04x01 - Esteban

Episode transcripts for the TV show "The Blacklist". Aired September 2013 - current.*
Watch/Buy Amazon  Merchandise


Former government agent Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) has eluded capture for decades. But he suddenly surrenders to the FBI with an offer to help catch a t*rror1st under the condition that he speaks only to Elizabeth "Liz" Keen (Megan Boone), a young FBI profiler who's just barely out of Quantico.
Post Reply

04x01 - Esteban

Post by bunniefuu »

♪♪

[ Gasps ]

[ Continues gasping ]

[ Grunting and groaning ]

Gadi Sassoon: ♪ pulsing my senses weak ♪

[ Tom grunts ]

Mr. Kaplan: Critical hit. He couldn't have gone far.

Dembe: He wouldn't go to a hospital.

♪ now time has run its course ♪

[ Crying ]

♪ there is no other way ♪

The bleeder works for Kirk. He'll know where to find them.

I have a location.

I was trying to help. He has to know that.

I'm not on your side here, Kate.

♪ pulsing my senses weak ♪
♪ I was hunting, I went running ♪
♪ now time has run its course ♪
♪ there is no other way ♪

[ Silenced g*nsh*t ]

[ Silenced g*nsh*t ]

[ Grunts ]

I need to speak with the patient.

He's gone.

As you well know, one of the keys to my success is a clear and consistent understanding of my own limitations.

So often people overestimate themselves, misapply their gifts.

The cleaner suddenly fancies herself the strategist.

Wisdom is learning the boundaries of one's designated lane.

For instance, this, I will do poorly.

Clumsily, with more mess than necessary.

It'll take longer and be considerably more unpleasant to boot.

But I can't very well have you do it, can I?

[ Flesh cutting and squishing ]

[ Click and thud ]

Raymond Reddington, my favorite rubio.

Ay carajo, I haven't seen you since you snuck off at Carnival.

Red, Jesus.

What's wrong with you?

We're looking for a name.

Take a close look, Manny.

He worked for a man who abducted someone I care about.

He's a cop.

Who's his rabbi?

I don't know, but I know who might.

Is it true? She's alive?

Apparently.

Wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

How is that... there were complications during labor.

And the doctor, he declared her dead.

He lied.

But there was a funeral. I-I was a pallbearer.

Yes, and who knows what was in that casket?

It was a charade, Aram.

So Agent Keen is alive?

Uh, but her funeral and her death...

She faked her death. Why would she do that?

To get away from Reddington.

So that her and Tom and Agnes could have a normal life.

Away from us?

Yes, after everything we did for her.

Best we could tell, Liz and Tom's plan was to go into hiding in Cuba.

Alexander Kirk found them.

Why? What does he want with Agent Keen?

Look, all we know right now is that when Reddington got there, Liz and Tom were gone.

I just got off the phone with the embassy in Havana.

Briefed them on Kirk, gave them the tail number to his plane.

If that was how he was planning to get off the island, that's not gonna happen.

And, uh, what about Agnes?

At this point, we don't know.

Notify FBI headquarters.

Elizabeth Keen is alive.

Balzan: The plane is ready.

Kirk: Mato and the baby?

Not yet.

Notify me as soon as they're here.

My baby.

She's on her way.

That's what you said before.

Masha--

My name is Elizabeth.

I understand that you have questions, that you're upset.

[ Grunts ]

[ Cocks g*n ]

I'm sorry it has to be like this.

You're not my father.

Well, I am, Masha. I am.

And I intend to prove that to you.

Agnes will be brought here, but the person doing that has a job to do first.

What job? With Tom?

What are you doing to Tom?

[ Engine rumbling ]

[ Agnes wailing ]

♪♪

[ Banging trunk ]

Let me out!

[ Agnes continues wailing ]

[ Agnes continues wailing ]

♪♪

[ Wailing continues ]

[ Wailing continues ]

[ Men chuckle ]

[ Exhales deeply ]

Oh. [ Clicks tongue ]

There's nothing more depressing than a failed Communist state.

It doesn't even really pay to be corrupt.

When dirty cops play poker in America, they're able to play for real money.

Let's raise the stakes.

A new game.

You tell me who the head worked for, you keep the money, a 5-way split.

