Covert Affairs s02e15 Episode Script

Katia? Put your coat on now.
No.
Chloe, this is so not funny.
Hey! I came to return this.
I've got my own Calphalon now.
What's up? The box? Michael sent it from California.
Candy.
Exactly.
How much have they eaten? Okay, my day is ballet class, piano lessons, breakfast, lunch, and a fresh, farm-to-table dinner for the kids.
Michael's contribution to this day? Candy.
You know what? Why don't I take this to the Smithsonian? And I'm sure the guys I thought the Smithsonian was just some fake, made-up job for the CIA.
Oh, no.
It's definitely a real, made-up job.
It's what they call a Non-Official Cover.
So, occasionally, I have to do some actual work there to keep up appearances.
You work at the Smithsonian.
You work at the CIA.
You work at both? I know.
It's crazy, right? Muah.
See you.
Miss.
Excuse me.
Is this yours? Thanks.
Not at all.
Hello, Annie.
It's nice to finally meet you.
My name's Kenneth Martin.
Skittle? It's from your stash.
Is there a reason why you lifted my wallet? And my candy? I wanted to see if I could get your attention.
Why? Well, think of it like an aptitude test.
You passed brilliantly, by the way.
What if I had called the police? Well, after you Ieft the museum, you passed two Smithsonian guards, two Park Rangers, and a DC bobby.
I would have known if you'd called the police.
I might still call the police.
What do you want? You have a job at the Smithsonian which allows you to travel the world without suspicion.
You know multiple languages.
And you're bold enough to meet a complete stranger in the park just because he left a note in your wallet.
I work for the British government.
We'd love to offer you a job.
What kind ofjob? I'm with MI6 British Secret Service.
I don't understand.
I thought we had an agreement with the British that we don't recruit their citizens without permission.
Yep.
We do.
But in the spy game, agreements are made to be broken.
What does the UK desk have? Martin's passport is British government.
His official employer is Shining Seas Imports, a known MI6 front company.
So, he's legit.
Yes and no.
He doesn't exactly fit a typical MI6 profile.
Working class family.
A few scrapes with the law when he was a kid.
He didn't even graduate high school.
MI6 is an old boys club comprised of squeaky-clean Cambridge grads.
That doesn't add up.
Annie, tell me about the pitch.
It was smart.
He did his homework.
He knew exactly which buttons to push.
It's just the way I would have done it.
And what was your impression of him? Personally.
Intelligent.
Capable.
Interesting.
I want you to accept his offer.
You want me to be a double agent? We don't even know if this is real.
It doesn't matter.
We have a potential MI6 operative nosing around the Smithsonian, and I want to know why.
Annie Walker.
Welcome to Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Compliments of MI6.
Consider it a signing bonus.
I haven't said I'm going to do it, yet.
Well, if you were going to say no, you wouldn't have come.
AII the beautiful monuments in D.
C.
, and you have to pick the one with the unsightly renovation? Well, the noise from the skid loaders makes it hard for anyone to record us.
Skid loaders? My father paved most of the A5.
I spent three years on a road crew before I joined MI6.
So, you're a working-class James Bond.
Well, some lads dream of being a fireman or a policeman.
I wanted to be a spy.
See the world.
Make a difference for the Crown.
I wasn't like other Iads before.
And I'm still not.
You're a bit of a romantic for a spy, aren't you? And why do you think I chose you? In my job I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what makes people tick.
I had your number the moment I laid eyes on you.
Really? Two years doing humanitarian work.
Backpacking in Sri Lanka, Egypt, Easter Island.
Admit it.
You're just as much of a romantic as me.
Does MI6 have some kind of file on me? Actually, I got it from your bio on the Smithsonian website.
So Down to brass tacks, shall we? He's an art restorer in your museum.
I want you to get me his appointment schedule.
I want to take a look around his studio.
Why? First lesson in the world of espionage.
Information's on a need to know basis.
Karim Bichri.
Renowned art restorer.
Has worked in some of the most prestigious museums in the world.
He is currently finishing up a one-month stint at the Smithsonian.
Bichri's never been involved with politics or causes of any kind.
Annie, I want you to help Martin get into the studio.
