Terrorist: Mr. President, try to keep the hijackers talking and distracted as long as you can. We have some people on the inside, but it will take them some time to try to regain control of the plane. We're connecting you to their leader now. 

President: Hello.

Terrorist: Mr. President, the passengers on this flight appreciate your taking some time out of your busy schedule to speak with us. We know you do not know who we are or what we want, but we did not want to waste any time speaking to someone with no real authority. After all, this plane can stay in the air only so long. If our discussion has not been satisfactorily concluded by then ... 

President: What will happen?

Terrorist: Please do not pretend to be difficult or slow. If we do not reach an agreement, we will be forced to activate a number of explosive devices we have placed on board this aircraft. In plainer language, we will be forced to use our bombs to blow up the plane. That would be an unfortunate development for all concerned. 

President: Tell me about the bomb.

Terrorist: All I will say about our explosive devices is that they were essential in helping us gain control of the aircraft. But that is to be expected, is it not?

President: Tell me about the crew.

Terrorist: The pilot and crew are doing fine, aside from minor injuries incurred while we 'persuaded' them to give us control of the aircraft.

President: Tell me about the passengers.

Terrorist: The passengers are fine, for now. How they will be in the future depends on you. 

President: Tell me more about the passengers.

Terrorist: I am sure the passengers appreciate your concern, but they would appreciate it more if you did not waste their time. The sooner you begin seriously negotiating with us, the sooner their troubles will be over.

President: How much time do we have?

Terrorist: I have surely mentioned that we do not have time to waste. This plane cannot stay in the air forever. This situation will be resolved before we land - one way or another.

President: I want a straight answer. How much time?

Terrorist: I am not going to tell you how much time you have left. That would be a needless concession of an advantage. If you are worried about running out of time, give us what we want.

President: What do you want?

Terrorist: We have several demands. First of all, we insist on the release of the following political prisoners: Sergei Ivanov, Cynthia Cordovin and Michael Krugman.

President: What else?

Terrorist: We also want your guarantee that we will not be prosecuted in any of your imperialist courts for any supposed crimes you imagine we have committed.

President: What else?

Terrorist: Finally, we also want thirty million dollars transferred to a Swiss bank account for our organization's use. 

President: I will negotiate with you.

Terrorist: If you want to negotiate with us, I would suggest listening to our demands first.

President: I have listened. 

Terrorist: I apologize. I did not hear what you said. I was speaking with Grinkov.

President: I said I will negotiate with you.

Terrorist: You should do more than say you are willing to negotiate. Do you take our demands seriously?

President: Yes. I agree to give you what you asked for.

Terrorist: It is good to hear that you will agree to our demands. However, we will require some proof of your sincerity. 

President: What proof do you want?

Terrorist: We have already discussed our demands. You should think about how to satisfy them before time runs out.

President: Tell me about the proof you require.

Terrorist: As a first gesture, I would like to speak to Sergei Ivanov. [Mr President, the English are unwilling to let anyone speak with Sergei Ivanov].

President: The English will not allow it.

Terrorist: Do not blame the English for your troubles. They may hold the prisoners, but you can order them set free.

President: I cannot order the English to do anything.

Terrorist: I know the English are nothing more than a convenient excuse. Do not try to fool me.

President: I am not trying to fool you.

Terrorist: Could you repeat that? I had to tell the pilot to make a course correction.

President: Where are you going?

Terrorist: You know where we are, of course. I will not tell you where we are going. You do not need that information.

President: Why no?

Terrorist: I apologize again. A minor disturbance in the cabin distracted me.

President: Tell me about the disturbance.

Terrorist: You do not need to concern yourself with the disturbance in the cabin - unless you know who was responsible for it.

President: I do not.

Terrorist: You should not waste the time you have in idle chit-chat. You never know when it will run out. And if it does, so many innocent lives will be lost.

President: You do not need to kill innocents.

Terrorist: Excuse me a moment. I need to send Grinkov to check on our cargo.

President: The cargo!

Terrorist: I imagine you thought we didn't know about your precious cargo. How stupid do you think we are?

President: You were not supposed to know about the cargo.

Terrorist: If you want your cargo back intact, you will have to give us what we want. Does that change our negotiating position?

President: Know about the cargo changes everything.

Terrorist: Don't bother trying to deny the cargo's existence. We both know what it is and how badly you want it. I've even figured out how embarrassing it would be if the whole world knew what it was. Bear that in mind as you plan your next move.

President: I did not admit to any cargo.

Terrorist: [away from the phone] What do you mean the cargo is gone? Grinkov, what happened? [into the phone] Well, it appears I was wrong. Apparently the cargo is not going to be a problem for you.

President: Tell me more about your demands.

Terrorist: You know what our demands are! Perhaps you imagine our threats are not serious. I assure you, they are. For the passengers' sake, please agree to our demands.

President: Be kind.

Terrorist: I am sorry. Your reply was drowned out by the sound of gunshots from the main cabin.

President: Tell me about the gunshots.

Terrorist: You do not need to worry about the gunshots. Some of my people were merely disciplining some of the passengers. No one was permanently injured.

President: Spare people.

Terrorist: I am sorry to say that some of your agents have been killed. I think it is time to give up hope that you will recapture this plane.

President: I have given up.

Terrorist: [You hear a rumbling noise] I'm sorry. I did not catch what you said. There was a small spot of turbulence we failed to avoid.

President: Tell me about the turbulence.

Terrorist: The turbulence was nothing. Don't worry about the passengers. They were all safely strapped in. Though the pilot should have been able to avoid it...

President: Are you safe?

Terrorist: [directed away from the phone, angrily] What is wrong with the fuel? Grinkov, check on it!

President: Give up before it is too late.

Terrorist: Do not insult us by speaking of surrender! We are committed to our cause.

President: Don't let everyone die.

Terrorist: You do not have much time left. Are you going to give us what we want or not?

President: No.

Terrorist: [away from the phone] Grinkov, what are you doing? You have betrayed us! I will - [Another voice:] Mr. President, the plane has been - [the line goes dead]