Codename: Annika (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

they stop at the other end
of the alley.
There's cops coming from all directions,
and I'm like, "Let's go."
-I start running
-How long is the alley?
From the tower block to the gas station,
about 30 meters?
-I continue running
-Are you panicking?
Totally fucked. I'm a 17-year-old
with two cop cars behind me.
-I thought there was just one.
-I see a fire escape.
I drop the six-pack, and start running
and climbing the fire escape,
with the cops still
breathing down my neck.
-Was it rusty?
-What?
-The ladder.
-Yes, it was an old garage.
I keep climbing, until they grab me
by the ankles and start pulling me down.
I'm hanging from the ladder,
trying to pull myself up, and then I fall.
I break two ribs.
On which side?
This side.
Any comments?
-Sounded like a true story.
-It was.
-Was it your own arrest?
-Yeah, five years ago.
Dragged a skinny little junkie
down a fire escape.
Okay, good. It really did
sound like you were there.
With that being said,
where was the mistake made?
-still breathing down my neck.
-Is it rusty?
-What?
-The ladder.
The direction of my gaze.
On the right, we have the future,
the great unknown.
Our gaze naturally goes there
whenever we're making stuff up.
The past is on the left.
We go there for the stuff that's
buried in our own, real memories.
Don't use things
that you've heard somewhere.
Use your first-hand experiences,
the stuff that you've felt in your core.
If you've hung onto a ladder
for dear life, you'll remember
The direction of my gaze.
That's basic psychology,
and I was screwing up in front of Erola
like some fucking novice.
Yeah, you're a total failure
even as a human being.
Everyone in the Finnish NBI
is ashamed of you.
Hello.
-Why?
-A small job tomorrow.
An undercover job?
But I'm in the middle of training.
Finish it in the field.
Are all of these forgeries?
Yes, they are. They are confiscated.
I never would've guessed.
This one?
A late Helene Schjerfbeck.
We tracked a forgery of it
in a case a few years back.
Is it a forgery or is it real?
Impossible to say.
-Do you have a picture of the back?
-Don't you know the painting?
Yes, but the provenance
on the one we tracked
seemed watertight, but a fluorescence test
showed that the colors
Perfect. You sound just like them.
Auction tomorrow in Stockholm.
-It's there?
-You're an expert on Nordic art. Name?
Emma?
Your cover name.
-You haven't started building a legend?
-No, I'm in the middle of training.
Okay. Don't think. Just give me a name.
Something you'd react to
if I shouted it across the street.
Annika.
Annika what?
Storm
Stormare.
-Annika Stormare.
-Yes.
Annika Stormare. Here's your legend.
-And what's the job?
-This one.
There are three stages
in every relationship.
Stage 1.
During the first months, you do anything
to impress the other person,
meaning you hide the fact that actually,
you're a train wreck of a human being
-Sampo?
-who can barely keep a cactus alive.
-Do you think this is business elegant?
-Do you want an honest answer?
Well
So, stage 2.
When you've managed to lure them in,
show them what you really are. Test them.
Steal a knife from a restaurant
and see if they take a fork.
My dear, we don't steal forks.
-What's your lecture about?
-It's a short presentation on pigments.
One of our experts had to cancel,
and I was asked to be the back-up.
When are you coming back?
Latest by tomorrow evening, maybe.
So, what's the third stage?
After you've revealed
your true self to them,
check if they're still next to you.
-What if they're still there?
-You make sure they never leave.
And how exactly are you going to do that?
-You lock them in your basement.
-Come on!
That was a good one.
What shop is still open at this hour?
Hello, I'm Annika Stormare.
A specialist on Nordic art.
Hello. Annika Stormare. Hi.
Annika. Annika Stormare.
CODE NAME:
ANNIKA
Excuse me.
Sorry.
Sorry, it got delayed.
Plenty of time.
Officer Haka,
A.K.A. Annika Stormare, picked up.
ETA, seven minutes.
-Make it six.
-Copy that.
PIN's her birth year.
