2011
Following the September 11th attacks, tenacious CIA operative Maya dedicates her career to hunting down Osama bin Laden, enduring years of fruitless leads and brutal interrogations at black sites. Maya's relentless pursuit focuses on a courier named Abu Ahmed, a lead that gains urgency after a devastating suicide bombing at Camp Chapman kills several of her colleagues, including her friend Jessica. Despite skepticism from her superiors, Maya tenaciously tracks Abu Ahmed, eventually identifying him as Ibrahim Sayeed and locating his family's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. After intense debate and a high-stakes briefing to the National Security Council, a Navy SEAL team is deployed to raid the compound, where they successfully kill Osama bin Laden, bringing Maya's decade-long mission to a definitive close.
Save the Cat beat sheet
ZERO DARK THIRTY follows CIA analyst Maya’s relentless pursuit of Bin Laden’s courier over many years, culminating in the Abbottabad raid.
Open full beat sheetMaya is listed as CIA Targeter. A young, pale CIA targeter with a steely core and intense focus. In the parsed data, Maya is connected to 62 scenes, 39 dialogue lines, 41 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
62 scenes / 39 dialogue linesDaniel Stanton is listed as CIA Case Officer. A big American in his late 30s, bearded, tattooed, and aggressive. In the parsed data, Daniel Stanton is connected to 21 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
21 scenes / 13 dialogue linesJessica is listed as CIA Targeter. An experienced targeter in the Islamabad station. In the parsed data, Jessica is connected to 13 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
13 scenes / 14 dialogue linesHakim is listed as CIA Asset. A former political prisoner in Afghanistan and key asset. In the parsed data, Hakim is connected to 11 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
11 scenes / 2 dialogue linesJoseph Bradley is listed as Chief of Station, Pakistan. A smooth, vain, sophisticated former case officer. In the parsed data, Joseph Bradley is connected to 10 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
10 scenes / 6 dialogue linesGeorge is listed as Chief of the Afghanistan Pakistan Department. A big man from the Bronx, aggressive and results-oriented. In the parsed data, George is connected to 9 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 38.
9 scenes / 4 dialogue linesJack is listed as NSA Liaison. A scruffy, teddy-bear-like liaison from the NSA. In the parsed data, Jack is connected to 7 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 44.
7 scenes / 3 dialogue linesWolf is listed as Head of Counter Terrorism Center. The head of the agency's Counter Terrorism Center. In the parsed data, Wolf is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 80.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesAbu Faraj is listed as Al Qaeda Leader. A high-ranking Al Qaeda operative. In the parsed data, Abu Faraj is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 22.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesAmmar is listed as Detainee. A prisoner at the Black Site, suspected of 9/11 involvement. In the parsed data, Ammar is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesDaniel Stanton interrogates Ammar, a detainee, using threats and physical violence while Maya observes.
Daniel Stanton, AmmarDaniel and Maya exit the interrogation room; Daniel mentors Maya on the process.
Daniel Stanton, MayaDaniel and Maya continue the interrogation, using waterboarding to pressure Ammar for information on the Saudi group.
Ammar, Daniel Stanton, MayaMaya arrives in Islamabad and heads to the US Embassy.
MayaDaniel introduces Maya to Joseph Bradley, the Chief of Station.
Daniel Stanton, Joseph Bradley, MayaThe team meets to discuss intelligence, including bin Laden sightings and the Saudi group.
Jack, Jessica, Daniel Stanton, MayaDaniel and Maya use psychological tactics and food to get Ammar to talk.
Daniel Stanton, Maya, AmmarMaya analyzes multiple interrogation videos to track Abu Ahmed.
MayaMaya reviews interrogation videos of various detainees to find information on Abu Ahmed.
MayaMaya and Jessica discuss the motivation of Al Qaeda members while eating.
Maya, JessicaMaya packs her bags quickly.
MayaMaya and a man arrive at a black site in Poland.
MayaMaya interrogates a prisoner with the help of Hakim.
Maya, HakimMaya presents her findings on Abu Ahmed to Bradley and the team.
Maya, Daniel Stanton, Joseph Bradley, JessicaA bus is bombed in London.
Bradley watches news reports of the London bombing.
Joseph BradleyDaniel interacts with monkeys at the black site.
Daniel StantonMaya interrogates Hassan Ghul.
MayaPakistani agents capture Abu Faraj.
Daniel Stanton, Abu FarajDaniel begins the interrogation of Abu Faraj.
Daniel Stanton, Abu FarajBradley gives Maya permission to interrogate Faraj.
Maya, Joseph BradleyMaya interrogates Faraj about Abu Ahmed.
Maya, Abu FarajMaya and Daniel discuss the failed interrogation.
Maya, Daniel StantonMaya and Jessica meet for dinner, which is interrupted by a bombing.
Maya, JessicaJessica shows Maya a video of a potential mole.
Maya, JessicaMaya and Jessica pitch the Balawi lead to Bradley.
Maya, Joseph Bradley, JessicaThe team discusses the logistics of meeting Balawi.
Maya, JessicaJessica prepares for the meeting at Camp Chapman.
Maya, JessicaMaya watches a Predator strike.
MayaMaya watches a Predator drone feed while Jessica calls her to invite her to a birthday party.
Maya, JessicaJessica toasts to a big break with her colleague John and discusses the potential of their asset.
Jessica, Daniel StantonJessica and her team rehearse the meeting with the asset, Balawi.
