An Undocumented Rumor

BASIRA NEJEM, a reporter for the Al Shams TV Network (like Al Jazerra), is dispatched to Arizona to investigate claims that a terrorist plot to invade the U.S. through the Mexican border is in progress. Upon arriving in Arizona, she encounters SENATOR SALLY MERCER, a politician fanning the fear-mongering rumors of the rumored terrorist attack, holding a press conference at the airport. Immediately, Basira’s questioning draws the ire of the senator and places her on a personal watch list. Basira explores the Arizona- Mexico border where an explosive device planted in the road blows a car tire, rendering her on foot in the desert night. Distant lights beckon her to the local watering hole where she meets a young bigot, WILLIE SHELTON, already hammered. It takes Willie no time to get in Basira’s face, accusing her of being a Muslim insurgent, in fact, one of those rumored to be coming across the border. Willie’s father, laid-back rancher, TREVOR SHELTON, is called to retrieve his son, and learning of Basira’s situation, invites her to dinner at their ranch as a peace offering. The dinner party includes Trevor, Willie and members of local law enforcement who are friends of the ranch. Views are shared and understanding appears to bring all together. Basira befriends the affable ranch cook, CARLOTTA, who eavesdrop and learns of Basira’s story assignment. Carlotta confides that she has a lifelong friend, ESPERANZA, who works for the Department of Homeland Security. When Basira reports her tense encounter with SENATOR SALLY MERCER, Carlotta arranges a meeting between Basira and Esperanza. When Basira and Esperanza meet, she learns something horrifying: there is a terrorist mission forming with roots in Mexico. The mission is orchestrated by covert U.S. operatives who want a higher and longer border fence and unlimited funding for the military-industrial complex. Operatives have removed detainees from Guantanamo Bay and dropped them in the Mexican desert with the intent to train them to conduct what is supposed to appear as an attack. Then the potential terrorists will be intercepted by savvy, heroic agents at the border. At the first opportunity, the detainees take out their trainers in the Mexican desert. Now they have the plans, paperwork, weapons and money to carry out a terror attack. Their mission: Blow up a gas supply line between Tucson and Phoenix, and carry out a massive car bomb attack at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Fueled by a desire to please her controlling Arabian father and a steady stream of societal prejudice, Basira determines that she is the one to quell the imminent attacks - no matter what the outcome. She cannot approach any federal or law enforcement agency. The plan is illegal, barely believable, and spearheaded by none other than Senator Mercer, who with her strong political and covert organizational ties, keeps all the devilish details off the radar. Basira sleuths out where and when the attacks will occur. She convinces her reluctant Arizona acquaintances to form an unlikely, makeshift militia. She directs Trevor, local law enforcement, and Willie, to intercept the pipeline attack. She assigns herself the task of thwarting the car bomb attack. Basira races to intercept the vehicle containing the explosive device on a remote Arizona road. At the last possible moment, she swerves her rental car into the vehicle’s path. She leaps from the vehicle, shouts a plea to Allah, and tumbles off the road. A crash and massive explosion. Bloody and battered, Basira comes to in a ditch. She crawls to the road view the result... burning vehicles, dead terrorists and a detonated explosive device. After convalescing at the Shelton ranch, witnessing the arrest of Senator Mercer, Basira returns to her network to compile the story. On her return flight, a drunk, hostile passenger confronts her nationality and her intentions on the airplane. As the altercation escalates, the pilot is summoned to quell the disturbance. The pilot aware of Basira’s heroics from news reports, handcuffs the passenger and declares Basira a true American hero.