Hey.
- Whoa. - Hey, come on.
Move that hand right now.
Annie. Hey, I wanna read you something.
I know how to read.
- Great. Here, listen to this. - What is it?
- It's poetry. - Ha. It's been tried, and it's died.
Shakespeare came in here, and I have to tell you, that's old.
- Next. - Gee, you're pretty.
A wee retro.
- Here you go. - Thanks.
- I knew you'd come back. - You better watch those hands.
Get your hands off me.
- Get your hands- - Aah!
Hey, hey.
Be a gentleman.
You paid him, right?
- Wow. You're cold. - You paid him.
I didn't pay him, but I would've.
I've got one for you.
- Why is love like seasickness? - Why?
Once you got it, you got it.
Sergeant White.
Open field, mate. I've been called back to duty.
Turn that thing off. No light near the open flight deck.
- We're flying NV. - How the hell would you know?
- What's his problem? - I don't think he likes MPs.
- What you writing? - A poem.
- Yeah? What about? - Poetry about my bayonet.
That's touching. Is there no end to your talent?
I can't make a very good margarita.
Package is waking up.
Hey. Three.
- What is it? - I don't know. A poem, something.
"Sheffield Steel. "
They say love will find a way
- Is it unusual for a soldier to be a poet? - We're not soldiers. We're MPs.
All right, if things go bad on the ground...
...put yourself under the protection of a combatant.
How dangerous is it down there?
Well, if you stick by me, Sergeants White and Blue, you'll be fine.
If it had been dangerous...
...DOD would've sent you with a squad of Special Forces...
...or never let you come.
Start putting things together. And get the package ready.
Please give a U.S. Army welcome to Miss Lila Lee.
Yeah!
How's everybody doing tonight?
Good. All right, y'all, so listen.
Ahem. Y'all are looking good.
You know, I never met my daddy. He died in Desert Storm.
But Mommy used to say that he had this real favorite song.
Hey. I'm out of ink.
- You got a pen? Now, y'all are cowboys at heart.
Sing along with me.
Marry me, Lila!
Whoo!
Get your MP hands off my pup.
- You killed them. - Yeah, I killed them.
- I didn't need a gun. How about that? - Most impressive.
You think that's worth $50 million a year?
Only thing I know that's worth that kind of money is good manners.
Yeah, kiss my ass.
Bill, company.
- Mr...? - Danny White.
- Mr. White. - Sergeant White.
Guy in soft clothes.
- You with CID? - Oh, something like that.
You boys. Come on in, get yourself a cup of coffee.
Thank you, ma'am.
- You worked with him before? - We've met.
- Where was that? - He was kicking me off my base.
- Bill. - Morning.
- Your wife's a very hospitable woman. - Oh, you mean she's very perceptive.
Is that what I mean?
Well, she let you in here without seeing ID or a badge or anything.
Maybe you mean she's too trusting.
Don't drink my wife's good coffee and tell me she's too trusting.
A cop's wife? What could be worse? Drink up. I'll be back in five.
Oh, by the way, I told her to expect you.
I'm not due for another 15.
- Well, I told her you'd be early. - How'd you know that?
I figured you'd wanna catch me off guard, establish dominance.
Just like the book says. You want a piece of pie?
It's in the icebox.
Just give her breakfast. No autographs. You can get these on your way out.
Miss Lee?
All right, she's up.
Sergeant White, why don't you grab some grub?
"Sheffield Steel. " Young fellow's quite the poet.
- Is that what he is? - Your friend's notebook.
I took the liberty.
- Good material for a song or two. - Mm-hm.
Hey, she wants to go to the forward area.
- This is the forward area. - She wants to be out on patrol.
Ain't gonna happen.
But if she wants the same effect, I can blow her foot off.
She wants to, quote, "get up in the thick of it. "
Sir, this right here could in the blinking of an eye...
...be the thick of it.
My orders are to ensure her safety in this area till 2230 this date...
...and pack her back on a lovely and talented helicopter...
...thence to Baghdad and out of my hair.
- If she has a different plan? - Possession of a plan is her right.
But she will go when and where she's told.
Let's review today's festivities.
Ah. Publicity walk-around in one quarter-hour.
Come here. - You believe this?
- Hey, wanna give her some privacy? - Secure him.
Come here.
Okay, let's break that up.
- Could you excuse us, please? - Yeah, in a minute.
