Burn Notice (2007–2013): Season 7, Episode 12 - Sea Change - full transcript

My name
is Michael Westen.

I used to be
a spy until...

We got a burn notice on you.

You're blacklisted.

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...

A trigger-happy girlfriend...



Should we shoot them?

An old friend who used
to inform on you to the FBI...

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.

And a down-and-out spy
you met along the way.

That's how we do it,
people.

Bottom line,
as long as you're burned,

you're not going anywhere.

It's a deep-cover job,

going after the leader
of a terrorist network.

I need you to bring them down,
no matter what.



I'm James.
Welcome to the family.

This guy, James--
he's getting to you.

They all are.

It's difficult to work so hard
to be part of something,

knowing you have
to destroy it.

These people believe
in what they're doing.

The data you ripped from
Sonya's phone was a gold mine.

- So we know where James is?
- No.

But for the first time,
we know where he's gonna be

before he gets there--
Veracruz, Mexico.

Alpha team,
I'm a friendly.

- Hey!
- Simon.

I'm running this extraction,
on orders of the CIA.

You're working
with a monster!

And what is Michael, huh?

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Only two people in the world
knew exactly

where we'd be today.

Me...

And you.

I would never betray you.

I'm gonna give you
five seconds to come clean

before this becomes
a lot more painful.

She didn't betray you.
I did.

I'm working with the CIA.

A spy's job,
at the most basic level,

is to deceive.

You build a lie.

You nurture that lie,
selling it to your target,

bit by bit,
until he believes.

Your lie becomes your weapon,
your salvation,

the only thing that stands
between you and disaster.

When that lie falls away,

you're left
with only the hard truth

of who you are
and what you've done.

When that happens,
you're out of moves.

The only thing there is
to do then is await your fate.

Come on.
James wants to talk.

I want you
to tell me something.

Was any of it real?

Between us?

I had a job to do, Sonya--

get close to you, close
to the people you work with.

You didn't answer
the question.

I was undercover for so long,
I lost track of who I was.

And part of me--

the part that believed
in what we were doing--

that part...

cared for you.

And you?

Were you just recruiting
an asset?

I had a job to do too.

Did I take pleasure in it?
Yes.

My heart belongs to my work.

It will always come first.

Sit.

I have been contemplating
our circumstances, Michael,

and I'm deeply concerned
by what you've done.

I have questions,
important questions,

questions that will determine
your future...

and ours.

What do you want to know?

I need to know
exactly what the CIA wants.

They want the leader
of this group.

They want you.
Hmm.

And if you
don't give them that?

My friends will spend
the rest of their lives

a CIA detention center.

What we do here together...

What we stand for...

Do you believe in it?

And don't...

Give me the answer
that you think I want.

What I want is the truth.

I haven't always agreed
with your methods,

but the jobs
I've helped you with,

the ones no one else
was willing to do,

they needed to be done.

We protect what is important.

You made me part of something

that's bigger than you,
bigger than me.

You made me believe there is
something worth fighting for,

something to believe in.

I believe in you,
Michael Westen.

Always have.

I think
there's a way out of this,

a way to salvage
our organization,

a way to save your friends,
a way to save yourself.

But in order to do that, I need
you to do something for me.

I need you to go
back to Miami

and return yourself
to the good graces of the CIA.

I need you to tell them
a story.

I need you to convince them
that you barely escaped with us

after the mission went wrong.

I need you to convince them
that you looked

for an opportunity
to capture me yourself,

you moved heaven and earth
to complete your task,

but it proved impossible.

And I need you
to convince them

that you made me believe
I was betrayed by an underling,

and you have heroically returned
home to continue your work.

Will you do that?

Will you lie
to the CIA for me?

Jesus, Michael!

We thought you were dead.

Yeah, I'm in Mexico.
I'm fine.

Good.

And the operation?

My cover is intact.

The operation is still alive.

Burn Notice 7x12
Sea Change
Original Air Date on September 5, 2013

As a spy, when you stop
believing in the orders

you've been given,
you can't just walk away.

You have to go deeper.

You have to lie to the people
giving those orders.

You have to act
as if nothing's wrong.

Mr. Westen,
please empty your pockets.

