Covert Affairs (2010–2014): Season 2, Episode 15 - What's the Frequency, Kenneth? - full transcript

(GIRLS LAUGHING)

Katia? Put your
coat on now.

No.

Chloe, this is
so not funny.

Hey! I came to return this.
I've got my own Calphalon now.

(GIRLS LAUGHING)

What's up?

The box?

Michael sent it
from California.

Candy.
Exactly.

How much have they eaten?



Okay, my day
is ballet class,

piano lessons,
breakfast, lunch,

and a fresh,
farm-to-table
dinner for the kids.

Michael's contribution
to this day?

Candy.
You know what?

Why don't I take this
to the Smithsonian?
And I'm sure the guys...

I thought the Smithsonian
was just some fake,
made-up job for the CIA.

Oh, no. It's definitely
a real, made-up job.

It's what they call
a Non-Official Cover.

So, occasionally, I have to
do some actual work there
to keep up appearances.

You work at
the Smithsonian.

You work at the CIA.
You work at both?

I know. It's crazy, right?

Muah.



See you.

Miss. Excuse me.

Is this yours?

Thanks.

Not at all.

Hello, Annie.
It's nice to finally meet you.

My name's Kenneth Martin.

Skittle?

It's from your stash.

Is there a reason why
you lifted my wallet?
And my candy?

I wanted to see
if I could get
your attention.

Why?

Well, think of it like
an aptitude test.

You passed brilliantly,
by the way.

What if I had
called the police?

Well, after you
Ieft the museum,

you passed two
Smithsonian guards,

two Park Rangers,
and a DC bobby.

I would have known
if you'd called the police.

I might still
call the police.

What do you want?

You have a job
at the Smithsonian

which allows you
to travel the world
without suspicion.

You know multiple languages.

And you're bold enough
to meet a complete
stranger in the park

just because he left
a note in your wallet.

I work for the
British government.

We'd love to
offer you a job.

What kind ofjob?

I'm with MI6

British Secret Service.

I don't understand.
I thought we had
an agreement with the British

that we don't recruit
their citizens
without permission.

Yep. We do.
But in the spy game,

agreements are made
to be broken.

What does
the UK desk have?

Martin's passport is
British government.

His official employer is
Shining Seas Imports,

a known MI6
front company.

So, he's legit.

(SIGHS) Yes and no.
He doesn't exactly fit
a typical MI6 profile.

Working class family.

A few scrapes with the law
when he was a kid.

He didn't even
graduate high school.

MI6 is an old boys club
comprised of squeaky-clean
Cambridge grads.

That doesn't add up.

Annie, tell me
about the pitch.

It was smart.

He did his homework.
He knew exactly
which buttons to push.

It's just the way
I would have done it.

And what was your
impression of him?
Personally.

Intelligent. Capable.

Interesting.

I want you to
accept his offer.

You want me to be
a double agent?

We don't even know
if this is real.

It doesn't matter.
We have a potential
MI6 operative

nosing around
the Smithsonian,
and I want to know why.

Annie Walker.

Welcome to Her Majesty's
Secret Service.

(THEME SONG PLAYING)

Compliments of MI6.

Consider it
a signing bonus.

I haven't said
I'm going to do it, yet.

Well, if you were
going to say no,
you wouldn't have come.

AII the beautiful
monuments in D.C.,

and you have to pick
the one with the
unsightly renovation?

Well, the noise
from the skid loaders

makes it hard
for anyone
to record us.

Skid loaders?

My father paved
most of the A5.

I spent three years
on a road crew before
I joined MI6.

So, you're
a working-class
James Bond.

(CHUCKLES)

Well, some lads dream
of being a fireman
or a policeman.

I wanted to be a spy.
See the world.

Make a difference
for the Crown.

I wasn't like other
Iads before.

And I'm still not.

You're a bit of a romantic
for a spy, aren't you?

And why do you think
I chose you?

In my job I spend
a lot of time

trying to figure out
what makes people tick.

