Covert Affairs s03e05 Episode Script

Eyal Lavin.
What's Mossad doing? Let's go.
You're never boring.
Maybe the Riviera next time.
I don't know.
Didn't you hear, neshama? Everything's better in Israel.
Simon is a master spy.
Get intimate enough with a man, and he'll tell you everything.
He was playing you.
I have to call it.
You're blown.
I'm sending you back to the DPD.
We need to talk.
I can't marry you.
Parker.
You should have this back.
Good-bye, Auggie.
This guy doesn't get a pass just 'cause he's handicapped.
August Anderson.
Time to go.
Your bail's been posted.
By whom? I didn't call anyone.
You want to ask him yourself? He doesn't.
I trusted you, you know.
But that's past tense.
I gave you an entire division.
An opportunity half the building dreams of.
And an investigation into Jai's death.
One of our own on our own soil.
Arthur, let me explain.
And then you reward that trust with a reckless and dangerous trip to see your girlfriend and a public incident of drunken assault.
She was my fiancee.
Also past tense.
Good operatives become careless drunks right before they become burnouts or doubles.
I'm taking the OSP away from you.
You're going to go back to the DPD and work hard for Joan.
Show me I wasn't wrong.
Lena? I I really need to talk to you.
Annie, if it's about a mission, you don't work for me anymore.
I found a new way in with Simon Fischer.
He came back.
I can get this guy.
I know it.
I'm really not interested in a turf battle with Joan and Arthur.
Isn't there some scenario that we could continue our work together? On an unsanctioned mission? I thought maybe I could re-route the case file through the DPD? I thought about that, but the op originated in my office.
You know how stove-piped this place is.
So So, that's it? Unfortunately, it is.
I have privileged access to a top FSB operative.
Are you telling me I should walk away because someone decided to move my desk down the hall? Have you developed feelings for this guy? No.
Because you're fighting very hard for this.
I just think it's such a waste to let it go.
I just need a little more time to see it through.
You did good with the time you had.
Focus on that.
I know you'd like it otherwise, but this chapter is over.
Good luck, Annie.
The DPD is really lucky to have you.
Hey, Auggie.
Hey, Walker.
How are you? Peachy.
You? Better now.
So, we're putting the band back together, huh? Who knew a huge institution had a nostalgic side? And in the spirit of old times, Joan has an assignment for you.
I haven't even been to my desk yet.
Well, now you don't have to go.
See how everything works out? Just a second.
What's that? What's what? This.
Uh, I got into a bit of a scuffle.
You should see the other guy.
I can't.
Hmm.
Scuffle about what? It's nothing.
You can't get rid of me that fast.
I'm okay.
You should go.
Joan's waiting.
This is a rolling file.
Everything we have is only two days old, so there are gaps to fill.
But here's what we do know.
Officers in the field have recovered a piece of an Iranian missile.
One of its components is an eerie facsimile to American proprietary technology.
In other words, somehow, the Iranians have knocked off our design.
Do we have people in the test facility? This mission will be run on a variety of fronts, not all of them by us.
The tests are getting uncomfortably close to Israel, so they must be looped in.
Sorry.
I didn't mean to overstep.
Yes, Israel shares our concern.
Where you come in is to help surveil the architect of this technology.
An American rocket scientist named Isaac Reiss.
This is a joint operation because it's on their turf.
Mossad will be running point.
And who will I be working with at Mossad? Saul Berkowitz, one of their senior people.
Missile tech specialist.
Oh.
Okay.
Eyal Lavin is out of the country.
In case you were wondering.
No.
I'm good.
Good.
Thanks, everybody.
That will be all.
Annie? I expect you'll give this your undivided attention.
Never let it get me down So when negativity surrounds I know some day it will all turn around Because all my life I've been waiting for I've been praying for For the people to say That we don't want to fight no more And our children will play What happened to Saul Berkowitz? He got sick.
Oh.
Yeah, the 10 beers I bought him last night didn't help.
You once said everything's better in Israel.
Well, now's your chance to find out.
This is a working dinner, Eyal.
Absolutely.
Whatever you say.
L'chaim.
L'chaim.
There is something I want to discuss with you about this operation.
Wow, you weren't kidding about work, huh? Well, the intel is 48 hours old.
We have no background and no file.
How do we know we're following the right guy? Because he's our man to follow.
It's easier to assume guilt.
That way, you can be surprised.
Have you ever been surprised? Never.
So, Mossad's theory is that he's been dead dropping his missile tech to his Persian handler.
Yes, he's been taking long walks around the city.
It's very odd behavior.
Why is that odd? Mid-day? In our desert heat? In Jerusalem, we only take walks in the evening, or not at all.
