatly back up and putting it in his shirt pocket, Salam locks his leg braces
so he can stand up. Reaching for his crutches, he gets up and starts to leave.
SALAM
I keep telling my mother that I’m a dead man.
Already, someone who borrowed my car was shot the
other day. The bullets were meant for me. I’m going
to die here, so what’s the use? I try to get her ready for
it… but she can’t get used to the thought. Already,
everyone in my family has lost a friend, a relative.
Salam hobbles on his crutches out the door.
MOMENT LATER
Alone, Dahr picks up the Donkey and tosses it against the wall in a rage. Laying on the floor, it
plays an ARABIC POP SONG.
Dahr crumples on the couch tormented. Tears streaming down his face.
111.
DAHR
(angst)
War, you blood sucking parasite of human flesh.
Disguised as what? Freedom? O, war, you are a
jealous fool of human harmony that holds us hostage.
(beat)
O, villany. Ho, let the door be lock’d. Treachery.
Seek it out. Yes, my friend, Hamlet, seek out this
treachery.
TIME CUT:
At this laptop, Dahr types by candlelight.
DAHR (V.O.)
Allawi laid out six steps for implementing his “security
law” which entails a six pm curfew imposed on
Fallujah, all highways closed except for emergencies
and government vehicles. General Institutions are
closed, a ban of all weapons in Fallujah, the Iraqi
borders with Syria and Jordan to be closed except for
food trucks and vehicles carrying necessary goods, and
the closing of Baghdad International Airport for forty-
eight hours. Tomorrow Abu Talat will take me to a
refugee camp in Baghdad.
HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
Dahr is awoken by squadrons of FIGHTER JETS scorching the sky above Baghdad.
DAHR
Hello.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

Dahr, it’s Abu Talat. There is fighting near my home.
DAHR
What happened?
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

(gun fire, fighter jets heard in b.g.)
The Iraqi Police found a car bomb and when they were
warning the people about it… U.S. troops showed up
(MORE)
112.
ABU TALAT (V.O.) (CONT'D)

and were immediately attacked with RPG’s. The
fighting has been raging for half an hour, and now
fighter jets are flying low over our neighborhood to
terrorize people. Call Aisha. She can help you.
INT. BAGHDAD – SUPPLY CENTER - DAY
Fallujah REFUGEES at a distribution center. Dahr interviews. Aisha translates.
KASSEM MOHAMMED AHMED

(subtitle name)
They kicked all the journalists out of Fallujah so they
could do whatever they want. The first thing they did
is they bombed the hospitals because that is where the
wounded have to go. We see wounded people in the
street and the soldiers are rolling over them with tanks.
This happened many times. What you see on TV is
nothing – that is just one camera. What you cannot see
is horrible.
ABDUL RAZAQ
(subtitle name)
There are dead bodies on the ground and nobody can
bury them. The Americans are dropping some of the
bodies into the Euphrates River.
FOCUS ON: IRAQI MAN, tears streaming down his face. He overhears, and then motions to
Dahr that he wants to talk to him. His hands trembling.
IRAQI MAN
They bombed my neighborhood. We used car jacks to
raise the blocks of concrete to get dead children out
from under them.
Another refugee, ABU SABAH, is an older man wearing a torn shirt and dusty pants.
ABU SABAH
(subtitle name)
You could hear these dropped from a large airplane
and the bombs were the size of a tank. They used
these bombs that put up smoke like a mushroom cloud.
Then small pieces fell from the air with long tails of
smoke behind them. These exploded on the ground
with large fires that burnt for half an hour. When
anyone touched those fires, their flesh burned for
hours.
113.
AISHA
(angered)
From their own words, you see the plot of America
pursuing to control the homelands of Islamic countries
in the Persian Gulf… the Crusader-Zionist alliance is
using weapons of mass destruction to secure the
common welfare of fascists.
CUT TO:
EXT. BAGHDAD STREET - DAY
Dahr is walking with Abu Talat along one of the well-traveled Baghdad.
A patrol of HUMVEES rolls past them, guns sticking out of the windows pointed at the people.
The rooftop machine gunners, now with full armor plating protection, swing their guns back
and forth at the rooftops of buildings.
-- IRAQI MEN yelling and shaking their FISTS at the patrolling HUMVEES.
IRAQI MAN ONE

“Get off our streets with your guns.”
IRAQI MAN TWO

“You aren’t here to protect us.”
IRAQI MAN THREE

(laughing)
Can’t you see we have no weapons of mass
destruction? .
But their defiance quickly turns somber as something more menacing appears behind the U.S.
military Humvees.
ANGLE ON: DAHR as he looks down the street to see a group of WHITE paramilitary
mercenary SUV’s followed by the ominous black GMC, all with large antennae, guns pointed
out of the tinted windows at the pedestrians.
-- A BLACK GMC passes by.
-- WE SEE the REAR of the BLACK GMC has been refurbished into a mobile machine gun
bunker, complete with a black metal shield plate covering the tailgate, a small rectangle on the
top that has a large caliber machine gun barrel protruding out of it.
-- AN EXPLOSION IN THE DISTANCE.

