03x10 - Let's Dance

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Covert Affairs...

I'm Lena Smith. I'm your new boss.

I want you to do high-security clearance on Simon Fischer.

Get intimate enough with a man, and he'll tell you everything.

Nobody's ever guessed my tattoo correctly.

It was inspired by the Keats poem Bright Star.

[Silenced g*nshots]

I need you, Annie.

I never need anyone.

It was Lena.

[Monitor beeping]

We need some help over here!

I want every possible way out of D.C. sealed off.

[Monitor flat-lining, electric jolt]

♪ Covert Affairs 03x10 ♪
Let's Dance
Original Air Date on September 18, 2012

♪

[Repeatedly hits same note]

♪

[Door bursts open]

Freeze! This area is off limits.

Tell Joan Campbell I need to see her.

I figured it out.

So what the hell is going on?

Annie, you're supposed to be recuperating.

When Lena was in Nairobi, there was an FSB operative there named Dmitri Larionov-- code name "Rachmaninoff."

Not only because he was a talented concert musician, but also because he allegedly k*lled two rival assets with piano wire.

I went through all the cables from Nairobi in '98, and there was one mention of Rachmaninoff in Lena's correspondence with Langley.

Annie, you broke into Lena's apartment.

That's why you're here, to explain that.

Not to give us new theories.

Why not?

Because Lena has already fled to Russia.

We're fairly certain she's under the protection of Russian authorities. currently living in Moscow's Babushkinskaya district, working in a music store.

I think that's Rachmaninoff.

If I can get to Moscow, I can covertly reach out to him for intel on Lena's location.

Annie, stop.

I was in Nairobi at the same time.

Rachmaninoff was known to all of us, and he was accused of terrible things.

If Dmitri Larionov is the same man, that's not a reason to go to Moscow, that's a reason not to go to Moscow.

You're not gonna do anything?

The Agency is vigorously attempting to bring Lena to justice.

What does that mean, bring her to justice?

k*ll her.

But Lena was smart.

Lena is smart.

She knew which operatives were best suited to bring her in.

And as we got them in, she picked them off.

[Silenced g*nshots]

Virtually all viable assets we have in-country have been compromised.

So what are we gonna do?

Our best course of action right now is to pursue talks between the State Department and Russia's Foreign Affairs Ministry.

So we're talking, not acting?

Annie, we're doing all we can.

Not bad.

The jab is back, right?

Right, Auggie?

I heard about last night.

I know from firsthand experience what it's like to push too hard after a trauma.

I'm not.

I am, but what's wrong with wanting to get back on your feet?

It's not just about your feet. You lost someone. It's about your heart.

I can feel you wanting to get back into the field and make it right, but it's not time.

All I'm thinking about is my footwork.

Footwork's good.

Breaking into other people's houses is not so good. Put 'em back up.

[Grunts]

Ah--

You all right?

I'm okay. I'm okay.

[Knock on door]

I was thinking about our conversation earlier, and I realized you weren't asking for permission.

You were telling us you were going to Russia.

Yeah, I guess I was.

I know what it means to lose someone in the field.

But it's dangerous to use them as motivation.

Joan, I have to go.

Then I'll support it.

But when you get to Russia, carefully approach Larionov.

See if he has any intel that can lead to Lena.

And if you locate her, you will take a photograph of her, nothing more.

This will be the proof State needs to negotiate her extradition.

You will get the photo, and then you will come home.

I understand.

You need to extract any emotion out of the equation.

You try to get payback, you'll be on an island.

Anything other than waiting at the safe house or talking with Larionov will put you at risk.

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

We'll deny knowledge of everything.

One more thing.

Lena knows you.

She knows your tendencies, and she'll be expecting you to come.

And she's hoping your feelings for Simon will cloud your judgment.

Will they?

No.

Stay focused, stay in your own lane...

And stay safe.

You figured it was better if you didn't drive?

"I'm just working on my footwork."

[Scoffs]

This is a plane ticket.

And keys to the apartment of one Pinja Stanis, former CIA asset.

