Barry Seal is a talented pilot who works for TWA in the late 1970s. He is approached by a CIA agent who offers him a lucrative job flying covert missions over Central America. Barry accepts and soon finds himself involved in a dangerous and illegal operation that involves smuggling drugs for the Medellín Cartel, delivering weapons to the Contras in Nicaragua, and laundering money for the CIA. Barry enjoys the thrill and the wealth of his new life, but he also attracts the attention of the DEA, the FBI, and the cartel itself. As his situation becomes more and more precarious, Barry tries to balance his family, his loyalty, and his survival.
Based on a true story, American Made is a dark comedy that exposes the corruption and the absurdity of the Iran-Contra scandal.
* * *
(CROWD CHEERING)
(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING)
PRESIDENT CARTER: Exactly three years ago,
I promised you a president
who feels your pain and who shares your dreams.
I wanna talk to you about a fundamental threat to American democracy.
For the first time in the history of our country,
a majority of our people believe
that the next five years
will be worse than the past five years.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIO)
Shit.
(PA SYSTEM BEEPS)
(ON PA) Howdy, folks.
Apologize for the delay.
We’re number 1 1 for takeoff.
We’ll try to make it up in the air.
Just wake me up over Texas.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIO CONTINUES)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIO CONTINUES)
(BEEPING)
(ENGINE POWERING UP)
(PEOPLE GASPING)
BARRY: (ON PA) Apologies from the flight deck.
Just a little bit of turbulence.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
BARRY: Thank you all for flying TWA tonight.
Welcome to Baton Rouge.
ANNOUNCER: (ON RADIO) The people’s choice…
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
…and for you history buffs, is in Louisiana…
(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
BARRY: Hey, Luce.
Um, back here.
(EXHALES)
(MUSIC CONTINUES ON RADIO)
(SCOFFS)
BARRY: Thank you for flying TWA.
Welcome to Vancouver.
Welcome to Bakersfield.
Welcome to Denver. (BABY CRYING)
JIMMY: I hope they put us up at the Holiday Inn tonight.
Those little cocktail gals are on fire.
Soon as they see a man in uniform, panties come off.
(JIMMY CHUCKLES)
(HUMMING)
About that landing in Detroit.
Oh, man. It was gusty that day.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
WOMAN: One in Kentucky.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Thanks, Bobby.
Hey. Chivas on the rocks.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING CONTINUES)
(MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
Barry.
What was that?
Barry Seal.
That’s right.
You have a drop off and pick up service here every other Thursday.
Cuban exiles.
They pay commercial pilots to smuggle homegrown contraband
through Canadian hubs. Vancouver, Montreal.
Right?
I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
No? No.
You’re smuggling cigars.
You have an interesting file, Barry.
“File”?
Starts off with a bang.
Top of your class in the Civil Air Patrol.
Youngest pilot in TWA history.
You were going places.
(CHUCKLES)
What is going on here?
Revolution’s in the air, Barry.
Central America, right now.
We’re building nations down there, Barry.
We’re building nations.
It’s America at its fucking finest.
And we could use someone like you.
(LAUGHING)
Goddamn.
You’re CIA.
Shh. (LAUGHING)
Holy shit.
BARRY: Hot damn! Look at her.
MONTY: Well, they, uh, they tell me she’s pretty fast.
Yeah. Yeah.
It’s the fastest twin-engine on the planet. Mmm.
I mean, shit!
She looks like she’s going 300 miles an hour just sitting there.
(LAUGHS)
CIA owns this?
No. No.
Uh, Independent Aviation Consultants.
IAC.
Yeah.
Well, what is that? What do they call them?
One of them front groups? Is that…
No, no, no. It’s as real as IBM. Uh-huh.
You’d run the company, but after hours, you work for us.
Yeah.
Takes pictures? Mmm.
We say it “collects intelligence.”
Uh-huh. (LAUGHING)
Where? Russia?
Uh…
South of the border, north of the equator.
Let’s just say, uh, “enemies of democracy.”
Look, the real work is covert. You understand? So…
(LAUGHS) “Covert.”
So, uh, anyone finds out about it,
uh, family, friends, even Lucy. It’s Lucy, right?
Yeah, that’s right.
That’d be a problem.
What?
All this is legal?
If you’re doing it for the good guys, yeah.
(LAUGHS)
Just don’t get caught.
(CHUCKLES)
You wanna take her for a spin?
Fuck it! Take her for a fucking spin! (LAUGHS)
I want you to take her for a spin.
(LAUGHING)
It’s all for me. Mmm-hmm.
It’s new business. It’s gonna be my business.
Okay.
Logistical support for airports. That’s right.
Okay. And you’re calling it IAC?
What do you know about business?
You are a TWA airline pilot.
That’s how you support this family.
This is gonna be good for us, all right?
What about benefits?
Our healthcare?
We have great healthcare with TWA.
(STAMMERS) That’s…
You know, I’m sure that’s not gonna be a problem.
And what the hell does IAC mean, anyway?
Independent Aviation Consultants.
Well, that sounds fuckin’ made up, Barry.
It does?
BARRY: Flight controls free and correct.
Warning and enunciator lights.
Check on that.
Anti-skid lights. That’s off.
Landing gear. Handle’s down. Three green.
Speed brake lever.
Stowed.
Thrust levers. Cut off.
Engine start levers. Cut off.
Slap trim cut-off switches. Normal.
Fire warning system?
(ALARM RINGS AND STOPS)
Check.
Radius transponder radar?
Barry? Radius transponder radar?
Yeah. Check, check.
Rudder, aileron trim?
Zero, zero.
Windows?
Closed.
Flight attendant briefing?
Yeah.
Barry?
You’re gonna be all right, Jimmy.
Where are you… Where are you going?
Barry! Barry, where are you going?
BARRY: (CHUCKLES) Shit! I know, I know.
That was bold.
That was bold.
I do tend to leap before I look.
Maybe, uh… (CLICKS TONGUE)
Maybe I should have asked a few more questions.
Anyway, it was back in ’78 and, uh…
It was September? October.
Anyway, it, uh…
That was the day I joined the CIA.
Now, in those days, the Cold War was in full swing.
The Soviets were backing communist insurgents
all over Central America.
(SCREECHING) (GROWLING)
And the CIA wanted snaps of them insurgents. (CAMERA CLICKING)
(GUNS FIRING) (MEN SHOUTING)
(GLASS CRACKING)
(CAMERA CLICKING)
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
(GUNS FIRING) (CAMERA CLICKING)
CIA OFFICIAL: Now, these pictures are sensational.
Who’s responsible?
They’re mine.
GARY: Hey, Monty?
Yeah.
Go fuck yourself.
(GUNS FIRING) (MEN SHOUTING)
(BULLET RICOCHETS) Whoa!
Oh, shit!
(ENGINE STALLING)
Come on, now. Come on, now.
(ENGINE STALLING)
(LAUGHING)
Fuck!
Whoo!
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
ANNOUNCER: The people’s choice.
(LUCY MOANING)
MONTY: So, uh… So then I show him this one.
And he goes, “God damn it, Schafer, I didn’t ask for mug shots.”
(LAUGHING)
I mean, they say they’re the best
reconnaissance photos they have ever seen.
Does this mean I get a raise?
You’re doing great.
Hey, you got a family, Schafer?