114.
ABU TALAT
There’ll be casualties at the hospital.
CUT TO:
INT. BAGHDAD HOSPITAL WARD - DAY
A crowded hospital room filled with human carnage.
Dahr stands next to the bed of FATIMA HAROUZ, 12 years old. Dazed, Fatima languidly
waves her bruised arm at the flies crawling on her face.
-- WE PAN down to see that her shins covered in fresh plaster casts.
-- Small plastic tube drainage bags filled with red fluid sit upon her abdomen where she took
shrapnel from a grenade.
Fatima’s MOTHER stands on the other side of the bed.
FATIMA’S MOTHER
(in her eyes; fear, rage, tears)
They attacked our home and there weren’t even any
resistance fighters in the area. As the soldiers
ransacked our home, my brother was killed, his wife
wounded.
A DOCTOR approaches.
DOCTOR
(sternly at Dahr)
Fatima’s legs were shattered by bullets. This is the
freedom… in America’s Disney Land are there kids
just like this?
WE PAN bed upon bed of children severely wounded as Dahr makes his way, talking to some,
comforting others. Some barely alive, some dying in their parents arms.
DAHR (V.O.)
It’s one case after another of noncombatants from
Baghdad, Fallujah, Latifiya, Balad, Ramadi, Samarra,
Baquba… from all over Iraq, who have been injured or
killed by the free-fire zone tactics of American soldiers
and resistance fighters.
115.
INT. HOSPITAL WARD ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS
U.S. SOLDIERS storm the hospital WARD, in full battle dress, brandishing their weapons.
ON SOLDIER and TRANSLATOR
-- Ordering the hospital staff to line up.
-- Dahr sneaks a picture, hiding his small digital camera.
HOSPITAL DOCTOR
(Arabic; English subtitle)
We don’t need you here. We don’t want to die by your
hands, so get out of here. We can take care of our own
people. There are no insurgents here.
-- The Soldiers force everyone to lie on their stomachs, including Dahr, at gunpoint.
SOLDIER
Put your hands behind your backs.
Other Soldiers start to zip cuff the hospital staff hands behind their backs.
FOCUS ON:
DAHR
I’m an American journalist.
SOLDIER
Prove it.
Dahr , hands out to his sides, carefully rolls on his back, exposing his Press ID necklace.
DAHR
I have my passport.
CUT TO:
INT. DAHR’S HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Dahr is watching Al-Jazeera television.
NEWS CASTER
Our Al-Jazeera office has been band by the U.S.
backed interim government. But we have this updated
report from an eyewitness of the U.S. and Iraqi Guard
raid on Fallujah’s general hospital…
116.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP OF DOCTOR ASMA KHAMIS AL-MUHANNADI.
ASMA KHAMIS AL-MUHANNADI

(superimpose name)
We were tied up and beaten despite being unarmed and
having only our medical instruments. The hospital
was targeted by bombs and rockets during the initial
siege of Fallujah. Troops dragged patients from their
beds and pushed them against the wall. Two female
doctors were forced to totally undress.
(beat)
I was with a woman in labor. The umbilical cord had
not yet been cut. A soldier shouted at one of the Iraqi
national guards to arrest me and tie my hands while I
was helping the mother deliver. I will never forget this
incident.
Dahr’s room phone RINGS. He hesitates. The ringing sounds urgent. Reluctantly, he
answers.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

(frantic, muffled)
American soldiers inside Abu Hanifa mosque are
holding me at gunpoint.
WE can OVERHEAR in the b.g., the deafening roar of hundreds of people yelling “ALLAHU
AKBAR”, reverberating behind Abu Talat’s panicked voice. Then, M-16 gun SHOTS being
sprayed about the mosque.
ABU TALAT (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Everyone is praying to God… the Americans are
raiding our mosque… during Friday prayer. They have
guns on at least 1,500 people inside the mosque.
The phone goes dead. Dahr jumps to his laptop, turning it on. Lights a cigarette. A beat. The
room phone RINGS. He quickly answers.

I’m on my stomach. We are in very bad situation. I
believe they shot people while they were praying and
maybe twenty are wounded. I cannot believe this! I
can’t let them see me calling you.
Phone goes DEAD.
ON DAHR
Frantically typing everything he just heard from Abu Talat. In a few moments…
117.
Room phone RINGS. Dahr quickly answers.

There are over 50 soldiers here with their guns on us.
They are holding our heads to the ground. This is the
worse situation possible. They cannot see me talking
to you. Oh, no. They are beating a blind man because
he doesn’t know to lie down. A soldier’s coming
toward me.
Phone goes DEAD.
Dahr continues typing what Abu Talat has just told him.
TIME CUT:
Dahr, seated on the couch. Smoking. Anxiously waiting. Clock reads: 12:34 PM. A long
beat. Within the first cell phone tone, Dahr answers.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

(crying)
I am home. I was only released because a boy told me
to pretend I was his father. Dahr, I cannot believe
what has happened. I must go back. They are rounding
up men to take to the prison camps.
DAHR
No, Abu Talat. Don’t go. You don’t know what is
going to happen.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

This is my mosque, my people. I must see what is
happening to them.
Abu hands up.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. DAHR’S HOTEL ROOM - DAY
ON CLOCK: 2.15 pm.
Dahr staring at the clock, impatiently waiting to hear from Abu Talat. An ashtray filled with
cigarette butts. He looks over at the room phone next to his laptop.
It RINGS.
Dahr leaps up to answer it.

