The Blacklist (2013–…): Season 10, Episode 12 - Dr. Michael Abani (No. 198) - full transcript

Tomorrow.

Sorry. What were you saying?

We should talk about it
later. You should focus.

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

I told you that I would be
free and... The hotel called?

Yes, there's another couple
interested in the same cottage.

Then we will find another hotel.

Another hotel?

Michael, you loved that place.

I wouldn't say I
loved it, but...

You wouldn't stop talking
about how excited you were



to spend your
honeymoon by the sea.

You sounded like a 16-year-old.

Michael, what is going on?

You've been acting
strangely for weeks.

The doctor who was supposed
to replace me, he backed out.

I will fly in the week
before the wedding,

but I need to come
right back here after.

How much longer will you stay?

Five, maybe six months.

I know you're upset,
but once I'm back,

we can go on our trip
another time and...

- You think this is about a vacation?
- Ees...

No, I am upset
because you promised

you would not extend
your stay again.



- There was nothing I could do!
- Oh, really?

How many other doctors did you
call before you agreed, huh?

Look, I know how
important your work is

and I love how passionate
you are, but...

if we're going to build
a life together, we...

- Aissa, hang on.
- Dr. Abani?

I don't know what you
think you're doing here,

but Lieutenant...
Lieutenant...

Michael, what's going on?

Get off. Take
your hands off me.

- I'm a doctor!
- Michael?

- No. You're a terrorist.
- Michael?

- No, no, no, no.
- Michael!

Gatorade, tea,
and lots of water.

The theme of the day is...

- Peeing?
- Staying hydrated.

Mooms will be back to make you
lunch in a couple of hours.

If you need anything...

I call you, Mooms,

or Mrs. Cartwright next door
if the house is on fire.

I'm fine.

What you are is warm.
I want you back in bed

as soon as you're
finished eating.

And no TV.

You know I can watch
TV on my phone, right?

Well, don't. Feel
better, honeybun.

Agnes?

Pinky?

What are you doing here?
You just missed Pops.

I did? Oh, well.

I heard you were feeling a
little under the weather,

so I thought I'd come
and cheer you up.

Pops has been looking
for you, you know.

He seems pretty worried.

That's just part of
his constitution.

But I'm here now,

and I have everything we need

for a quick recovery.

Ice cream for a sore throat...

and movies to feed the soul.

Yeah?

Congressman.

Uh-huh?

Arthur, that's the third
all-nighter this month.

- What is it this time?
- I'm not sure.

I was reviewing the FBI's discretionary
spending budget last night.

How exciting.

Yeah.

Right there.

- Task Force 836.
- Mmm-hmm.

The Bureau has dozens.

The Bureau has
dozens, officially.

All formally authorized
and subject to oversight.

But from what I could
find, Task Force 836

only exists on this
piece of paper.

So it's classified.

It's unacknowledged.

The Bureau's spending millions

that they have to
account for somehow.

They assume nobody's looking
closely enough to find it.

- They don't know you're...
- Thorough?

Committed? Brilliant?

And humble. You
thinking corruption?

I don't know, but I want
to ask a few questions

without spooking Main Justice.

Uh, Senator Panabaker's the ranking
member on Homeland Security, right?

- Yeah.
- Call her office, please.

I want the first
five minutes she has.

No sign of Raymond
at the warehouse,

but I set up
surveillance devices

covering the front and back.

We should be able to
monitor it from here.

Which means I'm glued to
the screens all weekend.

Please tell me you're getting up
to something exciting at least.

I am.

The library finally received
the book I requested.

The First 5,000 Years.

I'm sorry. A book on debt?
That's your exciting weekend?

And I thought my life was dull.

- Anything on Reddington?
- Not yet.

Too bad. I just got off
the phone with Cynthia.

Apparently, Congressman
Arthur Hudson

of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee

on Homeland Security has
been asking questions

about certain expenses in the
FBI's discretionary budget,

expenses that point to the
existence of our task force.

Is that a problem?

Surely, you've dealt with other
government inquiries before.

This task force can only
function if it remains a secret,

even from government.

