Buried

This film contains very strong language.

CONSTRICTED BREATHING

LABOURED COUGHING

DULL THUDDING

CONSTRICTED BREATHING CONTINUES

DULL THUMPING, METAL CLINKS

LIGHTER FLICKS

HE WHEEZES

BREATHING SLOWS AND SPEEDS UP

HE WHIMPERS

HE YELLS

PANICKED YELLING/BANGING CONTINUES

PANICKED YELLS

THUMPING AND PANIC

HE SCREAMS

Hey!

Help! Help! Help!

HE STRAINS

HE COUGHS

Fuck!

HE GRUNTS

(OK, OK, OK...)

HE STRAINS

HE STRUGGLES LABOURED BREATHING

HE SOBS DESPAIRINGLY

PHONE VIBRATES

HE YELLS

VIBRATING CONTINUES

PHONE BEEPS

Come on, What's... What's the number? What's the number?

One, two... Er, one...

Fuck!

Where is it?

LINE RINGING

-911, please hold.

-No! Wait! Wait!

BEEPING

-Yes, 911.

-Hello, I'm buried.

-You have to help me. You have to help me, I can't breathe...

-Sir...

I'm buried in a coffin. Please help me! Send someone to find me...

-Sir, slow down. What is your name?

-Paul. Paul Conroy.

OK, Mr Conroy. Can you tell me your location?

-I don't know.

-I'm in a coffin.

-I don't know where.

-Please help. I'm scared.

-You're in a coffin?

-Yes.

It's, like, one of those old, wooden ones.

-Are you at a funeral home?

-No. I don't know. No.

-DISTORTED:

-How are you calling me right now?

-What?

If you're buried in a coffin, where are you calling from?

From a cellphone. There was an old cellphone in the coffin.

-You're calling from your cellphone?

-Yes, yes, yes...

No. It's not my cellphone, but, yes, I'm calling from a cellphone.

There was a cellphone in the coffin when you climbed in?

Yes... What? I didn't climb in, though.

-How did you end up in the coffin, sir?

-I was put here.

-In the coffin?

-Yes. Please, help.

And you're saying the coffin is buried?

Yes. I'm a truck driver, I'm an American.

It's... It's hot in here and I can't breathe.

Do you know your location, sir?

I... I told you. Somewhere in Iraq.

-Please, help!

-Iraq?

Yes. I'm a truck driver, I'm an American. I work for CRT.

-Are you a soldier, sir?

-No. Please, you have to listen to me.

I'm a truck driver. I'm an American.

I'm a civilian contractor working in Iraq.

We were attacked in Baqubah, they shot...

They shot them. All of them.

-They shot who, sir?

-All of the other drivers.

And you're saying this happened in Iraq? The country?

Yeah! Please listen to me, OK?

Listen, they gave me a safety number, and it was in my wallet...

And I don't know were it is now.

Mr Conroy, this is 911 emergency in Youngstown, Ohio.

-Ohio?

-Yes, sir. I'm not sure exactly how you called here

if you're in another country, but if you'd like...

I can patch you through to the Sheriff's Department.

You don't understand. I need... Forget it.

PHONE BEEPS

(OK, OK, OK. OK...)

LIGHTER SPARKS

LINE DIALLING OUT

Pick up, pick up, pick up.

Pick up.

'Thanks for calling the Conroys.

'We're not home right now.

'Please leave a message after the beep. Thanks.'

-BEEP

-Yeah, Linda!

Linda, honey, it's me.

I need you to contact the National Guard right away. Or the Pentagon.

Tell them we were attacked in the Diyala Province, in Baqubah.

They need to find me, OK?

Please, baby. You gotta help them find me.

LINE RINGING

-'Hi, this is Linda.'

-Argh!

-'Please leave a message.

'Thanks and have a great day.'

Linda. Linda! I need you to call me right away, OK?

Call me at this number. It's an absolute emergency.

Call me at the number that comes up on your screen, right away.

OK? I don't know what the hell is going on...

I'm buried in a box...

I'm buried in a box.

I can't breathe in here.

Call me whenever you can. Please, baby.

HE COUGHS

UNSCREWING FLASK

DRINKING

HE COUGHS

LINE RINGING

What city and state, please?

Um... I don't know. The FBI. Wherever they are.

Do you have a specific city you'd like to be connected to?

Anywhere, any city. Just connect me to the FBI.

Sir, I have FBI field offices listed in Boston,

-Chicago, New York, Philadelphia...

-It doesn't matter.

Any city, anywhere. just connect me, please!

I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not allowed to do that.

-Chicago, fine! Chicago, OK?

-There's no need to be rude, sir.

Please hold for your number.

The number you requested, 312-421-6700...

can be connected for an additional charge of 25 cents

by pressing the number one.

Chicago field office. Special Agent Harris.

-Is this the FBI?

-Yes, it is, sir.

OK, I'm calling from Iraq. I'm buried in the desert somewhere.

-I need you to help me...

-Whoa, whoa, sir. Slow down.

-When were you in Iraq?

-Now. I'm there now.

I'm a truck driver. I work for CRT. I've been here for nine months.

-May I have your name please, sir?

-It's Paul Conroy.

-TYPING

-Paul Conroy.

-Yeah.

-OK, Paul, explain to me what's going on.

-Er, all right. OK.

Me and a convoy of other drivers

were delivering some kitchen supplies to a community centre.