118.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

Dahr, the mosque is still sealed, but I have
eyewitnesses for you to describe…
DAHR
Ready.
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

Here is Adbulla Ra’ad Aziz.
Dahr continues to transcribe everything they are saying on his laptop, cradling the phone
receiver, attaching a recording device.
ADBULLA RA’AD AZIZ (V.O.)

People were praying and the Americans invaded the
mosque. Why are they killing people for praying?
After the forces entered they went back to the back
doors and we heard so many bullets of the guns. There
were wounded and four dead, I saw them myself.
Another breaks in.
RANA AZIZ (V.O.)

I am Rana Aziz. An Iraqi National Guardsmen held
his gun to my head and yelled, ‘I will kill you if you
don’t shut up.’
ABU TALAT (V.O.)

Here is Hammad Mohammed.
HAMMAD MOHAMMED (V.O.)

My uncle’s coffin was taken inside the mosque to be
prayed on, and the Americans raided the mosque and
went to the Imam’s room. We heard so many bullets
of the guns – it was a gun bigger than a Kalashnikov. I
saw four killed and nine wounded.
Abu Talat breaks in…
ABU (V.O.)
Doctors and staff are standing outside but the
Americans refuse to let them inside. They can do
nothing. The Americans are not letting them inside
while there are wounded people inside the mosque.
CUT TO:
119.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Abu Talat sits in Dahr’s hotel room. A TAPE RECORDER lays on the table next to the laptop.
It plays the VOICE of Abu Talat’s recording of the mosque incident. They have just finished
listening to it. As Dahr switches it off…
ABU TALAT
(distraught; wet eyed)
I am in a very sad position. People were praying to
Allah and they were killed and wounded. Brains
splattered on the walls of the mosque. The soldiers
said they came to capture Imam Mouad Al-Adhamiy.
But that wasn’t the real reason.
DAHR
I remember Abu Ali saying he feared retaliation for the
people refusing to take the ballots with their food
coupons.
ABU TALAT
Raiding the mosque will only harden the Iraqis toward
resistance.
(beat)
My family doesn’t want me to go anywhere. I’m
sorry, but I can’t take you to Fallujah. I must stay and
protect my home. There is someone I can arrange to
take you there, a few days at the most. I hear rumors
of a mass cemetery. How can the world ignore these
atrocities?
INT. DAHR’S HOTEL ROOM - MOMENT’S LATER
Dahr being interviewed on a Christian Radio talk show over Dahr’s SATELLITE PHONE.
There is a commercial break in the program, in which we HEAR through the satphone receiver.
HUMMER RADIO COMMERCIAL (V.O.)

So, folks, you can come in and trade in that old
Hummer for a new one with low, low financing.
TALK SHOW HOST (V.O.)

We’re talking to Dahr Jamail, who is right now in
Baghdad, Iraq via satellite phone. How are you Mr.
Jamail?
DAHR
Good.
120.
RADIO SHOW HOST (V.O.)

Your English is very good, for being an Arab Muslim.
Where did you learn English?
DAHR
I am…

My Christian listeners would like to know why you
Iraqis are so ungrateful for us liberating you from
Saddam Hussein. Can you give me one good reason?
DAHR
As I was about to say…
RADIO SHOW HOST

What you write about is very anti-American. How do
you think you’re making our troops feel, dying for
your liberation?
DAHR
Actually, if you would let me speak…

I’m not keeping you from speaking; I just think your
Muslim religion is causing you to hate America,
democracy and freedom. As President Bush says,
everything we stand for.
DAHR
In fact, I am not Muslim. I’m not Arab. I’m an
American citizen who was born in Texas, and
graduated from A & M University.

Well, it’s pretty hard for me to believe that with your
name being an Arab name.
DAHR
I was named after my Lebanese ancestors. I was raised
in a Republican family. My father voted for Bush.