What have the tails found? They'll figure it out.
Hmm.
So, nothing.
Is there an operational plan in the meantime? Yes, we're going to keep an eye on the target while the techs wire his house.
How exactly? We're going to offer him a job.
So, we assume, if he accepts the job, that he is what? Well, if he accepts the job, it means that he was dissatisfied at his work.
And if he doesn't accept the job, it means that, uh, he's been using them for intel.
Then he's guilty either way.
Well, now, you're just putting words in my mouth.
Listen, this is a man of routine.
This offer is going to shake him up.
We'll see how he reacts.
We're bound to learn something.
This is to be continued further in the morning.
So, you're eager to get back to your hotel room? Come on.
I'll walk you.
This is truly a sad day for me.
I finally get you to my country and you have a man in your life.
I assure you there's not.
That must be what the change is.
You're conflicted about taking me up to your room.
You shouldn't be.
It wouldn't be our first hotel room adventure.
I remember.
But you do want to talk to me about something.
I'm just asking as a friend.
I didn't know we were friends officially.
Hey, I don't just take anybody to that restaurant.
I'm flattered.
You're flattered.
But you don't trust me.
Not yet.
Okay.
Goodnight, neshama.
Goodnight.
Oh, hi, Auggie.
Hey.
You wanted to see me? Yes.
Come in.
Close the door.
Uh-oh.
Why don't we sit down? Okay.
So, word has come down that you'll begin therapy.
This is mandated.
Arthur's idea of punishment sure is cruel and unusual.
I think that's an overreaction.
Really? Forget that I don't believe in therapy.
Do you not believe in therapy or do you just not want to go? Come on, Joan.
If I show even the smallest vulnerability, they're going to tell me that I'm unfit to work and I will be gone forever.
I know this is difficult.
But I don't think you understand.
You either go to therapy or you go on leave.
I'll take the leave.
Auggie, this is not a choice.
You have to do this.
Even though he's one of your countrymen, I urge you not to develop any sympathies for the target.
His name is Isaac Reiss.
No, he's the target.
You see, this is exactly what I mean.
Thank you.
We're here to offer him a job.
It's the perfect opportunity to build a more complex profile.
No, there are researchers and profilers for that.
See, that's one of the many things that bother me about the CIA.
They want every operative to do every job.
At Mossad, we are more specific.
We only get the missions that match our skills perfectly.
What about this mission makes it perfect for you? I'm good with Americans.
Dr.
Reiss.
Hi.
Annie.
Hi.
Eyal.
Hi.
Hi.
Please call me Isaac.
You're from the States.
Yeah.
Uh, but I've been here for a while.
Wow.
It's nice to hear the accent.
It's a little sound of home.
Yes.
Yes.
Why would anyone want to speak Hebrew in Jerusalem? I agree with you, Isaac.
It is.
Please sit.
It's so good to meet you.
Your company has made such strides with new polymers.
I'm very excited to work together.
I did bring some Some business cards for you here.
No, no, no.
I think you've misunderstood.
We don't want to collaborate.
We're here to offer you a job.
But I already have a job.
We're building the next Concorde.
We'd like you to run the division.
Are you I I think I would have heard something about that.
Um, supersonic flight is a - It's a passion of mine.
- Is it really? Uh, yeah.
Yeah, here.
Check this out.
I've had this ever since I was a kid.
And when I was 11, I even wrote a letter to Aerospatiale.
Well, now, young scientists all over the world will be writing letters to you.
Our goal is to service commercial passengers within seven years.
Transatlantic to start, then worldwide.
You can bring whoever you'd like.
We want to create the best environment for you to do your work.
Oh, man.
But you're going to have to leave your current job immediately.
Uh Yeah, Helios has been really good to me.
They, um They paid for my PhD.
And I'm not sure that I can You can.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I'm going to need some time to think about this.
Well, we're going to need your answer now, Dr.
Reiss.
Otherwise, we'll move on to the next candidate.
Next candidate.
I'm sorry.
That's a tactic we learned in HR.
There are no other candidates.
You You must think I ruffle so easily.
Sorry, it's just a lot to take in.
Uh, my life has been changing so fast lately, everything's Yeah, and a new city is enough of a change.
Yeah.
What brought you to Israel in the first place? I came for work.
And then I found love.
That's sweet.
Does this love have a name? I mostly call her metuka.
I'm still learning other ways to say sweetheart in Hebrew.
Yakirati, motek sheli, yafati.
But that's only if she's actually pretty.
What does she look like? She Anyways.
Now, I need to get back to my office.
Um, it was really nice to meet you both.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Listen, uh, Dr.