And then some kids... They started throwing rocks at the trucks.

And then an IED went off up ahead and blew up one of the other trucks.

And then these guys came out from behind the houses

and they started shooting everyone right there on the street.

-Were you shot at?

-I don't know!

I don't know. I was way in the back of the convoy.

I guess I got hit in the head by one of the rocks and blacked out.

That's the last thing I remember.

And then I woke up here, tied up in a coffin.

-Who put you there?

-I guess whoever ambushed us.

-A bunch of kids?

-No, no, no.

Some kids... The kids threw rocks at us.

These guys... Iraqis, some insurgents, I don't fucking know...

They popped out and started shooting everybody right there on the street.

-I thought you said they didn't shoot at you.

-They didn't, I don't know!

-They shot them!

-Sir, you're going to have to stop shouting...

I'm shouting because you're not listening to me!

I need you to help me!

OK, OK, OK!

Can you trace the call? GPS or something?

Why is it that they didn't shoot you?

I don't know. I have no idea. They didn't, that's all I know.

What's your social security number, Paul?

Er... Why? Why? Who cares?

I'm buried in the middle of the fucking desert!

Who cares what my social security number is?

I'm an American citizen. Just send someone to find me, please!

-SIGNAL CRACKS

-Hold on! I can't hear you.

What did you...? Hold on!

-No, no, no, just...

-LINE GOES DEAD

Shit!

LIGHTER SPARKS

LINE RINGING

Thank you for calling Crestin, Roland and Thomas.

How may I direct your call?

Somebody, I need to talk to someone right away. It's an emergency.

Who is this, please?

It's Paul Conroy.

I'm a driver for you guys. I'm calling from Iraq.

-My convoy was attacked.

-Sir, if this is a crisis situation,

-you need to contact the Safety Number...

-I know, I know,

but I don't have it any more. The people took it.

Who took it, sir?

I don't know. The Iraqis, I think. I blacked out.

I'm going to put you through to Alan Davenport.

-Da...? Who's that?

-Director of Personnel. Please hold.

Personnel? No, no, no, no! Wait, wait...

CLASSICAL HOLD MUSIC

-RECORDED MESSAGE:

-At CRT, we work with our clients

to provide effective and sustainable solutions

to the challenges they face in our fast-growing, global economy.

As the prem...

-BEEP

-'You've reached Alan Davenport.

'Personnel director at Crestin, Roland and Thomas.

'Please leave your name and number at the tone.

'And I will return your call as soon as possible.'

-BEEP

-This is Paul Conroy.

I'm from Hastings, Michigan.

I'm a driver for CRT, my convoy was ambushed

by terrorists or insurgents. I don't know.

I don't know who it was.

I'm stuck, I'm buried in a coffin in the ground.

I need help. Please send help. I'm begging you.

I think I'm in Baqubah in the Diyala Province.

I'm not sure. Please send help right away. I can't breathe in here.

I can't breathe. I didn't know who else to call.

-Please help...

-PHONE PIPS

Fuck! Fuck!

Fuck!

-HAMMERING

-Fuck!

HE YELLS

HE SOBS

LIGHTER FLICKS

PHONE BEEPS

LINE DIALLING OUT

Come on!

LINE RINGING

Hello? Is anybody there?

Hello?

Hello?

MAN: Breathe no breathe, American? Ah? Breathe no breathe?

Hold on? I don't know what you're saying. Who is this?

American can breathe no breathe?

No, I can't breathe. Please get me out of here.

-Get out?

-Yes, get me out. Get me out. Please help.

-Soldier.

-No, no, I'm not a soldier.

I'm a truck driver. Just a contractor.

-Contractor?

-Yeah. A contractor, that's all. No soldier.

-Blackwater?

-No, not for Blackwater.

I'm not a security contractor. I'm just a truck driver. That's all.

-You are American.

-Yeah.

Then you soldier.

No, I'm not.

I'm here unarmed. But you still shot at us.

In head and in throat, so you tell no more lies.

No, I'm not lying! We were all drivers.

Drive what?

Trucks. Trucks! The trucks you see driving around with the supplies.

That's me, that's us, that's all. Not a soldier. Truck driver.

-Five million money.

-What?

Five million money tonight 9pm or you stay. Buried like dog.

-Five million dollars? From who?

-Your family.

My family doesn't have five million dollars.

If they did, I wouldn't be here.

From Embassy.

I don't know, yeah, yeah...

From the Embassy. If you let me out of here, they'll pay you the money.

Yeah!

9pm, five million money.

LINE GOES DEAD

HE STRAINS

STRAINING CONTINUES

HE GRUNTS

BEEPING

What's your number?

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

LINE RINGING

What city and listing, please?

Hastings, Michigan. I'm looking for Donna Mitchell.

I have two Donna Mitchells, sir.

One on Federal Road and one on Ardmore Avenue.

Ardmore Avenue... No. Shit, I don't know.

-Just give me that one.

-Ardmore Avenue?

-Yes, Ardmore Avenue.

-Please hold for your number.

RECORDED VOICE: The number you requested, 2-6-9-1-4-8-1-9-9-8

can be automatically...

LINE RINGING

Come on!

Where is everybody?

-Hello?

-Donna, it's Paul.

Hey, how's it going?

I need to talk to Linda.

She's not answering her phone.

-I've got a problem. I've been held hostage by...

