Liaison (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
[PARTYGOER] I'm out.
Raise.
I call it.
Here.
Oh, shit.
[IN ARABIC] That's enough!
Karma.
[IN ITALIAN] Look at your
face. You're already out of it.
- [PARTYGOER] I'm totally wasted.
- [LAUGHS]
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
- Hey, right, coming, coming, coming.
[PARTYGOER 2] Let's go! I can give
you a good time! Come here, please.
[TYPING]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
[SOLDIER, IN ARABIC] Don't move.
[KNOCKING]
Samir, it's me.
Open the door.
[BEEPING]
[HELICOPTER APPROACHING]
Don't move!
[GUNSHOTS]
[BULLETS RICOCHET]
[SHOUTING IN ARABIC]
London Bridge is falling down ♪
- Falling down, falling down ♪
- What's going on?
London Bridge is falling down ♪
My fair lady ♪
[EXPLOSION ON MONITOR]
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
[BEEPING]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Ho, ho, the boss himself.
What did I do now?
[MAN] I got a job for you. Urgent.
Hang on a second.
OK, go ahead.
Two Syrian hackers requested
asylum at the French Embassy.
- We have to get them to Paris.
- They have passports?
Making them now.
The DGSE?
They're not on this one. It's on us.
Mm-hmm.
The usual on my end?
Yeah.
All right.
[SIGHS]
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
- Morning, Mr. President.
- Morning.
- Sophie.
- Mr. President.
Hello, Didier.
You'll bring us coffee?
Mmm.
Right.
Please tell me why you're disturbing
me at seven in the morning.
We got a problem in
Damascus, Mr. President.
The short version is we have two
hackers in Damascus requesting asylum.
[SOPHIE] They have
highly classified intel
on future cyberattacks in Europe.
What attacks? You mean civilian targets?
For right now, that's all we know.
If they hit our infrastructure,
we could have some casualties.
And so who are they? Do we know?
They crashed the servers
of the Syrian police.
High-end Russian tech.
The damage was extensive.
All we know is they're geniuses
and everyone wants them.
Mm-hmm.
[PRESIDENT CLEARS THROAT]
And why did they pick France?
Our opposition to Assad?
One of them went to college
in Paris, speaks French.
The younger one has never
been out of Damascus.
- But I suppose you
- Two choices.
Either call the Syrian authorities
or exfiltrate them right now.
Is Syrian intelligence aware
they called our embassy?
Not yet, but they will be.
How long would DGSE take to exfiltrate?
Two days.
Give me the green light. I'll
have it done in the next hour.
We can't let the Russians beat us
out, or the British, for that matter.
Sorry, Sophie, but I was
appointed to head the task force,
so I'm employing new methods.
I already made a few calls.
We do have a guy in Damascus.
He's prepared to act swiftly.
I think we should move.
Very well, then. Fine.
That's what we'll do.
Madam Director, your full
support in this is crucial.
- [MAN] And you're sure it's a hack?
- [AGENT] That's what he said.
[AGENT 2] Risk assessments
in by Wednesday.
Minister.
We'll pick this up, uh, later.
Talk to me, Mark.
Well, it sounds worse than it is.
There's been an intrusion
into our mainframe last night.
Probably easiest if I show you.
[ELECTRONIC VOICE] London
Bridge is falling down ♪
- Tower Bridge.
- Falling down, falling down ♪
- London Bridge is falling down ♪
- [MINISTER] Puss in Boots.
- My fair lady ♪
- [EXPLOSION]
What the f
Someone found a temporary
back door into our DMZ,
but we've closed it off now.
And?
It was a limited exploit. No payloads.
We've triaged the server, and we're
confident no damage has been done.
Who?
We're analyzing the hex code
to identify the file signature,
but that'll take a little time.
So, the National Cyber Security Centre,
responsible for the cyber
security of the nation,
has been hacked by Puss in Boots.
We really shouldn't panic.
It's almost certainly
just a script kiddie.
A what?
Someone in their bedroom. A hobbyist.
They, uh, source an
existing exploit online,
follow a video on YouTube or wherever,
find an opening, light
the fuse, shove it through.
There's a bang and some smoke, but
Could we just put a lid on the metaphors
and the excuses and just let me have it.
Tell me how bad it really is.
It really could have been worse.
Okay. For now, we keep this contained.
But Richard is right,
Mark. This is worrying.
We've got to have a thorough
investigation, a full report.
Yeah. Well, we're on it.
- I hate to say it.
- Then don't.
Bolton may be right. There's no
evidence yet it's a major breach.
We spend millions on cyber defenses.
