04x03 - Experimental Prototype City Of Tomorrow

Episode transcripts for the 2013 TV show "The Americans". Aired: January 2013 to May 2018*
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Two Soviet KGB officers pose as an American married couple living in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. in the 1980s, with their unsuspecting children and their neighbor, an FBI counterintelligence agent.
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04x03 - Experimental Prototype City Of Tomorrow

Post by bunniefuu »

They're not who they say they are. They're Russians.

What did you tell him?

Everything.

Elizabeth: If we move fast, maybe we're okay.

You wanna k*ll him?

We don't have a choice.

We could try to work him.

Gabriel: One of us has been getting American samples of pathogens.

This is to meningitis what bubonic plague is to a runny nose.

Stan: Our office is a target of the illegals.

Now they got to somebody inside.

Who are you?

I'm your husband, and I would do anything to protect you.

What?

Still not used to it.

Yes, you can go into any department store and the girl behind the counter will make you look great.

But if you can't do it yourself when you get home, what's the point?

(women chuckle)

We are not here just to sell a product.

We want to help people.

Young-Hee, can you talk about how Mary Kay has helped you?

Yes, every time I got a makeover in a department store, I come out looking green.

But nobody sells a green foundation, so I'm very confused.

And then I see my Asian friends after their department store makeover, I never knew there were so many shades of green.

(laughter)

No, it's okay. Mary Kay really helped me.

Now I can help anyone find makeup for their skin tone.

I tell all my friends they don't have to look like Martians.

We are all Americans now.

(laughter)

♪♪

In the clergy we have very strict rules about keeping secrets.

People tell us very personal things, and they wouldn't do that if they couldn't trust us.

But I have to be honest, I've never heard anything like this.

(exhales sharply)

You know, what we do isn't so different from what you do.

I know what spies do.

(scoffs)

Is that the word that Paige used?

One of the things that we do, like you, is work to end the nuclear thr*at that hangs over all of us.

When we were hired, we were called peace workers.

We develop relationships with people from both sides who wish to defuse the tension between our two countries.

We fight for justice, for equal rights for everyone, no matter who they are or what they believe.

Unless they're religious.

Jewish dissidents trapped in the Soviet Union, Catholics in Poland.

Our country isn't perfect. Neither is this one.

(inhales deeply, clears throat)

I understand the need for secrecy, but let's be clear.

A pastor's obligation to keep parishioners' secrets ends where his duty to the greater good begins.

I cannot be a party to destruction.

What about the destruction of a family?

If you were to report us, we would go to prison.

Paige and Henry would go to foster care, and there's a good chance they'd never see us again.

Look, it's clear that you're a good, decent man, and... you understand what's at stake here for Paige.

I do. I understand. I'm listening to you.

And I'm listening to my conscience.

(clears throat) Let's all think about this for a few days and talk again.

Thank you for coming in.

Have you shared this with anyone else?

No.

Your wife?

Alice and I minister to each other.

She understands completely the sanctity of the congregation's confidence.

Pastor Tim told Alice.

Can't seem to get rid of this, can I?

He could tell anyone, or she could.

Yes.

We never should've told Paige.

Well, that's done. We have to do something now.

And what do you propose?

We should leave... right now.

There are other ways.

No. Paige told us she told him.

If we k*ll him now, she'll figure it out.

No matter how clean we make it, she will blame us.

She will hate us.

I will talk to the Centre.

Well, the Centre trying to recruit her is what got us into this in the first place.

We need a plan, Gabriel.

Just keep calm.

The Centre will give us something to work with.

In the meantime, you need to help Paige work on keeping Pastor Tim quiet.

Just for a little longer.

(indistinct conversations)

Can I have everyone's attention?

In case it's escaped anyone's notice, we've been under a bit of pressure here these days.

And it doesn't help when we get sloppy.

The counters on our Xerox machine indicate six extra copies unaccounted for today alone.

I know it's not everybody's favorite thing to do, but when people don't log their copies, they put the division at risk.

Are we clear?

Man: I don't think we're isolating the right information.

Man: - Yeah.

(speaks indistinctly)

(indistinct conversations)

(Muzak playing)

Woman (over PA): Produce. Someone from Produce, please call Customer Service. Someone from Produce, please call Customer Service. Thank you.

Hey, Patty. Right?

Um, Young-Hee from Mary Kay.

(exhales) Of course, of course.

(laughs) Hi.

How are you? What are you doing here?

Tap dance lessons.

(laughter)

Me too.

(laughs)

How many are you feeding?