I had your number
the moment
I laid eyes on you.

Really?

Two years doing
humanitarian work.

Backpacking
in Sri Lanka,
Egypt, Easter Island.

Admit it.

You're just as much
of a romantic as me.

Does MI6 have
some kind of file on me?

Actually, I got it
from your bio on the
Smithsonian website.

So...

Down to brass tacks,
shall we?

He's an art restorer
in your museum.

I want you to get me
his appointment schedule.

I want to take a look
around his studio.

Why?

First lesson in the
world of espionage.

Information's on
a need to know basis.

Karim Bichri.
Renowned art restorer.

Has worked in some of
the most prestigious
museums in the world.

He is currently
finishing up a one-month
stint at the Smithsonian.

Bichri's never been
involved with politics
or causes of any kind.

Annie, I want you to help
Martin get into the studio.

You want me to help
a foreign operative
break into the Smithsonian?

I want you to find out
what Martin is after.

In the meantime,
I'm going to pay
MI6 a little visit.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Where are you going,
Moneypenny?

Double agent means
double the paperwork.

And added bonus...

You don't get to keep
any of the money
MI6 is paying you.

Enjoy.

I could have called that.
Your stance was way off.

My stance is sound.
The wind took it.

You keep telling
yourself that.

You seem to be
full of excuses.

Here we go.
What did I do this time?

It's not what you've done.
It's what you haven't.

And you're here
to give me advice.

No. I've given you
advice before.

For years.
You always seem to
take it as an affront.

Do you remember
when I told you to
choke up in little league?

No, I don't remember that.

Yeah, well, it seems
you're not the kind of guy

who can get in front
of a fastball.

What's this?

Take it as a favor.

It's a dormant operation
called Ministry.

It would be well
worth your while
to pursue it.

You could be
a hero on this one.

What makes you feel...

I get it.

I was a lousy father.

Maybe you think
I still am.

But I do know Langley.

And I want you
to realize this.

At the CIA,
you get a very small
window to prove yourself.

And I fear
yours is closing.

I'm trying to help you.

(SIGHS)

Excuse me.
I'm looking for
Karim Bichri?

I wouldn't go in there
if I was you. He's working.

I'll just be a second.

Your funeral.

(SOFT CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Excuse me, Mr. Bichri.

My name is...
Did you bring my lunch?

What?
My lunch.

No. I'm with the
Acquisitions Department.

Then, go away.

Mr. Bichri,
the museum is courting
an important patron,

and we'd like to
arrange a tour
of your studio.

I was hoping I could
get a look at your
appointment schedule, so we...

Do you know what this is?

It's one of the 20
Thinker sculptures
by Auguste Rodin.

It's one of the
greatest sculptures

by one of the greatest
artists of all time.

It returns to Frankfurt
in two days.

What do you think
is more important?
This or your little tour?

Mr. Bichri, I've admired
your work for many years.

What you did on the facade
of the Duomo in Milan

and the fissure work
on the tendrils

in Bernini's Medusa
were miraculous.

Oh, Ms. Walker...
(CHUCKLES)

Do you really think
that's going to work?
Appealing to my vanity?

Was there something else?

Lunch, Karim.

Finally.
Something important.

You may leave now.

Ah, thank you, Emir.
Thank you.

Just so we're clear,
you don't like me
and I don't like you.

That may be true.

But I still can't
understand what it is
that you do here.

Office of Special Projects.
Compact ops, no bureaucracy.

It's like a small-cap
investment fund.

I only hear
the word "small."

I want to talk to you about
a proposal you wrote.

Operation Ministry.
Never heard of it.

Three-man team
pushes into Bolivia,

taps into the main
telecom line for the MAS.

You pitched it to Arthur.
He shot it down.

I have no knowledge
of any such operation.

I wanted to
resurrect Ministry,
and I wanted you to run it.

Now, why would I get into
the middle of a turf war

between you
and Arthur Campbell?