We can't be overrun by the first
toddler that climbs the wall.
Well, you hired him.
Well, you should have stopped me.
[SPEAKS ARABIC]
[BABY COOING]
[BABY CRYING]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
You okay? On your way?
Yeah, we're fine.
Anybody follow you?
No.
- Now
- Shh.
on the road to Homs
- Shh.
- at the 100-kilometer marker,
right before the Turkish border,
Ain Aksa, you'll see the signs.
Okay, thanks. The passports?
- At your feet.
- [SPEAKS ARABIC]
- Shh!
- [BABY CRYING]
very much. How do we recognize you?
Don't worry, but you'd better
hurry. The chopper won't wait.
- [BABY COOING]
- [LINE BEEPS]
FRENCH REPUBLIC
[IN ARABIC] There are
only two passports.
Don't worry.
Is that him?
Yeah.
Don't be scared, honey.
Okay? Don't be scared.
Get out.
Take your passport.
- Have you got everything?
- Yeah.
- Got your stuff?
- Yeah.
[DISTANT SHOUTING]
Soldiers!
[SAMIR] Go! Go!
[SOLDIERS SHOUTING]
- Sons of bitches! They lied to us!
- Quickly! Get in! Get in!
- Drive!
- [PASSENGER] Samir!
Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
[SOLDIER SHOUTING]
[SOLDIER 2 SHOUTS]
[SOLDIER] Don't move!
[PANTING]
- Are you okay?
- [BABY CRYING]
I have satellite imagery of your
massive screwup. You wanna see it?
Sure.
Our spy satellite just relayed it.
We monitor that area 24/7.
That's your contractor, I imagine.
No idea. I don't manage the details.
There are no "details"
in this business, Didier.
Thanks to you, all these
guys have evaporated.
Disappeared off the radar.
Thanks, Sophie.
But don't celebrate
yet. I'm not finished.
[CHUCKLES]
Go on. Get lost. We're keeping him.
[SHOUTS]
French. DGSE. Hmm.
What happened to the hackers?
What'd you do with them?
Did you have a safe
house planned? Anything?
Hey! Hey! Hey! [GROANS]
Hey!
Gabriel? Gabriel!
- Mitzia! Mitzia!
- [IN RUSSIAN] Wait, wait, wait! [LAUGHING]
- Is this your buddy?
- Yes.
We were on a mission
together in Liberia.
He's not with DGSE. He's
a private contractor.
[GRUNTING]
Monrovia. The airport.
We made a fucking mess there.
This dude is crazy.
- Oh, brother.
- [LAUGHING]
You still work for Dumas' company?
Yeah, Telkis. Why?
You looking for a job?
[CHUCKLES]
Seriously. How much are you
making on this operation?
Nowhere near enough.
The guys we're working
for would pay a lot more.
[GABRIEL SIGHS]
Come on. How much do you want, hmm?
[SIGHS]
I want a different life.
I'm tired.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[RICHARD] I sent you a draft
of the speech. Did you read it?
I did.
Needs some jokes. Work some magic, okay?
- I will.
- Bye.
Right.
Oh, shit.
Oh, shit, shit. Shit.
[SIGHS]
[SPOUSE] Hey.
Call the Raj. Tell them
to send over dinner.
What happened?
Richard called.
What, and told you to set
fire to the house? [LAUGHS]
- [CELL PHONE RINGING]
- Mmm. [SIGHS]
Richard.
- Alison there?
- No, no, no. She's, uh
- She's just jumped into the shower.
- Urgent?
- Is it urgent?
- If I'm calling, it's always urgent.
Tell her I'll leave the
office in five minutes.
Okay, I'll have her call
you as soon as she's free.
- Thank you.
- Okay. Bye.
Ta-da. [LAUGHS]
What is all this about?
Well, we're both here at the same time.
I thought that's something to celebrate.
Ah.
And we've got the place
to ourselves tonight.
You know, actually, I have
something to celebrate.
What?
You have to guess.
A puppy.
We won the case.
[GASPS]
- You're amazing!
- I know. [CHUCKLES]
Albert, that's so fucking incredible!
[LAUGHING] Oh, yes!
- Mmm.
- Mmm.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Come here.
[ALBERT MOANS]
- Come on.
- [GIGGLING] - Mm-hmm.
Whoo!
[MOTORCYCLE APPROACHING]
[GUARD SPEAKS ARABIC]
[HORN BLARES]
[BABY CRYING]
[HORN BLARES]
[IN ARABIC] Where's the passport?
Chill. We're going to make it.
Three hours from now we'll be in Turkey.
