05x12 - Starlings of the Slipstream

[bunniefuu]

Why did you k*ll 12 CIA officers in Chicago?

I'm sorry if this caused you problems.

I keep sticking my neck out for you, and all you do is lie to me.

That's not true.

What about your heart condition or wherever the hell you were for four months?

Get these people out of the cars and move them back.

Caitlyn Cook put a b*mb on one of the motorcade vehicles.

[Device beeps]

You'll never stop us!

Alec.

They know about your relationship with Caitlyn.

Someone at the Russian embassy knew about Belenko.

If we can access Mashkov's files, we can link Belenko to Chicago.

When you have the chance, take this phone, press it against his for 30 seconds.

Technology will do the rest.

Stop!

You recognize her?

No.

Tony, it's 5:30 in the morning.

What are you doing?

I'm a little bit drunk.

I'm coming over-- just promise me you're not gonna have another drink until I get there, okay?

Tony d*ed. They're telling me he drank himself to death.

I don't believe that's what k*lled him.

What are you doing here?

McQuaid is recovering from the g*nsh*t wound.

Is he out of surgery? Is he conscious?

You can ask him yourself.

[Teakettle whistling]

Hey.

Hey.

Doesn't look like you have one of those for me.

[Laughing]

That shouldn't stop you from having some or taking your walk of shame.

[Laughing]

And here I was, thinking that last night meant something.

Where are you going?

Uh, my place.

I have to change before I head to the office.

You hit the ground running.

That's the only way I know how to hit the ground.

[Cell phone ringing]

It's Langley.

You should answer it.

Yeah.

Hey, Annie, it's me-- Eric, uh, Eric Barber. We used to work together.

I remember you, Eric. What's up?

Uh, we have a bit of a situation here.

What kind of situation?

It's about Auggie.

[Door closes]

[Door buzzes]

Auggie.

Annie, what are you doing here?

Bailing you out.

Barber called me.

He said you got into a fight with that medical examiner.

We had a disagreement over what caused Tony's death.

So you threw him into a wall?

I pushed him.

Barber wasn't supposed to call you.

Why didn't you call me?

We haven't exactly been getting along lately.

That's why you haven't been returning my calls?

It's been a tough week.

Come on. We're parked outside.

You think Tony was m*rder*d?

They said he d*ed of alcohol poisoning-- too much vodka.

Tony didn't drink vodka. He was a bourbon man.

You said he just fell off the wagon after three years.

Yeah, meaning what?

Meaning maybe he wasn't that discerning when it came to getting drunk.

Annie, I knew Tony. He wouldn't drink himself to death.

Someone just wanted it to look that way.

Who would want that?

Belenko.

Belenko? You think this connects?

There's a pattern to his att*cks.

Each one k*lled a guy from my unit.

First, Charlie Schinderman in Chicago.

Then Mueller, which was based on false Intel fed to us, and when you stopped the motorcade bombing, he had Tony poisoned.

You think Tony was Belenko's target?

Three of my guys dead in three months.

We're trained not to believe in coincidences.

Why would Belenko be targeting guys from your unit?

I haven't figured that out yet.

Have you ever crossed paths with him?

No. Not that I know of.

We're here.

I know I'm right about Belenko.

Then let's start by proving Tony's death was foul play.

We do that, we can prove conspiracy.

Okay.

[Sighs]

Hey, buddy.

Glad to see you didn't get shanked in there.

I specifically made my one call to you, Barber.

Hey, man, how was I to know you and Annie weren't on speaking terms, okay?

I thought you two were inseparable.

Just so that I've got a heads-up, has word about this already made its way to Joan?

Yes.

Yeah.

Will you excuse us, Barber?

Yeah.

Joan, before you get into it, you need to know there is more going on with Tony's death.

Auggie...

I understand that you're grieving the loss of your friend and that you're searching for answers.

But when it comes to addiction, there aren't any.

Tony's addiction isn't what k*lled him.

I'm sending you home. Take the rest of the week off.

I don't need a vacation.

You want me to call it a suspension?

Joan, don't do this.

