superintelligentone
Cadet
Season 4: Episode 11 - "The Road Home"
3/16/2005
Summary by superintelligentone aka SIO
Nighttime in Paris, France, Sydney enters a chic restaurant as an elegant woman dressed in black evening wear. She has a curly, auburn coloured wig and is wearing a prosthetic nose. The Maitre d’ greets her “Bon soir, Madame (Good evening, Madam).” Syd provides her name “Marie Gerard” for the man to check against the reservations list. Seeing her name on the list, the Maitre d’ announces “La table est prête (the table is ready)” and escorts her to her table. Vaughn is sitting at the bar sipping a martini, watching her, providing backup. Sydney orders “Un martini. Séche. Quatre olives (A martini. Dry. Four olives).” Vaughn com-links “She's in position. No sign of Connelly.” Outside the restaurant, inside a surveillance van, Dixon com-links in response “He'll reveal himself.” The Maitre d’ returns with the dry martini, presenting it by saying “Madame.” Sydney replies “Merci (Thanks).” She removes the four olives out of the glass and puts them on the table. Vaughn informs Dixon “She just made the announcement.” Seeing the four olive signal, the contact, Connelly walks up to Sydney and says the passphrase “Il est trop tard pour une femme être ici tout seul (It's too late for a woman to be in here all alone).” Syd responds with the counterphrase “Non plus dangereux ici que Bangladesh (No more dangerous here than Bangladesh).” Connelly nods, looks off to the side, and then sits down across from her. He comments in English “I thought you might not come.” Sydney coolly responds in English “You underestimate me already.” The man comments “Well, I almost didn't come.” Syd responds “Why is that? Crisis of conscience?” Connelly replies arrogantly “I thought I might find a buyer willing to pay more.” She says impassively “I am not here for small talk, Monsieur Connelly. Are you selling or no?” then slipping her martini. Connelly pauses and then says “I presume ... you brought the down payment.” Sydney smiles slightly and gives him look that conveys that was a ridiculous question to ask her. Just then a tough looking man wearing a tan leather jacket enters the dining area. Vaughn immediately takes notice and becomes more suspicious when he takes a table near Syd’s. He com-links Dixon “We may have a possible third party. Sending you a visual Outrigger” and sends a camera phone picture for Dixon to check on. Dixon replies “Got it, searching for a match” as he runs a facial database comparison scan on his computer. Meanwhile, Connelly asks Syd “So, what are your plans ... with your new purchase?” Sydney says impatiently “Monsieur Connelly, where ... is ... the chip? and then takes a sip of red wine. Connelly shows that he has the chip hidden in the false bottom of his wine bottle, saying “This is my way out.” Meanwhile, Vaughn com-links Dixon “Anything, Outrigger?” Dixon says impatiently to the computer “Come on ...” The computer search ends with the words “No Match Found” so Dixon com-links back “No matches Shotgun.” Connelly rationalises “With this sale, I can buy a new life. A house on the Mediterranean. Maybe, get a dog...” Just then a gunshot rings out and blood splatters the inside of his eyeglasses - Connally has been shot in the back of the head. Even though she is horrified by his sudden death, Syd immediately dives to her left for cover. The man in the tan jacket fires a second shot which shatters a flower vase. Vaughn calls out “We're under fire!” The gunman turns and fires a shot at Vaughn, who ducks for cover. Sydney falls to the floor onto her chest, causing her to groan. Seeing his opportunity, the man runs up and takes the chip. As gunman runs towards the kitchen, Vaughn rises to his feet and shoots him in the back of his shoulder, dropping him to the kitchen floor. The wounded man crawls to grab a chef’s knife just as Vaughn enter the kitchen with their guns drawn. In French, Vaughn orders him “Laissez le couteau! (put down the knife).” Sydney pulls her pistol on him and orders “Freeze!” The man pushes himself back towards a wall to try to get away. As he tries to rise to leave, he finds Dixon blocking his escape route, pointing his pistol at him too. The wounded man slumps against the wall and cries out “He won't get me ... my family. I'm not going to be made into an example of! I won't have it!” He weeps as he raises the knife up to his neck “My wife! My kids!” Syd orders him “Put down the knife!” but the man slits his own throat, causing her to look away in revulsion.
