1996
Carlos, a ruthless international terrorist, is pursued by CIA agent Jack Shaw after a series of bombings and a hostage crisis. When US Navy Lieutenant Commander Annibal Ramirez, who bears a striking resemblance to Carlos, is mistakenly captured by Israeli intelligence, Jack sees an opportunity. Jack recruits Ramirez for a dangerous mission to impersonate Carlos, undergoing intense physical and psychological training with Israeli intelligence officer Amos to fully embody the terrorist's persona. Ramirez's first mission in Libya, intended to bait the KGB into killing Carlos, goes awry when he is betrayed by Carlos's former lover, Agnieska Kozinski, leading to a violent escape and Agnieska's subsequent assassination by Carlos's lieutenant, Koj.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Ex–Navy man Annibal Ramirez is recruited by CIA agent Jack Shaw to impersonate terrorist Carlos in a high‐stakes bait operation.
Open full beat sheetAnnibal Ramirez is listed as US Navy Lieutenant Commander. A US Naval officer who bears a striking physical resemblance to Carlos and is recruited by the CIA. In the parsed data, Annibal Ramirez is connected to 64 scenes, 142 dialogue lines, 144 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
64 scenes / 142 dialogue linesJack Shaw is listed as CIA Agent. A tall, husky American CIA operative in his late thirties, obsessed with capturing Carlos. In the parsed data, Jack Shaw is connected to 51 scenes, 115 dialogue lines, 118 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
51 scenes / 115 dialogue linesCarlos is listed as Terrorist. A ruthless, cunning, and highly skilled international terrorist. In the parsed data, Carlos is connected to 27 scenes, 58 dialogue lines, 124 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
27 scenes / 58 dialogue linesAmos is listed as Israeli Intelligence Officer. A professional and cold-blooded Israeli intelligence operative. In the parsed data, Amos is connected to 23 scenes, 58 dialogue lines, 65 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
23 scenes / 58 dialogue linesMaura Ramirez is listed as Wife of Annibal Ramirez. Annibal's wife, mother of his children. In the parsed data, Maura Ramirez is connected to 10 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 25.
10 scenes / 17 dialogue linesKoj is listed as Terrorist. A Japanese terrorist and Carlos's most trusted lieutenant. In the parsed data, Koj is connected to 7 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 67.
7 scenes / 9 dialogue linesAgnieska Kozinski is listed as Former lover of Carlos. A French-Polish woman used as bait by the CIA. In the parsed data, Agnieska Kozinski is connected to 4 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 60.
4 scenes / 12 dialogue linesCarla is listed as Former lover of Carlos. A neurotic and bitter Venezuelan woman who seeks revenge against Carlos. In the parsed data, Carla is connected to 3 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
3 scenes / 7 dialogue linesCarlos wakes up with a woman, kills a spider, and dismisses her coldly before preparing his disguise.
Carlos, CarlaCarlos bombs a cafe while Jack Shaw watches, helpless to stop him.
Carlos, Jack ShawJack Shaw is questioned by Du Foltiere about the attack.
Jack ShawCarlos and his team seize the OPEC headquarters.
Carlos, KojJack Shaw argues with his superior, Carl Mickens, about intervening.
Jack ShawJack prepares a hidden weapon on his arm.
Jack ShawCarlos confronts Jack Shaw before boarding the plane.
Carlos, Jack ShawCarlos is spotted in Jerusalem, followed by mysterious men.
CarlosCarlos is chased through the Jerusalem Suq by Arabs, creates obstacles, and is eventually tackled and beaten in an alley.
CarlosAmos interrogates Carlos, who initially denies his identity, claiming to be Annibal Ramirez, a US Navy officer.
Carlos, AmosAmos leaves the cell, looking concerned as Ramirez shouts threats of lawsuits.
Carlos, AmosAmos tasks Yoni with searching for the ID Ramirez claimed to have ditched.
AmosYoni and agents search the alleyways for the ID.
Yoni returns with the U.S. Navy ID, confirming Ramirez's story.
AmosJack Shaw and CIA officials discuss the capture of Ramirez, with Jack realizing the significance of the case.
Jack ShawRamirez returns home to his family in Norfolk.
Annibal Ramirez, Maura RamirezJack Shaw visits Ramirez at his home to discuss the Israel incident.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezJack attempts to recruit Ramirez for a mission against Carlos.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezJack confronts Ramirez at a reception, continuing his recruitment efforts.
