The Americans (2013–2018): Season 3, Episode 7 - Walter Taffet - full transcript

Paige: Previously on The Americans...
There's one move we could make. We put a bug in Gaad's office.
Martha: I'm in love with you,
and I would do anything for you.
Gabriel: That student you followed
met with Eugene Venter from South African Intelligence.
What's he doing meeting with an undergraduate?
A lot of the anti-apartheid movement
is centered on college campuses.
Paige: What are we doing here, mom?
I had a good friend who lived near here.
We all worked together in the Civil Rights movement.
Your parents were real activists.
If you tell her now, this will all blow up.
But at least she'll know who she is.
Gabriel: She has a son. She says he's yours.
His name is Misha. He's 20 years old.
He's in the 345th independent paratroop regiment
in Faizabad.
Reporter: An unknown source told the BBC
that government sources reaffirmed
the Soviet Union's commitment to the war.
At a recent party conference,
officials condemned the United States and Pakistan
for the ongoing strife in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the United Nations continues to seek an end
to the three-year military engagement there
as fighting rages on the fronts in the Panjshir Valley.
The Soviet spokesman reiterated the belief
that revolution in Afghanistan could not be turned back
and, therefore, any troop withdrawal
was dependent on direct talks
between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
In other news,
brush fires are raging in the southern sta--
[ Radio turns off ]
Hey.
What are you reading?
_
School?
No.
Mom told me you guys did some stuff
with the Civil Rights movement.
Yeah, a long time ago.
Not that long ago.
Not really.
I mean, how often do you see a black person in Falls Church?
And when you do, people get totally freaked out.
DC still has ghettos, dad, just like in the 1960s.
Yes. Yeah, that's true.
Mom took me to Kenilworth.
I mean, it's not like I didn't know those sort of neighborhoods existed,
but I'd just... never been to one before.
Mom took you to Kenilworth?
It wasn't scary.
Some of it was, but...
it was amazing-- walking with mom
and seeing people live like that,
so close to Falls Church.
Mom told me about your friend Gregory.
I can't believe you had a friend
who got killed by the police.
You had a friend that got killed by the police?
He was an activist.
Mom and dad were activists.
What do you mean?
Civil Rights activists.
What made you stop believing in change, making things better?
I still believe in those things.
You just get older.
And, uh...
other things become important.
And you realize there are a lot of ways to make a difference.
Let's go. Come on.
Good night.
What's that?
The Centre asked for weekly updates on Paige.
[ Drawer opens ]
[ Items clattering ]
What are you looking for?
- Aspirin. - [ Object clanks ]
[ Clattering continues ]
There's a new bottle of Aspirin on the top shelf.
[ Drawer slams ]
Why would you keep an empty bottle of Aspirin?
I don't see the logic.
Well, you finished it, so next time, throw it out.
Paige told me about your little field trip.
Good.
You didn't think to mention it?
I told you I was moving forward with Paige.
I didn't think I needed to tell you everything I did.
In the future, I would appreciate it if you didn't lie to me.
- I did not lie to you. - Because believe it or not,
Paige does occasionally talk to me.
I didn't lie to you. I told you I was moving forward.
Is this how it's gonna work?
I mean, a-am I-- am I gonna come home one day
and... Paige will just tell me that she knows who we are?
I honestly-- I don't know.
[ Water shuts off ]
Gabriel told me they're sending a guy
named Reuben Ncgobo.
He'll be here in a few hours, coming in from Moscow.
Moscow?
Yeah.
He's African National Congress, training there.
So he's bait, hoping Venter will come and kill him.
Well, he's no ordinary bait.
He's number 3 on South Africa's most-wanted list.
And we trust him why-- 'cause he's a Communist?
Gabriel said these guys go back to South Africa
and they do what they say they're gonna do.
A lot of them die.
We trust him.
[ Spits ]
[ Shower water running ]
What was she like?
Uh, what do you want to know?
Oh, anything.
Nina was...
a good person, straightforward.
We put her in a compromised situation,
but she rose to the occasion,
did what was expected of her.
Yeah, the guy I was running,
when he talked about the illegals,
you could tell he respected them.
He could have never operated on their level,
but it was like he had this rivalry going on with them--
in his head.
Well, Nina never had much on the illegals,
but what she did know, she told me.
You sure?
I mean, it got so I trusted my guy on the inside so much,
till I realized half of what he said was bullshit.
[ Scoffs ]
He thought he was running me.
That sounds complicated.
It was.
But you're lucky.
You were working with a good woman.
Hey, look, what do I know?
Anything's possible.
Nina could have been a pathological liar.
She could have shot JR, for all I know.
[ Chuckles ]
But I think she was a good source.
Well...
It's really too bad, what happened.
- Hey. - Hey.
