The Company You Keep (2023) s01e06 Episode Script

1
Previously on "The Company You Keep"
Claire Fox is here,
and she wants a word.
Simon?
Yeah, he started calling last week.
The thing is, I love you.
♪
- Oh, God.
- There's this little CIA spook.
She's smart, tenacious,
a real caped crusader.
Hey, Daphne Finch is coming for you.
Why are you telling me this?
Because I love you too.
Say something.
Em, just say something.
[TENSE MUSIC]
You lied to me.
I never lied to you. I I never lied.
I just I didn't tell you
the whole truth.
That's the same thing, Charlie.
Was any of it real?
Everything that you and I
have felt has been real.
Come on, Em. You know that.
I don't know anything anymore.
You're a criminal.
It's not like that. Listen.
My family and I, we target
people who deserve it.
And I wanted to get out.
I I have tried to get out.
But Daphne found us. And she's put
Just stop. You're not victims, Charlie.
You're working for people
who do horrible things.
It's as black and white as it gets.
Nothing is black and white.
You of all people should understand that
- better than anyone.
- What does that even mean?
Daphne has got dirt on your family.
And it's bad enough,
she thinks she can use it.
Why?
What's her endgame? What is she hiding?
Look, all I know is that
she's Maguire's daughter
and that she and Connor are in a battle
to run the organization.
Okay. What else?
Why is she meeting with rivals?
Why is she dumping drugs on the cheap?
What is her big plan?
I don't know.
Then you're of no use to me.
♪
Hey, whoa, whoa.
I I put my family at risk
telling you that she is targeting yours.
Don't worry.
The agency doesn't care
about some small-time criminals.
♪
But if you happen to be
with Daphne Finch
when we take her down, that is on you.
♪
[SCOFFS]
[NOTIFICATION CHIMES]
♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Well, well, that was fast.
I feel so special.
- Don't.
- Oh, come on.
At least we don't have to whisper
so barflies don't eavesdrop.
You having fun?
I'm not not having fun.
What do you want?
It turns out, that
little black book you stole
is a veritable gold mine
of useful tidbits.
Okay.
This Erin Blenner painting
was recently purchased
by a man named Grigori Abramov.
I want it.
I can't imagine this is
just about some painting.
What are you really going after?
I am looking to get into
a new line of business.
And Grigori Abramov is the key.
It says this thing sold for over
$2 million on the open market.
How about I get it for you at 3?
I dictate the terms.
- I'm not negotiating.
- Are you forgetting
Hey, if you want to find somebody else
to fund your little battle
for power with Connor,
you go right ahead.
Otherwise, why don't you start
treating us with a little respect?
♪
I don't know what's going on with you.
♪
But I don't hate this.
[SIGHS]
♪
$3 million.
♪
Hey.
Was it a good family meeting
or a bad family meeting?
Top shelf family meeting.
Charlie, you okay?
I'm not really sure where to start.
Beginning's as good a place as any, son.
Emma is a CIA officer.
Please tell me you're kidding.
No, I am not.
[TENSE MUSIC]
So that's why you broke up with her.
That's why you've been acting weird.
That's not even the worst part.
How is that not the worst part?
Because Emma works for a group
that focuses on
transnational organized crime.
She has been investigating
Daphne and the Maguire syndicate.
Okay, that's worse.
Is she coming after us?
No.
But she did warn me that
if we're in the cross-hairs
when she makes a move on
Daphne, we're going down too.
CIA.
- Yeah, I know.
- CIA.
Pop, I know.
Look, we can't just
pull up stakes with Daphne,
all right, not while Connor
is still out there.
No, we we gotta do
this next job for her.
She wants us to lift some painting
from a Russian oligarch,
Grigori Abramov.
In other words, we can't stay
out of the CIA's crosshairs.
No.
Do you really think that
Emma would just burn us?
♪
I
♪
Whatever she felt for me,
for us,
that's over.
Uh, she made that crystal clear.
♪
Honey?
♪
What is it?
[SIGHS]
You were right
♪
About Charlie.
Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.
[CRYING]
♪
One of these days,
we're gonna have a long talk
about your taste in women.
Okay, so Abramov has a place
at the Lovett in Hudson Yards.
The building manager there has a
You're really gonna pretend
like we don't already have
the perfect in
in the New York art scene?
No.
Charlie, the answer's no.
He's been calling for weeks, Bird.
He's he's practically primed himself
like a gift wrapped for us.
