- Log-line - An undercover CIA Agent must silence an investigative journalist and his source, who threaten to expose The Octopus, (a sinister shadow government) for profiteering through illegal war games.
- Eight sinister individuals run a shadow government to control the global economy. An investigative journalist learns about them and calls this group the Octopus. The journalist's source is a computer hacker who leaks classified information that can wreck the Octopus' missions. The Octopus summons an undercover CIA assassin to locate the leakers and eliminate them and moves forward with its plans. Their assassin befriends the journalist to try and learn who his source really is. He hunts the hacker down, only to find him entering a federal witness protection program to evade death. The hacker leaks a devastating trove of classified information to wreck the Octopus' plans. The CIA assassin lures the evasive hacker into a drug deal and plots his capture. A Judge sends the hacker to prison for leaking classified information. While he's still in prison, the hacker unleashes his own assassins after the CIA assassin, who stumbles upon the Octopus' final agenda. Together, they warn the journalist but it's too late. The Octopus sends a second hitman to kill the journalist. An FBI Agent investigates the murder and claims the CIA assassin is his prime suspect in the journalist's murder. The assassin tricks the FBI Agent and disappears with the Octopus' money. A lesser-known reporter meets the journalist's brother, secures the manuscripts, and vows to bring his murderers to justice.—JR
- The subplot: Investigative journalist Danny Casolaro stumbles upon a secret group of ruthless political manipulators and calls it the Octopus. The Octopus trades in big-oil money, drugs, weapons, and human trafficking globally. Casolaro uncovers and investigates illegal activities on a Navajo Reservation in Indio, California. He stumbles upon a fringe group, the D.I.G "Decency In Government", who are fighting the corrupt higher-ups involved in the drug trade off the Pacific coast. Casolaro is oblivious to the fact that the CIA's secret arm, Wackenhut Security, is in a venture to develop biological weapons and supply to the Saudi regime. Casolaro digs too deep into their secret operations and Wackenhut shuts down its operations. Robert Booth Nichols-a self-proclaimed mix of Clark Gable and James Bond on the wrong side of the law-tries to locate and tie up the loose ends for the Octopus. Nichols and his former business partner, Michael Riconosciuto, were involved in biological weapons technology and drug operations in their efforts to stop the human trafficking trade in Central and South America. After a botched mission in Beirut, Riconosciuto ends his alliance with Nichols and disavows the CIA. When Nichols comes after Riconosciuto looking for the Troll (Danny's source of the national security leaks), Riconosciuto sends his family away and becomes an FBI informant. He leaks classified information, triggering panic in Washington DC. Riconosciuto is framed in a drug deal and sent to prison. Casolaro bounces intelligence between the various operatives and is poised to crack open the case. For this, he trusts Nichols who promises Casolaro that he can meet the head of the Octopus. The next day, Casolaro is found dead in his motel room. Hot on Nichols' heels is FBI Agent, Thomas Gates, who suspects Nichols is the killer and vows to put him away forever. Nichols steals Octopus' money and disappears from the scene. Agent Gates opens a new case to indict Nichols as a conman and vows to bring him to justice. At Casolaro's funeral, a four-star general walks in, places a medal of honor on Danny's chest, and salutes him. A reporter named Carol Marshall meets Danny Casolaro's brother, Tony, who secures Danny's manuscripts. Together, they vow to investigate Danny's murder further and bring the killers to justice. The story is based on the book, "The Last Circle," by Cheri Seymour.—JR
- ROBERT BOOTH NICHOLS is a self-proclaimed CIA operative and an off-the-grid globetrotting weapons salesman for the British MI-5/6 and trades illegally in guns and biological weapons. Chasing a fetish for US Treasury Notes, Nichols' greed often hurts his allies and foes. They call him the 'James Bond' on the wrong side of the law. Nichols surfaces from a long hiatus and steals a Yacht off the Pacific coast. It's named NABILA. Nichols chases away the three bimbos on board and turns around the boat to dock it at a safe yard, in his control.
Nichols' ally is an eccentric computer genius, MICHAEL JAMES RICONOSCIUTO, a director of R&D at Wackenhut Corporation, who lures Nichols into a new deal. Riconosciuto convinces Nichols that Wackenhut plans to manufacture and supply weapons of mass destruction to Saudi Arabia from a Reservation in Indio, California. Wackenhut hires Nichols to be their middleman.
