06x13 - The Devil's Greatest Trick

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Arrow". Aired October 2012 - January 2020*

Moderator: SageLexington

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Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow.
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06x13 - The Devil's Greatest Trick

Post by bunniefuu »

Previously on "Arrow" You would be remiss in forgetting the thermobaric expl*sive that remains in my possession.

WhatDo you want?

Vengeance for my son.

What did you find?

Alena: Video of his son's m*rder.

This is fabricated.

It didn't happen.

Whoever planned this knew exactly how Cayden would react.

Which means that person has to be close to Cayden.

Do you trust me?

Cayden: I need you here for a rather important assignment.

- What's that?

- Rooting out a traitor.

[Electricity crackling]

[Siren scream]

D--don't.

Baby, please wake up.

He's gone, D.

We're clear.

All right.

Keep moving.

I guess Cayden James and friends knew we were coming.

Cayden: Oh, yes.

Once I learned of Mr.

Sobel's treachery, I had to assume this location was compromised.

Speaking of which, I didn't appreciate your alliance with him.

Made me think we no longer have an understanding.

You need to know something.

Many things, I'm sure.

But I doubt very much that you're the man to teach them to me.

We almost have proof that I didn't k*ll your son.

A desperate gambit.

Cayden, give me more time.

Time, I'm afraid, is a commodity you and your city have run out of.

Mr.

Sobel's betrayal convinced me that there's little good in delaying matters further.

Accordingly, I will be detonating the thermobaric b*mb over Star City at midnight.

My son will find justice in the ashes of your beloved city.

Arrow 6x13 The Devil's Greatest Trick Cayden is going to detonate the b*mb in 4 hours.

Where are we with the video?

Well, we're running our photographic analysis algorithm to reveal the original footage.

How long will that take?

As long as it takes.

The algorithm Felicity and Curtis wrote works wonders on a still image, but this is 24 fps video we're talking about here, so Oliver: Right.

Cayden just told us that we are running out of time.

There's something you should consider.

You're putting all of your chips down on a bet that he'll spare the city if he thinks you're not responsible for his son's death.

John: That's because it's the only play we have, Alena.

I'm just saying you might be trying to reason with a man who's beyond reason.

Cayden: As you are well aware, Arclight is now in its final phase.

And now it's time for us to take our leave.

Words much appreciated, but how are we to get out of city?

Stay close to your phones.

You will be airlifted from the city before the b*mb goes off.

After it does, your individual shares of the ransom will be wired into offshore accounts that have been set up for each of you.

Sounds fair Lucrative.

Cayden: Indeed.

Thank you for helping to see this project to fruition.

I don't think I need to stress howpersonally important this has been for me.

Cayden: Thank you for all you've done to get justice for my boy.

Mr.James.

Just as Alexander rained destruction on Persepolis, so do I now on Averwood Pharmaceuticals.

$50 million for illegal black market drug deals and I just made it all [Typing]

Disappear.

You must be our new recruit.

Kojo Sledgehammer, if I recall.

[Chuckles]

Yeah, I am--I am so stoked to be here, Mr.

James.

This is just--you're an absolute legend.

[Cell phone vibrating]

It's been a pleasure meeting you.

I'm sure we'll all do great things together.

Owen.

See you guys tomorrow.

Hi, Dad.

Hey, that was quite a game.

Please don't lie, ok?

I could see you weren't in the stands.

Mom told me you didn't show.

Where's your mother now?

She and Jim went to have dinner at some fancy French restaurant.

Jim got a promotion and said he wanted to treat her.

That's considerate of him.

So sorry I missed the game, Owen.

I got delayed at work.

[Scoffs]

Is that what we're supposed to call your weirdo hacker group?

The work we do is important.

It benefits people all over the world.

Yeah, work you won't even tell me about.

As I've said, that's for your protection.

Look, I know I'm not the easiest person in the world to talk to But I do want to be a bigger part of your life.

I truly do.

Well, you can't have it both ways, Dad.

You can't say you want to be a part of my life and keep me out of yours.

When are the finals?

Tomorrow night.

I will be there.

I can't share with you all the details of my work, but I vow to do a better job of sharing your life, and that begins tomorrow.

