The Hollow Wall The Honourable Woman

'Who do you trust? How do you know?'

-You need help.

-If you think.

Has it happened before? Did it happen then?

'..by how they appear?

'What they do?'

To get your sister out of Gaza,

the Israelis nailed you for a sniffer on your cables

and a listening unit within your academy.

That's quite a price to pay.

It was worth it.

You're going to give me the contract

because then your secret will be safe.

You want to know what my choice is?

I haven't got one.

Cos every road on this leads back to you.

There's something you should know.

How many other lies are you going to keep in this house?

I'm the one who got them out, Rachel. Me!

I got them out!

This is what it cost me!

You shouldn't have lied to me.

Whatever it is you think you're going to find, you won't.

It's gone. So's my brother.

-JALAL EL-AMIN: Good.

-So give the boy back.

Go to Hebron. Shake my hand. All will be well.

Night before he left Washington,

Samir Meshal made a call into the Palestinian territories.

Someone heard.

What did you hear him say?

"She...has...agreed."

Who's "she"?

What did she agree to?

That's why I'm telling you.

That someone knows. And whoever it is...

they killed Samir Meshal.

Who else did you tell?

-About the wiretap?

-Monica...

BOTH: Chatwin.

Let's not forget the long ball here, Julia.

Isn't that an Americanism?

It's what it's always been and what we all want.

Peace in the Middle East.

BEEPING

You'd better come and look at this.

Tell me it's not that easy.

The Americans killed Samir Meshal.

RECORDING IN ARABIC

Who has agreed to what?

I simply don't know.

Stay away from the Americans, Hugh.

Thursday 8pm.

It'll be a window seat.

There's something I want you to see.

-NESSA:

-'So, when you think about it like that...'

GUNSHOT

THEY SHOUT IN ARABIC

I need help.

'..it's a wonder we trust anyone at all.'

This programme contains some violent scenes, some strong language

and some scenes of a sexual nature

EPHRA: Modeh Anee Lefanecha...

ATIKA: Don't be afraid.

KASIM: I'm safe.

NESSA SOBS: I can't do this.

ATIKA: ..if it's the price...

for a nation.

MALE VOICES IN ARABIC

That's fine, thanks. Do you have your passport, please?

Ah, you are Israeli,

Mr...

Geffen?

Yes.

My parents have emigrated there.

I even speak a little bit of Hebrew myself.

HE SPEAKS IN HEBREW

In England, I only speak English.

Of course.

My apologies. Enjoy your stay, Mr Geffen.

Room 90.

KNOCK ON DOOR

-SALEH AL-ZAHID:

-Yes?

-Mr Geffen?

I'm sorry, sir, a fault's been reported on your fire alarm.

What?

I need to check your alarm.

Go away.

I'm sorry, sir, I have to check it.

It'll take me seconds, it's just a reset switch.

I'm busy.

It's hotel policy, I'm so sorry.

Do you mind if I just switch on your lights?

No, it's not that one.

-Do you mind if I check your bathroom?

-Somebody's using it.

Er, then I'll wait.

HE KNOCKS

He wants to check the bathroom.

Good evening, madam.

MAN: Yeah, it's this one.

HE SIGHS Done.

I'm so sorry to have disturbed you, especially at this time of night.

Sleep well.

DOOR CLOSES

Housekeeping.

Yeah, there was a guy just in our room.

Yes, that's correct. I do apologise. A fault came up on our board.

Yes, he's...

brown-haired, late 20s, about five foot six or seven.

Thank you, madam.

So sorry for the inconvenience.

Well done.

Got it.

You need to leave.

Now.

ALARM BEEPS

INTERMITTENT BEEPING

That's room 90. It's a fire.

We're blown.

You lost them.

400 people all out on the street.

She knew we would.

If she knows anything. It could just have been a precaution.

We got...this.

Wow.

Niki Lauda.

Who is he?

-What are those?

-Ceremonial shovels.

The idea is that both you and El-Amin have one at the launch.

-OK.

-The problem is, which one to choose.

This one's Palestinian made. This one's Israeli.

This one's got an Israeli handle on, but a Palestinian blade,

and this one's the other way round.

What you really need is a blade that's half and half,

split down the middle, so that both sides strike the ground

-at the same time.

-So do that.

What if they crack, break apart?

I'm not sure that's the photo opportunity you're looking for.

-What's the alternative?

-To these?

Well, there's also going to be a great big digger.

Go with that one.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

I'm aware of what you're doing.

