Burn Notice (2007–2013): Season 1, Episode 3 - Fight or Flight - full transcript

My name is Michael Westen.

I used to be a spy until--

- [ Man ] We got a burn notice
on you. You're blacklisted.
- [ Whistles ]

[ Michael Narrating ]
When you're burned,
you've got nothing--

no cash, no credit,
no job history.

- You're stuck in whatever city
they decide to dump you in.
- Where am I?

Miami.

You do whatever work
comes your way.

- You rely on anyone
who's still talking to you--
- [ Laughs ]

- a trigger-happy
ex-girlfriend--
- Should we shoot them?

an old friend who's informing
on you to the F.B.I.--



You know spies.
Bunch of bitchy little girls.

- Family too--
- Hey, is that your mom again?

- if you're desperate.
- Someone needs
your help, Michael.

Bottom line:
Until you figure out
who burned you,

you're not going anywhere.

[ Michael Narrating ]
International conferences
attract spies...

for the same reason hotel bars
attract hookers:

You can do business
and drink for free.

[ Sighs ]

Looks like
your F.B.I. tail found us.
Should we call this off?

No. Keep the engine running.
I'll try to make this quick.

Fi, this is not
an armored assault.

You think they're just gonna
give you covert operatives
coming to this conference?

All I need is a name, somebody
in Miami who can get me...



the Homeland Security
directive that burned me.

One name.

I don't need a gun
for that.
You're no fun, Michael.

[ Michael Narrating ] Any
high-security function is going
to have a lot of oversight,

a lot of meetings,
a lot of bureaucrats
checking up on each other.

You remember I forgot my badge.
The security office is--
Right.

[ Michael Narrating ]
In all the confusion
of the big event,

it's easy for another bureaucrat
to just show up.

Security brief, right? Sorry.

Anyway, we're concentrating
our efforts on crowd control
if we get protestors.

- Sounds good.
- Excuse me.
Which office are you with?

I'm an interdepartmental
liaison. They just wanted me
to come down,

make sure we're up to speed
on everything you guys
are doing.

Looks like things
are under control.

- Is there anything you need
from us, support-wise?
- I don't--

Okay, then. You let us know
if there's anything you want us
to coordinate on our end.

[ Michael Narrating ] The
important thing is to disappear
before people can ask questions.

Excuse me, sir. Sir!

Great.
Hey!

[ Michael Narrating ]
If they do decide
to ask questions,

you have to hope you're in a
building with a lot of hallways,
a good service basement.

Locked.
And plenty of exits.

[ Man ]
Stop right there!
This is a fire hazard.

Sir, stop!
[ Michael Narrating ]
But in the end,

sometimes making an escape is
just about being willing to do
what the guy chasing you won't,

like jump off a building.

[ Thuds ]
[ Grunts ]

I just walked two miles
with a twisted ankle.

What happened to
"keep the car running"?

The stolen car, Michael.
Your feds were getting curious.

I had a gun in the car.
Our little mission...

was in danger
of being compromised,
so I returned to base.

- And broke in again.
- I think our post-operation
debriefing has taught us...

that you need a car and
I need a key to your apartment.

A key? Aren't you more
comfortable breaking in?

What is your problem with me
having a key, Michael?

I don't want anyone
to have a key to my place.
It's a security issue.

Right. And your problem
with car ownership?

You prefer the bus?
Urine-scented transportation
is more secure?

I don't even know
where to get a car.
My assets are frozen.

I don't even have
a driver's license.

I spoke to your mom.
Apparently, you have a car.

Your father's old--
Oh, what is it?

Charger. Not interested.
What are you doing
talking to my mom?

We chat.
And you know what I think?

I think a car
is a commitment.

I think you're afraid
to be tied down.

You got a problem
with the lock?

More like a problem
with boundaries.

Apartment is good for you, yes?

Apartment is good.

Yeah, club is good, too,
but always competition, though.

Many problems.

What do you need, Oleg?

I have a waitress, Cara.
Knows my regulars.

On a good night,
half of my business is from her.

But for a week now,
she doesn't come to work.

You don't want me filling in
for her, trust me.

No, I need her, but she's
scared to leave her house.

Someone threaten her.
Maybe boyfriend.

- What do you want me to do?
- I think maybe you can help.

You got rid of the drug dealer
next door, so I think maybe
it's no problem for you, huh?

