SYNOPSIS:

Panama, 1964. The Panama Canal Zone, an American colony, splits the country in two. On this day, Kate Wall and her Zonian high school senior fellows pledge allegiance to an empty flagpole. Jose Arturo Rios and his tight group of subversives from the rival Panamanian school, sneak into the Zone to plant little Panama flags in protest. They are discovered and arrested by Kate and her CZPD father. In the Hill Country, Manuel Noriega drinks to his colleague's promotion. A promotion that should have been his. His frustration mounts as his hardliner superior picks on him mercilessly. After a humiliating encounter with the rich son of a presidential candidate, he erupts and smashes a bottle across a teasing colleague’s face. From a lavish city apartment balcony, Dr. Arnulfo Arias (known as Fufo) confidently addresses an adoring crowd. It is his first speech since being banned from politics for 13 years. In a mass cell, Jose Arturo Rios meets disgraced Manuel Noriega. Noriega is visited by decorated Colonel Omar Torrijos. He has a use for Noriega’s experience in psyops, and a mission to stop the biggest threat to the Guardia. Kate and the Balboa High School students hold a patriotic rally to get signatures for a petition to raise their flag. The Panameñistas’ Campaign HQ gets a visit from Lt. Noriega and his goons. They sack the place, destroying valuable assets, and stealing intel. Kate has the signatures. They demand to raise the flag, but the superintendent hides behind bureaucracy. The crowd decides to raise the flag anyways. Agent Ron Clarke is initiated into the Zone's premier secret society of Masons. Ron is approached by Governor Robert John Fleming who presses him on his and the CIA’s real mission in Panama. Fufo knows the Guardia Nacional wants a war. He diverts all remaining funds to hiring feared militia group, the Boinas Negras. Kate is starting her job at Ron’s State Dept. office, when they get a visit from Manuel Noriega. Noriega wants the US to cut funds so he shows Ron the Fufo ledger he stole. He claims donations are from a Cuban communist front. Ron is suddenly very interested. They are interrupted by news that a panama student group was marching into the Zone. The group Noriega just called a communist front. A cadre of about 80 uniformed Panamanian students march through the Zone. Jose Arturo Rios leads the way carrying a huge Panama flag. They reach the school flag area, but not before a crowd of Zonian students and adults block their way. Jose demands that they either take down the US flag or let them raise the Panama flag with it. As they lower the US flag to hook the other one on, Jose is tackled from the pole stand and in the scuffle, the Panama flag is ripped apart. Chaos erupts and now both sides battle openly. Chief Wall orders his troops to start throwing tear gas at the Panamanians. The Panamanians respond by throwing stones at the Americans. CZPD draws their guns and fire over the crowd to disperse them. Jose and his friends try to flee with the tattered flag, but his closest friend is hit by a bullet. Noriega runs through the market area urging Panama citizens to join the fight. Trucks filled with US soldiers flood the Zone, agressively combating the locals and securing the perimeter. Panamanians with molotovs firebomb every car and American building they can sneak up to. Torrijos and the Guardia High Command advise the Panama president on how to fight back, but Noriega proposes a different approach. Let the students be martyrs and use it against the US. Jose and his friends decide to risk their life for one last symbolic gesture. Jose climbs up a street lamp on the Canal Zone border. He ties the flag to the pole with his belt. The battered students sing the Panama anthem as the Panama Canal Zone burns.