David McCloskey

So there's a thought that the Iranians might actually want to issue visas for film crews going in and out of Tehran.

Interesting though, Mendez says that even though bureaucratically it's starting, there's some traction.

The Canadians like the idea, the Near East Division likes the idea.

The Office of Technical Service, where he's working, they like the idea.

He's starting to wonder if this is maybe not such a good plan.

He's expecting some pushback.

He's not getting any.

Has he overlooked something?

But he seems to think in his gut that this is, again, the best bad plan that they've got.

That night, Mendez briefs his boss on the operational plan and says that, you know, this is the team I want.

This is another facet of the film that is...

incorrect, which is that it's just Mendez.

He'll have a deputy who works with him.

There's a whole team of artists, validators, and documents people, and the Canadians, of course, Gordon, who are working with him.

And on Thursday, the 10th of January, 1980, Mendez calls in his secretary and tells her to draw an advance of $10,000 cash from budget and finance, which is the maximum allowed without higher approval.

Mendez said that anything

More than that required, quote, the right hand of God.

And he puts the $10,000 cash inside a concealment briefcase and flies out to Hollywood.

Yeah, he's not going to get a lot of pushback on the idea.

Spoiler alert from his friends in Hollywood.