In the past, we've been
able to keep our work quiet

by delivering high-profile
cases, but recently...

We've got nothing.

Unfortunately, yes.

I'm afraid we can't keep
waiting for him to make contact.

Malik, head up to New York

and put eyes on
Reddington's bathhouse.

If you find him, let him know

we're gonna need a
new case, and fast.

Meanwhile, I've, uh, set up a meeting
with an old friend who worked with Hudson

at the US Attorney's Office in Chicago.

Hopefully, he can give us a
sense of who we're dealing with.

You alright? You look
like you saw a ghost.

- I have to go.
- You want some company?

I mean, the last time you
ran out of here like this,

you got shot,
captured, and tortured.

Alright, suit yourself,
but I don't hear from you

every half-hour,
I'm calling SWAT.

No.

Pardon?

You heard me.

Twice a week, you
sit at this bar,

you order a glass of wine
that you do not touch,

and you stare at your book.

I'm tired of seeing
good wine go to waste.

So...

either you ask for
my number, or leave.

What makes you think
I want your number?

Maybe the sound of the
bar helps me focus,

and I order a glass of wine

because I don't drink...
but don't wish to be rude.

It's possible.

But no.

No, I think you are scared.

Scared? Of you?

I guess we'll have to see.

I'm Aissa.

Dembe.

I'll call you.

You better.

Aissa.

Come in.

Is everything okay
with Isabella?

She and your
granddaughter, they are...

They... They are fine.

I didn't want to bother you,

but I didn't know
what else to do.

It's about Michael.

Your boyfriend.

Fiance. We got
engaged last May.

I thought Isabella told you.

No. She must have forgotten.

Congratulations.

So, what happened with Michael?

Two days ago, he was abducted
from his medical clinic

outside Taiz by Yemeni soldiers.

I called the State
Department, our Congressman.

I even tried the
Nigerian embassy.

Because Michael is just
a green card holder here,

and no one can tell me anything.

I thought maybe with
your contacts in the FBI,

you might be able to find
out what is happening.

I'm so sorry, Aissa. I'll...

I'll find out everything I can.

Wait here. And I'll
make some calls.

Dembe. Thank you.

I wouldn't have blamed
you if you hadn't come.

I'll... I'll be right back.

So, uh, how's she look?

- Fine.
- What do you mean "fine"?

You see your ex,
Isabella's mother,

the woman you never speak about,
and all you can say is "fine"?

Have you heard back from your
contact at Hostage Affairs?

No. She's sending me
an update any minute.

Are you with her now?

No. I'm in the hallway.

Ha. So you're hiding from her.

I'm making a call to
a secure FBI facility.

I'm not hiding from her.

Whatever you say. Oh, man.

What is it?

This is bad news.

Michael's being held
at a military prison.

The Yemenis say that he was
redirecting humanitarian aid

away from his clinic toward
a group of Houthi rebels.

They're claiming
he's a terrorist.

Do they have evidence?

No, State's trying to
figure that out now.

Look. There's something else.

What is it? What happened?

Michael was immediately
tried by a military tribunal.

They're planning to
execute him in 72 hours.

What about a rescue operation?

It's unlikely.

The US military doesn't have
many assets on the ground,

and since Michael
isn't a US citizen...

The government won't risk it.

What about people
from your world?

I'm not in that world anymore.

But I still have
friends, contacts.

You mean Raymond.

We haven't been able to
get ahold of him recently.

If I can, he'll need to know
who the local players are.

Michael's NGO wasn't running a
clinic without the cooperation

from both the rebels
and the government.

We need to know who Michael would have
been in contact with on the ground.

You should talk to
Jon. Jon Rapchinski.

He is the executive
director of Michael's NGO.

He just got back from
Yemen a few months ago.

I'll go see him now.

Do you think Michael may have
been involved in the smuggling?

I only ask because
it will affect

who we might approach and how.

Michael would never take anything
from his patients. I know him.

We all keep secrets, Aissa.

Not Michael. Not from me.

For a while, I was
waiting tables,

and then I started to
train as a sommelier.

No wasted wine.

It's a sin.

After my father died,
my mother wanted me

to come back with
her to Cameroon,

but I stayed to
finish my degree.