- Son, you're out of uniform. - Heh.
I'm here in an official capacity, and that capacity is to kick your ass.
- Sergeant Blue. - Sir.
This boy wants a four-wall conference.
Sergeant White, secure this area.
- Miss, I'd like you to put on clothes. - Is that so?
I would've bet you would've liked the opposite.
Fine-looking man like you. Come on over here.
Miss, get dressed.
You're due outside to talk to the press in 10 minutes.
- Go get my dog. - And what's the magic word?
Have a drink.
You son of a bitch.
I offer you a drink, and this is how you treat me?
Get the hell out of here.
"Kings Bow Before Me. " Have you not heard that song?
Get out of here. Get out!
That's par for the course.
- What is she, crazy? - Yeah, she's crazy.
Now, if any son of a bitch expects me to perform in this atmosphere...
...y'all are barking mad.
And let me tell you:
If you do not get these bozos out of my area code...
- ...I'm staying right here... - Whoo.
...and you can take your afternoon concert and shove it.
Oh, P.S. I wanna go where the action is.
I didn't come here to sign autographs.
Lila, Lila, Lila.
Well, hey. How y'all doing?
I have to say, it is an honor to be here among you people.
Hey, break it up. Break it up. Back it up.
- Think there might be a Iyric in that? - You've got real possibilities.
- Really? - Yeah.
- I said, move it back. - Hey.
I ain't moving till these bozos are gone.
- Yeah, I hear you there. - You know, I hate the MPs.
- Any of y'all hate the MPs? Yeah!
Here, you forgot your funny little hat.
Show us your tattoo.
How'd you all hear about that old tattoo?
- They promised they wouldn't print that. - Well, they lied to you, sweetheart.
Ha-ha-ha. You know what I'd like?
I would love to just purely live among you all.
No, that's right.
Just to be with you, eat with you, and sleep with you.
All right, y'all, you know what I meant. Don't take it the wrong way.
- I mean, after all, I am a good girl. - Yeah. Ha-ha-ha.
Trust me, I am a good girl.
- Ain't life interesting sometimes? - I've remarked that too.
- Higgins. - Higgins, what's the color of the day?
Color of the day is blue.
- Tell me the other thing. - Rover fortune.
- Your Aunt Sarah's maiden name? - Hendrickson.
Strickland, what was the name of your first music teacher?
Mr. Ricardo.
Lot of trouble to guard a guy that's gonna be dead.
We're all gonna be dead.
The guy didn't want him to die in his custody.
Buddy, I'm gonna sleep easier tonight, that's the truth.
Thanks for coming.
You know, I've done a lot of prisoner transport.
- All right. - Do you wanna hear my theory?
Your first music teacher was Mr. Ricardo?
- That's right. - What was your instrument?
Mr. Ayoub, it's time.
It's time.
I'll check it out.
stage one in 20. Stage one in 20 minutes.
Yup.
I got a daughter too. She's 9. That's her.
- What you got there? - Family picture.
Why are you doing that?
This is a GSA security advisory.
Do not leave your car unattended. You will be ticketed and towed.
- Rover fortune. - Flight's delayed.
- What do they wanna do? - They want you to wait.
We'll put him in the room.
We got this.
It's all clear here.
What are you doing? Showing him pictures?
- Well, I have a theory about that. - What's its source?
Its source is, I've been doing prisoner transport for 13, 14 years.
I've learned that time spent on the bushwa...
...is time you ain't spending on security.
And P.S. What the hell do you care...
...if I'm showing him pictures of my family?
- What does it gain? - What's it gain?
What it gains? That fella's gonna get shot.
He's got nothing to lose.
Is he gonna overpower you? That fellow's a zombie.
He's not gonna overpower me.
But he's liable- And I speak from experience.
at any given minute...
...to jump from his affectless state into his nut bag.
Because basically, he's nuts.
He doesn't know whether he's dead or alive.
He doesn't know if he wants to get it over with now or live forever.
And?
And so if we bypass that rationale...
...and connect with him unconsciously about things he's familiar with...
...like a normal life...
...he's much more likely to stay calm and biddable.
- What? Too long a speech for the MPs? - He's just upset about his own daughter.
He can't see his own daughter. That's why I showed him mine.
Connect with him on a human level. Keeps him quiet.
Watch this.
I tried to turn on the television, but it's not working.