[SHOUTING IN ARABIC]
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
- [DOG BARKING]
- [CRYING INTENSIFIES]
Passports.
[BABY CONTINUES CRYING]
- Can't you shut him up?
- I don't know. Maybe he's sick.
Move it.
[THUNDER CRASHES]
[TECHNICIAN 1, IN
Okay. Raise B and C barriers.
[TECHNICIAN 2] Raising B and C.
[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]
[SIGHS]
- [LOUD BACKGROUND CHATTER]
- [RICHARD] You picked up.
Hey, Richard. This must be urgent.
I'm in a room full of amoebas
masquerading as British politicians.
And you decided not to get drunk.
Know what I've come to realize?
Thank you.
That there is a limit
as to just how many morons
you can put up with in a day.
So why did you call?
I'm still thinking about
our friend, Puss in Boots,
and I don't trust Bolton's explanation.
We have to get a grip of
this, Alison. You and me.
And I have to tell the
PM what's happening.
No, no. Don't tell him tonight.
Why?
Give Bolton a few more hours.
You know the digital
forensic stuff takes time.
You can give the PM an
update when we have clarity.
As always, you would be right.
Good luck getting home tonight.
Good luck and good night.
- [TECHNICIAN 1] What the fuck?
- [ALARM BLARING]
D not responding.
[TECHNICIAN 1] Come on.
[ALARM BLARING]
- Close it.
- What's happening?
[NEWS ANCHOR] London has
suffered extensive flooding
after the tidal storm surge combined
with heavy rain
overwhelmed flood defenses.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[NEWS ANCHOR] The Thames barrier
was breached for the first time
since it went into service in 1982
I've spoken to the duty officer,
and they can't raise the barrier.
So what are you saying?
[RICHARD] Apparently, the
computer won't allow it.
It's a proper hack this time.
The full English.
So, Bolton's on his way down there now,
and I need you to chaperone him.
Find out what the
hell's really going on.
Okay, Richard.
[NEWS ANCHOR] A TFL spokesperson
said that it is too early to say
when services will resume.
City Airport in East London
has also been forced to ground
all flights indefinitely.
It is not yet known if there
has been any loss of life
as a result of the flooding.
The prime minister will chair a
COBRA emergency committee meeting
[DUTY OFFICER] When a
high North Sea tidal surge
combines with heavy rains
- You raise the barriers.
- Yes.
I get all that. What I don't
understand is why you called us.
The way the barrier's
jammed up, the timings of it,
it's all too precise.
We were hacked.
Based on what?
Someone was inside the system.
A gate would fail. We'd
reset it. It'd fail again.
We'd reset it again, all the way up.
Then the next one would
lower, we'd have to start over.
In the 10 years I've worked here,
I've never seen anything like it.
I'm telling you, it was intentional.
[AGENT] I, uh, checked up on
the system before we came over.
- It hasn't been updated since
- [DUTY OFFICER] Since 2002.
There you go. The older the
system, the more likely an error.
Or the easier it is to get hacked.
It's not like this is out of the blue.
You had a giant cat all
over your screens yesterday.
All right, fine. We'll look into it.
You know as well as I do
Banks isn't gonna like this.
Wasting our time investigating
a malfunctioning gate.
I think what Banks will like
is you sorting all this out.
All right.
You want some breakfast?
Westminster's finest.
Just coffee.
Glad to see you survived last night.
So?
The operators think
someone got into the system.
What does Bolton say?
He's convinced it's a software failure.
If this is a second hack in 24 hours
Even then, we don't know they're
connected. They're different.
- The first one w
- The first one was the starter.
If this is a second hack,
then it's the main meal.
They've proven to us they can do it,
that they can bring this
entire city to its knees.
In fact, the entire country.
And there's nothing
we can do to stop them.
[SIGHS]
All right.
We tell the PM.
[ANNOUNCER THROUGH PA] This
is a security announcement.
Please do not leave any
bags or luggages unattended.
Any unattended items will
be treated as suspicious
and will be taken by
the airport authorities.
Keep your bag with you at all times.
[IN ARABIC] Where is
he? Can you see him?
Yeah. There he is.
- Walid! Samir!
- Hi! How are you?
- My son, how are you?
- [SAMIR] Hi, Uncle.
Myriam? Hicham? Aren't they with you?
They stayed at Turkey.
Hicham had to go to hospital.
Myriam stayed with him.
- Is it bad?
- No. Nothing serious. Just dehydration.
And no visa either. But they're
both safe. No need to worry.
That's a relief.
[SPEAKS ARABIC]
What happened to your face, Walid?
Nothing. I had a bike accident.
[UNCLE GRUNTS]
- Did you prepare Mulukhiyah?