And he supports you being an anti-war activist? Is
your family a Christian family?
121.
DAHR
Yes, and as a Christian family true to Christ’s word, he
approves of me taking a mature responsibility in
defining the character of our constitutional provisions
that allows each American to question the government
that commits impeachable policies propagated through
biased media. I’m going to Fallujah tomorrow.
You’re more than welcome to come along.
CUT TO:
EXT. FALLUJAH – SOCCER STADIUM – MOMENT LATER
Dahr and his new woman interpreter, SUTHIR, (20ish) wait by the ENTRANCE, as a grieving
Old Iraqi Man is lead out by his two Brothers. Above them reads a sign in Arabic translated,
MARTYRS CEMETARY.
MOMENT’S LATER
Dahr and Suthir walk among the gravesites as Suthir translates the gravestone inscriptions.
SUTHIR
This one is a little girl.
They take another step to the next grave.
SUTHIR
This one is her sister.
(pointing)
Next to them is their mother.
They continue to walk under the scorching sun along the dusty rows of simple headstones.
SUTHIR
Old man wearing jacket with black dishdasha, near
industrial center. He has a key in his hand.
Tears flood from Suthir’s eyes.
They come upon a burial scene and observe from a distance a funeral procession.
-- An adult body shrouded in white cotton is taken from a wooden box, next to an “L” shaped
dug gravesite.
-- An Iraqi man jumps down into the grave, and takes the feet of the body, as the others
gradually lower the body into the shorter hole.
122.
SUTHIR
They didn’t allow us to go to the Julan area or any of
the others where there was heavy fighting, and I’m
sure that is where the horrible things took place.
-- Two Imam’s stand by the grave. One is in a Black Turban, the other in a White Turban.
SUTHIR
Rather than burying full bodies, residents of Fallujah
are burying legs and arms, and sometimes just
skeletons as dogs have eaten the flesh.
-- Fragments of concrete slabs are situated at an angle to protect the body, because commonly
used bricks are not available.
SUTHIR
The man they bury here, he was the oldest teacher in
Fallujah, a 90-year-old man, while praying in a
mosque was shot in the head by a Marine sniper.
-- The family members line up along the gravesite and voice their prayers.
-- The Black Turban Imam gives a prayer. The White Turban Imam gives a prayer.
DAHR (V.O.)
Iraqi doctors estimate that over half of the dead Iraqis
are women, children and elderly, and the graves I view
seem to confirm this. There are nearly five hundred
graves here today, and the dead keep coming.
-- A couple of men take shovels and hastily toss dirt from a mound covering the gravesite.
TIME CUT:
The grave, now a mound of dirt is covered with water.
-- THE RUMBLE OF APACHE HELICOPTERS O.C.
SUTHIR (CONT’D)
The military is doing nothing to help people. Only the
Iraqi Red Crescent is trying to help – but nobody can
help the traumatized people, even the IRC is
overwhelmed.
Dahr and Suthir move on.
In the distance, a woman WAILS from grief.

123.
SUTHIR
(reading another headstone)
Man wearing red track suit.
(points to another row)
Three women killed in car leaving city by American
missile.
(beat)
It is only getting worse here. Everyday is worse than
the last day. Today is better than tomorrow. Right
now is better than the next hour. This is our life in
Iraq.
Dahr and Suthir continue to walk among the countless rows of graves.
SUTHIR
I need another heart and eyes to bear it because my
own are not enough. Nothing justifies what was done
to the city. I didn’t see a house or mosque that wasn’t
destroyed. There were families with nothing. I met a
family with three daughters and two sons. American
snipers killed one of their sons, Mustafa who was 16
years old. Then their house was burned. They had
nothing to eat. Just rice and cold water – dirty water…
they put the rice in the dirty water, let it set for one or
two hours, then they ate the rice. Fatma, the 17-year-
old daughter, said she was praying for God to take her
soul because she couldn’t bear the horrors anymore.
WE PULL BACK TO FOCUS ON: MOSQUE MINARET LOUDSPEAKER.
LOUDSPEAKER VOICE
(Arabic; subtitled English)
We have two reasons to be happy this month. One is
the birthday of our prophet. The second is our victory
over the Americans.
CUT TO:
EXT. CARNIVAL PARK – FALLUJA REFUGEE CAMP
MEDHI, (30ish) has taken Dahr to the refugee camp of Fallujans. It is the same carnival park
that Dahr first visited when he arrived in Baghdad. The Ferris Wheel is damaged with carts
dangling off hinges.
We follow Dahr and Medhi through rows upon rows of TENTS. Children run about, several
kicking a half inflated soccer ball with faded American propaganda printed on it about bringing
peace.
124.
Some Iraqi women are using two water taps to clean pots and wash clothing. Many Iraqi MEN
are standing around, smoking, walking aimlessly, pensively waiting for something to happen,
wanting to break the chains of these events that have brought them utter despair.
INT. SHEIKH’S TENT - CONTINUOUS
Dahr enters the tent of a Sheikh and is seated. Medhi explains in Arabic that Dahr wants to
interview the Sheikh about what happened in Fallujah. There are other Iraqi MEN seated by the
Sheikh, all looking distraught. Smoking. The Sheikh agrees. Medhi translates.
SHEIKH
You can see how much we have suffered. We have
ninety-seven families here now, with fifty more
coming tomorrow. People are kidnapping refugee
children and selling them.
Unable to contain his rage, ABU HAMMAD, a 35-year-old merchant from Fallujah interrupts,
his body shaking from grief and anger.
ABU HAMMAD
(barely breathing)
The American warplanes continuously bombed
everywhere in Fallujah. It did not stop even for a
moment. If the American forces did not find a target
to bomb, they used sound bombs just to terrorize the
children. The city stayed in fear; I cannot give a
picture of how panicked everyone was.
(beat)
In the mornings I found Fallujah empty, as if nobody
lives in it. Even poisonous gases have been used in
Fallujah – they used everything – tanks, artillery,
infantry, and poison gas. Fallujah has been bombed to
the ground. Nothing is left. The sky is red from our
blood.
Someone opens the tent flap, exposing a blood red sunset. Several MEN nod in agreement,
while staring toward the brilliant western red horizon.
ABU HAMMAD (CONT’D)

Most of the innocent people there stayed in mosques to
be closer to Allah for safety. Even the wounded
people were killed. Old ladies with white flags were
killed by the Americans. The Americans announced
for people to come to a certain mosque if they wanted
to leave Fallujah, and even the people who went there
carrying white flags were killed.
125.
A large Iraqi man, MOHAMMAD ALI, is crying in the b.g. His hefty muscular body shudders
with each bit of information revealed by Abu Hammad.

