| Saul Berenson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Name: | Saul Michael Berenson |
| Status: | Alive |
| Birthplace: | Calliope, Indiana, United States of America |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Religion: | Jewish |
| Residence(s): | 413 Circle Drive, Washington, D.C., United States of America |
| Alias(es): | The Bear, Talmudic |
| Affiliation: | Central Intelligence Agency |
| Profession: | CIA's Middle-East Division Chief
CIA Europe Division Chief Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (formerly) Advisor to the President on National Security (formerly) |
| Sibling(s): | Dorit (sister) |
| Marital status: | Divorced |
| Spouse(s): | Mira Berenson (divorced) |
| Significant other(s): | Former: Allison Carr (d. 2015)
Former : Martha Boyd (romantic partner) |
| Others: | Carrie Mathison (subordinate) Dar Adal (associate) Virgil Piotrowski (associate) Fara Sherazi (deceased) Peter Quinn (deceased) Max Piotrowski (deceased) |
| Played by: | Mandy Patinkin Ben Savage (flashback) |
| Season(s): | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| First episode: | "Pilot" |
| Last episode: | "Prisoners of War" |
- Saul: "No one else. You can't ask Langley for help either. You are on your own.
- Carrie: Story of my life.
- Saul: Sometimes I think you prefer to be alone.
- Carrie: I was always an outsider.
- Saul: All of us. This is a profession for outsiders.
- Carrie: You too?
- Saul: Are you kidding? Jesus. We're all outsiders, Carrie. We are in this profession because it is the only one that would let us in." (Carrie's Run)
Saul Michael Berenson is Carrie Mathison's mentor and to some extent, protector at the CIA. He recruited, trained, and placed Carrie in the field, and continues to have a close working relationship with her, despite not being her immediate boss anymore.
Novels[]
Saul is a character, who appears in the book written by Andrew Kaplan:
- Novel Carrie's Run - Itās fascinating to see how Drone Queenās mental health complexities intersect with her professional life in this gripping tale.
- Novel Saul's Game - This book provides additional layers to the characters (like Saul, Dar Adal, Walden, Abu Nazir, Majid Javadi, etc) and their missions.
About Him[]
Saul Berenson is Carrie's mentor as a Middle East expert and retired CIA division chief. Saul has already put her hand in the fire for Carrie with her superior David Estes several times, because he still has a lot of influence within the agency. Carrie convinces him to use his connections and help her with the Brody case. But Carrie's questionable investigative methods, which could land the two of them in the devil's kitchen, soon give rise to Saul's doubts.
Grew upā¦ feeling like an outsider, even in his own community. Saul was one of the only Jewish residents of Calliope, Ind., for which he faced discrimination. He spent his early life trying to fit in with his community. Now heās doing all he can to stay under the radar.
Livingā¦ in the direct center of a political and diplomatic hurricane. Saul resides in Washington D.C., but he spend most of his time trying to solve international quarrels at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
Professionā¦ CIA officer. Saul knows the ins and outs of international politics like no one else at the agency. Heās been at the heart of conflicts in the Middle East since the beginning of his career. As a result, Saul is a reasonable realist whoās willing to sacrifice himself for his country.
Interests... none, aside from his job. Saulās entire life revolves around the CIA. The job eats him up, even though he knows that itās toxic for his personal life. āEveryone lies in this business,ā he says. āI accept that.ā
Relationship Statusā¦ precarious. Saul is married, but it seems that heās only holding onto his wife by a thin thread.
Challengeā¦ saving the United States and his marriage. Thwarting terrorist attacks on U.S. soil is one thing, but preventing āthe love of my life walking out my doorā may prove to be even tougher.
Personality... reserved, sober, and determined. The ever-patient Saul is willing to play the ālong gameā when it comes to diplomacy and spycraft. He is the most reasoned and grounded member of his elite CIA team. Without Saul, the agency might well implode.
Biography[]
Saul has worked for the CIA for 35 years. He recruited and trained Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), and continues to mentor and have a close working relationship with her, despite not being her immediate supervisor anymore. Saul is also a long time friend of Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham), a black ops specialist, and the men help and advise each other over the course of the series. Saul is married to Mira Berenson (Sarita Choudhury), but his work takes a toll on their marriage.