Look, take care of this,
I give you free rent
for two months, yes?

Four months, da?

- Okay.
- I'll talk to her.

[ Woman ]
So, you work for Oleg?

We have an arrangement.
I'm here to see if I can help.

So, a couple weeks ago,
I was driving home from work--
Ew.

Oh, recycled grounds.

I haven't been out to the store
in more than a week.
I haven't been anywhere.

That's fine.
Uh, so what exactly
is the situation?

- Do you know
who's threatening you?
- Kind of.

Couple weeks ago, I was driving
home after work around 3:00,

and I saw this pizza delivery
guy rear-end this gold Lexus.

The guy in the Lexus pulled
this poor kid out of the car...

and he started pounding him
with this steering wheel lock.

I got the license plate number
and I called the cops.

So you're the only witness?
Yeah.

Pizza delivery kid is on
life support, so it's just me.

The next week, I get home
and there's a rat
nailed to my door.

So I went to the police.
I figured that they could
protect me, right?

And they're like,
"We'll send some patrols by."

Meanwhile, there are these scary
guys coming around my work,

and somebody's hanging around
Sophie's school wanting
to know where we live, and--

- Sophie?
- Yeah.

Sophie?

This has been really hard
on her-- being cooped up in
this little house for so long.

Sophie, um,
this is Michael.

Um, he's a--

What are you exactly?

Someone Oleg
thought could help.

So, are you going
to help or what?

I'll see what I can do.

This is good.
It's a Persian recipe.

You haven't cooked
for me in a while. Years.

- What is it you want, Michael?
- Listen, Fi.

If I show up at that hotel now
that the conference has started,

I'll set off
every alarm there is.

I need your help.
There's a delegate I need
to talk to: Akhom Thabet.

- He's a friend?
- Not exactly.

I saved his life
a while back.
He owes me.

You want me to track
down an Egyptian spy,
and in return, I get what?

This meal?
Well, it's tasty, but--

You want me to ask my mom
for the car,

I'll ask my mom
for the car.

[ Michael Narrating ]
Asking my mom for anything...

is a lot like getting a favor
from a Russian mob boss--

He'll give you what you want
with a smile, but believe me,
you'll pay for it.

- What are you doing, Mom?
- Making a salad.

- I'm gettin' healthy.
- Does the recipe call
for cigarette ash?

One mountain a day, Michael.
That's what my yoga teacher
said.

Uh, you never leave the house.
Where are you meeting yogis?

I bought a yoga DVD
on the Home Shopping Network.

That's great.

Listen--
[ Sighs ]
I need the car--

the Charger.

Oh, Michael, that's wonderful!

Your father always wanted you
to have something
to remember him by.

Oh, I have this
to remember him by.

I remember what fun you two had,
always working on cars
in the garage.

Fun?
I remember him...

making me fake a seizure
at Mr. Goodwrench so he
could steal spark plugs.

I remember him quitting
every project early...

and handing me a to-do list
to finish the job for him.

And look at you now, Michael.

So many things you can do.
Here, honey.

[ Michael Narrating ]
My father's approach
to machinery...

was similar
to his approach to his family--

If you don't like how something
works, keep banging on it
till it does what you want.

If something doesn't fit,
force it.

And above all, make sure
it looks good on the outside.

[ Engine Cranking ]

Spark plugs. Perfect.

** [ Man Singing In Spanish ]

Thank you, Melinda.

So, a babysitting gig?
What, are you that
hard-up for cash?

Hey, at least
I've got an apartment.

I'm working on that.
I've got a few irons
in the fire.

Hey, so this new job, you want
some help? Maybe I could
provide a little somethin'.

I already sent Fiona
over to Cara's place.
Oh, come on, Mike!

You got a sexy cocktail waitress
that needs protecting,
and you send Fiona.

What is she, 80 pounds?
Mike, come on.

Look at that. Guns of steel.
If there's a situation
that requires...

showing off
your upper body and boozy
flirting, you're my guy.

Oh, that's low.
I need you to have
one of your cop buddies...

check on a license plate
and get an address.

Okay. Next time,
I get the girl.

- So I have one teaspoon
of ground cumin.
- Ooh, too much cumin.

You cook?
Used to.

I was in chef school
when I got pregnant,
but I was failing out.

I was 19-- a mess.

And then Sophie
came along.

She saved my life.

All right, his name
is Alvaro Desantos.