Oh, we're keeping the money.

A young woman and her child were taken.

A Russian has entered the country.

I have it on good authority your friend here was assisting him.

I think it's time for you to leave.

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ Grunts]

Make that a 4-way split.

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ g*nshots ]

♪♪

I'll give you a name.

Well, isn't this your lucky day?

[ Door opens ]

The head worked for a Jhosep Balzan?

I've never heard of him.

Yeah, he's a supplier of all manner of contraband on the island.

If the people you're looking for are still in Cuba, Balzan is protecting them.

Should I assemble a team?

Dembe, call Silvio in San Cristobal.

Tell him to put a team together. We're going after Elizabeth.

Here.

[ Glass clatters ]

You think I'd drug you?

You kidnapped my infant daughter, my husband, and me.

I'd say you're capable of anything.

Listen... you were my entire life.

You were all your mother and I ever cared about.

Now you don't know any of that because Reddington took you away from us when you were just a little girl.

He and your mother had an affair.

For a time, I thought maybe he was the father, but I have proof that he's not.

He's just a spiteful, evil man.

Couldn't accept it when Katarina broke off the affair.

One day I came home, and you were gone.

He'd taken you.

I never thought I'd ever see you again... until there you were in the news, you... and Reddington, the most wanted fugitives in the world.

If you cared so much about me, you wouldn't hold me hostage.

He'd taken my beautiful child and turned her into a criminal.

att*ck my wedding, everyone I love.

Everything I did was to get my child away from Reddington.

Who understands that more than you?

You did the exact same thing, faked your own death to get your child away from him.

[ Door opens ]

[ Lowered voice ] We have a problem.

The PNR have surrounded the plane.

Then find another plane.

Agnes will be here shortly.

And Tom?

[ Siren whoops, Agnes crying ]

[ Siren wailing ]

[ Crying continues ]

[ Siren continues wailing ]

[ Crying continues ]

Shh!

Hey, they have my baby! Please!

Keen, you breathe a word, I'm gonna fire two b*ll*ts-- one in the cop and the other between the eyes of that screaming kid.

You got it?

[ Crying continues ]

[ Crying continues ]

[ Crying continues ]

He's got a g*n!

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ Grunts ]

[ Grunting ]

No, don't-- please!

[ Bones cr*ck ]

[ Body thuds ]

[ Fusses ]

[ Groans ]

[ Agnes continues crying ]

Cooper: Where are we on Kirk?

PNR grounded his plane. There's no sign of him or Keen.

I informed the Bureau that Elizabeth Keen has risen from the dead.

They said three Hail Mary's and they're on the lookout for the zombie apocalypse.

I understand. You feel played.

Don't you, sir?

Ressler: Look, we should be halfway to Havana by now.

Why? She obviously doesn't want our help.

Maybe or maybe not, but she needs it.

You're willing to risk your life after what she did?

All right, let's just have this conversation.

Keen lied to us, took advantage of all of us, and no one is more upset about that than I.

Or... relieved.

Truth be told, I didn't think it was possible to be this joyous and livid at the same time.

But I have a job to do-- find Keen and her family and bring them home safely.

And I know that no matter how I feel, I can do that job.

I need to know if each of you can say the same.

Sr. Ortegon: ♪ desde que te fuiste ♪
♪ las cosas no andan mal ♪
♪ pero si quieres volver ♪
♪ con gusto sere tu man ♪
♪ la muchacha se fue ♪


[ Grunts ]

♪ se fue ♪
♪ esa muchacha se fue ♪
♪ se fue, se fue ♪
♪♪


[ Exhales deeply ]

[ Speaker crackles ]

♪♪

[ Grunting ]

♪♪

[ Cocks g*n ]

[ Dialing ]

[ Click ]

[ Switch clicks ]

Kirk: Hello, Raymond.

Elizabeth, are you okay?

Of course she is.

Unlike you, I would never hurt my own daughter.

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth.


I'm on your left.

[ g*nshots ]

[ Tires screech ]

Constantin.

What do you want? Name it.

You bring her out unharmed, you'll have it.

Of course, the Concierge of Crime wants to cut a deal.

You'll give me whatever I want?

Yes.