DOCTOR: Big push! (SCREAMS)
Motherfucker! (BABY CRIES)
Wife? Kids?
See, I, uh…
I didn’t tell Lucy I ain’t working for TWA no more.
You’re serving your country.
I am gonna need some more money at some point.
You’ll figure it out.
Oh. Uh… (CLEARS THROAT)
We, uh…
We’re sending you to Panama tomorrow.
BARRY: The CIA was so happy with my work,
they gave me another job.
Bagman.
See, there was this colonel down in Panama
named Noriega.
And he was selling the agency’s Intel on all the commies down there.
For your friends.
BARRY: My job was just to drop off and pick up.
Just drop off
and pick up.
ANNOUNCER: (ON RADIO) Right here in Baton Rouge.
You’re listening to the best Louisiana music.
BARRY: Hey, Luce, pancakes are up.
LUCY: Thanks, baby.
(CAMERA CLICKING)
Hola.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
In the car.
(HORNS BLARING) (SIREN WAILING)
Hey, uh…
A dónde vamos, fellas?
(MILD MUSIC PLAYING)
(OCHOA SPEAKS SPANISH)
Welcome.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
Come on up.
Thank you for coming to see me.
Sir, I… I think there’s been some sort of mistake here, because I…
These fellas just picked me up at the airport, and…
No, no. No mistake. Just, please, have a seat.
Coffee, Mr. Seal?
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
You know my name?
You’re the gringo who flies to Central America every week
taking pictures very low with your fancy plane.
(CHUCKLES) Oh, yeah, I mean, uh,
those photos… See, I have a, uh…
Aviation company here in South America that I…
Yes. Yes, the AIC.
IAC. Yes, sir.
Or is it CIA?
(CHUCKLING) What?
No…
No, no, no. I’m just a businessman here.
I’m a businessman.
Imports, exports, cattle, horses.
But now…
Now, God above has blessed this great country with new riches, Mr. Seal.
And you could help us.
How’s that?
You know the routes,
you can get in and out of Estados Unidos with your fancy plane.
What… What kind of riches are we talking about here?
OCHOA: Cocaine, Mr. Seal!
We had a few difficulties
getting our exports to your country, Mr. Seal.
WOMAN: (ON RADIO) Nine-nine-nine-six.
Ma’am, what’s in the bag?
(BARKING)
We decided to try new ideas.
We want you to take off from here, fly directly to Miami.
We’ll pay you $2,000 per kilo.
How much is a kilo?
2.2 pounds, Mr. Seal.
BARRY: $2,000
every 2.2 pounds.
I… I’m sorry, fellas.
I didn’t catch y’all’s names.
Jorge Ochoa.
Carlos Lehder.
Pablo Escobar.
A couple of billion dollars from now,
they’d be known as the Medellín Cartel.
Back then, they were just three businessmen
trying to figure out how to get
their merchandise to the United States.
There was just one small problem.
See, pilots, they were killing themselves trying to get off that runway.
I see you had a few other boys try to make it outta here.
(CHUCKLES) Sí, sí.
Terrible pilots.
Yeah, well,
I’m sure they were heavy, you know,
carrying a lot of fuel to make it to the States,
and merchandise, and…
Yeah, you know, this airport, I mean,
it’s high altitude and a short runway.
And, I mean, shit, you got trees and mountains on both sides.
Is there, uh…
Is there somewhere else I could take off from?
OCHOA: Nowhere the Army wouldn’t notice.
Well, uh…
Can you make the runway longer?
(LAUGHS)
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKING SPANISH) (LAUGHING)
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
OCHOA: (IN ENGLISH) They say I should get rid of you.
That you can’t do it.
OCHOA: We have our people in Miami. BARRY: Yeah.
You’re gonna land at the Okeechobee airport between 2:00 and 6:00 a.m.
BARRY: Look, there’s, uh…
There’s been a change of plans,
’cause I ain’t landing in Miami in…
(ESCOBAR SPEAKS SPANISH) Thank you. Gracias.
See, I ain’t landing anywhere with this stuff.
That’s… That’s how y’all got in trouble.
Now, look, just hear me out.
I know Louisiana. Now, here’s a map.
Now, I’m gonna drop this stuff right where “X” marks the spot.
All right? Just… (GRUNTS)
What do you mean, you’re not gonna land, huevón?
BARRY: Okay. Now, just…
Hey. Come here.
Look… Just look at this.
Look.
See right here?
See that there?
Hmm.
Right there is your million-dollar door.
All right. You just go around. Each side.
But tight.
No, no, no. No more.
I said no more.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
But there’s plenty of room, gringo.
No, no, no. (SPEAKING SPANISH)
Guys, guys, it ain’t about room, all right? It’s about weight.
Now, we agreed on 200, I even put on 300.
No, no, no. (SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
Keep pushing. Come on. Need all the runway I can get.
Keep going. Keep going.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Hold! Hold!
Bien. Bien.
Gracias, gracias.
(IN ENGLISH) Oh, whoa.
Where the hell do you think you’re going, big fella?
Come on. Out.
He’s gonna guard our product.
(SIGHS)
This guy’s fatter than fuck.
I’m already 1,500 pounds overweight.
Either I fly the big fella or I fly your product.
(MEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY IN SPANISH)
Good luck, hermano.
Christ will keep you safe.
He ain’t gonna make this runway any longer.
Hey, Jorge. Come here, give me that.
(ENGINE STARTS) (EXHALES)
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
(ALL CONTINUE SPEAKING SPANISH)
Come on.
(DEVICE BEEPING)
Come on, come on, come on.
Come on!
(BEEPING)
(CONTINUES BEEPING)
(BEEPING)
Oh, Jesus!
(GRUNTS)
(ALL CLAMORING)
(BEEPING CONTINUES)
(CHUCKLES) Whoo!
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(RADIO TUNING)
I’ve got a possible target headed due north 25 miles offshore.
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
That’s platform 14. One of Shell’s helicopters.
You can disregard.
(BEEPS)
(BEEPS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(MAN SPEAKING SPANISH)
(MAN WHOOPS)
(FIREWORKS BURSTING)
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(LAUGHING)
(OCHOA SPEAKING SPANISH)
Cheers! Cheers!
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
Barry. (SPEAKS SPANISH)
Wow. (LAUGHS)
For you.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Was that, uh, Wednesday?
You want me to go… He wants me to go again on Wednesday?
Yes. Next Wednesday.
BARRY: Well, what about the, uh, that runway?
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
Pablo! Jorge!
(ALL CONTINUE SPEAKING SPANISH)
(MEN SHOUTING) (GUNFIRE)
Oh… Whoa!
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Wait here, Barry. Wait here.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
BARRY: Are we running?
(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)
What…
What is that? You want me to wait here?
Pablo?
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
(GUNSHOTS)
(GUNFIRE)
BARRY: Oh, God.
(MEN SHOUTING)
Don’t shoot! (SOLDIER SPEAKS SPANISH)
No, no, no.
Sí, sí, sí, sí, sí. (SPEAKING SPANISH)
(ALL CLAMORING)
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(ALL CHEERING)
MONTY: Barry?
Barry Seal.
Schafer?
Barry Seal? Schafer?
Yeah. No, no, no. Oh, my God!
You look terrible.
It is so good to see you.
You missing a tooth? Yeah.