Public health.

And you're a chef, as well.

This is the most delicious
thing I've ever had.

Can you cook?

If you're lucky, I'll teach you.

I'd like that.

So, how does a
university student

afford designer clothing?

They were a gift, from a friend.

Does this friend have a name?

His name is Raymond.

We became close back in Kenya.

He offered me the chance
to pursue my education.

It's like that,
um, Dickens novel.

Great Expectations.

Literature student?

Economics. And history.

But I like to read.

And, uh, what kind of work
does this Raymond do exactly?

International trade.

A little broad

for a student of
economics and history, no?

You're deflecting.

Is it working?

Ah...

You don't have to
tell me everything,

but you must never lie to me.

Dembe?

Hey. Dembe!

The CIA confirmed chatter
about a US-based asset

operating in the region
starting last spring.

Right after Michael
arrived in Yemen.

- Thank you for your help.
- Of course.

If the government's
hands are tied

because of his
citizenship status,

we're the only chance he has.

If you're feeling grateful,
uh, why don't you tell me

about how you and
Aissa met, then?

We met in Marseille.

I was in university,

and I had just begun
working with Raymond.

I was young and
curious and learning,

and she was the most
amazing woman I ever met.

And then it ended.

No. No. That's...
That's impossible.

Michael worked his tail off

to get those supplies
to begin with.

He... He would never
just give them away.

But he did oversee your
supply procurement,

so, I mean, theoretically,
it is possible

he could have been
rerouting supplies,

and you never would have known.

It's a small clinic, so
everyone wears multiple hats.

Michael always found a way
to get whatever we needed.

At least, until...

Until what?

Well, last year, uh,

some soldiers dragged three
kids out of the clinic.

The soldiers suspected the boys

of scouting for
the Houthi rebels

and shot them out in the street.

Michael took it very hard.

He started arguing with
the staff, with Aissa.

I told him to go home,
clear his head, just...

But he wouldn't hear of it.

Who was your contact
in the Yemeni military?

Uh, Lieutenant Abdul Hassan.

I've never met him myself.

If I ever needed something,
I'd always go through Michael.

So if Dr. Abani wanted
to contact the Houthis,

who do you think he
would have turned to?

Uh, there was a
man. Uh, Abu Saleh.

You know, the staff said that
he worked with the rebels.

But Michael is a good man
and an even better physician.

If there is anything
that we can do to help...

I mean, a bribe,
lawyers, supplies,

whatever it is, we will do it.

Thank you for your
time, Dr. Rapchinski.

- We'll be in touch.
- Thank you.

I've tried many varieties

of mint chip through the years,

and the really green
stuff is never the best.

Maybe it's the food coloring.

Huh! Hmm.

How come you always
come over here

and I never go to your house?

I don't really have a house.

- Not anymore, at least.
- What happened?

Well, I sold one, gifted four.

I sunk numbers six and seven.

And eight and nine...

I'm not entirely sure
what's happened to them.

How come you got
rid of all your houses?

I suppose...

Well, recently,
I've found myself

letting go more and more

so I can better hold
onto what I really want

and still be light on my feet.

Mmm.

Ah.

Agnes, why don't you queue
up one of the movies?

I'll put this stuff
away and be right in.

Yes? What is it?

I know you didn't
want to be interrupted,

but there was a signal
at 7th and Wharf.

Obrigado, Giorgio. Ciao.

Raymond.

I wasn't sure you still had
the location being watched.

I am. For emergencies only.

If Harold put you
up to this, Dembe...

It's Aissa.

Aissa. My, my. Tell me.

I see. So you want me
to help you save the man

set to marry the
woman you loved?

That sounds like a number of
emergencies rolled into one.

He's believed to be working with a Yemeni
commander, Lieutenant Abdul Hassan,

and a Houthi operative
named Fadl Abu Saleh.

- I don't know either one.
- Neither do I.

Not that it would
matter much if I did.

That Lieutenant's
superior's superior

is locked in an intractable
conflict between some of

the most badly behaved
players in the Near East.

Getting one man out
of that nightmare

couldn't be more complicated.