That's him there
at the outdoor table.

- Want me to go in with you?
- No, you stay with the car.

- You get a little
distracted in bars.
- Fair enough.

Hey, if they have Dos Equis,
just grab me a couple--

[ Michael Narrating ]
Convincing a bully
to back down...

is usually
just a matter of showing
you're not afraid of him.

- Can I help you?
- I think so.

Friend of mind, Cara Stagner,
she has a rat problem.

And you come here?
Sounds like she needs
an exterminator.

Little late for that.
They're nailed to her door.

- [ Chuckles ]
- I want this to stop.

Take your chances at trial.
There are worse things
than going to jail.

Oh, yes? What things?

[ Michael Narrating ]
Of course, some bullies
have guys with .357 Magnums.

Then you change tactics.

There's no need for
unpleasantness. I'm just trying
to resolve this situation.

I'm happy you come here.
This situation,
as you call it,

is going to be resolved
within the hour.

By the time
we finish our mojitos,
this will all be done.

For good.

Go, go, go!

- That's gonna go into the mix.
- [ Cell Phone Rings ]

Hello. How did it go?

Desantos has a hit squad on the
way. You need to hold them off.
No worries.

I need you to go
in the bathroom,
get in the tub and stay down.

- What?
- Be a sweetie.

Do it before someone
starts shooting.

Where's your liquor cabinet?

[ Michael Narrating ]
When faced with a superior
force, you can do two things--

You can retreat quietly
or you can attack with
as much fanfare as possible.

Last call, boys!

[ Sam ]
How many were there?

I don't know, four.
They took off
after cocktail hour.

Fi, it looks like Fallujah
down there.

I was half-hoping they'd
stick around for a bit.

Cara's got quite
a liquor cabinet,
good for a 10-hour siege.

- Michael.
- You okay?

Can't we just tell them
I won't testify?
I don't care.

Once they send guys
to kill you, they're past the
"I promise not to tell" stage.

-We need to get 'em out of here.
-Where are we going?

Mike, you know you can't take
'em back to your apartment.
Cara works downstairs.

They're gonna come lookin'.
I know a place.

[ Madeline ]
How long are they
gonna be here?

I'm not sure how long
they'll be here.
Maybe a few days.

Why the garage, though?
We have a very nice
guest room.

I need to control access points.
Trust me, it's better.

This way, you can have
the whole house.
You can do your, uh, yoga.

** [ Indian On DVD ]
Michael, all these years,

ever since your first
background check,

all those letters where
you couldn't say where you were,
I never asked questions.

Now I want to know
what you're doing.

They're in danger
and I'm helping them.

Okay? Please, Mom.

Thank you.

Do something for me.

Go see your father's grave.
It would mean a lot to me.

I'll think about it.

[ Michael Narrating ]
Outfitting a safe house
is about two things--

You need to know if someone's
coming, and you need to know...

how the folks you're protecting
are going to get out of there
if they do.

And if you can't be on
babysitting duty all the time,

you need to make sure
that you know the minute
something's wrong.

A $35 outdoor floodlight
has a decent motion detector
on it.

Wire that to a cell phone
and you've got
a remote alarm system...

that will call you
if there's trouble.

** [ Cell Phone: Dance Rock ]

- Nice.
- It came with the phone.

Mm-hmm.
So if anyone comes in here,
you'll know.

And if that goes off,
I'll know too.

So we're supposed to stay
in here... in the garage
and do nothing?

Pretty much. It's not
so bad as safe houses go.
You got a TV at least.

I once spent three days
in a Riyadh storage facility...

with nothing but a flashlight
and a Arabic celebrity magazine.

Can I call my friends
at least?

No. No outside contact
until this is over.

They're high school students.
You're completely paranoid.

Maybe.
But I'm still breathing.

Now, if you need to run, you can
go safely through that opening.

But don't--
See, don't touch that.

I'll be rigging this so that if
anyone comes through this door,
they'll be electrocuted.

I don't want you to
get zapped accidentally.

Whatever. It's
a freaking garage. I'd rather
be killed than live here.

Well, those are
your two options.

I'll miss our spring formal.

Is it too much to ask
to go to one dance?

These guys know
where you go to high school.

If they have any brains at all,
they will put the word
out there.

You show up,
someone makes a phone call.

You think they're
gonna use kids at my school?
Are you serious?

