Agent Carter (2015–2016): Season 2, Episode 4 - Smoke & Mirrors - full transcript

Previously on "Agent Carter"...

The Arena Club?

What the hell have you
gotten yourself into, Peg?

I don't know.

But at least I know where to start looking.

I want to plant listening
devices in the club

and let them incriminate themselves.

You and Peggy make a great team.

I'm happy to help out Miss
Carter in any way I can.

Look. Peggy...

No, don't touch me. I've seen this before.



This is a side effect of zero matter.

Mr. Stark's process

would make all invisible
wavelengths visible.

Dr. Wilkes. Why can't I touch him?

He's visible.
He's just not tangible.

Am I dead?

We thought so, but apparently not.

Meet Agnes Cully.

"Whitney Frost" is her stage name.

America's sweetheart is the
brains behind Isodyne Energy.

Oh, my God!

I will slay you, dragon,

and save the princess.

Now, fair maiden, I will
cut off the dragon's head.



- Give it back.
- Here it is.

Come on. Take it.

Michael, give it to me.

Margaret Elizabeth Carter!

You'll be the death of me, Peggy Carter.

Where is my blasted handkerchief?

Oh, go on. Have a laugh.

But one of these days,

You're going to have to
start behaving like a lady.

Four...

Oh, sorry.

I'm starved.

I miss food.

Oh, yes. I hadn't thought of that.

- Are you hungry?
- No.

Well, I don't think so.

I don't have any sense of
my body at all, actually.

I'm numb.

It's disconcerting.

I wish I could be of more use

in helping you find a way
to reverse your condition.

Well, if spending time with you

is the byproduct of my current state,

I'd almost say it's worth it.

Still, it must be very...

Frustrating.

You have no idea.

You were saying?

Right.

What we're looking at

is a design for a fast-neutron reactor.

They built one like it
in Los Alamos last year,

which at full power could
generate 25 kilowatts.

Oh. Right.

Three years before that, Agnes Cully...

or, as we know her, Whitney Frost...

patented this reactor that
can theoretically generate

a thousand times more power.

So she's a genius.

I'm a genius.

Whitney Frost...

she defies categorization.

It's open.

Miss Frost?

A package has just arrived for you.

Where would you like it?

In here, Mabel.

Beside the vanity is fine.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Something's moving in here.

Thank you.

That'll be all.

Well...

Mr. Chadwick is inside,
but no sign of Miss Frost.

Not a dead loss, though.
I did get you a button.

Thank you.

For the purposes of
blending in, Miss Carter.

Whitney Frost isn't here.
She certainly isn't at work.

No one's seen her since
her director disappeared.

Well, perhaps she's still at her home.

"Holed up," as they say.

She and her husband have
gone to great lengths

to hide her involvement in zero matter.

Perhaps exposing her is the
key to exposing everything.

Ah. Here's Mr. Chadwick now.

Oh, Hedy Lamarr is divorcing
husband number three.

Be still my beating heart.

Mr. Jarvis, look at that driver's hand.

Oh. What a coincidence.

It's got the same wound you
inflicted on that attacker

the other day.

The Chadwicks appear to have built

quite a formidable wall around themselves.

Well, it's high time we
put a crack in that wall.

Got it. Thank you, Rose.

You are a wonder.

The car is registered to Rufus Hunt.

Served in the Philippines during the war.

Court-martialed, dishonorably discharged

for black market profiteering.

Well, that's a career that
easily transitions to assassin,

I would imagine.

He is currently Head of Security
at the Arena Social Club,

which means he quite likely has
access to all manner of secrets.

Well, given our previous encounter,

I'm not sure we can be
certain to divulge anything.

He nearly bested the both of us.

Mm, we'll have to be creative.

Subdue him somehow without getting
our own necks wrung in the process.

I may have just the thing.

I trust you've operated a
tranquilizer rifle before.

I can't say that I have.
Why on earth have you?

On occasion, wrangling
Mr. Stark's animal preserve

requires a ruthless hand.

Not the flamingo.

The koala.

Its adorable appearance
belies a vile temperament.