Auggie, you punched a county official.

I didn't punch him. I shoved him.

Look, just listen to me.

No, you listen to me.

You were arrested, which leaves me no choice.

I'll see you next week.

[Knock at door]

Who is it?

Auggie, it's me.

Hey, it's late.

I broke into Tony Salgado's house looking for evidence of homicide.

Well, did you find any?

Yeah.

I called in a favor and had Tony's vodka bottles tested.

What'd you find?

Traces of synthetic tetrodotoxin.

No wonder the M.E. missed it.

That wouldn't get flagged in a basic tox screen.

There are only a handful of labs in the world that can make it.

Tony was m*rder*d.

Auggie, you could be next.

We need to take this to Joan.

No, no way, we're not taking this to the CIA, not after they just benched me.

Auggie, you need to be protected.

Annie, what I need is to find out who made that toxin and link them to Belenko.

I have to do this for Tony, for my unit.

I have to do this for you.

We need to move fast before Belenko makes his next move.

♪ Covert Affairs 05x12 ♪
Starlings of the Slipstream
Original Air Date on November 13

[Knock at door]

Thought you could use a bite before the red-eye.

Mm.

Are you sure that that lab that you're going to in Germany is the right one?

Well, there's only eight labs in the world that synthesize the toxin that k*lled Tony, and KLF in Essen is one of them.

And Belenko flew through there on his way back from Istanbul.

You know, I, uh-- I should come with you.

You still have two b*llet holes in your chest.

So you think that I would slow you down?

Well, I think you're more valuable here.

And you have a company to rebuild.

[Zipper closes]

Hey, hold-hold on.

Hold on. Your car's not here yet.

[Cell phone chimes]

Now it is.

Can you do me a favor before I go?

Name it.

Auggie.

Annie.

Auggie, nice to meet you.

Ryan McQuaid?

I'm sorry for your loss.

Yeah, thanks.

How are you feeling?

Well, it takes more than a couple of b*ll*ts to keep a frog man down.

And in true Navy SEAL style, you can write a tell-all book about it.

Okay, I have a plane to catch.

Auggie, will you walk me to my car?

Sure. Nice to meet you, McQuaid.

You too.

Have fun.

Will do.

Got something for me?

This is everything on KLF Chemical.

They're pretty specialized-- neurotoxins, nerve agents.

They sell to a lot of m*llitary contractors, so getting in there is gonna be almost impossible.

Recon could take weeks.

You may not have weeks.

I'll find a shortcut.

Sounds good. Call me on my cell.

We're not flying air Langley on this one.

Oh, you're gonna be all right, aren't you?

Yeah.

Is there anyone else in your unit--

I mean, anyone else still alive?

No.

Listen, Walker, I...

I appreciate you doing this for me.

You'd do the same for me.

[Camera shutter clicks]

[Camera shutter clicks]

Wait to cross.

Wait to cross.

Safe to cross.

Safe to cross.

Wait to cross.

Wait to cross.

[Horn honking, tires screeching]

Wait to cross.

[Computerized voice]

13, 8, 7...

Mayflower.

13, 8, 7...

Mayflower.

Any hits on the brunette?

[Computer whirs, beeps]

She lit up our internal database like a Christmas tree.

She's an FSB operative with the special activities directorate, trained with the SVR.

Name is Olga Akarova.

She's one of their best-- the real deal.

What about lady lab coat?

Less on her.

Britta Kaplan-- born and raised in Johannesburg, studied organic chemistry at E.T.H. Zurich.

She plays Words With Friends a lot, though she doesn't have many actual friends.

She's Belenko's chemist.

That's why Olga's monitoring her.

Britta must be the one who made them the toxin.

She can provide a link to what Belenko wants from Auggie.

[Sighs]

You know, I know that I have to rebuild the fort, but it is k*lling me not being there with you.

The sacrifices you're making are going to be worth it-- promise.

Just tell me that you're going to nail the bad guy's ass to the wall on this.

We're gonna nail the bad guy's ass to the wall.

SIGINT just got the analysis back from the phone that Sydney hot-synched with our diplomat friend.