- How you doing? - Good. You?
- I'm all right. Where are you going? - English class.
English class. Just getting out of History.
- Yeah? How was it? - Yeah, it was all right.
I wish I was in there now. It's so cold.
It's freezing.
You thought I was imagining things
when I first told you about him.
People can get overeager
when they start learning how to do this.
A sophomore at George Washington--
I see why it looked silly.
They probably recruited Todd back in South Africa,
when they could take advantage of the fact
that he was young and naive.
He wasn't naive.
I grew up with so many like him back in Johannesburg--
privileged, self-centered,
little, miniature copies of their parents.
I photographed him
meeting a South African Intelligence officer--
Eugene Venter.
We think he's planning to stage an attack
and blame the student groups here
who are protesting apartheid.
That's Reuben Ncgobo.
We think Venter won't be able to resist coming after him
once he knows he's here.
Ncgobo's going to set another meeting with Todd.
We're hoping Venter shows up to kill Ncgobo.
That's when we grab him.
How do you know he'll go for it?
We don't. There's a greater chance that he won't.
You always play against the odds in this work.
So, what do I do?
Our main risk is squad cars on patrol.
We'll set you in a place where you can see
the maximum number of crossroads.
If you do see a police car, honk twice, short taps.
Then pull away.
I understand.
[ Door closes ]
Philip: Hello! Anybody hungry?
Got pizza.
And I did have them put on
extra pineapple, anchovies, and pickles.
Oh, I already ate.
Okay.
Uh, Henry! Pizza!
He's at Doug's, working on his science project.
[ Sighs ]
I asked Sandra to come to the memorial.
It was stupid of me.
She's gonna fly halfway across the country with me now,
when she's with this other guy.
Must have seemed like a total asshole.
I doubt she thought that.
Don't doubt it.
Work's good, otherwise?
It's okay.
There is this one guy who...
he's just--
[ Sighs ]
He asks a lot of questions.
It bugs me.
Why?
He's a new guy.
He's always trying to get in there, get noticed.
He's a black guy.
He's good at what he does. He's just too...
I don't know.
What about you? What's happening in your house?
Kids are busy. Elizabeth's busy.
You know. I eat pizza.
Honestly, raising kids, trying to agree on things,
lately...
we're on opposite sides all the time.
Well, you're in a better place than me, pal.
Hang in there.
[ Sighs ]
Yeah.
Yeah.
I was on my way home from Moscow to see my wife and kids,
when they told me to come here.
When were you last home?
A year and a half.
But it's more than worth it if we get Venter.
We'll get you back safe.
You have kids?
Boys? Girls?
I have one of each.
One of each.
Lucky mama.
Do your kids have any idea
what a badass woman their mom is?
[ Chuckles ]
They think I run a small family business.
[ Laughs ]
I have four boys.
Where do they think you are?
They know not to ask.
I am afraid of what they've become.
When I left, Buth was obsessed with motorbikes--
anything fast and shiny.
He would collect these pictures from magazines.
I tell him, "You care about this
when we live like dogs in shacks, with nothing."
No matter how many times
I ripped up the pictures and beat him,
he would always find more.
I know.
Americans don't discipline their kids this way.
I'm not American.
He's a little guy.
If he had a motorbike,
someone would beat him, kill him for it.
I don't want him to go that way.
Better to die fighting
for citizenship, for freedom, yes?
Yes.
Yes, I'm calling to confirm
Zinaida Preobrazhenskaya's appointment tomorrow.
Yeah, I'll hold.
[ Receiver clicks in cradle ]
[ Papers rustle ]
[ Knock on door ]
Gaad: Yeah?
I need a signature.
[ Door closes ]
I went through four files, I read every single report,
and at the end of the day,
uh, I-I don't think there's anything there.
I mean, he's not interested in working with the Americans,
the French, the British, or the Australians.
Truth be told, I just think
he wanted to get away from his wife and kids.
[ Pen cap rattles ]
[ Rattling ]
[ Rattling ]
Well, I think that's enough for now.
Why don't you two go back to your desks,
and I'll, uh... let you know.
[ Stall door locks ]
[ Door opens ]
[ Footsteps approach ]
[ Door closes ]
[ Stall door opens, closes, locks ]
[ Fabric slides ]
[ Urinating ]
[ Urinating stops ]
[ Toilet paper dispenser clicks ]
[ Toilet flushes ]
[ Footsteps depart ]
[ Water runs ]
[ Paper towel rips ]
[ Towel rubbing ]
[ Footsteps depart ]
[ Door opens ]
[ Door closes ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Inhales shakily ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
[ Breathing heavily ]
[ Detector clicking ]
[ Indistinct conversations ]
Gaad: Martha?
This is Walter Taffet, from OPR.
