03x11 - Rock 'n' Roll su1c1de

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Covert Affairs...

Our parents told us not to be frightened because they were bringing along this weathered old steam trunk.

And what was in it?

Didn't matter.

We felt protected.

[Silenced g*nshots]

[E.M.T.s speaking indistinctly]

[Monitors beeping]

And I realized you weren't asking for permission.

You were telling us you were going to Russia.

You get caught by Russian authorities, there's nothing the CIA can do to help.

Zarya, I knew your brother. I knew Simon.

You expected me to fall in love with him?

I did.

What I didn't expect was for him to fall for you.

Go ahead, Annie.

Pull the trigger.

[Ducks quacking]

[g*nshots]

[Crows cawing]

[Tense music]

♪ ♪

[Birds chirping]

[Phone rings]

[Ringing continues]

Annie, where are you?

I thought you were on your way back.

I am now. I'm done here.

So you--

I did.

And now I'm coming home.

Annie, I can barely hear you.

[Forcefully]

I said I'm coming home.

[Men shouting indistinctly in distance]

[Suspenseful music]

[Twigs cr*ck]

♪ ♪

Both: [Grunting]

[Shouts indistinctly]

[Grunts]

[Twigs crackle]

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

♪ Covert Affairs 03x11 ♪
Rock 'n' Roll su1c1de
Original Air Date on October 16, 2012

♪
♪ 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 ♪

[chains clanking]

[Garbled voices]

[Hinges creak]

[Hinges screech, clang]

[Suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[Click, buzz]

I imagine you would like to go home.

I would like that for you too.

All I need from you is to cooperate.

My name is Alexei.

Please tell me yours.

[Speaking Russian]

You're not Pinja Stavis.

Your name is Annie Walker, and you're a CIA operative sent here to m*rder your former colleague Lena Smith.

[ Your phone.]

Chip.

Your last contact, somebody called Mingus.

The same area code you used to contact Lena.

It's a front for Langley.

You were calling your handler.

Who is Mingus?

[Speaking Russian]

Wrong again.

This is your "Mingus".

Lena was a tremendous font of information, especially about you.

If you know all the answers, why do you ask the questions?

So I know how it looks like when you lie to me.

That's good. Thank you.

So...

[Clears throat]

How you holding up?

I've been better.

Listen, that-- that offer still stands if, um, you're interested.

There's Arthur.

None of us look forward to this kind of contingency planning and having to discuss worst-case scenarios.

It's been four days since we lost contact with operative Walker, and it's time to address the potential fallout if she's been captured.

That's the worst-case scenario?

For the purposes of this exercise, yes.

Her being captured is as bad as it gets.

If she can't hold up under the pressure of interrogation--

She'll hold up.

But if she can't, and she tells the F.S.B. everything she knows, we need to know what kind of damage that can do to the Agency's operations.

Annie is not going to talk.

She's already demonstrated her commitment to this Agency by eliminating someone who could've done a hell of a lot more damage to our operations.

Joan, no one is questioning Annie's courage or her commitment.

We're conducting a risks and vulnerabilities inventory for operative Walker, Joan, same as we do for every captured operative.

So?

Okay, Annie has top-secret-clearance-level knowledge of the following ops: Project Spartacus, Operation Zyzyx, Operation Sentinel...

Believe me, if I could've chosen a different venue, I would have.

Could you have been any more clinical?

Well, this was a significant snafu, Joan.

Yours is not the only resignation being considered.

So, yes, for the time being, we get everything on the record to eliminate any confusion.

A vulnerabilities inventory?

You know, you can keep referring to her as operative Walker all you want, but that's not gonna make this feel any less personal.

We're doing everything we can to bring her back.

We're holding strategy sessions nonstop.

Well, I hope so.

We are doing what we can.

She knew what she was getting into.

Well, I'm not so sure she did, Arthur.

Come on, what operative truly understands the meaning of "We will deny all knowledge"?

Uh, I'm not sure what you want me to say or what you want me to do.

I want you to stop pretending that Annie is just a line item, a thing to be damage-controlled.