At a Washington DC court, a ninth circuit Judge acquits IMELDA MARCOS and ADNAN KHASHOGGI in an international money laundering case. Kashoggi is the wealthiest arms dealer in London. He moves his bases to Geneva, Switzerland, and Marbella, Spain because of DODI AL FAYED (Who'd later become Lady Diana's lover.) Khashoggi's business partnership with Imelda Marcos ends with this acquittal.
Nichols and Riconosciuto seize the opportunity and offer a lucrative deal to Kashoggi. Nichols tries to sell Kashoggi's stolen yacht, NABILA and compels Kashoggi to fund their weapons trade. Riconosciuto adds they have a wealthy client (we'd learn later that it's Donald Trump who buys this yacht) ready to buy the yacht for a higher price. Kashoggi first agrees with Nichols' offer then sees through the double-cross and sells his yacht directly to their client. Nichols docks the yacht at a hidden shipyard. Kashoggi sends his killers after Nichols and Riconosciuto to eliminate them and repossess his yacht. Nichols and Riconosciuto move back to the United States and stay low for a while. Nichols reaches out to an old ally, PETER ZOKOSKY, a former Marine, now a Picatinny contractor to form a new partnership. They begin selling weapons to the Nicaraguan rebels and the Cali Cartel. At a lakeside hideout, a rebel leader, COMMANDER ZERO, inspects Riconosciuto's weapons, night-vision goggles, and new merchandise. Riconosciuto gives a demo for an untested and sophisticated technology called "Fuel-Aur-Explosives," which he claims is his invention.
Nichols and Riconosciuto taste big success in the drugs, bio-weapons, and technology trade. They stumble upon the Octopus' human and drug trafficking operations in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, Asia, and Central and South America. Riconosciuto sets up a listening post in Nicosia, Cypress with an ally, LESTER COLEMAN, an undercover DEA agent who sends out a coded message to Nichols, "WA-LATTERALL is compromised." The Octopus' Supreme Council picks it up and sounds alarmed to their top gun, GEORGE WACKENHUT. The NSA agents begin monitoring the activities in the Beqaa Valley. Nichols, Riconosciuto, and Coleman get to a rendezvous point where the Nicaraguan rebels and the Cali Cartel hold an American hostage. Nichols negotiates the release of the high-value asset (William Buckley Jr.,) and agrees to trade three dozen COBRA helicopters as ransom. During the negotiations, Riconosciuto picks up a few code-words in Spanish via Commander Zero's walkie-talkie and alerts Nichols that they've killed the hostage. Nichols is pissed that Commander Zero has double-crossed them, and he blows up the helicopters with C-4 explosives. Nichols vanishes with a large sum that belongs to the Octopus. Rebels open gunfire breaks, Coleman slows down and they capture him. Riconosciuto and Nichols flee the scene. Riconosciuto shows his angst and tells Nichols that they cannot leave Coleman behind. Nichols tells him they can't trust Coleman anymore and says he's expendable. Later, Coleman escapes and flies away to Sweden, where he seeks political asylum and lives there with his family.
In Martinsburg, West Virginia, an investigative journalist, DANNY CASOLARO, writes for the computer world magazine. He picks up a few threads of Nichols' botched mission and outlines a crime narrative about eight individuals who have absolute power and unlimited access to money. He calls this group the Octopus or the Shadow Government of the modern world.
Nichols and Riconosciuto stay low for a while and then resume operations in money laundering. They also shop around a forbidden technology known as PROMIS, which Riconosciuto claims, he's placed a backdoor orifice while working for Wackenhut Security Inc. This Trojan horse would later become the most sophisticated surveillance tool for the US Administration to monitor all human movements on the planet. Nichols sells PROMIS to wealthy bidders such as the Bin Ladins, the Ayatollah in Iran, and even Mossad.
Wackenhut, the new Chief of the Octopus, is on a damage control mission after Danny Casolaro's leaks that hurt their global plans. Wackenhut summons and orders Nichols to locate the sources of these leaks and eliminate them. Nichols gets a small clue from the leaked files that Casolaro's source is a hacker named the TROLL. As a return favor, Nichols asks Wackenhut to throw the Saudi killers off his back. Wackenhut introduces him to MIKE ABBELL, who's the Octopus' top eagle at the Justice Department.