Same for that one.
Comms on the right earpiece.
Two for yes, one for no.
I'm under "Mum."
You have to put your fingerprint in.
-Legend?
-Specialist. Freelancer. Nordic art.
-Here for?
-Prospective clients. I just got sacked.
-Sacked from?
-Vertigo Art. Private investors.
-Birthday?
-February 15th.
-Star sign?
-She doesn't believe in horoscopes.
Aquarius.
-Our guest of honor.
-Hi, welcome.
-Vacklin is head of operation
-Nice to meet
Let's get you sorted.
Hassan, get the girl set up.
End of Cronberg Street? Stay there.
Camera's here.
Audio coverage is five meters.
-You have the camera there. See?
-Okay.
Point it forward, so we can see.
Holmström is your back-up
and your second pair of eyes.
Hello.
Pia?
Okay.
Okay, five minutes.
-Okay, let's get started.
-Get ready.
-Everything okay?
-Yes.
Follow me.
-This is not about a forged artwork.
-Get ready.
Okay. So, what is this really about?
You go in, look at the painting,
then wait for a command.
But anyone could've
looked at the painting at the preview.
This particular painting
wasn't offered for a public preview.
Then it shouldn't even be in the auction.
Exactly.
So, this is a charade for something else
or a part of
Haka, Haka, Haka.
Don't overthink this.
Undercover operatives don't ask questions.
They jump in, dig around,
and get out when told to.
One minute.
You have an anchor?
-A what?
-A visual cue. A mantra? A color?
Red.
-Do you use lipstick?
-No.
Annika means red.
If you feel like you're losing Annika,
look for red.
Anything.
watch the building from two sides.
Two teams cover the exits.
Stormare enters through the front gate.
We have eyes on her the whole time.
Unit 2, what's your status?
Unit 2, all set. Unit 2, all set.
We're in position outside the building,
ready to intervene if needed.
Team Alpha and the surveillance team
are ready to take action, if necessary.
All units. Here we go.
Don't mess this up.
Welcome to Ståhlgren's.
Okay. We're in.
There.
Rasmus Ståhlgren is on location.
Storm
We're getting interference.
Concrete walls.
Storma
Stormare?
Can you hear us?
Is it your forgery?
Object confirmed as fake.
Ståhlgren!
Magnus.
Stormare, can you move closer
to the man speaking with Ståhlgren?
Look at that. Magnus Torstensson.
Construction. A dirty millionaire.
One of the suspected fronts.
His wife runs a gallery downtown.
And you're as wonderful as ever.
Welcome, everyone,
to our annual Summer Classics.
Stormare, Holmström. Get in.
See who buys the painting.
370,000.
More than my last down payment.
That's life.
A latecomer.
390,000.
-Did you see that?
-What?
Rewind.
Freeze it.
A possibly armed individual coming in.
Female, dark hair.
Coming up the stairs.
Do we have 390 for that?
390. 390,000.
Moving on to lot 17.
-Here we go.
-It is a late Helene Schjerfbeck.
Very beautiful. And we'll start the bids
at 1,500,000 Swedish kroner.
The bidding starts at 1.5 million.
Torstensson placed a bid.
He's one of the fronts.
1.55.
One million, five-hundred fifty thousand.
That's good. One million, six-hundred.
Who was that?
Holmström, who placed the bid?
One million, six-hundred and fifty.
Confirmed. The latecomer is bidding.
One million,
seven-hundred thousand Swedish kroner.
One million, seven-hundred thousand
Swedish kroner. Yes.
One million, seven-hundred fifty.
-They're pumping up the price.
-One million eight-hundred thousand.
As expected.
One million eight-hundred thousand.
One million, eight-fifty.
One million, nine-hundred and fifty?
One million, nine-hundred thousand.
Nine-hundred thousand?
One million, nine-hundred and fifty.
Holmström, follow the buyer.
Stormare, you stay put.
We're moving on to lot number 18.
All units,
we have a new person of interest.
The last lot of the day.