That's what I would do.
I can't believe this.

This is ridiculous.
Sophie!

We are very grateful.
Michael, I am sorry.
No, it's fine.

Sophie, you might want to go
use the bathroom. I'm gonna
lock down for the night.

Kids.
Yeah.

Thank you, mariposa.
Appreciate it.

Hey, what's happening here?
Bus fare.

- What about your car?
I thought you had some wheels.
- Spark plugs.

Spark plugs cost two bucks.
My dad rebuilt the engine.

The ignition system is shot.
Plugs won't fit until I rebuild
the system from scratch.

From scratch?
Sounds like you and your pop
had a lot in common.

Changing the subject.
What did you find out
about Desantos?

I checked around.
He's a distributor for one
of the drug cartels.

He's not a major player,
but he's got some firepower.

- Any chance we can nudge
the F.B.I. to pick him up?
- [ Chuckles ]

Your little
F.B.I. surveillance team...

is more interested in your romp
at the convention than
doing you favors, F.Y.I.

It sounds like they've been
trying to make a case against
Desantos, but nothing sticks.

- You know how these guys are.
- Who's Desantos's lawyer?

Gellman.
Who?

Oh, that's right.
You've been running around
the world for the past decade.

Bruce Gellman.
He's the lawyer for
the whole drug cartel,

- from Desantos all
the way up to el jefe.
- Guess I better meet Gellman.

- What is this? Weapon?
- Nothing you need to
worry about.

You know what I worry about?
I worry about my waitress.

How long this takes, Michael,
a week now?
I'm working on it.

Things got a little complicated,
but I think I've found someone
Desantos will listen to.

[ Michael Narrating ]
I love commuters.

Anybody who drives the same
route to work every day,

it's like they're doing
all the work for you.

And a punctual commuter,
a guy who's in the same place
every morning at 8:36 a.m.?

It's almost too easy.

I'm gonna feel really bad
if you don't have
a Triple "A" card.

Is this a robbery?

The wallet, keys
are in the car.

Is this the Seven series,
with the leather seats?

- Tempting, but it needs new
tires. I'm here on business.
- Business?

I've been calling and calling,
trying to make an appointment,
maybe get you on the phone.

Then I thought, "He's a busy
man. I'll just talk to him
on his way into work."

- What do you want?
- Alvaro Desantos.

I want to talk to you
about his assault trial.

And my daughter wants a pony.
I don't discuss
my clients' business.

A pony. That's funny.
Well, I'll do all
the talking then.

I don't know how much attention
you've been paying
to your client lately,

but he's been a bad boy.

Witness intimidation,
attempted murder.

You know,
the kind of things...

that could cause problems
for your... other clients.

You have no idea
who you're dealing with.

No, I read the article,
most of it anyway.
Scary guys, drugs, guns.

I miss something?
I doubt el jefe
back in Colombia...

wants to risk yet another murder
investigation just so Desantos
can avoid a few years in prison.

Have el jefe tell Desantos
to back off.

I want an answer by tomorrow.

I'll meet you here, same time.
Understood?

Oh, I understand.

How'd it go?
Gellman gonna talk to Colombia,
make our lives easy?

Hope so.
Those two can only stay in
my mom's garage for so long.

- And if he doesn't go for it?
- Then our lives aren't so easy.

There's your man.

Whoa. Been a while.
He's lost a little--
a lot of hair.

I tailed him for you.

He's renting a nice Mercedes.

Spends a lot of time
in restaurants. He lives
pretty well for a spy.

Hands out bribes mostly--
bid rigging,
industrial espionage.

I need you to keep watching him.
Let me know when's the best time
to get next to him.

What then?
What then?

Then I'll find out
who's behind this burn--

'Cause I'm just curious
about your plans.

I suppose
if you get this resolved,
then you'll leave Miami.

Fi, can we talk
about this later?

[ Michael Narrating ]
Threaten any serious
criminal organization...

and they're going to do
one of two things--

[ Whistling ]

They'll send someone
to make a deal,

or they'll send someone
to make a corpse.

Either way, you've got
something to work with.

[ Whistling Continues ]

Problem with the detonator?
I borrowed this when
you went to take a leak.

[ Groans ]

Gellman's not coming, is he?

- What's going on?
- I don't know nothing.

Come on. Don't be so modest.
You hear things around
the water cooler at the office.

I could take the other knee out
if that helps.