Would you come with us, please?
Gene, will you excuse us for a moment?
Uh, sure.
Who was that?
Our computer specialist.
When did he start?
Uh...
Last January.
Well, I'll need to talk to him, for starters.
Can you provide me with the logs
of all of Agent Gaad's visitors?
Uh, how-- how far back would you like me to go?
Let's start with three months.
Right away, sir.
Well, the sweepers are going floor to floor now.
If they don't find anything, I'll start interviews tomorrow.
How likely do you think it is
that this is coming from my department?
This could be a janitor who got fired a year ago,
could be one of your agents...
could be you.
You ready?
Yeah.
[ Laughter ]
So, what's your favorite kind of food, Lisa?
Oh, I like all kinds.
You ever had sushi?
Not yet.
Jack took me last week.
Raw fish.
Lisa: - Ugh. - I couldn't handle it.
Oh, I love it.
[ Laughter ]
On our first date, he took me to this French bistro.
Aww.
That was-- it was so fun.
It was.
[ Laughs ]
So, Jack...
So, Lisa...
[ Laughing ]
Tell me about yourself.
What do you want to know?
Uh, I don't know-- the usual.
Where are you from? Your job?
Is that really what you want to know, or do you want to know
if I'm good enough for Michelle, here?
[ Laughs ]
- No, I'm just asking. - It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.
You know, I like the fact you're looking out for her.
- Okay. - [ Laughs ]
I have been married before-- a long time ago,
when I was young and a real knucklehead.
No kids.
Um...
I've had the same job, which I love,
for going on 15 years,
and I think meeting Michelle, here,
is probably one of the best things
that's happened to me in a very long time.
Would you agree?
I would.
Anything else?
[ Chuckles ] Not right now.
Good, 'cause I'm starving.
You ever had a veal Milanese?
- Uh, no. - [ Laughs ]
You're gonna love it.
Okay. [ Laughs ]
[ Breathing shakily ]
[ Sniffles ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Sniffles ]
I'm gonna go to Martha's tonight.
See you tomorrow, then.
Mm-hmm.
Maybe Venter won't even show up.
Maybe not.
If he does, I wish I had a few more months with Hans.
As long as we keep him far enough back,
we should be fine.
Ncgobo was talking about his sons.
He has four of them.
He said he hopes they all become fighters, like him.
And you think that's a good thing?
What?
I felt for him and his kids,
fighting this brutal, horrendous war.
I mean, it's horrible,
but it's... admirable in a way.
It's brave.
They don't have a lot of choices.
[ Sighs ]
No. They don't.
I have to go.
[ Engine turns over ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Car doors close ]
[ Door opens ]
- Hey. - Hey.
Uh, I'm gonna put this upstairs and do some homework.
Bye, mom.
Hi.
Hey.
Uh, how are you? Are you okay?
Yeah, sure.
Crap at work, you know.
I-I-I talked to Arthur.
Oh. I'm sorry I even asked you to come with me.
I don't know what I was thinking.
No, I-- A part of me wanted to go, you know, of course,
but I'm not your wife anymore, so...
You're still my wife.
Technically speaking.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh...
[ Sighs ]
I think it's time that we...
did something about that.
[ Door opens ]
Hi, honey.
How are you?
In-- in here.
Good to see you.
Hey.
Hey.
Something wrong?
No. No.
Um, just-- I'm-- I'm-- I'm tired.
Long day.
[ Sniffles ]
I, uh, I have a... early flight to, um, Indianapolis...
- Mm-hmm? - ...tomorrow morning,
but I'm glad we-- we get a night together.
Where's your purse?
You know, I left it at work.
What?
Where?
Uh, it's in my desk drawer, so don't worry.
No one can touch it.
I...
I, um, I just forgot it, like a total ditz.
I, uh, went shopping at lunchtime, and I had bags,
and then, when I left, I forgot the purse,
and I had to get the spare key from Diane.
Well, I'm glad she was home.
How was your day?
Oh. Uh...
boring, uneventful-- fine.
You know what I was thinking?
I have never been to your apartment.
Let's pick a night.
We can order takeout
and dine by candlelight at my very small table.
We could even, maybe, try a new position on the futon.
Sounds nice.
How about... we go there tonight?
...invited the Prime Minister to join me tomorrow
for breakfast so that we can discuss in more detail
the efforts that both of us are making
to secure a more peaceful world.
So our statements, as a result of all of our discussions,
will be made tomorrow morning, following that breakfast
- and before the Prime Minister's departure. - Is there anything to eat?
Oh. Uh...
- [ TV turns off ] - Yeah.
Yeah, I picked up some things.
Let's see-- I got, uh, some bologna and a frozen pizza,
and I also have this.
Just add heat.
Manageable.
Okay.