Did Mashkov's phone provide anything of value?

Turns out he's more connected than we thought.

He has relationships with top officials at the FSB, the Duma, and the Kremlin.

This is great Intel.

Sydney did remarkable work for a civilian.

We need to get her in deeper.

Mashkov might have access to Intel on Belenko.

Getting our hands on it would be a game changer.

She's not a seasoned operative.

Joan, we have operatives seven years in that would not have been able to pull this off.

Mashkov is too connected.

One false move, and she'd be compromised, which would blow back directly onto us.

She's out of her depth here. I think she can do it.

I strongly caution against it.

Noted, but I made my decision.

[Knock at door]

Mrs. Campbell?

You're wanted down in polygraph.

"Polygraph"?

That's what I'm told.

[Door closes]

Unscheduled?

Yeah.

Happens to the best of us.

I'll keep that in mind.

Olga Akarova is the woman you saw in Istanbul?

Yeah, Olga was following Britta Kaplan, a KLF chemist.

And you think Britta is the one who made the toxin for Belenko?

Yeah.

I think Olga's here keeping an eye on Britta for Belenko.

How'd you get the I.D.s?

Ryan helped me.

Really?

Yeah, well, I know we don't have any access to CIA resources, so I looped him in for facial rec.

Yeah. I guess I just wish you had run it by me first.

It was my impression this Op was just between the two of us.

I'm guessing you hit McQuaid up for the guy shadowing me?

How'd you find out?

My spidey sense was tingling, so I had Barber pull up street-cam footage from outside my place.

I just want to make sure you're protected.

I didn't ask you to do that.

I know.

[Keys clacking]

All right, let's see what we can find on Britta Kaplan.

She's from Johannesburg.

She doesn't have a big social-media presence.

That's not enough for an approach.

And I got to say, it's gonna take me a while to get anything useful without my usual tech.

Yeah, which is why I'm thinking of breaking into her apartment.

What about the FSB agent shadowing her?

I'll stay off her radar.

Did you work in the Balkans during the Yugoslav wars?

Yes.

Were you stationed in Kosovo from March '98 through February '99?

Yes.

During that time, were you involved in training members of the KLA, also known as the Kosovo Liberation Army?

Yes, per my assignment.

"Yes" or "no" answers only, please.

I'm not sure if you're aware, but I did my annual polygraph two months ago.

I'd like to know what this is about.

I'm just here to ask questions.

Ready to continue?

[Camera shutter clicking]

[Door opens]

[Floor creaks]

[Thud, door opens]

[Door closes]

[Indistinct chatter over radio]

[Knock at door]

Who is it?

Auggie, it's Ryan McQuaid.

I'm not at the CIA right now, so I can't offer you a contract.

Oh, so you'd give me a contract.

That's good to know.

Listen, while you're here, you want to introduce me to my babysitter?

Hey, Pete. Come meet Auggie.

Hey, Auggie.

Pete.

Thanks, Pete.

Back to your post.

You mind if I come in?

I brought you something.

Oh, come on in, man.

I hope it's not too forward of me showing up like this, bearing gifts.

Guess it depends on what it is.

It's a m*llitary-grade laptop that conforms to FIPS-140 cryptography standards.

I even had it retrofitted with a refreshable braille display.

[Chuckles] Let's call it an early birthday present.

[Chuckles]

Well, I'm not big on birthdays, but I'll take it.

Figured a guy who can hack as well as you can might want to take it for a spin.

Why are you really here, McQuaid?

I just want to make sure that Annie has the best available resources backing her up.

Well, I assure you she does.

[Lock opens]

Thanks for the gear.

Don't mention it.

If you need anything else, just let me know.

I found a rejection letter for an article Britta wrote from Malmo Chemical Journal.

I could use that as an intro, say I'm on the board.

Operatives usually have to prep for months before they can understand the advanced chem lingo needed to pull that off.

Well, chemists just don't talk about formulas.

No, but, honestly, right now I'm more concerned about Olga.

You said she pulled a bug out of Britta's apartment?