He is a veteran intelligence officer at the CIA, initially introduced as the agency's Middle East Division Chief. His measured approach to his job often clashes with Carrie's drastic, impulsive methods. Saul is doggedly committed to his job, often at the expense of his personal life: he has a wife, Mira, who resents his absence at home (which ultimately results in their divorce), and a sister, Dorit, who lives in the West Bank and has not seen him in years.
Early life[]
Little is known about early Saul's life yet, it has been established he majored in political science in college. He was also one of the few Jewish children to grow up in a town in rural Indiana. Saul Michael Berenson, "The Bear", is a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer who has worked for the agency for 35 years and is the mentor and former boss of Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes). He was responsible for catching Osama Bin Laden.
While Carrie likes Jazz in the Thelonious Sphere Monk style, Saul prefers John Coltrane's jazz, which is not so demanding. Michael grows up as the only Jewish kid ā and Orthodox ā in a small town in Indiana, the child of Holocaust survivors. He couldnāt possibly be more an outsider (The Weekend).
The book gets into areas the TV series never did. He is constantly looked upon as āTalmudicā. In season 4, Martha Boyd reveals to Carrie that she almost married Saul once.
Saul won't give up his asset. Itās this one commandment, his only principle in life/work.
Background[]
Nick Brody's return[]
Ten months later, Carrie told Saul, the CIA's Middle-East Division Chief and Carrie's old boss and mentor, about the intel Hasan Ibrahim supplied regarding a turned American POW and requested permission to place surveillance on Sgt. Nick Brody, a POW who was recently rescued after long captivity. Saul denied the request, suggesting that her idea that Abu Nazir tipped off the military to the location where Brody was found was fanciful, and would need real evidence to justify action against Brody. After Saul doesn't approve of placing surveillance on Brody, Carrie illegally starts surveilling him anyway with the help of Virgil Piotrowski.
He did however place her in Brody's debriefing on the condition that she behave herself (which she didn't). Saul defends her against her boss, David Estes, who complained about her behavior in the debriefing, however he was warned not to let things get personal with Carrie. Saul discovered Carrie's illegal surveillance of Brody and became angry with her when she later to seduce Brody. Saul does feel that Carrie justified herself when she found a rhythmic pattern in the way Brody tapped his fingers during televised appearances.
Saul is instrumental in getting cooperation from captured terrorist Aileen Morgan, which leads to information that implicates Tom Walker. Saul later runs afoul of CIA Director Estes when he discovers that Estes and then-CIA director William Walden ordered a drone strike that hit a school in Iraq and have been taking measures to cover up the incident. After an operation with Carrie in Beirut, Saul finds a copy of the confession tape that Brody recorded. This leads to Saul, Carrie, and Estes forming a task force attempting to use Brody as a re-doubled agent against al-Qaeda. Saul discovers that Estes' plan is to have Brody killed once the operation is finished and tries to put a stop to it which leads to further friction with Estes, almost losing his job. However, Peter Quinn, the black ops operative hired by Estes to kill Brody, decides not to go through with the plan once Abu Nazir is killed. When Estes is killed at the bombing of the memorial service for William Walden at Langley on December 12, Saul becomes the acting director of the CIA.
Once he is director, Saul and Carrie almost immediately put into action a plan to lure out the mastermind behind the 12/12 attacks, in which Carrie is outed to the press as having bipolar disorder and having had an affair with Brody. Appearing vulnerable, Carrie is contacted by representatives of an international bank with ties to the middle east, as Saul predicted, who ask her to inform on CIA operations to their client, Majid Javadi, Iran's deputy intelligence Chief and the orchestrator of the 12/12 attack with whom Saul has a troubled history. When they were both getting their starts in their respective nations, Saul and Javadi worked together during the Iranian hostage crisis, but Javadi betrayed Saul by having several hostages who Saul was going to extradite back to the states killed. In response, Saul helped Javadi's wife and son escape to America. Saul, with the help of Fara Sherazi, finds that Javadi embezzled millions from his own nation to fund the attack, making him an enemy of the Iranian state should this ever be revealed. Using this as leverage to make Javadi a CIA asset, Saul sends Javadi back to Iran. At the same time, Saul clashes with Senator Andrew Lockhart, who is soon to replace him as director, and he discovers that his wife is having an affair with a man named Alain Bernard.