Jack Shaw, Annibal Ramirez, Maura RamirezJack forces Ramirez to comply with an order to accompany him.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezJack forces Ramirez to pose as a doctor to see a victim of a terrorist attack.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezRamirez sees the young victim of a terrorist attack, which angers him.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezRamirez confronts Jack about his manipulative tactics.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezRamirez and Jack walk down a hospital corridor; Jack shows Ramirez photos of Carlos's victims to manipulate him.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack ShawRamirez reviews the victim photos; his wife Maura enters, attempting to initiate intimacy.
Annibal Ramirez, Maura RamirezRamirez checks on his sleeping children.
Annibal RamirezRamirez says goodbye to his family before leaving for his mission.
Annibal Ramirez, Maura RamirezJack and Ramirez arrive at the secret CIA training facility.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezJack introduces Ramirez to the facility and assigns him the codename Miguel.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezJack probes Ramirez's personal history to prepare him for the role.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezJack shows Ramirez the surveillance center.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezRamirez meets Amos, who explains the difficulty of catching Carlos.
Jack Shaw, Annibal Ramirez, AmosAmos and Jack begin the psychological training of Ramirez.
Amos, Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezAmos forces Ramirez to eat excessive amounts of porridge.
Amos, Annibal RamirezAmos trains Ramirez to associate his own father with Carlos's father.
Annibal Ramirez, AmosRamirez undergoes live-fire training with paint guns.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezJack tests Ramirez's observation skills.
Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezRamirez practices emergency driving maneuvers.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack Shaw, AmosRamirez survives a lethal training exercise involving snowmobiles.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack ShawRamirez snaps under the pressure of the training.
Jack Shaw, Amos, Annibal RamirezRamirez performs a test to deduce if his wife had a man over while she was away.
Annibal Ramirez, Amos, Jack ShawRamirez practices shooting with a paint pellet gun.
Annibal Ramirez, Amos, Jack ShawJack and Amos explain the plan to use Ramirez to bait the KGB into killing Carlos.
Annibal Ramirez, Amos, Jack ShawRamirez studies Arabic while eating.
Annibal RamirezAmos and Jack monitor Ramirez as he experiences hallucinations.
Amos, Jack Shaw, Annibal RamirezRamirez experiences a series of psychological breakdowns and hallucinations.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack ShawRamirez appears composed after his psychological ordeal.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack Shaw, AmosKGB officers discuss the bait set by the CIA.
Ramirez performs a high-stakes driving test.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack ShawJack and Amos brief Ramirez on his new identity and the upcoming mission.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack Shaw, AmosRamirez meets Carla.
Annibal Ramirez, CarlaCarla and Ramirez engage in a psychologically intense and violent sexual encounter where Carla forces Ramirez to adopt the persona of Carlos.
Carlos, Annibal Ramirez, CarlaKGB officers discuss Agnieska Kozinski and her connection to Carlos.
Agnieska receives a postcard that affects her deeply.
Agnieska KozinskiJack and Amos brief Ramirez on the mission to Libya to meet Agnieska.
Jack Shaw, Annibal Ramirez, AmosAmos gives Ramirez final psychological preparation for the mission.
Annibal Ramirez, AmosRamirez arrives in Libya and passes through customs.
Annibal RamirezRamirez receives a weapon from a contact posing as a waiter.
Annibal RamirezRamirez confronts Agnieska in her apartment.
Annibal Ramirez, Agnieska KozinskiRamirez and Agnieska are in bed; Ramirez discovers a filter-tipped cigarette butt in the trash, leading to a confrontation where he realizes she betrayed him to the DST.
Annibal Ramirez, Agnieska KozinskiRamirez escapes the apartment under fire from DST agents.
Annibal RamirezRamirez crashes into an apartment and kills a DST agent in the hallway.
Annibal RamirezRamirez escapes across rooftops while being pursued by DST agents.
Annibal RamirezRamirez boards the fishing boat and confronts Jack and Amos.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack Shaw, AmosThe real Carlos is alerted to the shooting in Libya by Koj.
Carlos, KojRamirez argues with Jack and Amos about the botched operation.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack Shaw, AmosCarlos orders the death of Agnieska and kills his own men for their failure.
Carlos, KojKoj assassinates Agnieska in Paris.