I can't believe
you're seriously suggesting
bringing Simon back
into my life for some job.
This is not just some job.
What better way to get out
from underneath Daphne
than to get back at an ex
at the same time?
I'm pretty sure the shrinks
call that projection.
[SIGHS]
You know, once upon a time,
you were an art history major
living in New York
with your trendy, art-dealing boyfriend,
rubbing elbows with rich collectors.
You've got a built-in cover, Bird.
And it is real.
You and I, we both know
Simon is the most efficient way
to that painting.
It's not the logic
that I'm struggling with here, Charlie.
Look, I'm asking you to play a part,
no different than than any
other job that we've done.
No, you're asking me to step into a life
I left behind
with a man who broke my heart.
♪
Once an addict, always in addict.
Even they'll tell you that.
Why would you talk
your sister into this?
I didn't talk her into anything.
Look, she knows Simon is the fastest way
to that painting.
Fastest, yes, best, no.
You don't know how bad it got.
You weren't there when he left.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I was in a Nicaraguan jail at the time.
Forgive me.
Charlie, I would never downplay
what you did for this family.
I only meant, you weren't there.
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
Hi.
Hi.
- Thank you.
- Thanks.
[SIGHS]
I can't believe it's been, what
10 years.
Until you started calling,
I had no idea whether
you were alive or dead.
Yeah, a couple of times,
I wasn't sure, either.
I wasn't right back then.
I was a
I am an addict.
And I know I can't do
anything to take that back.
But I've changed, Bird.
I swear to you.
I wouldn't have called you if I hadn't.
[SIGHS]
I am so sorry
for leaving you
to raise our daughter alone.
I wasn't alone.
I had my family.
And I am so grateful to them for that.
Can I ask about her? I mean, how is she?
That's not what this is.
That's not why I called you.
Can you get close to a man
named Grigori Abramov?
I sold him a Selden sculpture
a few years ago.
I mean, I can try.
But Bird, I mean,
do I even want to know?
Probably not.
I'll do anything that you want.
All I ask is that you at least consider
the possibility that I've changed.
♪
[DOOR CREAKING]
[SIGHS]
- [NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
-
Only a matter of time before
she finds her way down there.
And you know what happens next:
the talk.
I am not ready for the talk.
When she finds out what we do,
her innocence is gone.
Oh, come on. When you were her age,
not only were you down in the basement,
you were out in the alley
sneaking menthols.
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
[SIGHS]
So Simon has secured invites for himself
and Birdie to Abramov's monthly salon.
Salon?
Who is this guy, Louis XIV?
Yeah, he wishes.
It takes place
at his 35th floor penthouse,
which screams asset laundering
and conspicuous consumption.
So we should expect heavy security.
Birdie is gonna be looking
for a point of entry
to lift the painting from the inside.
Which puts you in the van,
if you feel like you can handle it.
I was built for that.
You're gonna need a dress, sweetie.
Yep.
Simon and I used to do these
type of parties all the time.
♪
Are you sure you're up for this?
What do you mean?
He was always your blind spot.
Oh, not this time.
♪
You got what they want ♪
You got what they need ♪
So sit back, relax, and communicate ♪
♪
You look terrific.
♪
Well.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
Ah. Ma'am.
♪
Ah, there he is, Grigori.
My friend. You made it.
Hey, listen, any sales you make tonight,
you kick over a hefty finder's fee, eh?
[LAUGHING]
Grigori, let me introduce you to my
Birdie.
This is uh, this is Birdie.
- Hmm.
- Birdie.
I can't wait to see
that Selden that he sold you.
Yeah. Yeah, please.
Make some friends. Make some memories.
- Make some mistakes.
- [LAUGHING]
Or if you're like me, all three at once.
- I like him.
- He's not kidding.
[LAUGHTER]
Thank you. I'll see you later.
Okay.
Grigori, we need you.
Okay.
- Hey, Simon.
- Hey.
[LAUGHS]
♪
[BEEPING]
Here we go.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
Hearing you loud and clear,
getting schematics of the room
as we speak.
Any sign of that painting?
No sign of the Blenner so far.
♪
That's weird.
There's no laser detectors
on any of his art.
How's the security?
Surprisingly little.
Wow, this guy's cocky.
♪
What'd Charlie do now?
Not Charlie.
You.
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
How did you get these?
Is that Claire Fox?
♪
Your mother and I were in a rough patch
before we all moved out here.
♪
Claire and I had an affair
for a couple of months.
I came clean to your mother.
♪
I tried to end things with Claire.