Saul manages to bring Brody, now a heroin addict after his captivity in Caracas, back to the United States to help carry out the second phase of his plans for the Middle East. Saul intends to send Brody to Iran under the guise of seeking political asylum so that he can kill Danesh Akbari, leader of the Revolutionary Guard, who will then be replaced by Javadi - ushering in a regime change in the nation. A special ops unit works to rehabilitate and retrain Brody back to peak condition. Meanwhile, Saul finds that Alain is an Israeli intelligence agent hired by Lockhart to spy on him, and uses this info to give himself more time in office to see through the mission to the plan. Brody manages to make it into Tehran, where he eventually succeeds in killing Akbari. Carrie implores Saul to get Brody extracted; Saul agrees, but Lockhart and Dar Adal overstep him and leak Brody's location to Iranian authorities, who apprehend and execute Brody. Despite this, Saul's plan is a success, with Iran agreeing to disarm its nuclear sites four months later. Saul is fired from the CIA once Lockhart takes office, and then begins work in the private sector.
Islamabad[]
Saul travels to the U.S. embassy in Islamabad where Carrie has since been posted as station chief, and reconnects with U.S. ambassador Martha Boyd, an old friend and former romantic partner. On his way back, Saul is kidnapped and brought to Taliban leader Haissam Haqqani, who uses him as a human shield to travel freely through Pakistan without fear of a drone strike. Haqqani holds Saul captive as a bargaining chip to get several Taliban prisoners released in an exchange. Some time after the Taliban's assault on the U.S. embassy, Saul learns from Dar Adal that Haqqani agreed not to harbor terrorists in Afghanistan in exchange for being removed from the CIA's kill list. Dar also informs Saul that video evidence of his capture by the Taliban will not be publicized, preserving Saul's chances of becoming CIA director. Saul agrees to this deal, deeply disappointing Carrie when eventually finds out. Carrie subsequently helps derail Saul's bid for the directorship, forming a rift between them that lasts over two years.
Berlin[]
Two years later, Saul is called to Berlin to attend to a scandal involving leaked documents attesting to widespread privacy violations by the American and German governments as part of a counterterrorism probe. Saul formally agrees to end the program but continues it independently, enlisting Peter Quinn to assassinate known targets. In the two-year interim, Mira filed for divorce from Saul after he rejoined the CIA, and Saul began a relationship with Berlin station chief Allison Carr. Carrie later finds out that Allison is a longtime mole for the Russians and is using Saul as a patsy to obtain classified intelligence. Carrie and Saul team up with German intelligence to thwart the Russians' operation; though Allison escapes, Saul makes a deal with Ivan Krupin, her handler, for details about her extraction plan, and leads a team to intercept and assassinate Allison at the German border.
New York[]
Months later, Saul and Dar Adal advise President-elect Elizabeth Keane in New York during her transition into office. Dar, distrustful of Keane's antiwar platform and anticipated overhauls of the intelligence community, plots behind Saul's back to undermine the Keane administration. Saul investigates Iran's possible violations of their nuclear treaty (based on a false lead planted by Dar), visiting his sister Dorit in the West Bank as cover to secretly meet with Majid Javadi. Saul has Javadi confirm whether Iran is running a parallel nuclear program; Javadi eventually comes to the U.S. himself, seeking political asylum after he is outed as a CIA asset in Iran, and confirms to Saul that Iran is complying with the nuclear pact. However, Javadi reverses course, telling the opposite to Keane after making a deal with Dar Adal. Saul and Carrie prove to Keane that Dar is conspiring against her. After a faction within Dar's group attempts to assassinate Keane, she retaliates during the first month of her presidency by arresting over 200 federal employees including Saul.