You want me to help a foreign operative break into the Smithsonian? I want you to find out what Martin is after.
In the meantime, I'm going to pay MI6 a little visit.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Where are you going, Moneypenny? Double agent means double the paperwork.
And added bonus You don't get to keep any of the money MI6 is paying you.
Enjoy.
I could have called that.
Your stance was way off.
My stance is sound.
The wind took it.
You keep telling yourself that.
You seem to be full of excuses.
Here we go.
What did I do this time? It's not what you've done.
It's what you haven't.
And you're here to give me advice.
No.
I've given you advice before.
For years.
You always seem to take it as an affront.
Do you remember when I told you to choke up in little league? No, I don't remember that.
Yeah, well, it seems you're not the kind of guy who can get in front of a fastball.
What's this? Take it as a favor.
It's a dormant operation called Ministry.
It would be well worth your while to pursue it.
You could be a hero on this one.
What makes you feel I get it.
I was a lousy father.
Maybe you think I still am.
But I do know Langley.
And I want you to realize this.
At the CIA, you get a very small window to prove yourself.
And I fear yours is closing.
I'm trying to help you.
Excuse me.
I'm looking for Karim Bichri? I wouldn't go in there if I was you.
He's working.
I'll just be a second.
Your funeral.
Excuse me, Mr.
Bichri.
My name is Did you bring my lunch? What? My lunch.
No.
I'm with the Acquisitions Department.
Then, go away.
Mr.
Bichri, the museum is courting an important patron, and we'd like to arrange a tour of your studio.
I was hoping I could get a look at your appointment schedule, so we Do you know what this is? It's one of the 20 Thinker sculptures by Auguste Rodin.
It's one of the greatest sculptures by one of the greatest artists of all time.
It returns to Frankfurt in two days.
What do you think is more important? This or your little tour? Mr.
Bichri, I've admired your work for many years.
What you did on the facade of the Duomo in Milan and the fissure work on the tendrils in Bernini's Medusa were miraculous.
Oh, Ms.
Walker Do you really think that's going to work? Appealing to my vanity? Was there something else? Lunch, Karim.
Finally.
Something important.
You may leave now.
Ah, thank you, Emir.
Thank you.
Just so we're clear, you don't like me and I don't like you.
That may be true.
But I still can't understand what it is that you do here.
Office of Special Projects.
Compact ops, no bureaucracy.
It's like a small-cap investment fund.
I only hear the word "small.
" I want to talk to you about a proposal you wrote.
Operation Ministry.
Never heard of it.
Three-man team pushes into Bolivia, taps into the main telecom line for the MAS.
You pitched it to Arthur.
He shot it down.
I have no knowledge of any such operation.
I wanted to resurrect Ministry, and I wanted you to run it.
Now, why would I get into the middle of a turf war between you and Arthur Campbell? How long have you been with clandestine actions, Hadley? Two, three years? You're still just a section chief? The hill is starved for intel on Bolivia right now.
An operation like Ministry? Wow.
That would be a big win for everyone involved.
Everyone? Everyone.
That's my favorite spot.
Right there.
Really? That's the only good part? Yeah, the other parts are okay.
But this is the good one.
Right here.
Mmm.
Mmm Mmm.
Mmm.
I got my itinerary from the Peace Corps today.
I leave for Eritrea on Sunday.
I've waited so long to do this.
And now that I'm finally ready to leave, I meet you.
Two years isn't that long.
We can write, call Mmm.
Visit.
We can even Skype.
Well, you can Skype.
It's just It's going to be okay.
We're going to be okay.
You going to miss me? Mmm.
No.
Not at all.
Mmm.
You remember Polykov.
Oh.
Right.
Right.
Moscow? The car bomb.
That's him.
I ran into him a few weeks ago in Copenhagen.
He sends his regards, by the way.
Oh, wow.
Well, I guess you guys are back on speaking terms.
What is he up to now? He owns a travel agency.
Somebody has popped up on our radar in the last couple of days, and I'm wondering if MI6 has anything on him.
Could I get another? Yes, ma'am.
Who's that? Karim Bichri.
Doesn't ring a bell.