I didn't know that, by that point,
she had some ex-spy
tailing us, taking photos.
Needless to say,
when she pressed me to support
a government contract
for one of her clients,
I had no choice.
[SIGHS]
Dad.
It's a black mark of my Senate record.
I made one mistake a very long time ago.
Now it could not only ruin
your brother's career but
It's not your fault. It's mine.
Why would someone send you these?
♪
You don't really work
in logistics, do you, Emma?
♪
How long have you been sober?
Two years, three weeks, and one day.
Yeah, about eight years
too late, though.
That's when you started calling me, huh?
At your two-year anniversary.
I told you, I've changed.
[SINGING OPERA]
♪
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
Doesn't make sense to me.
- Microwaves.
- A hatchback.
I still think
Bird, he's playing you.
All right? Just play the part.
Excuse me.
Are we still talking about me?
I know what I'm doing.
Bird. [EARPIECE BEEPS]
♪
Birdie.
[BEEPING]
Oh, you want something done
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
Kick, rattle, and shake
like a rat in a cage ♪
Bang bang on the door,
time to come out and play ♪
If you can't keep up ♪
It's the start of end ♪
3-2-1, let the games begin ♪
Hold onto your tongue,
do whatever it takes ♪
Stare into the sun
and moves on the stage ♪
If you can't keep up,
it's the start of the end ♪
3-2-1, let the games begin ♪
♪
Yeah. [SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Let the games begin ♪
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
I know you don't like post-modern,
but I instantly thought of you.
At least I thought of how happy
it would make both of us, yes?
The Blenner painting is ready
for its new home.
I will book the Vespertine
for the exchange.
What?
Yeah, the usual time.
Sunday night at 10:00. Bye.
[PHONE BEEPS]
♪
There you are.
Enjoying the view?
[LAUGHING]
♪
Birdie, do you hear me? I need help.
♪
There's the Blenner.
♪
Hi.
Is everything okay, or are you
just trying to give me the slip?
Do you know he doesn't even
think of this as a painting?
[SOFT MUSIC]
Blenner thinks of this
as a as a stage.
And then he incorporates red
in his work for the first time.
And it's like an invitation to us
to consider evolving
out of black and white.
I missed hearing you talk about art.
♪
Yeah, I miss talking about it.
And I can't wait to see how
you feel about the real one.
What do you mean, the real one?
It's counterfeit.
Look at the way
the light reflects off of it.
60-year-old ink would absorb more light.
♪
But I know that Abramov
bought the real Blenner
three months ago.
Oh, yeah, he may own it,
but that's not it.
It's a high-quality fake, to be sure.
That probably cost him 20K.
But that's definitely not
the Selden I sold him.
I mean, it is, but it isn't.
Why would someone go to all the expense
of acquiring original art
just to make and display the fakes?
♪
And where are the real ones?
♪
Hey, Charlie.
Charlie, where are you?
Balcony. Balcony, now.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Hello, again.
Hello, hello.
I trust you're enjoying yourself.
Oh, very much so.
Although, I did just hear
somebody inside say
they're out of vodka, so
Out of vodka
That's not possible.
[SNAPPING]
♪
What are you doing?
You said there was no security,
so I thought I'd just drop in
and grab the Blenner myself.
There's no security
because the painting's fake.
What? Abramov said something
about Vespertine Sunday.
Vespertine? That's a small art gallery
at the Felton Freeport.
It's a tax haven.
It's probably where
he keeps his real art.
I have a locker there myself.
♪
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
You got my message.
Two single malts, neat.
I think you're gonna want one.
♪
Did you know about Daddy Dearest?
Or were you just as surprised as I was?
It's always the ones you least expect.
I'm not sure what's worse,
though, the secret affair
or the fact that the great Senator Hill
compromised himself politically for it.
[TENSE MUSIC]
I'm just glad to know
I'm not the only one
with daddy issues.
Here you are, ladies.
♪
I guess we both could use that drink.
♪
How did you find out?
See, what's confusing for me
is you work hard
to get out of a poor
Philly neighborhood,
earn a full ride to Penn
just so you can help
a bunch of criminals
scale up their operation.
For what, Daddy's love?
Come on.
You're not a gangster.
You're nothing like your father.
People like you and your family
wrap themselves in this veil
of moral authority,
pretending to be the good guys.
But at the end of the day,
cops, politicians, CIA,
you're criminals just like me,
willing to blur the lines of
morality whenever it suits you.