Keane's presidency[]
Some months later, Keane agrees to release her 200 political prisoners including Saul, who accepts the position of National Security Advisor. Saul is first placed in charge of the manhunt for provocateur Brett O'Keefe, and unsuccessfully attempts to deescalate a standoff between the FBI and O'Keefe's supporters (which ultimately ends in a deadly shootout). Saul finds evidence that the situation escalated due to disinformation deployed by the Russians, and enlists a task force to uncover a widespread Russian conspiracy to undermine President Keane's administration. He and Carrie work to exfiltrate a key witness in the case from Russia so that she can testify about the conspiracy before Congress. Carrie allows herself to be captured by the GRU in order to ensure the operation's success, and Saul is forced to leave her behind. Seven months later, Saul negotiates Carrie's release in a prisoner exchange and finds her in severe delirium due to her being denied medication for her bipolar disorder while in captivity.
Kabul[]
After Keane resigns, Saul stays on as National Security Advisor for Ralph Warner, who inherits the office after serving as Vice President to Keane.
Saul, now the US National Security Advisor, is leading the US effort to end the war in Afghanistan. Negotiations between Afghanistan and the Taliban fall apart when Afghanistan's vice president, Abdul Qadir G'ulom (Mohammad Bakri), announces he will refuse to honor the proposed terms. Saul recruits Carrie, who is still recovering from her imprisonment in Russia, to join him in Kabul to help salvage the peace talks, despite warnings from Carrie's caretakers at a military hospital in Germany that she is not ready. Saul arranges a secret meeting in Pakistan with Haissam Haqqani (Numan Acar), who is now the leader of the Taliban, but the ISI learn of it and hit Haqqani's convoy with an RPG. In the aftermath, Saul is captured and delivered to Haqqani, who was not in the convoy but sent it as a decoy. Haqqani suspects Saul planned the attack, but soon learns that his son Jalal (Elham Ehsas) betrayed him to the ISI. Saul and Haqqani eventually agree to terms on a peace deal, which includes an immediate cease fire. Their plans fall apart when the helicopter carrying the US president and the Afghan president goes down in Taliban-controlled territory.
Carrie, already suspected to be working with the Russians, lies about her clandestine meetings with GRU agent Yevgeny Gromov (Costa Ronin), and Saul is compelled to send her back to Germany. Carrie goes on the run with Yevgeny in search of both a missing Max and the flight recorder from the helicopter crash. She remains in contact with Saul, who tries to help her despite the CIA's pursuit. With Haqqani about to be put on trial and executed, Saul seeks aid from his Pakistani nemesis Tasneem Qureishi (Nimrat Kaur), who is now Director-General of the ISI. Though her stepfather Bunran Latif (Art Malik), Saul's old friend, refuses Saul, Tasneem agrees to help him stall the trial. They believe they are successful, but Haqqani is immediately sentenced to death. Jalal claims responsibility for the crash, and Saul tries to prevent the new US president from escalating the situation further by threatening to invade Pakistan. Saul wires Carrie $1 million to acquire the flight recorder, which is subsequently stolen by Yevgeny. Knowing that the recorder proves that mechanical failure caused the crash, Saul goes to the Russian ambassador, who denies any knowledge of it. Yevgeny tells Carrie that she can have the recorder in exchange for the identity of Saul's highly-placed spy in the Kremlin. She turns herself in to the CIA and is released into Saul's custody, but he denies the existence of any such double agent. Carrie's subsequent investigation proves to her that Saul is lying, and Yevgeny tells her to find the spy's identity or kill Saul.
Tasneem helps Saul diffuse the US's threats against Pakistan by providing him with a believable location for Jalal that will distract US intelligence. When Saul refuses to identify his Russian asset, Carrie drugs him, and threatens to kill him if he does not comply. Saul calls Carrie's bluff, so she leaves him as the captive of two GRU agents while she visits his sister Dorit (Jacqueline Antaramian) in Israel. By pretending Saul has died, Carrie collects a video left for her with Dorit that identifies Saul's asset as Russian translator Anna Pomerantseva (Tatyana Mukha). Carrie informs Yevgeny, but Saul manages to warn Anna, who kills herself before the Russians take her into custody. The cockpit recording is released by the Russians, ending the threat of nuclear war. Two years later, Carrie has fled to Russia and is in a "relationship" with Yevgeny, and Saul has retired after suffering a heart attack. Saul receives a message from Carrie in the same manner he communicated with Anna, establishing herself as his new asset in Russia.