Riconossciuto and Nichols visit Pine Gap, Australia, where Riconosciuto helps the Australian Intelligence Agencies (ASIO and ASD) build and set up a massive data collection center using the PROMIS and later, ECHELON programs. After hearing the news of a top banker's murder in Sydney, (the Nugan-Hand founding partner's death) Riconosciuto suddenly parts ways with Nichols and moves to Tacoma, WA, where his second wife, BOBBIE, and daughter MARY ELIZABETH, welcome him home.
While investigating the Cali Cartel and the Music Corporation of America (MCA), a bad-ass FBI Special Agent, THOMAS GATES (Los Angeles,) stumbles upon Nichols, Riconosciuto, and Casolaro's files because of the leaks. He secures FISA warrants and places "Wire-Taps" on telephonic communication of Nichols, MCA, and the mafia hands, FRANCISCO "FRANKY BOY" CALI and his associates. Agent Gates connects the dots quickly and learns that MCA (Music Corporation of America) is merely a front office for the Octopus. Agent Gates picks up a disturbing lead that stops him cold and ends at the doorsteps of a faceless White House official.
Meanwhile, in Southern California, an editor at The Gazette, CAROL MARSHALL, has been looking for answers on pending cases within the Mariposa Sheriff's jurisdiction. Carol stumbles upon Casolaro's publications when a Deputy meets her and hands her over an envelope with a firm warning that she cannot disclose its contents to anybody, including family. Carol takes the files home, skims through the pages, and shares a few pages with ROLAND SEYMOUR (Her GREEN BERET husband.) He tells her that the answers she needs might be with Ted Gunderson at the FBI (Los Angeles branch.)
Carol meets Gunderson and wishes to know about Nichols and his activities. She says Michael Riconosciuto had given her bombshell 'INTEL' when he called her from an unknown location, using a collect call phone. Gunderson warns her about getting involved in any matters connected with Nichols and adds she'd be in danger if she pursued her investigations. He sends her away.
Carol goes ahead and publishes online her investigative report on the Cornell University website. Gunderson calls her back and invites her home. They meet and discuss the sensitive nature of the case she's been investigating. He introduces Carol to Agent Gates, whom he wants to throw off Nichols' back, and instead sends Agent Gates away to explore the MCA. Gates reaches out to Carol and tells her he's investigating anybody in touch with Nichols or Riconosciuto. Agent Gates closes in on the truth when Gunderson sends him on a lead about a bunk investigation of Matsushita Corporation, which is trying to buy out MCA. Gates learns Nichols is handling the deal in Japan, and he stumbles upon a YAKUZA operative, HAROLD H. OKIMOTO. Okimoto is Nichols' 'Godfather' operating out of the Japanese underworld. Agent Gates tails the two men to their secret base in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The OLIVER NORTH story about the Iran-Contras and the hostage crisis in Iran rips through the nation. Riconosciuto claims he has intelligence on the OCTOBER SURPRISE conspiracy that ensures the delayed release of the hostages in Tehran, resulting in Reagan's election as President. He shares this information with Casolaro and BILL HAMILTON (owner of INSLAW INC) that Nichols organized the money by selling weapons to Iraq. Riconosciuto adds that this matter has Papa Bush's fingerprints all over it.
BILL HAMILTON (of INSLAW Incorporation) owns the patents and rights to PROMIS. He asks Casolaro to investigate PETER VIDENIEKS and DR. EARL BROWN (HADRON INC, Octopus operatives) for stealing PROMIS and selling it illegally to the DOJ. The Justice Department installs PROMIS at 93 DA's offices across the nation. Casolaro refuses to get involved in Hamilton's politically motivated plans, then sees the enormity of the whole operation.
Agent Gates closes in on these operatives quickly and touts Nichols to be a masterly conman. Nichols learns about Agent Gates and reaches out to Gates' boss, TED GUNDERSON, who orders Gates to stop chasing Nichols. Gunderson claims he has investigated the MCA business and calls Nichols squeaky clean. Gunderson assures Gates that Nichols is probably a CIA Agent or an MI-5 operative. Agent Gates taunts Gunderson with the notion that Nichols could be an NSC operative with Top-Secret clearance.
