02x15 - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

All episode transcripts for this TV show, "Covert Affairs". Aired: July 2010 to December 2014.*
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A young CIA trainee with linguistic skills, Annie Walker, is sent into the field to work for the DPD (Domestic Protection Division). Auggie Anderson is a blind tech operative, and is Walker's guide in her new life in the CIA. Walker's cover story is that she works at the Smithsonian Museum.
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02x15 - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

Post by bunniefuu »

[Kids laughing]

Katia, put your coat on now!

Never!

Chloe, this is so not funny.

Hey, I came to return this.

[Kids screaming playfully]

What's up?

The box?

Michael sent it from California.

Candy.

Exactly.

How much have they eaten?

Oh...

[Screaming continues]

Pfft!

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 there--

Wait 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?

Mwah!

[Elevator bell rings]

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.

Mm.

Is there a reason why you lifted my wallet?

Why?

Well, think of it like an aptitude test.

You passed brilliantly by the way.

What if I called the police?

Heh.

After you left 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.

Oh.

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 like to offer you a job.

What kind of job?

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.

Yup, we do, but in the spy game agreements are made to be broken.

What does 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.

[Can You Save Me? by Apple Trees and Tangerines]

♪ Covert Affairs 02x15 ♪
What's the Frequency Kenneth
Original Air Date on November 29, 2011

♪ ♪
♪ Can you save me ♪
♪ from this nothing I've become? ♪
♪ it's just something that I've done ♪
♪ I never meant to cause you worry ♪
♪ don't you blame me ♪
♪ for this nothing I've become ♪
♪ it's just something that I've done ♪
♪ I never meant to show you my mistakes ♪

Compliments of MI6.

Consider it a signing bonus.

I haven't said I'm gonna do it yet.

Well, if you were gonna say no you wouldn't have come.

All the beautiful monuments in DC, 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?

[Laughs]

Well, some lads dreamed of being a fireman or a policeman.

I wanted to be a spy.

See the world.

Make a difference for the Crown.

Heh.

I wasn't like other lads before.

And I'm still not.

Bit of a romantic for a spy, aren't you?

And why do you think I chose you?

In my job you 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 at 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.

Andy, 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's after.

In the meantime, I'm gonna 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.

[Sighs]

I could have called that, your stance was way off.

[Ripping off golf glove]

My stance is sound, the wind took it.

You keep telling yourself that.

You seem to be full of excuses.

Here we go.

What'd 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.

Mm, 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."

And 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.

[Sighs]

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 could--

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...

Heh, 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 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 wanna 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 M.A.S.

You pitched it to Arthur, he sh*t 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 in the middle of a turf w*r between you and Arthur Campbell?

How long have you been with clandestine actions, Hadley?

Two, three years?

Still just a section chief?

The hill is starved for intel on Bolivia right now.

An operation like ministry, wow.

That'd be a big one for everyone involved.

Everyone.

Everyone.

Hm.

That's my favorite spot.

Right there.

Really?

That's the only good part?

Ah, the other parts are okay.

[Giggles]

This is the good one, right here.

Mm-hm.

Mm.

[Kissing]

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.

I mean, you'll write... call.

Mm-hm.

Visit.

Even Skype.

Well, you can Skype.

It's just--

It's gonna be okay.

We're gonna be okay.

You gonna miss me?

Mm...

No.

[Laughs]

Not at all.

Mm.

[Laughter]

You remember Polykov.

Oh, right.

[Laughs]

Right, Moscow.

The car b*mb.

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.

[Laughter]

Somebody's 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?

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's got some extracurricular activities going on.

Shall I look into it?

Would you?

That'd be wonderful.

I'm sure it's nothing.

According to Bichri's schedule he'll be lecturing all night.

All I need is a few minutes to look around.

I could have got you more than a few minutes during working hours.

The type of looking around I'm gonna 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.

Hm.

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 expl*sives.

You think Bichri's making a b*mb?

[Whistling]

[Whistling]

[Whistling]

It has to be something.

We have to go.

We have to get out of here.

Damn it.

[Whistling]

If we get caught I lose my job.