I think they're afraid you're gonna be getting messages from Mars.
- What's your daughter's name? - Her name's Maisy.
Mine's Nali.
Yes. Leave the door open.
Great, you can take him home, keep him as a pet.
Except he's gonna be dead tomorrow.
- What's your mission? - Deliver the package alive and whole.
Advance to your goal by another man's road.
- Fellow's killed a lot of people. - He's gonna die for it.
What are you gonna do today that's gonna make that worse?
What? Talk to him disrespectfully?
We're gonna be here for a bit.
I'll bet you can't guess what I got in my pocket.
- No, I can't. - Deck of cards.
Sit down. Sit down.
My daughter lives in this city.
That's a shame.
Oh, thank God you've come.
- Hey. - Is he here?
Yes, he's here. It's so good to have a man around the house.
What have you tried?
We've tried not having a man around the house, and that's not so good.
Okay. Is the water shut off?
- Oh. Hi. - Oh, knock it off.
Kim. Hey, Kim.
Olly olly oxen free, okay?
I do not need to be set up by the Marx Brothers.
And I do not need to suffer the machinations of the well-meaning.
You know Hector Williams?
I've met Hector Williams, and we've had our say.
- Why not? - Why not?
That's right.
Why not go out with you? - That's right.
Oh. At least he's straightforward. Turn that around. Why go out with you?
- He's gaga about you. - Dime a dozen.
- I'm a nice guy. - Nice guys finish last.
- He's the best soldier on the base. Take it to the bank.
Why didn't you lead off with that? That'll get you a date.
Make of it what you will.
I've got her and her manager screaming bloody murder.
Due respect, sir, I got my hands tied.
I have been directed, me and my team, to suit up as MPs...
...because the young lady, quote, "doesn't wish to be guarded by"...
...saving your presence, "shock troops. "
We have her request to move among soldiers...
...treated with wanton disregard.
"One of the world's most prominent young artists...
...who has risked her life to entertain.
Now she's gonna e-mail her senator and the news networks. "
- Sir. - I'm listening.
- Two guys in a room? - All right.
She's a tart on an adventure holiday. She's a drunk and a pillhead.
And I caught her in her quarters raping a young corporal.
I cannot and will not allow her...
...to step one foot out of this secured area...
...let alone on patrol.
You will not allow?
Sir, you've got an antiwar, lefty lush...
...the Pentagon would rather have in the accommodation urinating.
That's why she's here...
...pursuing her dream of sacrifice and martial glory.
Two old soldiers. We're walking a thin line.
Name of the line's "keep her happy but don't get her killed. "
- My end is "don't get her killed. " - Help me out with my end.
- Sir? - Yeah?
- Mind if I get grisly? - Say on.
She's psychotic. Play into her sense of drama.
You've got a soldier who's laid up, minor wound, take him aside.
He tells her, "You're my favorite singer in the world.
My hand don't work.
Would you write me my letter home to Mama? "
You put her on the Internet, writing a poor lad's letter to Mama.
The bloggers pick it up.
Worldwide publicity. Everybody goes home happy.
- Sarge, you've been out after dark. - Thank you, sir.
Where's it coming from? Can you see them?
Trying to get a fix.
- Go get them. - Yes, sir.
She was walking to the mess tent.
Where is she now?
Oh, hell.
- Damn. - Bye, baby.
Please help.
- Oh, my God. - Come on.
- How's she doing? - Shook up.
Let's go.
We gotta go.
I don't think we're going anywhere.
Alpha 6, this is Military Police 303.
We're taking mortar fire.
What the hell did you think you were doing?
- I just wanted to go to the party. - Well, you forgot your funny hat.
These men will meet you at the airport. Surrender the prisoner to no one else.
Washing his hands again?
You'd be washing your hands if you'd done what he's done.
All right, let's go. Next stop, four hours.
Our people will meet you in Miami and oversee the transfer.
It's time.
- My daughter lives in this city. - It's time, sir.
- And Ayoub? - Yes, it is.
- No one on the plane after us? - That's correct.
- Sky marshals in place? - That's correct.
All right, let's go.
I'd like to see my daughter.
Ayoub! Ayoub!
Back in the room. Back in the room.
Send the plane. Let the plane go. Get him back in the room.
Not clear. Not clear.
Well, I scrubbed it, as this airport is compromised.
So is the flight. So is the arrival airport and time.