How long have you been with
clandestine actions, Hadley?

Two, three years?
You're still just
a section chief?

The hill is starved for
intel on Bolivia right now.

An operation like
Ministry? Wow.

That would be a big win
for everyone involved.

Everyone?
Everyone.

That's my favorite spot.
Right there.

Really?
That's the only good part?

Yeah, the other parts
are okay.

But this is the good one.
Right here.
Mmm.

Mmm... Mmm.
Mmm.

I got my itinerary from
the Peace Corps today.

I leave for Eritrea
on Sunday.

I've waited so long
to do this.

And now that I'm finally
ready to leave, I meet you.

Two years isn't that long.

We can write, call...
Mmm.

Visit. We can even Skype.

Well, you can Skype.

It's just...
It's going to be okay.

We're going to be okay.

You going to miss me?

Mmm. No.

(LAUGHS)

Not at all.
Mmm.

You remember Polykov.

Oh. Right.
(LAUGHS)

Right. Moscow?
The car bomb.

(LAUGHS) That's him.

I ran into him
a few weeks ago
in Copenhagen.

He sends his regards,
by the way.

Oh, wow.

Well, I guess you guys
are back on speaking terms.

What is he up to now?

He owns a travel agency.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Somebody has popped up
on our radar
in the last couple of days,

and I'm wondering
if MI6 has
anything on him.

Could I get another?
Yes, ma'am.

Who's that?
Karim Bichri.

Doesn't ring a bell.
Who is he?

He's an art restorer
for the Smithsonian.

But we've been
hearing chatter
that he has got some

extracurricular
activities going on.

Shall I look into it?

Would you?
That would be wonderful.
I'm sure it's nothing.

ANNIE: According to
Bichri's schedule,

he'll be lecturing
all night.

AII I need is
a few minutes
to look around.

I could have gotten you
more than a few minutes

if it had been
during working hours.

The type of looking around
I'm going to do is
generally frowned upon.

You're snooping.

I am MI6, love.

Oh. Wait.

Cheeky. You sure you
haven't done this before?

(SIGHS) It's beginner's luck.

(WHISPERS)
Did you learn that at MI6?

Brixton.

Let's just say I ran with
the wrong crowd in my youth.

Remind me to get
a burglar alarm
on my way home.

Wouldn't make any difference.

What are you up to?

What is it?

It's called toluene.
It's used in explosives.

You think Bichri's
making a bomb?

(GUARD WHISTLING)

It has to be something.

We need to go.
We have to
get out of here.

MARTIN: Down there.

(WHISTLING)

(SIGHS)

If we get caught,
I lose my job.

So... You have to
tell me what's going on.

(ALARM BLARES)

Oh, no.

Damn it.

(ALARM BLARING)

Try the window.

It's too late.

Please don't tell my boss.

I'm sorry.
I was going to
speak with Mr. Bichri,

and must have accidentally
tripped something.

Are you alone in here?

Yeah.

This wing is off-Iimits
after hours.

I... I didn't see
any signs. I...

Oh! Oh, my God. Sorry.
AII right.

Sorry!
Okay. Come on.

(SIGHS)
Let's go.

ANNIE: I'm sorry. I...

Mr. Bichri,
I am so sorry.

I just wanted to
come and talk to you
about that tour.

I... I... I was sure
I could change your mind.

I must have
accidentally tripped
the alarm as I was leaving.

I don't believe you.

Excuse me?

I don't believe
anything you're saying.

What were you really
doing in my studio?

I just wanted to
talk to you.

Emir.
Yes, Karim.

Please check the studio.
Make sure everything
is in order.

Of course, Karim.

I think it goes
without saying,

I don't want to ever
see you in my studio again.

Good night.

AUGGIE: The chemical
in Bichri's studio is toluene.

It's a component
used in TNT.

It is also a common
paint solvent.

There's nothing suspicious
about him having it.

What about the sculpture?

The shipment and
restoration process

have been painstakingly
documented.

