Luke LaManna

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.

The airport wasn't crowded since it was still early in the morning. Posters of Iran's leaders covered the walls. A few bored-looking Revolutionary Guards stood around with guns slung over their shoulders. Lee felt like eyeballs were all over him, but he tried to look casual as he walked over to check in for the flight. Once again, he handed over his passport.

The airport wasn't crowded since it was still early in the morning. Posters of Iran's leaders covered the walls. A few bored-looking Revolutionary Guards stood around with guns slung over their shoulders. Lee felt like eyeballs were all over him, but he tried to look casual as he walked over to check in for the flight. Once again, he handed over his passport.

He tried to give off an air of impatience. The officer flipped through the passport but stopped when he got to Lee's photo. He narrowed his eyes. Is this you? He asked. Lee said that yes, of course it was. The immigration officer squinted at the photo, then looked up at Lee. Suddenly he got up and disappeared into a back room. Lee felt a wave of nausea pass over him.

He tried to give off an air of impatience. The officer flipped through the passport but stopped when he got to Lee's photo. He narrowed his eyes. Is this you? He asked. Lee said that yes, of course it was. The immigration officer squinted at the photo, then looked up at Lee. Suddenly he got up and disappeared into a back room. Lee felt a wave of nausea pass over him.

He looked back at the others, who all looked as nervous as he felt. The only thing he had to cling to was Tony, who looked every inch the cool Hollywood producer, arrogant, bored, annoyed at the slow process. Finally, the officer came back. He looked at Lee again. He said, this picture doesn't look like you.

He looked back at the others, who all looked as nervous as he felt. The only thing he had to cling to was Tony, who looked every inch the cool Hollywood producer, arrogant, bored, annoyed at the slow process. Finally, the officer came back. He looked at Lee again. He said, this picture doesn't look like you.

Lee mimicked a pair of scissors cutting off his mustache, as if to say he'd trimmed it since his photo was taken. The officer still looked unconvinced. But after another long look, he shrugged. Then he stamped Lee's passport and sent him on his way. Lee's heart was pounding in his ears as he made his way to the departures lounge to wait for the others. He tried his best to relax.

Lee mimicked a pair of scissors cutting off his mustache, as if to say he'd trimmed it since his photo was taken. The officer still looked unconvinced. But after another long look, he shrugged. Then he stamped Lee's passport and sent him on his way. Lee's heart was pounding in his ears as he made his way to the departures lounge to wait for the others. He tried his best to relax.

They were so close to freedom. After the others got through and met Lee at their gate, an announcement came over the PA. Their flight, Swiss Air Flight 363, had been delayed. Lee wanted to scream. He walked over to Tony and asked if they should try to get onto a backup flight. Tony told him that would only draw attention. The only thing they could do was wait and hope for the best.

They were so close to freedom. After the others got through and met Lee at their gate, an announcement came over the PA. Their flight, Swiss Air Flight 363, had been delayed. Lee wanted to scream. He walked over to Tony and asked if they should try to get onto a backup flight. Tony told him that would only draw attention. The only thing they could do was wait and hope for the best.

Each minute that ticked by was excruciating. Lee felt exposed as the bright morning sun started filling the room. He tried to ignore the additional guards filing into the terminal. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Joe Stafford, who had stubbornly decided to join them. Lee watched as Joe picked up a newspaper and started to read it before he abruptly stopped. The newspaper was written in Farsi.

Each minute that ticked by was excruciating. Lee felt exposed as the bright morning sun started filling the room. He tried to ignore the additional guards filing into the terminal. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Joe Stafford, who had stubbornly decided to join them. Lee watched as Joe picked up a newspaper and started to read it before he abruptly stopped. The newspaper was written in Farsi.

For a moment, Joe had forgotten he was supposed to be a Hollywood producer. Lee tried his best not to freak out, but he couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if they were caught. Tony had told him to look confident, but seem innocent. In the midst of his panic, Lee felt he'd never looked more guilty. Soon the PA crackled and a voice announced that Swiss Air Flight 363 was now boarding.

For a moment, Joe had forgotten he was supposed to be a Hollywood producer. Lee tried his best not to freak out, but he couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if they were caught. Tony had told him to look confident, but seem innocent. In the midst of his panic, Lee felt he'd never looked more guilty. Soon the PA crackled and a voice announced that Swiss Air Flight 363 was now boarding.

Lee's legs were practically jelly by the time he filed onto the plane. A little while later, the plane finally took off, and the houseguests were off the ground. After two excruciating hours of waiting, the flight attendant announced they were out of Iranian airspace. The whole plane burst into cheers. It wasn't just the Americans who escaped Iran that day.

Lee's legs were practically jelly by the time he filed onto the plane. A little while later, the plane finally took off, and the houseguests were off the ground. After two excruciating hours of waiting, the flight attendant announced they were out of Iranian airspace. The whole plane burst into cheers. It wasn't just the Americans who escaped Iran that day.

There were Iranians on the flight equally thrilled they had made it out of the war-torn country with their lives. The group all ordered Bloody Marys. Tony raised his glass to everyone and declared, Argo, we're home free. Lee took a deep sip of his Bloody Mary. He'd never tasted anything so good in his life.

There were Iranians on the flight equally thrilled they had made it out of the war-torn country with their lives. The group all ordered Bloody Marys. Tony raised his glass to everyone and declared, Argo, we're home free. Lee took a deep sip of his Bloody Mary. He'd never tasted anything so good in his life.

One week after the houseguests escaped Iran, Tony was back in Los Angeles to tie up the loose ends of the mission. He pulled up outside of the Universal Studios Sheraton, and his wife Karen pointed out the marquee that read, Thanks, Canada. Karen sighed and told her husband, You're a national hero, but nobody will ever know. Tony shrugged.