And you have to make everyone
think you're dedicated

to the very operation
you're trying to destroy.

We've been over this report

half a dozen times, and I can't
make heads or tails of it,

especially why the hell
James Kendrick

isn't in our custody
right now.

The operative in charge of
the extraction team was killed.

It would have been
too big a risk

for Westen to try to apprehend
Kendrick on his own.

Isn't that what your man
is supposed to do--

take risks, get the job done?

I believe that was part

of the understanding in the deal
you made with him

to come on board
this operation.

Yes, sir, the concern
was that making a move

would have blown
his cover.

And not making a move
got us exactly nothing.

Now, we're all questioning

why you handed over
a mission this sensitive

to an operative
with his, uh...

reputation.

If it weren't
for Westen, sir,

we wouldn't be
as close as we are.

Close doesn't count for much
if he can't finish the job.

We can still pull this
together.

We just need a little more--
you've been singing that song

for the better part of a decade,
and you know what?

I'm tired of hearing it.

Now, I am pulling this operation
from Clandestine Services

and sending it back upstairs
for analysis.

If we decide

that this network
is still worth going after,

we'll assign a new team.

This is our only shot, sir.

Once Kendrick is gone,
he's gone.

Well, maybe your operative
should have thought about that

before letting
the bastard walk away.

That operative you're talking
about is sitting right here.

Excuse me?

With all due respect...

When was the last time
you were in the field?

When was the last time you
had dinner with James Kendrick?

I am the Director
of central intelligence

for the entire goddamn USA.

If I say this Op is over,
it's over.

When I started this Op,
you thought Randall Burke

was the head of this network.

I'm the one who dug deeper.

I discovered James Kendrick

is sitting on the top
of this pyramid.

Now, you can't expect me to just
walk away from this, not now.

Now, I know him better
than anyone in this room,

and if you shut this down,

you lose all hope
of stopping him.

Sir, I'm asking you
to trust me.

Let me bring this home.

You have 48 hours.

If you don't have it
wrapped up by then,

we'll be back here deciding
how deep a pit to toss you into.

Michael, it's me.

I have been calling you
for hours.

- Sorry, Fi.
- I spoke to Strong.

Not only did he say
you want us off the job,

but we're not supposed
to even have contact with you?

What is going on?

I don't want to get into it.
I have to do this on my own.

James and Sonya are dangerous.
You know this!

I can handle them.

If things get bad,
the CIA will back me up.

You're gonna trust
the CIA over us?

They let Simon
lead the last Op,

for God's sake!
They were in a tough spot.

They're just trying
to finish this.

Do you hear yourself?

We're talking about Simon!
I know, and I don't care!

I just--

I just want this to be over.

You can't do this alone,
Michael.

If your cover is blown, the CIA
are gonna hang you out to dry.

You know what
you'll be left with?

This.

And that's it.

And these?

They're not enough.

You need our help.

I'm sorry, Fi.
It has to be this way.

I hope you know
what you're doing.

Okay, Fi.
This better be important.

Elsa wasn't happy with me
running out at dawn.

Oh, it's important.

I put a tracker
in Michael's gun.

He's hiding something,
and I want to know what it is.

Wait a minute.
What?

I put a fake bullet
in his clip

that's transmitting
his location.

You're spying on Mike?

Look, why would he ask us
to help him all this time,

then kick us off the job
and out of his life?

It doesn't make sense.
Come on, Fi.

It's his mission.
He's the one on the inside.

We got to let him
do his thing.

He's been acting strangely
ever since he met James.

You know I'm right.

He told you himself--

he's starting to question
his own loyalty.

And he said
he was handling it.

Sam, he didn't even mind

that the CIA hired Simon.

Look, Fi, he's been
under a lot of stress.

You know, he almost died
in Mexico.

So just because he seems
a little off

doesn't mean
he's up to something.

For what it's worth,
he's on the move.

Heading north on I-95.
Come on, Jesse.

You're not buying this too?
I'm-

I'm not saying I'm convinced,
but I don't know why we can't

just follow him around a bit,
see what he's doing.

If it's nothing,
we'll all sleep better, right?

Wow.
Spy on a spy.

I guess that's us.
Okay, let's do it.