Message received.

[Door closes]

[High-pitched hum]

[Hum continues]

[Hum fades]

[Shrill hum continues]

I'm impressed.

You have held out longer than most.

It's important for you to hear that you're better than the others, isn't it?

I'm guessing you didn't hear that much at home as a child.

But Simon was more generous with his affections.

What did he tell you about his operations?

[Case thuds shut]

Nothing.

He takes you to Cuba.

His handler ends up dead.

You he keeps alive.

You keep asking me the same questions, and I keep giving you the same answers.

So which one of us is the stubborn one?

Sir?

I mean no disrespect, but it has been more than two weeks since Annie was captured.

When are we gonna get off our asses and do something?

But you meant no disrespect.

I felt I needed to get your attention.

Consider it gotten.

Is that all you came up here for?

No, I came to pitch you this.

I've been researching Lefortovo.

I've drawn up some blueprints based on the recollections of ex-prisoners.

We have no confirmation that's where they're holding her.

That's where they kept Litvinenko and Rust.

They're keeping her at Lefortovo.

I'm fairly certain.

And I do realize that no one's ever escaped, but I think I've found some vulnerabilities.

A small team might be able to breach the prison via an adjacent tunnel.

You're talking about an underground, fortified prison, smack dab in the middle of the sixth largest city in the world.

Even assuming we make it out, what then?

We can't control the air space.

We're over 200 miles from the nearest border.

Yeah, it's a risky gambit, granted.

It's a su1c1de mission.

You think you're the only one in this place to work up a rescue?

I've had a team constructing plans since Annie was taken.

None of them have been initiated because none of them have been deemed feasible.

What about a negotiated release, some kind of spy swap?

No, Russia won't even admit they have her in custody, and we can't exactly admit our part in anything.

So you're telling me Annie's fate is tied up in a game of liar's poker?

Unless facts change on the ground, there's nothing I can do.

I wish that wasn't the case.

But it is.

[Loud, high-pitched hum]

Nobody's coming for you.

You understand that by now, don't you?

What are you afraid of?

Being thought of as a traitor? Is that it?

[Meekly]

Yes.

Well, don't be.

That word has no meaning anymore.

It hasn't had for a long time.

I just wanna go home.

Then tell me what you know.

I can't.

Write it down.

It's easier that way.

[Chains clank]

I'm left-handed.

[Tense music]

[Grunts]

[Metal clangs on concrete]

[Whimpering]

If you were wondering when I'd introduce more extreme methods of interrogation--

Go ahead.

[Chuckles]

I'm not going to hurt you.

You recognize her?

Simon's sister.

[Grunts]

[Chokes]

Some people find it harder to watch other people suffer pain than to suffer pain themselves.

Tomorrow we shall see what kind of person you are.

[Slams case shut]

[Breathing heavily]

[Banging, indistinct shouting]

[Men shouting]

[Alarm buzzing]

[Lock clicks]

[Dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Agh!

[Grunts]

[Alarm buzzing]

[Birds chirping]

[Gasping]

[Breathing heavily]

Sorry to drop in unannounced. I didn't have your phone number.

[Breathing heavily]

You weren't doing anything today, were you?

[Sobbing]

You're okay.

[Classical piano music playing]

♪ ♪

Listen, I, uh, I grabbed what I could.

I-I hope this fits.

Hey.

Your go-pack.

Listen, uh, we don't need to leave for at least another 14 minutes, so why don't you, uh, why don't you go grab a shower, okay?

Get, uh, get your feet back under you.

[Keyboard clicking]

Wh-what are you doing?

Just establishing protocol.

What is this place?

It's a friend's.

This isn't official Mossad business, if that's what you're getting at.

You came on your own?

How did you know how to find me?

It was a lucky guess.

Believe me, that's just a slight exaggeration.

Hey, just know... that you have at least one really good friend back home.

Go.

[Suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

All right, let me get this straight.

You staged an unsanctioned, off-book, one-man jailbreak with an operative from a competing spy service.

That's what you took away from our last discussion.

It worked.

For the time being.