In exchange for Masha?

Whatever you desire.

What I desire is to raise my child, to watch her grow, and to have back the 26 years of being a father that you took from me.

But you can't give me that, can you?

No, because she was never yours to raise.

Dembe: Patrol unit incoming.

m*llitary patrol. Armored m*llitary.

Agnes. Do you have Agnes?

I don't have her.

Go. Find Agnes and Tom.

I'm not leaving here without you.

You just don't get it, do you, Raymond?

She doesn't want to be with you. That's why she faked her own death-- to get away from you.

Dembe: Raymond, we have to go now.

If they get you, they'll k*ll you.

Dembe: Raymond.

Elizabeth: Did you hear me? You have to go.

Go!

Elizabeth, I will come for you.

♪♪

Harold, gather your team.

Reddington. Where are you?

Tell me you have Agent Keen.

No, but she's still on the island.

Kirk's preparing her exit plan.


I don't know what the preparations are, but I know who can find out-- Manuel Esteban.

The Chilean Spymaster?

Who's Esteban?

Our next Blacklister.

Aram: Manuel Orentez Esteban.

[ Gasps ]

Leader of Pinochet's Caravan of Death that institutionalized a state-sponsored system of terror through abuse, abduction, and m*rder.

According to our database, he d*ed in 1989.

Except he didn't.

Esteban is alive and well and a legendary enforcer for a series of authoritarian regimes.

Assuming what you say is true and Esteban is alive, what makes you think he can help locate Keen?

Kirk's man in Cuba is protected by the m*llitary.

If the m*llitary is involved, Esteban will know about it.


We'll never find Esteban in time.

We have no assets in Cuba.

[ Laughs ] Of course you do, Harold.

Esteban. He works for your government.

Castro took him in, and the CIA immediately put him on the payroll as a double agent.

What little you know about the inner workings of the Cuban government is courtesy of Manuel Esteban.

The CIA knows where to find him, and he knows where to find Elizabeth.

[ Crying ]

[ Gasps, continues crying ]

[ Click ]

[ Continues gasping and crying ]

[ Exhales deeply ]

[ Continues crying ]

[ Squishing sound ]

[ Clacking ]

[ Whimpering ]

[ Crying ]

What are you talking to Reddington for?

I thought your task force was disbanded after Agent Keen's death.

It turns out she's not dead. She's been kidnapped.

And if we have any hope for finding her, it rests in finding Esteban.

I need to know where to find him.

[ Sighs ] I hate getting into bed with Reddington.

I... hate needing him and his list.

If you find Agent Keen, will he continue to give you names?

He just did-- Esteban.

According to him, Esteban works for the Agency.

[ Sighs ]

Good Lord.

Is there anything that man doesn't know?

Cooper: How can we contact him?

Panabaker: The Agency reaches out to him through the State Department's weekly travel advisory.

Set a meeting, a message is encoded in the advisory, detailing where and when.

Cooper: The meeting is set for the National Museum.

You'll be going to Cuba undercover, as tourists.

He'll be going. Not me.

You may be fine with doing this job, no matter how you feel.

I can't.

How you feel?

How about how Keen feels? Forget about what she did and try to figure out why she did it.

I have, and someday, maybe I'll be okay with it.

But right now I'm not.

What? You're okay with this?

No.

But for now, I accept it.

You'll be going alone. Here's how it's gonna work.

Panabaker: Your agent will be detailed with the Dallas/Fort Worth Arts and Cultural Committee.

Esteban will expect to meet at the Cafe Aventura across from the National Museum.

Once inside, take a table in the back, order an egg coffee.

I appreciate you burning a source for this.

You knowing he exists is the least of Esteban's problems.

Now that we're all chummy with the Cubanos, his relationship with the Agency is, uh, something of a liability.

You're gonna scrub him?

Let's just say, if you wanna reach out to Esteban, you should do it quickly.

[ Man singing in Spanish ]

Jesus. Hot as balls in here.

You guys actually drink this stuff?

♪♪

[ Door bell jingles ]

♪♪

[ Speaks indistinctly in Spanish ]

k*ll him first. Come back for the cop.

Meet you at that place.

♪♪

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Whack ]

[ Grunting ]

Aah!