Oh, my goodness,
I'm starving.

I really wish I would have
finished that breakfast burrito.

Well, I wish
we weren't doing this at all.

This is a waste of time.

I don't know.
You got to admit--

it's a little odd, Mike drives
all the way to Lauderdale

just to sit in his car
for an hour.

Well, maybe he's following up
a lead for the CIA.

- For what?
- What does it matter?

This just feels wrong.

You know what?

I'm gonna get to the bottom
of this right now.

I'm just gonna call him.

Hey, Sam.

Yeah, hey, Mike, uh,
I just swung by the loft,

you know, to check in,
see what's going on,

and you weren't there.

Where did you run off to?

Yeah, I took a ride up
to Fort Lauderdale,

checking on a few leads.

Oh, you're in Fort Lauderdale?
Okay.

Do you want me to head out there
and give you a hand?

Well, there's nothing
to help with.

James is laying low
out of the country.

I don't think he'll make contact
for at least a few days.

Okay, well, if you need me,

you know where
to find me, brother.

Thanks, Sam.

Okay, there you go.
Everything's fine.

He said James isn't gonna make
contact for a couple of days.

In the meantime,
he's just checking out a lead.

Wait a minute.

Mike said he's not meeting James
for a couple days?

Yeah, that's right.

Who the hell's that?

- Son of a bitch.
- Mike lied to us.

He's lying to us.
No, come on, hey.

He's got to be making a play.

What the hell
are you talking about?

What kind of play?

Look, you can lie to yourself
all you want.

That doesn't change the fact--
Jesse, don't say it.

Mike is not a traitor.
You need to wake up.

He kicked us off the job.
He's lying to us.

Look at him.
Tell me I'm wrong.

No, you're not wrong.

Mike switched sides.

Are you telling me
my son's a traitor?

I know this is hard.

James has been messing
with his head.

I've never seen Michael
like this.

Tell me where he is.

It's not that simple.

- I want to talk to him!
- Well, he doesn't want to talk.

He pulled us off the job.
He's not returning our calls.

Then why are you bothering
to tell me this?

Tell me, what do you want?

Tell me what to do!

We need to get him away

from James and Sonya,

from all of it.

Fiona, this house
is being watched!

What's gonna happen
to Charlie and me

if Michael
goes missing, hmm?

We'll get you both away,
someplace safe,

and then we can focus
on Michael.

Hi, sweetheart.

You go back in.

Grandma will be there
in a minute.

I love you.

You're asking me to go
on the run...

With a child?

It's the only chance
Michael has.

Fine.

Give me a couple of days
to put our stuff together.

Madeline...

We only have
a couple hours.

- We're in safe waters now.
- Good.

Here's where
the operation stands.

The CIA has given me 36 hours
to finish this

before they shut it down.

Well,
then we'll have to move fast.

James, there's--I don't know
what else we can do.

The CIA won't accept
anything less

than you thrown
in a dark hole.

I'm aware of that.

I've thought about this matter
for quite some time, and...

There is only one course
of action open to us.

Michael...

You have to turn me in.

- What?
- Yeah.

- No.
- Yes.

James, we can't.

Sonya, the CIA has
my face and name.

I have been compromised,

and they won't stop hunting us
until they bring me down,

so I must be brought down.

What they don't realize is
that our work will continue.

How will it continue
without a leader?

I see two leaders
standing right before me.

James, I'm not sure
what you're thinking, but--

It's simple.

When you turn me over
to the authorities,

you'll be a hero.

You'll be the man
who captured me,

and the CIA will never suspect

that their ace operative
is protecting us from within.

I know.
It's a lot to process.

I have always had
great faith in you.

You can do this.

Michael, you said it yourself.

The only way
to keep your friends

from living a life in prison--
turn me in.

I'm giving you that...

and so much more.

And this...

This is a beautiful thing.

For them, it'll be over,
but for you two--

only the beginning.

- The CIA will want an update.
- Mm-hmm.

What do you want me
to tell them?

You just tell them
I'm coming to town.

And you keep them at a distance
until we're ready.

Michael, where are you?

I don't have
a lot of time to talk,

but James is coming to Miami.

Get your team ready.

Hey, look at you.

How the hell did you get
a seaplane on such short notice?