Reiss? Yeah.
Don't let my colleague here deceive you.
This opportunity will go away.
We look forward to hearing your answer.
Yeah.
Well, I'll be in touch soon.
Not only is he butchering Hebrew, he's lying, as well.
About which part? We have tails on him.
There is no woman in his life.
Why would he lie about something like that? He obviously wanted to gain your sympathies.
It worked.
He's better than I thought.
Or maybe he actually has a girlfriend.
Everyone he works with thinks he's single.
Surveillance have never seen or heard a woman.
I'm just trying to get a working theory here.
The guy takes long walks during the day to dead drop his tech.
A whole team of Mossad operatives is following him.
And what have they found? Well, obviously, he's using a method of transferring information that we've never seen before.
A method Mossad hasn't seen.
He's a rocket scientist.
He's a kid in a man's suit.
He's not a villain.
Well, obviously, you made a connection, and now you can't be objective.
I can smell you have dogs.
I love dogs.
But you're trying to cover up their smell with Verte Violette.
L'Artisan makes an amber perfume that might serve you better.
And when you walked in, I heard you're wearing stilettos despite the long hallways and two flights of stairs.
So, you're probably single.
We have a lot in common.
Were you happy about the Redskins win last night, too? Your misguided flirting aside, how could you know that I'm a Redskins fan? Well, it's D.
C.
I took a shot.
I see.
Most people do.
Look.
After my accident, everyone wanted me to go to therapy.
But I didn't need it then, and I don't need it now.
I agree.
You know, I read your file.
And I understand why you broke a bottle over that guy's head.
It makes sense after everything you've been through.
You have no idea what I've been through.
I've spent the past seven years working with veterans, so I have a pretty good idea.
That's a classic shrink tactic, right? Finding some common ground with your patient in the first five minutes.
Tactic or not, it's still true.
Well, that's rather insincere.
Which part? It would be stupid of me to tell you anything.
I'd be signing my own pink slip.
Yes.
Therapists love vulnerabilities.
And spy agencies hate them.
But here's the problem.
Someone upstairs already thinks you're unstable.
So, unless you're planning on building bombs, it's only going to help you to talk about things.
What a great incentive.
Then, here's one more.
If you don't address the source of your anger, there will be another incident like the one at the bar.
So, if I don't come back, you'll write me up as crazy.
If you don't come back, I'll stamp your file and give you a gold star.
No questions asked.
You will lie for me.
It's up to you whether you feel in control of whatever's going on in your life.
Okay.
I'll take the gold star now, then.
Thanks.
Oh, by the way, I lied earlier.
I root for the Bears.
Hey.
It's me.
Look, I have some, uh, some really exciting news.
Do you know that meeting I had today with Stringham Aerospace? They offered me An exciting opportunity that Uh, it has the potential to change everything for us.
So, just call me back when you get this.
Okay.
We should count the words.
Maybe it's a code.
It's not code.
He called his girlfriend to celebrate.
And now he's making dinner for two.
It could be all for our benefit.
He left a voicemail on a dummy mailbox.
At best, it's code.
At At worst, he's onto us.
Why is it so difficult for you to believe that someone would leave a voicemail? Because it's a terrible practice.
A recording of your voice out there in the world.
When I get voicemail, I hang up.
Well, your paranoias aside, there are still other possibilities.
You know what? You're right.
You're right.
He's a nerd.
He's probably calling his mother.
He's calling a woman with an unlisted number and no outgoing message.
Also known as a prostitute.
Surveillance has never seen her, and she's convinced him to keep their relationship a secret at work.
He's dating a spy.
Wait a minute.
You don't know that.
He probably doesn't even know she's stealing the technology.
Of course.
There are no dead drops.
That's why the tails never saw anything.
Okay.
Here's what we're going to do.
I'm going to read Isaac in and make him an ally.
Then we have a shot at getting to her.
Oh, nobody's revealing our identity.
It's the cleanest way.
Plus, we get an asset who's a rocket scientist.
Everybody wins.
Nobody wins.
We don't even know his level of involvement.
If someone's running him and they find out we're watching, they'll kill him.
That's a risk of the game he's playing.
He doesn't know he's playing the game.
I want to try this.
He's a US citizen.
In my country.
Our working together is an act of goodwill.
So you can't tell me how to run this mission.
Actually, I can.
What does that mean? It's just imperative that you follow my directive.
I run point.
No.
Something's wrong.
Tell me.
This came down from my superior through her contact at the CIA.
What did? They want me to run a full cogent profile.
A what? Langley has asked me to evaluate your well-being in the field.
My agency is investigating me? No one is investigating you.