Sometime later at the APO, Sloane is in his office explaining to Syd “Marshall ran analysis of the memory chip recovered in Paris. The downloaded information confirms that a biometric targeting device is in fact being developed at a secure location in Austria.” Jack adds “Attached to a weapons system, this device would facilitate the targeting of an individual based solely on a DNA sample or a biometric scan.” Syd comments “A next-gen sniper.” Sloane says “Precisely. That's why I want you a plane to Salzburg by nightfall. Standard retrieval operation.” Puzzled by the lack of explanation of the Paris gunman, Syd asks them “But ... the man who killed himself?” Sloane explains “He was sent there to intercept the sale. When the assassin realized that the mission was a failure, he killed himself to protect his family from his employer ... Sasha Korjev.” As he says the name, “Sloane turns, looking at Jack. Hearing the name disturbs Jack, which Sydney notices, so she comments “I don't know that name.” With a slightly guilty expression, Jack comments “Korjev is a monster. He's run arms to rebel forces in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Angola ... And holds a very tight leash over his men. Amongst Korjev's tactics is leveraging the live's of their families.” Sydney says “And it's Korjev's network that's developing the device.” Sloane replies “Yes, that's correct. But now that we have confirmation that Korjev is alive, I'm tasking Dixon to locate his whereabouts and report to CIA proper. They'll send a tactical team to secure his arrest.” Jack interrupts “I have a liaison at the Angolan Chancery in D.C.. Put Dixon on something else.” Sloane turns in and says in amazement “You want to take this over?” Jack stares Arvin in the eyes as he says with a slight nod “For the sake of expedience.” Syd looks at them suspiciously and says “What am I missing?” Sloane gives in to the request, saying “Okay Jack ... It's yours.” Jack gives him a small nod of thanks. Turning to Sydney, Sloane says “Good luck in Salzburg.” Sydney looks at her father with suspicion. Jack has a guilty expression.
In the Briefing Room, Weiss and Vaughn are talking discretely in front of the wall of monitors. Weiss urges “I'm telling you, this is a mistake. You got to bring the team in on this one.” Vaughn rejects the advice saying “No way, not until I find out more.” Weiss offers “Alright, let's just assume that your father did write those journals.” Vaughn points out “I know my father's handwriting. Things were referenced, things he couldn't know about. I know it sounds crazy but...” Weiss interrupts with the wisecrack “The (Boston Red) Soxs winning the (baseball’s World) Series is crazy. What we're talking about doing here is insane. Vaughn points out “The nurse who led me to those journals, she disappeared. She was a plant.” Weiss agrees, saying “Fine, so someone's trying to manipulate you.” Vaughn wonders “What if my father is still alive? What if it's his way of trying to contact me?” Weiss turns to face him and says quietly while checking no one can hear them “Okay. Okay, but why now? Why let you and your mother believe that he's been dead for 25 years?” Vaughn replies “I don't know, that's what I'm gonna find out” and then starts to walk away. Weiss calls out “Hey” and hands him a slip of folded paper. Vaughn opens it and sees “ Paul Murdoch, 19217 Dove Avenue, San Diego, California, 92107" written down. He asks “What's this? Who's Frank Murdoch?” Weiss explains “The codename that you asked me to check in the journals. He's ex-Special Forces. Changed his name several times, finally settled on Frank Murdoch. He runs a furniture repair shop outside San Diego.” Fearing that others might know about the information, Vaughn asks “You didn't tell anyone else about this, did you?” Weiss expresses his annoyance by saying “Dude.” Still sceptical, Vaughn asks “Nadia?” Weiss is offended and expresses it by saying “Hey!” Vaughn looks sorry for doubting his best friend, saying “Thanks.” Weiss nods and looks puzzled at him as he walks away.
Sloane enters Jack's office where he is working on paperwork. Jack looks up expectantly, knowing what he is there to say. Sloane takes a seat and says in bemusement “The Angolan Chancery in D.C. ... Hmm ... Don't you think that's a bit thin, Jack?” Jack replies “You should've brought this to me first.” Sloane explains “The details of Sasha Korjev's mission are classified. As far is anyone is concerned, the assignment is merely to tag the location.” Jack points out “The CIA wants him assassinated.” Sloane explains “Which is why I felt it unfair to burden you with this. Dixon has the necessary experience.” Jack points out “With Dixon, it would have to be a distance hit. I'll be able to get close to Korjev.” Sloane says “Oh, I'm aware of that. And frankly, that concerns me.” Jack explains “I'll be fine ... Korjev should've been eliminated years ago.” He adds regretfully “When I had the chance.”
