Covert Affairs s01e02 Episode Script
Walter's Walk
Move, and I'll kill you.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine! Cereal is breakfast.
Popsicles are not breakfast.
Mine.
I'm not getting in the middle of that.
Oh.
Michael and I are doing this will thing, and I need you to sign.
Sign what? Just this document saying that you'll be the girls' guardian if something happens to both Michael and me.
Could I think about it? Well, think about what? It's a no-brainer.
Um, it's just that I'm late for work, and the Smithsonian is surprisingly strict.
Hold it right there, ma'am.
I'm Annie Walker.
I work here.
She's clear.
Annie? I've got to change perfumes.
It was the sound of your heels.
Very distinctive.
Give me a hand? Yeah.
Thanks.
Come on.
Mingus box set? Headphones? You're not quitting, are you? Don't get your hopes up.
The entire DPD is moving into a brand-new, state of the art, "Welcome to the 21st century ten years too late" facility.
Today? I didn't get the memo.
Well, that's because you weren't here three years ago when they actually did send out a memo saying that we were moving in a week.
Got to love bureaucracy.
My sister wants to make me her kids' guardian.
What's the CIA policy on that? Uh, "Don't ask, don't tell your family you're on a mission in Colombia.
" Nice, huh? Finally, a space with windows.
Or so I'm told.
Annie.
Just the person I was looking for.
I have an assignment for you.
We need you to debrief the walk-ins.
Sure.
What are walk-ins? People who come directly to our headquarters claiming to have intel.
We need you to debrief them in case any of it is actionable.
Parker in Security will set you up.
Walk-ins are nut-jobs, right? Crackpot city.
We'll bring in the walk-ins one at a time.
Debrief them, write a report.
Anything actionable, come and see me.
There's a red panic button under the desk.
Use it if you feel at all threatened, and the SPOs will handle it.
And here.
Pepper spray? Welcome to walk-in duty.
And what can the CIA do for you? In 1983, Castro and Reagan have a secret meeting in Cyprus, where they lay down plans for controlling the world's sugar supply.
I only use Sweet'N Low.
No cubes.
And don't even get me started on Stir Sticks.
Oh I know who killed Kennedy.
It's been well-documented that Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Ted Kennedy.
Bless you.
I'm here on behalf of my son.
Have you heard of numbers stations? Short-wave radio transmissions, right? Walter told me that he decoded a message.
How? Numbers stations are essentially unbreakable.
He's studying Computer Science in college.
He used his computer to help decipher the message.
Walter said that the clue led him to a Mail Boxes Etc.
in Rockville, and he saw a man take a secret coded message out of a PO box.
A blue airmail envelope.
Could have just been the mail.
Look, I know this sounds crazy, but Walter claims that the man saw him.
And now, he's really scared.
What type of code was it? I I don't know.
Can you come out to the parking lot with me? This is my son, Walter.
The one in college? I told you he was smart.
Hi, Walter.
Are you a CIA operative? Yes.
Which of the four directorates are you in? That's classified.
Yeah, I figured you might say that.
What are you reading? It's a spy novel called The Parsifal Mosaic.
It's pretty much my favorite.
So, have you come to check into my numbers station? I'm going to try.
But I need the specs first.
The numbers station's still broadcasting new messages on this bandwidth.
You can listen to them.
Do you have any recordings of previous broadcasts? Walter didn't want to bring his tapes into Langley.
My son is very scared.
He isn't sleeping.
If this turns out to be nothing, that's good.
But peace of mind would mean a lot.
Can you please look into this for us? I'll see what I can do.
It was nice to meet you, Walter.
Keep those files accessible, Gary.
Jai Wilcox.
Morning, Joan.
It's a beautiful new Ops Center.
You should be proud.
I don't remember assigning anyone desks yet.
Especially not to someone who doesn't work in my division.
I do now.
Courtesy of the DCS.
So, the DCS decided my division needed a dose of CIA royalty.
Arthur didn't tell you about this? I'm surprised.
He's your husband.
What are you hoping to do here at the DPD, Jai? Consider me a utility infielder.
So, you have a mediocre arm and can bat.
23 I will support you in any way you need.
Welcome aboard, Jai.
Classified? You know you can trust me.
Thank you.
Auggie? What do you know about numbers stations? I haven't thought about them in years.
Neither has anyone else.
One of my walk-ins thinks he found one that's still active.
Do you think you or your team could look into it for me? Yeah, no problem.
Think you can look into this for me? Rookies do lunch runs, huh? Ah, the food court here runs its course after about six months.
Separate receipts, please.
We're all on government salaries.
Ah, sandwich runs.
I remember those halcyon days.
Jai Wilcox? It's been too long, my friend.
When did we become friends? Annie, meet Jai Wilcox.
My friend.
Hi, Annie.
Hi.
Jai is the embodiment of "The Man," and I mean that in a slightly pejorative way.
Yalie.
Works for Arthur Campbell.
And as if that weren't enough, his father is Henry Wilcox.
Like, the Henry Wilcox? The former Head of Clandestine Service? Definitely.
And let me just say that you are already making a name for yourself up on the seventh floor.
Which begs the question, "What is the seventh floor doing here on our floor?" I'm working here.
Special liaison, New Initiatives.
Joan's aware of this? She is.
She's thrilled.
Yeah, sounds like Joan.