Agent Gates continues to monitor Nichols but plays it by the book. Nichols meets EUGENE GIACHINTO, President of the MCA, who resigns suddenly and ends his partnership with Nichols's company, Meridian Weapons Inc. Giachinto's actions send a shock-wave among the Octopus operatives. Nichols talks with Danny Casolaro and Michael Riconousciuto and warns them of dire consequences if they speak about an influential Octopus operative at the DOJ, MIKE ABBELL. They refuse to heed his warnings, and Nichols turns the heat on them.
The PAN AM 103 airliner crashes at Lockerbie, Scotland. Riconosciuto concludes quickly and shares it with Casolaro that Nichols could have been behind this crash. Casolaro asks him how Riconosciuto knew this. Riconosciuto says that Nichols didn't like the idea when the McKee team arrived in Beirut to investigate Nichols' covert operations. Danny Casolaro begins to suspect both Riconosciuto and Nichols could have been behind the deaths of the McKee team.
Casolaro bumps into the Octopus operatives everywhere. Wackenhut reprimands Nichols and asks him to locate and neutralize the leakers. Nichols learns that the Octopus' Supreme Council has a master plan in a play called the Project for the New American Century (PNAC).
Meanwhile, Peter Videnieks sends an assassin to Hamilton to try and intimidate him so that he calls off the investigation into Mike Abbell. Nichols reaches out to Danny and Riconosciuto and warns them to stay away from Abell. He adds that even the CALI Cartel men that Casolaro was tracking down are intelligence operatives working under Nichols' supervision. Before Nichols can locate the actual leaker named TROLL, Michael Riconosciuto tells Hamilton that the DOJ has stolen PROMIS to use it and advance their PNAC plan. Hamilton requests Danny to investigate again. Danny is currently in South America with his son and agrees to look into the matter when he returns home. An unknown Octopus hit man, JOSEPH CUELLAR, tails Casolaro and keeps a 24/7 watch on his activities. Robert Booth Nichols butts in to dissuade Danny from investigating Abbell again and warns Danny that he might get killed.
In the meantime, the Cali Cartel and the Nicaraguan rebels send in Jose Carlos Londono, Commander Zero, Gilberto Rodrigues, and Miguel Rodrigues to seek revenge for their losses. They monitor Casolaro and Nichols closely.
Riconosciuto sends an affidavit to support Hamilton's case against the DOJ about PROMIS. Riconosciuto hires an ex-marine turned mob hit-man, JIMMY HUGHES, to protect his family and then enters a "Witness Protection" program.
His affidavit reaches the hands of Deputy Attorney General BILL RICHARDSON and instantly sends ripples across Washington DC and the DOJ. Peter Videnieks and Dr. Earl Brian are hauled in by the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence Committees. This case rattles the Octopus' Supreme Council.
The Press ambushes President George H.W. Bush and questions him about the INSLAW case and the shooting down of PAN AM 103. He dodges their questions deftly.
Jimmy Hughes brings along heavy artillery and armor to protect BOBBIE RICONOSCIUTO (Riconosciuto's wife) and MARY ELIZABETH (their daughter, 4) from Nichols and the Octopus killers.
Videnieks calls Riconisciuto to intimidate him and orders him to withdraw his damaging affidavit, or his life and family will be destroyed. Riconosciuto reaches out to his old mates at a shipping yard near Tacoma, WA (in the Seattle area) and plans on going underground. He sends his family away to California.
Following up on a tip from an unknown caller, the USCG monitors a drug deal where a Cali Cartel sidekick, BEN KALKA, is seen with Riconosciuto and his pals. The USCG Agents arrest Riconosciuto and his associates on a dockyard in Tacoma.
At Michael's trial, Ted Gunderson presents a supportive recommendation in Riconosciuto's favor. To accelerate the case hearing, the DA brings in Riconosciuto's ex-wife, PHYLLIS, and her boyfriend to testify against Riconosciuto. Riconosciuto is found guilty of leaking classified documents, and he lands in Pierce County jail. Bobbie and Mary move to California after hearing this devastating news and come in touch with Carol Marshall. The two women visit an old RV of Riconosciuto in Death Valley, Trona, and collect boxes full of documents, where he's also left some secret encrypted bank cards for the family to use. Riconosciuto calls Carol one night and reveals that he's been following her actions ever since she met Gunderson and handed over a secret investigation folder titled "The Vortex Files."