-Fooled you!

I'm not really home.

But if you leave a message, I'll get back to you

as soon as I get in. Bye-bye.

-BEEP

-Donna, I need to talk to Linda.

It's an absolute emergency. Have her call me.

Use star 69 to find the number of this phone

and have her call me at this number OK?

-Paul?

-Donna!

-What do you want?

-I need to talk to Linda.

-Where is she?

-I don't know. I haven't talked to her all day...

-Are you at your computer right now?

-Yeah. Why?

-OK.

I need you to Look up a number for me, the State Department.

Paul, I was just heading out to the supermarket.

-I don't have time...

-Please, just look up the number for me.

-Is everything all right?

-No! Everything's not all right!

-Just look up the number.

-Don't fucking yell at me, Paul.

-I'm not yelling at you, Donna.

-Yes, you are.

-No, just get me the fucking number!

-I'm not...

-Just get me the number!

Get me the fucking number!

-LINE GOES DEAD

-Fuck!

You stupid fucking cunt!

Fuck!

Fuck you, bitch! Fuck you, fuck you!

HE SOBS

BREATHING HEAVILY

BEEPING

LINE RINGS

-What?

-Donna, I'm very sorry that I yelled at you.

I shouldn't have done that.

But I'm only going to ask you one more time to get me this number.

If you don't, I'm going to die.

What?

Please, I don't have time to explain. The number.

OK, hold on.

OK...

-State Department.

-Yeah.

-It's 202...

-OK, 202...

-134...

-134...

4750.

-4750?

-Yeah.

OK, fuck you!

BEEPING

LINE RINGING

United States Department of State.

I'm an American citizen working in Iraq. I've been taken hostage.

I need to speak to someone right away.

-Where are you calling from, sir?

-From Iraq.

I'm a truck driver. I work for CRT, Crestin, Roland and Thomas.

My convoy was attacked and I'm being held for ransom.

-Are the kidnappers with you?

-No. I'm buried somewhere.

-You're buried?

-Yeah, yeah, in a coffin.

It's a wooden box. An old wooden coffin.

Did you try contacting the military out there?

They gave me a number to call, a safety number.

-But the people took it.

-The people holding you hostage?

-Yeah, yeah!

I don't know. Hold on. Let me connect you...

No. Don't put me on hold... No!

LINE RINGING

-Rebecca Browning.

-Hello?

-Yes, hello.

-I was just informed of your situation.

-Yeah, my situation.

I'm running out of time and you guys keep putting me on hold.

-What the hell is wrong with you?

-I'm sorry.

-Don't be sorry.

-Just help me.

-I just have a few questions for you, Mr Conroy.

You've got to be kidding me.

-It's important that I get this information.

-Wait, wait, wait...

-How do you know my name?

-I'm sorry?

My name. I didn't give it to you.

I don't think I gave it to the other guy, either.

What's going on right now?

We received a call from a representative at CRT.

-You left him a message?

-Yeah.

-He contacted us right away.

-So if you know what the hell's going on,

what have you done to get me out of here?

There's little we can do from Washington.

So, that's it? I'm just supposed to sit here and rot

-because there's little you can do?

-No.

-Then what?

I need to know where you were when your convoy was ambushed.

In Baqubah in the Diyala Province.

OK. And has contact been made with the kidnappers?

Yeah. The guy told me that he wants five million dollars

-by nine o'clock tonight.

-OK. Or else...?

Or else he'll take me to Sea World.

What the hell do you think, lady?

We'll do everything we can.

-So you'll pay them then, yeah?

-No. That we can't do.

-Why?! Why?

-It's the policy of the United States government...

-The policy of the United States?

-..to not negotiate with terrorists.

Lady, come on! You're sitting in an air conditioned office.

It's easy for you to say. You're not the one stuck in a coffin

-buried in the goddamn desert!

-I understand your frustration.

Frustration? Lady, I'm going to fucking die in here.

Understand that?

-Hello?

-I'm here.

-Then say something.

Tell me how you're going to get me out of here.

OK, what's the number on the phone you're calling from?

I don't know. Did it come up on your end?

No. It's listed as unavailable.

-Tell me this, can you remember a number?

-Yeah... No!

-I have a pencil.

-OK, write this down.

Just a second... OK. Go ahead.

-410.

-Yeah.

-195.

-Uh-huh.

-5453.

-5453.

-Who's that?

-That's Dan Brenner.

He's the commander of a Hostage Working Group over in Iraq.

Hostage Working Group?

We formed it in 2004 to deal with situations such as yours.

Situations. I love how you keep calling it that.

-Did you write down the number?

-Yeah.

Good. Hold on, I'll connect you with him now. He should be expecting you.

What about the news? I'm going to call them.

No. Don't call the news.

I repeat, do not contact the news.

It will only complicate things further

-and threaten your chances of rescue.

-That's bullshit.

You don't go looking for something if you don't know it's missing.

We are running out of time, Paul.

That's why you need to contact Dan Brenner right away.

Fine.

I'm transferring you now.

BEEPING

LINE RINGING

-Brenner.

-Dan Brenner?

-ENGLISH ACCENT:

-Is this Paul Conroy?

-Yeah. Yeah, it's me. It's Paul.

Paul, I was informed of what's going on.

I want you to know that we're already working

-on trying to get you out of there.

-Oh, thank you, God.