Who is he? He's an art restorer for the Smithsonian.
But we've been hearing chatter that he has got some extracurricular activities going on.
Shall I look into it? Would you? That would be wonderful.
I'm sure it's nothing.
According to Bichri's schedule, he'll be lecturing all night.
AII I need is a few minutes to look around.
I could have gotten you more than a few minutes if it had been during working hours.
The type of looking around I'm going to do is generally frowned upon.
You're snooping.
I am MI6, love.
Oh.
Wait.
Cheeky.
You sure you haven't done this before? It's beginner's luck.
Did you learn that at MI6? Brixton.
Let's just say I ran with the wrong crowd in my youth.
Remind me to get a burglar alarm on my way home.
Wouldn't make any difference.
What are you up to? What is it? It's called toluene.
It's used in explosives.
You think Bichri's making a bomb? It has to be something.
We need to go.
We have to get out of here.
Down there.
If we get caught, I lose my job.
So You have to tell me what's going on.
Oh, no.
Damn it.
Try the window.
It's too late.
Please don't tell my boss.
I'm sorry.
I was going to speak with Mr.
Bichri, and must have accidentally tripped something.
Are you alone in here? Yeah.
This wing is off-Iimits after hours.
I I didn't see any signs.
I Oh! Oh, my God.
Sorry.
AII right.
Sorry! Okay.
Come on.
Let's go.
I'm sorry.
I Mr.
Bichri, I am so sorry.
I just wanted to come and talk to you about that tour.
I I I was sure I could change your mind.
I must have accidentally tripped the alarm as I was leaving.
I don't believe you.
Excuse me? I don't believe anything you're saying.
What were you really doing in my studio? I just wanted to talk to you.
Emir.
Yes, Karim.
Please check the studio.
Make sure everything is in order.
Of course, Karim.
I think it goes without saying, I don't want to ever see you in my studio again.
Good night.
The chemical in Bichri's studio is toluene.
It's a component used in TNT.
It is also a common paint solvent.
There's nothing suspicious about him having it.
What about the sculpture? The shipment and restoration process have been painstakingly documented.
It's completely aboveboard in every way.
So, we still haven't turned anything up on Bichri or the sculpture.
And now, Martin is putting Annie's NOC at risk.
Persia House has flash traffic on a missing terrorist financier.
Annie, I want you on that.
Joan, he was way too collected.
He is hiding something.
Annie, we don't have anything concrete.
This is turning into a wild goose chase.
I don't know if it's yours or Martin's hunch that you're following, but I'm terminating the operation.
You're quitting? I'm sorry, Kenneth.
I can't jeopardize my job at the Smithsonian.
I work at a museum.
I don't share your zest for danger.
Goodbye.
What's that? The reason I'm doing this.
About a year ago, MI6 started hearing rumors about a high profile fixer.
A gun for hire who facilitated for rogue nations and terrorist groups.
Facilitated what? Take your pick.
Guns.
Information.
Money laundering.
It was all rumors.
No one could even suss out if the bugger was real.
You think it's Bichri? Bichri's been too close to too many of these major events.
It's all documented in this journal.
And there's another thing.
What? Well, he seems a little dodgy.
Dodgy? A few weeks ago, MI6 intercepted chatter on the terror networks about something called "The Thinking Man.
" The chatter talked about an operation to smuggle "The Thinking Man" out of Washington.
Something's up with that Thinker sculpture Bichri's restoring.
We looked at it.
You couldn't find anything.
Annie.
You're like me.
You know when something doesn't feel right.
What does your instinct tell you about Bichri? I mean, I think he's a bit dodgy.
But that's not a crime, right? Look, if you had some concrete evidence Look, I can't just go on a hunch.
The Thinker ships back to Frankfurt tomorrow.
I just need to get into Bichri's studio one more time.
I'm sorry.
I Please.
I can't.
You sent a team to Bolivia.
I was expecting you sooner.
I rejected that operation for a reason, Jai.
You rejected that operation because you've gotten safe.
Your ambition has clouded your judgment.
My ambition is what got me the latitude to make things happen at this agency.
You made this happen.
The Bolivians arrested Hadley and his team Iast night.