Nighttime in Madagascar, Jack enters a small bar, empty of customers. The bartender smiles in recognition and greets him with a trembling voice “Man, look at you. Back from the dead.” Jack walks up to the bar and greets the weasely man “Hello, Jimmy. You look awful.” The bartender Jimmy replies “I keep telling myself, green vegetables. Got to eat more of them” as he pours himself and Jack a shot of whiskey. He gives one to Jack and adds “But, you know how that is.” After they both touch glasses and drink, Jimmy asks nervously “So, um, Jack, uh ... You, um, come bearing gifts?” Jack places a satchel on the counter and says “Only the best.” He pulls out a portable DVD player and then a DVD case, explaining as he taps the case “This ... This was hard to find.” Jimmy licks his lips and rubs his hands together in anticipation. Jack puts the DVD in, plays it and turns it towards Jimmy to watch. Jack has a distasteful look as he watches Jimmy captivated at what we hear as a woman’s screams of torment as what sounds like an electric drill revs (or electric saw cutting)(and perhaps a baby’s crying in the background) are heard. Watching with perverse fascination, Jimmy's hands are moving as if he was touching the woman. He says in awe “Is this...? I thought it was just a rumour!” Jack slams the lid shut which causes Jimmy to wince as if he were in pain “Augh! huha, huha, ... Jack! ... huha ... ah What do you want?” Jack looks intensely at him and says “Information.” Jimmy replies quickly “Anything! Heh.” Jack demands “The protocol for contacting Sasha Korjev.” Jimmy's eager smile fades and says regretfully “Um ... Come on Jack. You know I can't!” Jack puts the DVD player back into his bag and says “I'm disappointed Jimmy. I thought you were a true connoisseur.” Jack turns and begins to walk away. Jimmy calls out “Seriously, man, that's, that’s just not right! Jack! Uh, please! If Korjev finds out it was me ... My life may not be worth much, huh. But whatever ... Still...” Jack continues to walk away, so Jimmy gives in “Okay!” Jack turns around and sees Jimmy say “I'll, uh ... I'll lay it out for you.”
In his lab, Marshall shows Sydney a cute home movie that he made of his son Mitchell, who is wearing a diaper and an antenna hat, walking on Mars, reaching for a little rocket. Marshall announces “One small step for Mitchell Flickman, one giant leap for mankind.” Sydney delights that baby Mitchell is so cute, saying “Look at those legs. Oh, he’s edible, he’s delicious.” Marshall jokes “Heh heh, I’ve taken many a chomp. Add a little salt and pepper. He’s the best. He makes it all worth it.” Getting back to the mission, Marshall says “Sorry, speaking of which -- Salzburg. Now, according to the memory chip, Korjev is storing the targeting system in the sub-basement of a discotheque that he owns, “The Club Felice” which officially begs the question: What is it with these guys and nightclubs?” He chuckles and Sydney smiles in amusement.
Sometime later in Salzburg, Austria in The Club Felice, Sydney who is dressed in a rancher’s jacket, sweater and jeans, is looking around the crowded floor from near the bar. In a flashback, she recalls Marshall briefing her “Korjev’s regional security chief is a Jeremiah Gauster. Gauster has instituted a security protocol based on access cards. You’ll need a Level 3 clearance to enter the belly of the building. Since the access card hardware is annoyingly difficult to duplicate, you’ll need to steal one from one of the nightclub employees (to get to the sub-basement).” Syd looks for an employee to steal their access card from, and sees that the waitresses only have Level 1 marked on the cards attached to their skirts. She spots a man clearing tables who is speaking German with an American accent and sees that he has a Level 3 access card attached to his apron. Sydney approaches him and says something in mangled German with her American accent with a shy, embarrassed smile. The man smiles and chuckles “Not bad ... Definitely in the ballpark.” Syd’s eyes widen and a big grin appears as she says in relief “Oh my gosh, thank you for being an American! I don’t think that I could bear mangling the language in front of one more local.” The American man replies with a grin “Shouldn’t feel bad. These people like to be offended. It’s their comfort zone.” Syd charms him by saying “Let me