-I was told that we have until 9pm. Is that right?

-That's what he said.

All right. That doesn't give us a whole lot of time.

And just so I have this right, the kidnappers buried you in the ground?

Yeah, it's an old, wooden coffin.

OK. My guess is that since you're able to get a cell signal...

-you're no more than a few feet underground.

-I don't know. Maybe.

What about battery life? How much does the phone have left?

Uh, it's... Just less than half.

OK. You have to conserve that battery.

Our best bet of finding you is by tracking your cell signal.

-Is the ringer set on a sound or vibrate?

-Vibrate.

I need you to press and hold down the asterisk key

to change it to a ring tone.

-It will use less power.

-What about my Zippo?

-You have a lighter?

-Yeah.

-Use it to look around for markings, a logo...

-Won't it use up oxygen?

Don't worry about that now. Try to find...

-It's just so dark in here without it.

-I understand, Paul.

Try to find anything in there

that might indicate where that coffin was made.

-You guys have to hurry.

-We're working as fast as we can, Paul.

-Do you know if there were any other survivors?

-From your convoy?

-Yeah.

-Still unclear at this point.

I just wanted to do right by my family. That's all.

I didn't know it was going to be like this out here.

I don't think any of us did.

PHONE RINGS

-It's him. He's calling.

-The kidnapper?

-Yeah. What should I do?

-You know his number?

-Yeah.

-Give it to me.

-OK, but what about the call?

-Give me the number first.

-He's going to hang up.

-Take the call... That's OK, just take the call.

-But... OK.

Hello. Hello.

Two hour, four minute.

You have to give me more time.

You talk to embassy? Give the money?

Yes. I talked to someone at the government.

-They said that they won't pay the money.

-No pay?

No. They said that they don't negotiate with terrorists.

-Terrorists? I am terrorist?

-Yeah.

Yeah, you're a terrorist, you son of a bitch.

You terrified, so I am terrorist?

What did I ever do to you?

-Ever do?

-Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm here because it's a job, to make money. That's it.

I have job until you come. Now my family have nothing.

That's not my fault!

Nine-one-one was not my fault, but you are still here.

-Saddam was not my fault, but still you are here.

-I told you,

I'm here to work. To help rebuild.

Rebuild what you destroyed.

Stop! Stop, just please, stop! I'm just a guy.

I'm just a truck driver. OK?

I'm nobody that makes decisions about anything.

I just want to go home.

Hello?

You make video, ransom video.

Yeah. I'll make a video. If you let me go, I'll make the video.

No. You make video now.

-What? How?

-Use video on phone.

Near foot. You read note near foot in box.

-I don't see it.

-Near foot. Read note inside box.

OK, OK... If I make the video, will you let me go?

Only if we get money.

Nobody's going to pay five million dollars for me.

We take less. One million money.

If they pay it, you'll let me go?

One million money.

PHONE PIPS

HE STRAINS

Fuck...

OK.

HE STRAINS

LABOURED BREATHING

CREAKING

HE STRAINS

Ah, ah, ah!

HE YELLS

Argh!

CREAKING

Ow!

BEEPING

LINE RINGING

'Thanks for calling the Conroys.

'We're not home right now.

'Please leave a message after the beep. Thanks.'

BEEP

NO CONNECTION

-RECORDED MESSAGE:

-Your call cannot be connected.

-Please dial again...

-Shit.

-LINE RINGING

-Paul?

-Here's his number...

-Hold on. All right, go ahead.

OK. Er, all right...

It's 07902-24-921.

OK. This is huge, Paul. Unless they're using a cloned line

we should be able to find where this is coming from in minutes.

OK, what about me? Can you track my cell signal?

We're having a lot of trouble with yours.

Seems to be an EDS line,

probably through one of the Egyptian carriers.

-What does that mean?

-That it's just not going to be easy.

-He wants me to make a ransom video.

-No. Hold off for as long as you can.

If it gets me out of here, I'm making it.

The last thing we want is for this to end up all over Al Jazeera.

-We?

-Yes. This can't turn into an international incident.

Oh, that's all you people care about! Don't you care about me?

-We do.

-What about me?

We do, Paul, We do. That's why we're here.

No, no, no, you don't! You don't care about me.

You don't care about any of us.

I've had eight friends killed out here, six of them today.

-Listen, Paul...

-We don't have any guns, any armour. Nothing.

That's because you're not soldiers.

Tell that to the people who put me in this box!

-Paul, listen.

-Tell that to the people who shot my friends!

-We're doing the best we can.

-No, you're not. You're not.

-OK, calm down.

-I've been out here nine months. I know how it works.

All you care about is your secret plans and your back room politics.

If I were some diplomat or a hostage working group leader

or whatever the fuck your title is, I'd be out of here by now.

But I'm not, so I'm just supposed to just sit in here,

shut my mouth and die.

-OK, I need you to stay focused, Paul.

-Fuck you, Dan.

Paul, listen to me, finding you is our primary concern. Bottom line.

And we're searching just as hard as we would be

for a four-star general.

So don't literally waste your breath suggesting otherwise.

-Are you injured, Paul? Are you OK?

-I don't know. Who are they?

The people who put me in here, who are they?

They're just that, people. No different from you and me.

-I'm not a terrorist.

-Neither are they.

How do you know?

If you were homeless, starving...

Actually, I take that back.

If your family was homeless and starving what would you do for them?