What the fuck?
See these fellas right here?
Yeah.
I think they know that I am CIA.
You’re not CIA.
You’re a drug smuggler, Barry.
Listen.
Louisiana PD was notified of your arrest here.
They’re gonna raid your house at 6:00 a.m.
They’re gonna pick up Lucy, bring her in for questioning.
Maybe even keep her overnight.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. You gotta get me out of here.
Well, maybe…
Maybe we could figure something out.
BARRY: Okay, you can… You can stop now if you want.
‘Cause, believe me,
shit gets crazy from here.
Do you remember them fellas that
I told you I was taking snaps of?
Turns out they was a bunch of commies.
Called themselves Sandinistas.
These fellas managed to get their shit together
and take control right here in this little country called Nicaragua.
Oh, no, that’s El Salvador.
Here you go. Nicaragua.
ANNOUNCER: Theirs is the first successful revolution in Central America.
BARRY: Now, that may have been bad news for some people,
but not for me.
See, there was a new sheriff in town.
My fellow Americans, I must speak to you tonight
about a mounting danger in Central America.
BARRY: Even after everything that happened, I…
I still love Ronnie Reagan.
I mean, any man that can make it
from that monkey movie
all the way to the White House…
(BANGING) What’s the matter with him?
BARRY:…he’s gotta know what the hell he’s doing.
And what he wanted was to kick them commie Sandinistas out of Nicaragua.
And he wanted the Nicaraguan freedom fighters, called Contras, to do it.
They need to know that the U. S. supports them
with more than just pretty words and good wishes.
BARRY: But Congress, well, they smelled
the makings of another Vietnam,
and they outright refused to let Ronnie have his war.
But do you think them politicians
could tell the Gipper what to do?
Hell no. He turned to the CIA,
and the CIA turned to me.
Schafer? Schafer, that morning raid
on my family, that’s off now, right?
No, no. That’s, uh… That’s still happening.
What? 6:00 a.m.
This fucking country!
Well, hold on, now. Stop!
Now, we have a deal!
I’m not a cop, Barry.
I can’t make a search warrant go away, you know?
Things are in motion here.
Come on, man. What the hell am I gonna do?
I suggest you get your family outta Louisiana.
Well, where am I supposed to take them?
We got a place for ya.
Mena.
Arkansas.
Arkansas?
BARRY: Hey.
Hey, Luce.
Mmm. Hey, baby.
Hey, hey, hey.
My God, baby, what happened to you?
I’m okay.
Barry, you’re missing a tooth.
Hey, uh… (CLOCK TICKING)
We’re moving.
We gotta pack everything up.
We gotta be outta here before the sun comes up.
We, uh…
So, we’ll get these dresses and…
Do you, uh…
You need all them shoes?
Well, hey there, sunshine.
How you doing?
Now, look. I’m gonna give you a plastic bag.
What I want you to do is you go upstairs
and you put your favorite toys…
Go on back to bed, honey. Daddy done lost his mind.
No. Darlin’, you listen to Daddy.
You go do that ’cause we’re going on an adventure.
LUCY: No, we’re not going on an adventure.
Like the time we went camping in the parish?
Not actually, but…
‘Cause every adventure is different.
Oh, my God. You’re actually serious right now.
Barry, it’s 4:00 a.m., I’m not moving.
Christina’s school play is tomorrow.
Hey, do you trust me?
No!
But you love me. You do love me.
Yeah, of course, I fucking love you.
Then, listen, we gotta move.
And we gotta get outta here before the sun comes up.
(SIRENS WAILING)
(MUSIC PLAYING ON CAR RADIO)
(MUSIC CONTINUES ON CAR RADIO)
Look at that. They got barbecue.
It’s got a lot of charm.
This place has got a lot of charm.
SHERIFF DOWNING: Plenty. But all we got’s a porta-potty out back.
And I think that’d be cruel and unusual punishment. Right?
(CHUCKLES)
Well, I’ll be sure to give ’em a good what for on Monday, though.
All right?
CHRISTINA: Thank you.
BARRY: Front door’s open.
(BABY CRYING)
(SHUSHING) It’s okay.
That’s… That’s an easy fix.
(HORN HONKING)
I gotta…
Get in. Come on.
Oh, shit.
We gotta make this quick.
She might leave me before I get back.
So, this is all yours.
Including everything between here and your house.
Almost 2,000 acres.
What do you think?
I own all this?
Oh, yeah.
This whole airport?
Yeah. Congratulations.
MONTY: AK-47s.
Soviet-made for the PLO.
The Israelis captured these and then secretly traded them to us.
And you’re gonna fly ’em to Nicaragua.
You didn’t say nothing about guns.
It’s a war, Barry.
Freedom fighters can’t put up much of a fight if they aren’t armed.
This was the deal.
Or would you rather be in a Colombian prison?
This is every current law enforcement investigation
on the Gulf Coast.
FBI, ATF, DEA, Customs.
These maps will help you avoid all of ’em.
Holy shit.
You’d just fly where they ain’t.
Everything in this hangar’s mine?
Oh, yeah.
That truck’s mine? Mmm-hmm.
Tools are mine?
Yes, sir.
This airplane’s mine.
Bag is mine.
What bag?
LUCY: I fed the kids.
They’re sleeping.
Unpacked the car.
That’s good.
Fixed the sink. Just a valve.
See? I told you that was gonna be easy.
(GRUNTS)
Fuck, Barry!
Okay. All right. All right. Okay.
I’m gonna come clean.
I don’t work for TWA no more.
No shit, Barry.
Are you going to prison?
No, ma’am. (CHUCKLES)
You’ve gotta take care of this family.
‘Cause I will take the kids.
I will go right back to working for Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Luce, what I’m working on, it’s…
Barry, I am six months pregnant.
It’s top secret.
I need a fridge.
I need beds for our children.
I need a stove, a fucking washing machine…
Washing machine over there, all right?
Now, let me just…
Is this all legal?
All right. What I’m about to tell you, you… You…
You gotta swear you can’t ever tell anybody this, Lucy.
All right?
(WHISPERS) I am working
for the CIA.
(DOOR LOCK CLICKING)
(MEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY IN SPANISH)
(MAN WHISTLES) (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(MEN SPEAKING SPANISH)
BARRY: Hola.
Howdy, amigos.
I am here on behalf of Uncle Sam.
(MEN SHOUTING IN SPANISH)
BARRY: Look, Schafer. I ain’t no military expert,
but are you sure these are the right guys?
‘Cause they seemed a damn sight more
interested in my boots than in your guns.
MONTY: (OVER PHONE) Now, look. This is getting big time.
Schafer, I just don’t think I’m the guy for this.
You just keep delivering that pizza, hear me?
You just keep delivering.
(MEN SPEAKING SPANISH)
BARRY: Hola.
All right.
These are gifts.
All right.
All right? Gifts.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Back off. Off.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
Amigos.
Now, these guns are gifts from Uncle Sam.
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
I’m not fucking around.
(HORN BLARES)
Barry! Put the bat down, huevón.
We’re all friends here.
Jorge.
What the hell are you doing here?
OCHOA: This is Don Adolfo Calero.
He works for your government on the revolution
to bring down the Sandinistas.
Jorge tells me you are the crazy gringo who always delivers.
OCHOA: We have a new business proposition to you, Barry.
