Luke LaManna

Over his three months in hiding at the Canadian ambassador's house, his hair had grown shaggier than normal. He might have gotten a few raised eyebrows as an agricultural attaché, but he figured it was perfect for a Hollywood cinematographer. He fidgeted with the viewfinder Tony had given him. He tried to make himself look comfortable with it, like he used it all the time.

He walked back into the living room and yelled out, call me Woody. He was so into his character that he'd given himself a nickname. The rest of the house guests were all dressed up for their parts too. Bob Anders, who'd been assigned the role of director, had really gone above and beyond. He walked into the room wearing a shirt two sizes too small with a medallion hanging over his bare chest.

He walked back into the living room and yelled out, call me Woody. He was so into his character that he'd given himself a nickname. The rest of the house guests were all dressed up for their parts too. Bob Anders, who'd been assigned the role of director, had really gone above and beyond. He walked into the room wearing a shirt two sizes too small with a medallion hanging over his bare chest.

Even Joe Stafford forgot his worries for a minute and laughed. Tony and a second CIA agent, Ed Johnson, who had joined them in Tehran, began quizzing the group on the details of their identities. They warned them that the Iranian military could ask any number of questions to try and poke holes in their covers. They went over everything, the movie they were working on, details about Canada.

Even Joe Stafford forgot his worries for a minute and laughed. Tony and a second CIA agent, Ed Johnson, who had joined them in Tehran, began quizzing the group on the details of their identities. They warned them that the Iranian military could ask any number of questions to try and poke holes in their covers. They went over everything, the movie they were working on, details about Canada.

They even checked to make sure their accents sounded authentically Canadian. After a few hours, the group took a break to eat a celebratory dinner. After dinner, the house guests lined up as though they were in the immigration line at the airport. One of the Canadian diplomats dressed in a military outfit to look the part of an Iranian officer. Lee volunteered to go first.

They even checked to make sure their accents sounded authentically Canadian. After a few hours, the group took a break to eat a celebratory dinner. After dinner, the house guests lined up as though they were in the immigration line at the airport. One of the Canadian diplomats dressed in a military outfit to look the part of an Iranian officer. Lee volunteered to go first.

He was feeling confident. He approached the diplomat and handed over his passport. He gave his false name and smiled. Then the man asked Lee where he got his visa to enter Iran. Suddenly, Lee stammered. His face flushed. He said he didn't remember. The diplomat lashed out at him. What do you mean you don't remember? Lee felt his stomach drop.

He was feeling confident. He approached the diplomat and handed over his passport. He gave his false name and smiled. Then the man asked Lee where he got his visa to enter Iran. Suddenly, Lee stammered. His face flushed. He said he didn't remember. The diplomat lashed out at him. What do you mean you don't remember? Lee felt his stomach drop.

He'd been so sure that he would be able to keep up the lie. But even here in a practice situation, his mind was totally blank. If this was the real thing, he could have just destroyed their cover. The diplomat put his hand on Lee's shoulder and told him it was all right. He just needed to study a little harder. Tony calmly explained to the group that the stakes really were that high.

He'd been so sure that he would be able to keep up the lie. But even here in a practice situation, his mind was totally blank. If this was the real thing, he could have just destroyed their cover. The diplomat put his hand on Lee's shoulder and told him it was all right. He just needed to study a little harder. Tony calmly explained to the group that the stakes really were that high.

One forgotten detail could be the end of all of them. They practiced for hours, getting all the facts down perfectly. Tony and Ed ran through the plan one more time, then said goodbye around midnight. After all that rehearsing, there was only one thing they could all agree on. They all needed a drink. Maybe more than one.

One forgotten detail could be the end of all of them. They practiced for hours, getting all the facts down perfectly. Tony and Ed ran through the plan one more time, then said goodbye around midnight. After all that rehearsing, there was only one thing they could all agree on. They all needed a drink. Maybe more than one.

They celebrated and toasted, trying to ignore the fear that gnawed at their stomachs. It was easy to imagine that this might just be the last night of their lives. Lee Schatz and Joe Stafford were the last to go to bed, polishing off the last bottle of alcohol. Joe slurred his words as he brought up different things that could go wrong the next day.

They celebrated and toasted, trying to ignore the fear that gnawed at their stomachs. It was easy to imagine that this might just be the last night of their lives. Lee Schatz and Joe Stafford were the last to go to bed, polishing off the last bottle of alcohol. Joe slurred his words as he brought up different things that could go wrong the next day.

With every potential failure he could come up with, he got a little more emotional. He teared up at the thought of being separated from Kathy, and at the thought of the 53 hostages they were leaving behind. The stress and the alcohol were getting to him. Lee reminded Joe that sticking around wouldn't help anybody. He pulled himself off the couch. He wanted to get at least a few hours of sleep.

With every potential failure he could come up with, he got a little more emotional. He teared up at the thought of being separated from Kathy, and at the thought of the 53 hostages they were leaving behind. The stress and the alcohol were getting to him. Lee reminded Joe that sticking around wouldn't help anybody. He pulled himself off the couch. He wanted to get at least a few hours of sleep.

But before he left, he turned to Joe and said, The bottom line is that I'm going to get on that plane tomorrow. I hope you decide to make the trip. But if you don't want to come, then that's your choice. But if you do come, then don't screw it up for me and the others. They arrived at the airport early the next morning.

But before he left, he turned to Joe and said, The bottom line is that I'm going to get on that plane tomorrow. I hope you decide to make the trip. But if you don't want to come, then that's your choice. But if you do come, then don't screw it up for me and the others. They arrived at the airport early the next morning.

When Lee approached the customs desk, he handed over his Canadian passport with a smile. He tried to settle into the easygoing charm of his alias, Woody. The officer handed him back the passport without a second look. Lee took a small breath in relief. He was one step closer to his goal. He moved along and waited for his fellow houseguests.