This is why I rejected Operation Ministry.
Get me the State Department Office in La Paz now.
Well, I think this sleeping bag will be warm enough.
But if you need another one, I can pouch you Send you one.
You do realize I'm going to Eritrea, right? A desert country.
Uh, yeah.
And you're still going to need a sleeping bag, because Asmara is over 7,000 feet elevation, and it can hit freezing at night.
Parker.
What's going on? What's the matter? Auggie It's okay.
You don't have to say it.
Eritrea is far, far away, and two years is a long time.
Too long to try and pretend.
It will fly by.
Mmm.
And maybe I'll come back and we'll both be single and we can just pick things up.
Stranger things, right? Yes.
Look The time we've had together has been great.
And I haven't regretted a single moment of it.
I'm so sorry, Auggie.
You've got nothing to be sorry about.
What are you doing here? Uh, sorry.
Um The shipping company Iost my delivery, and I was just, uh, hoping that was it.
It's my mistake.
You shouldn't be here.
I knew you couldn't stay away.
No tire iron.
No car jack.
They've gotten rid of anything we could have used as a weapon.
Here.
Annie, I'm going to tell you something.
And please don't panic.
When you preface a statement by saying "Please don't panic," you realize it makes people panic.
I'm not an MI6 field officer.
I'm a surveillance operative.
I don't understand.
I'm what they call a "neck-downer.
" I do the heavy lifting, the intimidation, the cutting of the brake lines, the cash payments to the unsavory characters while the Golden Boys stay clean.
Why would MI6 send someone like you on a field mission? Well, that's the other thing.
This isn't an official MI6 mission.
Technically, I'm on holiday.
By the way, the money I paid you That came out of my own pocket.
Damn it.
I don't know where they're taking us.
But wherever it is, I'm going to bet it's not good for us.
Annie.
I'm sorry I got you involved in all of this.
Hold this.
What are you doing? I'm looking for the back seat release cable.
It's usually in the trunk lining.
And how do you know that? I took a YMCA automotive repair course.
You learned how to escape a car trunk at the YMCA? It was a really good course.
Ah.
I got it.
What, you learned that at the YMCA, too? No, I already spoke to the Deputy Director of both divisions.
I need to speak to the Director.
Fine.
Tell him Jai Wilcox needs to speak with him ASAP.
Wilcox.
Yeah.
Thank you.
I have your father on line one.
Again.
Tell him I'm busy.
Again.
Hey, Jai.
Tim.
I don't have a lot of time.
I'm kind of in the middle of something.
Oh, I just wanted to say I heard about the Hadley thing.
Good job.
What? It's all over the building.
Congrats.
What do you mean "congrats"? The rescue op.
Good job.
Where are we headed? I know someone who can help.
Someone who? Need to know, Kenneth.
I never realized how irritating that is coming from someone else's mouth.
If this isn't an MI6 sanctioned mission, then why are you doing all this? You know what field officers call operatives like me? They call us the janitors.
Because we do all the dirty work that they're too good for.
So, why do it? Oh, it's still a chance to be part of MI6.
Maybe I'm sweeping up after elephants, but I'm still in the circus.
Where I'm from, no one gives you anything.
You have to take it.
I spent three years taking night classes in Farsi and Arabic to get into MI6.
But I still wasn't good enough.
To them, I was still just the duffer from Brixton they sent fishing through rubbish containers, playing the goon.
I wanted to prove I could be a field officer.
Where are you going? I haven't been completely honest with you, either, Kenneth.
Annie, what's going on? I'm sorry.
The Smithsonian job is just a cover.
I'm actually a field officer myself.
For the CIA.
Bugger.
I bet you work out a lot.
Based on what happened to Annie and Martin, we sent a tech ops team to Bichri's studio.
They went over every inch of that place.
Nothing.
And what about the car that Annie and Martin escaped in? Reported stolen in Virginia three weeks ago.
And at the time of Annie and Martin's abduction, Bichri was giving a lecture at the University of Delaware.
So, he has an unbreakable alibi.
Pretty much.
In other words, we have nothing that proves Bichri is guilty of any wrongdoing.
What about the guys who tried to kill us? Even if we don't have any proof, we know Bichri's up to something.