I know what you're doing for the child.

Have you told the police?

It's not my job.

What's your job?

You know what? I'm not sure any more.

Maybe I should stop doing it.

Because of that I'm supposed to trust you?

If there's one person you should trust in all this,

it's Shlomo Zahary.

Is the boy all right?

And when will you get him back?

-How did you work all this out?

-I'm still trying to.

What is it they want that requires you to stay in your position?

I'm not going to discuss my business with you.

So it is about your business?

And...what about Monica Chatwin?

Don't pull me in on your turf war.

Except I think she's involved in yours.

-I'm not in one.

-I can link her to your brother.

I can link her to that listening device.

How?

And I can link that device to the Americans.

And I can link the Americans to the killing of Samir Meshal.

I just can.

But...as yet...

..I don't have a link for this.

His name's Enad Geffen. He's Israeli.

He entered this country a month ago on a visitor's permit.

What's the link between Monica Chatwin and the Israelis?

SIGHS

There isn't one.

Except there it is.

Oh, he's not Israeli.

You know him?

He was... When I was captured in Gaza...

..he was the one who...

He's Palestinian?

So why is he here?

SHE SIGHS DEEPLY

To threaten me.

I should imagine you feel threatened enough as it is.

SHE GROANS

It's yours.

The child's yours.

SHE SOBS

Oh, Nessa...

SHE CRIES

I'm so sorry.

I don't need pity from a spy.

I'm not saying it as a spy.

Er...

this is my...

security adviser's number.

You're not the only one who's looking at Monica Chatwin.

I will let him know you're going to call.

I think he may be able to help you in some way.

-I think you're the one who needs help.

-No, I absolutely do not.

She's talking to your rapist.

Have you never talked to a bad person to get a good thing done?

-Is she getting a good thing done?

-I am!

-Thank you very much for coming.

-Nessa, you need my help.

Do you know what? Actually, I do.

There is one thing you could help me with.

Mrs Crace?

Oh, no...

-Don't make it worse.

-What have you said?

I've told her who you are, what you are.

She's lying.

The fucking bitch is lying.

I know your blood type, I've told her what it is.

No.

How could you do that?

How could you do that to her?

How could you do this to any of us?

-HE WHISPERS: Where have you been?

-Out.

Why did you tell her?

Because she has the right to know.

Why don't you tell the whole fucking world, Atika?

This is her house.

-If you know, so should she.

-That's my decision.

She's my wife.

My wife.

-It wasn't yours to make.

-And when did it become yours?

I didn't have a choice, Ephra.

You didn't give me one.

So, what, now you're trying to ruin my marriage?

Is that what you're trying to do?

Do you really want to keep it?

What?

Do you?

-I have to leave.

-No.

I can't stay here now, not any more.

No, you can't go.

What would they all think if you did?

-I don't know what to do.

-I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I am sorry. Ssh!

SHE SOBS

-It was all my fault.

-No, it was mine, mine.

I took her to Gaza.

Yeah, I'm the one who made her go.

I've kept so many lies.

So have I.

Which ones?

Too many to count.

You and I...

..we are one.

Yes.

Monica Chatwin is working for the Palestinians.

To be ensuring they have a man standing beside Nessa Stein.

Who isn't Shlomo Zahary.

Who isn't an Israeli.

But why is she doing that?

This may be helping you to find out.

She has one phone

she only uses for very rare things, very rare.

We found her having it because she used it

to call Nathaniel Bloom for a coffee meeting many months ago.

Since then, she has been...being called by one phone

in the UK, two nights ago.

And she is calling with it to another phone in...

Holland.

And another in...

Washington.

The United States.

Do you know what was said?

No, but these calls I'm suggesting you should now be listening in to.

You know she wants my job?

I think maybe she's getting it.

Good morning.

There have been many obstacles for us to overcome

in order to be here today,

not least the death of our colleague, Samir Meshal,

to whose family our thoughts go out,

PHONE BEEPS particularly today.

But I know that what he wished for, with all his heart...

was for this day to come.

-What's happened to your new partner?

-I'm sure he'll be here in a moment.

In the meantime,

I'm happy to answer any questions.

What would your father think of today?

I hope he'd be very proud.

"The sword of Israel",

and his daughter holding her hand out to the Palestinians?

As I have continued to say throughout this whole process,

anything that contributes to promoting stability in the region,

I hope will be greeted with enthusiasm on all sides.

And I believe it is. I mean, otherwise,

we simply wouldn't be here today.