I wouldn't kill somebody.

-How can you be sure?

-What difference does it make?

They're criminals, desperate ones at that.

They don't care about anything other than getting the money.

So pay them, just pay them.

Trust me, if it was an option, I would do that in a heartbeat.

How many others have there been?

-Since I got here?

-Yeah.

Several. Journalists, contractors, soldiers...

Dozens have been taken.

It's one of the only functioning businesses out here.

How many have you rescued?

-How many?

-Not many.

-Tell me their names.

-No.

-Any of them.

-Who?

Make me believe they really do matter to you.

That they really do matter to anyone.

-Mark White.

-Who's Mark White?

A kid from New Hampshire. 26 years old. Med student.

Came over here to help out local doctors.

-What happened to him?

-Insurgents grabbed him.

-When?

-About three weeks ago.

You remember his name.

I remember all their names.

-Is he...? Did he....?

-Yeah. Yes, he's alive.

-Where is he now?

-Home.

Probably happy to be back at school.

(I want to get out of here.)

We found him, we'll find you, too.

How?

We already have a solid lead on the number you gave us.

-You do?

-Yeah. A unit's on its way over there now.

-That's good. That feels good.

-Yeah.

What...? What should I do in the meantime?

I know it's hard, but try to relax.

The more worked up you are, the more air you're going to use.

I can't help it.

It's hard cos I... I have anxiety.

I take pills for it.

-Do you have them with you?

-Yeah.

-Good, take them.

You need to preserve your oxygen level any way you can.

-Is your Zippo still lit?

-No. Not any more.

-All right. Good.

-I feel nauseous.

-You have to calm down.

-OK.

-And you need to save that battery.

We're expecting some intel in about ten minutes.

-Call me back then.

-OK.

-Just hang in there, Paul.

-I'm trying. OK.

PHONE RINGS, HE YELLS

-What?

-Did you make video?

-No.

-You make video!

-Let me out and I'll make it.

-No! You make video now. In box.

-I can't read the paper.

-Make video now!

I don't know what you want me to say. I can't read the paper.

You make video now.

Fuck!

HE YELLS

HE CHOKES

CONTINUES YELLING

HE PANTS

OK, come on, come on.

Come on, come on. Come on, come on, come on, come on...

SCRAPING

Shit.

BEEPING

LINE RINGING

Mountain View Nursing Home.

Hi. I was hoping I could speak with Maryanne Conroy, please.

Um...OK. Ah... let me bring the cordless phone to her room.

Hold on a moment, please.

FOOTSTEPS OVER PHONE

Mrs Conroy, you have a telephone call, dear.

Here. You can use this phone.

-Hello?

-Mom. It's Paul.

-Who?

-It's Paul. Your son.

-I have a son?

-It's OK, Mom.

-How are you?

-I'm fine.

That's good.

-Who are you?

-It's your son, Mom. It's Paulie.

-Paulie?

-Yeah.

Remember? We used to lived on Colfax Street, in the duplex. Remember?

-Paulie?

-Yeah.

-That's right.

-Is this Paulie?

It is. It's Paulie.

-How's everything at the home?

-Very nice.

Your father and I have been playing gin rummy every night.

Yeah... I don't think Pop's there with you, Mom.

How are you doing, sweetie?

Not very good.

-This may be the last time I talk to you.

-That's nice, honey.

Did you get the flowers I sent you a few months ago?

-Flowers?

-Yeah.

I sent you... Never mind.

Look, I'm going to get going now. OK?

I just wanted to call and talk to you.

I love you, Mom.

I love you, Mom. Do you want to tell me that you love me?

Yes, dear. Your father and I have been playing gin rummy every night.

OK, Mom. Tell Pop I said hi.

PHONE BEEPS

HE SOBS

PHONE RINGS

PHONE BEEPS

PHONE VIBRATES

VIBRATING STOPS

PHONE BEEPS

DIAL TONE

PHONE BEEPS

PHONE BEEPS

No.

No, no, no, no, no!

No, no, no, no, no!

KEYPAD BEEPS

RINGING TONE

-Video make?

-Please, don't hurt her.

We shoot her if you no make video.

No! Don't shoot her. Don't shoot!

-You get money. American million.

-I will, I promise. I promise.

-Please, she's a mother, she has two kids.

-Two kids?

-Yes!

-I have five. Now only one. You make video. Now!

-Wait.

-I can't read the paper.

-Three seconds.

-What do you want me to say?

-Three, two...

-OK! OK, I'll make the video.

-..one!

I'll make the video. I'll make the video. Please.

I have to hang up to make the video. Is that OK?

You have three minute to send video.

My name is Paul Conroy.

I'm an American citizen from Hastings, Michigan.

I'm a civilian truck driver for Crestin, Roland and Thomas.

I've been taken hostage somewhere in Iraq.

I need 1 million by nine o'clock tonight, Baghdad time

or I'll be left to die here in this coffin I'm buried in.

I'm told that if the money is paid...

THUMPING

I'm told that if the money is paid, I will be let go.

If it is not, I will be left to die in here.

These threats are real and will be followed through on.

