02x16 - Letter Never Sent

[bunniefuu]

I'm Parker.

Peace Corps is incredibly selective.

Eritrea?

Can't you just be happy for me?

This is my father, Henry Wilcox.

Leaking confidential information to Liza Hearn.

You think blowing your whistle's gonna gain you favor in the agency?

I learned from the best.

So if I wanted specialized weapons training...

Consider it approved.

[Car engine revving]

[Engine continues revving]

Sweet ride.

[Engine revs]

[Shuts off]

I still think it'd be safer if you took the ride share.

[Laughs]

Caught red-handed.

Your landlord said you'd be up here.

Huh.

Had a feeling she was keeping tabs on me.

I'm not even gonna ask why you're behind the wheel on a '67 Vette.

And she knows her cars.

Dad was a car buff.

Well, then you know that the '67 is the last great American sports car.

In '68, new regulations came in that greatly reduced performance.

Still doesn't answer my question.

I loved Corvettes as Kid.

Always wanted one.

Finally saved up enough scratch to buy this one in 2007, right before I left for Iraq.

And you held onto it.

And you cannot b*at this sound.

[Engine fires up and revs]

Mm! 435 horses.

Why do I smell fichus?

You said you'd take care of my plant Not this one.

Have a good vacation.

You deserve it.

Thanks.

Now put on your seatbelt before you hurt someone.

[Laughs]

[Engine revs]

As you know, with the change of positions at the C.I.A. comes a routine polygraph.

Took you guys a while.

C.I.A. bureaucracy never ceases to amaze.

Heh.

Office of Special Projects.

What is that?

Is that part of the polygraph?

Your name is Jai Wilcox?

Yes.

You came back from a post in London to work with Arthur Campbell on Operation Lynx?

Yes.

Standard surveillance op?

Yes.

[Beep]

Friend of yours?

Let's continue.

Hey, I'm off to Stockholm. I came to say good-bye.

I will bring you back some meatballs.

They won't be as good as Chez Danielle.

Be better than Ikea, though.

Nothin'?

Tough room.

Ah, my life's not perfect, okay?

Oh, no. What's wrong?

Michael...

Wh-what did he do?

I called him to ask him about his absences from work.

And he told me that he's had two marital indiscretions in the past year.

Oh, Danielle.

Indiscretion is the chicken sh*t way of saying you boinked your fat assistant.

I'm sorry.

I've just been poring over this date book trying to figure out how it happened.

Don't b*at yourself up over it.

I feel like everyone in my life...

Has been lying to me about huge things.

You said yourself you haven't had a vacation since you started working at the Agency.

Well, why don't you go with me?

[Laughs]

No, I have miles.

Plus, Chloe and Katia are at moms.

You need to get away.

And I could use a good wingman.

[Tires screech]

Why do we only get spontaneous when bad things happen to us?

Nature abhors a vacuum.

That's so intellectual.

[Cell phone ringing]

No, I read it in the in-flight magazine.

Michael.

Gonna answer it?

Nope, I'm on vacation.

Hey, do you remember little Magnus from when we lived on the base near Karlsborg?

"First crush" little Magnus?

More like "first kiss" little Magnus.

It was the go-go '80s.

Apparently.

Anyway, I texted him.

You texted him?

Yeah, before we got on the flight.

He's on Facebook.

What's he doing now?

He runs a flower shop.

Ohh, that sounds like little Magnus.

Well, he loved flowers.

Danielle, Annie?

Little Magnus.

So nice to see you.

It's been so long.

Too long.

Yeah.

It's so good to see you.

Well...

[Indistinct PA announcement]

[Chuckles]

Let's get your bags.

Yeah, I've got a solarium and I've got a sailboat at our family cottage in Krontorp.

But didn't Danielle mention that?

No, she didn't.

I think they lost my bag.

On SAS?

Maybe it's a sign from above, like a chance to start fresh.

Or maybe they just put it on the wrong plane.

We'll fill out the form, and they'll deliver it to you.

In the meantime, I will take you girls shopping.

We can go through all the latest boutiques in Stockholm.

Oh, and maybe a glass of wine by the Nybrokajen?

Of course, I'll, uh, go and grab the car, and I'll meet you girls on the curbside.

Shall I take your bags?

Please.

We'll be there with bells on.

Just take it easy, okay?

I don't need a babysitter.

No, you need an overprotective younger sister.

[Cell phone rings]

Be right there.

Auggie you working late, huh?

Actually, my day's just getting started.

How's the vacation?

Huh. I have a feeling it's not a vacation anymore.