But I'll see what
I can find out.

Thank you, Raymond.

Dembe...

That night in Marseille...

It's in the past.

I'll reach out when
I have anything,

but in the meantime, Dembe,

you might consider that
the past and the present

aren't as neatly divided
as we'd like to believe.

Take a look at this. It's
a statement for an account

in Michael's name at
a bank in Istanbul.

These deposits...

Over $200,000 in
the last six months.

Now, Michael wasn't providing
supplies to the Houthis

out of humanitarian concern.
He was doing it to get rich.

If that's true, the
State Department

will never negotiate
his release.

The Yemenis will
execute him for sure.

You have to tell her.

- I can't.
- Why not?

Because I lied to her once
before, and it broke her heart.

I don't know if I can
watch that happen again.

Point Break.

Will you come by tonight?

There is something I need
to talk to you about.

You're one to talk.

What is it?

I promised a friend I
would help him study

for an exam this evening.

So come by after we close.

I'll make your omelet.

You always bite your
lip when you're nervous.

- I... I...
- Is there someone else?

What? No!

Aissa.

I love you, too.

No. There's no time.

I have to open the cafe.

Go!

See you tonight.

For the last eight months,
money has been flowing

into Michael's account
from shell companies

associated with the Iranian proxies
supporting the Houthi rebels.

You think he really did this?

You think he was
supporting terrorism?

It appears so. But there
may be a silver lining.

If the task force can uncover
the entire smuggling network

that Michael was working with,

it may be possible we
can convince the Yemenis

to extradite Michael
back to the US.

I'm sorry, Aissa.

Have you eaten? Sit down.

I'll make you something.

I should go.

I said sit down.

I just found out my fiance may
be a liar helping terrorists,

so you're going to sit there
while I make you some lunch

because if I don't do
something with my hands,

I am going to scream.
Is that what you want?

- No.
- Then sit.

When I'm done, we're going
to go through those papers

until I convince you
that Michael is innocent.

I'm not asking. Sit.

I gotta say, Harold, when
you said you wanted to meet,

I thought we would talk about
life in the private sector,

not Arthur Hudson.

Clearly, he made an impression.

How long did you
two work together

at the U.S. Attorney's Office?

Four years.

Most AUSAs take a little while

to get their feet
underneath them.

Not Arthur.

Political corruption cases

can be a nightmare
for prosecutors.

They were Hudson's
bread and butter.

Built his whole Congressional
campaign around it.

I'm telling ya,
nobody can see a story

around a few sticky numbers
like Arthur Hudson can.

So he's tough,
smart, and ambitious?

Almost makes me feel
sorry for Congress.

Almost.

You sure everything's
alright, Harold?

Fine. Yeah. Just a few
questions about an old case.

Thanks for your time,
Ronnie. My best to Bea.

Harold, if, uh, Arthur Hudson

is digging around for something,

I'd just assume that
he's gonna find it,

and when he does, he'll
let the whole world know.

You understand?

Mmm. That was even
better than I remembered.

It's Michael's favorite, too.

It's how I get all my men.

When was the last time
you two saw each other?

End of October.

We spent a week by
the beach in Cyprus.

What?

I just never imagined
you sitting on a beach.

Ah, Isabella is
coming down with Ella.

I told her not to
bother, but she insisted.

She'll be here soon.

Well, she's just as
stubborn as her mother.

You know, I really was happy to
hear you two were talking again.

You raised a wonderful
daughter, you know.

I didn't do it alone.

Even with everything
you were going through,

she always had you in her life.

I wish I could have
been there more.

Thank you for staying. You
know, you didn't have to.

Of course I did.

Ever since I met you, I've never
been able to say no to you.

Surely you know that by now.

You know, I was...

I was nervous to see you.

I was afraid you might
think I looked...

Old?

I was afraid of the same.

Well, you don't.

"Oh, gosh, Aissa,
you don't look..."

When was the last time
you two were in Cyprus?

End of October. Why?

You were in Cyprus
together on October 28th?

- You are sure?
- Yes. Why?

According to this statement,

Michael made a withdrawal
from a bank in Istanbul

that day in person.