Oh, uh, three kids, husband, husband's parents, oh, and me.

Wow.

(chuckles)

It's amazing what you get used to.

Yeah.

Have you, uh, sold anything yet?

I-I was going to. I don't know.

I'm... not so good at, uh, approaching people.

Oh, you just have to get used to it.

I am sure you could do it.

You know, I really like the makeup.

Mm.

Um, but that part of it isn't so easy.

What if I went out with you?

Hmm? Got you started?

I guess, yeah.

Yeah?

I'd like that. That would be nice.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll do it.

Uh, let me get your number.

Uh, that'd be great.

(knock on door)

Come in.

Hey.

What's up?

Can I talk to you for a minute?

It's, uh-- It's about Pastor Tim.

I'm so sorry, Dad. I--

I'm not mad.

He told Alice.

W--

How could he do that? Why would he do that?

People talk, even the people we trust.

Alice-- when she gets around women, she always says, "I shouldn't be saying this."

And then, she says something, and you're thinking, "Wow, she's right. She really shouldn't be saying this."

How could I be so stupid?

I just... I've been so messed up for so long. I--

It's gonna be okay.

You need to talk to Pastor Tim.

I can't.

Tim and Alice are a part of our lives now, a big part, and will be for a long time.

You have to keep up the relationship.

Go to him.

Don't make him angry.

So I'm just supposed to pretend that I don't...

I'm not...

No, it's just...

(sighs) Look, we can't have him turn against us.

So we have to think about him in this situation.

He cares about you, Paige.

He-- He doesn't want to see you hurt.

(air brakes hiss)

(man speaks indistinctly)

Watch your step, ma'am.

(air brakes hiss)

♪♪

(horn honks in distance)

Nothing wrong with the dog at all.

But that damn vet kept ordering test after test after test.

I'm telling you, when I saw the bill--

Really? Nothing wrong with the dog?

Not a damn thing.

Oh.

And when I saw the bill-- Do you wanna see it?

Do you have just another minute?

You know, I had the same thing happen with my cocker spaniel, Muffin.

Oh, cute name.

Thanks.

And, you know, I just said, I decided, no more stupid tests.

Mm-hmm.

And she lived to be 14.

Oh! That's great.

So...

Well, anyway, we've taken up so much of your time.

Oh, oh, wait. I wanted to buy that TimeWise Miracle set.

Also add on the Day Radiance foundation in Suntan Beige.

That was great.

I almost forgot about that.

We get so busy telling the stories.

(laughs)

It's so great talking to you.

Yeah.

Bye-bye.

You're gonna love that set.

Bye.

You're right. That was easier than I thought.

Are you sure you're not really a used car salesman?

(laughter)

Oh, my feet.

Mm.

My feet think we just climbed Mount Rogers.

I thought you said those shoes were comfortable.

Yeah, comfortable... three hours ago.

(laughs) Yeah.

I sound like my daughter, Sue.

She complain if we have to walk to the corner.

"Oh, Mom, will you carry me? My shoes don't fit."

(chuckles) She's usually right.

Mm.

She's growing so fast.

(sighs)

You okay?

Yes. You know, just family stuff.

Boring.

Hmm. You wanna talk about it?

No. Not really.

Mm. Okay.

You had a really good first day.

Maybe best I ever saw.

Thank you.

No, really. I mean it.

I mean, sometimes I don't mean it, but this time I do.

(laughs)

Oh, you know, it took me three months to make my first sale.

Really?

Yeah, I was so pushy. Hard to believe, right?

But you? You're a natural.

Yeah.

And it is fun, right?

Yeah, it is fun.

(chuckles)

Hey, you wanna come to my house for dinner tomorrow night?

What's tomorrow? It's Wednesday.

Yeah, we have family dinner Wednesdays.

Uh, little bit Korean, little bit not.

Nothing fancy. Just lot of fun.

Sure. Yes, I'd love to.

(dog barking in distance)

We are done, Claudia.

Gabriel.

We have to get them out. We have no other choice.

There's always another choice.

No one knows that better than you.

It's not just one thing. It's too much.

They trust you, Gabriel. They believe in you.

I hope so.

Do you hear yourself?

The pastor already told his wife.

There are no good choices here.

First, there are no choices. Now there are no good choices.

I'd say we're making progress.

I'll talk to the Centre. We'll figure something out.

Trying to bring their daughter in was a mistake.

It's time to take them home.

(siren wailing in distance)

(zipper whirs)

(sighs)

(takes off boot)

(door opens)

How'd it go?