There was no food, no electricity, no water. We
couldn’t even light a candle because the Americans
would see it and kill us.
Abu pauses, looking into the other’s faces. A long beat.

The people of Fallujah are only Fallujans. Ayad
Allawi was a liar when he said there were foreign
fighters there.
(beat)
There are bodies the Americans threw in the river. I
saw them do this! And anyone who stayed would be
killed by the Americans, so they tried to swim across
the river. Even then the Americans shot them with
rifles from the shore. Even if some of them were
holding a white flag or white clothes over their heads
to show they are not fighters, they were all shot. Even
people who couldn’t swim tried to cross the river.
They drowned rather than stay to be killed by the
Americans.
Mohammed Ali cuts in, pleading.
MOHAMMED ALI
I am Mohammed Ali. I live in the Julan District. They
call us terrorists when we live in the city. We own the
city. We didn’t go to fight the Americans – they came
to our city to fight us. Fallujans are defending our city,
our houses, our mosques, and our honor. Ayad Allawi
says we are his family – can you attack your family
Allawi? Do you attack your own family Allawi?
Mohammed Ali raises his hands to the sky as pleading for Allah’s mercy.
MOHAMMAD ALI (CONT’D)

We are asking Islam, all the Islamic countries to have a
clear conscience to look at what is happening in
Fallujah. We were the most secured city with the
police and ING without the presence of the Americans.
But now when we come to Baghdad we are afraid
because our cars and belongings will be looted.
Mohammad Ali’s body trembles.

126.
MOHAMMAD ALI (CONT’D)

We did not feel that there is Eid after Ramadan this
year because of our situation being so bad. All we
have is more fasting. They said they are going to
reconstruct Fallujah – but I would like to ask when and
how, because what did they do to Sadr City when they
stopped fighting there? They did nothing.
Mohammed has run out breath. TEARS stream down his brutish face.
Then, another refugee speaks up, enraged. KHALIL, (40ish).
KHALIL
When the Americans come to our city we refuse to
accept any foreigner coming to invade us. We accept
the ING’s but not the Americans. Nobody has seen
any Zarqawi. If the Americans don’t come in our city,
who do Fallujans attack? Fallujans don’t attack other
Iraqis. Fallujans only attack the American troops when
the come inside and desecrate our holy city.
(beat)
If we have a government – the government should
solve the suffering of the people. Our government
does not do this – instead they are always attacking us.
Our government is a dummy government. They are
not here to help us. The Minister of Defense and
Interior are speaking that we are their family – so why
do they collapse our houses on our heads? Why do
they kill all of us?
Khalil’s eyes fill with tears, while he points to several small children nearby the tent entrance.
KHALIL (CONT’D)
Eid is over. Ramadan is over – and the kids are
remaining without even a smile. They have nothing
and nowhere to go. We used to take them to parks to
amuse them, but now we don’t even have a house for
them.
Continuing to point to the children and women nearby, WE COME IN CLOSE on his face…
KHALIL (CONT’D)
What about the children? What did they do? What
about the women. What did they do?
CUT TO:
127.
EXT. BAGHDAD – AL-ADHAMIYA - HAMID AL-ALWAN MOSQUE - MORNING
A crisp clear blue sky. Friday morning prayers are taking place inside a mosque. Small groups
of Iraqi’s mill about outside the mosque.
There are a few vehicles parked along the curb, one of which is a WHITE MINIBUS.
Dahr is walking on the other side of the street when he sees Ahmed by the mosque entrance.
Dahr calls out to Ahmed “Salaam Aleikum”, who waves back, shouting “Salaam Aleikum.”
SUDDENLY…
-- The MINIBUS EXPLODES into a huge BALL OF FIRE.
-- Dahr is blown backwards, engulfed in the explosion.
-- As the black bellowing smoke clears we see human CARNAGE.
-- Dahr dazed with superficial lacerations tries to stand, staggers. Falls. He looks up to see…
-- An Iraqi man is trying to help a screaming young boy whose lower right leg is shredded,
dangling by the skin.
-- An Iraqi woman lays screaming in agony on the pavement, fatally wounded.
-- People come running out of the damaged mosque.
-- Dahr, still struggling to gain composure notices blood dripping from his face. He’s been
sprayed with thick blood mist. He wipes his face with his blood stained Kefir.
-- From the smoldering rubble, a SECOND BLAST, much larger than the first goes off.
-- The blast overshoots Dahr, who is still on the ground, protected by the twisted remains of a
car.
-- Fire. Dense black smoke. Twisted remains of vehicles including the destroyed MINIBUS
lay about the street in front of the mosque’s bomb shrapnel pitted facade.
ANGLE ON DAHR: Walking through POOLS of BLOOD, SHREDS of BLOODY