guess ... upstate New York.” The man is pleasantly surprised and says “Yeah, yeah, Rochester. How’d you know that?” She replies “I went to Buffalo State University. Undergrad(uate).” The man replies incredulously “Come on. Go Bengals (the school motto about their mascot). Sydney replies “Don’t even say that. It makes me want to cry. God I miss it so much. This time of year, me and my girlfriends should be grabbing two ‘Beef on Weck’ and a six-pack, you know, to...” Syd drops her purse as they are chatting and says in embarrassment “Oh, look at me!” As both stoop to pick it up, she continues “... root from the nose bleeds (the cheaper priced stadium seats that are so high up and so far from the playing field, people joke that the altitude gives them nose bleeds). There’s nothing like roast beef (sandwiches) and Pilsner (beer) in 30 degree (Fahrenheit) weather, you know what I mean?” Syd takes his access card clipped to his apron as they are stooped on the floor. They both stand back up, the worker smiling in fond recollections of similar experiences and says “Yeah”. But then one of his bosses calls out “Sam” and something in German about getting back to work. The man introduces himself “That’s me.” Sydney says his name “Sam.” Before going back to work, Sam says “Sorry I can’t help you with your drink. Barback (meaning that he is only a bartender’s helper/apprentice).” Syd waves her fingers goodbye as Sam leaves. She then has a flashback of Marshall in his lab saying “The good thing/bad thing about living in Austria? Smoking’s not prohibited. Ergo, you’ve just developed ... a smoking habit.” Marshall flips open the top of a pack of cigarettes and offers her one. Sydney replies “No thanks.” Marshall responds “Good answer. Just testing ... It is actually ... a mag strip encoder.” He shows the cluster of cigarettes are an electronic device and swipes a passcard through it, saying “Just slide it through here like so. It will analyse the access control algorithms, extrapolate the clearances and then reprogram the card to give you full access.” Back in the bar, Sydney is sitting at a table, using the device on Sam’s access card. From the back of the bar, Sam looks at her in interest. Having finished reprogramming the card, Syd puts the device back into the cigarette box just as Sam comes back, greeting her shyly “Hey.” Sydney turns to him in surprise and says “Sam!” Seeing that she is holding a pack of cigarettes, Sam asks “Do you need a light?” Syd replies “No ... Thank you. I was just looking...” The barback man apologies “Didn’t mean to scare you.” Syd pulls out what she was “looking for” and says “Good stuff ... Found it.” Sam sits down at her table and explains shyly “Uhm, so listen, ahh ... I never do this, really. But, uhm, I’ve been here for six months, and uh, I don’t really know anybody ... At least not anybody who knows about ‘Beef on Weck’. So, heh ...” Sydney smiles and turns away in embarrassment. Sam marvels “That smile, and those dimples are pretty much the greatest thing that I’ve ever seen. So I thought that if I didn’t come over and...” Realising that she has a mission to do, Syd regretfully says “I have a boyfriend.” Sam immediately says “Right, no right. Of course you do” in disappointment. Syd adds “But thank you.” He explains “(A) guy’s got to try.” Syd feels sorry for breaking Sam’s heart, then remembers she has to do her assignment and looks away saying “Where’s the bathroom?” Sam points and says “It’s uh, just, just...” Sydney leaves before he can finish, leaving Sam to make a disappointed expression at how she quickly she ran from him.
Sydney uses the access card to open the door to the basement and then heads down the stairs. Walking down the basement corridor, Syd com-links “Merlin? Merlin?” to Marshall. Back at APO, Marshall reaches for his headset, then putting it on replies “Okay, I got you Phoenix.” Sydney inserts the access card to the card reader next to the door to the sub-basement. The door unlocks so Syd com-links Marshall “Headed in” and enters the stairwell. Immediately, the security guards see on their computer screen that there is an unauthorised access to the sub-basement and Delta section is highlighted. Security chief Jeremiah Gauster responds “No one’s supposed to be down there. Run a sweep to Section Delta.” One man draws his pistol and goes to investigate. Gauster