Good.

It was different.

It was fun.

(zipper whirs)

(sighs) My feet are k*lling me.

We must've walked 10 miles.

Are you getting in there?

Yeah.

I, uh... I told Paige.

What did she say?

That she'd talk to Pastor Tim, tell him how she feels.

And how does she feel?

Betrayed. Hurt, angry.

No anger.

I know. She knows.

(clothing drops)

Have you patched things up with Stan yet?

We could use a friendly face at the FBI.

Yeah.

(exhales deeply)

(sighs, clears throat)

So here you are, top travel agents, and you've never been to Epcot Center.

It's been open for months.

Over 300 acres, lots to see. You should go. Take the kids.

You could leave on Friday, come back Sunday night.

While you're away, the pastor and his wife will have an accident.

(sighs) What... What are you-- What-- What do you-- What do you think?

Paige is an idiot? She tells us she told him.

We go away, we come back, and their obituary's in the paper?

There's a big service in the church?

She's not stupid, Gabriel.

She'll never be sure. Will she wonder? Maybe.

But you'll minimize that this week while you're in Florida.

You'll be with her every single moment.

No phone calls.

No private discussions out of her hearing.

Be in bed asleep before she is.

Have fun.

(sips)

People believe what they need to believe.

We do this, we come home, and she finds out something's happened to them, the Centre can't think we can ever bring her into this work.

That's not what's pressing right now, Philip.

We don't have a choice here.

You honestly think it'd be better if we leave?

What are you gonna tell Henry?

That we live in Russia now because...

We've been wrong about Paige so many times, and we're doing it again right now.

I mean, have-- haven't we learned?

She'll think about this, and she'll figure it out.

Not right away, but... she will know.

They've given us a way out of this that lets us keep our lives.

(engine starts)

I trusted you.

The confidences I keep are sacred, Paige.

Alice understands that.

If she didn't, I couldn't do my job.

You know Alice.

She loves you.

She wouldn't--

Alice likes to talk.

Paige, that's not fair.

When I tell you something, a secret, you can't just decide, "Oh, I think I'll tell my wife."

I am trying to help here.

Help who? Me?

Of course you.

You know how much I care about you.

And I know how much you care about others.

And, Paige, until we know exactly what your parents do and whether or not people get hurt as a result--

This is my mom and dad that you're talking about.

(sighs) I can't do this.

Paige...

Paige.

I'm sorry. I have to go.

Oh, hey, what is all this stuff?

Big fall-off on spring break bookings for Miami.

So... you doing tours to Epcot? Looking into it.

Looking into what?

Epcot.

We should go.

Mm-hmm.

No, it would be a lot of fun.

And maybe we could go on spring break.

Oh, spring break would be such a zoo.

We could learn stuff at Epcot. I could learn a lot.

And can't you get one of your professional discounts?

They do have off-season family getaway vouchers.

Good for now?

Until March 31st.

I mean, they might have something last minute.

So if there is an opening this weekend, you wanna go?

Yeah.
(door closes)

Let's see what we can do.

I gotta get going. Mm. Hey, Paige. Guess what?

We're going to Epcot.

What?

This weekend. I got them to take us.

You all right?

I need to talk to you.

I talked to Pastor Tim.

Good.

How'd it go?

Not good.

What happened?

I got upset, and he got upset.

Angry?

Not... angry.

Annoyed. Like, who am I to tell him that his wife can't keep a secret?

Okay, when, uh-- when we get back from Orlando, let's the three of us go in and talk to him.

That's a good idea.

(sighs) I still don't know really what you guys do.

I know you're spies and everything, but... do people get hurt because of things you're involved with?

No.

Of course not.

Paige, you know us better than that.

I don't know what I know.

Where do you go two nights a week?

You know what?

Let's talk about everything on our trip.

Yeah. While Henry's on one of those rides he wants to do 17 times in a row.

Okay?

Don used to drink ***, it's a Korean liquor.

(speaking Korean)

(laughter)

(speaking Korean)

They're making fun of Don because he drink wine with Korean food.

Oh.

My brother drinks it with everything-- scrambled eggs.

Oh. Ugh.

A nice Riesling pairs well with egg, and it's great with Korean food. Lots of wine are.

Hey, Pinot Noir, a chilled Barbera...

(speaks Korean)

She's saying he doesn't even hold his liquor anyway.

It's true, Don. Admit it.

Not liquor. Sauvignon Blanc. 13% alcohol.

East meets West. It works for me.

Thank you.

Mm.