- [UNCLE] Of course.
- Did you come here by car or by taxi?
- My car is outside.
Let's go.
Give the bags to me.
[SPEAKS ARABIC]
This one too, Uncle.
Give.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
Look, Samir. I found him.
- [SAMIR] Is that him?
- [WALID] Yeah.
I'll text him.
[DOG BARKS]
boy. How are you? Yes.
Handsome guy. Handsome
guy, you are, huh?
[BARKS]
- How are you?
- Good. You?
- Yo!
- Yeah, what's up? What? What?
Gabriel! [LAUGHS] You're in Paris!
Oh, man! What is this? You been dieting?
- What? What?
- Yeah. Syria doesn't agree with you.
It doesn't agree with anyone.
Actually, I'm starving.
- What's to eat?
- Whatever you like.
Make me anything, but, please, French.
French? You got it.
Adele, something to eat for my friend.
Ah.
[LOW WAILING]
- Coming down.
- All right.
You did lose weight.
- Hmm?
- You lost weight.
You realize where I was?
By the way, did I mention I
got ratted out to the Syrians?
First of all, who do you think it was?
I have no idea.
I was thinking DGSE
assholes, but turns out no.
Anyway, it's impossible it came from me.
No one here knew a damn
thing about this operation.
Well, the Russians knew.
Why the fuck were they there?
You're asking me? How should I know?
I guess they must have leaned on
the Syrians to turn over the hackers.
That's all I can figure.
My client's all over me on this one.
He wants those hackers in Paris.
We have a tap on one
of the guys's mother.
She called her son. We
got a ping and a location.
They're both now in London.
- London?
- Mm-hmm.
They have an uncle who
works in a hotel there.
Judging by their conversation,
they're scared they'll catch a bullet.
Can't say I blame them.
If they get whacked, we'll pass
for a bunch of fucking clowns.
Who's your client?
You know I'm not at liberty to say.
However, what you're
looking for is a flash drive.
He should still have it on him.
ID, passport.
- Jean Petit?
- [CHUCKLES]
Fuck, these names you choose.
You're a European diplomat.
Phone's encrypted. Call
me whenever you want.
I'm trusting you here. Play nice.
[MARK] You've reached
Mark Bolton's phone.
I can't take your call at the
moment, but please leave a
[IN ARABIC] Hurry up. They're
asking for you in the kitchen.
- Okay.
- Any luck?
No, still no answer.
[WORKERS CHATTERING]
[BEEPS]
[WORKERS CHATTERING]
[BEEPS]
[SPITS]
[DOOR BEEPS]
Walid!
[GRUNTS]
Walid!
Calm down!
We need to talk.
[GROANING]
[BOTH GRUNT]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[MELLOW JAZZ PIANO PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
BIOMETRIC CODE ACCEPTED
ENTER THE PASSCODE
[VIDEO CALL RINGING]
Yeah, you know Here, look.
I told you to play nice.
But on the bright side
I did grab this thing.
Were you able to open it?
Nah. It's encoded.
You have to find Samir.
Don't worry, I will.
[RINGING TONE]
Yes, Mr. Taraud. Good
news. We found the Syrians.
And? Where are they?
- In London.
- Are you shitting me?
I pay you to bring them to
Paris, and they're in London?
Hang on a second. The main
thing is we know their location.
I can take it from there, okay?
Dumas, if they sell this information
to the British, it's a catastrophe.
I know. I get it. But trust
me to handle it. Are we good?
[BEEPS]
- [IN ARABIC] Uncle.
- Samir.
- What happened? Where is he?
- I don't know.
Samir, the cops are
interrogating all the staff.
You have to leave, right away.
What about Walid? I can't abandon him.
I'm here. I'll find him
and take care of him.
Yes, take care of him. Okay.
Take care of him, Uncle.
Samir, what did you do?
Nothing.
We hacked Assad's police files,
but we found something more dangerous.
We have nothing to do with the rest.
"The rest"?
What do you mean?
If people say we're
terrorists, don't believe them.
I swear to God, we don't mean any harm.
I know.
Here, take this.
No, Uncle. You keep it. Keep it.
Be patient with me. We're
going to have a lot of money.
But how?
It won't be long, Uncle.
What I know is real gold.
Let's go.
No, mate. I'm full up. I'm full up!
Oh, come on.
- Thanks.
- Cheers, mate.
Can you move right down
inside the bus, please?
[WOMAN] Do you mind?
[DRIVER] Oi, hang on. What you
doing? Front door doesn't open, mate.
What you doing? No, the
front door doesn't open.
- Oi!