Female, dark hair, sunglasses. ID unknown.
The ladies' room.
Stormare, be careful.
Relax. Let's see what she'll do.
Stormare, the target is armed.
Congrats on your Schjerfbeck.
Oh, fuck.
Would you happen to have a tampon,
or something?
Sorry?
Fuck.
The auction's almost over.
Keep an eye on the suspect.
Stormare, follow at a distance.
-Her comms are not on.
-What the fuck?
Oh, hell.
Thank you very much.
Annika Stormare. Excuse me, I
Annika, why are you lying to my customers?
Excuse me.
Stormare, comms on.
-Stormare, follow her.
-The elevator.
Up or down?
The garage.
Unit 2, move to the garage exit.
Excuse me, I have to
The garage door is blocked.
Have we met? Agatha Torstensson.
Holström, keep your eyes
on Rasmus Ståhlgren.
Annika Stormare.
-Funny.
-Do we have eyes on the exit?
"Don't just light a spark if"
Excuse me?
Just something a dear friend
used to say as a goodbye.
"Don't just light a spark if"
Negative. We have to abort.
Agatha?
Are you coming?
Excuse me.
We need eyes on the garage exit.
"Don't just light a spark"
A motorbike. A black
"Don't just light a spark"
-Do we have eyes on the exit?
-Negative.
Stormare, check the license plate.
"Don't just light a spark"
Hey! You got to move!
Be on the lookout for a black motorbike.
-Did we get the license plate?
-Negative.
Stormare, did you catch the license plate?
Stormare!
Haka, mission accomplished. Abort.
Who are you?
As I already said, I'm Annika Stormare.
Art expert. Hello.
Jesus. Fuck. Stormare.
-Stay away from that man.
-Hello.
Holmström, to the garage.
Make sure to keep her away from him.
Come with me.
Stormare, abort. Stay away from him.
Stormare, do not get into that car.
Hello! Annika!
Hello.
Into the fire.
Start the car. Follow them.
Explain.
Have you looked
at the back of the painting?
What would I find there?
A Stenman Salong stamp.
-It's forged.
-And how do you know that?
I evaluated the same painting
for my previous employer.
-Which would be
-Vertigo Art in Helsinki.
-Never heard of them.
-No, they're private investors.
Okay. But you're wrong.
Or someone is now the owner
of a very expensive frame.
Don't lose them. We need to get her out.
Sirens on?
No, that's too obvious.
She can gather intel.
She's a rookie.
We can't let her burn the operation.
Get traffic control on the line.
Where are we going?
When you cry wolf,
you take the consequences.
Mum
Answer it.
-Hi, Mum.
-The lights will turn red. Get out.
Yes, sorry that I'm late.
Work ran over time. I'm on my way.
You'll have 15 seconds on red.
Thank you. I love you. Bye.
So, who examined the painting for you?
Someone I trust.
Maybe it's time to stop
trusting this "someone."
Someone's broken your mirror.
-Can I have the bag?
-Didn't get her.
Fuck. Check the surveillance to see if it
got her when she entered the building.
So, Rasmus Ståhlgren is the target?
On a need to know basis.
But I could help if I
Haka, you were just a cog in a machine.
Olander, drive her to the airport.
Come.
What's this really about?
No one would bid that much
on a last minute addition.
It wasn't offered for pre-evaluation,
and two people were hiking up the price.
It's not about the painting, is it?
It's about money.
Nice evening.
Is it money laundering?
Come on, you need me.
Good luck with the forgeries.
Fine.
We're gathering evidence
on Rasmus Ståhlgren.
Does the name "Blanko" ring a bell?
No.
It's a name that keeps
popping up here and there.
Europol thinks Blanko is
laundering money, drugs and weapons.
As soon as someone finds a lead,
he disappears.
Without a trace.
And you think that
he's a Swedish art dealer?
Ståhlgren is military-trained.
Swedish dad, Iranian mum.
Got kicked out of the military academy
and disappeared for several years.
No one knows where.
Then he returns
as a completely different person.