orders “Pull up all the employee access records ... Let’s find out who’s down there.” Sydney enters a work room and searches the desktop. Marshall com-links “What do you see?” Syd replies “Workstation’s cleared.” Looking around, Sydney sees something of interest and says “Hang on” and walks through a plastic room divider to another desk. Syd finds a file folder and com-links to Marshall that it is labelled “Status Report, Operation Hawkeye dated ... today.” Marshall tells her “Open it up.” Inside Sydney finds blank papers, so she announces “Nothing.” Realising that there is on reason for blank papers to be in the folder, Syd holds a sheet up to a desk lamp and she sees it is written with invisible ink. She announces “The reports embedded” and then looks towards a photocopier machine. She uses its intense scanning light to illuminate each sheet for easier reading than the desk lamp would. Syd reads aloud “‘Transport protocol enacted, delivery on schedule’ ... They moved the targeting device ... ‘Scheduled to leave the country at 06:00 hours.’” Marshall replies as he types into his computer “Okay, checking airfields and shipping yards.” Sydney continues to scan and read “‘Installation complete, status field ready.’ My God, its already weaponized.” Just then, Syd hears the door and sees that it starting to open. Marshall calls out “Syd?” Sydney picks up a box-cutter and then kicks the door at the guard as he enters the room, causing him to drop his pistol. She pulls him backwards by his left shoulder and presses the box cutter against his neck. Marshall calls out in concern “Syd? Syd are you okay?” Sydney interrogates the man “Operation Hawkeye, where’s it being shipped out of? Tell me!” The guard replies defiantly “No!” Meanwhile, security chief Gauster traces the owner of Sydney’s access card, reading from the computer screen “Sam Houser.” Gauster radios his security guards “Breach initiated by Sam Houser. Club level employee. All units locate and detain him!” Sydney hears the announcement through the guard’s radio and realises that she’s put Sam’s life in jeopardy. She impatiently tells her captive “It wasn’t a yes or no question. The name of the shipping yard.” She presses the blade harder against his neck, drawing blood.” The guard replies “Delongpre Shipping.” Syd then knocks him out with a right elbow strike to the head. Marshall calls out “Syd are you okay?”
Back in the security room, Gauster radios his men “We’re going in” and leaves the room. One of the guards says “Let’s get him.” Gauster and two henchmen hurry through a sub-basement corridor, past the room where Sydney is hiding behind a door. After they pass, Syd steps into the hall and heads in the opposite direction. She com-links to Marshall “I’m okay.” Marshall sighs in relief and says “Be careful okay?” As she walks down a corridor, headed for an alternate way back to the first floor, Syd asks “What do you have?” Marshall checks the computer records “Houser, Samuel David. Living for half a year in Austria on a student visa. Odd jobs ... Owes money on some overdue movie rentals. Other than that, he’s just a guy.”
Back up on the club floor, Sam is standing in front of the bar, working. Gauster and his men arrive on the floor and begin looking for him. Syd arrives on the floor from the opposite end of the club near the bar and looks for Sam too. She spots him nearby and goes up to him with a smile, saying “Hey.” Sam replies “Hey” in surprise. She urges “Let’s get out of here.” He replies in confusion “Uhh, but you said you had a boyfriend, and I thought...” Seeing Gauster and a henchman getting closer, Syd interrupts “A girl can change her mind, right?” Sam replies in confusion “Uhm, I don’t get off for, like another hour, but you can wait for me at the bar, or I could...” Seeing that Gauster is about to spot Sam, Syd kisses him, hiding his face with her head. She says in an assertive tone “If you don’t leave with me right now, you will regret it!” Sam smiles and says breathlessly “All right, well, uh we could slip right out the back door...” Syd replies “You took the words right out of my mouth” glancing at Gauster still searching for Sam. Sam quickly leads Syd to the back storage room without them being spotted. As Sydney slides the door shut, she hears Gauster say to a henchman “Go check over there” pointing away from them.