(laughter)

Speaking of which, thank you. I appreciate the fork.

(laughter, Korean conversation continues)

Hmm.

(chopsticks clinking)

(exhales)

Uh-oh.

Ooh! What did I eat?

One of these?

(murmurs and laughter)

Water won't help.

No.

Do the pepper dance.

Yeah, the pepper dance!

(girls shouting playfully)

Do it, Patty.

The pepper dance.

(laughter)

The pepper dance.

Aah!

It's so hot! Aah!

(laughing)

Just breathe.

(laughter)

Did you see those ugly dolls in the family room?

Yes, are those the, um...

Cabbage Patch Kids.

Yeah.

Most ugly thing I ever seen.

Why would you want a doll that look like it hit by a truck?

But TV commercial make my kids think they need them...

I know.

...so I buy them.

Oh.

And they like them for five minute.

Yeah.

And then they forget all about them.

And then they see the doll on television again.

And they acting like if I don't buy more, they're gonna die.

Hmm, that's America for you. So expensive.

I should buy Cabbage Patch Doll stock.

(laughs) Do you have kids?

No.

Do you want my kids? You can take one.

I'm not kidding.

(laughs)

Which one?

Uh... how is your mouth?

It's better. I'm still kind of embarrassed, though.

Me too. You should never come here again.

(laughs) Stop it.

(doorbell rings)

Hi.

Hi.

I was just dropping Matthew off.

I thought I'd come say hi to you guys.

Yeah, Elizabeth isn't home, but come in.

(door closes)

Uh...

Do you want something to eat? Some coffee?

Uh, maybe a cup of tea?

Sure, great.

That's about the limit of my kitchen skills.

How is everyone? Elizabeth?

Uh... good.

I, um...

I told her that, uh, I've been going to EST.

Wow. Wow. Um, how'd that go?

She didn't k*ll me.

(chuckles)

But...

(drawer opens)

No, no "But."

She's okay.

(drawer closes)

She even said she might go herself, but I wouldn't lay money on that.

Mm.

In other news, um...

Stan almost took a swing at me a couple days ago.

What?

Yeah, apparently, his... girlfriend saw us together after EST.

A-At the restaurant?

Mm-hmm. I thought he was gonna deck me.

(scoffs)

Stan is so into always being the tough guy.

Oh, I don't know. If it... suddenly seems like your friend from across the street is seeing your wife-- ex-wife...

That's... ridiculous.

How does he know that?

I wouldn't know that if I was in his shoes.

His life's a wreck right now. Not that mine's so great.

Why? What's going on?

Oh, I... It's no-- I'm...

I'm blowing things out of proportion.

We had a lying incident with Paige recently.

Mm.

It's just been a mess.

Mm. Well, I mean, raising teenagers is... ugh.

Oh, I know. Elizabeth and I-- we don't always...

You know.

Yeah.

But we do agree on a lot.

And if my house b*rned down tonight and I had to go someplace else, they would come with me.

Stan-- I could see him moving out of that house and living in a motel, not seeing Matthew because who wants to visit their dad in a motel?

I've been through it, Sandra.

(whispers) Yeah.

(normal voice) Yeah, um, maybe I've been a little too hard on him.

Mm. Matthew doesn't see him enough, and he misses him.

I mean, he would never say anything, but I can tell.

(sighs)

(copier whirring)

(beeping)

You see this? "I have been concerned by the language and some communications that have reached my desk. In particular, comments expressing that the FBI 'feels.'

The FBI may assess, determine, consider or claim, et cetera, but it is not appropriate to say that the FBI 'feels'."

Urgent memo from the Director?

The Bureau does not feel, Stan.

Yeah, I figured that out a long time ago.

(both chuckle)

(paper rustles)

You had some feelings about me.

Suspicions.

This thing with Gene Craft change all that?

Why? Did you put the bug in the pen, after all?

(lowered voice) You know, I think we should keep an eye on Martha.

Martha Hanson?

Mm-hmm.

Oh, come on, Stan.

Gene was found hanging in his home with a su1c1de note.

No sign of struggle, no sign of forced entry.

The apartment was clean. He's exactly the kind of tech guy the KGB likes to use.

Well, I've been watching Martha for a few weeks now...

Oh, Jesus.

...and there were two nights she didn't come home.

I was out there till 3:00 AM.

She could be seeing her folks or her sister.

Her parents live in Colorado, and she has no sister.

Maybe she's got a guy?

Look, I think you know this whole thing with Gene doesn't sit right.

You wanna find out who really planted that bug?