What are you feelings on
committing a felony, Mr. Jarvis?

In this case...

Decidedly for.

_

Look at this mess, Aggie.

Uncle Bud's coming by any minute now.

Mama, you've been complaining
about the broken radio

for weeks.

Get cleaned up, Baby.

You remember... be sweet to Uncle Bud.

He's not my uncle.

He's good to us.

Weren't for him, we...

Well, you're lucky you have
a Mama takes care of you.

Hello, darlin'.

Oh, Sugar.

I'll be damned if you don't
feel as firm as you look.

Aww, Sugar, I've been looking
forward to seeing you all day.

What are you working on over there?

- Oh.
- Playing with the radio?

Whoop!

You're not careful, your face
will stick like that, girl.

Can I have my pencil back, please?

I bet you're real pretty when you smile.

Come on.

Why don't you smile for your Uncle Bud?

Because I'm thinking.

Got a real strange kid here, Wilma.

Yes.

Well, why don't you go on
upstairs and get comfy, Sugar?

- I'll be right up.
- Mm.

All right?

I told you to be sweet.

I don't like him, Mama.

You hush up.

You stay out of my hair
for the next couple hours.

Clean up this mess.

- Just a minute.
- Whitney, are you in there?

Yes.

- What are you doing in here?
- I'm just running lines.

I have a busy day.

Assuming they find your director.

Paper said he hadn't been
heard from since Tuesday.

Well, Kenneth likes to drink.

I wouldn't be surprised

if they found him floating in a reservoir.

Hush. Don't say that.

That'd be terrible for the campaign.

Did you want something?

Oh, the photographer called.

He asked if you could wear
the white dress tonight.

You know, the one with the...

- The neckline.
- The neckline.

That was the one I was going to pick.

It's not every day that Life magazine

wants to put you on the cover.

We play our cards right, and you will be

the most beautiful First
Lady this country's ever seen.

Mm, Darling...

No one deserves it more than you.

That's my beautiful girl.

- We'll see you at 6:00?
- Mm-hmm.

Don't be late.

No.

Open up! This is the police!

We know you're in there, Hunt!

Come out right now with your hands up!

Ma'am,
please go back to your domicile

and shut the door!

And shut the door.

Thank you.

That's it, Hunt! Time's up!

I'm gonna come in and start squirting lead!

Remember me, Mr. Hunt?

Oh, for heaven's sake.

That's enough to take down a rhinoceros.

Easy as pie.

Mr. Jarvis, are you all right?

Jarvelous!

This is not my lucky day.

Ah. Chief Sousa, what brings you here?

- Thompson called.
- Mm-hmm.

He approved your vacation days,
but he's not very happy about it.

Thank you so much for coming
to deliver the message.

- I know you're very busy.
- That's not all.

I dug a little deeper, got
some stats on Whitney Frost.

Wonderful. Very good.

- I will dive right into them...
- Agnes Cully got discovered

in front of the Olympic Movie House in '34.

They gave her a flashy new
name, put her in the pictures.

She became Anvil Studios'
top earner by '38.

Fascinating.
Is that in the file?

I will read it directly.

- You okay?
- Of course.

Because I know when somebody's
trying to brush me off.

Brushed?

You?

What happened to him?

An overindulgence of drink.

We... Caught a possum on this
property earlier this morning.

Vicious little creature.

Hunt: Let me out of here!

Or I have a man stashed in the boot.

Hey!

Let me out of here!

It's a felony!

- A felony? That's harsh.
- I can't even believe it!

What were you thinking?!

I was doing the best I
could in our opportunity.

I thought we were a team.

- We are a team... a wonderful team.
- No, we're not a team. If we were a team

and you were thinking about
pulling a stunt like this,

- you would've called me for backup.
- I did have backup.

Mr. Jarvis was with me.

Oh, Mommy, it's the biggest horsy ever.

He's also part of the team.

Peggy, you kidnapped somebody.

I had to give you some
plausible deniability.

You've already faced enough blowback
from the SSR on my account.

I've already ruined your proposal.

If I can contain the mess in the rest
of your life, the better I'll sleep.