- I'll hold. - It's his daughter.
Is that right? Is that your daughter?
What is that? What does that say? Who reads that?
No, no, no. Dream on.
Yes.
Military transport, as my unit suggested in the first instance.
No. Sir, we are secure here. I suggest contact his embassy.
You arrange new transport, this field, by military carrier.
Standing by.
You know how to screw up a one-car funeral?
You make it a joint operation.
- So who the hell are you? - I've broken no law.
Who are you?
I brought him a message from his daughter.
- How'd you know we would be here? - I've broken no law.
That's true, but you got unlucky. How did you know we would be here?
- She worked it out. - What does this say?
"I love you. I miss you. I long to see you one last time. "
Well, where is she? She longs to see him one last time.
Where is she? I'll make it happen.
She's in the airport.
- All right. - You had a good time?
- Yeah, I did. - Good.
Aren't you in Special Forces or something?
- I'm a clerk. - Mm-hm.
But didn't they ever teach you that you gotta take the initiative?
Hmm...
Well, I must say, you-
Annie. Annie.
- Sir? - I miss you.
- I got no quarrels with you, man. Annie. - Billy-
Now run.
- You pay him? - Ha-ha-ha.
Thank you for a lovely evening.
Oh, but, uh-uh.
- Why not? - Trouble follows you.
- Trouble follows me? Hmm. - Uh-huh. That's right.
Roger that.
Rest of the cavalry in 10 to 15.
There you are.
Hey, soldier. How you doing?
- I'm all shot up. - You're gonna pull through.
They're on their way. You heard that.
- Could you do something for me? - Well, you bet.
Will you write to my mother?
What do you want me to say to your mom?
Tell her I'm with you.
She won't believe it.
Do you know my songs?
- Yeah, I know all your songs. - Well, which one's your favorite?
That's my favorite too. Heh.
You want me to sing a little for you?
- He sleeping? - He's dead.
We've got some help.
Over here. Three return MPs.
The three of us and the girl and one of yours.
Come on. Come on, miss.
Let's move.
Come on, now, miss. Gotta make a move.
Guy coming in.
He's dead.
Let's go. Let's make a move.
- Miss Lee? - Come in.
- The young fella got killed. - Yes?
- He was running to his truck. - Yes.
- Why? - He went back for ammunition.
- Your man. - Yes?
- Ran out to get him. - Yes.
Why?
Go ahead and drink if you have to.
I was gonna say it won't kill you, but it will kill you.
It just takes its time.
Top.
Hey. DFI troop's full of healthy anticipation...
...waiting for our friend to sing.
Post which evac to Baghdad and then to the world.
Not sparing the horses. Security by other troops.
- We are stood down. Lila.
- She's in back. - I'm not sure she'll sing.
If not, I'd like to pack her up and get her out right now.
I'll ask her. I'll ask her for you.
Sergeant said he's gonna ask her.
They're hoping you'll sing them a song.
- They expect me to sing? - That's right.
- After what just happened? - You wanted to come and sing.
Information on the soldier. You said you'd write him a letter.
Thank you.
- I'll go out there and sing. - That's right.
- Do you believe people can change? - No.
You don't believe that people can change?
Nope.
Seen it, though.
How did you know your father would be here?
- Where else would he be? - Explain it to my satisfaction.
- Is my father here? - Just break it down.
- I want to see my father. - You help me, I'll help you.
- I don't believe you. - You don't help me, I don't help you.
You can believe that.
- You needed him on a commercial flight. - And why is that?
To show he's not a military prisoner, which he is.
- To show your hands are clean. - He's a civilian prisoner...
...of the Federal Department of Prisons, which is remanding him...
...to the government of your country for trial.
He is going to be executed tomorrow.
Things are rough all over.
She's alone. Airport's clean.
Who's your friend? Fellow with the photograph.
He is my husband.
Close that door.
- What are you doing? - Papa.
- Nali. - Papa.
- Wait. - Nali.
Just wait.
For God's sake, give them a minute.
- Why? - Out of human decency.
- Try again. - What does it cost you?
- What do I gain from it? Take her away. - Wait.
- What do you gain from it? - That's right.
- Do you have a family? - Can't remember.
You gain that, all rhetoric aside, all bull aside...
...everything he's done aside, he's still a human being.
- You got a woman on your team? - That's right.
Throw a wand on her. Search her to the skin.