Character profile[]
Homeland, one of the most acclaimed television series of the past decade, has captivated audiences with its intriguing plotlines, complex characters, and intense performances.
At the heart of this thrilling drama is Saul Berenson, a seasoned veteran of the CIA who serves as a mentor to the protagonist, Carrie Mathison. Known for his calm demeanor and strategic mind, Saul Berenson is a character who exemplifies the quintessential spy archetype and adds depth and nuance to the narrative. In order to fully appreciate Saul Berenson's character, it is crucial to analyze him through an analytical and theoretical lens. By viewing him through high-minded concepts, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities that lie beneath his calm exterior. Saul embodies the archetype of the wise mentor, drawing upon the theory of the Hero's Journey, as described by Joseph Campbell. Just as Obi-Wan Kenobi guides Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, Saul guides Carrie Mathison in her journey as an intelligence officer.Berenson's years of experience and expertise lend him a level-headedness that proves invaluable in the tumultuous world of espionage. His calm demeanor is not just a character trait; it serves as a strategy in itself. In the game of intelligence, where one wrong move can have grave consequences, keeping a cool head is of paramount importance. Saul's ability to think logically and rationally in high-pressure situations allows him to navigate complex missions and make calculated decisions that have far-reaching implications.
Furthermore, Saul Berenson's strategic mind is another facet of his character that sets him apart. He approaches every situation with a keen eye for detail, considering all variables and potential outcomes. This analytical approach aligns with the theory of rational choice, a concept commonly used in economics and political science. Saul's strategic thinking enables him to devise elaborate plans and anticipate the actions of his adversaries, making him an integral asset to the CIA and a formidable opponent to those who seek to undermine national security.
However, while Saul Berenson embodies high-minded concepts and analytical approaches, his character remains relatable and down-to-earth. This is largely due to the exceptional portrayal by actor Mandy Patinkin, who masterfully balances the complexities of the character. Patinkin's portrayal of Saul is layered with vulnerability, illustrating that even the most seasoned spies are not impervious to emotions and personal struggles. This realism humanizes Saul, enabling viewers to connect with him on a deeper level.
Saul's mentorship role in relation to Carrie Mathison is another key aspect of his character. The concept of mentorship has been studied extensively in various fields, including psychology and education. Mentors play a vital role in guiding and shaping the development of their mentees, offering wisdom, support, and guidance. Saul's mentoring of Carrie is not only crucial for her growth as an intelligence officer but also provides a moral compass within the morally ambiguous world they navigate. His mentorship relationship with Carrie showcases the importance of experience and guidance in fostering the growth and success of individuals.
In conclusion, Saul Berenson is a captivating character in the world of Homeland. His seasoned experience, calm demeanor, and strategic mind make him an exemplary spy archetype, while his vulnerability and mentorship role add depth and relatability. By viewing Saul through an analytical and theoretical lens, we can appreciate the higher concepts that underpin his character while still connecting with him on a human level. Homeland's portrayal of Saul Berenson serves as a reminder that intelligence work is not just about action and intrigue but also about the complexities of human nature and personal growth. [x]
Saul's Resume[]
Saul Berenson Washington, D.C. | saul.berenson@cia.gov | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/saulberenson
Professional Summary
Veteran intelligence officer with extensive experience in counterterrorism, national security, and diplomatic intelligence operations. Proven leader in high-stakes crisis management, HUMINT (human intelligence), and clandestine operations. Adept at navigating geopolitical complexities, leveraging deep knowledge of the Middle East and South Asia. Former National Security Advisor with a reputation for strategic vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to U.S. security.
Professional Experience
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Director of the CIA (Interim, Final Season)
Led the U.S. intelligence community through critical counterterrorism efforts.
Managed global intelligence assets and strategic operations against adversarial threats.
Advised the President and National Security Council on classified operations.
National Security Advisor to the President (Season 7)
Served as the top intelligence advisor to the President of the United States.