Well, I'll sleep better
if you stop pushing me away

and let me help you.

So, what do you got planned for Rufus Hunt?

I was thinking I'd kill him.

Look, Hunt, you're not our priority.

Obviously.

Tell me about the work
you do for Calvin Chadwick

and his buddies at the Arena Social Club.

Oh. Is that all?

I need names of members, I
need to know what they're up to,

and I want to know how Whitney
Frost figures into all this.

Club policy says I ain't
allowed to socialize

with the members or their wives.

You really want to do this the hard way?

Did you get that leg in combat?

Bastogne.

Europe.

Cute.

Look, you gonna smack me around
or break a couple fingers?

Have at it.

Because while you were playing
grab-ass on the continent,

I was already playing this
game with the Japanese.

And they took these fingers

and tied them to a jeep and
dragged me around in circles...

Once before breakfast, once before lunch.

And there wasn't no lunch.

You're gonna get out of
me the same thing they got,

which is squat.

He's all yours.

We're not going to torture you.

Of course you're not.

I know all about you, running around,

pretending you're Eliot Ness.

See, and that's your problem, really.

People on your side have a
line you just can't cross.

I meant to say we're
not going to torture you

because... we don't have time.

We thought you'd
run out of time, love.

We started taking
wagers around the office

that Fred would never pop the question.

I bet he would.

Someone owes me 2 quid.

It might be me. I bet he wouldn't.

All right, ladies, enough chatting.

Back to your codes.

Miss Carter, a word.

Of course, Mr. Edwards.

I hear congratulations are in order.

Yes. I'm to be married.

Lovely.

Well, I hope you are
ready for another proposal.

What's S.O.E.?

Special Operations Executive.

It's a new war division

spearheaded by Winston Churchill himself.

- And they need a codebreaker?
- Codebreaker?

Good heavens, no.

They're being tasked to train field agents

in irregular warfare...

Espionage, sabotage, guerrilla tactics.

Field work?

But they don't send women into the field.

Resistance networks all over Europe

need people who won't draw attention

walking down the street.

They need women.

And they're recruiting you.

Why?

That is... Why me?

Well, you're already an exceptional
codebreaker, Miss Carter.

Someone must see a great
deal of potential in you.

It's quite an honor to be tapped.

Yes... I see.

I'm sorry, Mr. Edwards.

I don't believe I'm
meant to be in the field.

This is a rare chance for
you to strike a massive blow

for King and Country.

Yes, sir.

I will discuss it with my fiancé.

But I'm...
I'm afraid I'm simply not cut out

for that kind of work.

I was in the war, as well.

And it taught me that people on my side

sometimes need to blur the line
to stop people on your side.

I've done my homework on you, Mr. Hunt.

I know you served in the Pacific

that means you'll recognize
the effects of malaria.

Malaria?

A particularly virulent strain,

developed from an avian
parasite by Stark Industries.

There is an antidote, but
if your refuse to talk,

why should I give it to you?

I'm sure you'll need some
time to mull over our proposal.

The toxin's effects
become fatal in 20 minutes.

I'll be back in 10.

Hey! Hey!

Hey, get back in here!

Hey!

That's one way to do it.

Well, let's hope it works.

What did you stick him with?

Howard wanted to create a
cure for the common cold.

He came up with a compound

that brings on intense symptoms in minutes.

You gave him a cold?

An intense cold.

H-e-e-ey!

Cup of tea?

This is crazy.

I had to hear it
from Lorraine down the street

that you've been stepping
out with the Owens girl!

- She's hardly a year older than Agnes.
- I didn't plan it to happen.

Don't get mad, Sugar. You
you're breaking my heart.

What heart, you lousy cheat?!

You got to understand, Wilma.

Understand what?

Wanted something young and
pretty to climb on top of?

She's a woman.

- She's good to me.
- Wasn't I good to you, Bud?

D... didn't we take care of one another?

I want you out of here by tomorrow.

You go to hell, Bud Schultz!

You go straight to hell!

You could've been nicer to him.

I didn't like him.

You think you're so damn smart.