PHONE BEEPS

KEYPAD BEEPS

HE SIGHS

HE CHUCKLES

SOFT BREATHING

SOFT GROAN

STIRRING

GASPING

SHAKY BREATHING

HISSING

HE BREATHES SHAKILY

SNAKE HISSES

QUIET SCRAPE

QUIET RATTLE

LID RATTLES

THUD

SNAKE HISSES

SNAKE HISSES

PHONE VIBRATES

HE CRIES OUT

SNAKE HISSES

VIBRATING CONTINUES

CREAKING, HE STRAINS

VIBRATING STOPS, PHONE BEEPS

CREAKING, HE CRIES OUT

HE PANTS

FLASK CLATTERS

DISTANT CALL TO PRAYER

HE GRUNTS

PHONE BEEPS

Oh, my...

I got you!

I got you, you fucking motherfucker.

I got you. I got you. I got you.

Fuckin' A.

KEYPAD BEEPS

RINGING TONE

Come on, come on, come on. Pick up, pick up.

Hi, this is Linda. Please leave a message.

Thanks and have a great day.

Linda, I figured out the number for the phone. I got it.

I got it!

OK, it's 0792-42-884.

Use the international calling code to dial it. I got it, baby.

I love you. Call me as soon as you get this. Call me. I love you.

HE LAUGHS

Oh shit.

Shit.

OK.

CLATTERING

HE PANTS

THUD, HE GRUNTS

Ugh.

Fuck.

RATTLING

TAPPING

Fuck.

PHONE VIBRATES

PHONE BEEPS

My name is Pamela Lutti.

I'm a food service worker at FOB Anaconda,

employed by Crestin, Roland and Thomas.

SHE SOBS

My captor's requests for ransom have gone unanswered, and...

Please, no!

HE RETCHES

SOUND MUFFLED

ECHOING: 'My name is Pamela Lutti...

'Please, no!' GUNSHOT ECHOES

'If you're buried in a coffin, where are you calling from?

'The number you requested, 269-948-1998...

'They're criminals, desperate ones at that.

'They don't care about anything other than getting the money...

'At CRT, we work with our clients...

'Sir, you're going to have to stop shouting...

'..challenges they face...

'Sir, this is a crisis situation you need to...

'Find million money tonight, 9pm, or you stay...

'Finding you is our primary concern. Bottom line.

'We're searching for you just as hard as...'

VOICES ALL TALK AT ONCE

CHILD'S VOICE ECHOING: 'Thanks for calling the Conroys.

'We're not home right now.

'Please leave a message after the beep. Thanks.'

BEEP

HEARTBEAT GROWING LOUDER

SOUND RETURNS TO NORMAL, RATTLING

PHONE BEEPS

KEYPAD BEEPS

RINGING TONE

-Why the hell did you make that video?

-It's all a bunch of lies.

-What is? What are you talking about?

-All of it.

All of what?

You don't give a shit about any of us. We're nothing to you people.

-We're going to find you.

-Fuck off, Dan. You're baby-sitting me.

You're just gonna stay on the phone with me until I die.

OK, you can't start breaking on me now, Paul. You have to stay strong.

They shot her. You didn't do anything.

We didn't even know she'd been taken hostage.

-She sent three videos.

-That's what they told her to say.

-Why?

-I don't know.

What do you know?

That your ransom video already has 47,000 hits on YouTube.

And all the major networks are playing it, including Al Jazeera.

So, now your captors have no choice but to follow through.

I found out the number to this phone.

-How?

-Who cares?

I figured that out, and you didn't. Why?

Because I didn't.

Just like you and every other person on the planet,

there are some things I know and there are some things I don't.

Then how am I ever going to get out of here?

Their signal was cloned, like we figured. But, we're close.

Really close.

I'm near a mosque. I heard a call to prayer over the PA.

Good. Good. That means that we're in the right area.

You're...

You're nearby?

I spoke with soldiers from the third ID who were escorting your convoy.

They're alive?

Not all of them.

-Both Bradley tanks were hit with IEDs.

-DISTANT JET ENGINE

The rest got caught in small arms fire.

What the hell happened out there, Paul?

Paul.

-MUFFLED THUD

-Wait.

Paul?

EXPLOSION

HE GRUNTS

EXPLOSION

DEEP THUD

HE PANTS

CREAKING

Argh!

HE CRIES OUT

Fuck!

Come on, come on!

Come on. Come on. Come on.

PHONE VIBRATES

Hello? Hello? Who's there?

-Is this Paul Conroy?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's Paul. Who are you?

Paul, my name's Alan Davenport.

I'm the personnel director here at Crestin, Roland and Thomas.

-I left you a message.

-You did. I also heard

from Rebecca Browning over at the State Department.

-Are you able to speak on the status of your situation?

-It's worse.

There was an explosion or something. The sand's coming through.

I probably have a half an hour before...

OK, OK. Slow down. You should try to stay calm.

Tell me something, Paul, who have you spoken to?

The hostage takers, Dan Brenner from the hostage working group.

OK, Paul. I'm with you. How about the media?

-I know your ransom video leaked but have you spoken...

-No.

-..directly to anyone about what's going on?

-No, no, no.

-That's good.

It needs to stay that way.

It's important that we keep this situation as contained as possible.

The situation's in a coffin! I think it's pretty contained!

Help me! Help me! What are you doing right now to help me?!

I know you're upset. But from what I've been told, they're extremely

close to getting you out of there.

So, hopefully it won't be too much longer.

Thank God. Yeah. Thank God.

-Now, I'm going to switch on a recorder right now.

-What?

Just a second.