Daytime at the APO Briefing Room, Nadia com-links to Syd “Delongpre shipping is 30 miles outside of Salzburg.” It is nighttime in Salzburg as Syd and Sam are descending an outdoor staircase to a pedestrian tunnel. She com-links back “I have an in-country contact.” Sloane com-links her “Use him. Have him supply you for the mission. We need to secure the weapon before it leaves port.” Think that they’re on a date, Sam says to Syd “Hey, if we cross over to Filton I know a great wine bar.” Syd turns towards him and replies “I’m sorry I’m on the phone with my sister” and points to her left hand pressing against her ear. Sam asks “Where’s the phone?” Syd doesn’t answer him and resumes talking to Nadia through her com-link “We have another situation, a civilian. Korjev’s team tagged him as my accomplice. I can’t leave him.” Sloane tells her “Pass him off to your contact. We’ll have him reestablished stateside by the weekend.” Seeing that she has ended her conversation, Sam marvels “That cell(phone) is insane. The guy at the store told me mine was the smallest. I knew he was jobbing (lying to) me. Sydney stops and turns to face him, saying regretfully “Sam...” Sam replies “Yeah?” Syd continues “There’s something I have to tell you.” He replies pessimistically “You’re having second thoughts.” Sydney shakes her head, saying “It’s not about that.” Sam says “If it’s about your boyfriend, let me just say...” Syd interrupts “Forget about the boyfriend.” Sam replies “Well, maybe we could just go back to my place and talk then. It would be nice to have a normal conversation, if you don’t mind a mess.” Sydney is exasperated and says “Sam!” The smile on his face fades and Sam replies softly “Yeah.” She continues “You can never go back to your place.” Sam looks at her dismayed and says “What?” Syd explains “Listen to me. Your bosses at the club are bad men. I was there tonight to stop them from doing a bad thing.” Shaking his head in confusion, Sam replies “Wait a minute. I’m...” Sydney continues “I needed your access card and I took it. And now they think we work together.” Sam checks and finds that his card is missing. He responds “Work together? What ... what about Beef on ... Who the hell are you?” She tells him “I need you to trust me right now.” Sam raises his eyebrows in disbelief and says “Oh, is that what you need? Okay, that’s good, because I got to get back to work so I can get away from the mind games.” He turns and heads back to work, but Syd gets in his way and says “Wait!” Sam moans. She asserts “If you go back there, they will kill you.” He stares and then realises “You’re serious?” Syd assures him “But if you stick with me, I promise I’ll protect you. We have ways of handling these situations.” Sam asks “Who’s ‘we’?” Syd gets a regretful expression and replies “I can’t tell you that.” Sam points out “Hold on. You’ve already lied to me once. So how do I know you’re not one of the bad guys?” Sydney explains “If I was one of the bad guys ... You’d already be dead.” Sam’s expression of doubt fades as he realises that is true.
Daytime in San Diego, a man in a wheelchair says “Thanks, Joe” as an employee hands him a baluster in woodworking shop. The man examines the workmanship and then wheels to a workbench. Just then Vaughn walks in and tells him “Hi, ah ... I’m looking for someone ... Frank Murdoch. Do you know him?” The man in the wheelchair replies “Nope ... Never heard of him.” Vaughn tells him “Well, this shop’s registered to his name.” The man looks at Vaughn and says “What are you? A cop?” Vaughn replies “No, it’s a personal matter regarding my father.” The man turns away to resume his work, so Vaughn says “Tell you what...” as he writes him a note “If you ever get your memory back, tell him that Michael Vaughn’s looking for him.” Vaughn tears the sheet from his notepad and drops it on the workbench. Vaughn adds “That’s my number. Thanks for your help” and starts to walk away. The man then asks “You really Bill Vaughn’s kid?” Vaughn stops and returns, saying “Yeah.” The man is Frank Murdoch.
Murdoch hands Michael a photo of six men dressed in military fatigues and plain clothes, saying “That’s your dad, in the middle. That’s me on the right. Everyone else is dead.” Vaughn looks up from the photo and asks in astonishment “What, you think that he’s still alive?” Frank replies “Well, I hope not” reaching for the photo and setting it back into a box of mementos. Vaughn asks him “When was the last time you saw him?” Murdoch replies “The Falkland Conflict. We were supposed to lead a team of locals to secure a British position. Our men were ambushed ... and Bill didn’t even flinch. I broke command, charged in to defend our men, and the next thing I know, my legs went numb. He shot me in the back. I don’t remember hitting the ground, but I remember lying there, looking up at him completely paralysed, and he just stared down at me, lit up a cigarette and walked away.” Vaughn shakes his head in disbelief. Frank continues “That’s the last I ever saw him.” Vaughn replies “I can’t believe that’s true.” Murdoch replies “Yeah, well, if he’s till alive, I’ll give you one piece of advice: Don’t turn your back on him.” Vaughn looks at him and then down in sadness.
Back in Salzburg, Sydney walks into a telephone booth and checks the telephone number of an personal advertisement taped on the side. She dials the number using the payphone. Sam asks her “Who are you calling?” Sydney smirks to indicate that she can’t tell him. He realises what she means and says “Oh, right, right, right. Sorry, my bad.” A man answers the phone and says “Good evening.” Sydney tells him “Phoenix inquiring about a late night snack.” The maître d’hôtel (head waiter) replies “And how many will we be serving?” Syd replies “Two. One in house special and the other will be ordering off the menu.” The head waiter asks “When will you be joining us?” Syd replies “As soon as possible.” The maître d’ responds “I’ll make sure the table is ready.” Sydney says “Thank you” and hangs up the phone. As Syd steps out of the phone booth, Sam says to her “Let me guess, that wasn’t a real restaurant.” Back in the restaurant, the maître d’ telephones someone. A man answers the phone, saying “Hello?” The head waiter informs him “I’ll have them for you shortly.” The man on the other end of the phone is Gauster, who says “Good. I assure you Mr. Tauber, Sasha Korjev will be made aware of you allegiance.” The treacherous maître d’ replies subserviently “That is all that I ask.”