To be thrilled about an interloper being installed in her division.
It's nice meeting you, Annie.
Nice to meet you.
Good-looking guy, huh? No.
Nice try.
Don't forget the pickles.
This long-distance dedication goes out to Stu.
So, they're still broadcasting? Squatters' rights.
They play these annoying songs over and over so nobody can steal the bandwidth.
Three, nine, seven, one, five, six, four, seven, five, six, six, four, These numbers aren't random.
Five, one, nine, two This is a complex cyclic permutation.
This is sophisticated encryption.
What could it mean? It means Annie's walk-in may have uncovered an active spy transmission.
- Hello? - I have a Helen Newman calling.
Put her through.
Hello? Annie? I think Walter was right.
We're being followed.
Helen, come back to Langley.
Come back? It was when we left Langley that we started being followed.
I need to protect Walter.
I should never have exposed him to this.
Helen? Helen? Helen? Annie.
Do you have a contact number for that woman? We think her son might be onto something.
I'm beginning to think that, too.
There has been no further contact from Helen Newman since her last call.
Police have put out a missing persons, but so far nothing.
The shortwave transmissions that Walter deciphered emanated from Belfast.
So, as a result, we've looped in our UK desk.
Branch? These broadcasts and Walter's account of the dead-drop synch up with recent movements by members of the Irish Republican Army.
The IRA? Really? Is this 1987? Despite the Belfast Agreement, the IRA have been actively recruiting, and perhaps planning new attacks.
Possibly here on American soil.
We've been working the back channels with Ml6, and they feel that the signals were intended for a Michael Cahill.
Cahill is a former IRA captain who had a hand in the Bishopsgate bombings of 1993, and the attempt on Vauxhall Cross in '94.
Timing suggests something imminent.
Both those attacks occurred during Lent.
We're now 20 days in.
Cahill was sent to prison in '95, and was released six months ago.
Supposedly a changed man, he decided to move to America to be free of the politics of his former life.
How did we give this guy a visa? Can you enhance the image of his passport, please? That's an ICE issue.
We need to focus on what's important here.
Auggie and the tech division will continue to monitor the numbers station broadcasts.
UK desk will interface with Ml6 to track Cahill.
Annie Walker? We'll be sending you to Ms.
Newman's apartment in Bethesda to see if you can find her, the son, or any recordings of the numbers station.
Here's your protocol.
You'll meet your MI6 liaison at 5:00.
Interactions with foreign operatives need to be authenticated.
You didn't think we were sending you alone, did you? No.
Of course not.
That doesn't look like it belongs in the new DPD.
That doesn't even look like it belongs in the old DPD.
I assume you're talking about the machine and not my vest.
We pulled it out of the CIA museum downstairs.
It was used in the '60s to decipher Russian spy code during the Cold War.
Whoever's running this numbers station is pretty sharp.
Type the word "nuclear" into an e- mail, and the NSA is all over it.
But this spy has gone analog in a digital world.
Aren't there computers that can handle this sort of thing? Yeah.
And they are cranking away on the most sophisticated modern codes as we speak.
But Big Bertha here could come in very handy if our spy is using a more archaic sequencing.
Good luck.
No, we don't need luck.
We need Walter's tapes.
Gentlemen, we have a long, long history with the DCS, so to speak.
Arthur? A moment, please? Joan.
I'd like to introduce you to Teppo Koivu and Reijo Numenin of the Finnish Intelligence Service.
Joan Campbell, head of the DPD.
Pleasure.
Arthur, may I have a word? I was in a meeting.
Finnish Intelligence? Are you serious? Do they even have spies? Did I miss couples therapy? Why is Jai Wilcox now a member of my staff? I would have thought you'd want somebody of his caliber at the DPD.
You know, it's bad enough you put Annie in the field to draw out Ben Mercer.
But now, you have someone spying on her? No, it's not That's not it at all.
Then he's spying on me? Oh, so, this is couples therapy.
Joan, with Conrad gone, Jai is a key part of our transparency initiative.
Please, trust me.
Next time, a little heads up would be great.
Transparency between us would be nice, too.
Go to the market, and follow your protocol exactly.
If it tells you to wear a polka dot bikini, wear a polka dot bikini.
And good luck.
Are you interested in honey? These days, it's about all I eat.
I could recommend a good brand.
Could you write it down? My memory's not quite what it used to be.
I think we're good.
I should think so.
Nice job.
James Elliot.
A real pleasure.
I'm Annie.
Can you believe the script in that protocol? They're always so pedestrian and food-related, right? Actually, it's the first one I've ever done.
Oh, well, there's the difference between CIA and Ml6.
You're allowed at your age and experience out into the field.
Ml6 is a lovely outfit, but it's ten years before you're even allowed to stretch your legs outside Vauxhall Cross.
Now, this dinosaur is outrageous.
It's encryption through obsolescence.
By the time the CIA has a technology vetted, it's already five years old.
It may not look cool, but it's secure.
Or, maybe British Intelligence isn't quite as ponderous as I thought.
Total encryption.
Less than four ounces.
Now you're just showing off.
Eyes on the road, love.
Okay.
So, what's the plan? Yuppie couple visiting friends? I love it.
Economical, and I don't need to scale any fire escapes.
Could you hold the door? Oh.
Sure.
Honey, we forgot the chardonnay.
CISA.
Italian.