If this thing went sideways, I didn't want it to connect back to us.

Plus Eyal is exceptionally competent, and he owes Annie a favor too.

Can you get me Tel Aviv?

I would've done it myself if I could, just so you know.

Did Joan know about this?

Not beforehand, no.

Does she know about it now?

She's not in her office yet.

We've been trying to reach her.

Well, this does change everything for the Russians.

That was the idea.

If I were to put myself in the Russians' shoes, the proper play is to sh**t Annie on sight.

You and I both know she was gonna die in that prison.

The escape at least gives her a chance.

What's the plan now?

We've obtained clean I.D.s and travel documents for both of them.

They're gonna be on the 216 to Helsinki.

They're traveling by train.

Yeah, they have a car, but there'll be too many roadblocks to avoid.

Now, anything you can do, any strings you can pull to give them extra protection--

We don't have any suitable assets on the ground in Moscow, not after Lena b*rned the covers.

[Intercom beeps]

I've got Rivka Singer on two.

Tell her I'll be 30 seconds.

We might be able to fly some assets down from Helsinki.

I assume you can get them a message.

Yeah, we've established a protocol.

Tver's a couple hours north.

We'll have some reinforcements catch up with the train there, but until then, they're on their own.

Yeah.

[Phone beeps]

Rivka.

We need to make tracks, Annie.

We got a train to catch.

I have to make a stop first.

What are you talking about?

A friend of mine's in danger.

Zarya Fischer.

Yeah, well, so is a friend of mine--Annie Walker.

Have you ever heard of her?

My interrogator threatened to hurt her to elicit a confession from me.

Well, interrogators say a lot of things.

99% of them are bullshit.

I can't take that chance.

Listen.

Zarya's no good to the F.S.B. unless they have you in custody, so the best thing you can do for her right now is keep your distance and get home safely.

I understand if you want to go on without me.

[Muttering in hebrew]

You've already done more for me than I can already repay.

You bet your ass I have!

We're talking about Simon Fischer's sister, right?

Look, whatever he may have meant to you, it's over.

You don't owe him in perpetuity.

I owe her.

A normal person doesn't do this kind of thing.

You know that, right?

The coast looks clear, doesn't it?

Why would the F.S.B. Think that you'd stop running to come here?

I know you, and I barely believe it.

Five minutes.

Three.

That's not me haggling.

[Indistinct chatter]

Annie.

You're still alive.

I am.

I tried to find out what happened to you.

I heard so many rumors. I didn't want to believe them.

[Exhales sharply]

Is there somewhere else we can talk?

You're talking to someone who spent their entire life living with spies.

I know how to make a fast exit.

I just renewed it last year.

[Sirens wail in the distance]

It's under your real name.

That's never been a problem before.

What are you doing?

Making sure you have a better way out of here.

This is as clean a passport as you can find.

I want you to go somewhere clever enough that they will never be able to find you.

And what about you?

Don't worry about me.

I'll be fine.

I do this for a living.

[Tense music]

♪ ♪

Please let me give this to you.

[Papers rustling]

This is the key to my family's steamer trunk.

It doesn't open anything anymore, but it's always brought me great peace, and Simon would've wanted you to have it.

I can't accept it. It belongs to your family.

You are my family now.

Thank you.

Maybe next time, the stars will shine brighter on us.

[Tense music]

♪ ♪

Where's your friend going?

To the airport.

I thought it was best if we separated.

So you finally realized I was right.

You said we were on a timetable.

That's us.

[Man speaking Russian on P.A.]

See what I'm seeing?

Yeah.

[Speaking on P.A. continues]

Don't be alarmed, Neshama.

Let's go.

F.S.B.

Let's keep moving.

Maybe we can find a private cabin or a bathroom to stow away in. Something.

[Suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

That's him.

Let's just go.

[Suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

Go, go!

[Train whistle blares]

[Grunts]

[Grunts]

[Train whistle blares in the distance]

Annie! This-- this way.

No, don't send them.

Because there'll be nobody there in Tver for them to rendezvous with.

Just keep everybody on standby till you hear back from me.