You bring your American guns to Colombia,
deliver our cocaine here, to the Contras,
the Contras take it by fishing boats to Miami,
and everybody’s happy.
It’s for the war effort, Mr. Seal.
BARRY: Turns out, the Contras didn’t really want to fight a war.
They just wanted to make money.
Like the rest of us.
Meanwhile, the Medellín Cartel wanted guns.
So they worked out a little trade. What was I gonna tell ’em?
I’m just a gringo who always delivers.
Here’s how the operation worked.
I’d load up with guns in Mena,
then, using Schafer’s Intel, I’d bypass any law enforcement
and fly straight to the cartel’s airstrip in Medellín.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
BARRY: The Colombians, well, they loved them guns.
(CHUCKLES)
And I’d load up with fresh powder
and fly on to the Contra training camp.
The Contras hid the coke in fishing boats and sailed it up to Miami.
Meanwhile, I’d get another load of powder,
take it back to the States with a quick stop to refuel in Panama
under the protection of my old friend, Colonel Noriega.
Congratulations on your promotion, General.
‘Course, he’d get his cut, too.
On the way back, I’d keep an eye out for the DEA
and then I’d dump it all in the swamps of Louisiana.
The operation got so big
I had to get some help.
Pete Dubois manufactured guns until he discovered
he had a knack for selling pot.
Stan Mason flew dope from Mexico to Arizona.
Bill Cooper. He flew opium all around Southeast Asia during Vietnam.
Then there’s Bob. Uh…
I don’t know much about Bob. Hell of a pilot, though.
I called these boys my Snowbirds,
and we could fly through anything.
Schafer!
Barry.
How’s it going?
BILL: Hey, boss!
That was fucking crazy, man! Whoo! (LAUGHS)
How’s it, uh… How’s it going down there?
Oh, you know…
Busy.
You?
Oh, yeah.
Busy.
Where are they going?
We need to borrow some of your land.
They want you to fly ’em up here
to train.
For training.
Who?
The Contras.
You… You want me to bring ’em up here?
To Mena?
We’re setting up a field and operational training ground.
Where? On…
On my land? Yeah.
Starting immediately.
Which is great.
Is that a problem?
No.
Hey.
Whatever you need, boss.
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
(PLANES PASSING OVERHEAD)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
Hang on! We’re supposed to have 15.
I’m only counting 12 here.
Them Contras were damn excited about being in the U. S. of A.
And they were running away almost faster than we could bring ’em in.
(MAN SPEAKING SPANISH)
CIA MAN: Hey, you two! Where you think you’re going?
Wow. You wanna quadruple the shipments?
We’re confident the Contras can win by summer
if we give ’em what they need.
That’s great.
WINTER: How much more can you get out of your guy in Mena?
MONTY: Oh, we’ll get everything out of him.
That’s what I like to hear.
We’re expanding operations, Barry.
BARRY: Come on, now. One at a time!
Just one at a time! Hey, hold on! Hold on!
(ALL CLAMORING) No, no, no.
We’ll take care of everybody.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Back! Hands off!
Please. Back! Whoa, whoa, whoa!
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Everyone just calm the fuck down!
(MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
(GUNFIRE) (INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(GLASSES CLINK) Salud.
(IN ENGLISH) Hey, Barry.
Yeah?
You think those Contras can win?
No.
Eh…
(TV PLAYING)
SHERIFF DOWNING: Hi.
This just came. “Go Razorbacks. Barry.”
Season tickets.
Fifty-yard line.
Well, that was awful nice of him.
How much property has Seal bought up since he came to town?
I don’t know, 500 acres?
2,000 acres. From the airport to Ouachita.
What’s he want with all that worthless land?
It’s… It’s really none of our business, really.
He’s good people, Judy.
He’s doing a lot for the community.
I’d like to open a bank account.
Oh. Bless you!
I’ll be right back.
David!
LUCY: Come on, Christina! (CROWD APPLAUDING)
MAN: Good job, guys, good job! Whoo!
Whoo!
LUCY: Way to go, Christina! Go, go, go!
Oranges. You guys want some oranges?
LUCY: Hey, guys, I got pizza!
You guys want some pizza? KIDS: Yeah!
Here you go! All right. Let me just put this right…
There you go.
(HORN HONKING MELODIOUSLY)
Nice wheels! Oh, you like her?
(CHUCKLES) I do.
1982.
All the bells and whistles.
First one in the state of Arkansas, and she’s yours.
She’s mine?
She’s yours.
Oh, my God, Barry!
Thank you!
Wow. A little something extra in there.
Fuck me, Barry!
(BARRY CHUCKLING)
What?
Okay. You need to behave.
LUCY: I brought some snacks out for you, Christina.
BARRY: By the summer of ’82,
business was a-boomin’.
Got us at Tuesday, three o’clock. Tuesday at three o’clock.
OCHOA: (ON PHONE) We need to increase the shipments.
Can you add a Friday delivery?
Friday? Okay. Hold on, now. (PHONE RINGING)
Yeah?
We wanna double the amount of guns we’re bringing in.
BARRY: Double?
MONTY: Next batch by Friday.
(STAMMERS) Oh, hold on. Does it have to be Friday?
(LINE DISCONNECTS)
BARRY: I opened a few front corporations.
I can’t wait to learn everything there is to know
about the sign business, Mr. Seal.
Me, too.
I spent 30 years working the pumps at Gas N’ Sip.
Well, sir, I think it’s about time you moved to upper management.
But the money was coming in faster than I could launder it.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
BARRY: I was taking pictures, delivering guns,
dropping off and picking up.
(CHUCKLES) Damn, I was building an air force.
New toy, boys! (LAUGHS)
I wanted to get new books. LUCY: You did?
What’re you doing? Barry!
LUCY: Smile, Barry.
BARRY: Jorge! (OCHOA SPEAKS SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) Lobsters! Oh, you remembered!
What’d I tell you? You think I’m gonna forget that?
Your husband is a genius.
Well, it absolutely, positively has to be delivered overnight.
Esposa, Lucy.
No, no, no. Sí, sí, sí.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(ALL CHEERING)
(ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
(FIREWORKS BURSTING)
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(ALL CHEERING AND LAUGHING)
(LAUGHING)
BARRY: I had my fingers in every pie on the rack.
10 million in Mena National,
12 million in Mena State,
15 in Mena Trust.
I had 40 parked in Miami,
20 in Panama, 7 million in lawn bags,
8 in Samsonites, 4 buried in the woods behind my house,
and 90 pounds of gold in my closet.
Hot damn!
Oh, honey, watch the yoke. (LUCY PANTS)
If this ain’t the greatest country in the world.
Ah!
(GASPS)
(DOORBELL RINGING)
BARRY: Uh…
JB.
Uh…
Yeah.
Hey, sis! JB!
What the fuck?
Look at you!
Look at you! God damn!
Get in here.
Look at this fucking house!
Parking a Chevy’s a lot harder than it fucking looks, Luce.
Hey! Watch your mouth around the kids.
Sorry. (VIDEOGAME RUNNING)
That right?
JB: Yeah, man.
They had me cramming those S-10s
into every goddamn inch of the fucking…
LUCY: Hey, you heard me!
I’m sorry!
Look, thing is is that the cars
were so close to each other, right?
You couldn’t help but scratch, right? Yeah.