Top of the line.
Wafer tumblers top and bottom.
Thanks.
There's a pop quiz later.
Bring your number two pencil and an apple for the teacher.
It's today's mail.
Helen and Walter didn't come back here.
Student loan, orthodontist bill, paycheck from Bethesda Nursing Service She really is a working mom.
Walter looks just like his dad.
Le Carré, Graham Greene.
He has a thing for old spy novels.
Yeah, well, I respect that.
Classic spy novels weren't about flash and gadgets.
They were more about the The human element.
The life.
So that's what this job is? Wearing a trench coat and smoking cigarettes near a lamppost? Trench coats, yes.
Cigarettes, no.
I'm on the patch.
Congrats.
I'm halfway there.
Whoa.
This is a lot of equipment for a nurse's salary.
Cataloged by date, time, shortwave channel.
He's meticulous.
Tapes end last week.
Walter must have taken the recordings of the numbers stations with him.
You check the boxes.
I'm going to survey the rest of the apartment.
Elliot.
Nothing of interest in the kitchen, by the way.
No ID.
There's a back exit through the kitchen.
Come on.
Wait a minute.
Bethesda Police scanner has alerted all units.
Shots fired at the address of Helen Newman.
Average response time for Bethesda PD is, what, six minutes? Why couldn't it have been in DC? Their cops are so much slower.
Your suit still looks great, love.
Hey, what's going on? We heard a gunshot.
Hey, stop.
A few questions, first.
McElroy.
Lieutenant wants you upstairs to look at the body.
I'll handle these two.
So, according to your statement, you saw nothing, heard nothing, and were just heading back to Langley.
Correct? Correct.
Have a nice evening.
Bloody mess back there.
Helen was right.
Someone was really after them.
It wasn't just one of Walter's spy fantasies.
They must be terrified.
One thing you can say about the IRA, they are dogged.
How do you stay calm when you pull the trigger? I'm not calm.
I'm focused.
You'll get there.
You know, those spy novels are right about one thing.
The toll it all takes.
The toll it takes on living a normal life.
A family.
Is it worth it? I wouldn't know.
I don't have much by the way of family.
Good night, Annie.
Good night.
So, how's Jai working out? Honestly, I still have issues with the DCS installing him in my division without my permission.
The DCS doesn't need your permission.
He outranks you.
Just at work.
May I take your order? Hi.
I'll have the salmon, please.
I'll have the bone-in rib-eye.
Rare.
Thank you.
What was that look? When we first met and you were married, we'd have these illicit dinners, and you'd order that.
Then, later, during our courtship, we'd have these romantic dinners, and you'd order that.
And now, we're doing this.
Whatever this is.
And you order the same thing.
The one constant in our lives seems to be how you order steak.
Well, we work in a job where there's misdirection, double-talking, sometimes lies.
Here's a truth.
I want this to work between us.
Ignore that.
Continue to stare into my eyes.
Maybe you should answer it.
What if it's an invasion or something? No.
Then this phone would be ringing.
Come in.
Hey.
Hey.
I didn't hear you come in last night.
We missed you at game night.
Yeah.
I was I was tired.
Well, the girls were wondering where you were.
About the will? I don't think I can do it.
You can do it.
You just don't want to.
I don't need to be judged by you.
No, you just need to be nurtured, fed, entertained and supported, but only on your terms.
That's not true.
Clearly, you're either not ready or uninterested in taking care of anyone besides yourself.
I'm sorry I even asked.
You know, you can whale on that thing all day, but there's no beating the heavy bag.
Isn't that the point? Not really.
What's going on? My sister thinks I'm ungrateful because I won't sign her will.
I couldn't help a working mom and her son.
And apparently, I have a knack for losing hand-to-hand fights.
Despite my training.
Other than that, I'm fine.
Okay.
Kind of threw a lot at me there.
Let's see if we can't break it down, one piece at a time.
Come here and put your hands on my shoulders.
Yeah.
Now, right from where you're standing, try to push.
Okay.
Okay.
Come in closer.
Push again.
I love the instructors at the Farm, but the fight training they do there is basically useless.
Fights are frantic and ugly, and they are won at very close range.
Try the bag again.
This time, stand right next to it and weave away when it swings.
Good.
How do you know? I'm assuming it's good.
Ready? Go.
Show me again.
Show me again.
Okay.
Okay.
Get your hands up.
Again.
Uh-huh.
Come in here.
This goes through.
Oh.
And then here? The elbow.
No, no, no.
Watch.
Go.
Down.
Yes.
Okay.
Elbow comes all the way Oh.
Around like this.
And then Whoa! Come on.
It's dirty, right? Again.
Bring me in.
Bring me in tight.
Whoa.
That's the one.
Two pieces are in play.
Firstly, we've ID'd the body of the courier.
He's IRA and a former associate of Michael Cahill.
Secondly, we've had reports that Michael Cahill is on the move.
Cahill just left Baltimore on the MARC train heading to DC.
He'll be arriving at Union Station in less than an hour.
He has a reputation for not tolerating mistakes.
We assume he's coming in to clean up the courier's mess.
A joint task force of DHS and Ml6 will detain him there.
That's all for now.
What? Helen and Walter.
What are we missing? We've gone down this road.
The hard drive you took was corrupted by Walter before they left.
The cops have come up with nothing.