I had a few buddies
put some things together,

in case of an emergency.

I'd definitely say
this is an emergency.

- Yeah, you all set here?
- Yeah, yeah.

Not bad
for an unfinished mansion, huh?

All right, so we get Mike
in the boathouse,

surround him,
get him on that plane.

- Yeah.
- You all right?

Yeah, it's just--I don't know
how this is gonna work.

I mean, even if we pull it off,
Mike's just gonna hate us.

Look, Sam, I know what it's
like being on the other side.

When I found out Mike burned me,
I wanted to kill the guy.

I'd spend hours
thinking about the moment

I could put a bullet
in his brain.

That doesn't really make me
feel any better.

But my point is, you guys
helped me see that I was wrong.

You helped me see Mike
for who he is.

I came around.
So will he, all right?

It might be a tough road,

but I got to believe
we'll get there.

I'll call Fi,
tell her we're ready.

- Sam?
- Yeah, Fi.

Did you ditch
those creeps outside?

I'm working on it
right now.

Madeline's not too happy
with our plan

to burn her house down
as a distraction.

Okay, well, we got a plane.

As long as we're airborne
by 4:00, we're safe.

We'll be there soon.

Fi, make sure
you get away clean.

This plan falls apart
if they follow you back here.

They won't, Sam.

You ready?

Ready as I can be.

It's not every day
you burn down

a house you spent
45 years in, right?

I'm sorry
we have to do this.

You have a lot
of good memories here.

Yeah, I got
a lot of bad ones too.

This picture...

Was taken the Christmas Frank
put me in the hospital.

That morning was the happiest
I'd ever seen my boys.

Then that night...

I should have left here
a long time ago.

I just couldn't do it.

Well, you're not
the same woman that you were.

You're stronger now.

Hey, baby.
Pick up your backpack

and meet grandma
at the back door.

You hurry, now.

Madeline.

Come on!

Check the window!

What the hell?

James arrives
in a few hours.

By that time,
we'll be ready.

This place is
pretty convincing

for a place
you don't use anymore.

It used to be
our transmission hub

for our operatives
in the Caribbean.

Then we recruited one
of the best satellite tech guys

in Miami,
so we don't need it anymore.

He's got us tapped
into a civilian station

closer to the city now.

Is the CIA on alert
and ready to go?

Yeah, I'll call in a signal

when it's time to move in
and capture James.

How many units
will there be?

Two special response teams,

which means
a few dozen commandos

supported by armored SUVs.

When the helicopter lands
on the roof,

James will let you grab him.

Our guards will be able
to hold off the CIA long enough

for me to get on board
and escape.

Do your men know
what's about to happen?

They've dedicated themselves
to this organization.

They know the risks.

Hello?

What?

Well, I want an update
as soon as you have it.

There's a situation
at your mother's house.

There's been a fire.

When our security
went in to help,

Fiona destroyed their vehicle

and left with your mother
and your nephew.

Michael, what is going on?

I'm gonna find out.

Okay, here we go.

Mike, for God's sake,
I've been trying

to get a hold of you--
it's about your mom.

I heard, Sam.
What happened?

Well, I'm not sure exactly.

Fi called me
about ten minutes ago,

and she was upset.

I could barely understand
what she was saying.

Where is she?

Mike, this is kind of
a delicate situation.

I'm gonna meet her
in about an hour.

Why don't you meet me,
and we'll go together?

I tried to talk to her, but she
needs to hear it from you.

No, Sam, I can't.

Look, Mike,
I know you're busy,

but when you kicked us
off this job,

Fi didn't take it too well.

You got to talk to her.
No, I'm in the middle-

Look, Mike,
make time, okay?

'Cause she could be leaving the
country with your mom right now.

We got to get in front of this--
just you, me, and Fi--

'cause if somebody else goes in,
who knows what she'll do?

I mean, when she gets
like this, Mike,

things tend to go boom.

All right,
where should I meet you?

The old port bridge.

Remember, Mike, alone.

Okay.

Michael, is Fiona
going to be a problem?

It's gonna be fine.
Just focus on everything here.

I'll be back soon.

Why would she
attack our men? Why?

I don't know.

This plan is already
in motion.