Then they would take the scratches
out of my fucking paycheck, man!
LUCY: Hey! JB! JB: Sorry.
Well, I don’t know how you handle the pressure, JB.
You’re staying here, you’re getting a job.
Or, you know, I could just give you some folding cash,
you go and do what you want.
Don’t you look at him like that. JB: What?
You are getting a job, JB, not a handout.
My brother’s getting a job, Barry.
You’re getting a job.
Definitely.
Well, you hear that? That’s the law.
You’re gonna have to work, son.
Gonna have to work. That’s right.
JB: What is it I’ll be doing, exactly?
(MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
Yo, Barry!
Hey, Barry.
Barry!
What now, JB?
So this is a big hangar, and I’m tired of sweeping.
You can take a break when you get it done.
Let’s go. Get it done!
BILL: Hey, man, I got a new job for you.
Get me a beer, man.
Dead soldier.
Here’s your fucking…
(PLANE ENGINE WHIRRING)
LUCY: Barry?
Yeah?
Roscoe dug this up in the backyard.
There are bills blowing around everywhere.
I’ll rake it up in the morning.
I found three more of ’em up in the fireplace.
(MAN WHOOPS)
(MEN SPEAKING SPANISH)
(PANTING)
Shit.
(BARRY SIGHS)
We had cash flooding in from every direction.
Who… Who thought that was gonna be a problem? I mean…
We were running out of places to put it.
(HORSE NEIGHING)
Easy. Whoa.
Don’t get behind ’em. These are dangerous animals.
No, maybe you should call the trainer.
No, honey, I got this.
Come on, now.
Hang on.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON CAR RADIO)
JB: What you think of that?
GIRL: Holy shit!
JB got a new car.
Did you give that boy a raise?
JB: Hey, Barry, Luce!
What in the holy fuck?
That girl is 15.
It’s huge! I told you it was huge!
You actually live here? Uh-huh.
Hey! Can I talk to you for a second?
Yeah.
What? Come here.
LUCY: What the hell, JB?
What?
I haven’t done nothing yet!
JB. Come on. Hi, Miss Seal.
Hi.
What… We were just gonna go for a swim.
Come here.
Please don’t tell my mama that I was here.
LUCY: Come on, honey. Let’s go inside.
Where’d you get the money for this car?
I’m gonna be honest with you, Barry, ’cause I can’t lie to you.
I stole it from the hangar.
All right.
I opened up one of the Samsonites.
I found so much fucking money in there, man.
JB, JB, JB. So much goddamn money.
JB, you can’t do that.
You can’t do that.
PETE: 500 down 300.
Watch out for that tree at the end.
BARRY: Yeah, I remember that.
No, Pete, you gotta turn that off.
I can’t see nothing with it on.
PETE: Gotcha.
75. 50.
Oh. Nicely done, boss.
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
(YAWNS)
You boys see this?
Oh! Fuck!
MAN: (ON RADIO) This is the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
You are in violation of the Air Defense Identification Zone.
We are ordering you to land immediately.
Follow us to New Orleans NAS.
All right, boys. It’s gonna be a long night.
Let’s go back out to sea, 105 knots.
Get them flaps down.
MAN: I repeat, we are ordering you to land immediately.
BARRY: The DEA was using these fancy new jets that we couldn’t outrun.
MAN: Follow us to New Orleans NAS.
BARRY: But all that speed comes at a heavy price.
MAN: I repeat…
BARRY: They could go fast,
but we could go slow.
For a long time.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Low fuel. Low fuel.
(BEEPING) We gotta turn around, guys. We’re bingo.
Those pricks are right fucking there.
BARRY: (ON RADIO) All right, boys.
DEA finally ran out of gas. Time to head home.
PETE: Bill! The fuck, man?
Where you headed, buddy? Come on.
BARRY: All right, I’ll get him. I’ll get him.
Bill? Come on, turn around. Come on, let’s go.
Bill? You hear me?
Oh, son of a bitch!
Bill’s asleep.
(LAUGHS) God damn!
BARRY: Bill, wake… Wake up, man!
PETE: That motherfucker can sleep anywhere.
Wake up, Bill. (PETE LAUGHING)
BARRY: Bill!
(GASPS)
BARRY: Morning, Bill!
BILL: Okay, I’m up, I’m up.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Welcome back.
Those bank financials that you asked for.
McCALL: Yeah.
There’s a lot of money in Mena, Arkansas.
Thanks.
I think you’re gonna appreciate what we’ve done here, Barry.
(SAW WHIRRING)
You’re making me my own vault?
Oh, no, no. We’re using this auxiliary for all our other customers.
We gave you the main vault.
How ’bout that!
MAN: (ON RADIO) Aerostar 2-1-9-3-golf.
Head for New Orleans Naval Air Station at once.
Yeah. Come on, come on, come on!
You better run, you prick.
(CHUCKLES)
MAN: (ON RADIO) This is the United States Border Patrol.
BARRY: Shit.
MAN: We are ordering you to land.
BARRY: Hey, boys.
I see you finally got smart and got a slower plane.
Two of ’em.
MAN: That’s right, son.
We up here as long as you want.
Aerostar, we are ordering you to land immediately.
BARRY: Ha. All right, motherfuckers. Let’s land.
MAN: I repeat, we are ordering you to land…
What the fuck?
Stay on him.
(ENGINE STOPS)
Shit!
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Oh, shit! (CAR HORN BLARES)
(GRUNTS)
(COUGHS)
(ALARM BEEPING) (DOG BARKING)
(COUGHING)
(GASPING)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTING)
Is this your yard?
All right. Well, that’s for the damage.
And, uh, here’s a little something extra for your sister.
Hey, little darlin’.
And your bike.
(PLANE PASSING OVERHEAD)
All right.
You never saw me.
(SIRENS BLARING IN DISTANCE)
GARY: “A plane crashed in Louisiana
“with 200 kilos of Colombian powder.”
Two hundred.
Right. Is that your boy?
I’m sorry, are you working for the fucking DEA now?
Interesting read.
(SCOFFS)
I got it.
(PHONE RINGING)
OCHOA: Hello, amigo. Sí.
We had to get out of Colombia in the middle of the night.
BARRY: I wasn’t the only one having trouble with the DEA.
OCHOA: Escobar’s gone crazy and declared war on the government.
BARRY: Thanks to Pablo Escobar’s unique management style,
the cartel found themselves kicked out of Colombia.
The only place the DEA couldn’t touch him?
That’s right. Nicaragua.
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
OCHOA: We’re going to meet Señor Vaughan.
He’s the Minister of Interiors.
He controls the airstrips.
It’s how we get you in.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
(OCHOA SPEAKING SPANISH)
Barry, just sit and keep your mouth shut.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON CAR RADIO) (TIRES SCREECHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
Here’s your butter, sir. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
What’s up?
How you doing?
Stop running!
JB: Fuck! (TIRES SCREECH)
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
(PAGER BEEPING)
(BEEPING CONTINUES)
(BOTH CONTINUE SPEAKING SPANISH)
(PAGER BEEPING)
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
Hey, Luce, you hear me? LUCY: Yes.
Honey? You all right? Yeah, I can hear you.
Honey, I hate to tell you this right now, but JB has been arrested.
That little shit. BARRY: What happened?