Played a crucial role in managing diplomatic relations, particularly in high-tension scenarios with Russia, Iran, and the Taliban.
Oversaw intelligence operations and national security initiatives in response to domestic and international threats.
CIA Division Chief, Counterterrorism (Former Deputy Director of Operations, Clandestine Services) (Seasons 1-6, intermittently in Season 8)
Architect of key intelligence operations targeting terrorist networks, including Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Supervised field operations and covert assets, particularly in the Middle East, South Asia, and Russia.
Acted as mentor and handler for top CIA operatives, including Carrie Mathison.
Led diplomatic intelligence negotiations with foreign leaders and intelligence agencies.
Played a pivotal role in preventing terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and abroad.
Station Chief, CIA Islamabad & New Delhi (Pre-Series Backstory)
Conducted covert intelligence gathering and counterintelligence operations.
Managed U.S. diplomatic relations with Pakistan and Indiaās intelligence services (ISI & RAW).
Key player in regional counterterrorism efforts, including tracking Osama bin Laden.
Field Operative & Analyst, CIA Middle East Desk (Early Career)
Developed deep expertise in Middle Eastern affairs, working across Israel, Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Led debriefings of high-value detainees and defectors.
Conducted covert assignments, particularly in Iran and Lebanon.
Education
Masterās in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University ā School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
Bachelorās in Political Science, Cornell University
Key Skills & Expertise
ā Intelligence Analysis & Threat Assessment ā HUMINT & Covert Operations ā Counterterrorism & National Security Policy ā Middle East & South Asia Geopolitical Strategy ā Diplomatic Intelligence & Crisis Negotiation ā Leadership in Intelligence & Government Affairs ā Cyber & Counterintelligence Operations ā Psychological Operations & Asset Recruitment
Languages
English (Native)
Hebrew (Fluent)
Arabic (Proficient)
Russian (Basic)
Pashto & Dari (Working Knowledge)
Notable Achievements
Brokered high-stakes diplomatic negotiations with the Taliban, Iran, and Russia.
Key strategist in major counterterrorism operations, including foiling attacks on U.S. assets.
Managed intelligence efforts during multiple global crises, including nuclear threats.
Rebuilt and reorganized the CIA following internal leadership crises.
Played a pivotal role in securing high-value intelligence assets.
Security Clearance
Top Secret / SCI (Compartmented Information) ā Active
Personal Details
U.S. Citizen
Married (Estranged at times due to work commitments)
Passionate about classical music and Persian literature
Quotes[]
- Mitchell Clawson: Are you sometimes - called "The Bear"?
- Saul (scowling): - Fuckin' hope not.
- Everything she does is because she never loses sight of whatās important. - Saul for Jenna
- You donāt know a goddamned thing. Youāre the smartest and the dumbest fuckinā person Iāve ever know. - Saul for Carrie
- āShe has been running herselfā. - Saul for Quinn
- Saul loved me. He trusted meā¦ and thatās gone now. - Carrie
- "In the end, who we trust in this life is all that matters." - Saul
- SAUL: We haven't spoken since Peter Quinn's memorial. That hardly qualified as a conversation.
- CARRIE: I wasn't doing too much talking that day.
- SAUL: I noticed.
- CARRIE: What's that supposed to mean?
- SAUL: Well, you knew him better than anybody. I guess I was expecting you to get up, say a few words.
- CARRIE: Well, maybe I didn't know him as well as you think.
- SAUL: I wasn't judging you, Carrie.
- CARRIE: Sure sounded like it.
- SAUL: Worst happened. Quinn died. You're still out there going a million miles an hour. You will hit a wall.
- CARRIE: I'm fine.
- SAUL: Damn it, I'm worried about you.
- CARRIE: Well, maybe I don't like the idea of you worrying about me anymore.
- Youāre missing it, all of you. Itās happening right now in front of your faces. We have OāKeefe. We have a disinformation campaign designed to discredit the president elect. As of today, we have boots on the ground, like the protesters I had to wade through to get here. Does that seem familiar to any of you? Because it does to me. Itās what we did in Nicaragua, Chile, Congo, a dozen other places, all the way back to Iran in the 50s. And it does not end well for the elected regime.