Someone else has access
to Michael's account.

The Yemenis are
about to execute him

for a crime he didn't commit.

- Dembe.
- Aissa.

I'm sorry, but we need to
leave the city, tonight.

- Why?
- There's a plane waiting

outside an airstrip
outside Cabries.

It leaves in exactly 36 minutes.

I will tell you everything you
want to know once we're there,

- but we need to leave now.
- We?

I am not going
anywhere until you...

You weren't helping
a friend study.

- You were with him.
- Aissa...

He's not just a
businessman, this Raymond.

He's a criminal.

And... And what?
You work for him?

It's complicated.

Then un-complicate it!

Raymond saved my
life back in Nairobi.

Tonight, I saved his.

You have to understand,

he was the most
important person to me...

until I met you.

You lied to me.

For him.

Yes.

I did, and I'm sorry.

I promise I will tell you
everything you want to know,

but we need to leave, now.

Please.

The State Department
is sharing what we learned

with the Yemenis now.

Hopefully, it will convince
them to stay the execution.

Hopefully? He didn't do it.

I know, and I hope the
Yemenis will agree,

but until we find out who was
really running that account,

we can't be sure.

And even then,
there's no guarantee.

I should go.

Dembe.

I know it must not
have been easy for you,

leaving Raymond,
joining the FBI.

I always knew you could do

something amazing
with your life.

I'm proud of you.

I'm glad I was
wrong about Michael.

I'll let you know when we
have something. Wait here.

Okay.

Yemenis aren't budging.

They claim our
evidence only proves

Michael had an accomplice,
not that he's innocent.

They're still planning to move
forward with the execution.

Maybe not. I just pulled the
travel records for everyone

who had access to the
supply chain within the NGO.

A Jon Rapchinski flew
into Istanbul two days

before Michael's last
alleged withdrawal...

and the time before that.

The Yemenis will say
it's a coincidence.

Well, maybe, but get this,

two hours after we met with him,
he booked a flight to Lebanon.

He leaves tonight.

Find Rapchinski. Now.

You'll have a warrant
by the time you arrive.

Okay, okay. Slow
down, slow down.

Someone at your NGO
set him up, Jon.

Who else in the organization had
access to your supply chains?

I'm not sure. T-There's
half a dozen organizations

who send us supplies.

Uh, um, aid workers on the
ground, local volunteers.

Hello. This
is Aissa Joachim.

I can't come to the
phone right now, but...

Who else had enough
information to set up

an account using Michael's name?

Aissa, it's me. Call me
as soon as you get this.

I thought you told her
to wait for your call.

I did.

Maybe someone who had access
to our computer system.

Someone who had access who
is in the country, yes?

That can't be more than
a handful of people.

- Jon!
- Yes. Right.

I'll call Fatima and get
a list of those names.

Okay, okay. Good. Good.

Okay. Good.

Uh...

Isabella, where are you?

Dad, hey. Ella and I
just got to Mom's place.

- Is your mother there?
- I don't think so.

Wait. Did Mom cook for you?

Isabella, listen to me.

Did your mother say anything to
you about where she might be?

No. Dad, you're freaking
me out. What is going on?

- Mom. Look.
- What is it?

Mom left a note.

It says she want to talk
to Jon Rap-something.

- Rapchinski.
- Dad, what is happening?

Does the note say
what time she left?

- No. Dad, talk to me.
- Your mother's in trouble.

- I'll call you back as soon as I can.
- Dad...

I think I may have left
my phone in the car.

I'm so sorry.

- Jon...
- I never wanted this to happen.

- Jon, I ju...
- They promised me that no one would ever find out.

You have to understand,

I thought I was doing what
was best for everyone.

I thought if I agreed to help,

we'd get more supplies
for the clinic, right?

And if that meant sending
support to the rebels, so be it.

- Oh!
- I...

I risked my life helping
those people every day!

I paid bribes to the government,

the Houthis, everyone,
out of my own pocket.

Why shouldn't I get a
little of that money back?

I-If Michael had
been in my position,

he would have done
the same thing.

Nuh-uh! He didn't do
this, Jon! You did!