LUCY: I don’t know. Got caught
with a whole lot of money. That dumb fuck.
BARRY: Honey… What do you want me to do here, babe?
There ain’t nothing to do, really. Uh…
I’m just in a meeting. And we’ll go over that when I get home.
All right? I’ll take care of that.
All right. Hurry, Barry.
All right? You just sit tight. I love you.
Okay.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
How much? (SPEAKS SPANISH)
(ESCOBAR SPEAKING SPANISH)
(IN ENGLISH) That’s 15…
OCHOA: 1,500 kilos, Barry.
1,500? Sí.
In one go.
In one go?
BOTH: Sí. (SCOFFS)
Well, we ain’t never done that before. That’s…
LEHDER: Sanctuary isn’t cheap.
That’s a lot.
Can you do it?
Yeah. I’m gonna… Yeah. I’m gonna get home.
Right now. I’m gonna leave, and then we’ll figure it out.
I’ll figure it out.
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
(BARRY SPEAKING SPANISH)
Get it fucking done!
Fucking lawyer doesn’t know shit.
I got two fucking priors, man, and he doesn’t understand.
No, no, no. He does understand.
And you gotta do what he tells you to do. (PHONE RINGING)
JB: No, he doesn’t, man.
One more strike, man, one more strike and I could go to prison
for life, man. JB?
JB, just hold on.
(PHONE CONTINUES RINGING)
Barry? Barry, are you there?
BOY: Daddy!
Hey, darlin’.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY) What’s that? Hold on.
Yeah? OCHOA: Barry.
We’ve been trying to get a hold of you, amigo.
Yeah, I know that, amigo.
Listen, could you hold on? I’ll be right back. (SIGHS)
(KID CRYING)
JB? JB: Yeah.
There’s some people that wanna talk to me.
No, no, no. You don’t talk to anyone about anything.
Now, you do what that lawyer tells you to,
and you keep your fuckin’ mouth shut.
I’m taking care of this.
Okay.
Listen, Jorge.
We gotta put on the brakes for a bit.
Brakes? No, no, no. No brakes.
We have product to move.
I understand, amigo. But I got a family situation.
Your brother-in-law? We know all about it.
We’ll handle it, amigo.
No, no, no. I don’t want you to handle it.
Barry, listen.
I got it. I got this. Barry.
Listen to me. We’ll handle it. Okay?
No, no, no. Jorge. So, don’t worry.
Jorge… Jorge… We’ll talk business later.
(LINE DISCONNECTS)
BOY: I don’t want to see Daddy no more.
JB: Barry, they don’t know about all them suitcases you got
or what you got in them planes.
The guns you got. They don’t know anything about it.
We’re good, man.
I can’t fix this, you hear?
They’re gonna give you 10 years for not talking.
That’s 10 years people gotta worry you will.
But I didn’t say anything, man!
You can talk to the goddamn lawyer.
(JB BREATHING HEAVILY)
Where we going, man?
Jesus Christ! I’m fuckin’ family.
We’re family!
That’s right.
We’re family.
What’s this?
Inside’s a passport, first-class ticket to Bora Bora,
and enough cash…
Enough cash to make a damn good life for yourself.
Now, you’re gonna get in that car
and you’re gonna drive straight to Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
And nowhere else.
You don’t even stop to take a piss. You hear me?
Yeah, I hear you.
Good luck, kid.
(MUMBLING)
I’ll tell you what, Barry.
I’m gonna send you a goddamn address. Okay, Barry?
You’re gonna start sending me cash on the fucking regular.
You understand? You hear me?
Fuckin’ goddamn fuckin’ dick, all high-and-mighty.
Piece of shit.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
Oh, and Barry,
fuck you, man! Fuck you and my cunt sister.
Excuse me? Did you just…
Hey! Hey!
Money every week, asshole!
What the fuck?
What? Oh, shit.
(PANTING)
Hey! Hey. Barry.
(LOCKS DOOR)
Oh, my God.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
BILL: Barry. Barry!
What do you need, Bill? What do you need? What do you need?
Hey, man… Man,
I’m, like, freaking out, man. What is going on with JB?
Huh?
Don’t worry about JB.
What if he talks, man?
He ain’t gonna.
Yeah, but what if he does?
He ain’t gonna talk, Bill.
How do you know?
I am fucking positive.
Okay, man.
Good. I’m gonna trust you on this one, man.
Good.
MAN: In the calendar year, your operations have transported
10,500 Russian AKs to the Contras.
Yeah. 5,000 of which
have found themselves in the hands of the Colombian cartel.
Right. But…
Out of the 916 Contras brought into the United States to train,
only half made it back to Nicaragua.
Half is… The other half are in the wild.
(TRUCK APPROACHING)
What’s going on here?
Oh, yeah. We had to send the Contras home.
Home? Yeah.
They weren’t fighting.
That’s the reality of that situation.
(SIGHS) You know, it didn’t help that their guns were in Colombia.
Did it, Barry?
(PAGER BEEPING)
So…
What now?
We’ll call ya.
Call me?
Schafer?
Hey, Schafer!
Who the fuck’s Schafer?
Okay, everybody, you know the drill. Everybody gets a burn bag.
Into it, you put anything with Barry Seal’s face or name on it.
Come on, boys. We gotta move.
We gotta get all this stuff out of here.
Pete. PETE: What? Everything?
Come on, boys, let’s go. We gotta move this out.
Let’s go! Let’s go!
MONTY: Into the burn bag. Go!
Purchase orders. Aircraft invoices.
Be a team here. Let’s move it out.
Holy shit, man.
Look at all these guns. We gotta move all of it.
Where we supposed to put all of this stuff?
Just get it off my property.
Anything with the word “Mena.”
Fuel bills, memos, names, directives, photos.
Anything like that.
Anything which can link us with him, you put it in the burn bag.
And what do you do with it?
MAN: Burn it. You burn it.
BILL: Bob, need a little help back here.
BOB: In the back!
PETE: Give me a hand with this shit.
BILL: Got it.
DEA AGENT 1: Seal! DEA!
Back away from the truck with your hands in the air.
DEA AGENT 2: Drop the fucking box, shithead!
Show us your hands! Drop the fucking box!
DEA AGENT 2: Nice and high!
ATF!
Drop your weapons!
Whoa, whoa, whoa! DEA! Lower your guns!
ATF! Put your guns down!
Stand down!
DEA AGENT 1: It’s cool!
Everybody’s friends here. DEA, all right?
This is our collar. DEA AGENT 1: Bullshit!
No, no, no. (SIREN BLARES)
OFFICER: State Police!
What the fuck are y’all doing in my county?
(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)
McCALL: Nobody move!
FBI!
Ah, fuck.
Well, hey, boys, how about my phone call?
(LINE RINGING) (BEEPS)
AUTOMATED VOICE: We’re sorry.
You have reached a number that has been
disconnected or is no longer in service.
Oh, shit.
If you feel you have reached this recording in error,
please check the number and try… Come on, Seal.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
You know who I am, Mr. Seal?
No, ma’am.
I’m Dana Sibota, state attorney general.
You’ve got DEA, ATF, FBI, all wanting their pound of flesh.
Yes, ma’am. It’s… It’s quite a room.
Yeah. Well, you hit the trifecta, didn’t you?
I mean, guns, drugs, money laundering.