Former?

Because she's dead, Annie.

This is the kind of mission where every question you ask is gonna have a scary answer.

Due to the high-risk nature, all contact with Langley has to be cut off.

Now, even though I disagree with all of this, I want you to know I am here for you no matter what.

That means so much to me.

I hope you know that.

Glad we got that out there.

Have a nice trip.

Auggie... could you just ride out to the airport with me?

"Welcome to Russia.

"Thought you could use a little walking-around money.

Be safe. Auggie."

[Chuckles]

[Knock on door]

Pinja?

[Speaks Russian]

[Speaking Russian]

[Speaks Russian]

[Sirens passing]

Hey.

[Speaks Russian]

[Speaks Russian]

[Both conversing in Russian]

♪

[Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1]

♪

[Sighs]

Screw it.

[Speaks Russian]

Thank you.

Are you new in Moscow?

Yes.

American?

Yes.

I read about this place in a guide book.

Ah. Enjoy.

Ah [Straining]

Who are you?

I came for you, Rachmaninoff.

I did a little digging on Pinja Stanis.

You lived the cover pretty well, but she was left-handed.

I was living left-handed.

Not your playing.

Your right was dominant.

Why don't you tell me what you're really here for?

I want to talk about Lena Smith.

I don't know who that is.

Your eyes say differently.

What did she do to you?

I think you want to talk about it.

Dmitri, I can help.

We met in Nairobi in '98, shortly after the embassy bombing.

I was a young agent, cocky.

I was sent to search out Americans affected by the bombing, to play on their vulnerabilities.

She was brilliant. A fantastic challenge.

Fantastic in every way.

I followed her to Prague.

I would have followed her anywhere.

I thought I had turned her.

How far from the truth.

But she used me.

She made a deal with her superiors to bolster herself as a double within the CIA.

So I returned here, my post, gone. My Lena, gone.

I see sadness in your eyes too.

It's not sadness. Anger.

Lena was responsible.

She took someone from me.

I came here for justice.

Can you help me?

When I spoke earlier of small hands, I was speaking of myself, of my own hands.

Some people are destined for small lives.

My time with Lena made me realize that I am such a person.

I no longer travel in the circles you need.

I know no one. I know nothing.

I cannot help you get closure.

I don't want closure.

Once you're hurt, you stay hurt.

But that doesn't mean you can't strike back.

Please...

Don't bother me again.

So I talked to Charlie.

He said the congressional brief is looking solid.

Just a couple of phrases to go over with legal.

What is it?

I've allowed Annie to travel to Russia to prove Lena's presence in-country.

What?

And I provided her with funds and an active cover.

The Agency has suspended all tactical missions on this front.

I just gave the DCI my word, literally this morning, that we were done with this.

Arthur, she was gonna go anyway.

I just wanted to make sure she did it safely.

Is it gonna be safe?

I don't know.

I could fire you for this.

You know that, right?

How's it gonna look if she dies?

How's it gonna look?

I don't know, but it will feel terrible.

It's good to see you again.

Zarya... I knew your brother.

I knew Simon.

You are Annie?

The Annie?

[Chuckles weakly]

Simon spoke of you... many times.

I'm so sorry about what happened.

The government doesn't tell me anything.

Only that he is gone.

But I know it couldn't be your fault.

Not with the way Simon spoke of you.

Did you talk to him often?

He wasn't in Russia very much, but he would call me.

There was always something in his voice, you know, like he wanted to talk more, but he didn't want to burden me with his business and...his life.

You were his bright star.

You're the one he got his tattoo for.

Yes.

My name, it means "The morning star" in Russian.

I always wanted to guide him home.

How was he...

Simon, the last time you saw him?

Was he happy?

Yeah.

We were happy.

I wish I had something of his that I could return to you or...

You already have.

Your doggedness is no longer endearing.

I was thinking about what you said.

And maybe some people are destined for small things.

But are you content to remain so insignificant?

Your FSB file says your greatest skills as an operative were your emotional intuition and your passion for spycraft.

That's what my file says, too, about me.