So you think you are single-handedly solving this problem?

No.

What we're doing here today is just a feather in the dove.

But you are part of the dove.

Well, I certainly hope so.

What about Tahet Technologies' relationship

with the PLO's terrorist past?

Those accusations are unsubstantiated.

But they still exist.

If every rumour in this region were taken as fact then...

..well, then, personally I would know for a fact

that TV2 news anchor, Ido Zamir,

would be standing here beside me right now

and I'd be bouncing our love child on my hip.

That's not true, then!

Er, for the moment, I'm going to deny it.

So, you don't feel compromised?

-By what?

-Your relationship with Tahet.

Not at all. We all have a past.

Look at my own family name,

what it's meant to different people on different sides of the border.

But today, today is a day to let those differences go.

Today is a day to look toward the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, Tahet's CEO, Jalal El-Amin,

has been unavoidably detained, so may I suggest you hold all

further questions until this afternoon?

And just to confirm, the ceremony will take place in Hebron at 3pm.

Until then, thank you.

NESSA: So, what?

-FRANCES:

-He's ill. Food poisoning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Are you ready?

I feel like a 16-year-old.

You're supposed to.

Now, go on.

Start running.

Have you ever seen The Towering Inferno?

No.

No. It's very good.

Robert Wagner.

MAKES WHOOSHING NOISE

-AMERICAN ACCENT:

-Don't worry, Lorrie, no-one's going to die.

CLICKS HIS TONGUE

-He's got to be there.

-I know...

No, he's got to be. Shit!

-What did he eat?

-I don't know, it's obviously pretty bad.

Frances, I don't care if he's on his fucking death bed,

he's got to be there this afternoon.

As-salamu alaykum.

Wa 'alaykum-salam.

HE SPEAKS IN ARABIC

I saw him go for a run this morning.

Ephra? Running?

-Hm.

-I don't think so.

Maybe...he wants to get away from things.

Oh.

Well, that kind of running.

That makes perfect sense.

If only I could do the same.

You should stay in bed.

All right, they're going to get him up.

Fuck knows what it's going to look like if he starts vomiting

all over his shovel.

We're still using those?

Just for the photo, then you'll get in the digger.

-All I have to do is start it up?

-Exactly.

I don't want to start swinging that thing around

when I don't know what I'm doing.

There's an engineer, he'll be right there, he'll explain it all

although I'm reassured it's simply a key in the ignition.

-Oh.

-What?

I'm so sorry, I should have thought of this.

-What?

-You can't wear a dress.

-Why?

-Think about it.

You can't go climbing up a ladder into a cabin in a dress.

-Really?

-Really.

You're going to have to wear trousers.

Look at this!

A world event rapidly turning into Carry On Up The Kibbutz.

-When did this happen?

-What?

When was this clause added?

16B.

He can hold on to the rights to this deal no matter what happens

in the future?

No matter what?

And that... is your signature.

Yes.

Nessa...

I've stood beside you for six years,

hearing you say that you cannot be compromised, will not be.

So why this? Why have you signed this?

When it is absolutely obvious that you shouldn't.

Well...

you're compromised now.

And you've done it to yourself.

Do you trust me?

Trust me now.

-Well, he's up.

-Good.

The man you've just bequeathed half your company to.

Although, with the amount of Imodium they've poured down his throat,

-he won't be shitting for 16 years.

-Then we should go.

I'm doing the right thing, Frances.

I hope so.

Hi. My name's Ephra. Today, I'll mostly be having a nervous breakdown

and running away from it all. What's your alibi?

I've got to see my part-time tutor.

Fantastic. I've always admired an educated woman.

Drive on.

CAR HORN BEEPS

Here we go.

-Salamu alaykum.

-Alaykum-salam.

-Salamu alaykum.

-Alaykum-salam.

Shall we stop for a picture?

Alaykum-salam.

Salamu-alaykam.

CONTINUES GREETING

Thank you.

Just right up onto stage? OK.

-You made it.

-Of course.

How are you feeling?

HE SIGHS

Let's get this thing done.

Wait. Wait.

-Wait.

-What?

Let's switch the phones off.

Go away, world.

Shall we trade?

OK?

You have a scar...here.

Yes.

A dog.

A dog?

Yes.

When I was five.

Hello.

FEEDBACK FROM MICROPHONE

And hello?

Um...

some years ago, I came to Bethlehem and gave a very bad speech,

so I should probably learn the lesson of that and keep this one short.