I'm just glad I've got
the photos now to prove it.
What do you want?
Back off.
♪
If the Feds stay on me,
if I feel any hint of your
investigation continuing,
I will expose your family
for the frauds you really are.
♪
You see, Emma,
unlike you,
I know exactly who I am.
And you're right.
I am not my father.
But I am my father's daughter.
And you haven't even begun
to see what I'm capable of.
♪
Thanks for the drink.
♪
[SIGHS]
♪
Oh, sorry.
- Thank you.
- All right, Mom.
We gotta go back
to a "no food and drink" rule
- in the basement.
- I invented that rule, Birdie.
Unbelievable.
These rich people, they just keep
all this incredible art
locked away in the dark,
never seen by anyone.
Multimillion-dollar business deals,
all tax free.
Late stage capitalism at its finest.
That place must be like Fort Knox, huh?
Yeah, I mean, it's basically
like a safety deposit box
on steroids, right?
Rotating security,
strict temperature controls.
Only members are allowed
inside with the key card.
♪
Where'd you get that?
What? He was so distracted by you.
Okay, so we slip in while
the deal is taking place.
Create a diversion.
A basic thirsty man shuffle.
With a low-ball switch.
Okay, but if we scan in with that
and it's Simon's name
on the log during the heist
Who cares about Simon?
[PHONE BUZZING]
ALL: Don't answer that.
Yeah?
We need to talk about the Blenner.
I have new Intel. Same spot?
Yep.
I got it. I'll be back.
♪
So what's your Intel?
They are closing the Freeport tomorrow
two hours before the exchange.
Clearly, Abramov's guest
wants to remain a secret.
So if nobody can get in
or out during that time,
I don't think that my key card
will be of much help.
I'm guessing Charlie lifted
this off me at the penthouse.
So you're trying to stop us.
I let you down before.
I'm not gonna do it again.
You want to help?
[TENSE MUSIC]
[DING]
[BEEPING]
♪
Hey, guys.
♪
Mr. Norris, new piece?
Any paperwork you need?
Oh, hey, Regina.
No, I'm just holding on to a
client's sculpture for a home reno.
I'll have it out of here tomorrow.
Lovely.
[BUZZER BLARING]
♪
[BEEPING]
Come on, man.
If I get one more undelivered,
I'm fired.
I'm fired.
I tell you guys all the time,
no deliveries after 6:00.
Hey, Richard, come on, man.
That's only five minutes.
What if it was your job?
Last time.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[BEEPING]
Evening, Mr. Abramov,
pleased to see you again.
Always a pleasure.
Thank you for staying late.
Of course.
I have your articles of provenance ready
for Blenner's "A Scarlet Introduction."
Regina, your service,
like your tailoring,
remains impeccable.
♪
So that's the doodle, huh?
Yeah, original Erin Blenner.
Market value $2 million.
I will never understand you art types.
Mr. Willford, as requested,
we are keeping your piece
enclosed for safety.
I'll now finalize the paperwork
for the transfer.
♪
Hey, you trust Simon to bring
us the painting after we do this?
You don't think
he's just gonna disappear
in the middle of the night again?
That was different, and you know it.
And he's serious
about wanting to reconcile.
So, yes, I do trust him
to bring the painting back.
♪
All right.
10 seconds till the EMP zaps
the security system.
♪
Here we go.
3, 2, 1.
[WHIRRING] [BEEPING]
System reboot. Five minutes.
Get eyes on the hall until it's back up.
I'll check the vault.
♪
Thank you, Willford.
And that's that.
Your new pieces will now
be taken to your units.
All right, it's showtime.
♪
Pleasure doing business.
- [ALARM BLARING]
- Fire detected.
- 60 seconds.
- We need to go.
Come on. No, no, no.
The system is rigged
to suppress all oxygen in the Freeport.
Anyone still inside will suffocate.
[ALARM BLARING]
Fire suppression engaged.
[KURT VILE'S "RUN RUN RUN"]
♪
Seasick Sarah had a golden nose ♪
Hobnail boots wrapped around her toe ♪
When she turned blue,
all the angels screamed ♪
They didn't know,
they couldn't make the scene ♪
They gotta run, run, run, run, run ♪
Take a drag or two ♪
♪
Run, run, run ♪
All right. We're on schedule.
Four minutes until
the system's back online.
Copy that.
♪
Tell you whatcha do ♪
♪
Swapping the real Blenner with our fake.
♪
All right, let's see
what $2 million gets you.