Daytime in Angola, Jack walks up to a group of militiamen in the back of a pickup truck and says to the leader wearing the red beret “I’m looking for the rug merchant” in Portugese. A militiaman comes up from behind and takes the money from Jack’s wallet. Jack continues to explain to the leader “His shop is 60 kilometres up the Rio Bantu.” The man in the red beret walks behind Jack and then rifle butts the back of his knee to knock him to his knees. A sack is placed over his head and then Jack gets thrown into the back of the old truck. The men get into the truck and drive off.
Back in Salzburg near some warehouses, Sam Houser and Syd are waiting, seated on some wooden planks. Sam rubs his hands nervously and asks Syd “When are they coming?” Syd replies assuringly “It should be soon, Sam.” Sam stands up and tells Sydney “I’m not stupid, okay? I understand what happens in the witness protection program. I get shipped off, to some boring suburb. They pick a name right out of the Episcopalian Registry.” Syd looks at him in quiet sympathy. Sam then realises “I don’t get to see my family anymore. You think my mother’s going to be able to handle that?” Syd assures him “When I know everything’s safe, I’ll let her know you’re okay.” Sam chuckles at the irony and says “You know what the real p*sser of this whole thing is? Is I came here to pump some thunder through my veins. Try to find some inspiration. Maybe take a shot at writing something ... Didn’t happen ... Just ... drank a lot of beer.” Syd smiles and then hearing an approaching vehicle, says “Here we go.” She rises to her feet and stands next to Sam. The maître d’ exits a SUV truck and greets Syd warmly “Agent Bristow! So good to see you again” and kisses her on each cheek. Looking at Sam, the man says to her “Is this the cargo?” Syd nods and says “This is Sam, yeah.” The head waiter says enthusiastically “Well, we’ll have him whitewashed within the hour. Come please. No worries.” As the man leads Sydney towards his SUV, he tells her “Your supplies are in the vehicle. Syd spots the silhouette of someone hiding in the back seat of the SUV as the maître d’ walks her to the vehicle. She asks “You have a weapon for me?” The treacherous waiter replies “Of course, my dear. But let’s get out of the cold first, hmm?” As the maître d’ approaches the open driver’s side door, Syd wraps her left arm around the man’s neck to use him as a human shield and shoots through the back door window, killing the would-be ambusher. Sam backs away, dumbfounded. The maître d’ elbows Syd in the head, rocking her backwards, but she’s able to block his follow up punch. Sydney immediately counterattacks, delivering a right uppercut (punch) which snaps his head back, a left punch to the gut, and then a rising right elbow to the head. The man falls back against the truck so Syd smashes the door against him three times, knocking him out. Syd walks up to Sam and says “We need to get out of here. We’re not safe.” Sam is traumatised and shakes his head as he says “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Syd says forcefully “Sam! Take my hand. We have to go.” Sam points at the maître d’ and says “Look at what you did to him.” Sydney explains “We just got blindsided, and we dealt with it. But that, that doesn’t meant that we give up. It doesn’t change who we are ... I’m on your side ... I’m not going to lie to you, Sam. I’m not going to have the supplies I was counting on. I can’t promise you how this thing is going to turn out.” Sam turns his head in exasperation and says “What, you don’t have any backup?” Syd replies “I’m it ... I need you to think. Do you know any back ways to the Delongpre Shipping Yards?” Sam thinks for a moment and replies “I mean ... Yeah, you could take the Metro. Why?” Sydney reluctantly explains “The people who are after us have a weapon they shouldn’t have. I want to take it from them ... before they use it and people die.” Sam thinks for a few seconds and then says reluctantly “Let’s go to the Metro.” Syd turns and heads towards the SUV, but then Sam calls out “Hey, hold on ...You do understand that I don’t have any skills ... in the physical sense.” Syd nods and says “It’s okay. I got you. Come on.” She leads him by the arm.