You really think that
that fancy science program

is gonna take a girl?

It don't matter how smart you are.

You're stuck here, same as me.

I will still get out of
here... away from you.

Come here!

Mama!

No one cares what's in your head.

If you were half as smart
as you think you are,

you'd fix on this.

This is the only thing

that's gonna get you
anywhere in this world.

Hello?

Whitney, you're an hour late.

I'm sorry, darling. I'm
I'm not feeling well.

Well, can't you just pull yourself together
for an hour or so?

What happened to "the show must go on"?

I'm afraid I won't be able to make it.

Whitney, this is Life Magazine.

They're gonna cancel the cover
story if you're not involved.

I just know it.

It's your face they want, not...

One name, Hunt.

Let's just start with one name.

Please.

You're impressive.

At death's door.

All you need to do to live
is to answer a few questions,

and yet here you sit, silent.

I can't tell if you're motivated
by strong convictions or spite.

Peg...

Want to pump the brakes
on him a little bit?

He's got five minutes left.

That's a generous estimation.

He's no use to us dead.

He's no use to us alive and quiet.

Thomas Gloucester!

The Wall Street guy.

Hugh Jones.

Roxxon. I've had the pleasure.

Give me the antidote... now.

Not until we finish our conversation.

- Then you'll be clear and free to do as...
- Free?

I'll never be free again, not after this.

This stuff's gonna buy me a couple of days.

You can get out of town, run.

Or the SSR can protect you.

Are you two really that dumb?

Huh?

There's no running, no protection.

You think the men I work
for are just criminals,

like a... like a stickup man?!

They're in everything!

And what they can't buy, they destroy.

President McKinley, Black Tuesday...

You think those things just happened?

Run?

I'm already dead.

And so are you.

Do you want those extra days or not?

W... wait.

Storage room...

at the club.

The Council of Nine.

That's what they're called.

They record their meetings.

You'll see... everything you
want to know about Calvin Chadwick

and the rest of his crowd.

It's on those tapes.

Times "N" to the power of "P."

Is that correct, Dr. Wilkes?

It is, Mr. Jarvis.

- Thank you.
- Wonderful.

What does it mean?

It means I'm back at square one.

My theory has been that
my atoms have lost cohesion

at a quantum level, but...

I think I've reached a dead end.

Look, why don't
we step away from the task

for a moment?

We've been working for hours.

Dr. Wilkes?

Dr. Wilkes, are you quite well?

I'm fine.

Uh, just got lost in my head a little.

- Jarvis, where's the phone?
- It's on the desk.

I take it Mr. Hunt fell
for our little ruse.

- He certainly did.
- I got a buddy at the U.S. Attorney's office.

He'll get the judge to get the warrant.

A warrant? For what?

We're raiding the Arena Club.

The minute we get
the warrant, we'll mobilize.

When we get to the Arena Club,
we'll split into two teams.

Team one will cover the
offices, gathering information.

I want accounting information,
membership rosters, stuff like that.

Team two will go with Agent Carter

through the hidden door into
the secret area of the club.

That's right.

He did say "hidden door" and "secret area."

We're dealing with odd rich men here.

They love this sort of thing.

Sousa.

What?

- What?
- What is it?

You Chief Sousa?

Yeah. Who wants to know?

The man who signs your timecards.

Vernon Masters, War Department.

What can I do for you?

Well, let's start by
putting these shotguns away.

They're making this situation

a bit more tense than it needs to be.

Sir, we're about to conduct
a raid on the Arena l...

Let's put that on the back burner.

The War Department has decided
to audit this branch's cases,

past and present.

This is outrageous.

Peggy...

It's an executive order.

Comes straight from D.C.

So, if you'll just crack open
your files, we'll get to work,

and I'm sure this will
all be done in no time.

Chief, would you mind

showing my men around?

Guys.

After you.

And you...

must be the Agent Carter

that I keep hearing so much about.

Have I been dying to talk to you.

We have credible information
implicating members of the Arena Club

in a conspiracy that
involves numerous murders

and experimental work in a
highly dangerous substance.