We found Helen's car parked in a long-term lot.
She's turned her cell phone off.
They're off the grid.
I still think Walter's tapes are the key.
Annie, in intelligence gathering, as in life, we all want to believe the roles we play are critical.
But this is bigger than you now.
What if this doesn't end with Cahill and the courier? What if Helen and Walter are still in danger? Are you pushing this because you think they're relevant to this case? Or is it because you feel bad that they've gone missing? Honestly? Both.
Where's the harm in letting her follow the thread? Follow protocol.
And don't get caught.
I can't control whether or not you've been placed in my division, but decisions about my officers are always mine, and always final.
I understand.
I'm not sure that you do.
But you will.
He's entering the station now.
We have a visual.
Go.
It's a go.
Copy that.
Mr.
Cahill? Please come with us.
Spruce Knob Cabins.
Hi.
I'd like to speak to one of your guests.
A mother and son that just checked in.
They said they weren' taking any calls.
I'm sure they did.
This would go quicker if you said something.
Seems like you've filled in most of the blanks already.
What are you doing in DC, Mr.
Cahill? I came to see an old friend.
I'm going to need a little more than that.
From where I'm sitting, there are just too many threads that lead back to you.
I've told my friends.
I've told my former enemies.
I am a peaceful man.
I've moved on.
And you were either lying or telling the truth.
And it's your job to sit here, judge me, and decide.
No.
The truth will emerge.
We can't hide who we truly are.
I had a feeling you'd find us.
You were right, Walter.
About everything.
The numbers stations, the dead drops, the spy ring.
We really need your tapes.
They could be important.
Listen to me, Walter.
Every day, the CIA is deluged with calls and satellite photos, transmissions, e- mails, walk-ins, chatter.
We put you in the wrong column.
We're sorry.
I'm sorry.
But this isn't a spy novel, this is real, and your tapes could make everything better.
I promise you'll be safe.
Enjoying the great outdoors? Does the CIA issue mosquito repellent? There's a bit of an echo.
This is the only place I get reception up here.
Fine.
Hit it.
Big Bertha's going to do her thing.
All you have to do is kick back and eat some s'mores.
Four, four, one, four, four, one, four, one Stu, you've been riding me all day about when we can start.
It's show time.
Yeah.
Go.
What's it like taking care of Walter? Hmm.
It's wonderful.
He's got a very active mind, and I I just try to be there.
When it comes to your family, you do whatever you have to do.
I mean, sometimes I think I'm being overly indulgent.
This time, it turned out he was onto something.
That's why we reached out to everybody.
Everybody? You know, the CIA, the British Embassy.
You contacted the British Embassy? Yeah, last week.
We spoke to their intelligence officers.
Stay here.
Auggie.
Auggie, are you there? Stop.
Auggie, are you there? Annie? How far did we drill down on James Elliot? He claimed Ml6 had no file on Helen and Walter, but Helen says they went over there to share their intel last week.
Maybe he didn't get the file.
He's on the case.
Reading the file would have been the first thing he did.
Plus, he's on the nicotine patch, and he said, "We're halfway there.
" We're 20 days into Lent.
Well, being a Catholic isn't a crime.
His file says he's Anglican.
I hear you, but that doesn't mean he's a double agent.
We need something concrete.
Here's something concrete.
He's tracking my phone.
Annie? Just get out of there.
Go.
He's here.
He's after Helen and Walter.
They're here.
Search the cabins.
There's a crawlspace under the cabin.
We could get to it from right here.
I had a feeling something like this would happen.
Go, go, go.
Go.
Go.
Go.
Come on, baby.
Be careful.
Be careful.
Walter's tapes were the key.
Everything fell into place.
It was a plan for a car bomb outside a British bank in DC.
And Elliot was a double for the IRA? Yes.
He set Cahill up.
He was the one who called him to DC.
Set the courier up as well.
Why? Helped build the case against Cahill, and built your trust for him at the same time.
Double agents have never been known for their morals.
Thanks.
I'll call you back.
What you said about being a spy and having a family Was that part of your cover, or did you mean it? That's what you want to know? Does that even matter now? It matters to me.
It was true.
It was the only true thing I told you.
Mr.
Cahill, I'm in the unfortunate position of having to apologize to you.
Intelligence gathering is not perfect.
We made a mistake.
You're free to go.
I came here looking for a new life, but it seems to me you can't ever escape the mistakes of your past.
So look forward.
It's all any of us can do.
So, tell me about Annie Walker.
She's smart.
Intuitive.
Well, the fact that Ben Mercer has gone underground means anything she can provide will be critical.
I want you to continue to get close to her.
How close? As close as you need to.
Joan isn't exactly happy about this situation.
You let me worry about Joan.
Walter, thanks again for all your help.
It ended like The Azzuri Matter.
Amateur helps the CIA, and he ends up shaken, but alive.
Alive and rewarded.
These headphones are for you.
Keep in touch.
Reference- grade Grados.
Only the best for you, kid.
Thank you for reaching out.
I know Walter appreciates everything you've done for him.
I do, too.
Thank you.
You're an amazing aunt.
The girls love you more than anything.
And I don't need a piece of paper to prove that you'd be there for them.
I know you would.
I signed it 20 minutes ago.
If anything happens, I'll be here.
When it comes to family, you do whatever you have to do.
You're sneaky.
I had to go through the whole speech.