For the life of me,
I don't understand

why you would drag
Michael's name into this!

I never meant to involve
him. I really didn't.

I just... I showed
up to the bank.

I-I couldn't believe
what I was doing.

I was scared, so I-I
gave them Michael's name.

I never thought that
he would get hurt.

Okay. I believe
you, Jon. I do.

But Michael is in trouble!

They are going to kill him

unless you and I go to
the authorities right now!

The Yemenis are never going to
give him up, even if I confess.

You don't know that!

I know he's your friend, Jon,

and I know that
you care about him.

All you have to do
is tell the truth

about what really happened,
and we can save his life!

It's not too late!

I can't! I can't, okay?

Why did you come here?! You
shouldn't have come here!

Aissa!

I was afraid that I...

Are you okay?

House is clear.

- You alright?
- Yes, I-I'm fine.

What happened? Where's Jon?

Well, since you two were
taking your sweet time,

I got some help.

From a friend.

General Thabit. A friend of Al-Ashabi's.

I watched him lose
quite a bit of money

at a table in Lebanon years ago.

- Reddington?
- Oh! He mentioned me.

Tell me, how did
you get my number?

At the moment, Tamer,
how I got your number

matters less than what I'm
prepared to do for you.

From what I hear, you're feeding

and supplying three
regiments of infantry.

The total cost to you
and your Saudi backers

is just over $2
million US per month.

I'm prepared to cut
those costs in half.

All I ask in exchange
is that you see to it

that Dr. Michael
Abani is released

from your prison
outside of Taiz.

Your offer is generous,
but I cannot simply allow

a convicted
terrorist to go free.

Of course not, which is
why I propose a trade.

We both know
Dr. Abani is innocent.

Turn him over to the Americans,

and I'll deliver the man who was
in fact supplying your enemies.

You can tell Prince whomever

that you're saving him
over $11 million a year,

or you can treat your
men, your mistress,

or yourself to just about
whatever you please.

So, General, what do you say?

Pardon.

- Aissa...
- You're alive.

I didn't think I'd
ever see you again.

Ah!

Oh! Bonjour.

Oh.

Dembe.

There's someone I
think you should meet.

This is Isabella, your daughter.

What?

Your daughter.

She just turned 14 months.

She's perfect.

The night you left,

I was going to
tell you about her.

I swear, if I had known...

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry I haven't been
here, but I'm here now.

Dembe. We won't be.

We are leaving.

I got a research
position in America.

We're moving at the
end of the month.

I'll go with you.

I appreciate the offer.

I do, but...

That man, the
policeman at the bar,

no one else would know
what he does for a living,

but you knew the second
you walked in, didn't you?

And if you came with us,

you'd always be looking over
your shoulder like that,

wouldn't you?

Yes.

And if someone did
see you, then what?

Bags packed in the
middle of the night?

On to a new city,
with new names?

I love you, Dembe. I do.

But that's not the life I want,

for either of us.

I won't bother you again.

Do you want to hold her?

Yes.

Very much, but...

I should go.

Raymond.

Dr. Abani was just delivered

to the Red Crescent
hospital in Sana'a.

He has a few cracked ribs
and a bump the size of a plum

on the back of his head,
but he should be fine.

What about Dr. Rapchinski?

Oh, he's on a Saudi
transport out of Lisbon.

He'll be in Riyan by morning.

General Thabit assured
me the Yemenis wouldn't

seek the death penalty,
provided the good doctor

gives up his Iranian
collaborators,

which I imagine he's
eagerly doing as we speak.

Raymond, if you hadn't
shown up in time...

You're still in love with her.

I think I always have been.

Raymond, you need
to speak to Harold.

There's a congressman
investigating the task force and...

I would have understood, if...

If you hadn't shown up
that night at the airfield.

I know.

I knew then, too.

Good.

Goodnight, Dembe.

Goodnight, Raymond.

I don't understand. What's
Hudson's angle here?

Hard to say, but there are
more than a few congressmen

who think they can
score political points

by criticizing the
Bureau these days.

You think he'll
call for a hearing?

I think Arthur
Hudson wants answers.

If he can use the current
politician climate

to advance his
investigation, he will.