[ Sighs ]
So, uh...
are you going to that funeral in Chicago?
Uh, yeah.
Yeah, it's a memorial, actually.
Lot of agents are gonna be there.
You know, Dave and I worked undercover together.
Did you know that?
No.
No, I thought you guys were just friends.
Yeah.
He was the only person I could talk to about that
for a...
a long time.
What was it like?
It was strange.
Hard.
I...
You know...
I got pretty screwed up.
How so?
I had to pretend to be friends with people
I really didn't like--
terrible people.
There was a man-- John Reisling.
He's in San Quentin now.
He was a bad guy.
Uh, what did he do?
Bad things.
Like what?
Did he kill people?
He did.
It's okay. You can ask me.
Did he make you kill people?
No.
No. Thank God.
Were you scared?
So, I know I have some candles in here,
and, uh...
takeout menu.
You know, I was, uh...
I was saving this for our anniversary,
but we could have it tonight.
Yeah, I know. It just needs a woman's touch.
Clark.
Mm-hmm?
[ Sighs ]
Do you think that we're ever gonna live together,
like a normal married couple?
[ Sighs ]
Martha, I don't have a normal life.
I don't have a normal job.
But there's nothing so great about normal.
Oh, isn't there?
Nor-- normal is for everybody else.
Because... if you're asking me
do I think things will get better,
then the answer is "Yes."
And when I think about us,
I think it keeps getting better and better.
Don't you?
Y-- I-- I'm not really in the mood for that.
Let's save it.
Are you sure?
Is everything okay?
Yeah. Yeah.
Come here.
Mm.
Um...
Sorry. I'm...
Martha, what's wrong?
Want to talk about it?
No. No, no, no, no, no.
I'm just, uh, I'm just off tonight.
I...
I should just go to bed.
I'm-- I might be coming down with something.
Yeah.
Yeah, there-- well, there's something going around.
I think I, uh, I want to go home.
Are you sure?
Yeah.
Okay. I'll drive you.
[ Door closes ]
Mm.
[ Sighs ]
What time is it?
It's late.
[ Both sigh ]
I should have told you about my talk with Paige.
I have a son.
Another son.
He's Irina's, from when we were kids.
20 years old.
And he's in Afghanistan.
Gabriel told me.
He's in combat?
He's a paratrooper.
Henry, don't forget your poem.
How could I forget? You told me 10 times already.
Henry!
Well, I'm not reading it out loud.
Mrs. Macelhaney said that you could read your own aloud
or you could trade with a friend.
I don't want a friend to read my poem out loud. That's worse.
Then you're not following the assignment.
You're not a part of this discourse, Paige.
- Discourse? - That's a good word, Henry.
Henry, book.
- There you go. - Thanks.
Paige: - What are you talking about? - I was talking to dad.
- Bye, guys. - Bye.
[ Door closes ]
[ Sighs ]
Something's up with Martha.
I don't know. Could be the foster kid.
She's still on that.
What are you gonna do?
[ Sighs ] I don't know.
But I don't think I'm really up for another kid.
[ Chuckles lightly ]
[ Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" plays ]
[ Elevator bell dings ]
♪ listen to the wind blow ♪
♪ watch the sun rise ♪
♪ run in the shadows ♪
♪ damn your love, damn your lies ♪
♪ listen to the wind blow ♪
♪ down comes the night ♪
♪ run in the shadows ♪
♪ damn your love, damn your lies ♪
Can I get you anything?
- I'm good. - ♪ break the silence ♪
♪ damn the dark, damn the light ♪
♪ and if you don't love me now ♪
♪ you will never love me again ♪
♪ I can still hear you sayin' ♪
♪ you would never break the chain ♪
♪ never break the chain ♪
♪ and if you don't love me now ♪
♪ you don't love me now ♪
♪ you will never love me again ♪
♪ I can still hear you sayin' ♪
♪ you would never break the chain ♪
♪ never break the chain ♪
♪ and if you don't love me now ♪
♪ you don't love me now ♪
♪ you will never love me again ♪
♪ I can still hear you sayin' ♪
♪ you would never break the chain ♪
♪ never break the chain ♪
[ Static squelches twice ]
[ Static squelches twice ]
[ Engine turns over ]
Excuse me. Do you have the time?
[ South African accent ] Sorry. I can't help you. I don't have my--
[ Horn blaring ]
[ Tires squeal ]
[ Tires screech ]
Come on. Let's go.
♪ chain ♪
♪ keep us together ♪
♪ runnin' in the shadows ♪
♪ chain ♪
♪ keep us together ♪
♪ runnin' in the shadows ♪
♪ chain ♪
♪ keep us together ♪
♪ runnin' in the shadows ♪
♪ chain ♪
♪ keep us together ♪