Annie, I'm going to have to hand this over to the FBI.
But I know We're spies, Annie.
Not cops.
Your mission was to gather information on an MI6 operative.
Not solve a mystery.
Well, you're enjoying a regular busman's holiday, aren't you? Give me a moment to explain.
Oh, believe me.
You'll have plenty of chances to explain when you get back to Vauxhall Cross.
Am I making myself understood? And if you ever Well, the British are not pleased.
Looks like Martin's Intelligence career is over.
It's okay, Annie.
I followed my hunch and it didn't work out.
At least I tried.
It was a good hunch.
You were right about me.
I am a bit of a romantic.
It's why I do what I do.
You had me pegged from the moment you saw me.
It was nice knowing you, Annie Walker.
You were a fine asset.
Come on, mate.
I've had a long day and I'm cabbaged.
Show me the way out.
You wanted to see me? Yes.
Uh Your Close and Continuing form came back.
Well, that was fast.
Sometimes, bureaucracy can surprise you.
Anyway, it's been approved.
You're free to date Parker.
Good to know.
Whoever she is, she must be a fool.
No.
She isn't.
That's the problem.
Mommy, we're missing it.
Ugh! The cable's out and the girls are missing their program.
Oh.
That's much better.
Call Daddy.
He knows how to fix everything.
Well, Daddy is not here right now.
So, you're just going to have to deal with me.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean that.
Hey, why don't we go outside and take a breather? So Michael's coming home next week.
He cut his trip short.
That's a good thing, right? Hey, you remember when Dad came back from deployment and wanted to surprise us? And you were six years old? Yeah.
And he snuck into the house without telling anybody? Yeah.
And you started screaming because you thought a burglar had broken into the house.
You'd completely forgotten him.
Danielle, Michael is still the same guy.
Nothing's changed.
You know, I'm sorry I called you over here.
I'm just being silly.
You should go.
No, no, no.
My evening's wide open.
No, really.
I just have to get the girls ready for bed.
Danielle, did you get another kid without telling me? Oh.
That's just Wally.
Wally? Yeah, Katia's imaginary friend.
Danielle, you're a life saver.
I thought you'd be here.
When my old man found out I was trying for MI6, he told me, "Kenny boy, "people like us don't do things like that.
" Well, he wasn't being cruel.
That was just the way he saw things.
You know, maybe he was right.
Kenneth.
The terrorist chatter that you intercepted.
What language was it in? It was Farsi.
Why? Do you know what the Farsi word for "masterpiece" is? Shahkar.
Right.
But it's also a name.
Annie, that's brilliant.
Come on.
Where are we going? Well, who's going to believe us after everything I've pulled? We need proof.
Hey.
Mr.
Lock-pick, you want to help me with this? Or you could do that.
What's an art restorer doing with ultraviolet printer's ink? It's not a bomb we're looking for.
It's a person.
Emir's the package Bichri's smuggling out of Washington.
I have to call Langley.
What's the plan, love? Call Langley.
They can have a strike team here in five minutes.
Kenneth.
Hey.
Wanker.
This way.
Stay close.
I know it was you.
I know you were the one who rescued Hadley and his team.
Why did you let me take all the credit? Maybe I just wanted to bank a little goodwill.
I don't buy it.
Okay, fine.
Then, you tell me.
Why did I do it? I don't know.
But you must have had some kind of angle.
Maybe you want something to hold over me? You're a manager now.
This is real.
Real lives.
It's not all about politics.
Bichri was fronting for the Abu hafs al-Masri Brigade.
The guy he was trafficking, his real name is Shakhar Atwa.
He's been on the FBI's most wanted list for over a year now.
My guess is things got too hot for him here in the States, and he hired Bichri to smuggle him into England.
Thanks, Auggie.
Nice work, Walker.
So, how bad is it? Absolute shambles.
They made me a field officer.
I worked bloody hard to get here.
I gave up so much.
Is it worth it? Yeah.
You'll be a great field officer, Kenneth.
And if you ever need another double agent, call someone else.
Hey.
For the record.
When I pinched your wallet, did you let me? Need to know, Kenneth.