It's completely
aboveboard in every way.

So, we still haven't
turned anything up on
Bichri or the sculpture.

And now,
Martin is putting
Annie's NOC at risk.

Persia House has flash
traffic on a missing
terrorist financier.

Annie,
I want you on that.

Joan, he was
way too collected.

He is hiding something.
Annie, we don't have
anything concrete.

This is turning into
a wild goose chase.

I don't know if it's yours
or Martin's hunch that
you're following,

but I'm terminating
the operation.

(SIGHS)

MARTIN: You're quitting?

I'm sorry, Kenneth.
I can't jeopardize
my job at the Smithsonian.

I work at a museum.

I don't share your
zest for danger.

Goodbye.

What's that?

The reason
I'm doing this.

About a year ago,
MI6 started hearing rumors
about a high profile fixer.

A gun for hire
who facilitated

for rogue nations
and terrorist groups.

Facilitated what?

Take your pick.
Guns. Information.
Money laundering.

It was all rumors.

No one could even
suss out
if the bugger was real.

You think it's Bichri?

Bichri's been too close
to too many of these
major events.

It's all documented
in this journal.

And there's
another thing.

What?

Well, he seems
a little dodgy.

Dodgy?

A few weeks ago,
MI6 intercepted chatter
on the terror networks

about something called
"The Thinking Man."

The chatter talked
about an operation

to smuggle
"The Thinking Man"
out of Washington.

Something's up with
that Thinker sculpture
Bichri's restoring.

We looked at it.
You couldn't find anything.

Annie. You're like me.

You know when something
doesn't feel right.

What does your instinct
tell you about Bichri?

I mean, I think
he's a bit dodgy.

But that's not
a crime, right?

Look, if you had some
concrete evidence...

Look, I can't
just go on a hunch.

The Thinker ships back
to Frankfurt tomorrow.

I just need to get into
Bichri's studio one more time.

I'm sorry. I...
Please.

I can't.

(SIGHS)

You sent a team to Bolivia.

I was expecting you sooner.

I rejected that operation
for a reason, Jai.

You rejected that operation
because you've gotten safe.

Your ambition has
clouded your judgment.

My ambition is what got me
the latitude to make things
happen at this agency.

You made this happen.

The Bolivians arrested
Hadley and his team
Iast night.

This is why I rejected
Operation Ministry.

Get me the
State Department Office
in La Paz now.

Well, I think
this sleeping bag
will be warm enough.

But if you need
another one,
I can pouch you...

Send you one.

You do realize
I'm going to
Eritrea, right?

A desert country.

Uh, yeah.

And you're still going to
need a sleeping bag,

because Asmara is
over 7,000 feet elevation,

and it can hit
freezing at night.

(LAUGHS)

Parker.

What's going on?
What's the matter?

Auggie...

It's okay.
You don't have to say it.

Eritrea is far, far away,
and two years is a long time.

Too long to try and pretend.

It will fly by.

Mmm.

And maybe I'll come back
and we'll both be single
and we can just

pick things up.

Stranger things, right?

Yes.
(SIGHS)

Look...

The time we've had together

has been great.

And I haven't regretted
a single moment of it.

I'm so sorry, Auggie.

You've got nothing
to be sorry about.

(MAN SPEAKING FARSI)

What are you doing here?

Uh, sorry. Um...

The shipping company
Iost my delivery,

and I was just, uh,
hoping that was it.

It's my mistake.

You shouldn't be here.

(GROANS)

(SPEAKING FARSI)

(MEN SPEAKING IN FARSI)

I knew you
couldn't stay away.

No tire iron.

No car jack.

They've gotten rid of
anything we could have
used as a weapon.

Here.

Annie, I'm going
to tell you something.
And please don't panic.

When you preface
a statement by saying
"Please don't panic,"

you realize it
makes people panic.

I'm not an MI6
field officer.

I'm a surveillance operative.

I don't understand.

I'm what they call
a "neck-downer."