Why didn't anyone call me?

I tried what felt like half a dozen times.

You weren't picking up.

What's going on with Annie? Where is she?

We're not sure.

All we know for sure is that she's not on the train to Helsinki.

We're not in contact with her?

Not directly, no.

I've established a protocol with Eyal using a third-party message board so as to avoid a direct point-to-point link.

Good call.

The Russians are too skilled at monitoring cell transmissions.

So what now?

Um, can we use another border crossing?

What about Latvia or Estonia?

We could get them a car.

Hey.

We've been brainstorming alts for hours.

I'm not getting anything.

[Banging on keyboard]

I'm not getting anything.

Okay.

All right, all right, we still have our go-packs.

There's this ex-army guy that I served with.

He's working security at the port of Petersburg.

Eyal--

Maybe if we're lucky, if we're not too compromised--

Eyal, I don't have my go-pack.

What do you mean?

I gave mine to Zarya.

What were you gonna do when we needed to cross into Finland?

I don't know.

I figured we'd work that out before we got there.

The F.S.B. was not gonna let us on that train.

At least Zarya can use it.

You gave away your lifeline, Annie.

Do you have any idea what that means?

No boat, no plane, no train.

Our options are severely limited, as in...

I can't think of any.

Gimme your cell. I want to check in with Langley.

No way.

Too easy to track. We don't have that luxury.

Not until we find sanctuary.

I don't care. I wanna talk to Auggie.

Hey, I'm talking to Auggie! This is his plan.

He's the one who set up the protocol.

Now, I don't know how harshly they worked you over or what kind of number this-- this Simon guy did on your head...

But if somehow you lost the will to escape because of guilt or shame or whatever, you better get rid of that baggage, or I swear to God I'm gonna take you up on that offer and leave you here.

Now tell me you're ready to go home.

I'm ready to go home.

Say it again.

I need to know you mean it.

I'm ready.

[Computer beeps]

Well.

Looks like somebody's heard you.

Alex, see if you can pull this aircraft up on the screen.

Transponder code: De Havilland. "D-H-C" Dash "5-A", squawk 1634.

[Keyboard clicking]

Transponder found.

What are we looking at?

There's a flight crew from Poland, a pilot and co-pilot.

They fly a cargo supply route, the Urals to Warsaw and back, twice a week.

Stops at Borisovsky Air Field for scheduled refuelings.

Both pilots served for Poland in central Asia, alongside us.

They're loyal. They can be trusted.

They've promised to keep their cargo hold door open while they're refueling.

At 7:00 p.m., they're back in the cockpit and on their way to Warsaw.

That's Annie and Eyal's window.

If they're not on that plane by 7:00 p.m., the cupboard gets bare.

Take a left up here.

It's about a mile that way.

What's that?

My interrogator's.

Can I see it?

I don't know why I grabbed it.

I think I just wanted to take something from him.

There's an inscription on it saying, "to Alexei with pride."

Yeah, that's his name. Alexei Vershinin.

Your interrogator?

What's the matter?

No, nothing.

It's just that our intel said that a guy named Oleg Yursky was going to handle your interrogation.

Must have been a last-second switch.

You're sure here?

That's what the map says.

So what kind of questions did he ask you?

He wanted to know about Simon's ops.

What'd you tell him?

Nothing.

Not because I was trying to be a hero or anything.

Because I didn't know the answers.

And he didn't believe me.

That's the scariest part.

[Sighs heavily]

[Indistinct distant voices]

[Engine rumbling]

CIA sure likes to do things the hard way.

If Auggie says this is the best way out of Russia, then this is the best way out.

[Chuckles]

I'm sure it's the best way out.

But first we gotta figure out a way in.

I mean, there's Cyclone fencing around the entire perimeter, barricades there, there, there, 30 or so infantry, plus flight crew.

I'm open to suggestions.

[Speaking russian]

[Speaking Russian]

Drop it.

You look like you lost a little weight in there.

You should come back to Israel with me.

Safta Lavin will help you fill up those uniforms in no time.