Joins his father's auction house.
Starts running it after he dies.
They have real paintings and fakes.
They're overpriced, underpriced.
Enough to raise suspicions,
but not enough to build a case.
I've been neck deep
in forgeries for years.
I could've gotten more intel
if you'd just
Perhaps. It's possible.
Or you could've blown the whole operation.
Your cover isn't completely solid.
Yes, it is.
Then why didn't you use it?
The French woman was testing you,
and you failed.
Okay, so, I should've snorted?
That's what you wanted?
Okay, then why not shoot heroin, too,
while I'm at it?
When you're under, you're under.
FOR MY LOVE
Ståhlgren breaks record
with highest auction price
"Don't just light a spark"
-Hello, fluffy.
-Hey, super detective!
Are you coming home from work
or are we meeting at the bar?
Let's meet at the bar.
Okay, 7:00 sharp.
I reserved a table for you all.
We'll see how many turn up,
but at least there's room.
PROFILE
ANNIKA STORMARE
Hello, are you there? Did you hear me?
Gotta go.
FORMER EMPLOYEE
VERTIGO AR
Vertigo Art. Hello?
Hello?
Erola?
Why are you calling this number?
Who else has called this number?
You're telling me
my profile is still active?
If I reserve it
Why aren't you letting me
go back to Sweden? Listen.
-Ståhlgren called Vertigo
-I'll get back to you.
and asked for a recommendation.
-How do you know that?
-Erola answered Vertigo's number.
The Swedes want me back. Why am I
hearing this from Erola and not you?
-Sit.
-If the target asks about me,
why aren't we following this lead
and why didn't you tell me?
Sit down.
Who was the Swedish woman?
The one who reacted to your cover name.
The hell I know.
What happened to you in the garage?
You were on your knees. I saw the video.
Yeah. Food poisoning.
The way you're lying now, is just as bad
as a 12-year-old. I do understand.
-Pressure may trigger feelings
-Stop quoting handbooks to me.
that are connected to your memories,
and, thus, trigger traumas.
I don't have any traumas.
-No?
-No.
-Listen, Emma.
-What?
-Just think for a bit.
-Think about what?
-Annika Storm.
-Annika Stormare.
Perhaps not the best choice.
She's dead, but I'm not.
That's that.
They told us during the training
that we need to use things from real life.
She is Agatha Torstensson.
She studied at the Royal Swedish
Academy of Fine Arts, in Stockholm.
In the latter part of the 1980s.
Ring any bells?
It's a coincidence.
There's no such thing.
Are you calling Stockholm or am I?
How many of you have been
or are in a long-term relationship?
Three people.
Me and my girlfriend have been together
for five years. Five years today!
Please don't clap, because she's not
a fan of public displays of affection,
but for that reason alone
Emma, where are you?
Ståhlgren got home at 19:22.
Yeah. This, my dear audience,
isn't awkward at all.
No movement for two hours.
There are three stages
in every relationship. Stage 1
Check if there's any other entrance.
There's a body here.
Wait. Wait.
He's alive.
Everything's fine.
Excuse me.
You can't be here.
Private property.
Five and a half minutes.
It's a pretty dangerous hobby.
Yeah. And you're crossing a line.
When you hold your breath that long,
doesn't something happen with
Why are you here?
Yeah, that's my question, too.
You're the one who's been asking about me.
Do you want to hire me?
Close the gate on your way out, please.
I want to try.
How long can you hold your breath?
One minute, more or less.
I'd say that's pretty standard.
The world record is 12 minutes, Annika.
Okay.
One minute and thirty seconds,
and you hire me.
We'll see.
The lower you can get your heartbeat,
the less your body will react.
So, deep breaths.
Three seconds in, six seconds out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Good. Keep going. Breathe.
Keep breathing.
Most people give up after one minute.
The actual breaking point comes at four.
So, just think about something
that calms you down.
Good.
Emma, are you ready?
"Don't just light a spark,
if you can set the whole world on fire."
Mum.