It was good.
It was convincing.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine! Cereal is breakfast.
Popsicles are not breakfast.
Mine.
I'm not getting in the middle of that.
Oh.
Michael and I are doing this will thing, and I need you to sign.
Sign what? Just this document saying that you'll be the girls' guardian if something happens to both Michael and me.
Could I think about it? Well, think about what? It's a no-brainer.
Um, it's just that I'm late for work, and the Smithsonian is surprisingly strict.
Hold it right there, ma'am.
I'm Annie Walker.
I work here.
She's clear.
Annie? I've got to change perfumes.
It was the sound of your heels.
Very distinctive.
Give me a hand? Yeah.
Thanks.
Come on.
Mingus box set? Headphones? You're not quitting, are you? Don't get your hopes up.
The entire DPD is moving into a brand-new, state of the art, "Welcome to the 21st century ten years too late" facility.
Today? I didn't get the memo.
Well, that's because you weren't here three years ago when they actually did send out a memo saying that we were moving in a week.
Got to love bureaucracy.
My sister wants to make me her kids' guardian.
What's the CIA policy on that? Uh, "Don't ask, don't tell your family you're on a mission in Colombia.
" Nice, huh? Finally, a space with windows.
Or so I'm told.
Annie.
Just the person I was looking for.
I have an assignment for you.
We need you to debrief the walk-ins.
Sure.
What are walk-ins? People who come directly to our headquarters claiming to have intel.
We need you to debrief them in case any of it is actionable.
Parker in Security will set you up.
Walk-ins are nut-jobs, right? Crackpot city.
We'll bring in the walk-ins one at a time.
Debrief them, write a report.
Anything actionable, come and see me.
There's a red panic button under the desk.
Use it if you feel at all threatened, and the SPOs will handle it.
And here.
Pepper spray? Welcome to walk-in duty.
And what can the CIA do for you? In 1983, Castro and Reagan have a secret meeting in Cyprus, where they lay down plans for controlling the world's sugar supply.
I only use Sweet'N Low.
No cubes.
And don't even get me started on Stir Sticks.
Oh I know who killed Kennedy.
It's been well-documented that Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald.
Ted Kennedy.
Bless you.
I'm here on behalf of my son.
Have you heard of numbers stations? Short-wave radio transmissions, right? Walter told me that he decoded a message.
How? Numbers stations are essentially unbreakable.
He's studying Computer Science in college.
He used his computer to help decipher the message.
Walter said that the clue led him to a Mail Boxes Etc.
in Rockville, and he saw a man take a secret coded message out of a PO box.
A blue airmail envelope.
Could have just been the mail.
Look, I know this sounds crazy, but Walter claims that the man saw him.
And now, he's really scared.
What type of code was it? I I don't know.
Can you come out to the parking lot with me? This is my son, Walter.
The one in college? I told you he was smart.
Hi, Walter.
Are you a CIA operative? Yes.
Which of the four directorates are you in? That's classified.
Yeah, I figured you might say that.
What are you reading? It's a spy novel called The Parsifal Mosaic.
It's pretty much my favorite.
So, have you come to check into my numbers station? I'm going to try.
But I need the specs first.
The numbers station's still broadcasting new messages on this bandwidth.
You can listen to them.
Do you have any recordings of previous broadcasts? Walter didn't want to bring his tapes into Langley.
My son is very scared.
He isn't sleeping.
If this turns out to be nothing, that's good.
But peace of mind would mean a lot.
Can you please look into this for us? I'll see what I can do.
It was nice to meet you, Walter.
Keep those files accessible, Gary.
Jai Wilcox.
Morning, Joan.
It's a beautiful new Ops Center.
You should be proud.
I don't remember assigning anyone desks yet.
Especially not to someone who doesn't work in my division.
I do now.
Courtesy of the DCS.
So, the DCS decided my division needed a dose of CIA royalty.
Arthur didn't tell you about this? I'm surprised.
He's your husband.
What are you hoping to do here at the DPD, Jai? Consider me a utility infielder.
So, you have a mediocre arm and can bat.
23 I will support you in any way you need.
Welcome aboard, Jai.
Classified? You know you can trust me.
Thank you.
Auggie? What do you know about numbers stations? I haven't thought about them in years.
Neither has anyone else.
One of my walk-ins thinks he found one that's still active.
Do you think you or your team could look into it for me? Yeah, no problem.
Think you can look into this for me? Rookies do lunch runs, huh? Ah, the food court here runs its course after about six months.
Separate receipts, please.
We're all on government salaries.
Ah, sandwich runs.
I remember those halcyon days.
Jai Wilcox? It's been too long, my friend.
When did we become friends? Annie, meet Jai Wilcox.
My friend.
Hi, Annie.
Hi.
Jai is the embodiment of "The Man," and I mean that in a slightly pejorative way.
Yalie.
Works for Arthur Campbell.
And as if that weren't enough, his father is Henry Wilcox.
Like, the Henry Wilcox? The former Head of Clandestine Service? Definitely.
And let me just say that you are already making a name for yourself up on the seventh floor.
Which begs the question, "What is the seventh floor doing here on our floor?" I'm working here.
Special liaison, New Initiatives.
Joan's aware of this? She is.
She's thrilled.
Yeah, sounds like Joan.
To be thrilled about an interloper being installed in her division.