They talked to the guys
in Colombia.

They say to kill you all.

Really?

That's not what
I was hoping they'd say.

What?
We have to leave Miami?

You don't have a choice.
The whole cartel
is after you now.

- They won't stop
until you're dead.
- Well, what about you?

- They don't care about me.
I'm just in their way.
- So we just leave? That's it?

Sophie, he's just trying
to help us.

It was bad enough being stuck
in here, but now we're
just supposed to leave?

What about my friends?
It's my-- It's my senior year.

I have a date
for the dance.

Perimeter's clear.
Sam's out front
keeping a lookout.

Can't you do something?

Didn't you say you were better
at tactical whatever than he is?

What? I am.

I'm sure Fi would be happy
to take on the cartel
with a lighter...

and whatever's in the
liquor cabinet, but trust me,
it's not an option.

You have to go now.
Michael, we don't even
have our things.

No, they'll have people
watching your house.

But I need my phone.
It has all my friends'
numbers on it.

Maybe I'm not being clear.

You will leave Miami,
you will not contact anyone.

You will start over.
They want Cara and
Sophie Stagner dead.

It is our job to turn Cara
and Sophie Stagner into ghosts.

I know how you feel.
Normally, I would
agree with you.

Michael would change
his identity and disappear
to get out of a parking ticket.

But in this case,
he's right.

It's for the best.

Okay, so where do we go?

I need you to write up a list--
places you have family,
vacation spots,

anywhere you've been
in the last 10 years or so.

You can go anywhere
that's not on that list.

Won't they just follow us?

Trust me, they will not know
where you're heading.

Fi, we've got to get over
to Cara's apartment now.

[ Michael Narrating ]
When you go on the run,

the first thing you do
is lay down tracks
in the opposite direction.

But that only works
if the bad guys find the trail
and believe it's for real--

[ Cell Phone Rings ]
which means selling it.

You need to put on
a little show,
make them feel clever.

When you make somebody work
to get a piece of information,

they'll believe it that much
more because it's hard to get.

I'm in Cara's apartment.
They see me?

Yeah. Hurry up, Fi.

Michael, you worried about me?

That is sweet.

Sometimes I feel like
you're more of a romantic
than you realize.

Fi, there are guys
with guns outside.

It's not that bad.
Last week I was hauling
in some dodgy meth dealer.

I don't want to hear
about your other jobs, okay?

If I knew you were
going to take this long,
I would have done it myself.

Don't be silly.
You're on their hit list.

Just hurry.
Actually, I was
thinking that now...

would be a good time
to talk to you about getting
a key to your place.

- Fiona, please.
- What?

I'm just saying it's practical.
I'm not talking about
moving in.

I could come over any time
and we could--
Okay, here they come.

Get out of there now.

So what do you think?
Key?

[ Michael ]
Two more coming in
and Desantos.

- I want an answer.
- Fi, just go to the back door
and get out of there now.

- Yes or no?
- Fine! Just get out of there.

Fi! Fiona, get out of there!

Goddamn it, Fi,
get out of there!

As far as Desantos
and the Colombians
are concerned,

the Stagners are off
to Salt Lake City.

You know, Michael, if I'm gonna
be there more, you really ought
to get some proper furniture.

So they think we're going
to Salt Lake City,
but we're really--

Going to Buffalo.
Tomorrow morning you're
on the first flight.

Airport security is your friend
at a time like this.

- What are we supposed
to do in Buffalo?
- Same thing you do here.

There are malls
and... clothing stores.

[ Sighs ]
Such a tough age
just to get up and move.

I joined the military
at her age. I left home with 50
bucks and a change of clothes.

Was someone trying to
chase you down and kill you?

[ Cell Phone Rings ]
I'll, uh-- I'll talk
to you in the morning.

Yeah, Fi?

Your Egyptian just got back
and he has dinner reservations.

[ Michael ]
I'll be right there.

[ Michael Narrating ]
Approaching a spy
in the middle of a job...

gives you a lot of leverage.

They're playing a delicate game,
and the last thing they want...

is someone coming in
and smashing their delicate game
with a brick.

Good to see you, Akhom.

Good to see you, Michael,
my old friend.

- Why, just the other day,
I was telling someone--
- Michael.

how you saved my life.

It's good to see you.
I'm in a meeting.
Maybe later.

I need a few minutes
with him, guys.
You don't mind, do you?