And the state of Arkansas is gonna rip the bark right off of you, boy.
We are gonna put you in a four-by-six cell for the rest of your life.
Ma’am, that’s a long time.
Yeah.
WOMAN: (ON SPEAKER) Miss Sibota, I have Governor Clinton on the line.
He says it’s urgent.
It’s the Governor.
It’s your governor.
(SNIFFS)
Put him through. Clear the room. Take him with you.
Yeah?
What do you need, Bill?
BARRY: Did y’all know
that Caddies have more trunk space
than any other car in the world?
I’ll give each and every one of you a Caddy.
(ALL SCOFF) BARRY: Huh?
You’d do that for all of us?
Yes, sir. I would.
I’d get all y’all Caddies. Have ’em here this afternoon.
What are you trying to do, Seal? Add another 20 for bribery?
BARRY: Oh, no, no, no.
I’m just offering y’all Caddies for your troubles.
What troubles, Seal, hmm?
Well, bringing me down here, for one. You see,
I’m gonna walk out of here.
(ALL LAUGHING)
I’m gonna walk out of here.
And there ain’t a damn thing any one of you can do about it.
ATF AGENT: All right.
Do it.
Wait. Wait… Wait a minute. No, no.
No, he’s free to go, boys. What the fuck?
McCALL: What the hell do you mean, “He’s free to go”?
DEA AGENT: You want to explain what’s going on here?
DANA: He’s free to go. DEA AGENT 2: Free to go?
You boys should’ve taken the Caddies.
I’ll be seeing you, Seal.
Ma’am.
BARRY: I tell you,
it is good to see you boys, I ain’t gonna lie.
But I figured you’d have to show up, see?
‘Cause I just know too much.
Schafer sent you, right?
Who the fuck is Schafer?
All right, all right now.
Seriously, fellas, who are you?
Usually, I talk with you from my office
in the West Wing of the White House,
but tonight, there’s something special to talk about.
And I’ve asked someone very special to join me.
Are we going…
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO)
PRESIDENT REAGAN: Nancy.
Not long ago, I was asked by a group of children
what to do if they were offered drugs.
And I answered, “Just say no.”
Drug criminals are ingenious.
So we must be smarter and stronger and tougher than they are.
Say yes to your life.
And when it comes to drugs and alcohol,
just say no.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
You a pilot?
I’ve been known to fly some.
Me, too.
Air National Guard.
’68, ’69. Oh.
VICE PRESIDENT BUSH: Junior?
(CLEARS THROAT)
Well,
I’ll see you around, flyboy.
All right.
The Sandinistas are burning the American flag in the streets.
Please. There is no deal if we don’t get the Sandinistas.
Then there’s no deal. Horseshit.
There’s no deal unless we get Medellín.
BARRY: Now, you may be wondering why my ass wasn’t in jail at this point.
This is disgusting!
BARRY: But I gotta be honest. Frankly, so was I.
RANGEL: Ollie… COLONEL NORTH: Oh, please!
BARRY: This fella here is with the DEA.
And this fella here is a colonel named Ollie North.
Reagan’s go-to guy.
The DEA just wants to nail the Medellín Cartel once and for all.
Now, at the same time, Colonel North wants to prove
the commies in Central America are involved in the drug trade.
Let me say that again.
This is disgusting!
BARRY: Colonel North wants to prove the commies are dealing drugs.
And why am I in the room?
‘Cause I’m the gringo who always delivers.
So, you want me to keep going?
For your country.
We’re gonna bring these guys down.
And you’re gonna be a hero.
All right, then.
They put me right back in business.
Now, I’m working for the White House.
RANGEL: All right, you have three cameras.
Fifty picture loads each.
You have one here in a bag.
The sightline goes straight down the back
to where those gentlemen are now.
You have two more cameras above each door.
Sightlines directly in front of the door.
Each camera has a cord.
You just press this button to take a picture.
(CAMERA CLICKING)
That’s it.
Let’s go.
I can see the cords, Barry.
Yeah.
I can see this damn cord, which means they gonna be able to see it.
We’ll hide it.
I’m not a photographer.
Your thumb work? Yeah.
Well, you just push the button.
When am I supposed to push the button?
When the guys are standing here holding the powder.
You know what? Fuck it, Pete.
I’ll take the pictures.
Fuck!
BARRY: Listen. What’s gonna happen with these photos?
Who exactly is going to be looking at ’em?
These photos are gonna be on a need-to-know basis.
Need-to-know.
They’re gonna be classified at the highest levels, Barry.
BOY: Daddy! Daddy!
BARRY: Classified. Daddy!
We do recognize the dangers involved here.
No, you don’t.
Well, you could always tell us to fuck off
and spend the next 30 years in Leavenworth.
PETE: Come on, boss!
Let’s get this over with!
We’ll see ya, Rangel.
LUCY: Smile, Barry!
SON: Bye, Daddy!
(SCREAMS EXCITEDLY)
(LAUGHING) (INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Shit! There’s a fucking army out there.
They’re gonna torture us.
Pull our tongues out through our necks.
That ain’t helping, Pete.
They’re gonna cut us up in little pieces and feed us to the pigs.
I don’t wanna be fed to no pigs, Barry.
Gotta keep our shit together. Hola!
(DOOR WHIRRING)
We’re gonna get the yayo,
take these damn pictures, then get the hell out of here.
Let’s keep our shit together.
(MEN SHOUTING IN SPANISH)
No, no, no.
(CLAMORING)
BARRY: Amigos…
They’re going to hear that goddamn camera, Barry.
Amigos. (ALL SPEAKING SPANISH)
Escobar. Ochoa.
(ALL CONTINUE SHOUTING IN SPANISH)
BARRY: Hey, hola.
Amigo… Qué pasó?
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(MAN SPEAKING SPANISH)
(HORN HONKING)
BARRY: Hey, Jorge!
Jorge. Fuck!
Come on, man.
A little help.
Shoot the gringos.
What?
Shoot the gringos!
What’s that?
Shoot the gringos! Shoot the gringos!
(SHOUTING) No, no, no!
(PANTING)
(LAUGHING)
You fucker.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
Ochoa! OCHOA: Señor.
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
Pete, stand the fuck up.
OCHOA: (IN ENGLISH) They are shaking. You’re shaking.
Look at this!
He pissed himself, man.
You got me. That was a good one.
That was a good one.
(OCHOA SPEAKS SPANISH)
I saved your life, Barry.
I saved your life, eh? Yes, you did.
Remember that. Yeah.
Remember. Crazy gringo.
Come here, Barry.
BARRY: Hey, Jorge.
Now, let’s go say hi to Pablo.
Pablo’s here.
Sí, he’s paranoid, amigo. On edge.
Thinks everyone is out to get him.
Hola! Pablo!
(BARRY SPEAKING SPANISH)
Let’s do this.
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
What?
Everything good?
I’m here.
I’m here.
(MOTORCYCLE REVVING)
And I brought your Harleys.
(IN ENGLISH) We’re still friends?
(IN ENGLISH) That was a good one that you pulled right there.
You really got me.
(OCHOA SPEAKS SPANISH)
Hey, you know, I’m gonna have to get you back.
(BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
BARRY: Jorge,
look at this, my friend.
PETE: Say cheese, motherfuckers.
BARRY: We’re gonna make history.