CLICK, BEEP

This is Alan Davenport,

personnel director for Crestin, Roland and Thomas, Incorporated.

The date is October 23rd, 2006.

I am speaking with Paul Conroy.

Mr Conroy, are you aware that I'm recording this conversation?

-What?

-Please answer the question.

I... Shit.

-Mr Conroy?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And do I have your permission to do so?

Why do you need my permission? What's this about?

-I need you to answer yes or no, please.

-Yes. Yes! All right?

Thank you. Now, Mr Conroy, when were you hired by CRT?

I don't know, nine months ago. Around January. What is all this?

I have your official date of hire as January 4th. Is that correct?

Who cares? This is fucking crazy.

-January 4th. Is that correct?

-Yes!

And during your initial training, before being sent to Iraq,

you were made aware of the dangers inherent to the position

for which you were hired.

You mean when I came down there to Dallas and you guys said that

all of the trucks would be armoured and have bulletproof glass?

When you told us that things were safer than ever over here?

Is that when I was made aware?

-I need you to answer yes or no, please.

-Yes.

During that time,

did you also receive and sign an employment contract with CRT,

which thoroughly explained company policy

that pertained to your specific terms of employment?

Yeah, I signed a bunch of things.

-Yes or no.

-Yes. I signed the contract. Yes.

It's our understanding that you were taken hostage in Iraq two hours ago.

Is that also correct?

Yes. I think it's a fair assessment of the situation, you fucking dick!

What is the point of all this?

Our legal department requires that

we obtain a sworn affidavit from employees confirming that they

understand the reasons for their forced separation from the company.

As of this morning, your employment with CRT was officially terminated.

Wait, wait, wait... what?

It was brought to our attention that you were engaging in relations with

a fellow CRT employee, Pamela Lutti.

No. No, no, no. Hold on.

Stipulated in your contract was a fraternization clause,

in which it was stated quite clearly that any relationship...

-Stop, stop, stop.

-..be it romantic or sexual in nature

-deemed inappropriate...

-We were friends.

-..by CRT senior officials

-as grounds for immediate termination.

-Hold on. OK? We were just friends.

-Our records indicate differently.

-You records are wrong.

We're also legally required to inform you that

because you were technically no longer under

the employ of CRT at the time of your abduction,

we cannot be held accountable for any injury that may befall upon you

after your official date and time of termination.

Therefore, in your case, that includes this incident

or any consequences that may result from it.

What about my insurance money? My family will need that money.

Given that you were alive up until the time of your termination...

Don't do this.

-Do you understand everything...?

-Don't do this!

Do you understand everything you've been told, Mr Conroy?

Mr Conroy?

You're a piece of shit!

That concludes our interview with Paul Conroy.

I am now turning off the recorder.

BEEP

You put me here.

I'm sorry.

PHONE BEEPS

HE SIGHS

RATTLING

(Fuck.)

PHONE BEEPS

KEYPAD BEEPS

RINGING TONE

CREAKING

PHONE BEEPS

KEYPAD BEEPS

RINGING TONE

CREAKING

Come on. Answer. Why won't you answer the phone?

PHONE BEEPS, KEYPAD BEEPS

CREAKING

CREAKING

THUD

Fuck.

Fuck!

HE CHUCKLES

PHONE BEEPS

KEYPAD BEEPS

RINGING TONE

-Paul, is that you?

-They're dead.

-How do you know that?

-I just do.

Three F-16s levelled parts of the city a few minutes ago.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah, that was fun for me.

Did they know I was here?

Yeah.

Did they care?

These people that took me, if they're dead...

they can't tell you where I am.

We can still try to track down your signal.

-You tried that already.

-We can try again.

It's over, isn't it?

No.

Yeah.

What should I do?

I don't know.

It's weird.

What is?

Knowing.

I wish this could have gone differently, Paul.

Yeah.

Me too.

PHONE BEEPS

PHONE BEEPS

My name is Paul Steven Conroy.

Social Security number 048-32-1198.

Date of birth 3/23/76.

This video will serve as my last will and testament.

To my wife, Linda Conroy,

I leave you the £700 in my personal savings...

..and whatever's left in my annuity.

To my son, Shane Conroy...

..I don't have...

My clothes. I leave you my clothes...

which you will grow into.

HE LAUGHS

Not these ones.

I don't really have...

I wish that I had more for you.

Maybe if I was a famous baseball player,

or some guy who wore a suit to work...

..then I'd have more.

But, you know. you can be one of those people if you want. Um...

Yeah.

Just promise me that when you get older,

you'll take good care of your mom.

And...I don't know.

You'll always try to do the right thing.

(I love you very much, Shane.)

Maybe I never said that enough.

Maybe I did, I don't know.

That probably means I didn't, and...

I'm sorry, Linda. I should have listened to you.

PHONE BEEPS

SAND FLOWING

PHONE VIBRATES

You're not dead.

Hello? Hello?!

-Where is money?

-I don't know.

-What don't know?

-I don't know where it is.

-Liar!

-No, I'm not lying! I swear.

-Swear?

-Yeah, I swear. I'm telling the truth.

-From embassy.

-No.

-You get money now!

-I can't!

-You will!

-I need more time. Please.

-No more time!

There's sand pouring in here. It's everywhere. Let me out of here

-and I promise you I will get you the money.

-You show blood.

-What?

-You show blood, they give money.