It's nice meeting you, Annie.
Nice to meet you.
Good-looking guy, huh? No.
Nice try.
Don't forget the pickles.
This long-distance dedication goes out to Stu.
So, they're still broadcasting? Squatters' rights.
They play these annoying songs over and over so nobody can steal the bandwidth.
Three, nine, seven, one, five, six, four, seven, five, six, six, four, These numbers aren't random.
Five, one, nine, two This is a complex cyclic permutation.
This is sophisticated encryption.
What could it mean? It means Annie's walk-in may have uncovered an active spy transmission.
- Hello? - I have a Helen Newman calling.
Put her through.
Hello? Annie? I think Walter was right.
We're being followed.
Helen, come back to Langley.
Come back? It was when we left Langley that we started being followed.
I need to protect Walter.
I should never have exposed him to this.
Helen? Helen? Helen? Annie.
Do you have a contact number for that woman? We think her son might be onto something.
I'm beginning to think that, too.
There has been no further contact from Helen Newman since her last call.
Police have put out a missing persons, but so far nothing.
The shortwave transmissions that Walter deciphered emanated from Belfast.
So, as a result, we've looped in our UK desk.
Branch? These broadcasts and Walter's account of the dead-drop synch up with recent movements by members of the Irish Republican Army.
The IRA? Really? Is this 1987? Despite the Belfast Agreement, the IRA have been actively recruiting, and perhaps planning new attacks.
Possibly here on American soil.
We've been working the back channels with Ml6, and they feel that the signals were intended for a Michael Cahill.
Cahill is a former IRA captain who had a hand in the Bishopsgate bombings of 1993, and the attempt on Vauxhall Cross in '94.
Timing suggests something imminent.
Both those attacks occurred during Lent.
We're now 20 days in.
Cahill was sent to prison in '95, and was released six months ago.
Supposedly a changed man, he decided to move to America to be free of the politics of his former life.
How did we give this guy a visa? Can you enhance the image of his passport, please? That's an ICE issue.
We need to focus on what's important here.
Auggie and the tech division will continue to monitor the numbers station broadcasts.
UK desk will interface with Ml6 to track Cahill.
Annie Walker? We'll be sending you to Ms.
Newman's apartment in Bethesda to see if you can find her, the son, or any recordings of the numbers station.
Here's your protocol.
You'll meet your MI6 liaison at 5:00.
Interactions with foreign operatives need to be authenticated.
You didn't think we were sending you alone, did you? No.
Of course not.
That doesn't look like it belongs in the new DPD.
That doesn't even look like it belongs in the old DPD.
I assume you're talking about the machine and not my vest.
We pulled it out of the CIA museum downstairs.
It was used in the '60s to decipher Russian spy code during the Cold War.
Whoever's running this numbers station is pretty sharp.
Type the word "nuclear" into an e- mail, and the NSA is all over it.
But this spy has gone analog in a digital world.
Aren't there computers that can handle this sort of thing? Yeah.
And they are cranking away on the most sophisticated modern codes as we speak.
But Big Bertha here could come in very handy if our spy is using a more archaic sequencing.
Good luck.
No, we don't need luck.
We need Walter's tapes.
Gentlemen, we have a long, long history with the DCS, so to speak.
Arthur? A moment, please? Joan.
I'd like to introduce you to Teppo Koivu and Reijo Numenin of the Finnish Intelligence Service.
Joan Campbell, head of the DPD.
Pleasure.
Arthur, may I have a word? I was in a meeting.
Finnish Intelligence? Are you serious? Do they even have spies? Did I miss couples therapy? Why is Jai Wilcox now a member of my staff? I would have thought you'd want somebody of his caliber at the DPD.
You know, it's bad enough you put Annie in the field to draw out Ben Mercer.
But now, you have someone spying on her? No, it's not That's not it at all.
Then he's spying on me? Oh, so, this is couples therapy.
Joan, with Conrad gone, Jai is a key part of our transparency initiative.
Please, trust me.
Next time, a little heads up would be great.
Transparency between us would be nice, too.
Go to the market, and follow your protocol exactly.
If it tells you to wear a polka dot bikini, wear a polka dot bikini.
And good luck.
Are you interested in honey? These days, it's about all I eat.
I could recommend a good brand.
Could you write it down? My memory's not quite what it used to be.
I think we're good.
I should think so.
Nice job.
James Elliot.
A real pleasure.
I'm Annie.
Can you believe the script in that protocol? They're always so pedestrian and food-related, right? Actually, it's the first one I've ever done.
Oh, well, there's the difference between CIA and Ml6.
You're allowed at your age and experience out into the field.
Ml6 is a lovely outfit, but it's ten years before you're even allowed to stretch your legs outside Vauxhall Cross.
Now, this dinosaur is outrageous.
It's encryption through obsolescence.
By the time the CIA has a technology vetted, it's already five years old.
It may not look cool, but it's secure.
Or, maybe British Intelligence isn't quite as ponderous as I thought.
Total encryption.
Less than four ounces.
Now you're just showing off.
Eyes on the road, love.
Okay.
So, what's the plan? Yuppie couple visiting friends? I love it.
Economical, and I don't need to scale any fire escapes.
Could you hold the door? Oh.
Sure.
Honey, we forgot the chardonnay.
CISA.
Italian.
Top of the line.
Wafer tumblers top and bottom.