They asked a foreign agency to evaluate me.
No, they asked a fellow operative to check in on you.
They're worried about you.
Right, they're worried.
The day they wonder whether you're fit to serve is the day you stop serving.
But you are serving.
Right here.
Right now.
Right, so you can watch me and report back.
This is what agencies do.
They check on their people.
It's common practice.
You think they're right to be concerned.
At Mossad, we hear things.
We heard that a CIA operative was killed in an explosion on American soil.
How could you know that? Just agency chatter.
Were you there? Listen.
Everyone I know, everyone, has been touched by a similar event.
It's a reality of life in Israel.
I just want you to know that it's okay to feel whatever it is that you're feeling.
Don't underestimate how much it changes you.
It sometimes feels like everything can be taken away at a moment's notice.
So, yeah, I think they're right to be worried.
Who ordered the assessment? I honestly don't know.
Annie, come on.
Don't do this.
What do you think it's going to achieve? Yes? Hey, it's Annie.
Is there a problem? No.
I just wanted you to know that I am working successfully with Mossad.
And that we have a surveillance operation that I think will yield great results.
I'm happy to hear that, in spite of any specifics.
We're working on those.
I promise.
I would hope.
Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime? Mmm I don't think I need anything from you.
Oh.
Okay.
Is that all you wanted to say? For now.
Okay.
Good.
Do you feel better? No.
I'm sorry.
That's why I never call in.
Hello? Hey.
Annie, it's Isaac.
Hi.
How are you? I'm all right.
I'm all right.
I'm I was, uh, hoping we could meet.
Uh, to talk some more about the job.
Sure.
Four o'clock? Do you know the cafe on the north side of Zion Square? I do.
I do.
And, Annie, would you mind coming alone? No, that's fine.
I understand.
Okay.
I'd better wire you.
Why, so I don't tip him off? No, it's because he's still the target.
I want to make sure you're protected.
Wow, you changed your hair.
It looks great.
Thanks.
A lot of things are changing.
And this is the part where I sit.
Mmm-hmm.
I know you've had a lot on your plate.
But It's about to overflow.
Rumor is you're on the shortlist to be the new Ambassador to China.
This is real, Arthur.
It's finally happening.
Has it been 10 years since we went with that congressional delegation? Our hotel room in Beijing was a closet.
And our tour guide barely spoke English.
But you charmed them all.
And they remember you.
They reached out to State last week.
And with Ambassador Phillips retiring, you'll get your chance.
I'm sorry, Gina.
I know this is something we wanted to do together.
None of that matters now.
Thank you.
Mmm.
So, my whole life has been devoted to my work at Helios.
It's all I ever imagined for myself.
I'm safe there.
And leaving seems harder than moving to a new country.
I don't want to turn my back on people who believe in me.
But at the same time, I can't ignore the opportunity to do great work.
To explore new avenues for innovation and discovery.
Okay.
Now, I just have to convince my girlfriend that this a good idea.
What's her name? You're going to think this is crazy, but she She doesn't want me talking about our relationship with people I work with.
It's still early and she's superstitious.
And I just Well, we don't work together, technically.
Not yet, anyway.
I I suppose you're right about that.
Okay.
Her name is Ilana Ben Eshkol.
Mm-hmm.
And she's a scientist, too.
Which is amazing, because she's the first woman I've ever been with who actually understands what I do.
Do you have a picture of her? Yeah.
Let's see.
You look very happy.
Annie.
Annie! Annie! Don't! Here.
I got the guy's cell phone.
At least Mossad can find out who he was working for.
I know this is it for me.
You're going to tell them I'm a loose cannon and that I'm reckless, and then Langley Annie.
Is going to take me out of the field forever.
Look, I know that this life is so easy for you.
But it's hard for me.
Hey.
It isn't.
It isn't easy for me.
Come on.
I'll show you why.
That's my son down there.
Avi.
Number 4, in the yellow.
My ex-wife got custody of him years ago.
But I still see him as often as I can.
Even if it is from a distance.
Eyal, are you sure I should be here? I mean We never talk about our real lives.
Not like this.
We are now.
You saved my life.
You might not trust me yet, but I trust you.
You think I'm a hardened man? I struggle with this life same as you.
As strange it is, what it costs.
But you're working towards making this world a better place.
And you're not alone.
It doesn't always feel that way.
You're struggling with something.
Let me help you.
They've found Isaac.
Let's go.
I decided to come back.
Do not mistake this as a sign of growth.
I really hope you're here.
Otherwise, I made a grand entrance for nothing.
I'm here.
Hi, Auggie.
Please, take a seat.
Yeah.