Over the next few months, Riconosciuto and Carol Marshall talk by phone. An FBI Agent, "RJ," notes down the important details for Riconosciuto's early release from jail. Agent Gates also hears their conversations via tapped phones when Riconosciuto talks about Nichols' connection with the mob, MCA, and Cali Cartel. He says FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement unit) should be handling his case.
Agent Gates swings into the action and tracks Nichols to Italy, England, Japan, and Switzerland. Gates gets in touch with Casolaro and shares sensitive information about the Octopus and Wackenhut alliance, and warns him to stay away from Nichols and Riconosciuto.
(August 4, 1991.) Nichols flies in from Puerto Rico and meets Danny Casolaro and his girlfriend, ANN KLENK, at the Sheraton Inn motel in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Danny Casolaro meets BILL TURNER of Hughes Aircraft and exchanges more damaging 'INTEL' about Octopus' PNAC plans for the Republic of Dominica and Haiti. Danny finishes his crime narrative and is ready to publish it. After reading his material, several news reporters first want to run with the story, then back out. Danny titles his final manuscript "INDIO" and then changes it to "Behold a Pale Horse." Danny finally settles with "The Death of a Poet."
In Hollywood, Nichols meets his MCA ally, JACK VALENTI, President of the Motion Pictures Association of America, and shares Danny's narrative. Nichols wants to make it into a feature film titled "Acceptable Casualty."
We learn that Valenti is a former Chief of Staff of President Lyndon Johnson, and he's rewarded this job because Valenti drafted Johnson's speech on board Air Force One, after JFK Sr's assassination. With Gunderson's help, Carol finally gets to meet Nichols.
Suspicious of Carol's intentions, Nichols vets her thoroughly, then shares about his meeting with Jack Valenti. Nichols says he has been part of many covert intelligence operations. Carol asks him about a botched operation in Lebanon and adds that Riconosciuto gave her this information. Nichols asks her for the code-name Riconosciuto gave her. She says it's "WA-LATTERAL." Nichols hides his shock and then says that's not the code-name.
Nichols deviates from the topic and lies that Riconosciuto and Coleman were handling WA-LATTERAL. Nichols adds more spin and shares the "Unedited" version of the notorious ZAPRUDER tape with Carol Marshall. The video shakes up Carol, and she leaves Nichols alone after this meeting.
(August 10, 1991.) At the Sheraton Inn motel, a cleaning staff finds Danny Casolaro lying in a bloodied bathtub. At the same time, Danny's maid at home, OLGA, receives death threats from different callers. A couple of DC police officers take charge of the crime scene and send Danny's body for an autopsy. Later, the cops embalm Casolaro's body without an autopsy, and they don't inform his family either.
A few days later, Danny's brother, Doctor ANTHONY CASOLARO, meets the coroner in Martinsburg, WV, and learns that Casolaro's suitcase, full of incriminating evidence for the case he was working on to bring down the Octopus, has gone missing.
Anthony reaches out to Carol Marshall and Ann Klenk, then shares a secret that Danny had shared only with him. They find Danny's last known note in his shoe case. Carol picks up Danny Casolaro's murder case and names her new folder, "The Casolaro Protocol."
Nichols meets Zokosky and they hunt down Danny Casolaro's killers, then take Wackenhut hostage. Agent Gates tails them to a nondescript building in Florida and watches them.
A high-speed car chase ensues in the streets of Coral gables, Florida. Zokosky and Nichols trick Agent Gates and they send him after Nichols' double. The real George Wackenhut learns Nichols has kidnapped his double and places him on a rogue assets' list. Wackenhut flies away to Marseilles in France and goes into hiding.
Jimmy Hughes tracks down and joins Nichols and Zokosky as they're torturing and interrogating Wackenhut's double to get the details of the Octopus' PNAC plans. Hughes steps outside for a smoke while Zokoky applies extreme measures and tortures Wackenhut further. They pause and ponder that the double has nothing of value for them. In a stunning turnaround of fate, Joseph Cuellar rushes inside, points his gun at Nichols, and orders his boss' release at gunpoint.