[Telephones ringing]

Yes!

Yes, exactly.

Please.

Listen, we need SCPD radios linked with emergency services right now, ok?

Now!

Where the hell are you?

Did you get my message?

Yeah.

Ok.

We rallied the troops, and everyone's panicking a little.

Gather a list of essential personnel, clergymen, doctors, as many people as you can mobilize.

Wait.

How--how are we gonna explain how you have access to the Arrow's bunker?

We have bigger problems right now, Speedy.

Besides, this is the only place in the city I can think of that could possibly withstand that blast.

[Inhales and exhales]

You have eyes on-- William.

Of course.

I got it.

Thank you.

Do you have to keep doing that?

It keeps me calm.

Do not worry.

Cayden James will not let his friends die with the city.

You're damn right, but I'm not gonna stick around to find out.

Where are you going?

Someplace I won't get blown up.

The two of you haven't noticed?

The airlift that Cayden promised, it's more than a little late.

I hate to say it, but I think he's right.

I noticed that Dinah didn't show up for work today.

Well, after what happened to Sobel, you really expecting her to?

No.

I just--from what Oliver told me, I I don't really think that she's exactly just grieving.

You think Oliver would just what, let Dinah k*ll her?

No.

I--I just don't think that that's what's on his mind right now.

Right.

Well, you know, if it comes down to Laurel against Dinah, then Laurel's not the one I'm worried about.

[Canary cry]

Tell me where I can find Black Siren, or the next bone I break is your neck.

Lady, if any of these people told me where they were going, I'd be with them.

[Grunts]

I guess that's one way to not get information.

What are you two doing here?

Looking for you.

SCPD says you weren't in today.

Rene: We were wondering if you were gonna do something stupid.

Guess we were wrong.

I am looking for her to get justice for Vincent.

Why do you say, "justice," like it's cold-blooded m*rder?

I know you're hurting, D.

, but Felicity called.

We've got till midnight before James lets his b*mb do its thing.

As much as we feel for you, that seems like the priority.

Curtis: He's right.

Now is not the time to go off the deep end.

Dinah: I can't let this go.

I'm sorry. D.

I love you both, but stay the hell out of my way.

We need to consider the A. R. G. U. S. airlift option.

Oliver, we've already talked about this.

James will see it coming.

We need to consider something.

- Got it!

- What?

Oliver: I've seen this.

It's bogus.

You said you had something?

Yeah, the whole thing was a massive deception.

Owen was never collateral damage, like Cayden was made to think.

He was the real target the whole time.

[Computer beeps]

Oliver: Who is that?

Facial recognition just picked him up as Karl Iscove, paid assassin.

With a bow and arrow?

A bow and arrow's not his usual M. O.

I'm guessing it was a special request by whoever hired him to k*ll Cayden's son.

All to set you up.

We need to have a conversation with this Iscove, find out who hired him.

He's dead.

What?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

The assassin was assassinated not long after Owen Post.

We need to know where Cayden James is right now.

Alena: Got him.

Felicity: Well, I'm guessing Cayden doesn't care about people knowing his location now that his b*mb is about to go off.

He's almost on the I-86.

He's psycho, but he's smart, meaning he doesn't want to be anywhere near the boom when the boom goes boom.

We'll never catch him.

I have an idea.

We need to talk.

Questionable judgment, Mr. Queen.

If you wanted the b*mb to go off before midnight, you'd be hard pressed to come up with a better way than taking me into custody.

Watch this.

Would that be the proof that you alluded to earlier?

Just play the video.

No, I'm not watching this again.

No, Cayden, you're not.

Now we're watching the real video for the very first time.

Oliver didn't k*ll your son, which means someone else did.

Oliver: The assassin's name is Karl Iscove.

He was instructed to use a bow and arrow so the video could be manipulated, and they could make it look like me.

John: It's the same tech used to out Oliver as the Green Arrow 4 months ago.

Someone's gone through a lot of work to put you two on a collision course.

Oh, yes.

Someone within my organization.

How do you know?

The metadata on the forged video file confirms it is the work of the same person who manipulated that photo in October.

You lost a man a month ago.

k*lled by the traitorous Mr. Sobel, but I highly doubt it was Mr. Sheck.