- SAUL: Iām in trouble. I have to disappear.
- MIRA: This is about the president-elect, isnāt it? The intelligence community hates her. And youāre caught in the middle.
- SAUL: I must say Iām impressed.
- MIRA: What I donāt understand is why you have to run? [ā¦] Honestly, Saul. None of this sounds like you. Youāre not just going to pack up and leave her to the wolves.
- SAUL: Iāll be humiliated, publicly.
- MIRA: When has that ever made the slightest bit of fucking difference to you?
- CARRIE: The only way to bring down Dar is by prosecuting the breach in the Berlin station under the Espionage Act.
- SAUL: The breach itself was me. I was in the middle of it. I was the one involved with a Russian spy. [ā¦] Everything Iāve done. My entire career will be wiped out. All anyone will remember is that.
- CARRIE: Keane is not ungrateful; she promised you a pardon.
- SAUL: What about the Agency?
- CARRIE: The Agency has survived worse.
- SAUL: Not when the president wants it gone, which Keane does. Youāre aware of that, right?
- CARRIE: Maybe you shouldnāt have been fucking a Russian mole.
- SAUL: Well, coming from someone who fucked a guy in a suicide vest, that means a lot.
- SAUL: What the hellās going on?
- JAVADI: You really donāt know, do you? My God Saul, you have lost your powers. [Saul grabs him] Get your hands off me!
- SAUL: Tell me, goddamn it! Why, Majid?
- JAVADI: Because I donāt want to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. Sorry, old friend.
- SAUL: Sorry? Dar? You reached out to Dar Adal?
- JAVADI: I bet on a horse. In the end, I went with the sure thing.
- VIKTOR: You know what your problem is? You always have to win every argument. Itās not your most attractive feature. [Hands Saul an envelope containing photos of Dar and Tovahās meeting in NYC]
- SAUL: Iād like to keep these.
- VIKTOR: Now itās my turn to say no. The question is, what do we do now?
- SAUL: We?
- VIKTOR: Yes. This puts us in a bad situation, you and me.
- SAUL: How so?
- VIKTOR: Bombings in Midtown. President-elect in hiding. And now a split in your famous partnership with Dar Adal.
- SAUL: Thereās no split.
- VIKTOR: Itās obvious youāre on the outside looking in. Maybe youāre not much use to me after all.
- SAUL: God damn it, Majid. You cheating on the [nuclear] deal or not?
- JAVADI: You sound convinced already, so why are you here asking me?
- SAUL: We started something, Majid, three years ago, you and I did, together. Something between our two countries that succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.
- JAVADI: We didnāt start anything together. You put a gun to my head and threatened to expose me to my own service, I went along because I had no choice, do you remember that?
- Saul: Says here you have a 120 million dollar line of credit at First Emirates, a little over half of which was accessed in the last week.
- Nafisi: So?
- Saul: Compliant bank, correspondent accounts, these are the same tactics you used to counter U.N. sanctions, fund Hezbollah, export your revolution to the rest of the world.
- Nafisi: Is that a compliment?
- Carrie: You think I'm advising the next president of the United States?
- Saul: I think her entire national security platform came right out of that head of yours.
- Carrie: You're a runner now, huh?
- Saul: Yeah.
- Carrie: Since when?
- Saul: Since Mira filed for divorce.
- Want to tell me how our classified network go within a thousand miles of the goddamned internet?
- Saul: So you, what are you atoning for? Keeing American safe?
- Carrie: I'm not atoning.
- Saul: You turned your back on your entire life.
- Carrie: I'm just trying to do good work.
- Saul: Well you're not. You're being naive and stupid, something you never were before.
- Saul: There comes a point at which you're no longer responsible.
- Carrie: I'm not there yet.
- Saul: I know.
- Saul: I'm old. I've made a fool of my time.
- Carrie: You haven't.
- Saul: Completely. People are dead because of it.
- My God.
- Saul: Carrie! Carrie! What are you doing?!
- Carrie: I'm trying to kill the mother fuckers who are trying to kill us, what do you think I'm doing?!