Help me track Martha.

I won't do it, Stan.

Fine.

But I'll take her to dinner.

♪♪

I'm sorry.

(door opens in distance)

(footsteps approach)

I appreciate that.

Mr. Philip.

Hi.

I have your travel documents.

Airplane reservations, uh, four seats, aisle 17 to Orlando.

But on the return, I could only get three together.

Not a problem.

Mm. Entrance pass to Epcot Center.

Uh, hotel reservations, two rooms.

Uh, adjacent, non-smoking, with views.

Views of what?

PGA Championship Golf Course.

Great, thank you. I appreciate it.

I... I think what you are doing is a-a very important thing to do-- making time for your family.

We get so busy sometimes, we forget what is most important.

Thank you.

(telephone rings)

(Stavos speaking indistinctly)

(sighs)

You still think it'd be better to leave?

(telephone ringing in distance)

I do.

But, Philip, you don't even want that. I know you don't.

Hmm.

Maybe they could send us down South.

You always dreamed of Odessa.

By the water.

Yeah.

And then what?

With two kids who don't know anyone, don't know the language.

You don't think they'd hate us then?

And what about us?

I mean, everything that we've built here.

Our work...

Those things matter. It's...

Don't they matter to you?

It all matters.

Elizabeth, it all matters. But for the last two days, I've had an alarm going off inside me-- "Run, run, run."

And it's not going off inside of you, so we stay.

It seems Paige loses whatever we do.

(sighs)

(lowered voice) We have to meet with Gabriel.

(sighs)

(coughing)

Gabriel?

Gabriel? Gabriel?

(moaning)

Talk to me. Talk to me.

(choking)

Is he choking?

Aah! Aah! (coughing)

He must've fallen.

(weakly) Get out, get out.

What?

Get out.

What happened? What happened?!

What if he caught it? What?

What if he has glanders?

(coughs)

How?

I don't know.

We just touched everything-- blood, uh, his mouth when he coughed.

We need to leave.

What-- What if we're contagious?

Maybe we can't leave.

We need help. We need to signal William.

Maybe one of us should stay with him.

What good would that do?

Just to help him if--

How are you gonna help him?

What are you gonna do?

I don't know. Just...

I feel like one of us should-- I'll stay.

I don't want you in here.

I don't wanna stay here either, but one of us should be here.

Whoever stays in here is gonna get sick.

We don't know that.

(coughing and wheezing)

You're sure?

There's no one on you till Monday.

If you're here with an access code for me, I don't wanna know.

It's not that.

We found Gabriel on the floor of his safe house, feverish, having trouble breathing.

But he was conscious?

He was in and out.

How close did you get to him?

We touched him. He was coughing.

There was blood. He must've fallen.

♪♪

(grunting)

Get off of me.

Get-- You-- Get off!

sh*t!

(grunting)

(spits)

(groans and gasps)

Get off me!

(grunts)

(groaning)

(breathing heavily)

Ugh. (sputters)

assh*le.

(panting)

You should've wrapped Gabriel in plastic and b*rned his body.

Come on.

Where?

My apartment.

I might have something.

(switch clicks)

Shoes off, please.

(groans)

I'm not crazy.

I've gotten so many vaccines because of what I have to do.

It's given me all these allergies.

(latches click)

What are you allergic to?

Dust, butter, sausage, candy, you name it.

I've got no sense of smell.

My skin has no natural lubricants.

(vial clatters)

Who's next?

(sighs)

(zipper whirs, plastic rustles)

I always thought I'd get infected in the lab, not in a park in the middle of the night by two people who are supposed to be on my side.

What is it?

Chloramphenicol sodium succinate.

It's a broad spectrum antibiotic.

Will it definitely work?

This strain is resistant to most antibiotics.

Nobody knows if anything will work, but it's probably our best sh*t.

(plastic rustling)

(grunting softly)

(door opens)

(coughs)

(door closes)

(coughs)

He puts the vials in these for transport.

Probably got exposed then.

How?

Who knows?

I told them over and over, the caps they're sending don't look good to me.

Threads could slip.

(oven door closes)

What are you doing?

k*lling it.

131 should do it, but I'm not taking any chances.

(coughs and wheezes)

(blooping and blasting sounds)

(video game sounds continue)

Yes!

(video game sounds continue)

Here.

And we'll take another dose every 6 hours for 24 hours, 4 sh*ts.

We're gonna be here for at least 36 hours.

Longer if we start showing symptoms.

I guess we're not going to Epcot.

♪♪
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