I do the heavy lifting,

the intimidation,

the cutting of
the brake lines,

the cash payments to the
unsavory characters while
the Golden Boys stay clean.

Why would MI6
send someone like you
on a field mission?

Well, that's the other thing.
(SIGHS)

This isn't an official
MI6 mission.

Technically, I'm on holiday.

By the way,
the money I paid you...

That came out of
my own pocket.

(GROANS) Damn it.

(SIGHS)

(BOTH SIGH)

I don't know where
they're taking us.

But wherever it is,
I'm going to bet
it's not good for us.

Annie.

I'm sorry I got you
involved in all of this.

Hold this.

What are you doing?
I'm looking for the
back seat release cable.

It's usually
in the trunk lining.

And how do you know that?

I took a YMCA
automotive repair course.

You learned how to escape
a car trunk at the YMCA?

It was a really
good course.

Ah. I got it.

What, you learned that
at the YMCA, too?

No, I already spoke
to the Deputy Director
of both divisions.

I need to speak
to the Director.

Fine. Tell him
Jai Wilcox needs to
speak with him ASAP.

Wilcox. Yeah.

Thank you.

I have your father
on line one. Again.

Tell him I'm busy. Again.

Hey, Jai.
Tim.

I don't have a lot of time.
I'm kind of
in the middle of something.

Oh, I just wanted
to say I heard
about the Hadley thing.

Good job.

What?

It's all over
the building. Congrats.

What do you mean "congrats"?

The rescue op. Good job.

Where are we headed?

I know someone
who can help.

Someone who?

Need to know, Kenneth.

(LAUGHS) I never realized
how irritating that is

coming from
someone else's mouth.

If this isn't an MI6
sanctioned mission,

then why are you
doing all this?

You know what field officers
call operatives like me?

They call us the janitors.

Because we do
all the dirty work that
they're too good for.

So, why do it?

Oh, it's still a chance
to be part of MI6.

Maybe I'm sweeping up
after elephants, but
I'm still in the circus.

Where I'm from,
no one gives you anything.

You have to take it.

I spent three years
taking night classes
in Farsi and Arabic

to get into MI6.

But I still
wasn't good enough.

To them, I was still just
the duffer from Brixton

they sent fishing through
rubbish containers,
playing the goon.

I wanted to prove
I could be a field officer.

Where are you going?

I haven't been
completely honest
with you, either, Kenneth.

Annie, what's going on?

I'm sorry.
The Smithsonian job
is just a cover.

I'm actually
a field officer myself.

For the CIA.

Bugger.

I bet you work out a lot.

Based on what happened
to Annie and Martin,

we sent a tech ops team
to Bichri's studio.

They went over every
inch of that place.
Nothing.

And what about the car
that Annie and Martin
escaped in?

Reported stolen
in Virginia
three weeks ago.

And at the time of
Annie and Martin's abduction,

Bichri was giving
a lecture at the
University of Delaware.

So, he has an
unbreakable alibi.
Pretty much.

In other words,
we have nothing
that proves

Bichri is guilty of
any wrongdoing.

What about the guys
who tried to kill us?

Even if we don't have
any proof, we know
Bichri's up to something.

Annie, I'm going to
have to hand this
over to the FBI.

But I know...
We're spies, Annie.
Not cops.

Your mission was
to gather information
on an MI6 operative.

Not solve a mystery.

Well, you're enjoying
a regular busman's
holiday, aren't you?

Give me a moment to explain.

Oh, believe me.
You'll have plenty
of chances to explain

when you get back
to Vauxhall Cross.

EMMA: Am I making
myself understood?
And if you ever...

Well, the British
are not pleased.

Looks like Martin's
Intelligence career is over.

(SIGHS)

It's okay, Annie.

I followed my hunch
and it didn't work out.

At least I tried.

It was a good hunch.

You were right about me.

I am a bit of a romantic.
It's why I do what I do.

You had me pegged from
the moment you saw me.