Agnieska Kozinski, KojRamirez meets Jack and Amos, but is confronted by Koj.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack Shaw, Amos, KojA violent confrontation occurs between Ramirez, Amos, and Koj, resulting in the deaths of Koj and Amos.
Annibal Ramirez, Amos, KojJack informs Ramirez that Amos has died.
Annibal Ramirez, Jack ShawJack informs Ramirez that Koj is dead and that the operation is being shut down, ordering Ramirez to return home.
Carlos, Jack ShawRamirez returns home and reunites with his family.
Carlos, Annibal Ramirez, Maura RamirezRamirez and Maura have intense, rough sex, followed by a tense conversation where Maura suspects he has been with another woman.
Carlos, Maura RamirezRamirez and Maura argue about the car and Ramirez's changing attitude.
Carlos, Maura RamirezRamirez confronts a competitive father, Frank, at a Little League game and brutally beats him.
Carlos, Maura RamirezJack visits Ramirez in his jail cell.
Carlos, Jack ShawJack convinces Ramirez to finish the mission and kill Carlos.
Carlos, Jack ShawRamirez reveals his true nature and the reality of his work to Maura.
Carlos, Maura RamirezJack briefs Ramirez on the plan to bait Carlos in East Berlin.
Carlos, Jack ShawDon't let all this equipment fool you. Carlos still has the home court advantage. He has the best protection in the world... three layers at least at all times. Next and maybe most important... Carlos himself. The French DST came to arrest him once. He was at his apartment, drunk, playing his guitar. He actually had them convinced it was all a mistake. Then he went into his bathroom, took a shave mind you so he would look his best for the interrogation and when he came out managed to shoot each of them through the forehead. Then he got the informer who had betrayed him, put him down on his knees and killed him... Think of it. He took a shave and didn't even nick himself once.
Annibal, the important thing was it worked! The Russians have to think it was Carlos now... . What did they see? They trail the girl... and then there's a shoot out. Let's make sure they know it was DST... we can make sure they get that information. If they know the DST was there then what were they doing there if it wasn't to get Carlos. She betrayed you, so tomorrow we take her name off the bank account and we set up another place for them to get their pictures. We burned Libya but okay so we'll find another place. The only thing that matters is they've got to believe it now. It's perfect!
Per instructions... An American officer on shore leave in the Middle East must travel in mufti, civilian clothes. A bunch of Arabs start chasing me... could be terrorism... could be kidnapping... instructions are to ditch our tags, our ID or anything else that could identify us. That's why I spoke Spanish, that's why I said I was a Cuban, not an American. And you broke my ribs here asshole. I'm gonna sue you, I'm gonna sue your government... I'm gonna sue every fuckin' Jew I can get my hands on you, understand me?!
[We're just gotten information from our resident in Zurich that the CIA head of station there has deposited letters of credit in the amount of fifty million dollars into the account of a Mister Paulo Ortega... It would appear the Americans are dangling a very impressive bait for what I can only assume is a very juicy fish. I want to know who this Paulo Ortega is and what he's going to give the CIA that is worth so very much money. And then we'll see what we can do about that.]
Look, obviously there has been some kind of mistake. I don't know who you think I am, but I am a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, okay? I am Lieutenant Commander Annibal Ramirez of the U.S.S. Yorktown, Sixth Fleet, docked in Haifa. I am not Carlos or Sanchez or Illich or the Jackal or whoever you think you just caught. If you call the U.S. Embassy and ask for the Sixth Fleet Liaison Officer, he'll confirm everything I've said.
These are pictures of just some of Carlos' victims. Most of them are children. We haven't had time to get that kid's picture in yet. Up until I heard about you, all we could do about Carlos was take pictures of his victims. I wasn't lying to those people. You are the only one who can do anything about Carlos. I'm not the bad guy, Annibal. Carlos is. I'm just trying to make you see the choices.
I'll tell you what the matter is man... I been here twelve mother fuckin' weeks an' all I've had to eat the whole time is this shit! And those dumb ass basketball games... what's that?! You damn near kill me with those fucking snowmobiles... I haven't seen my family in three months and I still don't know what any plan is or what I'm supposed to be doing!
Your hat's off?! I'll tear your head off! You get on the horn and you call the U.S. Embassy and you call the Sixth Fleet Liaison Office and then motherfucker you go out and find yourself a good lawyer and I'll tell you somethin' Jack, I'm gonna sue your ass so bad that your great great grandchildren will still be shovelin' shit to pay off the debt!
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