That leaves Laurel, Diaz.

And Anatoly.

I'd like to speak to my former colleagues.

And that's where the two of you come in.

No!

We're not rounding them up to be ex*cuted.

No.

I just want a pointed conversation.

Bring them to me, all 3 alive.

Otherwise I'll have no choice but to stay the course.

I still have a very powerful b*mb, and I'd be perfectly happy to take out Star City right along with whoever orchestrated the death of my son.

You got to be kidding me.

Please tell me you're kidding me.

The only way to stop James from destroying the city is by delivering him his people.

Lead them to the slaughter, you mean.

I won't let that happen.

John: Right now, that's our only option.

Alena: You don't even know for sure that one of them did it.

I mean, none of them were working for Cayden when he received the video.

But they were working for him when he received the doctored photo.

It has to be one of those people, Alena.

It is either Diaz, Anatoly, or Black Siren.

You hope.

What if Cayden is lying?

Well, we got bigger problems than that.

I mean, what makes you think that we can find Cayden's BFFs if he can't?

If they're smart, they're out of the city by now.

They're smart, but so is he.

He grouped them together by promising to fly them out before the blast.

Thank goodness for small favors and gullible bad guys.

But now they're worried that James might not make good on that promise.

Raisa wanted to go to one of the city shelters, so she could be with her family.

What's going on?

Why did we have to leave the safe house?

We'll talk about it later, buddy.

You promised you wouldn't lie to me anymore.

Cayden James is threatening to detonate a large b*mb in Star City, and this is the safest place for you.

That is the truth.

Alena.

Yeah, we're running facial recog, and Cayden gave us back satellite control, but-- our usual tricks aren't working.

John: Oliver, we need the rest of the team.

Agreed.

Where are you going?

I need to go look for a few people.

Let me come with you.

I need you to stay here.

I want to stay with you.

It is too dangerous out there, bottom line.

I'll be back as soon as I can be.

You have any luck?

You think I would?

She was pretty clear about where she stood, Hoss.

So basically the city's gonna get destroyed and our friend's gonna commit m*rder, and there's not a damn thing we can do about either?

[Cell phone vibrating]

About time, D.

Different kind of D. , Hoss.

Sorry, John.

We've gotten someplace with Cayden James.

He won't detonate his b*mb if we bring back Anatoly, Diaz, and Laurel alive.

So no honor amongst thieves?

Well, let's just say he has a good reason to think at least one of them's responsible for his son's death.

We could use your help finding them.

Well, if we do it, we should go after Laurel first.

Dinah's after her.

And if she gets to her before we do-- D. 's gonna k*ll her.

And if she does that, she might be k*lling the whole city.

Vince told me you had a to-go bag stashed.

It took me a little while to figure out where.

- Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah - Hyah You can't stop me.

This ends tonight.

You end tonight.

No!

You stay out of this.

I can't let you hurt her.

Hi, Daddy.

I missed you.

[Canary cry]

I told you, this ends tonight.

[bolo arrow flies]

Ah-- I wouldn't do that if I were you.

What are you doing?!

I had her.

I'm saving the city.

I cannot believe you are working with Cayden James.

Rene: Not like that, D.

John: He wants Anatoly, Diaz, and Laurel alive.

Or boom goes the city.

Just saying that's a pretty good reason to not k*ll her besides, you know, all the other good reasons, like k*lling is bad.

I can hold off for a little while.

Dinah, we do not just execute people.

No.

You just let them die.

John: Can we continue this later?

Anatoly and Diaz are still in the wind.

Correction.

Ricardo Diaz was in the wind.

Cayden's satellite just picked him up headed south.

Our team can take down Diaz.

Ok, sending you the GPS coordinates now.

I'm staying here.

I'm not letting her out of my sight.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

So what, we're letting the foxes guard the henhouses now?

Quentin, Canary, you keep eyes on Black Siren.

Wild Dog, Terrific, you go after Diaz.

Overwatch, let us know when you have eyes on Anatoly, and Spartan and I will be ready to move.

Put me through to Cayden.

[Typing]

[Cell phone vibrates]

Mr. Queen, have you fulfilled my request?