- [PASSENGER] Hey!
Nice, Didier. Keeps getting better.
The English flagged a European diplomat
who beat up a Syrian hacker in London.
Was that your contractor by any chance?
We told the British he's not ours.
I warn you, if he gets
arrested, he has no protection.
- The DGSE won't be there to help.
- That won't be necessary.
- There you are.
- Alison.
Where are you with the report?
There's about to be a briefing.
CTC. They've got a suspect.
- Puss in Boots?
- And the barrier.
There's no evidence yet
the barrier was a hack.
So, it's a coincidence?
Two highly suspicious
incidents in 24 hours.
There was nothing in the initial triage.
We've imaged the system,
and we're combing through the
fragments in the Slacks base.
But, as I keep saying,
these things take time.
Come on, Mark.
"Come on, Mark" what?
You keep saying to me,
"You must find this weird."
I deal with data,
Alison. Concrete evidence.
So, when will you know? Definitively?
Could be days. It could be weeks.
The Thames barrier has a very
big server, funnily enough.
I'll see you upstairs.
Right. Thank you, everybody.
Today's presentation
will be led by DI Hobbs
who is leading the investigation
of last night's incident.
Suspected terrorist
and hacker, Walid Hamza,
was taken to hospital at 10:30 p.m.
He's still unconscious,
although we've been told
his condition is stable.
Born in Damascus, '94.
Enrolled 2014 in the Paris
6 Marie Curie University.
Computer sciences.
Something of a prodigy.
Graduated with honors 2017,
then returned to Syria.
- At the height of the conflict.
- [HOBBS] That's right.
He successfully hacked
Assad's security services.
We don't know why or who he's working
for, but he's clearly got form.
However, no record of
any return to Europe.
He seems to have entered the UK
illegally, although we don't know when.
Okay, Hamza's attacker
Facial recognition
identifies him as Jean Petit,
a French national, part of a
visiting EU delegation here in London.
[RICHARD] MI5 confirm this?
[AGENT] For the moment,
everything about him checks out,
which doesn't square
with this man's profile.
He's clearly some kind of pro.
So what do you think?
French intelligence?
We don't know yet.
[MARK] Why haven't we arrested him yet?
[AGENT] Diplomatic immunity.
[HOBBS] Also, we don't know where he is.
- Do we ask the French for help?
- No.
No, I don't wanna
open that can of worms.
No, we have to find a way
to revoke his immunity.
No, we can't do that.
We'd have the media and
every human rights group
jumping down our throats.
Not if we do it the right way.
Not if we find someone
who's beyond reproach,
someone like your better half, Albert.
I'm not sure involving Albert
wouldn't create a conflict
of interest for me.
Conflict? Either you wanna
get this guy or you don't.
Richard, if we're going to do
this, it will need to be classified.
- If the media gets so much as a whisper
- All right. All right. On it.
Let's just concentrate on finding a way
to revoke this bastard's immunity
and figure out what the fuck's going on.
Can I have a word?
I've, uh, decided to make way.
I'm officially handing in my notice.
Well, that's a bugger.
Because as much as it
pains me to say this,
I kind of need you to
stay in your post just now.
Yeah. No offense, Richard, but fuck off.
I know when I'm being
set up to be a fall guy.
I've been abused and humiliated enough.
Go through that door and this last
week will feel like a health spa.
I will unleash the
fucking hounds on you.
Consider it an opportunity
to redeem yourself.
[HORN HONKS]
[ALBERT] What would your mother say?
Courtesy of the Raj.
- Nice.
- You okay?
Hey!
Kim!
This girl.
We had a chat.
Neighbor said she saw her smoking weed
with some roughnecks on the corner.
That'll make Linda happy.
[CHUCKLES] Oh. I don't
exactly plan on telling her.
Oh, darling.
Got an interesting call today.
Mr. Banks offered me a pretty big case.
- You mean Jean Petit?
- Yeah.
- Albert.
- Hmm?
I hate to say this, but
he didn't offer it to you
because of how skilled you are.
What do you mean?
He offered it to you because
you're a prominent
Black human rights lawyer
and far less likely to be
suspected of breaking the law.
[SCOFFS, CHUCKLES]
I won't be breaking the law.
You think you can get his
immunity lifted another way?
Oh. If anyone can
[STAMMERS]
Do you know how big
this could be for me?
I know.
So, then, what's the problem?
What, you're worried I might
get too close to your boss?
- That'll never happen.
- Oh. Why not, eh?
Because that's not how
it works with Richard.
He'll get what he needs and drop you.
Albert.
[DOOR SLAMS]
[SIGHS]