- What do you want?
- I need your help.

Akhom, if it wasn't
for me, you'd be buried
somewhere in the desert,

a horror story
diplomats tell one another
around the campfire,

but you're not
because I helped you.

I'm grateful.
But you're burned.
You're out.

You're still in business,
though.

Wasn't that the vice chair
of the Sudanese delegation?

And what is that?
That is-- Oh.

- What do you want?
- Well, for starters,
a sip of your drink.

I mean, the taste
is just-- Oh.

Oh, and a copy of
the Homeland Security directive
that authorized my burn notice.

- [ Scoffs ] I can't.
- Sure, you can.

Because you don't want me
to tell your friends there...

about the jobs you did
on the wrong side
of his border.

Maybe he'll forgive you.

[ Cell Phone: Dance Music ]

Yeah, I need an answer... now.

I also need your valet ticket.

- Michael!
- What happened? Where is she?

She's gone.
The alarm went off and--

How many men were there,
and did you get a look
at their car?

What? No, there was nobody.
She snuck out
while I was asleep.

It's her spring formal.
Sam, I need you to get
to the safe house.

Just let me put on some pants.
Come naked.
Just get here now.

Mike, if they find Sophie,
they're gonna--

Hey, I'll find her first.

[ Chattering ]

Sophie.

- Sophie.
- Oh, come on.

[ Vehicle Approaches ]
Come on.

[ Sophie ]
One night. Why? Why can't you
just leave me alone?

One night, that's all I wanted.
But you have to be
a drama queen.

Why can't you just leave me
alone? I don't understand.

- Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
- Shop class, where is it?

- Turn the lights back on.
- But they'll find us.

We're not hiding.

You will go out the back door.
You're gonna meet me
behind the gym,

and I will find you
in five minutes.

- Seriously, go.
- I can't.

- No arguments. Go.
Sophie! Go right now.
- You can't leave me!

I won't let anything
bad happen to you. Go. Go.

[ Screaming ]

[ Michael Narrating ] Basic
rule of bodyguarding: Never
fight with the protectee around,

mostly because if they happen
to catch a stray bullet,
you just lost your job.

Sophie?

Sophie?

Sophie, bad guys gone now.
Sophe?

I should have listened to you.
I'm sorry.

Let's go.

I barely had a chance
to go inside.

I didn't even have a chance
to say good-bye to my boyfriend.

Boyfriend? I thought
he was just a date.

He could have been
my boyfriend.

I'll never know now.

I was on this job once
in Dublin.

The whole plan fell apart,
totally compromised.

I only had an hour
to get out of the country.

I couldn't get word back to
a key asset I had developed
in the I.R.A.

It was Fiona.
We were involved romantically.

Are you guys still together?

No. But we reconnected later.

Sort of.
Sophie, we should go.

So you're saying that
if we're meant to be together,
that we'll find each other?

Sure.

You're really bad at this.
Yeah.

It's just hard, you know?

Leave your whole life behind.

Sometimes it can be.

Yeah.

Can we go now?

Bottom line is, Desantos
knows Cara hasn't left.

Eventually, he'll hunt
her down. We need a more
permanent solution.

- It's about time.
- Fi.

Sam, have you talked to
your F.B.I. buddies lately?

Guys, we've been
through this, all right?
They're not my buddies.

They're-- They're just--
Your keepers?

- Your master?
- That's enough out of you.

They're both by-the-book
suits, right?

Well, yeah, Mike, they're feds.
I mean, come on.

Why?

[ Michael Narrating ]
Modern technology
has made it possible...

to do sophisticated electronic
surveillance with stuff from
your local electronics store.

It sounds more fun than it is.

You've come for that drink?
Another time.

This has gone far enough.
We want to make a deal.

Good. Fine.
Bring me the girl,
we make a deal.

Just listen to this first.

Who is this?

Uh, yes, Mr. Desantos.
Uh, this is Chuck Finley,
attorney for Cara Stagner.

Mr. Finley, hey, I dislike
meetings over the telephone.

Perhaps I could meet with
your client face-to-face.

Well, I just want
to tell you that Cara Stagner
is not going to be a problem.

Not a problem?

You see, this confuses me
because I know she made
a statement to the police.

Yes, uh, and to the feds.

But, uh,
they turned her away.

She thought they would, uh,
put her in witness protection?

-Well, she doesn't want to die.
-And I don't want to go to jail.