Jessica, Daniel Stanton, HakimJessica argues with the security guard to clear the gate for the asset's arrival.
JessicaThe asset arrives and detonates a suicide vest, killing the team.
Jessica, Abu FarajMaya realizes something is wrong after her message to Jessica goes unanswered.
MayaJeremy informs Maya that the courier Abu Ahmed is dead, but Maya remains skeptical.
MayaMaya vows to Jack that she will kill everyone involved in the attack and bin Laden.
Maya, JackGeorge Wright berates the staff for their failure to capture or kill Al Qaeda leadership.
George, Maya, JackDebbie shows Maya a file that identifies Abu Ahmed as Ibrahim Sayeed.
MayaMaya argues with Daniel that Abu Ahmed is still alive.
Maya, Daniel StantonDaniel asks Wolf for funding to pursue the Sayeed lead.
Daniel Stanton, WolfDaniel bribes a Kuwaiti businessman to get the phone number of Abu Ahmed's mother.
Daniel StantonThe team tracks a phone call to Rawalpindi.
Jack informs Maya that the caller is on the phone.
Maya, JackMaya pressures the surveillance team to deploy to Rawalpindi.
MayaMaya convinces the surveillance team leader to help her.
MayaHakim and the team search the call center.
HakimMaya confronts Bradley about the surveillance operation.
Maya, Joseph BradleyJack gives Maya a phone that will ring when the target's phone rings.
Maya, JackMaya briefs the team on the neighborhood search strategy.
Maya, Joseph Bradley, HakimThe team is confronted by armed men in Rawalpindi.
HakimThe team travels to Peshawar.
The team searches the market in Peshawar.
HakimLarry tracks a signal through a crowded market in Peshawar.
Daniel StantonLarry searches for a target in a crowded market.
Daniel StantonHakim conducts surveillance in the market area.
HakimHakim continues surveillance while Jack reports signal movements.
Jack, HakimJack and Maya analyze tracking data.
Maya, JackMaya returns home and watches TV.
MayaMaya encounters protesters outside the embassy.
MayaMaya is stuck in traffic while protesters block the road.
MayaProtesters attack Maya's car.
MayaMaya and Bradley watch the protest from the office.
Maya, Joseph BradleyLarry and a tech track a signal in Peshawar.
Daniel StantonLarry provides Maya with a photo of the target's vehicle.
Maya, Daniel StantonMaya requests resources from the new Station Chief.
MayaCIA lookouts monitor the highway for the white SUV.
Maya writes a cable to Washington.
MayaMaya is ambushed by shooters.
MayaMaya discusses the attack with the Station Chief.
MayaHakim watches the target vehicle enter a compound.
HakimGeorge and the team analyze the compound in Abbottabad.
Maya, GeorgeMaya briefs the CIA Director on the compound.
Maya, GeorgeMaya tracks the days since the compound was found.
Maya, GeorgeMaya and Steve analyze drone footage of the compound.
MayaGeorge briefs the National Security Council.
GeorgeA doctor attempts to gain access to the compound.
Maya briefs the Navy SEALs on the mission.
Maya, GeorgeMaya confronts George about the lack of action.
Maya, GeorgeThe CIA Director and senior staff debate the probability of bin Laden's presence at the compound.
Maya, Daniel Stanton, Joseph Bradley, George, WolfYou just want me to nail some low level Mullah-crack-a-dulla so that you can check that box on your resume that says while you were in Pakistan you got a real terrorist. But the truth is you don't understand Pakistan, and you don't know Al Qaeda. Either give me the team I need to follow this lead, or the other thing you're gonna have on your resume is being the first Station Chief to be called before a congressional committee for subverting the efforts to capture or kill bin Laden.
I want to make something absolutely clear. If you thought there was some secret cell somewhere working Al Qaeda, I want you to know that you're wrong. This is it. There's no working group coming to the rescue. There's nobody else, hidden away on some other floor. There is just us. And we are failing. We're spending billions of dollars. People are dying. We're still no closer to defeating our enemy.
Lahore street, which is also in Pesh, thirty minutes. Wazir Bag Road, five. Nishterabad, five. Phandu Road, five minutes, the Grand Trunk Road, forty five seconds. There's no pattern. Sometimes he calls every two weeks - sometimes every three - there's no consistency - I can't predict when he's gonna make another call because the guy's erratic.
Possibly. But Al Qaeda needs doctors and they are short staffed and that could explain his rise. In six months to a year, if he doesn't fuck up, he could be called in to treat bin Laden. And at that moment, with 25 mil on the table, I think he gives up the Big Man. And if he doesn't, we kill him.
This guy never met bin Laden. This guy is a free lancer working off the fucking internet. No one has even talked to bin Laden in four years: he's out of the game, he may well even be dead but you know what you're doing? You're chasing a ghost while the whole fucking network grows all around you!
We don't have a surveillance operation on the caller. Someone just tried to blow up Times Square and you're talking to me about some facilitator who some detainee seven years ago said might have been working with Al Qaeda?
bin Laden is the one who keeps telling them to attack the homeland. If it wasn't for him, Al Qaeda would still be focused on overseas targets. If you really want to protect the homeland, you need to get bin Laden.
Then Lauren, I know you want to get some questions in there - but give Balawi time after John speaks. We'll cover the basics and have his birthday cake, then we'll get to the nitty gritty.
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