- It'll be fine! I just need--
- If she does anything--

- Sonya, I'll handle it.

Michael just arrived.
Is everything in place?

Tasers charged, rubber bullets
loaded, sedatives ready.

Mike's getting on that plane
one way or another.

So where's Fi?

She's across the bridge
on the island.

Well, let's do this quick.
I got to get back.

Mike, hang on a second.
Fi doesn't know you're coming.

We should take my car,
so we don't spook her

before we get a chance
to talk to her.

Sound good?

Okay, they're on the move.

Where are we meeting Fi?

Uh, she's in some mansion
that's under construction.

She's camping out
at the boathouse there.

- Why there?
- What do you mean?

Well,
when she was running guns,

she would never use
one of these small islands

because there are
no escape routes.

I don't know.

Maybe she's planning
more hiding than escaping.

When you've worked with
the same team for many years,

you understand exactly
how each member operates.

You know their strengths,
their weaknesses,

and how they act
under pressure.

Sam, I don't think
I should surprise Fi.

Why don't you let me out here,
you go in alone,

and tell her I want to talk?

Mike, look, the sooner
we deal with this, the better.

You also know
what it looks like

when they're trying
to hide something from you.

Stop the car.

Mike, let's get
to the meeting.

You want to see your mom, right?
Sam, I said stop the car!

Sam! Sam!

What the hell just happened?

You tell me
what is going on here!

Why the hell
are you lying to me?

Who's lying to who, brother?

We saw you, Mike.

We tailed you to that marina.

You're telling me on the phone
you haven't seen James,

and I'm watching you shake hands
with the son of a bitch!

No!
You don't understand, Sam!

Yeah, you're damn right
I don't.

You're lying to protect the guy

you're supposed to be
taking down!

You don't know everything!

I am protecting you.
I am protecting everyone.

You know what?
You keep telling yourself that,

but I know
there's more to it than that.

You're starting to believe
what he's doing.

You're starting to believe
in what he's all about.

Quick reminder--you're supposed
to be working for the CIA!

The CIA hired Simon!

They burned me, and they left me
out in the dark!

They ruined my life!

I don't owe them anything!

Okay, the CIA
may not be perfect,

but they got to answer
to somebody.

Who does James answer to, huh?

Nobody, 'cause he makes up
his own rules.

What's wrong with that?

Tell that to Nate.

What did you say to me?

Mike, the people
who murdered your brother,

the people
who destroyed your life--

they thought they were doing
good things too.

How is your group any different?
That is not the same thing.

This is different.
When I'm in--

When you're what, Mike?

Oh, Jesus.

It's worse than I thought,
isn't it?

You're not just helping them,
you're one of them!

After today, I won't have
to follow orders anymore.

I will be making them.

- Jesus.
- The resources I'll have,

the operatives that I will have
under my control--

after today, I won't have
to let some bureaucrat

decide what's worth
fighting for!

I can do
what I think is right!

And, Mike, what happens when
somebody gets in your way, huh?

What happens then?

I'm walking away, Sam.

You're not going
anywhere, pal.

Aah!

Navy SEALs use their comfort
in the water

to gain the upper hand.

If an opponent panics,
then all a SEAL has to do

is hold his breath

and let oxygen deprivation
do its work...

Which means the best way to
fight a Navy SEAL in the water

is to force yourself
to be as calm as they are.

Let them think they've won
and then make your move.

Because we're friends

and we've been through
so much together,

I'm gonna let this is go...

But you stay the hell
out of my way, Sam.

It's about time.

Everything's in place.
James is waiting.

I'll make the call.

Is Fiona going to be
a problem?

- I took care of it.
- Are you sure?

I need to know that this
isn't going to get in our way.

You don't have
to worry about her.

Michael,
Fiona is a liability.

She can ruin everything.

This is what I want,
and I will do what I have to.

Make the call.

- This is James.
- Everything's on schedule.

Once you're close,
I'll let the CIA know.

They won't make a move
until you're on the ground.

Well, then we mustn't keep
them waiting.

I'll be there in 20 minutes.
We'll be ready.

Michael, do you realize
how far you've come?

I'm proud of you.

My people are in good hands.

Let's get this bird
in the air.