We have Black Siren.

Where do we take her?

The last time I checked, it took more than one songbird to make up a trio.

Cayden, we don't have time for games.

Then I suggest you find my former compatriots as soon as you can.

Owen, before this night is over, I promise you we will render our judgment.

Ah.

You heading out, Cayden?

Yes, Alena.

Prior engagement.

Must attend.

Well, are you sure that's a good idea?

What ever do you mean?

Oh, uh, I'm s--I'm sorry.

I just assumed somebody would have told you.

I--I picked up some chatter on your hacked A. R. G. U. S. responder a few minutes ago about your takedown of Averwood Pharmaceuticals.

My point being, it's just if A. R. G. U. S. has your scent, maybe going out right now isn't the best idea.

Probably not, but I'll take precautions.

I can't afford to break this date.

Rene: Where do you think you're going, buddy?

[Groans]

You like that?

We got this off another pair of doppelgangers.

You know, I have to say, I was surprised.

Your boyfriend and his little magical healing abilities, you know, I thought it would be harder to take him down, but it wasn't.

What's going on?

I'm counting down the minutes.

What, before you try and k*ll my daughter again?

That is not your daughter.

That is a monster.

You gave your monster a second chance.

After he worked his ass off to redeem himself and after he gave his life to stop Cayden James, so if you seriously want to compare Vince to Laurel, I sugg-- I know.

I know what she's done.

I'm not an idiot.

But no one deserves to die, not even her.

You're wrong.

And once this is all over if Cayden James doesn't k*ll her, I sure as hell am gonna take my sh*t.

Where's my dad?

He said he'd be right back.

Um, yeah.

I--I know.

And he will.

It's just that things didn't really go as he planned tonight, the way any of us have planned.

So it's taking a long time.

He's gonna be ok, ok?

Ok.

[Computer buzzing]

I've got eyes on Anatoly and a few of his friends.

Looks like they got themselves a helicopter.

[Helicopter]

Next I come back to city, I hope it is ash.

Kapiushon!

Show yourself.

[Arrow whooshes]

Aah!

Agh.

City is about to become crater.

You want to put me in prison?

Fine.

Just out of town, please.

The b*mb's not going off, Anatoly, because I'm going to deliver Cayden James the truth--you.

You have finally snapped.

Took a few more years longer than I expected.

You set me up.

The photo, the doctored video.

I already told you, that was not me.

Well, forgive me if I don't want to take you at your word.

Overwatch, we got him.

Curtis and Rene got Ricardo Diaz.

That makes us 3 for 3.

William, give that to me.

Call James.

I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me.

We have all 3.

Where do you want them?

Cayden: Meet me at the abandoned theater on Jefferson Avenue.

Felicity: I'm on it.

I'll call Curtis and Rene.

Ok, I got Quentin.

Alena: I'll keep an eye on Cayden.

Prodigious timing, gentlemen.

It's almost midnight.

We're not here to play games, Cayden.

And yet here you are.

And what of Mr.

Diaz and Ms.

Lance?

John: They'll be here.

And what of this young man?

Cayden: I don't believe your son was invited, Oliver.

Oliver: What are you doing here?

I want to be with you.

I'm scared.

William, just listen to me-- It's just like on the island, just like when my mom d*ed.

I don't want to lose you, too.

Please.

I want to stay with you.

Come here.

Come here.

It's all right.

You stay over here.

This started with my son.

Yours should be here for the end.

It's a beautiful symmetry, don't you think?

He has nothing to do with this.

I don't disagree, but it appears your son has other plans.

Hello, William.

My name is Cayden James.

You're the guy who wants to blow up the city.

I suppose.

It's a long story.

And it concerns my own son.

Where is he?

Passed away, I'm afraid.

[Spectators cheering and applauding]

Cayden James?

I was told to expect you.

Warned, in fact.

Mr. James, we're here to remand you into custody for multiple violations of federal law.

I strongly advise you not to resist.

My only son is playing in this game.

Could I perhaps watch it before you take me in?

That's not how it works.

I'm just asking for a few moments, a little compassion here.

I strongly suggest surrendering peacefully to avoid a scene.

There's no need for that.

[Cheering and applause continues]

All right.