Well, if he subpoenas
our records,

it's only a matter of
time before Congress

finds out that
Raymond Reddington

broke into a secret
FBI facility,

murdered two men,

and corrupted every
file in this place.

Opening all our former
convictions to appeal.

- Mmm.
- Don't think I haven't thought about it.

If we're gonna
survive Arthur Hudson,

we need to prove that we
are still indispensable.

To do that, we need Reddington.

Dembe didn't get a
sense of where he was?

Well, somewhere
over the Atlantic,

but since then, who knows?

Maybe helping Dembe
will inspire Reddington

to start delivering
us cases again,

but I wouldn't bet on it.

Neither would I. I
might not like it,

but there's not
a thing we can do

to get Reddington to do
what we want, when we want.

You want me to call Siya off?

Not yet.

We might not be able
to force his hand,

but he should at least
know we're waiting.

♪♪ It's so predictable ♪♪

♪♪ To farm the parable ♪♪

Oh, would you
please hand me that?

♪♪ From every tete-a-tete ♪♪

Michael's on his way to Germany,

and my plane leaves
in a few hours.

♪♪ But when you see the end ♪♪

What's that?

An early birthday gift for Ella.

Did they leave?

Oh, they, uh, went to
pick up, uh, dinner.

♪♪ Bless me ♪♪

Oh. Thank you.

You're welcome.

♪♪ Before you go ♪♪

♪♪ You're going
nowhere With me ♪♪

♪♪ Met you In the
wrestling pit ♪♪

I'm glad you two
will be together.

Obviously, not under these
circumstances, but...

♪♪ Ah, a body on top of me ♪♪

Is that the truth?

You're glad Michael and
I will be together again?

♪♪ Stayed up past
The witching hour ♪♪

I'm glad he's safe.

♪♪ You showed me
Your secret powers ♪♪

♪♪ I wish that mine ♪♪

♪♪ Could freeze time ♪♪

♪♪ Bless me ♪♪

Will you give this to
Ella when she comes?

♪♪ Before you go ♪♪

♪♪ You're going
nowhere With me ♪♪

Stay for dinner.

You can give it to her yourself.

I don't want to impose.

It's no imposition.

I'm sure Ella would
love to see you.

♪♪ You're going
nowhere With me ♪♪

Stay.

♪♪ Cupid has it out for me ♪♪

♪♪ Gave me crooked alchemy ♪♪

♪♪ Eros, oh, god of flings ♪♪

♪♪ Sees the beauty
In all things ♪♪

♪♪ As stupid is
as stupid does ♪♪

♪♪ I grasp your cloak because ♪♪

♪♪ Maybe you'll
grant me wings ♪♪

♪♪ If I cling ♪♪

♪♪ Bless me ♪♪

Hey, there.

How you feeling, honeybun?

- A little better.
- I'm glad.

Funny, I, uh...
I don't remember

buying so much mint
chocolate chip.

Pinkie brought it.

He came over to check on
me right after you left.

I see.

And did Pinkie say anything
about where he might be going?

He seemed... different.

Or maybe not
different, but more so.

Oh? How's that?

I don't know.

It's like he's searching for
something but can't see it.

And when he stops,
it bumps into him.

It's like he's looking for
something that's already there.

It's either in front
of him or behind him.

And what do you suppose "it" is?

Life or death, I guess.

Isn't that what it usually is?

Life and death?

Like Charlotte's Web.

Yeah. Like Charlotte's Web.

I think for Pinkie, maybe it's
always been life and death.

Maybe now it's just
"more so," like you said.

You love him, don't you, Pops?

♪♪ Before you go ♪♪

Sometimes he makes me so angry,

so worried,

and I hardly ever
understand him.

But I suppose,

in a way,

maybe I do.

Oh, you definitely
love him, Pops.

I mean, how could you not?

He's so soft and
cuddly, like you.

I think maybe that's enough
ice cream for tonight.

Besides, it's
time for you to go to bed.

Night, Pops.

Goodnight, sweetheart.

♪♪ Bless me ♪♪

♪♪ Before you go ♪♪

"Soft and cuddly."