CLOTHING, BODY PARTS STREWN all over.
DAHR (V.O.)
The U.S. military never showed up for this one. The
Iraqi National Guard, who have a base in the ex-
presidential palace less than one kilometer from here,
never showed up either. No ambulances were allowed
in.
128.
(beat)
The Iraqi Police, however, did show up at the scene.
Iraqi Police arrive wearing black BALACLAVAS to protect their identity, watching from the
perimeter of the carnage. Among them, one IP MAN, muscular, arrogant, loud spoken,
unmasked, yells in a provocative and inflammatory manner…
IRAQI POLICEMAN
(to Dahr)
Of course this happened because this is Shia mosque.
The Sunni hate the Shia.
DAHR (V.O.)
I never found Ahmed’s body.
FADE TO:
EXT. COLONIAL SESSION HALL - ISTANBUL, TURKEY - ESTABLISHING
We SEE a CREW of technicians setting up their mobile satellite station from a van, laying
cables to inside the session hall.
DAHR (V.O.)
The culminating session of the World Tribunal on Iraq
produced a Declaration of Jury of Conscience on June
27, 2005. I gave my Testimony on War Crimes and
the Recent Situation in Iraq to the delegation.
INT. SESSION HALL
Filled to capacity. We PAN the audience, most wearing translator’s headsets.
SUPERIMPOSE: WORLD TRIBUNAL ON IRAG LOGO
"Peace is the underlying condition for the full

observance of human rights and war is their negation.
Resolution on Human Rights in Armed Conflict
International Conference on Human Rights 1968"
SUPERIMPOSE: ISTANBUL, TURKEY – JURY OF CONSCIENCE FINDINGS –

CULMINATING SESSION TESTIMONY – JUNE 25, 2005
FOCUS ON THE FRONT TABLE: DELEGATES from around the world are seated with
translator’s headsets at a long table. Among them is Dahr. A red SIGN – JURY/JURI. Two
large screens behind them project the speakers.
129.
ANGLE ON: Media production station with a handful of crew working in the back of the hall.
Technician is running the computer switcher board. Another is managing the Internet online
streaming. Four TV monitors set before them.
TECHNICIAN
Ok, cue, then go to the next speaker.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – DEMOCRACY NOW - World Tribunal on Iraq Condemns U.S.
and Britain, Recognizes Right of Iraqis to Resist Occupation – AMY GOODMAN
(JUNE 27, 2005)
AMY GOODMAN
The World Tribunal on Iraq wrapped its three-day
session today in Istanbul, Turkey. Torture and
rendition was a main theme of the testimony heard
there.
(spliced time cut)
The gathering was modeled on the International War
Crimes Tribunal that British philosopher Bertrand
Russell formed in 1967 during the Vietnam War.
(spliced time cut)
A seventeen-member Jury of Conscience at the
Tribunal heard testimonies from a panel of advocates
and witnesses who came from across the world,
including Iraq, the U.S., and Britain.
PODIUM - CONTINUOUS
INSERT: DEEP DISH VIDEO CLIP – HUDDA FAWZI SALAM ISSAWA
HUDDA FAWZI SALAM ISSAWA

(superimpose name)
Five of us, including a 55-year old neighbor, were
trapped together in our house in Fallujah when the
siege began. On November 9, 2004, American
Marines came to our house. My father and the
neighbor went to the door to meet them. We were not
fighters. We thought we had nothing to fear. I ran into
the kitchen to put on my veil, since men were going to
enter our house. This saved my life. As my father and
neighbor approached the door, the Americans opened
fired on them. They died instantly. My 13-year-old
brother and me hid in the kitchen behind the fridge.
The soldiers came into the house and caught my older
sister. They beat her. Then they shot her.
130.
SPLICE CUT TO STATEMENT:
JOURNALIST FADHI AL BEDRANI

(superimpose name)
On November 15, in Goulan area, 20 to 25 persons
were running barefoot when an American warplane
bombed, killing and wounding them.
INSERT: WARPLANE VIDEO CLIP OF BOMBING ATTACK IN FALLUJAH

(ARCHCIVE FOOTAGE)
JOURNALIST FADHI AL BEDRANI (CONT’D)

Only one elderly woman and two children stayed safe
when they hid under rubble of a bombed house. The
dead bodies were left in the street for 20 days.
(beat)
On November 25, 15 American soldiers entered a
house at Bathara area, central Falluja. Three civilian
men were there; one was handicapped, the second was
61 years old, and the third was 52 years old. The only
one who stayed alive said, “When the Americans
entered the house they say that we were sitting
unarmed; 14 left, and the last one threw us a grenade,
saying bye. Two were seriously wounded. I with my
slight wounds tried to help them, but after awhile they
were back; I pretended to be dead while the other two
were suffering. They put a bullet in every head and
left.
DISOLVE TIME CUT:
Dahr is introduced and comes to the podium
While Dahr speaks, photographs of Iraqi civilian deaths are shown on the projected screens
behind him.
DAHR JAMAIL
(superimpose name)
I want to address the issue of torture, but in a broader
perspective. Not with illustrations of beatings and
electrical wires connected to a man’s genitals, but
instead as a demoralizing collective punishment of a
culture, the deliberate dehumanization of civilians
from superpower overkill. You can’t see them, but I
have invited the souls of those men, women and
children of Iraq who died a desperate death from the
(MORE)
131.
DAHR JAMAIL (CONT'D)