Strangely enough...

..what I ended up saying that day...

..hadn't been pre-written or rehearsed.

I just said it from my heart.

And I think what I said then still holds true today.

All this technology, all this fibre optics...

last mile boxes...

..all this wizardry...

..all this speed...

..that's around us right now...

..what it's all really about is very, very simple.

It's about our need to communicate with each other.

And with others.

Here...

..and there.

Talk.

Trade.

Understand.

And that's it.

APPLAUSE

There's no secret to it.

Not any more.

When will we be reunited?

-This evening.

-Then I think we're done here.

And what's next?

The digger.

FLY BUZZES

Shalom.

Salam.

Thank you.

OK.

What do I do?

Turn here...

then your finger... press.

Do I need to wait for a cue or...?

CAR ENGINE STARTS

No...

Now...

There's something wrong with the ignition.

BEEPS

ENGINE TURNS OVER

HE GASPS

DIGGER ENGINE TURNS OVER

DIGGER ENGINE STARTS

BEEPS

ENGINE RUNNING

-TV:

-This is BBC News. The headlines at three o'clock.

The Prime Minister recognises...

What are you doing?

-Just wanted to catch the news.

-Oh, don't!

-What will you give me for it?

-Please, Ephra, switch it off.

A big one. Right here.

-TV:

-..and in cricket, England insist their team are equal to the task...

Is this going to happen every time I try and turn on a TV?

You tell me.

You're here...

Do you think I'm that stupid?

Are you alone?

What?

You think only people like you

are clever enough to slip away unnoticed?

Rachel, are you alone?

Clearly.

Rachel, I...

-You must leave?

-What?

-Now!

-How dare you?

-My husband, my life...

-Come on.

-What are you doing?

-You have to leave...

Don't tell me what to do!

-Atika, it's too late.

-It's not. Not if she leaves now.

-TV:

-..a huge explosion...

-What?

-You've got to go.

-Why?

What's this?

Hebron is the location scheduled today for the opening

of a data cabling network

spreading throughout the West Bank that has been

-championed and coordinated...

-Oh, Nessa.

GUNSHOT

GURGLING

GUNSHOT

SHE SCREAMS AND SHRIEKS

Calm down!

OK? Ssh, ssh, ssh.

Listen to me. Do you have a gun in this house?

Do you have a gun in this house?

Where?

Are you all right?

Are you all right?

OK. Take this.

-Take this!

-What's happening?

You weren't supposed to be here. You don't move. Stay here.

-TV:

-...amongst the casualties.

Despite the immediate tragedy...

..consider the cause of the blast.

..can't and shouldn't be ruled out at this stage,

the very real possibility of a terrorist attack

has to be considered.

Nessa Stein and her company

have been in the jaws of this complex region

for many years...

GUNSHOT

He killed my husband.

You led him here.

OK, Rachel...

Calm down. OK.

Put this gun down. Put it down. Come...

Give it to me.

Give it to me. Give it to me.

Ssh, Rachel. Rachel.

Rachel... OK.

-TV:

-..between Israel and the Palestinian territories.

This, along with an extensive educational programme

within the territories,

ensured a radical change of profile for the Steins,

which culminated in Nessa Stein joining the House of Lords

as an independent member, not affiliated with a party,

in recognition of her ongoing efforts for...

-This is Dagon. MONICA CHATWIN:

-Yes?

Ephra Stein is dead.

-Why are you using this phone?

-Because he is dead too.

How?

Ephra Stein's wife, she shot him.

She wasn't supposed to be there.

-She followed us.

-Where is she now?

-Also dead.

-How?

I killed her.

-Could it be as if he did it?

-Yes.

Then stick to the plan. Leave now.

CALL ENDS

LIQUID TRICKLES

She's dead?

-They think so.

-Survivors?

Not intended.

There's a hole in the ground about 30ft across.

Let me know immediately.

Ephra Stein is missing.

So is his wife.

And Atika Halibi, the missing child's mother.

-Safe housed?

-Not by us.

We've just had activity on Monica Chatwin's phone.

-You're listening in on Monica Chatwin?

-She has a satellite phone

which doesn't appear to be accounted for on her expenses.

And...?

She's been rung again by the same number that called her last week.

-Audio?

-No. Just number and duration.

All right. Log it. We'll get back to it.

-It's just...

-Have you been watching the TV?

-It's really very exciting.

-This number...

the closest we can place it is Ephra Stein's holiday home.