She's got one minute, all of us in the room.
- So? - So?
Yes.
Are my actions fodder for some round-table discussion?
- Theoretically, yes. - Because...?
Well, here's why. The guy is nuts about you.
It seems you like him so too, and...
And we, our unit-
- The Logistical Studies Unit. - Right.
have...
We have...
- We have certain requirements- - I understand.
which do not weigh so heavily on the married folks.
All right.
But which impose certain restrictions on the unmarried.
- As to what they can tell whom. - Good for you.
- Hector. - Hector is a gem beyond price.
He's smitten with you.
Where this might go, of course you can say.
And, Lord, you make me feel old.
And you are in butterfly stage of your development...
...and perhaps flit from flower to flower.
- But- - But...
if you are looking or foresee at some point...
...you might be looking for a good man-
- Whatever the commitment is. - Honored you think me worthy.
then take a look at Hector Williams.
I'll give him one weekend.
And my dearest wish is that y'all make it home safe too.
God bless you.
What?
They took my poetry book.
- What? - My poetry book.
"Sheffield Steel. " I was writing a poem.
Poetry's for sissies.
- What? - He said, poetry's for sissies.
Did you miss grade school, boy?
What?
He said, did you miss grade school?
No, I went. I didn't pay attention.
That's why you ended up in the Army.
We have an inbound flight. Touchdown in 10.
No, English. English only.
Papa?
I want to stay with you.
- It's okay. - Yes.
It's affirmative. Gotta go.
You'll hold her? Yeah, we'll hold her.
Goodbye.
Keep the door open.
All right. Let's go.
Baggage area to airside, van to the runway.
Put a vest on him.
You did the right thing.
Put the vest on him. Let's get him out of here.
Where's her scarf?
Where is her purple scarf?
Oh, God.
- We need an ambulance, a medic, now. - He's dead.
- We need a defibrillator. - He's dead.
Well, she just killed her father.
She just poisoned her father.
No, don't you touch him. I'm gonna make some calls.
- You could use a shave, soldier. - I just got in.
What happened to "No excuses, sir"? Didn't they teach you that?
No excuse, sir.
You're reporting a dead war criminal five hours from a happy extradition...
...dead on your hands in an American airport?
Sir, that is correct.
You did a piss poor job of protecting him.
- As instructed. - We couldn't have let him go home.
- No, sir. - We're clean?
- Yes, sir. - You're sure?
- Yes, sir. - Well done.
Though I...
I practically had to drag that girl into the safe room.
Dismissed.
Sir.
All right.
- That MP. - Yes?
- He has a daughter too. - Yes?
It's gonna cost him his career.
There's a war on.
Top, check this out.
My new song was influenced...
...by my experiences in Iraq three months ago.
Right, you went to Iraq to entertain the troops.
- That's right, Nigel. - Why?
Why? You know, my daddy died in Desert Storm.
Come on, that's a lie.
Your daddy's a 60-year-old drunk in Boca Raton.
- That's true? - That's the gospel, baby.
You know, I sat with him.
I don't know if you know this, but I was really involved in-
- In combat? - Right. I sat with a soldier.
Don't know how they get away with this.
I thought she was, you know, under house arrest.
- She's been in every rehab- - Why are you so upset?
- You know, wasted on the young. - Wait. Shh-shh-shh.
They say love will find a way
But I'll tell you what At the end of the day
Maybe love ain't even real
But I believe in Sheffield steel
Sheffield steel...
- Hello, hello. - Shh. Shh.
Kim Brown's famous baked tuna surprise-
More than I could say for you
You've touched my heart
And you made me feel
Your knife forged out of Sheffield steel
The eyes can pierce and...
- That's a great song. - Oh, you' re kidding me.
What's wrong with you? That's right up your alley.
- He doesn't like the song? - You don't like the song?
Great song. I wish I wrote it.
- Well? - You betcha.
If we sprinkled rice on our hair, I'd even feel married.
Oh, you're scared. Oh, good.
No, we do not have to get married.
But we should get comfortable.
Come here. I'll break the ice.
Mm.
There you go. It's just like falling off a log.
- Annie, I'll- - Go get some ice.
We're gonna see how many uses we can put it to.
When you get back, I'll give you a big surprise.
- Hmm. - Know what?
What?
- You're all right. - You're all right too.
Hurry up.
Tom.