It was nice knowing you,
Annie Walker.

You were a fine asset.

Come on, mate.
I've had a long day
and I'm cabbaged.

Show me the way out.

(SIGHS)

You wanted to see me?

Yes. Uh... Your
Close and Continuing
form came back.

Well, that was fast.

Sometimes, bureaucracy
can surprise you.

Anyway, it's been approved.
You're free to date Parker.

Good to know.

Whoever she is,
she must be a fool.

(SIGHS)

No. She isn't.

That's the problem.

Mommy, we're missing it.

Ugh! The cable's out
and the girls are
missing their program.

ANNIE: Oh.
(SIGHS)

That's much better.

(GROANS)

Call Daddy. He knows
how to fix everything.

Well, Daddy is
not here right now.

So, you're just going to
have to deal with me.

(SIGHS)
Oh, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean that.

Hey, why don't we go outside
and take a breather?

(SIGHS)

So... (CLEARS THROAT)

Michael's coming home
next week.

He cut his trip short.

That's a good thing, right?

Hey, you remember
when Dad came back
from deployment

and wanted to surprise us?
And you were six years old?

Yeah. And he snuck
into the house
without telling anybody?

Yeah. And you
started screaming

because you thought
a burglar had broken
into the house.

You'd completely
forgotten him.

Danielle, Michael is
still the same guy.
Nothing's changed.

(SIGHS)
You know, I'm sorry
I called you over here.

I'm just being silly.
You should go.

No, no, no.
My evening's wide open.

No, really.
I just have to get
the girls ready for bed.

Danielle,
did you get another kid
without telling me?

Oh. (LAUGHS)
That's just Wally.

Wally?

Yeah, Katia's
imaginary friend.

Danielle,
you're a life saver.

I thought you'd be here.

When my old man
found out I was trying
for MI6, he told me,

"Kenny boy,

"people like us
don't do things like that."

Well, he wasn't being cruel.

That was just the way
he saw things.

You know,
maybe he was right.

Kenneth.

The terrorist chatter
that you intercepted.
What language was it in?

It was Farsi. Why?

Do you know what
the Farsi word for
"masterpiece" is?

Shahkar.
Right.

But it's also a name.

Annie, that's brilliant.
Come on.

Where are we going?

Well, who's going to
believe us after
everything I've pulled?

We need proof.

Hey. Mr. Lock-pick,
you want to help me
with this?

Or you could do that.

What's an art restorer
doing with ultraviolet
printer's ink?

It's not a bomb
we're looking for.
It's a person.

Emir's the package
Bichri's smuggling
out of Washington.

I have to call Langley.

What's the plan, love?
Call Langley.

They can have
a strike team here
in five minutes.

Kenneth.

Hey.

Wanker.

(GUNSHOT)

(GUN FIRING)

This way. Stay close.

(BEEPS)

(GRUNTS)

I know it was you.

I know you were the one
who rescued Hadley
and his team.

Why did you let me
take all the credit?

Maybe I just wanted to
bank a little goodwill.

I don't buy it.

Okay, fine.
Then, you tell me.
Why did I do it?

I don't know.
But you must have had
some kind of angle.

Maybe you want something
to hold over me?

You're a manager now.
This is real. Real lives.

It's not all about politics.

AUGGIE: Bichri was
fronting for the
Abu hafs al-Masri Brigade.

The guy he was trafficking,
his real name is Shakhar Atwa.

He's been on the FBI's
most wanted list
for over a year now.

My guess is things got
too hot for him here
in the States,

and he hired Bichri
to smuggle him into England.

Thanks, Auggie.

Nice work, Walker.

So, how bad is it?

Absolute shambles.

They made me a field officer.

I worked bloody hard
to get here.

I gave up so much.

Is it worth it?

Yeah.

You'll be a great
field officer, Kenneth.

And if you ever need
another double agent,

call someone else.

Hey.

For the record.

When I pinched your wallet,

did you let me?

Need to know, Kenneth.