There is no legitimate reason

to prevent the SSR enforcing the law,

even on those who
believe they are above it.

How are you enjoying your
vacation, Agent Carter?

Vigorously.

Jack Thompson thinks very highly of you.

He says that you're quite
the independent thinker.

I'm sure he meant that as an insult.

Perhaps.

Times like these,

it's often safer to be
seen as a team player.

But you... don't seem like the type of lady

who plays anything safe.

That's a compliment, by the way.

Allowing these men to escape scrutiny

is the very definition of playing it safe.

According to our source, their influence

reaches well beyond the Isodyne cover-up.

Mm. How so?

Assassinations, market manipulation...

We won't know the full
extent of the council's power

until we pry open their secrets.

Who is this source?

We're keeping his name
confidential for his own safety.

Bring him in.

I'd like to vet him personally.

Chief Sousa and I signed an affidavit,

vouching for his credibility as a C.I.

That's more than sufficient for a warrant.

Not this time.

Who is he?

You're refusing to reveal his identity?

Call it independent thinking.

You know, the Hollywood Ten

thought they were
independent thinkers, too.

A communist witch hunt

has no relevance to the work of the SSR.

But it should be relevant to you...

A spy who isn't even American.

A tidal wave is coming, Agent Carter.

And you are going to have to
work very hard to stay afloat.

I'll manage.

Maybe so.

But your friends could still drown.

_

A toast, to my two favorite
men, meeting at last.

Cheers.

Come on, Peggy. Slug it back.

You won't beat your
older brother this time.

I've been practicing.

Michael, not here.

You can do that?

N... not recently.

So, Michael, tell me
how goes it at the front?

Well, there are lots of Nazis there,

and they tend to shoot at you a great deal.

Apart from that, the scenery is splendid.

Do let me know if there's anything

you feel the Home Office isn't providing.

I have a direct line to command.

Consider me your personal concierge.

That's very kind of you, Fred.

Did I tell you I was recruited to be a spy?

We turned them down, of course.

Did we?

Can you imagine?

Risking life and limb behind enemy lines,

doing God knows what there.

That's not our Peg.

One thing I've learned from the war...

A boring life is a privilege.

I'll get us a top-up, hmm?

So?

What do you think?

Well, it doesn't matter what I
think. You're the one marrying him.

Of course it matters.
I want you to like him.

Why did you turn down the S.O.E. job?

It's just...

Wasn't the plan that we had for our lives.

How do you know it was S.O.E.?

'Cause I recommended you.

Michael...

You should've told me.

Look, Peggy, I know you
better than anyone else alive.

And...

this isn't what you want.

What is it that you think I want?

The same thing you've wanted
since you were a little girl...

A life of adventure.

Well, I've grown up.

My dreams changed.

No, you've just let everyone
else drum them out of you.

Fred's a nice enough chap, but be honest...

Is he the love of your life?

Is this really how you see your future?

This is my engagement party, Michael.

Not your wedding day.

Look, there is still
time to change your mind.

I don't have to listen to this.

Don't worry what other people think.

You are meant to fight.

Stop pretending to be
someone that you're not.

Peg...

Peggy, come back.

Peggy, Peggy.

Wait.

I didn't account for the central district
judge being in the council's pocket.

I'm sorry.

Don't apologize for believing
people have ethics and morals.

The Arena Club's removed any
incriminating evidence by now.

Our only chance at infiltrating that place

is locked in a broom closet.

I doubt we can poison him again.

What's the next step?

Your next step is to stay
here and save your hide.

Why?

'Cause a tidal wave is coming,

and all my friends are
gonna be branded commies?

Yeah, I got that speech, too.

I'm in this with you till the end, Peggy.

It's only gonna get more difficult, Daniel.

They've taken all the
evidence from the SSR.

Not all of it.

Tissue sample from Jane Scott's autopsy.

I convinced Dr. Samberly to misplace it.

- Told him I'd put in a good word for him with Rose.
- You are brilliant.

Let's pay another visit to
our guest in the broom closet.

On your feet.

Move!

We can talk this out, huh?