Oh, the Agency wouldn't be asking if it wasn't time sensitive.

All right, what's the mission?

We need you to courier an eyes-only envelop to the Tre Kronor Gala at Waterfront Congress Centre this afternoon.

That's a tough ticket.

See? There are perks to the job.

[Chuckles]

What's in the envelope?

Eyes only isn't just for my benefit.

You ready to go?

Yeah, I guess.

Great, I'll text you the details on our asset's location.

You need to pick up the envelope from him.

You'll deliver it to your contact at the Waterfront Congress Centre, and no Aquavit till after you hand off the envelope.

You're definitely cramping my vacation.

Uh, Danielle?

I have to do a quick thing for work.

Don't they know you're just on vacation?

Tell them no.

Danielle.

Yeah, but it's okay.

I mean, we can still go.

Yeah! [Laughs]

Have fun working.

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

♪ Covert Affairs 02x16 ♪
Letter Never Sent
Original Air Date on December 6, 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 ♪

[Seagull calling]

[Boat horn blows]

[Speaking Swedish]

Petr has been expecting you.

[Buzzer]

[Speaking Swedish]

Hello?

This port brings in how many kronor?

We pay how many in taxes?

Plant operations can't bring us a ladder.

You want something done, you have to do it yourself.

Yes?

Suppose so.

Yes.

So also thinks the CIA.

That's why they send you...

[Clicking]

Anywhere.

[Door squeaks]

Your package is here.

Anything else I should know?

As long as you're here, take a day or two to relax.

You C.I.A. people, you come in and zip out, and Stockholm's a beautiful city.

It's not all work.

Believe me...

That was the idea.

Oh, not bad for a fellow former sailor.

Ah, a little hard work, a lot of good luck.

Look at that--leather.

I can't get budgeted for an Aeron chair even with a doctor's note.

Did you come here to bitch about furniture?

No.

Do you know of an Operation Lynx?

Who's talking about it?

Well, apparently a routine polygraph was failed, which led to a G.C.O. inquest into this particular operation.

Whose polygraph?

Jai Wilcox.

Are you vulnerable?

You could say I'm vulnerable.

Then I'd suggest you try and get out in front of this.

Thanks, Eric.

I owe you one.

Hmm.

One of those.

[Laughs]

I was surprised to get your phone call, Auggie.

Yeah, I didn't think I'd be back here.

So what made you change your mind?

Oh, being unable to see.

Ah.

Well, last M.R.I. we did was shortly after your injury.

So it's possible some of the cranial swelling has gone down.

From there, we can assess... if any of the new stem cell approaches may be appropriate.

Yeah.

That's why I'm here.

Well, I mean, the M.R.I. can only determine if you're a viable candidate, all right?

There's a long way to go from here.

Well, let's get started.

[Buzzing]

[Clanking]

[Indistinct chatter]

[Grunts]

[Slice]

[Zipper unzips]

[Piano playing romantic music]

♪ ♪

Annie Walker.

Annie!

Uhh! Danielle, what are you doing here?

Oh, well, Magnus's company did the flowers for this event.

Hi, Annie.

Hi.

What are you doing here I'm meeting a work colleague.

Where did you get the dress?

Oh, well, since Magnus and I were going shopping anyway, he took me to this amazing department store, nk.

And he insisted on paying.

[Giggles]

Do you want a drink?

Um, sure.

Champagne?

She looks amazing.

Yeah.

What a nice surprise to see Danielle after so long.

Yeah, it was a surprise, I'm sure.

Yeah, a welcome one.

You know, the Swedish women today, they're always trying so hard to be something that they're not, but, Danielle, she's so comfortable with herself.

She always has been.

♪ ♪

Magnus, what are you saying?

I'm saying that, sometimes, things can take a long time.

But if they were meant to be, they will happen.

I guess.

Did Danielle tell you she was married?

No.

In six months of emailing, she never mentioned that.

Six months?

Yeah, on and off.

I mean, she never said she was married.

[Speaking Swedish]

Danielle's been going through a strange time.

I'm sure she wasn't thinking clearly.

I actually think I have to go.

No, you don't have to go.

Yeah, I have to deal with some flower things.

I see they forgot to bring the liljekonvaljs.

Well, fantastic.

You can't get that in America.

Hello.

Oh, hi.

It's good to see you again.

[Chuckles] We've never actually met, but okay.

Would you like to join me for a coffee?

Coffee?

I'm ordering cocktails.

I was wondering, would you like to join me for a coffee?

♪ ♪

Um, no thanks.

Excuse me.