commodity of war to be present here today,
immortalized in the slide show behind me as I speak.
War is always done by the numbers, so let me begin
with President Bush’s State of the Union address in
2003, when he told Congress that Iraq was in
possession of 26,000 liters of anthrax, 38,000 liters of
botulinum toxin, 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX
nerve agent, 30,000 munitions to deliver these agents,
mobile biological weapons labs, al Qaeda connections,
and uranium from Niger to use in a robust nuclear
weapons program. Trumpeting his self-proclaimed
accomplishments after 9/11, Bush claimed that "more
than 3,000 suspected terrorists" had been arrested
worldwide -- "and many others have met a different
fate." His face took on the customary leer, the strange,
sickly half- smile it acquires whenever he speaks of
killing people: "Let's put it this way: They are no
longer a problem.” President Bush had to elevate Iraq,
nearly annihilated by Operation Desert Storm and then
by inhumane sanctions that have killed over a half
million Iraqis through disease, starvation, radiation
exposure, dysentery, impure water, and lack of medical
care, into a despotic superpower, comparable to Soviet
Russia during the Cold war, just as his father lead a
covert campaign heralded as the New World Order to
demonize Saddam Hussein by calling him Hitler, and
purposely subverting every effort for peace by buying
off Congress, while selling Saddam weapons by U.S.
manufacturers in 1990, and then cutting off food
deliveries to provoke Saddam into war. In the Gulf
War, 110,000 air sorties dropped 88,000 tons of
bombs, nearly seven times the equivalent of the atomic
bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. The first U.N.
observers reported on the condition of Iraq after the
Gulf War that the U.S. left the country in an
apocalyptic condition considering that over 20,000
homes were destroyed and indiscriminate aerial
strafing of isolated Bedouin camps annihilated
noncombatants. This included the bombing of nuclear
power plants exposing the population to life
threatening levels of radiation, a violation of the U.N.
Charter. Estimation of Gulf War Iraqi civilian deaths
are 125,000 of which 60% were children the week
before the end of the war. One hundred and forty eight
(MORE)
132.

U.S. soldiers died, compared to over 100,000 Iraqi
soldiers. Even after the cease fire the U.S. 24th
Division Forces engaged in a four-hour assault on
retreating Iraqis soldiers and civilians west of Basra,
calling it a “Turkey Shoot” again a violation of
humanitarian law. The ratio of Iraqi troop deaths to
Americans was 1,000 to 1 in the Gulf War. Add Iraqi
civilian deaths and the ratio is over 2,000 to 1. In
responding to the overwhelming noncombatant death
tally, then acting General Colin Powell said, “It’s
really not a number I’m terribly interested in.”
Between 1990 and 2004, the death ratio of Iraqi
civilians to coalition forces is 400 to 1. That’s a body
count culmination of one million civilian deaths as a
result of the Gulf War, ten years of economic
embargos where starvation of civilians as a method of
warfare is prohibited and three years of Operation Iraqi
Freedom and even though my calculations do not
include the civilian deaths in Afghanistan, which are
projected to be in tens of thousands, we have yet to call
this atrocity for what it is: the silent holocaust. That
goes without saying that the numbers of civilian deaths
by terrorist bombings is not being ignored. But with
the lack of an aggressive security force, now going into
the third year of the U.S. lead occupation, it is clear the
Bush administration is in violation of the law of
prohibition against crimes against peace and humanity,
mandated by the Charter of the United Nations, the
Nuremberg Charter, and the Geneva Conventions of
1977, all of which have overlapping fail-safe
provisions to protect human dignity and happiness by
enforcing peaceful resolution over war. Good laws
make it harder to do wrong. Common sense guides our
morality because, as we have seen in previous wars the
consequences of our crimes against humanity long
survive their commissions. So it makes me wonder
how has the Bush administration gotten away with so
many violations of these international rules of law.
Those responsible have accomplished very little in
curbing crimes against peace, making a hideous
mockery of ethical foreign policy. These laws are
meant to provide protection of civility, but if a world
leader can do what they forbid, then they are no
longer a law, but instead give others the same right to
(MORE)
133.