I know that if I don't do this, I can't go on.

Your Agency isn't behind you, are they?

Your being here is unsanctioned.

I came here for justice.

Then get it without me.

I can't.

I could tell you something empathetic to try and turn you-- cultivate you like an asset, stroke your ego-- but you're too smart for that.

Here's the thing.

The only reason I care about you is because I think you can help me.

I'm here, Dmitri.

This is it.

I may be the last spy you ever talk to.

There may be someone I know.

[Crowd cheering]

The only one I keep in contact with from the old days is Sergei.

He worked counter-surveillance for 15 years.

When Prague went to hell, my agency sacrificed me.

He was the only one who still talked to me.

Speaking to him is going to make him extremely nervous.

[Speaking Russian]

Annie, don't do this.

What is this?

What are you looking for?

Annie, stop.

Sergei! You come here?

You come to me to ask me for information and you pull this crazy sh*t?

I'm the one who needs to be nervous--me.

You hear me?

I don't care.

I like her.

I don't know why, but I like her.

You're about to like me a lot more.

Lena Smith.

Where is she?

I could be tried for treason.

More likely, they'd throw you in Pefortovo prison here in Moscow.

More likely still, I'd be put to death.

Agreed.

She's being kept in a high-rise apartment in the Kudrinskaya Square building.

She lives in an ivory tower, protected.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, they pick her up in a special car.

They take her for a debrief at Kubinka Airbase.

She is like...a mole.

She never sees the light of day.

She's definitely a mole.

You'll never get to her.

Nice to meet you too.

[Crowd cheering]

I need a g*n.

The aim's not true.

You have to account for more recoil with these old pistols.

It's an '83 Makarov.

It's the best I could do on such a short notice.

It's mine, actually.

You are injured?

I'm fine.

Let me see.

Let me see.

She hurt you more than she hurt me.

You should go home.

Plan stays the same.

Tomorrow we intercept the car in Arbutskaya.

I get the photo. I go home.

You are emotional.

It's too dangerous to work this way.

Picture a time in your life when you were happiest, when everything made sense.

If you hadn't met Lena, you might still be there.

Trust me... no good can come from this.

I'm not looking for good.

I'm in position. Do you read me?

Loud and clear.

Mercedes is coming to you. Moscow plate: D548AP.

Roger that.

In five... four... three... two... one! Go!

[Knocking on door]

Seth. What are you doing here?

Joan, I wanted to make you aware that OIG has gotten wind of an unsanctioned covert action in Moscow.

A blonde woman ambushed an FSB vehicle, and it didn't go well.

Is the woman all right?

Yeah. From what I hear, she fled the scene unharmed.

But...Joan, the Kremlin's going ballistic on this.

I mean, so is State.

This kind of aggressive bullshit has completely tanked the extradition talks for Lena Smith.

sh*t.

You know, rumor has it that DCS was read-in on this.

Is that true?

Actually, you know what, don't tell me.

I can't have this on the record.

So off the record, what do you think I should do?

You need to prepare a statement.

I'm hearing the word favoritism dropped.

This isn't being looked at like a clandestine service mission.

What is it, then?

A Joan and Arthur Campbell mission.

Seth.

Look, after the m*rder of Jai Wilcox and that whole Lena Smith debacle, I mean, this might be it for Arthur.

I'm sorry, Joan.

No. Thank you for telling me.

Okay.

See you Tuesday?

Yeah. Tuesday. I'll see ya.

What are you doing?

I should be dead right now.

So you need to start talking.

The guy in the car, hesitated.

He didn't take the sh*t.

That had to be on purpose.

The FSB's better than that.

You should've gone when I told you to.

Why?

It started soon after you approached me for lessons.

After that, I thought I was being watched.

My skills were so rusty. I couldn't trust my instincts.

And then...she reappeared.

And all the anger... all the passion came flooding back.

Pure emotion.

I could feel again.

And you fell for her again.

You, more than anyone, should understand the power of someone like her, how persuasive she can be.

She's intoxicating.

All these years, I hated her.