[ g*nsh*t ]

Hey! Get out of the car! Get out of the car!

[ g*nsh*t ]

Romina.

Move it.

Hey.

[ Panting ] Hey.

Let her go.

Look, you can take me, all right?

Do whatever you want. Just give me my little girl!

Hey! I'm begging you! Give me my little girl!

Please!

[ Car door closes, engine starts ]

[ Engine revs ]

You and I are gonna have some fun, man.

[ Door clanks, keys jingle ]
[ Indistinct whispering ]

Hey.

Woman: Shh.

[ Whispers ] Don't talk. They'll k*ll us.

Where are we?

How many people does he have down there?

My family. They have a way out.

He wants me to tell him how.

He's going to k*ll me.

I've seen his face. Anyone who sees--

[ Light clicking ]

[ Gasps ] It's him.

[ Clicking continues ]

[ Door unlocks and opens ]

Right. Upright.

[ Cocks g*n ]

So the rumors are true.

They sent you to finish me.

Not quite, no.

The Americans want me dead, so our relationship dies with me, so I get embarrassed.

Look, I'm not here to k*ll you, pal, I'm here to tell you that Raymond Reddington wants to see you.

Oh, so now the US government is Reddington's messenger.

Oh, you know how it works.

The American government has deals with all kinds of scumbags.

[ Scoffs ]

[ Smack ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Clicking ]

Look, I'll tell you how it works.

You're gonna give me your phone.

[ Click ]

I'm gonna dial a number.

Okay, cowboy.

I like this one.

[ Dials ]

[ Line rings ]

Reddington?

Manuel Esteban.

My heavens, you're a devil to get ahold of.

I'm surprised we've never met.

I'd like to have a little chitchat.

How would you feel about a blind date?

Red: I'm looking for a woman.

Aren't we all?

Her name is Elizabeth Keen, and the man holding her has the protection of the FAR.

They know where she is, which means you know where she is, or you could certainly find out.

Why would I help you? You're an anarchist.

[ Laughs ] Probably.

Maybe more of an opportunist.

And I have the opportunity to help you.

You spent a lifetime bouncing from one authoritarian regime to the next.

But this is the last stop.

You're a relic.

The detente between America and Cuba makes you a man without a country.

Sooner or later, both sides will want you dead.

My money's on sooner.

I can take care of myself.

[ Clicking ]

Clicking like a hairless fruit bat is impressive, Manuel, but you and I both know avoiding a lamppost is very different from avoiding an assassin's b*llet.

Echo location can't help you with that, but I can.

What do you propose?

I know what it's like to be hunted.

I've protected myself for 30 years.

And I can protect you... after you locate Elizabeth Keen.

[ Man whistling ]

All right, listen to me, please.

The baby-- I can pay you.

Quiet.

Not me. I have a friend.

Whatever you want, he'll help you.

We'll get you off the island, he'll protect you.

I said quiet, man.

Look, just let her go!

All right, you can k*ll me. I don't care.

Just let my baby go.

[ Laughs ]

Let's go and dig.

[ Resumes whistling ]

♪♪

[ Door bell jingles ]

I know you don't want to talk to me. Fine.

Then listen.

It was excruciating to watch you mourn Elizabeth's death, to know that I was making you endure that.

Yes, I betrayed you, but only after you had betrayed her.

Raymond, you have to change.

I took Elizabeth from you, and now I need your help to get her back.

But when you do, as I'm sure you will, you have to let her go.

[ Clicking ]

Why don't you wait in the car?

[ Continues clicking ]

I have a location for the girl.

And the child?

I asked, but people know nothing about a child.

Tell me about the location.

[ Door bell jingles ]

It is heavily protected.

20, maybe more.

[ Door bells jingle, door closes ]

I'll need more men.

That won't be necessary.

[ Clicking ]

[ Engine rumbling ]

[ Sniffles ]

I have a blood disorder.

Good.

I'm dying.

Even better.

They're here.

[ Door opens ]

Oh, baby. Are you okay, sweetheart?

[ Exhales sharply ]

Let me look at you.

[ Cries ]

Oh, you're okay.

Oh, my God. [ Sniffles ]

It's okay. You're a strong girl.