violation. To me this is collective torture to the civil
liberties of humanity, escalating to the likes of Hitler’s
bombing of Britain, Nixon’s Vietnamization carpet
bombing policy and most recently, let’s nuke the
bastards in Iraq. As citizens of a civilized world, if we
stand by we condone the atrocities and enable these
crimes to continue, for people don’t give up their
liberties willingly, unless under some delusion.
Vigilance is the price of maintaining peace in the
world, for blessed is the peacemaker for they will
never be unemployed. Just as their have been tribunals
on war crimes before, we must use this platform to
build alliances for social action that we can mobilize to
exert pressure in a leap forward as a counter offensive
to build a global community in accordance to
international law and political policies enforcing
uncompromising peace. We are not anti-war. Instead,
it is the warmongers who are anti-peace for having
bombed Iraq back into the pre-industrial age with
weapons of mass destruction and continuing to expand
further military aggression in the Middle East.
President Bush’s proclaimed Toward Freedom in Iraq
is a miserable cowardice that cannot face the reality of
his torturous Highway of Death, as I have see with my
own eyes; for no one can testify more accurately but
the eyewitness. By declaring a war on terror, the Bush
administration holds us hostage by the majority’s
ignorance in fear. But with our knowledge, others can
open their eyes to the truth. We can be the brave
witnesses and the voices will never be silenced.
Thank you.
INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – DEMOCRACY NOW – AMY GOODMAN - CONTINUED
AMY GOODMAN
The jury delivered its verdict and recommendations at
a news conference today. The preliminary verdict read
in part,
INSERT: DEEP DISH CONTROL ROOM – SATELLITE FEED MONITORS
AMY GOODMAN
“Recognizing the right of the Iraqi people to resist the
illegal occupation of their country and to develop
independent institutions and affirming that the right to
resist the occupation is the right to wage a struggle for
134.
self-determination, freedom and independence as

derived from the charter of the United Nations, we, the
Jury of Conscience declare our solidarity with the
people of Iraq.”
CUT TO:
EXT. TIMES SQUARE – NEW YORK - DAY
Dahr walks along the sidewalk through the thick daily pedestrian traffic. He looks up at a
scrolling reader BOARD that is keeping track of the cost of the Iraq war. It reads…
FADE OUT.
THE END

Iraq Dispatches

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Iraq Dispatches

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IRAQ DISPATCHES

Based on Dahr Jamail’s Iraq Dispatches Weblog 2003-2005

EXT. HIGH ABOVE IRAQ – DAY - ESTABLISHING

A C-130 banks over Baghdad.

INT. C-130 - CONTINUOUS

PRESIDENT BUSH (V.O.)

"For your safety return to your homes and live in

"Nobody benefits from the use of weapons of mass

"Coalition forces do not wish to harm the noble people

"We can see everything."

INSERT: VIDEO CLIP -- MSNBC DAVID SHUSTER

INSERT: VIDEO CLIP -- AL-JAZEERA ATTACKED - TARIQ AYOUB KILLED.

INSERT: VIDEIO CLIP -- OLIVER NORTH REPORTING FROM IRAQ

INSERT: VIDEO CLIP -- CNN AARON BROWN

EXT. SKY - DAY

SUPERIMPOSE: APRIL 2003

INT. C-130 PLANE

ON LEAD COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER with headset and eyes FOCUSED on a TV

INT. HOUSE - BAGHDAD – SAME TIME

FOCUS ON: Static TV screen, when appears…

VIDEO CLIP: PRESIDENT BUSH

INSERT: PBS NEWS CLIP (Jim Lehrer)

INSERT: ABC NEWS CLIP

INSERT: FOX NEWS CLIP (Brit Hume)

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

INSERT: NBC NEWS CLIP

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

INSERT: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD H. RUMSFELD (APRIL 11, 2003 – DoD

INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – TOM BROKAW (March 19, 2003)

INT. PASSENGER TRAIN CAR - DUSK

Dahr on CELL PHONE.

ABU TALAT (V.O.)

TRAIN CAR - CONTINIOUS

ABU TALAT (V.O.)

Cell phone STATIC.

ABU TALAT (V.O.)

EXT. BAGHDAD - DAY

Dahr on cell phone.

ABU TALAT (V.O.)

Dahr’s FINGER pushing the OFF button on the cell phone.

DAHR (V.O.) (CONT'D)

EXT. CANADA/U.S. BORDER - BLAINE - DAY

WE PAN the INTERNATIONAL PEACE ARCH.

-- L.O.V.E. SIGN LANGUAGE SCULPTURE

-- CIRCLE OF PEOPLE SCULPTURE

INT. U.S. BORDER - BLAINE - DAY

EXT. FALLUJAH – IRAQ – DAY

INT. HOTEL ROOM

EXT. FALLUJAH CHECK POINT

A Man arrives. It’s the Young Woman’s HUSBAND.

The Husband holds out a stack of tattered documents.

HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

YOUNG WOMAN (V.O.)

INSERT: VIDEO CLIP PRESIDENT’S PRESS CONFERENCE (APRIL 20TH, 2005)

PASSENGER TRAIN CAR

INSERT: VIDEO CLIP – PRESIDENT NIXON’S ‘SILENT MAJORITY SPEECH’

INSERT: VIDEO CLIP (MSNBC) – PRESIDENT BUSH “REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO

PRESIDENT NIXON (CONT’D)

PRESIDENT NIXON (CONT’D)

PASSENGER TRAIN CAR - CONTINUOUS

FLASHBACK: DAHR WITH FAMILY AT DINNER TABLE

A Dinner in Dahr’s honor. AB LIB family cross talk. Then,

Dead silence. All are staring at Dahr.

PASSENGER TRAIN CAR - CONTINUOUS