(CAMERA CLICKING)
(CAMERA CLICKING)
(MEN LAUGHING)
RANGEL: Barry Seal! MAN: Yeah!
Barry Seal! He’s a goddamn genius.
(ALL CHEERING)
There seems to be no crime to which the Sandinistas will not stoop.
(ON TV) This is an outlaw regime.
The Sandinistas have even involved themselves
in the international drug trade.
I know every American parent concerned
about the drug problem will be outraged
to learn that top Nicaraguan government officials
are deeply involved in drug trafficking.
This picture, secretly taken at a military airfield outside Managua
shows Federico Vaughan,
a top aide to one of the nine comandantes who rule Nicaragua…
Fuck!
…loading an aircraft with illegal narcotics bound for the United States.
Those motherfuckers!
That’s your fucking face, Barry!
This is an outlaw regime.
Oh, my God!
(OCHOA SPEAKING SPANISH)
He betrayed us!
Pablo, we have to take care of this immediately.
That son of a bitch. I’m going to rip his head off!
RANGEL: (ON PHONE) I am truly sorry, Barry.
North jumped the gun.
Yeah, well, you boys fucked me good.
We all got fucked.
Those photos weren’t supposed to be released,
and certainly not until we had the Colombians in custody.
Yeah, well, they ain’t gonna be coming for you.
Barry, you knew the risks when you took those pictures.
You knew what you were doing.
Barry?
Barry, you there?
Let’s go get some ice cream.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
BARRY: The Feds, they’re gonna try to take everything.
When they come,
you gotta put on all your jewelry.
All right? All your rings, you know, your bracelets.
Necklace.
‘Cause if you’re wearing it, they can’t take it away from you.
You understand?
All right, that’s insurance for you and the kids.
All right?
I understand.
All right. And don’t forget that it’s gonna be all right.
It’s gonna be all right. I love you.
I love you.
BARRY: Sure enough, they came.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIO)
And they took it all.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) (CLATTERING)
(CLATTERING CONTINUES)
Hey, Luce, honey,
I was thinking
that you might like to move back to Baton Rouge.
LUCY: You ain’t gonna find nothing in those drawers.
Try the hat boxes, third shelf up.
I mean, you loved it there.
What about you?
I mean, I’m…
Me, uh…
Listen, you see…
Look, if I run, they’re, uh,
they’re gonna come for you and the kids, I mean,
that’s how a thing like this goes,
but, Baton Rouge, you’re safe.
No.
(SCOFFS)
No, I ain’t going nowhere.
We’re a family and we’re staying together.
I know. But…
No, sir. I ain’t doing this.
Listen, Luce. Luce. No.
No, no. Honey, hang on. Don’t do this now.
No, sir, sir! I’m sorry. LUCY: You know what?
No, no, no, sir. Come on, sir.
Excuse me, she’s wearing this now.
Luce, you gotta stop. Hey, you know, fellas…
Sorry, hey…
Can I just have a moment… Can I just have a moment with my wife?
It’s been a hell of a day. (CHUCKLES)
MAN: Okay, Barry. Yeah.
You got one minute.
All right. Luce?
Honey, now listen to me. MAN: Let’s give him a minute.
Baby, baby, listen to me.
MAN: All right, folks. Head on out. Listen to me.
(SIGHS)
I’m gonna go to prison.
I’m gonna do just a little time.
And I’m gonna be fine there,
and we’re gonna work everything out,
but I gotta know you’re gonna be safe.
It’s gonna be all right.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
You gotta trust me.
I mean, you trust me, right?
Fuck no!
All right.
BARRY: Luce and the kids finally did move to Baton Rouge.
DANA: How can we have a war on drugs
when the biggest enemy of the state
is being protected by our side?
BARRY: And that lady prosecutor…
DANA: Why, he never informed the FBI…
BARRY:…she never, ever did give up.
…that any such sting operation was underway.
BAILIFF: Defendant will rise.
JUDGE: Barry Seal. Your Honor.
You are sentenced to 1,000 hours community service.
(GAVEL BANGS) Dismissed.
DANA: Oh, that is bullshit. JUDGE: Watch yourself, Sibota.
I’m sorry. DANA: We are talking about a drug smuggler here
of the highest order. Uh, community service?
Exhibit D!
LAWYER: Mr. Seal’s planes are classified.
DANA: I am sick to fuck… Sibota!
…of this Mickey Mouse tap-dancin’ bullshit.
JUDGE: Sibota, I will hold you in contempt.
DANA: Sorry. I’m very sorry.
So, I’m walking out of here. Now.
JUDGE: State of Arkansas has spoken, Mr. Seal.
Do I have to go?
JUDGE: Goodbye.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT ON PA)
(BABY CRYING)
Hey, darlin’.
I do tend to leap before I look.
Maybe, uh… (CLICKS TONGUE)
Maybe I should have asked a few more questions.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
Excuse me, sir, ma’am.
Would y’all mind moving out of the way? I’m just gonna start my car.
Yeah. MAN: What?
I really appreciate that now.
WOMAN: Honey, just keep walking. Keep walking.
(CLICKS)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
Thank you. Just startin’ my car.
MAN: Uh-huh.
Appreciate it.
BARRY: I spent every day in a different motel.
Would y’all mind movin’ outta the way there?
Thank you.
(ENGINE STARTS)
A different motel every day.
It’s just for the safety of the children. Thank you.
But I had to show up to this Salvation Army halfway house
every evening at the same time.
Judge’s orders.
You here for community service?
BARRY: Same time, same place.
Uh, what’s your name, sorry? Louis.
Louis. Barry Seal.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Sign in for me.
BARRY: 120 days in a row.
There you go.
Hey, you may wanna move your truck, too.
Now, them Contras were damn excited about being in the U. S. of A.
GUARD: Hey, Barry.
When are you gonna take me flying, man?
MAN: Oh.
Thanks, Barry.
Don’t tell ’em I gave you that.
Day 36.
(ENGINE STARTS)
(MUSIC CONTINUES ON RADIO)
(MUSIC STOPS)
BARRY: You know, I guess you could say I helped build an army,
defend a country,
and create the biggest drug cartel this world’s ever seen.
DEA, CIA, White House.
I mean, it’s been a hell of an adventure.
Yeah. Sometimes a little more than I bargained for. (CHUCKLES)
But God damn! Now, you try telling me
that this ain’t the greatest country in the…
(GUNSHOT) (GLASS SHATTERS)
(INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER)
We’ll handle it from here, Deputy.
ANNOUNCER: Authorities believe last night’s
machine gun killing of Barry Seal
was ordered by drug bosses in Medellín, Colombia.
Iran.
We get the Iranians to arm the Contras.
‘Schafer’ got a promotion.
(INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER)
After his release, Pete found God and became a preacher in rural Alabama.
The other pilots were never seen again.
The CIA continued to use Barry’s plane to arm the Contras…
Shit! Come on, you big, fat bitch! Pull up!
…until one was shot down over Nicaragua.
The ensuing scandal was known as the Iran-Contra Affair.
REPORTER: Mr. President, what do you know
about money going to the Contras?
All I know is
this is just gonna taste wonderful
and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
REPORTER: Vice President Bush, did you know about the Contra aid or not, sir?
Lucy and the kids settled back in Louisiana.
Want some sauce with that?
Okay. Thank you.