Thanks.
There's a pop quiz later.
Bring your number two pencil and an apple for the teacher.
It's today's mail.
Helen and Walter didn't come back here.
Student loan, orthodontist bill, paycheck from Bethesda Nursing Service She really is a working mom.
Walter looks just like his dad.
Le Carré, Graham Greene.
He has a thing for old spy novels.
Yeah, well, I respect that.
Classic spy novels weren't about flash and gadgets.
They were more about the The human element.
The life.
So that's what this job is? Wearing a trench coat and smoking cigarettes near a lamppost? Trench coats, yes.
Cigarettes, no.
I'm on the patch.
Congrats.
I'm halfway there.
Whoa.
This is a lot of equipment for a nurse's salary.
Cataloged by date, time, shortwave channel.
He's meticulous.
Tapes end last week.
Walter must have taken the recordings of the numbers stations with him.
You check the boxes.
I'm going to survey the rest of the apartment.
Elliot.
Nothing of interest in the kitchen, by the way.
No ID.
There's a back exit through the kitchen.
Come on.
Wait a minute.
Bethesda Police scanner has alerted all units.
Shots fired at the address of Helen Newman.
Average response time for Bethesda PD is, what, six minutes? Why couldn't it have been in DC? Their cops are so much slower.
Your suit still looks great, love.
Hey, what's going on? We heard a gunshot.
Hey, stop.
A few questions, first.
McElroy.
Lieutenant wants you upstairs to look at the body.
I'll handle these two.
So, according to your statement, you saw nothing, heard nothing, and were just heading back to Langley.
Correct? Correct.
Have a nice evening.
Bloody mess back there.
Helen was right.
Someone was really after them.
It wasn't just one of Walter's spy fantasies.
They must be terrified.
One thing you can say about the IRA, they are dogged.
How do you stay calm when you pull the trigger? I'm not calm.
I'm focused.
You'll get there.
You know, those spy novels are right about one thing.
The toll it all takes.
The toll it takes on living a normal life.
A family.
Is it worth it? I wouldn't know.
I don't have much by the way of family.
Good night, Annie.
Good night.
So, how's Jai working out? Honestly, I still have issues with the DCS installing him in my division without my permission.
The DCS doesn't need your permission.
He outranks you.
Just at work.
May I take your order? Hi.
I'll have the salmon, please.
I'll have the bone-in rib-eye.
Rare.
Thank you.
What was that look? When we first met and you were married, we'd have these illicit dinners, and you'd order that.
Then, later, during our courtship, we'd have these romantic dinners, and you'd order that.
And now, we're doing this.
Whatever this is.
And you order the same thing.
The one constant in our lives seems to be how you order steak.
Well, we work in a job where there's misdirection, double-talking, sometimes lies.
Here's a truth.
I want this to work between us.
Ignore that.
Continue to stare into my eyes.
Maybe you should answer it.
What if it's an invasion or something? No.
Then this phone would be ringing.
Come in.
Hey.
Hey.
I didn't hear you come in last night.
We missed you at game night.
Yeah.
I was I was tired.
Well, the girls were wondering where you were.
About the will? I don't think I can do it.
You can do it.
You just don't want to.
I don't need to be judged by you.
No, you just need to be nurtured, fed, entertained and supported, but only on your terms.
That's not true.
Clearly, you're either not ready or uninterested in taking care of anyone besides yourself.
I'm sorry I even asked.
You know, you can whale on that thing all day, but there's no beating the heavy bag.
Isn't that the point? Not really.
What's going on? My sister thinks I'm ungrateful because I won't sign her will.
I couldn't help a working mom and her son.
And apparently, I have a knack for losing hand-to-hand fights.
Despite my training.
Other than that, I'm fine.
Okay.
Kind of threw a lot at me there.
Let's see if we can't break it down, one piece at a time.
Come here and put your hands on my shoulders.
Yeah.
Now, right from where you're standing, try to push.
Okay.
Okay.
Come in closer.
Push again.
I love the instructors at the Farm, but the fight training they do there is basically useless.
Fights are frantic and ugly, and they are won at very close range.
Try the bag again.
This time, stand right next to it and weave away when it swings.
Good.
How do you know? I'm assuming it's good.
Ready? Go.
Show me again.
Show me again.
Okay.
Okay.
Get your hands up.
Again.
Uh-huh.
Come in here.
This goes through.
Oh.
And then here? The elbow.
No, no, no.
Watch.
Go.
Down.
Yes.
Okay.
Elbow comes all the way Oh.
Around like this.
And then Whoa! Come on.
It's dirty, right? Again.
Bring me in.
Bring me in tight.
Whoa.
That's the one.
Two pieces are in play.
Firstly, we've ID'd the body of the courier.
He's IRA and a former associate of Michael Cahill.
Secondly, we've had reports that Michael Cahill is on the move.
Cahill just left Baltimore on the MARC train heading to DC.
He'll be arriving at Union Station in less than an hour.
He has a reputation for not tolerating mistakes.
We assume he's coming in to clean up the courier's mess.
A joint task force of DHS and Ml6 will detain him there.
That's all for now.
What? Helen and Walter.
What are we missing? We've gone down this road.
The hard drive you took was corrupted by Walter before they left.
The cops have come up with nothing.
We found Helen's car parked in a long-term lot.