Like a couple of soldiers.

Talking is done. Council's on to us.

We can't risk you returning to the fold

and opening your trap about what we know.

Look, if you're gonna shoot me,

you might as well go
ahead and do it right here,

'cause I'm done marching.

Have it your way.

Well, that went well.

Yeah.

I still don't know why
I had to take a punch.

It's the least you could contribute.
He's already throttled me twice.

I need a drink.

What happened, Mr. Hunt?

I ain't talking
to you. Where's Chadwick?

Cal's at a fund raising dinner.

He could be begging all night.

Good.

He won't mind if I help myself.

What happened?

I ain't saying a word till
your husband gets home.

I said I need a drink.

This could take a while.

A drink sounds pretty good right about now.

I'll bring the bottle.

_

Mum, we can't have you weeping
all through the ceremony.

Can I help crying when I'm happy?

Where is my blasted handkerchief?

Oh, dear.

Let's get this dress off before I stain it.

Oh, I'll go and see who that is.

Stewart, what is it?

M... Michael!

You call this the good stuff?

I'm sorry if our liquor cabinet

fails to live up to
your standards, Mr. Hunt.

Jason, is everything all right?

Goes down like...

Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.

It's okay.

I'm just... having trouble concentrating.

What is it? Are you unwell?

Have you ever been so bone tired...

that no matter what you did...

you simply cannot keep your eyes open?

Jason, I know you say you
can't sleep, but please try.

It's more than that.

I can't describe it.

It's as if...

Something is... is calling me...

Pulling me away.

Pulling you away? To where?

I don't know.

But it would be really easy to just...

Let go.

My brother used to say to
me that I was meant to fight.

I believe you're cut from
the same cloth, Jason.

We will fix this, I promise you.

But you can't let go.

You must hold on.

Calvin, is that you?

Oh, thank God.

Oh. Rufus.

You've been missing in action all day.

- Chadwick's arrived home.
- What the hell happened to you?

You look like you've gone 10
rounds with a meat grinder.

Yeah, that SSR agent,

the one you had me go after, Peggy Carter?

She kidnapped me.

Kidnapped?

Yeah, she shot me
with a tranquilizer gun,

locked me in her trunk.

She tried to kill me.

She's finished. I'll have her job for this.

I will have her deported.

- Who the hell does she think she is...
- What did you tell her?

What? I didn't...

What did you tell her?

All right, look.

She... she injected me with something.

I thought I was dying, all right?

What did you say?

She wanted names.

And you gave them to her?

We hired you because you
said you couldn't be broken.

And this is what you have to show for it?

No.

I'm not taking the fall for this.

You're gonna have to answer
to the Council yourself.

See, I think that's where you're wrong.

No.

You're gonna protect me.

'Cause I can go to the council, too,

and tell them what you're up
to and what your wife's up to.

So you're gonna help me,

or I'm gonna get real yappy real fast.

You son of a bitch.

Sweetheart... I
have to show you something.

Whitney, I'm in the
middle of something here.

- You know, just get out of here.
- I know, but this is important.

Mr. Hunt made a mistake.

And we all make mistakes.

And mistakes can be fixed.

Whitney...

What are you doing?

Whitney, w... what is this?!

Whitney! Whitney, stop!

Stop!

We lost the signal.

What on earth did she do?

I don't know.

_

Paper!

Get your paper!

Didn't I see you here last week?

We didn't change the movie.

What's the point in seeing it again?

It's a nice escape from the world.

Helps you forget about your troubles.

Hey.

Just this once.

You know, I bet you're
real pretty when you smile.

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

Ned Silver, talent agent to the stars.

A smile like that, I bet I could
get you some work as a model.

Or maybe...

even an actress in one of those pictures.

What do you think?

That sounds real interesting.

Fantastic.

What's your name?

Agnes. Agnes Cully.

Well, that'll have to change.

Why?

'Cause you need a name
as pretty as you are.

That's the beauty of Hollywood.

You can be whatever you want.

What happened, Whitney?

What happened?

What was that?

That was me...

Fixing another one of your problems.

What are you?

Whatever I want.