- Carrie: I promised Mira I was bringing you home.
- Saul: You think I wanna go home? You said this wouldn't happen. You promised me no exchange.
- Carrie: I couldn't let you die.
- Saul: It wasn't up to you. It wasn't your call. You think I can live with this? I can't even look at it.
- Carrie: Saul, listen to me.
- Saul: No, you listen. Do not give them those prisoners. Do not give them one prisoner. Just go. Go!
- Carrie: I'm not leaving without you.
- Saul: Then we both die here.
- Carrie: Both? What about the boy?
- Saul: What about him? He said his prayers. He thinks he's goin' to fuckin' heaven.
- Carrie: She was your fiancee?
- Saul: For about two minutes a hundred years ago.
- Dar Adal: She's not getting on a plane.
- Saul: I know. Get it done.
- Saul: You mean end Brody?
- Lockhart: The President wants this resolved.
- Quinn: She's on her own Saul.
- Saul: She's always been on her own.
- "Everyone lies in this business, I accept that. But we all draw lines somewhere, and the two sides of that line are us and them. And whatever we had you and I, whatever trust we built up over a decade of me protecting you and teaching you everything I know, you destroyed it when you lied to me and you treated me like them. Like every other schmuck in this building. So when you say you understand, is that what you mean?"- Saul for Carrie
- Quinn: Where have you been? You look wasted.
- Saul: I'm just old.
- Berenson tells her to move on and Mathison says āBut Saulā¦ā and then he says āthis man has poisoned your thoughts. He has cost you almost everything. Forget him.ā When he realizes Carrie loves Nicholas. - Marine One
- David Estes: āSo tell me whatās so important it couldnāt wait?ā
- Saul: āAbu Nazir, David, remember him? Two horns, long tail, strong scent of sulfur?ā
- Carrie: I'll bet you everything I've got. Everything- including my Monk's Dream, signed by Thelonious himself.
- Saul: I prefer Coltrane. Not so fussy.
- Carrie: I missed something once before. I won't, I can't let that happen again.
- Saul: It was ten years ago. Everyone missed something that day.
- Carrie: Everyone's not me.
- Carrie: Because Abu Nazir is playing the long game. This way no one expects a thing.
- Saul: Except you?
- Carrie: Except me.
- "Goddamnit Carrie!"
Behind the Scenes[]
Appearances[]
| Fiction books | ||||
| Homeland: Carrie's Run |
Homeland: Saul's Game Homeland: Saul's Game | | Wiki da Homeland TV Fandom | |||
| Season 1 | ||||
| Pilot | Grace | Clean Skin | Semper I | Blind Spot |
| The Good Soldier | The Weekend | Achilles Heel | Crossfire | Representative Brody |
| The Vest | Marine One | |||
| Season 2 | ||||
| The Smile | Beirut is Back | State of Independence | New Car Smell | Q&A |
| A Gettysburg Address | The Clearing | I'll Fly Away | Two Hats | Broken Hearts |
| In Memoriam | The Choice | |||
| Season 3 | ||||
| Tin Man Is Down | Uh... Oh... Ah... | "Tower of David" | Game On | The Yoga Play |
| Still Positive | Gerontion | A Red Wheelbarrow | One Last Thing | Good Night |
| Big Man in Tehran | The Star | |||
| Season 6 | ||||
| Fair Game | The Man in the Basement | The Covenant | A Flash of Light | Casus Belli |
| The Return | Imminent Risk | Alt. Truth | Sock Puppets | The Flag House |
| R Is for Romeo | America First | |||
| Season 7 | ||||
| Enemy of the State | Rebel Rebel | Standoff | Like Bad at Things | Active Measures |
| Species Jump | Andante | Lies, Amplifiers, F**king Twitter | Useful Idiot | Clarity |
| All In | Paean to the People | |||
| Season 8 | ||||
| Deception Indicated | Catch and Release | False Friends | Chalk One Up | Chalk Two Down |
| Two Minutes | F**ker Shot Me | Threnody(s) | In Full Flight | Designated Driver |
| The English Teacher | Prisoners of War | |||
External links[]
- Saul Berenson (Showtime's official character page)
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