She's turned her cell phone off.
They're off the grid.
I still think Walter's tapes are the key.
Annie, in intelligence gathering, as in life, we all want to believe the roles we play are critical.
But this is bigger than you now.
What if this doesn't end with Cahill and the courier? What if Helen and Walter are still in danger? Are you pushing this because you think they're relevant to this case? Or is it because you feel bad that they've gone missing? Honestly? Both.
Where's the harm in letting her follow the thread? Follow protocol.
And don't get caught.
I can't control whether or not you've been placed in my division, but decisions about my officers are always mine, and always final.
I understand.
I'm not sure that you do.
But you will.
He's entering the station now.
We have a visual.
Go.
It's a go.
Copy that.
Mr.
Cahill? Please come with us.
Spruce Knob Cabins.
Hi.
I'd like to speak to one of your guests.
A mother and son that just checked in.
They said they weren' taking any calls.
I'm sure they did.
This would go quicker if you said something.
Seems like you've filled in most of the blanks already.
What are you doing in DC, Mr.
Cahill? I came to see an old friend.
I'm going to need a little more than that.
From where I'm sitting, there are just too many threads that lead back to you.
I've told my friends.
I've told my former enemies.
I am a peaceful man.
I've moved on.
And you were either lying or telling the truth.
And it's your job to sit here, judge me, and decide.
No.
The truth will emerge.
We can't hide who we truly are.
I had a feeling you'd find us.
You were right, Walter.
About everything.
The numbers stations, the dead drops, the spy ring.
We really need your tapes.
They could be important.
Listen to me, Walter.
Every day, the CIA is deluged with calls and satellite photos, transmissions, e- mails, walk-ins, chatter.
We put you in the wrong column.
We're sorry.
I'm sorry.
But this isn't a spy novel, this is real, and your tapes could make everything better.
I promise you'll be safe.
Enjoying the great outdoors? Does the CIA issue mosquito repellent? There's a bit of an echo.
This is the only place I get reception up here.
Fine.
Hit it.
Big Bertha's going to do her thing.
All you have to do is kick back and eat some s'mores.
Four, four, one, four, four, one, four, one Stu, you've been riding me all day about when we can start.
It's show time.
Yeah.
Go.
What's it like taking care of Walter? Hmm.
It's wonderful.
He's got a very active mind, and I I just try to be there.
When it comes to your family, you do whatever you have to do.
I mean, sometimes I think I'm being overly indulgent.
This time, it turned out he was onto something.
That's why we reached out to everybody.
Everybody? You know, the CIA, the British Embassy.
You contacted the British Embassy? Yeah, last week.
We spoke to their intelligence officers.
Stay here.
Auggie.
Auggie, are you there? Stop.
Auggie, are you there? Annie? How far did we drill down on James Elliot? He claimed Ml6 had no file on Helen and Walter, but Helen says they went over there to share their intel last week.
Maybe he didn't get the file.
He's on the case.
Reading the file would have been the first thing he did.
Plus, he's on the nicotine patch, and he said, "We're halfway there.
" We're 20 days into Lent.
Well, being a Catholic isn't a crime.
His file says he's Anglican.
I hear you, but that doesn't mean he's a double agent.
We need something concrete.
Here's something concrete.
He's tracking my phone.
Annie? Just get out of there.
Go.
He's here.
He's after Helen and Walter.
They're here.
Search the cabins.
There's a crawlspace under the cabin.
We could get to it from right here.
I had a feeling something like this would happen.
Go, go, go.
Go.
Go.
Go.
Come on, baby.
Be careful.
Be careful.
Walter's tapes were the key.
Everything fell into place.
It was a plan for a car bomb outside a British bank in DC.
And Elliot was a double for the IRA? Yes.
He set Cahill up.
He was the one who called him to DC.
Set the courier up as well.
Why? Helped build the case against Cahill, and built your trust for him at the same time.
Double agents have never been known for their morals.
Thanks.
I'll call you back.
What you said about being a spy and having a family Was that part of your cover, or did you mean it? That's what you want to know? Does that even matter now? It matters to me.
It was true.
It was the only true thing I told you.
Mr.
Cahill, I'm in the unfortunate position of having to apologize to you.
Intelligence gathering is not perfect.
We made a mistake.
You're free to go.
I came here looking for a new life, but it seems to me you can't ever escape the mistakes of your past.
So look forward.
It's all any of us can do.
So, tell me about Annie Walker.
She's smart.
Intuitive.
Well, the fact that Ben Mercer has gone underground means anything she can provide will be critical.
I want you to continue to get close to her.
How close? As close as you need to.
Joan isn't exactly happy about this situation.
You let me worry about Joan.
Walter, thanks again for all your help.
It ended like The Azzuri Matter.
Amateur helps the CIA, and he ends up shaken, but alive.
Alive and rewarded.
These headphones are for you.
Keep in touch.
Reference- grade Grados.
Only the best for you, kid.
Thank you for reaching out.
I know Walter appreciates everything you've done for him.
I do, too.
Thank you.
You're an amazing aunt.
The girls love you more than anything.
And I don't need a piece of paper to prove that you'd be there for them.
I know you would.
I signed it 20 minutes ago.
If anything happens, I'll be here.
When it comes to family, you do whatever you have to do.
You're sneaky.
I had to go through the whole speech.
It was good.
It was convincing.