I really hope you haven't heard this yet, because I want to be the one to tell you.
Is this good news or bad? I'm on the short list, Joan, to be the Ambassador to China.
Oh, congratulations.
I always knew it would happen for you.
So, here's the plan.
There's a plan? Yes.
I spoke to Dennis, and he's going to be putting a good word in for you to run Beijing station.
You did what? It's the biggest agency job in the Far East.
You'll whip them all into shape, no doubt.
You spoke with the East Asia desk before you spoke with me.
Yeah.
But No, no, no, I Let's just put that aside for a moment.
Did you consider the timing of this to be curious? What is that supposed to mean? It means you're suddenly on the shortlist in the exact moment you're looking like a pariah.
Why are you turning this amazing news into an indictment? I've been dreaming about this for over a decade.
I know.
And you should go for it.
I want you to.
But I've done my time in the field.
So, this is an impasse? That's reactionary.
We can negotiate this.
We negotiate things all day long.
You know as well as I do what an ambassador does.
I'll be the face of American policy in China.
And I will need my wife on my arm.
Then you married the wrong kind of wife.
So, this is an impasse.
Well, I'm glad we negotiated that.
Ann? Simon Fischer.
Is that a target, an asset, or a A boyfriend? I'm not even going to touch that.
I see him.
Let me do this.
Isaac, it's okay.
We're here to help you.
I knew you were Mossad.
Him, too? Wow, that's a surprise.
I'm full of surprises.
Yeah.
I know this is hard.
But We have a lot to talk about.
It's Ilana, isn't it? She's spying for somebody.
Who is it? Syria? Lebanon? Iran? Iran.
Iran.
Iran.
She's one of their best.
Yeah.
How long have you known? Oh, since this afternoon.
It's the only thing that made any sense.
I'm sorry.
Uh-huh.
Deep down, you must have known something was wrong before that.
We met at, uh At the farmer's market.
We were both buying organic pomegranates.
She said it was kismet.
I was fighting this horrible feeling that maybe she was married.
I never considered it would be something this awful.
Those are the words of a helpless man.
That's not you.
You still have the power to make this right.
How could that possibly be true? You can help us bring her in.
Okay.
Okay.
How do I do that? Come on.
Uh, hey, I meant I meant to give this back to you.
Enrico Fermi used to walk through Rome when he couldn't solve a physics problem.
He's my hero, so I like to walk, too.
A few days ago, I thought someone was following me.
It seemed pretty crazy at the time, but now I think there There was.
I know this must seem like a horrible intrusion.
Yeah, because it is.
I mean, someone has been watching everything I do.
How would you feel? It depends who's watching.
You may know these people, but I don't.
Look.
All we need you to do is call Ilana and have her meet you at home.
Mm-hmm.
You can do that, right? Consider this just a regular old cell phone.
Uh, it's Even more people listening in on me.
You can do this.
Okay.
What if What if we're wrong about her? You think we are? Here.
I don't need this anymore.
Hello? Ilana, hi.
It's Isaac.
Sweetie, you sound terrible.
We got him.
Somebody tried to shoot me.
I barely got away.
What? Tell me what happened.
Where are you? I'm at home.
I'm too afraid to go out.
To go to work.
To do anything.
It's going to be okay.
I'll be there in an hour.
You're just shaken.
Yeah, of course, I'm shaken.
What kind of country is this where somebody gets shot at in the middle of the day and nobody even seems surprised by it? That's a big question, Isaac.
We don't have to worry about that anymore.
I'm not safe here.
We're not safe here.
What if What if I went home? Ilana, would you come to America with me? Ilana, are you there? Isaac, I think you are just in shock.
Please, try to stay calm.
I am just an hour away.
Please.
I really need to know this right now.
Would you come back to New York with me? Are you Talk to me, Ilana.
You're here.
Are you okay? Yeah, I'm all right.
So, you've saved my life twice.
Uh, actually, I count three times.
Wait a minute.
You're counting Paris? Because I saved your life in Paris.
Okay, maybe we should stop counting.
You know, I shouldn't tell you this, but I I wrote you a good review.
Are you going to let me see it? Not a chance.
But you can see this.
You should know that Mossad is not in the business of sharing information.
And you're sharing it with me? Eyal, what did this cost you? You don't need to worry about it.
Thank you.
I hope next time, we meet under happier circumstances.
Well, for people like us, I don't know how likely that is, but I'm always happy to see you.
I'm always happy to see you, too.
Okay, I'm going to go.
And you're going to disappear into the wind like you always do.
I always do that? Hey, Annie.
Be careful.
Hey.
Simon.
It's me.
Can I see you?