That was creepy.

What happened?

This good-looking guy with the flower in his lapel came up to me and kept asking me to go for coffee.

Wait a minute. Where's the guy?

Can you point him out to me?

Hey, where's Magnus?

He had a work emergency.

He had a flower emergency?

They forgot the liljekonvaljs.

Can you--show me the guy the came up and talked to you.

This is so typical. You told him to go, didn't you?

Honestly, I did not tell him.

I did tell him you were married, which apparently, you neglected to in six months of emailing.

Okay, you can look at me with all the judgment you want, but my life was falling apart, so I reached out to an old friend, and it felt good, and I'm sorry if that makes me a terrible person.

I would have talked to you about it, but you weren't around.

That doesn't make you a terrible person.

Look, have to go outside and make a work phone call.

Wait, aren't we in the middle of a conversation/argument?

Yes, but can't that just wait a minute?

Just wait here.

It must be nice to have a job that's so important, it can get you out of any argument.

Hey, just wait!

Danielle!

Auggie.

Hey, we ready for some Aquavit?

I failed to liaise with my contact.

Well, he didn't show?

Not exactly.

Danielle was at the event, and the contact mistook her for me.

Wait, what was your sister doing there?

I'm on vacation! I thought I was.

Where's your contact now?

Off radar.

What's the protocol?

For this?

There is no protocol.

I can take a lap back through the event and try and find my contact.

Annie, that is not a good idea.

Missions either go as planned, or they're scrapped.

Well, maybe it was just a misunderstanding.

Or it could have been something more.

We can't take that risk.

Okay, I missed the hand-off.

What do I do with the package?

It's a return to sender.

You need to leave the event.

Go back to Petr. He's a good guy.

He knows the local players and the ground rules.

Wait for further instructions.

Okay.

I learned that Jai is being called in by an inquest board for a program I created three years ago called Lynx.

Never heard of it.

That was intentional.

Highly compartmentalized.

A joint effort with MI-6 to wiretap terror cells in the UK and America.

So what's the problem?

[Sighs]

I sought outside legal council.

During the inception phase.

Including Gina.

I wanted you to hear it from me first.

In case this gets out.

There are a lot of lawyers in DC, and you had to consult your ex-wife?

It was a judgment call.

As was not telling me.

When were you gonna tell me that you were called in front of the G.C.O. inquest board?

[Chuckles] Yes.

I know everything.

I don't suppose you realize the opportunity you've created for yourself.

More scrutiny? That's an opportunity?

You have the ear of the general counsel.

Play your cards right, and... you can get rid of a major obstacle in your way.

You want me to sell out Arthur.

Operation Lynx was his call.

You were just... following orders.

We both had a hand in it.

I wouldn't defend the man who called you in from London station and then let you twist after Ben Mercer came into the fold.

Doing fine now.

Your office of special projects is a vanity title at best.

You need to entrench yourself in a job that has a spine.

The inquest board will ask some questions about your allegiances.

Any sympathy for Arthur will be seen as weakness, and you will be marched out along with him.

I don't have any sympathy for Arthur.

Good.

Keep your composure.

And pretty soon, I'll be back in as D.C.S.

Look arrogant, say nothing of importance.

That should be easy for you.

I have work to do.

Good-bye.

[Boat horn blows]

[Cell phone ringing]

Uhh!

Auggie?

Annie, a janitor at the Waterfront Congress Hotel just found your contact dead in the stairwell.

What's your 20?

I'm at Petr's. He's dead too.

k*lled.

Tell me what you see.

Uh...looks like he was going for his emergency sidearm, and his secretary was dragged in here too.

You need to leave.

The place is trashed.

There are still g*ns and cash in the safe.

Whoever was here was looking for something specific.

Most likely your envelope.

Listen to me.

Stockholm is too hot.

You're gonna need to leave.

What about Danielle?

Where is she?

I-I don't know. We had an argument.

Annie, if she had any contact with the k*ller, she's in danger too.

Okay, I gotta go find her.

I'm gonna text you your exit strategy. Go.

[Seagulls squawking]

Danielle?

[Cell phone ringing]

Hi, I'm staying in room 429.

I'm looking for Danielle Brooks.

She might be under the last name Walker.

She's tall and blonde.

I know that's not very rare in Sweden.

Oh, here she is. Where have you been?

Where were you?

Oh, I was in the business center, using the computer to email the girls.

We have to go. Right now.

Oh, God, no.

Danielle!

I am tired of your apologies and directives.

Danielle, listen.

I can't even pretend to know what it's like to be in your shoes.