Yeah, but we already knew she was surveilling Britta.

Nah, this is bigger than that.

I'm accessing some classified FSB Intel--

D.I.A. has a file on Olga.

How'd you manage that?

McQuaid-- he brought me some tech.

He did?

That was thoughtful.

Come on, you knew.

Auggie.

It's fine.

Turns out it's decent hardware.

But according to D.I.A., Olga recently graduated to wet work for the FSB-- four suspected kills in the last six months, three in Rotterdam, one in Kiev.

I'm sending you the file right now.

She may not be there just to keep tabs on Britta.

If she's here to k*ll her, what is she waiting for?

I mean, why hasn't she done it yet?

Well, maybe she's working on something else for Belenko.

Then I need to find out what that is.

I'm going to fast-track this.

No, hey, you need to hang back, at least until we can get someone else on the ground there to provide backup.

Auggie, we don't have time for that.

Annie, there is an FSB assassin in the mix.

The reason I'm here is to make sure nothing happens to you.

Pete already has that covered.

Listen to me-- the last thing I want is to lose another friend.

Now stand down!

I don't want to lose another friend either.

Hello, Britta?

Do I know you?

No, you don't.

And normally I'd do this differently, but we don't have enough time.

Time for what?

For me to explain that Belenko has sent an assassin to k*ll you.

You have me confused with someone else.

I know that you made him the tetrodotoxin.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

I don't have time for games, Britta.

Belenko sent this woman to k*ll you.

He's done it before.

He k*lled a woman who worked for him in D.C.

This doesn't make any sense.

Why would he send someone to k*ll me?

Because you're close to finishing what you're working on for him.

Why should I believe anything you're saying?

That woman in the photo could be anyone.

Look out the window.

You see the brunette across the street reading the newspaper?

She's here for you.

These are her victims.

That's not how you want to end up.

She's coming this way.

I can protect you, but you have to tell me what you're working on for Belenko.

It's in my lab.

Grab your stuff, slowly.

We'll go out the back.

They didn't say no.

You and I both know what that means.

You're worried.

Down to my last mag in Fallujah-- that had me worried.

Having to defend my judgment of character because of Caitlyn is bullshit.

Ah, the only easy day was yesterday.

You're gonna drop seal mottos on me?

A little adversity never hurt anyone.

We'll be back on top before you know it.

Yeah.

[Cell phone ringing]

Oh, I got to take this.

So I'll see you around 3:00?

Sure.

Hey.

I just got out of polygraph.

They poly'd you again so soon?

Yes.

Did they ask about the Balkans?

Yes, they did.

I'm worried, Arthur.

I'm going to pull a few strings and get to the bottom of what's going on.

I still know a few guys in I.G.

Thank you.

It's going to be all right, Joan.

I hope you're right.

So did I get you anything useful?

Would you consider a jackpot useful?

Really?

Yes, really.

Great work.

Who knew serving my country could feel so...

[Inhales sharply]

Good?

I know the feeling.

What do you want me to do next?

Cultivate a deeper connection with Mashkov.

"Deeper connection"?

Yeah.

He needs to fall in love with you.

So he can trust me.

Exactly.

I'm seeing him later today. I'll see what I can do.

Okay. Let's meet up after. And make sure to--

Follow your protocols? Don't I always?

[Woman speaking indistinctly over PA]

[Train beeps, man speaking German over PA]

[Computerized voice]

Incoming call--Annie.

Annie?

Hey, Auggie.

Little foot chase got my blood pumping.

You were made.

It's going to be fine.

I had to draw Olga away from Britta.

Sure, of course you did.

What does that mean?

It means you ignored my advice, and you put the mission in jeopardy.

I'm trying to complete the mission.

You are always trying to complete the mission.

That isn't the issue.

What's the issue?

The one thing that an operative and a handler need is trust, and I can't trust you.

I'm doing this mission for you.

Right, but the Annie Walker I used to know would've consulted me before getting me protection and looping in McQuaid.

This is about McQuaid?

No. This is about you and how you've changed.

You're right. I've changed.

I'm not a rookie operative anymore who needs your approval.