So, this is our dilemma.

How can I convince you?

I want a guarantee.

I have to know that
she's not going to testify,

and the only way I can know
this for sure is, uh--

Let me tell you how we do
this in Colombia, hey?

[ Michael Narrating ]
Faking surveillance video
has come a long way.

It used to be you'd spend days
slaving over a VHS tape
with a razor blade.

Now it's a few hours
on a computer.

I don't want to go to jail.
To testify,
I want witness protection.

I want a guarantee.
Do you really think
you can hide me?

I've heard legit recordings
a hell of a lot worse.

Just add in a little car noise,
it'll sound like a surveillance
van across the street.

- Have you talked
to the feds yet?
- Mmm, yeah.

They're all over it.

And they're still asking
about your little, um,
Developing Nations escapade.

But when they think I'm gonna
give 'em somethin' good,
they buy me lunch.

Anyway, he was looking
for someone he used to know,
like, uh, an old spy buddy.

I mean, between you and me,
I think he's lonely.

I couldn't get more out
of him, but I think he's
a six pack away from talkin'.

-So if you guys could spring
for a little sauce--
-We're not buying you beer, Sam.

You want to catch him or not?
Oh, got a present for you.

That sure doesn't look like what
we asked for. Where's the list
of Westen's known associates?

How about the photos?
How about the inventory of what
he's got in that apartment?

No, no. That's much better.
That's Alvaro Desantos.
Good stuff.

- Is he involved with Westen?
- Mmm, no.

That's just something
I picked up poking around.
Kind of a side project.

The hell you want us
to do with it?

Only what you boys are legally
bound to, which is take it from
me, log it and pass it upstairs.

It's gotta be worth
at least a couple thou
in reward money, right?

[ Chuckles ]
Man, I'm just about
ready for dessert.

I suppose I should thank you
for not blowing out
my tires again.

You know, Gellman, you're
a better guy than I thought.

I bet you got your daughter
that pony after all.

- What the hell are
you talking about?
- Thank you.

Talking your client into
flipping on the big boys.

Assault charge gets kicked,
my witness is off the hook.

Win-win.

I get it. You don't discuss
client business.

Just know I appreciate it.
I really do.

[ Air Hissing ]

That's for trying to kill me.

[ Beeping ]

[ Sam ]
He go for it, Mike?
Yeah.

He's gonna be on the phone with
whatever F.B.I. contacts he's
got before his tire goes flat.

My guess is he'll have
the tape by lunch.

We'll see how the big boys
in Colombia like that.

[ Michael Narrating ]
A drug cartel is a business.

If killing a witness
to protect a valued employee
from jail time...

is the best way
to keep making money,
they'll do that.

If it looks like
that employee is testifying
to the F.B.I., though,

they're just as happy to leave
the witness alone and take care
of the problem another way.

I hear you're thinking
about taking a trip,
going out of town.

What?
Who told you that?

I've got some friends
with the F.B.I.

The F.B.I.?

What the--

No! It's not true. No.

Shame... to let them
have all the fun.

I'm just glad it's done.

Do I get to have my key now?

[ Madeline ]
Michael!
You have people here.

Your mother gave it to me.

She's nice.

I went by your house, and
Fiona told me you were here.
I hope that's okay.

- That's fine.
- Well, we just wanted
to say thank you.

In person.
Also, I could pay you.

You know, when I get my check--
Don't worry about it. Oleg
has been more than generous.

But--
No, seriously.

Cool car.
We'll see if it works.

[ Engine Starts ]

Hey, what do you know?

[ Engine Shuts Off ]
Your mom said this was
your dad's car.

Sounds like
he was a pretty cool guy.

Not really.
I left home for a reason.

Well, I'm glad that
I didn't have to.

"Beloved" is a bit
of a stretch.

Thanks for the car, Dad.

I think you'd like
how it looks.

We meet here?
You wanted someplace safe.

It's quiet, lots of cover.
Two guys in business suits
don't raise any eyebrows.

You should have more
meetings outside, Thabet.
Get some color.

You were always good, Michael.
It's a shame you're out.

I'm gonna get back in.

I've enjoyed our friendship.
But--

But don't call you ever again.
I got it.

Michael.

Be careful.

[ Michael Narrating ]
An alphanumeric
tracking code...

and a special access program
code name.

It's not much,
but it's a start.