She's on again.

-DAME JULIA:

-Why can't we hear it?

We haven't had a chance to access her phone.

-And she's calling...

-Holland.

Holland.

Utrecht.

PHONE RINGS

Claim it.

They're approaching the Steins' second home now.

Can you pull that up?

Yeah, we've got a feed.

Two male fatalities.

One IC6.

Israeli.

Name - Enad Geffen.

Actually, we need to discuss that.

Really? Just that(?)

Second male fatality - IC1.

Ephra Stein.

-WOMAN:

-Rachel, push!

SCREAMING

Push. OK.

-MAN:

-Female, IC1, in labour.

Jesus.

See why I never came off the Pill?

She killed my husband!

She helped kill my husband!

Put the gun down!

What the fuck is going on?

SCREAMING AND WAILING

We've just had a claim posted on the internet

for the assassination of both Nessa Stein and Ephra Stein.

-Who by?

-Coming up now.

I think I'm still asleep.

The baby is coming. Help me.

-Who made the claim, Max?

-League of Samaria.

Israelis? Oh, shit.

Coming up now...

RACHEL SCREAMS

Oh, for fuck's sake! Will you switch that woman off?

COMMS FEED ENDS

AUDIO RECORDING PLAYS

A child?

Yes. The one that's been taken.

And you didn't think to tell me?

I can't fetch a ball and talk at the same time,

old dog that I am.

Fuck.

BABY CRIES

She has children at home.

Someone will need to collect them from school.

RACHEL SOBS

SOFTLY: Oh...

DIALS OUT

She's up again.

BEEPING

USA, east coast.

Washington.

Bethesda.

Exeter Road.

Moorland Lane.

Call terminated.

That's as close as we can get.

Now we wait for the aftershock.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Tragically, within the central grouping,

there are reported to be no survivors.

74 souls have yet to be accounted for.

-REPORTER:

-Including Nessa Stein?

-Yes, including Nessa Stein.

Her press adviser, Frances Pirsig,

is reported to be amongst that number, as are many of her team.

However, Jalal El-Amin, her partner in this cable venture,

is amongst the survivors.

The State of Israel categorically denounces these horrendous crimes.

Over many years we have worked tirelessly with the Stein company

to help achieve its aim of peaceful reconciliation,

and these heinous acts of violence will do nothing

to shake our resolve to continue along this path.

How do you respond to the fact an Israeli extremist group

has claimed the murders, and that its leader, Yaniv Levi,

has remained at liberty

and clearly unmonitored by your security forces?

I can assure you these issues will be addressed at the very highest level.

TV PLAYS

TV: Dutch police,

acting on information received from an anonymous source,

raided an apartment in Utrecht earlier today,

finding inside the body of known Israeli activist Yaniv Levi.

It wasn't us.

It's the same as Samir Meshal, we wanted to bring him in but...

-Someone got there first.

-Again.

The man who shot Ephra Stein, his passport is a fake.

We're aware. But you've no idea who he is.

We have no record of him.

Whatever we may or may not have done in the past,

we didn't kill Nessa Stein or her brother.

Except that world opinion seems to think you did.

We've run a list of all government workers resident

in the Bethesda area.

As you can imagine, there's quite a few.

But on Moorland Lane there's just one.

-Kate Larsson, special adviser to the...

-..Secretary of State.

What's her background?

Ivy League. Homeland Department.

Defence procurement then State Department.

Not a particularly noisy individual,

although we did trowel up a piece she wrote in 1999

for the New Republic which was... pretty hawkish.

How much CCTV footage do we have of Samir Meshal's hotel

during his stay in Washington?

Within the lobby, the complete period.

Start looking.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen...

MEDIA CLIP SPOOLS FORWARDS

Of course, at this stage it is too early

to give any definitive reactions

to these events, but once the facts are gathered, um,

you can expect a full and unambiguous response

from the Secretary of State.

-WOMAN:

-Will that involve a full, unambiguous condemnation of

Israel's failure to rein in its own domestic extremists?

KATE LARSSON: If what looks to have happened actually has,

then, yes, you can expect a very strong response from this department.

And from the Secretary of State herself?

Yes, she has agreed.

But obviously it is vital that the facts are verified

before any such comment might or would be...

CLIP SPOOLS BACK

And from the Secretary of State herself?

Yes, she has agreed.

CLIP SPOOLS BACK

Yes, she has agreed.

CLIP SPOOLS BACK

Yes, she has agreed.