-No.

-You cut finger, send video.

-No. I'm not doing that.

-Yes.

-No.

-No?

-That's right, no. You let me out of here

-and I'll cut off my whole goddamn hand if you want.

-You have wife?

Yes, I do. And a son. A young son. I want to see them. Please, sir.

-Sir?

-Yes. Sir. I say that out of respect to you.

243 North Walnut Street. Hastings, Michigan. USA.

That's my... Why did you say that?

You show blood or they show blood.

No.

You're nobody. You can't get to them.

-No?

-No.

You're peasants, you're fucking criminals, that's all.

-You don't even know where Michigan is.

-Detroit. Ann Arbor.

You looked at a map. You looked at a map.

You show blood or they show blood. Send video by five minutes.

LINE GOES DEAD

KEYPAD BEEPS

RINGING TONE

Hi, this is Linda. Please leave a message.

Thanks and have a great day.

Linda, listen to me, you and Shane have to go somewhere, OK?

Do not go back to the house. Do not go back to the house.

Go anywhere but the house. These guys know where we live.

They have my driver's licence.

Go to the sheriff's station if you have to, just don't go home.

Oh, my God.

Fuck.

KEYPAD BEEPS

This is Daniel Brenner. Please leave a message at the tone.

Brenner, where are you?! The guy is still alive!

He just called me! He's still alive!

Fuck.

PHONE BEEPS

They can't get them. They can't.

There's no way.

No, no, no, no,

They can't find them, they can't find them, they can't find them.

Fuck.

PHONE BEEPS

'My name is Pamela Lutti.

'I'm a food service worker at FOB Anaconda,

'employed by Crestin, Roland and Thomas.

SOBBING

'My captor's requests for ransom have gone unanswered, and...

'Please, no!' GUNSHOT

HE GASPS

Fuck.

HE PANTS

MUFFLED SCREAMS

SAWING

HE PANTS/SCREAMS

HYSTERIA

PHONE BEEPS

PHONE VIBRATES

SCRAPING

THUMPING

VOICES/SCRAPING

..move it, move it, move it!

I see it! Get back! Everyone, get back!

HELICOPTER BLADES WHIR

SHOUTING

Are you OK? Talk to me.

Paul. Are you OK?

PHONE VIBRATES

-Yeah?

-Paul! Paul, it's Brenner.

-Yeah.

-Are you there, Paul?

-I'm here.

We're coming for you now. You hear me? We know where you are.

-You're coming?

-We are, Paul. We're almost there now.

How do you know?

Coalition forces picked up a Shi'ite insurgent just outside of Baghdad.

Said he knew where an American was buried alive.

He agreed to show us where if we let him go.

-You're coming for me?

-We're practically there already.

-You have to hurry.

-We are, Paul.

You have to hurry. The sand...

Just hang in there three more minutes.

This will all be over soon, I promise.

-OK. I believe you.

-Three minutes.

-Hang on for three minutes.

-Thank you.

This will all be over soon, I promise.

-Thank you. I have to go! Call me right back.

-Paul, no! Wait!

Call me right back. Please!

-Linda? Linda!

-Paul? Paul is that you?

-Tell me it's you.

-It's me, sweetie.

Oh, my God, Paul! What are they doing to you? Please, tell me you're OK.

-I'm OK.

-I just saw the news...

They're coming to get me. The Americans are coming for me.

-They are?

-It's gonna be OK.

-Oh, thank God. Thank God.

-They're on their way.

-It's going to be OK.

-I was so afraid I was going to lose you.

I love you so much. I love you so, so much.

I love you so much. I love you so much. I'm so sorry.

I should never have come here. I should have listened to you.

Sweetie, I don't care. I just want you home. Please, come home to me.

I'm coming home, I'm coming home.

-Swear it.

-I swear. I swear I will.

-I love you. I love you so much.

-I know.

-PHONE RINGS

-They're here!

-OK.

I have to go.

-Call me right away.

-I will. I promise you.

-I love you.

-I love you.

-Swear it again.

-I swear. I have to go.

Please, come home to me. PHONE BEEPS

-Move! Move! Let's go.

-Brennan!

Paul? Paul?

Corporal, get your men over here!

You have to hurry. It's almost full.

Just hang in there!

-I can't... Are you close?

-We're almost there.

-Are you close?

-We're almost there.

-I can't hear you! I can't hear you! Where are you?

-We're almost there.

SHOUTING

Keep digging! We see the coffin.

Hang in there!

Please open it. Please open it.

Hurry! Hurry!

Hurry, please! Hurry!

Hurry!

Oh, God!

-What?

-Oh, my God!

-I'm so sorry, Paul.

-What is it?

-So sorry.

-What is it?

It's Mark White.

He brought us to Mark White.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

PHONE BEEPS

OK.

OK, OK, OK.

I'm sorry, Paul.

I'm so sorry.

MUSIC: In The Lap Of A Mountain by Garret Wall & The Breath-No-Brother

# In the lap of the mountain

# So far and wide

# Down by the river

# Love is waiting for us

# Well, the leaves turned to gold

# 'Neath the limitless blue

# In the lap of the mountain

# I can't help loving you

# Seagulls are squalling

# In the sky above

# I know that you love me

# But I wanted you much more

# In the lap of the mountain

# On a still, cloudless night

# Ships sound their foghorns

# Beneath the flickering stars. #