Nichols sweet-talks Cuellar into a deal and convinces him that Wackenhut has committed treason. Hughes comes back in, guns blazing, and kills Cuellar. They hear helicopters' roots noise in the distance and Hughes kills Wackenhut's double. Nichols and Zokosky ask him why he'd done that. Hughes tells them that they only had a body double. Nichols and Zokosky are shocked. They leave the building.
Moments later, mercenaries arrive in a helicopter and carry the double's body away. Zokosky watches them fly away and smiles. Nichols walks over to him and sees him smiling. Zokosky says he has the coordinates to locate Wackenhut but might need some help to decipher the coded data from his computer. Nichols nods approvingly at Zokosky's brilliant move. Zokosky had pinned a tracker on the double's corpse. Nichols says they need to pay Riconosciuto a visit to get the codes deciphered.
Nichols and Zokosky meet Riconosciuto in prison and he accuses Nichols of attacking Bobby and Mary in his California home. Riconosciuto says Nichols is Danny Casolaro's murderer. Zokosky intervenes and says that Nichols was in London on the day Danny died. Riconosciuto turns to Hughes, who nods at him and confirms Zokosky's information. Riconosciuto seeks proof of their claims. Nichols shows the proof to Riconosciuto, and he agrees to help decipher Zokosky's files.
They learn that Wackenhut's hiding in Marseilles, France. Nichols promises Riconosciuto that he'll make Danny Casolaro's killers pay for their crimes. Riconosciuto says Nichols IS the mind behind Casolaro's killers. Nichols refutes the charge and poses the dreaded question; who and where is the Troll? Michael stuns everybody, confesses he's the Troll and adds that Nichols is wise enough to figure such things out.
Nichols, Zokosky, and Hughes take a ferry and reach the Chateau Du Ray in Marseilles. Hughes looks through his rifle scope and finds Wackenhut pacing around his living room in the distance. He shows it to Nichols and Zokosky, then takes a couple of shots. Wackenhut drops on the carpet. Nichols, Zokosky, and Hughes get back on the ferry. Nichols flies off to Geneva, Switzerland, Zokosky goes to London, and Hughes flies off to Honduras.
A 4-star general of African-American descent walks out of a limousine and salutes Danny's casket, opens its lid, then places a medal of honor on his chest and salutes again. The General leaves, and his actions stun Danny's family and others at the funeral.
We see the Yacht, NABILA, sailing away off the Pacific Coast, and it's now named Princess Diana. Carol receives Ann Klenk's phone call, leaves for DC, and meets her at a diner. They discuss the final days of Danny Casolaro and later visit Danny's grave in Arlington.
Carol takes Ann to her motel suite, talking about Danny's manuscripts. Carol notes down a few numbers from Danny's phone bills and assures Ann that she'll find out who killed Danny. Carol tells Ann that her name is Cheri Seymour and not Carol Marshall. On that note of unconditional faith, love, and trust, Cheri Seymour leaves Ann Klenk with happy memories of Danny Casolaro.
(2005.) In North Hollywood, the LAPD coordinates with Agent Gates' team at the BLUE DIAMOND Nightclub. They ambush and arrest Nichols' team with heavy-duty weapons, and they have no license to possess such guns or conduct such trades.
Nichols arrives in court and spins his narrative that he's a covert intelligence operative and has top-secret security clearance. The Judge asks Agent Gates and LAPD to present proof of illegal acts by Nichols. Nichols presents travelers' checks and other papers to strengthen his claims. The Judge calls it a mistrial.
Stunned, Gates and Gunderson watch Nichols walk free. They get back to their office and get back to the wiretap recordings room. Gates is stunned to find out that the spool recordings containing Nichols' calls are missing. Gates is pissed, and he vows to nail Nichols for his crimes and put him away forever.
(2009.) A Swiss tabloid reports that Kasshogi's assassins lure Nichols into a gun deal meeting and kill Nichols in a Geneva hotel. Agent Gates cuts the piece out and pins it on a wall. Gates ponders, did Nichols die, or did he fake his death? Let's find out more about it.
Jagan Ramamoorthy has written the full synopsis for the Rogue Agent story.
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