I'm gonna get the lay of the land.

She'd better be here when I get back.


I don't think she likes me.

Well, you haven't given her much reason to, have you?

Fair.

She's right, you know.

Ahem.

About what?

I'm not like Sobel.

I'm not gonna change.

I'm not gonna just wake up one day and be your Laurel.

No, no.

You'll always be you.

But you can be better.

Why would I?

We live in an ugly world, and the only way to survive it is-- is to be ugly right back.

You're wrong, ok?

Hey, has it ever occurred to you that I like who I am, that when I k*lled Sobel, I actually enjoyed it?

And all those pictures that you showed me of your daughter-- this--this--this woman that I don't even recognize.

They made me sick.

She was soft and naive, and that's why she's the one who's dead.

Why are you telling me this?

Because I don't ever want to find myself enjoying k*lling you.

Perimeter's secure.

Let's move.

Yeah.

Quite a brave young fellow you have here, Mr. Queen.

Brave and foolish, much like his father.

Quentin: What--what's he doing here?

Cayden: None of your concern, Mr. Lance.

Ah!

And the rest of our guests have arrived.

These two freaks say that you think one of us k*lled your boy?

In point of fact, Mr.

Diaz, I know that one of you k*lled my boy.

I intend to find out who.

You believe people in masks over people you do business with?

Diaz: I'm with the Russian.

I think these guys would do anything to save their precious city.

I don't trust anyone's word, Mr.

Diaz.

I put my faith in data, information.

Ones and zeroes never lie.

Here's digital proof that one of you has betrayed me.

Oh, William, please just get out of there.

None of you know What it feels like to lose a son.

A piece of yourself gone.

It's like a phantom limb.

No, it's worse than that.

It's like a piece of your soul lost as if it had never been there.

Lost.

No, stop.

I keep reminding myself that I have not lost my son.

He's been taken from me.

Diaz: Hey You're losing it.

Your grief, it's making you crazy.

What if it has?

Just look at him.

He wants to k*ll everyone in this room.

Just be ready to move.

Ok, screw this.

It was me!

I did it.

Surprise.

I'm the one who did it.

I k*lled your stupid kid.

- Oh, my God.

- What?

For the past 3 minutes, Cayden's detonator has been emitting a 76-gigahertz field.

Now it's spiking.

What does this mean?

It means there's something wrong with the b*mb.

It's a shame, really.

He was very cute.

The signal's fritzing again.

The closer Cayden gets to Laurel, the bigger the frequency spikes on the detonator.

No.

It's not the detonator.

Aren't you gonna ask me why I did it?

No.

I know you're lying.

You're not nearly as callous as you portray yourself to be.

I saw, Ms. Lance.

When I ordered you to execute Mr. Sobel, I saw you hesitate.

You didn't want to do it.

Felicity: Oliver, you need to get Laurel away from Cayden right now.

His detonator is interfering with her power-dampening collar.

Well, well, well.

Now, this is interesting.

[Siren scream]

Grr!

Laurel!

Guys, are you ok?

Do you copy?

John: Overwatch, we're fine.

Ok, thermal imaging reads everyone's still inside, but they've gone in different directions.

Quentin: I'm good.

Find Anatoly!

I've got Diaz!

Go!

Sure thing, Hoss.

I knew this would happen.

Why?

We work with Oliver, we get in trouble.

The guy's a walking death trap.

Who do you think taught him about traps?

[f*ring p*stol]

Stop!

God, you're persistent.

It's annoying.

[Siren scream]

[Siren scream]

[Pistols f*ring]

The son of a bitch.

[Dinah yells]

Dinah, no!

No!

[Siren scream, p*stol fires]

[Quentin groans]

Laurel.

Laurel.

[Gasping]

William.

William, back away, son.

Come here, come here, William.

Your son wouldn't want you to do this.

The person responsible for his death is in the vicinity, and I intend to drag them to hell with me.

I owe it to my son.

Come here.

Come here.

You don't have to be afraid, all right?

I'm right here with you.

And I love you very much.

William I had an obligation to protect my son.

It's a father's job-- protect your child But I failed.

I failed him utterly.

All this time The man responsible for his death was me.