Everything's gonna be okay. You're with Mommy now. Shh.

She's beautiful.

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Yes? Yes, it's good to hear from you.

You disappoint me, Balzan.

Yes, yes, of... course.

It's the pilot.

Everything is on schedule. I'll notify the men.

I assume the husband's been taken care of.

[ Shovel thudding ]

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Ring, beep ]

Hello?

Is it done?

What's taking so long?

[ Thud, g*nsh*t ]

[ Grunting ]

Angel.

Angel?

Angel.

[ g*nsh*t ]


He wants to talk to you.

Hello. Who's this?

All that matters is that you have a little girl, and you have her mother.

Tom.

I'm coming for them, for you.

And not just me, an army.

You hear me?

An army is coming for you.

[ Thud ]

[ Exhales deeply ]

[ Fussing ]

[ Door creaks open ]

You lost Tom.

We'll be going soon.

Where?

Home.

[ Fussing ]

I'm not going anywhere with you.

I faked my death to have a normal life.

There's nothing normal about being held prisoner.

A temporary inconvenience.

You'll see in time that the normal life you want, I'm the only one who can give that to you.

[ Agnes crying ]

[ Keys jingle ]

She's hungry, which means I need to feed her, which means you need to leave.

Of course.

[ Door creaks ]

I've done what I can, but you must hurry.

Kirk has chartered a float plane.

There isn't much time.

For either of us.

A stevedore will meet you on Pier 36.

I've arranged for a berth on a container ship bound for Caracas.

Adios.

Ressler: We have an ETA on that plane?

Red: Your job here is done, Donald.

Like hell it is.

I came here to get Keen. I'm not leaving without her.

You think I'm gonna let you tag along so you can inform the people who kidnapped Elizabeth they have the right to remain silent?

I appreciate your assistance, but I'm not interested in having an ethical debate with you about whether they have the right to consult with an attorney before I put a b*llet in their head.

Excuse me.

[ Door bell jingles ]

What about that dirtball? I suppose you think, uh, I should be okay with letting him walk.

It's entirely up to you.

You made a deal with him.

Yes, in order to save Elizabeth, I made a deal with the devil of the day.

I did. You didn't.

If you have a problem with that, you've got 12 hours before his ship leaves to do something about it.

Otherwise, safe travels home, Donald.

[ Door opens, door bell jingles ]

[ Knock on door ]

Kirk: Elizabeth?

Ready to go?

[ Knocks ]

Balzan!

Balzan!

He's gone. Your guards, your security, they're all gone.

The child and the girl-- find them.

[ Telephone rings ]

This is Agent Mojtabi.

Aram, it's Tom.

Tom? Hey. Tell me you're with Agent Keen.

The man who took Agnes-- he's driving a blue Dodge sedan, late '50s, He's taking her straight to Liz. If we can follow the car--

We can find them. Okay, let me think. Let me think.

Okay, what I'm thinking is, um, did you help Agent Keen fake her death?

Aram!

Not helpful, I know. Okay. But did you?

At the funeral, when you put a flower on her casket--

The car-- it has an old tube radio.

Local oscillator.

The oscillator. Right. Of course.

Okay, if you could rewire it, you might be able to turn the PLL receiver into this--

...into a low power mono FM transmitter that produces a signal that you can trace. Yeah. I know.

You do? Then, uh, why are you...

To get you to trace the signal, Aram.

Oh. Oh, you already... uh...

Wow, that's, uh, that is impressive.

[ Beep, typing on keyboard ]

Okay. Hang on. I'm on it.

Thank you.

Did you know?

At the christening, when you made me a godfather to Agnes--

Look, man, I know you're upset, all right?

But right now is not the time.

I'm trying to ping the signal. Waiting for a reply... from both of you.

Aram... of course I knew.

I'll let you know when, uh, I find the signal.

Thank you.

[ Agnes crying ]

Shh, shh, shh.

[ Crying continues ]

Shh. Shh.

[ Crying continues ]

Please, Agnes, stop crying. Mommy's here.

Shh, shh, shh.

[ Agnes continues crying ]

Think about what you're doing.

What are you gonna do? Hurt me?

Hurt my baby?

Kirk will k*ll you if you do.

Are you a mother? Do you have children?