You are going through an incredibly tough situation with grace and poise.

And I am not trying to be bossy, but we need to go... Right now.

Can you stop for a minute to explain what's going on?

We're leaving Stockholm.

As in leaving leaving?

Yeah.

Why aren't we going to the airport?

It's too predictable.

We'll go to the train station and go west to Oslo.

We'll fly out from there.

Don't be nervous.

This is already awkward.

Ah, it would have been more awkward if Arthur actually knew this was happening.

[Chuckles] What is it with you two and secrecy?

All right, you're both C.I.A.

Well, you used to be one of us.

I also used to be married to Arthur.

Who consulted you in an operation called Lynx.

[Scoffs]

Is that what this is about?

It is.

You want to know what we talked about?

We talked about you, Joan.

Me?

Mm-hmm.

Arthur was concerned if any blowback from operation Lynx could land on you.

He thinks you have a stellar career ahead at the Agency and beyond.

Career in politics.

A Senate bid, perhaps.

He didn't want to jeopardize that.

It's true, Joan.

[Chuckles]

I hope the C.I.A. hasn't made you that paranoid.

It has.

But I believe you.

Thank you.

So what's it like being out of the Agency?

As you well know, the Agency wasn't a great period in my life.

Yeah.

I'm sorry about that.

Don't be.

My life is infinitely better than it was back then.

My decisions are my own.

I found a good place.

Uh, thank you.

Take care.

[Indistinct chatter]

[Beldings]

[Sighs]

Hello, August.

Jai.

Has the second floor treating you?

Do you know what an elevator pitch is?

Yeah, talking points that can be outlined quickly.

Well, here's mine.

Everybody knows about the inquest.

Arthur likes you and respects you, and he is a good and decent man.

If you disregard that and try to get him fired, your career will t*nk.

I'm comfortable with my decisions.

I hope you are.

Because you are systematically alienating everyone in this building.

Elevator pitch concluded.

[Indistinct chatter]

What is it?

Did you see all the cops?

Well, that's a good thing, right?

No. Train security in Sweden is privatized.

They're here looking for someone.

Us?

Maybe.

Why?

'Cause my life is complicated.

Hey, look, there's that creepy guy at the party.

[Cell phone ringing]

[Whispering] My phone.

[Whispering]

Turn it off.

It's Michael.

[Cell phones ringing]

[Phones continue ringing]

[Indistinct PA announcement]

[Police siren whizzes by]

[Siren whizzes by]

[Siren whizzes by]

Hey.

Just stick close to my hip, please.

Talk to me, Annie. What do you see?

Cops. Lots and lots of cops.

I I.D.'d the guy that contacted Danielle.

He was confabbing with the polisen officers.

So he's connected.

Yeah. What about a heli extraction?

Swedish government won't allow it.

Well, I'm running out of options here.

I could reroute an American trawler in the Baltic.

You're a genius.

Oh, I'm just a guy with a bunch of phones and computers.

You're doing the heavy lifting on this one.

Do I detect a hint of modesty?

Not a chance.

Hang in there, Walker.

[Traffic light dings]

Who are you talking to?

A coworker from the Agency.

We're in good hands.

I need you to call little Magnus.

I don't think he wants to talk to me.

Tell him it's a flower emergency.

[Horn honking]

I'm glad Magnus is so understanding, but I still don't understand why I had to call him.

Magnus has a boat at his cottage in Torhamn, remember?

We can use it to sail into the Baltic and rendezvous with an extraction team.

How much danger are we in?

The real answer, which may scare you more than calm you is...

I don't know what's going on... or how much danger we're in.

I don't care if the cod are running closer to the Kaliningrad Oblast, I need a trawler off of Torhamn.

Okay, I'll call your boss.

Auggie, there's a Dr. Kessle on one.

[Sighs]

Yeah, I'll take him.

Close the door.

[Beep]

Dr. Kessle.

Auggie.

Anything?

Our M.R.I. results came in.

I'm sorry to say you are not a suitable candidate for the experimental therapies at this time.

Okay. Thanks.

I'm very sorry, Auggie.

Ok, then.

Auggie.

I gotta go.

[ Beeping]

Get me North Star Marine's general manger, ASAP.

Thank you for talking with us.

I don't believe I had a choice.

But before we begin, I'd like to make a statement on a separate issue.

I think you'll find it of some interest.

Go ahead.

My name is Jai Wilcox.

I am the son of Henry Wilcox, former D.C.S. and current leak of information to the reporter Liza Hearn.