Don't you move.

I can't believe he was ready to blow up the whole city.

Yeah.

He lost his boy.

I don't even want to imag--well.

Yeah.

What you did was very dangerous.

I know.

And I'm sorry.

I am never gonna let anything happen to you, William, ever.

And I am promising you that I will do everything that I can to make sure nothing happens to me.

You can't make that promise.

I can make that promise.

I just did.

I am right now.

Kiddo, I've been doing this a long time.

So trust me.

Ok?

Ok.

Thank you.

I got to go talk to the others, all right?

Ok.

Where are we?

If by we you mean Anatoly, Diaz, and Laurel Completely in the wind.

Rene: Again?

Alena: Again.

Felicity: Again.

Thea: Ok, well, Quentin's walking Cayden James through booking right now.

Dinah: Look.

I know what you're gonna say, but I think finding Laurel needs to be our first priority.

Don't make this personal, Dinah.

Or, you know, more personal.

Heh.

You heard her.

She is the one who had Cayden James' son k*lled.

She is the one who set all of this into motion.

- You don't know that.

- She confessed.

She was pushing James' buttons, D.

How did she manage to blind all of you this much?

You're the one that's not seeing clearly, if you ask me, Dinah.

I didn't.

Hey, hey.

You're better than this.

I guess we're leaving now.

Yeah, we're leaving now.

Just to be clear, whatever happened doesn't change anything.

Yeah, we're glad that we took down Cayden James, but we're still doing our own thing.

Please try and keep Dinah in line.

No promises, Hoss.

In case you haven't noticed, we're not having a lot of luck with that right now.

Well, we saved the city again and got Cayden James.

Yeah.

Why doesn't it feel like we won?

I must say this visit is somewhat predictable.

Well, I needed to look you in the eyes, Cayden.

I need to know that this surrender of yours Isn't some sort of ploy.

I've had bad luck with that tactic.

You prevented me from doing the unspeakable last night.

I'm sure Owen would have been ashamed of me, but then he always was.

These are my best guesses as to where you might find my former allies along with the account number to a bank in Corto Maltese where I placed all the money I embezzled from the city.

Thank you.

I would ask one thing in return.

Permission to visit my son's grave.

I can arrange that.

Be a better father than I was, Oliver.

If this is another feeble attempt to extract information from me, I--I warn you I will continue to invoke my fifth amendment protections.

I'm very sorry to have to tell you this, Mr.

James, but Your son Owen was found m*rder*d last night.

No.

He'sHe's 18.

N--no.

Who would want to hurt my boy?

I'm afraid we don't know.

I am truly very sorry, Cayden.

[Exhales]

Hey, what's the story, morning glory?

[Groans]

I used to say that to you when you were a little girl, you know?

The other you.

I already told you.

I know what you told me.

What you told me was a lie.

But it's--James said it: You hesitated when you k*lled Sobel.

So what if I did?

It means there's a piece-- maybe just a small piece, but it means that there is a piece of my daughter in you somewhere.

And I'm gonna get it out whatever it takes.

[Door outside shuts]

[Click]

SCPD custody.

Didn't think we'd end up here.

You know, I saw this playing out a lot of ways.

I got to tell you [Chuckles]

I wasn't expecting this.

I assume it would be foolish to think that this is a rescue operation.

You were always the smartest guy in the room.

You thought you always had everybody pegged.

You put everyone in your little boxes.

You always understood what they were thinking, how they'd react, but you're realizing now you didn't really know anything, did you?

I'm afraid I don't take your meaning, Mr.

Diaz.

Is that so?

You're supposed to be the smart one.

You made some moves.

Then I made some moves.

Queen is under indictment now.

His team is fractured in a million pieces.

And this city-- oh, this city-- it's primed for a takeover.

You see, guys like you never understand these things.

Why destroy a city when you could take it over?

I suppose this accounts for your presence here.

Mm-hmm.

The new police captain-- she's on my payroll, along with a few other city officials.

Arclight was a big help in thinning the herd for me.

I suspect you're not done thinning the herd.

Well, you were always talking about how much you miss your son.

In case you didn't know, I'm the one who had him k*lled.

Tell your boy I said hello.
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