I'm not sure I can sell this.

You know, I may have been a little too quick to dismiss this gambit.

After all, my people, we know something about counterstrikes, you know?

The Raid of Entebbe, the Six-Day w*r.

I had a similar experience in Lebanon myself when I was in service.

Was a walk in the park compared to this.

Wheels up in two minutes.

We'll get there.

[Tense music]

♪ ♪

Like I said...

A walk in the park.

[Speaking under background noise]

[Door grinds, clangs shut]

Can I ask you a question?

Yes, my eyes are naturally this color.

I'm serious.

I want to make sure that you didn't sign up for this mission because of that file you gave me.

The one about Simon Fischer?

[Engines whir]

With or without the intel in that file, I would've ended up where I ended up.

I made my own bed.

I just want to make sure that you don't have any feelings of guilt or--

Guilt?

I'm Jewish. What do I know from guilt?

No, the truth is, Auggie caught me at a good time.

I was gonna be in the neighborhood anyway.

Yeah?

Yeah.

I got this thing for Balalaikas.

Whatever happened in that raid in Lebanon?

I gotta admit, it wasn't our finest hour.

We were all so green.

Yeah, but that was then. This is now.

Different day, better team.

[Plane throttles down]

There's a problem.

What happened?

Plane stopped.

No, no, it can't stop.

We just lost our window.

[Hydraulics whining]

[g*n clicking]

Wasn't sure I'd get these back.

I had less doubts about you.

Mark Sanderson.

I'm guessing this is not your real name.

Who are you really?

A friend.

[Chuckles]

I congratulate you, Annie.

You obviously inspire great loyalty from your friends.

Shame you can't inspire more intelligence.

I'm guessing that was a gift from someone.

Your dad?

Grandfather.

Holding on to something like that says a lot about you.

If you think you uncovered sentimentality in me, I caution you not to read too much into that.

It says you're not Oleg Yursky.

You stepped in for him at the last minute, and I think that's because you were afraid of something I might say.

And what would I be afraid of?

That I might say that you, Alexei Vershinin, are a traitor to the F.S.B.

[Chuckles]

A traitor?

Mmhmm.

That's what Simon told me.

That you're double-dealing.

Embezzling.

You're making this up.

You don't know what you're talking about.

Oh, but I do.

It's all in the file we assembled on Simon Fischer.

I'm Mossad, by the way.

This is ridiculous.

Maybe.

But if anything I'm saying even has a grain of truth, I wouldn't want to be you.

A person in your position could use an exit strategy... such as a new identity.

That passport is clean.

There's access to funds.

The F.S.B. might never find you.

By this time tomorrow, you could be leading a completely new life with a completely new identity.

Become Mark Sanderson.

It's an even trade for letting us go.

Let's assume for a second what you say is right.

What's stopping me from taking this package and sh**ting you both in the head, huh?

If we're not both home and safe in 24 hours, the details of that identity will be sent to the F.S.B.

You'll be signing your own death certificate.

And how would I know you wouldn't do that anyway?

You'll have to take my word for it.

You said you could tell if I was lying.

Look at me.

Am I not telling the truth?

[Speaking Russian]

[Speaking Russian]

[Suspenseful music]

[g*nshots]

[Crows cawing]

You will be reported dead.

And as long as you stay that way, you'll find it easy to make your exit.

Nearest port is 20 kilometers north.

May God help us all.

[Birds chirping]

Hey.

You okay?

Double-dealing, huh?

Calculated guess.

[Tranquil music]

♪ ♪

Scored.

Just wish I could've found us better digs.

Feels like first class to me.

Should probably give you a little space, you know?

After all that time in solitary, you get used to being alone.

Probably sick of me by now.

[Chuckles]

Never.

We'll see how you feel by Stockholm.

When was the last time you slept?

I can't remember. It's funny, though. I don't feel tired.

It's probably the adrenaline.

Yeah.

I gotta tell you, Walker, I've seen my fair share of hairy situations, but when Alexei told his guy to stop out there, right there in the middle of nowhere...

Yeah, I don't mind telling you, I--