And I think that--

I think that scares you.

You have no idea what scares me.

Just get the Intel and call me back.

No, I understand. Thanks for getting back to me.

Okay, then we got this one.

I owe you one.

What was that about?

You.

The digging I did into your polygraph paid off.

How bad is it?

It's not good.

It's great.

It turns out the Agency is vetting you for another position-- something huge.

Did he say anything else?

No, that's all I know.

See, polygraphs aren't always a bad thing.

[Babbles]

Not as good as this.

Hurry. We have to b*at the shift change.

Why? What's the rush?

One of the current guards on duty is from Cape Town.

He likes speaking Afrikaans with me.

Hello, Thomas.

How much further?

It's just up here.

What did Belenko have you working on?

Do you know who he's targeting next?

This was a mistake.

Britta, I cannot keep you safe unless you tell me everything.

[Door beeps]

Before I tell you anything, I need to know more about the woman he k*lled.

Why?

What do you want to know? What was her name?

Caitlyn Cook.

What was she like?

Why are you asking me this?

Tell me about her, and I'll tell you what I'm working on.

She was successful, career-oriented... accomplished.

She sounds like me.

In some ways.

What did she do for him?

She helped him plan an att*ck that k*lled innocent people.

Why do you think she did it?

I think she loved him.

I think he convinced her that he felt the same way.

He gave her a wedding ring.

But he was just manipulating her to further his plan.

As soon as he didn't need her anymore, he sh*t her in cold blood and walked away as if he never knew her.

Did the ring look like this?

Yeah.

Alex promised me that I was the love of his life.

I believed him.

He's using you.

He's not worth protecting.

[Scoffs]

I need a drink.

Okay.

He's meeting someone named Shumer in Frankfurt tomorrow-- the Lindauer Hotel.

What else can you tell me?

[Sighs]

[Glass thuds]

You were right.

I did make this for Alex.

[Coughs]

Britta!

Britta?

[Coughs, chokes]

Britta?

What else did you make for Belenko?

Britta?

What did you make for him?

Britta?

Uh...

Britta, stay with me. Just--

[breathing heavily]

[Groans]

[Indistinct chatter over radio]

Anderson, it's Ryan McQuaid.

Pete tipped off my 20.

Yeah, he did.

And I thought we were friends.

Uh, two more of whatever he's having.

What's your poison?

Any other night, Tequila.

Tonight?

Bourbon for Tony.

Have you heard anything from Annie?

No, nothing yet.

But that's not exactly surprising, as you know, she's a bit of a Maverick.

One of her finest qualities.

[Chuckles]

Look, I know what it's like to lose a brother in arms.

It makes you angry at the world and... everyone in it.

Something like that you never quite get over.

No, you don't.

So let's drink to Tony.

To Tony.

[Car door closes]

[Sighs]

How'd it go earlier with Mashkov?

He's already talking about taking me to Russia someday.

He wants to show me where he grew up.

You move fast. Sounds like he's falling pretty hard.

I'm only doing what you asked.

I know. Wasn't criticizing.

I'm doing this because... it feels good to do the right thing, but I'm also doing it for you, Calder.

[Cell phone ringing]

Mm.

Ah, it's Mashkov.

I'll call him later.

No, no, take that.

I'd rather pick up where we left off.

Listen to me.

The sooner we get what we need out of him, the sooner we can end it.

[Ringing continues]

Hey, baby.

You want to see me tonight?

Okay.

I'll meet you at my place.

I can't wait either, baby.

Bye.

Yeah. You better not keep him waiting.

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey!

I know you're not Interpol.

You don't know anything.

We are on the same side...

Annie Walker.

[Breathing heavily]

You want a ride?

Nah, it's a two-minute walk.

All right, man, see you later.

Hey, McQuaid?

Yeah?

Sorry I gave you such a hard time about the shadow.

I know you were doing the right thing...

And I appreciate it.

You're welcome.

Take it easy, Auggie.

Yeah, you too.

Come on, Pete! We're going home!

[Lock clicking]

[Taser clicking]

Aah!