Look at her...

[ Grunting ]

[ Blade whooshes ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Grunting continues ]

Kirk: Hey!

[ g*n clicks ]

No!

[ Agnes resumes crying ]

Little mama, you got spirit.

Get up. Get the baby.

[ Crying continues ]

[ Plane rumbling ]

[ Crying continues ]

[ Exhales deeply ]

You'll learn to trust me.

Get the baby and the things. We're leaving.

Like hell we are.

No!

I wish there was another way, I do, but Reddington's on his way.

Agnes!

Come on. Get her onboard.

[ Cellphone rings ]

Yeah.

Mr. Reddington. It's Aram.

It's not a good time.

I have information on Agent Keen. A location.

She's being held near this--

Red: A small fishing port in Playa Larga.

We're on our way.

Oh.

Magic. How'd you do that?

Red: We'll have Elizabeth shortly.

And Agnes.

Agnes?

Right. Tom called.

Thanks to him, I was able to track the vehicle where he had last seen Agnes, a blue Dodge sedan.


Thank you, Aram.

Agnes is here.

[ Car doors open ]

Luis, you and your men take the perimeters to the north and the west.

Dembe, secure the house.

Silvio, you're with me to the south.

You stay put.

[ Losers' "This is a w*r" playing ]

♪ I think you know ♪
♪ what the game is ♪
♪ I hope you've brought ♪
♪ all your players ♪
♪ 'cause this is a w*r ♪
♪ oh ♪

[ Screaming ]

♪ this is a w*r ♪

[ Grunting ]

♪ pick up the g*n ♪
♪ with his name on ♪
♪ you'll never know ♪
♪ where it came from ♪
♪ this is a w*r ♪

[ Grunts ]

[ Yells ]

[ Grunting ]

♪♪

That's not your child.

♪♪
♪ this is a w*r ♪
♪ ooh ♪

[ Engine droning ]

♪ ooh ♪

[ Door squeaks ]

They're gone.

[ Exhales ]

[ Grunts ]

[ Cocks g*n ]

I'm sorry, Raymond.

[ Fusses ]

We have her.

You told them he worked for us?

Do you have any idea what kind of blowback I'm dealing with here?

And it doesn't take long to find out who told the Cubans.

I heard it was an anonymous tip.

Agent Ressler...

Are you a traitor or-- or just a moron?

Look, the Agency was gonna assassinate Esteban...

I have no direct knowledge--

...so the Cubans wouldn't find out who was feeding secrets to the CIA.

Whoever this anonymous source is, he just saved a lot of lives.

What are you talking about?

Now that America knows about Esteban's little t*rture chamber, the Cubans are going to want plausible deniability.

Panabaker: Let's not mince words.

You took it upon yourself to tell the Cubans about our--

No, I took it upon myself to stop what Esteban was doing.

Do you have any idea what that was?

No, because all you care about is what Esteban was doing for you.

There are bigger issues, Agent Ressler.

t*rture, abuse, m*rder.

I don't see any bigger issues than that.

Excuse me.

Navabi: Have you heard from Reddington?

No.

Uh, last time I spoke to him, he was on his way to the location where Agent Keen was being held.

I'm sure he'll call. I'm sure they're okay.

I think you were wrong not going to Cuba.

I'm not saying what Agent Keen did was right, but as long as her life is in danger, as long as Agnes's life is in danger, I think we have to put our feelings aside.

What's happening to Liz is her own fault.

I know that sounds harsh, but it's true.

She made decisions that have consequences, and now she has to live with them.

She's in trouble.

I know, and I'm angry about that. because if she'd behaved differently, she wouldn't be in this position.

But she is. And no matter how we feel, I think we have to do something about it.

I don't.

If you don't help, and something happens to Agent Keen or Agnes, I know you.

You won't be able to live with yourself.

[ Cellphone rings ]

Yes? It's Tom.

Tell him we were too late.

Kirk has Elizabeth.

What about Agnes?

She's with us. Safe.

Dembe: Your daughter is safe.

[ Engine starts ]

[ Grunts ]

Raymond, I've been thinking about where we go from here--

[ Engine revs ]

[ Agnes crying ]

[ Crying continues ]
Post Reply