I will now outline my father's involvement in the leak scandal and provide to the board a comprehensive timeline as fully as I can.

Was it Jai?

Let me finish my round.

It always goes in when the pressure's off.

You don't have to worry. We're off the grid here.

The nearest neighbor is, like, half a t*nk of gas away, and with the fuel prices here, we don't see much of him.

Can we sail?

Into that storm?

I wouldn't recommend it.

When can we go?

Well, the weather changes kind of quickly here, so I guess we'd be okay in a couple of hours.

Okay, then, we'll wait.

Come on.

Auggie...

Any updates?

I got some intel on Annie's package.

It's a task order on a Nils Crofft.

He used to contract for us.

Black ops. Then he turned.

We were trying to get to him before he did any more damage.

Apparently, we were too late.

Well, now he knows Annie can I.D. him.

What is Annie's status?

Water evac.

We have a trawler waiting on the Baltic.

Last-ditch play.

[Seagulls squawking]

You like the tea?

Oh, it's good.

Huh?

It's called Soderblandning.

It's a good Swedish tea.

Well I, for one, think it's lovely to live out in the country like this.

Hmm.

Well, you know, it can get a bit lonely sometimes.

Well, uh, guess I better go and check on the boat.

I can have the mainsails rigged in ten minutes.

I didn't tell him to leave. He left on his own.

The trawler's gonna pick us up on Hammerora Island.

There's a backup at Gotland, but... my tech op's pretty on it.

Well, it must be nice to have an Auggie in your life.

An Auggie?

Well, it's Auggie, right, who you talk to?

I may not be a spy like you, but your voice changes a little when you talk to him.

It--it does?

Yeah.

Have some more tea.

I understand with Magnus is talking about there is kind of a romance in the isolation here.

Like the fact that there are no street addresses.

I had to write the name of the cottage, Krontorp, on my lost luggage form.

You put Krontorp on the luggage form?

Yeah, well, I thought there was a chance [tires skid outside] that Magnus and I would come out of here and... Wasn't thinking clearly.

[Door creaks]

We need to move.

[Whispers]

He's here.

[Clock ticking]

I'm scared.

It's okay.

How do you stay so calm?

Moments like this, I think of you and the girls.

Stay close.

[Whispering]

Run.

Run to the boat.

Do not look back, no matter what.

[sil*ncer sh*t]

[Glass shatters]

[Panting]

[Seagull squawking]

Are you okay?

What happened?

It's over.

[Waves crashing, seagulls squawking]

So...thank you.

For what?

[Lid clatters]

You held my fate in your hands, and you chose do the right thing.

It speaks volumes.

It's funny... being constantly underestimated.

I was being complementary.

You think I did this out of some deep-seated morality... where this talk would be my cherished reward.

Don't you get it?

I failed the polygraph on purpose.

What is your purpose?

Everyone knows about the inquest.

How I chose the ethical path... over the preservation of my own father.

I finally got rid of the stink of nepotism.

And soon, I'll be going after Joan's job.

And if you step in to defend her, that stink will be back on you, and you'll both be gone, and I'll be running the D.P.D.

Thanks for the scotch.

They're from Michael.

I don't know what I'm gonna do.

[Spoons clinking]

Mmm.

I think you should move back in.

I'd love to.

Where can a girl get a fichus around here?

[Sighs]

About the fichus...

[Laughing]

What?

Ah, don't give a live plant to a blind guy.

[Chuckles]

Sorry.

It's okay.

You okay?

Well... Rough couple days. You?

Rough couple of days.

I heard.

I'm sorry, Annie, but your life's going to change.

Inside the Agency and out.

I can still feel the recoil of the g*n.

The acid smell of the b*llet and the echo.

Time stops.

You know, you don't have to go through this alone.

The Agency has people you can talk to.

The person I want to talk to you is you.

Well, how fortuitous.

Because I have something I wanted to talk to you about too.

[Paper crinkling]

Another mission?

Not exactly.

[Keys clinking]

You're giving me your car?

I'm moving on.

And you need some cheering up.

Knowing how fast you like to drive, this ought to do it.

[Laughs]

Well, what do you say we take her for a spin?

Ohh.

Actually, I have a plane to catch now.

Where to?

I'm going to Africa.

Gonna look somebody in the eye, so to speak, and say what I need to say.

Well, uh...

Whoever it is, I hope they hear you.

I know she will.

Well, you know you wanna drive it so drive it.

I can literally hear you smiling.

[Car engine starts]

Any tips?

Give her all you got, Walker.

She can take it.

[Engine revving]

[Tires squeal]

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