So you have to tell me what's going on.

[Alarm rings]

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 I must have accidentally tripped something.

Are you alone in here?

Yeah.

This wing is off-limits after hours.

I didn't see any signs.

Oh, my God!

Sorry. All right, all 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 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 are 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 ever 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.

And what about the sculpture?

The shipment and restoration process have been painstakingly documented.

It's completely above board 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 t*rror1st 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.

[Sighs]

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.

Bye.

What's that?

The reason I'm doing this.

About a year ago, MI6 started hearing rumors about a high-profile fixer.

A g*n for hire who facilitated for rogue nations and t*rror1st groups.

Facilitated what?

Take your pick.

g*ns, 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...

But 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--

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.

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 last 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 gonna 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...

Ah, 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, huh?

It'll fly by.

Mm-hmm.

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 got nothing to be sorry about.

Oba, oba.

What are you doing here?

Uh, sorry.

Um...

The shipment company lost my delivery and I was just hoping that that was it.

It's my mistake.

You shouldn't be here.

Mm!

I knew you couldn't stay away.

Unh!

No tire arm.

Unh...

No car jack.

They've gotten rid of anything we could have used as a w*apon.

Here.

Annie, I'm gonna tell you something.

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.

Intimidation.

The cutting of the brake lines.

The cash payments to 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, it came out of my own pocket.

[Metal scraping]

Aargh!

Damn it.

[Sighs]

I don't know where they're taking us.

But wherever it is I'm gonna bet it's not good for us.

Annie...

Sorry I got you involved in all this.

Hold this.

Okay.

What are you doing?

I'm looking for the back seat release cable.

It's usually in the trunk lining.

How do you know that?

I took a YMCA automotive repair course.

You learn how to escape a car trunk at the YMCA?

It was a really good course.

[Loud click]

I got it.

[Tires squealing]

[g*nshots]

Where'd you learn that, 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.

[Slams down phone]

[Knock on door]

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.

No, 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.

Heh.

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?

Well, 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 k*ll us?

Even if we don't have any proof, we know Bichri's up to something.

Annie, I'm gonna 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.

Prepare yourself for an inquisition.

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.

[Knock on door]

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.

[Sighs]

No, she isn't.

That's the problem.

[Door closes]

Mommy, we're missing it.

Oh, cable's out and the girls are missing their program.

Oh.

[Sighs]

That's much better.

Aw.

Call daddy, he knows how to fix everything.

Well, daddy's not here right now, so you're just gonna 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.

[Sighs]

So, ahem, Michael is 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's still the same guy.

Nothing's changed.

Aw, 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.

Wha--?

Danielle, did you get another kid without telling me?

[Laughs]

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.

It was just the way he saw things.

Well, maybe he was right.

Kenneth...

The t*rror1st chatter that you intercepted, what language was it in?

It was Farsi.

Why?

You know what the Farsi word for masterpiece is?

Shahkar.

Right, but--

But it's also a name.

Annie, that's brilliant.

Come on.

Where are we going?

Well, who's gonna believe us after everything I've pulled?

We need proof.

[Crickets chirping]

Okay, Mr. Lockpick, you wanna help me with this?

[Metal rattling]

Or you could do that.

What's an art restorer doing with ultraviolet printer's ink?

It's not a b*mb we're looking for.

It's a person.

Emir's the package Bichri's smuggling out of Washington.

I have to call Langley.

[Door opening]

What's the plan, love?

Call Langley.

They can get a strike team here in five minutes.

[Loud thump]

Kenneth!

Hey.

Unh!

w*nk*r.

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nshots]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nshots]

This way, stay close.

[Security alarm rings]

[g*nsh*t]

Rrah!

I know it was you.

I know you were the one who rescued Hadley and his team.

Why'd you let me take all the credit?

Maybe I just wanted to bank a little good will.

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 brigades.

The guy he was trafficking's real name is Shahkar 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.

[Both chuckle]

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.

[Chuckles]

Hey.

For the record...

When I pinched your wallet, did you let me?

Need to know, Kenneth.

[Chuckles]
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