But then she came back, and suddenly I mattered... again.

Her idea to use the ambush to discredit you was genius.

Even in my prime I couldn't think that many moves ahead.

Why didn't you k*ll me?

Why didn't they k*ll me at the ambush?

Why don't you ask her yourself?

She wants you alive.

She wants to see you.

Where is she?

[Whispering] Dmitri... where is she?

Northwest of here.

At a dacha... at Ilmen Lake.

Goodbye, Dmitri.

Good evening, Joan.

That's my letter of resignation.

Thank you. I'll take it under consideration.

What'd you expect me to do, crumple it up and say, "over my dead body"?

I mean it, Arthur.

I'll take it under consideration.

[Phone ringing]

Hi.

Annie, listen to me.

You need to get outta Russia. You shouldn't be calling.

I know this is off-book, but your ambush damaged State's negotiations and the Russians are looking for you.

The negotiations were bullshit.

I'm the only one who's acting.

Annie, please.

You're a person of interest.

Every moment you remain in Russia is a moment too long.

Now I can arrange a water egress for you through the Black Sea.

Use your resources and protocols and get to Novorossiysk.

I'm sorry. I can't.

Annie...

Do you remember that moment we talked about in the car, when you've gone too far?

This is that moment.

Now I need you to come home.

And this isn't the Agency calling, and I'm not Joan.

There are things that I need to say to you face to face.

Important things.

Please.

I'll see you soon.

You're leaving.

Yeah.

[Yelling in Russian]

If you pull the trigger, you'll never know the truth about Simon.

What truth?

Nice move with the decoy.

That was a gear you never showed when you were working for me--

Stop stalling!

Put your hands where I can see them.

What truth?

Were Simon and I colleagues, friend lovers?

Were you?

Truth is we never met face to face.

We both just worked for the same mammoth Soviet spy service.

I fed my intel to the Kremlin, they fed it back to him.

I just put the kettle on for tea.

Sit!

Why did you pick him?

Mysterious bad boy with a clarity of purpose?

Don't tell me you don't have a type.

You expected me to fall in love with him?

I did.

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

I mean, really.

He was ready to drop everything and run away to the Maldives with you.

You're a better operative than I thought.

Is that why you picked me?

I didn't pull off being a double for 13 years without being opportunistic.

Jai Wilcox was on to me, so I had Leo Brewer take him out.

I needed somebody to take the fall, and there you were.

Available, vulnerable, ready to prove yourself.

You still are.

I like you, Annie.

So I have an offer for you.

Become me.

Excuse me?

You would make an exquisite double within the CIA.

No one would suspect you and I would conspire after everything we've been through.

It would be audacious, elegant.

Just go back, tell them you couldn't find me.

We could establish dead-drops within a year.

So what... you want me to betray my agency and my country?

Why would I ever do that?

For one thing, you'd be incredibly rich.

But mostly, I'd like you to experience power.

Real, true power.

You'd be in control.

Something I think you're starting to realize will never happen while you're in the CIA.

You think you have power, here, in the woods, alone?

Yes.

I had the power to summon you to me, didn't I?

And that kind of power to compel people, to move the pieces-- it's intoxicating.

You're a traitor, Lena.

CIA, FSB. America, Russia.

These are all just words.

The best spies have always known that the sides can change.

It's the game itself that matters.

I wanna show you this.

You sh*t me!

[Sigh] You're angry.

[Kettle whistling]

I'm just gonna turn it off. No!

I've heard enough lies, enough manipulation.

If you think your desperate plea is gonna work, you never really knew me.

Okay, Annie. Pull the trigger. It'll be as if you're pulling the trigger on yourself. You'll never make it out of Russia. You'll be lucky to make it to the other route. I'm sure gave you the whole "we will deny any knowledge" speech.

Pull the trigger and find out just how true that is. They will hang you out to dry, leave you to rot. And the worst part is... You'll never be able to look at yourself the same way again. You'll know that you k*lled for malice. That changes you.

Go ahead, Annie. Pull the trigger.

[Kettle at full steam]