Political Thriller
LOGLINE:
When the President's daughter is kidnapped by terrorists, she struggles to survive while her father fights to save her life.
SYNOPSIS:
Sophie Foster has never been one to rely on others for help. As stubborn as she is smart, she is making a name for herself as a hard-hitting young journalist. Despite resisting the temptation to use her political connections to further her career, there are just some places that are unreachable without friends in high places.
John Foster, Sophie's father, is an embattled war president facing an increasingly unhappy populace. With no end to the war in sight, he faces increasing pressure from all angles to produce some tangible results from the relentless conflict in the Middle East. The people want the head of Reza Farid, a terrorist general and symbolic leader, one of the few remaining inciters of the war still at large.
Sophie resolves to ask her father to help her gain access to the conflict. Naturally John finds the idea of allowing his only daughter to cover the war absurd and refuses. Despite her strong admiration for her father, Sophie ruthlessly exploits her dad's weak spots. He relents on the condition that she travel only to Turkey and stay within the borders of that country, covering refugee activity to the south.
John, without her knowledge, orders a security detail to make sure she stays a safe distance away from the conflict, including the border regions. Sophie lands in Turkey eager to get to work. Immediately she is met by her Turkish translator, Hakan, and the security detail. Spurned by her father's sneaky tactics, Sophie is determined to get to the border. Against the protestations of Hakan, she hires a taxi to take them to the border. The security detail follows behind them.
On the way to the border, Sophie witnesses refugee lines moving down the roads and the sobering effects of war first-hand. Sophie bribes the taxi driver to take them across as the security detail speeds to catch up to them. The security detail is briefly held up at the checkpoint and then resumes pursuit of Sophie's taxi.
Sophie takes photos as they drive. She spots something and orders the driver to stop the car. Sophie exits the car and rushes back toward an alley. The security detail catches up with them, their humvee screeching to a halt near her. Hakan and several of the soldiers chase after Sophie.
In front of her is the corpse of a local man, shot through the head. She stares into the dead man's eyes for a moment before the journalist in her takes over and snaps a shot. As Hakan reaches her, there is an explosion from the humvee. Hakan rushes her back to the taxi and the panicked driver.
As soon as they enter the car two other vehicles pull up on other side of them, blocking their escape. Several armed men exit the car and execute the driver. They drag Sophie and Hakan from the car. Sophie screams and watches as the men execute Hakan.
The President learns about his daughter's kidnapping. In a state of shock, he orders a lockdown on all press and demands that the armed forces retrieve his daughter alive.
Sophie is interrogated by her kidnappers, led by the menacing and driven Musab Al-Saad. She learns that Al-Saad is traveling with Reza Farid. Recognizing these two men as the most wanted people in this conflict, Sophie knows she is doomed.
Sergeant Hayworth is the grizzled war veteran in charge of rescuing Sophie Foster. An expert on the current war, both strategically and in the streets, Hayworth is reluctant to use resources for what he considers a lost cause. General Henry Burton wants to manipulate the situation for political gains and keeps a tight rein on Hayworth.
Hayworth's team strikes the house where Farid is holding Sophie. Al-Saad and his men return fire while Farid escapes with Sophie. Hayworth recognizes Al-Saad as he joins Farid in the getaway car. Hayworth chases after them, but is left behind in the narrow, dusty streets.
General Burton learns that Al-Saad may be one of the kidnappers. Burton confronts the President, but Foster is resolute about another rescue attempt. Burton makes a case for an air strike to be certain about results. John resists, knowing his daughter is still alive.
Farid and Al-Saad move Sophie to another location. Hayworth catches up with them but Burton orders him to get confirmation before taking any action. Hayworth identifies Al-Saad, Sophie, and Reza Farid.
Burton takes this new intel to the President and demands action. He threatens to make the info more public in the intelligence community unless Foster takes some definitive action against the threat. John realizes that his duty to the country must come before his duty as a father and authorizes the strike.
Farid explains to her that he wants to film her denouncing her father and the United States. He promises that she will be let go after making the film, but Sophie has no faith in his word. He begins the recording. Al-Saad interrupts Farid and tells him that American soldiers are in the area.
While Farid and Al-Saad are just outside the room, Sophie finds a duffel bag with some calling cards and cell phones. She sends a text message. As Sophie turns away from the bag she notices a young Middle Eastern girl watching her through a small grated window. They make eye contact and then she is gone.
Hayworth and his small company of men slip through the town using night-vision goggles. They get closer to the safe house with Farid and Sophie.
Farid enters the room with the young girl in tow. The young girl runs straight to the duffel bag and uncovers the cell phone. Farid realizes what has happened and is furious. He beats Sophie again and rushes to get Al-Saad.
Hayworth and his men move past the building as Farid and Al-Saad remain silent and out of the line of sight of the night-vision scopes. Hayworth stops near the cracked window looking into room where Sophie is bound and beaten. He doesn't see anything on the scopes and moves on.
Sophie spies something on Al-Saad's belt as he is holding her down and in a split second makes the decision to grab it. Al-Saad looks down at the pin of a grenade in her hand. He looks at his belt, lined with more than one grenade and panics. Farid looks over and then dives for cover.
The building near Hayworth explodes outward, showering his men with rocks and debris. Al-Saad and Farid's guards fire back at them from nearby buildings. Hayworth orders the air strike and planes drop payloads on the area, leveling a significant portion of the village in the process.
The President learns of the death of his daughter. Al-Saad is dead but Farid's body has not been recovered yet. The President is a guilty wreck.
A little girl bends down and finds a mangled video camera among the debris. Hayworth notices the camera and removes the tape, still intact. He gives the little girl the camera back.
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