♪
There's nothing in here.
It's an address.
♪
Here goes nothing.
Time to move.
♪
[SIREN WAILING]
♪
Marguerita Passion,
I had to get her fixed ♪
She wasn't well,
she was getting sick ♪
There's no fire here.
Went to sell her soul ♪
She wasn't high ♪
Didn't know, thinks she could buy it ♪
She gotta run, run, run, run, run ♪
Take a drag or two ♪
♪
Run, run, run, run, run ♪
Gypsy death and you ♪
♪
When did you last go to a museum?
- Eh
- Okay.
- I rest my case.
- Apologies, gentlemen.
It seems a coffee pot decided
to have a meltdown.
Everything's now in order
if you'd like to come back inside
while we transfer your new
pieces into your lockers.
Thank you.
I think we can do this now.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]
♪
Nothing shady about a deal
at a fancy storage facility
in the middle of the night.
You are gonna love me.
Who's that?
Grigori Abramov.
I went back to my Russian asset
to shake him down for some fresh Intel.
It seems like
the Russian cartel arranged
a sit-down with Daphne
and Abramov twice.
And she left both meetings pissed.
He has something that she wants.
What is it?
That's why I followed him to find out.
Good work.
This guy right here is Brad Willford.
He works for American Armory.
They manufacture military-grade weapons.
He makes 100K,
but he owns his place in Great Falls
and has a bungalow in Belize.
It sounds like someone's got
a side hustle with the Russian.
Daphne wants in on the gun trade.
A lot of agencies are gonna be
very interested in this.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
This is great.
♪
How'd it go at the Freeport?
Yeah, none the wiser.
Is this the real one?
Birdie.
[SIGHS]
Yeah.
Yeah, it's real.
Okay.
Um, why did you leave the way you did?
You were never that guy.
Maybe you should ask
your father about that.
Bird?
Help me out with this.
- Yeah, sure, I'll just, uh
- Yeah.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
Hey, Bird.
♪
[STOMPING ON STAIRS]
God, she's beautiful.
Smart too.
Hey, how long you been signing?
Oh, uh, I've just been
taking classes online.
I'm clearly not fluent,
but I'm working on it.
Uh, just tell Birdie bye.
Sure you're gonna see her again.
So tell her yourself.
♪
Right.
♪
[DOOR CLOSES]
[SIGHS]
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
♪
[SIGHS]
[SNIFFLING]
How's it going?
Huh.
I'm trying, Dad.
I really am.
If I do my job,
David's campaign, your legacy,
everything this family's
worked for is destroyed.
But if I back off, the bad guys win.
You've always been clear-eyed.
Even as a little girl,
things were either
good or bad, black or white.
That's why you would have made
a terrible politician.
In politics,
there is no black and white,
just gray.
So in my experience,
there is another answer.
You just haven't found it yet.
♪
[SIGHS]
Guns.
Yeah.
That's classic Daphne.
Just when you think she's the worst,
she outdoes herself.
I mean, if the Feds find out
about this one,
they're definitely
taking us down with her.
♪
Speaking of Feds.
♪
Hey.
Hey.
I thought you didn't want
to see me again.
How was Delaware?
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
[SCOFFS]
Look. I'm not here to arrest you.
I just want to talk.
And what are we talking about?
You and Daphne.
♪
What about her?
Help me take her down.
♪
Now you want me to be a criminal.
♪
What what happened to
"as black and white as it gets"?
♪
Why should I help you with this?
Because like it or not,
we need each other.
♪
If you come work for me as my asset,
I'll protect your family while
you help me protect mine.
♪
Yeah, okay.
But Daphne's gotten into
some pretty heavy stuff.
So if I do this for you,
you're not gonna like me very much.
Well, I kind of don't like you now,
so I guess there's nothing to lose.
♪
The painting is, uh,
much smaller than I imagined.
The painting is in the truck.
That is the location of $2 million worth
of unregistered firearms,
plus the contact information
for Brad Willford,
who supplied them.
Dealing drugs, dealing arms,
that is an ambitious new line of work.
Oh, Charlie, you shouldn't have.
♪
I thought
Abramov was the key, but you
You just opened the damn door.
You know, I couldn't stop thinking,
all these masterpieces
just locked away in the dark
♪
Not being viewed the way
they really deserve to be seen.
♪
You know I'm capable of so much more.
And I know what you want.
♪
Do you?
You want the Maguire throne.
I help you get it,
you and I are truly square.
♪
Let me show you what I can really do.