Roger that.

Damn it!

I should have been able
to grab him!

It's not your fault, Sam.

It doesn't matter.
It's too late.

We should just get on that plane
and get the hell out of town.

No.

He still has the tracker on him.
We know where he is.

If we can get to him,
then I can--

Fi, this is Mike
we're talking about.

He knows we're a threat now.

There's no way we can catch him
by surprise.

Well,
it's not gonna be easy.

Try impossible.
He's with James now.

Yeah, I know that, Sam!

But if we don't stop him now,

there won't be
a Michael left to save!

What are we gonna do, Fi?

Even if we could get him,
then what?

I looked into his eyes, Fi.
He's lost.

You think that's easy
for me to say?

He's my best friend,
but there's nothing we can do.

It's too late.

You have all been
through so much together.

Please, don't give up
on Michael...

Not now.

Okay, Mike's way out
in the Everglades.

If this plan is gonna work,
we got to get there fast.

- Whose car are we taking?
- You have to ask?

It's time.

Tell me
you got something, Westen.

I can't talk long.

We're at a satellite facility
7 miles west of Pearl Bay.

James is inbound.
Mobilizing the teams.

Your best approach
is from the west.

I'll take James down
and bring him out to you.

I got to go.
We'll be there soon.

Good work, Michael.

They're on their way.

Hang a left up there.

Okay, right turn.

Another hard left here.

Move! Move!

Well, the tracker
says he's here.

Do you see him?

I got him.
He's on the roof...

with Sonya.

What the hell
are they doing up there?

Well, it doesn't matter.
We need to get to him.

That's not gonna be easy.

There's guards
all over the place.

All right, how about this?

We split up, flank him
on both sides, surprise him,

maybe we get lucky.
Or maybe we get dead.

I don't think a firefight's
the way to go.

Southeast corner--if we can
get to the back of the building,

we only have to deal
with one guard.

I like that better.

How the hell are you gonna get
on the roof?

One step at a time.
This is gonna work.

It has to.

Here comes James.
He's about five minutes out.

Any sign of the CIA convoy?

Our men out on the road said
they drove by two minutes ago.

They'll be here right on time.
When James lands...

I'll need to get on the
helicopter as fast as possible.

We can only jam the CIA's radar
for a short window of time.

Well, I guess
this is good-bye, for now.

Sonya, this is Cooper
at the rear exit.

I need to ask you about--

Cooper?

Cooper, come in.
What did you need?

I'll go check,
make sure there's no problems.

I did what you wanted.

Can you get that gun
out of my face now?

This this--this gun?
Sure, yeah, let me just--

- Fi.

Michael.

Fi, you can't be here!

You have to go, now!

Or what, Michael?

Look, I told Sam to stay away.
You have to!

You all have to stay away.
I'm trying to protect you.

What about you?

Who's gonna protect you

from making the worst decision
of your life?

You don't--
you don't understand.

I-I've made my choice.
It's too late.

Is it too late
for the Michael Westen

I fell in love with...

The man who knows
that what he's doing is wrong?

James is coming.
You have to go!

No, get--no!

Fi!
You got to go!

Get out of here, now!

Sam told you that someday

someone would threaten
this organization,

and you would have
to make a choice.

Well, that day has come,

and that someone is me.

Michael!

What the hell
is she doing here?

I thought you said
she wouldn't be a problem.

Well, he was wrong!

I will give you one chance
to leave, one chance!

Turn and walk out
that door, now!

You know, I think I prefer
the view up here.

She needs
to be dealt with, now!

- "Dealt with"?
- Yes, dealt with.

What exactly
do you mean, Sonya?

I'll show you.

No, wait!
Wait. Wait.

I told you that she was going
to destroy everything.

We can't let that happen.

I'll talk to her.

I...

I just need
to figure this out.

There's nothing
to figure out, Michael!

James is here.
I'll-I'll figure this out.

The CIA is closing in.
We have to finish this now!

You do what you think
is right.

If this is what you want,

the man I love is gone.

Michael, think of all the good
things we could do together.

Don't let her hold you back.

You have to let go.

You need to let her go!

Michael...

Look at me.

Michael...

Look at me!

All right.

If you won't do it, I will!