Drone

In March 2016, a CIA drone strike targets militants in Pakistan. The operation succeeds in killing the intended target but causes collateral casualties among bystanders who were nearby. The event demonstrates the personal cost of remote warfare and sets the film's central conflict in motion.

Imir Shaw arrives at Neil Wistin's home on the one-year anniversary of the strike. Wistin and his family are coping with the loss of Wistin's father, and he struggles to write a eulogy that captures the memory. The visit plants the seeds for a tense confrontation built on hidden loyalties.

While Wistin packs his father's belongings from an elderly home, Shaw follows Ellen and records her having an affair with another man. The footage gives Shaw leverage over the Wistin family and foreshadows a personal confrontation. The scene intensifies the sense that the drone program's consequences touch ordinary lives.

Shortly after, Shaw moves to evade pursuit by a trailing man. He slips away near a park, underscoring his skill and the growing danger surrounding him. The escape raises the stakes for everyone involved.

Grief overwhelms Wistin as he finishes packing the last of his father's belongings and donates his clothes. He returns home emotionally spent, wondering what the future holds for his family. The moment deepens the tension between his duty and his personal loss.

Shaw confronts Wistin outside his home and persuades him to discuss inside about buying the boat that belonged to Wistin's father. They enter the house to discuss the price while the CIA tracks Shaw as the source of a private leak. The scene blends domestic life with the politics of covert operations.

Over dinner with the Wistins, it is revealed that the one-year anniversary of Shaw's wife and daughter's deaths is being observed. The conversation hints that the drone program may have contributed to their deaths, blurring lines between victims and perpetrators. The meal becomes a turning point as truth and memory collide.

During the dinner, Wistin receives a call and excuses himself to his office. There he learns that details of his top-secret drone work have leaked, exposing him to danger and turning the investigation personal. The revelation confirms that Shaw's visit is connected to the leak.

Wistin asks for the specifics of his work and the information confirms Shaw's identity and motives. He realizes the visitor is not merely a curious party but someone with intimate knowledge of his covert operations. The truth tightens the net around both men.

The CIA moves to arrest Shaw and surrounds the house, but a private brawl between Wistin and Shaw interrupts the operation. The standoff reveals how personal grievances can derail official plans. The ensuing conflict determines the immediate fate of both men.

Shaw drops the detonator and is stabbed by Wistin, dying after the briefcase is revealed to contain no bomb. Wistin discovers the absence of any actual threat and realizes the cost of his actions. The death marks a brutal turning point for both characters.

With Shaw dead, Wistin publicly reveals his top-secret role as a CIA contract drone operator. Some hail him as a hero, others condemn him as a traitor, highlighting the moral ambiguities of covert warfare. The revelation redefines his identity and how others will judge him.

Word of Wistin's covert work spreads through media and private circles, producing mixed reactions. Some view his transparency as bravery; others see it as dangerous exposure that could endanger colleagues and civilians. The film closes on a note of ongoing ethical debate.

The boat, once a simple piece of property, becomes a symbol of family legacy and the burden of secrets. Its price negotiation in the earlier scene is reframed as a memory of the past. The moment ties personal history to the present conflict.

The film closes by posing questions about justice, loyalty, and the human cost of modern warfare. The characters' fates are left morally ambiguous, inviting viewers to weigh intervention, guilt, and accountability. The final image lingers on the unresolved tension surrounding Shaw and Wistin.