In Angola, Sasha Kovjev descends the stairs from his compound, followed by two bodyguards as the pickup truck arrives. A militiamen wearing a green cap says to Jack in Bantu “This is your stop” and leads him from the truck. Korjev orders a militiaman in Bantu “Remove his hood” and “Untie his hands.” Sasha is shocked to see that it is old friend Jack. Korjev asks the men “Did this man carry identification?” The militia leader in the red beret replies “Yes sir.” Sasha says impatiently with his voice increasing with anger “And do you know who he is? Do you know who he is!” The man in the red beret apologises “Sir, I didn’t know...” Korjev is outraged that the man didn’t realise who Jack was. Sasha grabs a pistol from a bodyguard and shoots the man in the knee. Korjev announces in English to his henchmen “You strike this man (Jack), you strike me in the heart! Understand?” Sasha walks up to Jack, smiles broadly and says warmly “Jack, my dear friend!” Jack replies “Hello Sasha.”
Korjev and Jack walk along the long veranda in front of the compound, with Sasha saying “I apologise for that scene outside. I’ve always remembered what you taught me ‘Treat your men like children. Give them rope to become their own men. But if they make mistakes, hang them with it!’” Jack notes “I’d say my lessons have served you well.” Sasha says “I’d ask how you managed to find me, but I know you too well” as he stops at the entrance to he house. Jack says to his former protege “You can rest assured. You’re well insulated.” Korjev explains “I do what is necessary to stay alive. After all, I don’t have you or the CIA to watch my back anymore.” Jack takes note at hearing that and listens carefully as Sasha continues with a cryptic smile “I must say I was shocked at how abruptly our association ended. One day we are working together, arming a rebellion. The next, you’re gone.” Jack explains “My mandate changed.” Korjev says cautiously “Yet here you are ... Why are you here, Jack.” Jack explains “I’m entering the private sector.” Sasha reacts with surprise and fascination as Jack continues “Now that I’m out from under their watchful eye, I was hoping that we could talk business.” Korjev is astounded and then looks pleased as he says “It would be my honour to work with you. Just then his a cellphone rings, so Sasha says “Excuse me” and steps away to answer the call, saying “Yes?” The call is from Gauster who says “The delivery of the package is proceeding on schedule.” Korjev replies “Keep me posted” and hangs up. Getting back to his former mentor, Sasha says proudly “Jack, I want to show you my zoo.” Jack smiles and chuckles “It was a dusty ride” politely declining the invitation. Korjev says sympathetically “Of course, forgive me.” A broad smile comes to Sasha’s face as he says “I have an 18 year old, single malt (whiskey) that should remedy that, huh?” Jack smiles and says “Excellent.” Korjev opens the door for Jack and they enter the compound.
Inside, Sasha says “Jack, I’d like you to meet my wife, Lani.” Jack says “Pleasure” as the Angolan woman steps up to meet him and shakes hands. Lani smiles broadly and says “The Jack?” to her husband. Korjev replies “The One!” She is delighted to meet Jack and says “Then the pleasure is all mine! I hope you’ll be staying a while. I’d like to get to know the man that my husband talks about.” Jack replies “That’s very kind, but I’m not certain how long I can stay.” Lani replies “Well, dinner at least. I’ll see that the staff prepares something wonderful. Truly, it’s so good to finally meet you!” Jack replies politely “You too.” Lani then says “I need to steal Sasha away from you for just a moment.” Jack replies “Certainly.” Korjev tells Jack “Make yourself comfortable in my office. First door on the right.” Lani takes Sasha by the hand and walks away with him.
Jack enters the office and closes the door. He sees a bottle of whiskey and two decanters on a silver tray on the desk. As Jack walks to the seat, he finds a framed photo on his desk. He picks it up and sees that it that it is a picture of Korjev and he, dressed in camouflage fatigues and wearing bush hats. Jack sets it back down, then pulls a length of piano wire from his sleeve. He looks at his reflection in the wall mirror as he prepares it for use as a garrote.
Daytime at the Delongpre Shipping Yards, a radio controlled model helicopter is being wheeled into a warehouse on a cart by Gauster and a henchman. Sydney and Sam approach the warehouse door cautiously from the left side of a parked van. Sam asks her “Can you tell what it is?” Syd replies “UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Assault Chopper.” Sam comments “It’s kind of small” as if unimpressed, so Sydney informs him “They customized it.” Sam asks “What?” so Syd continues to explain “The biometric targeting system; it’s in the chopper. Once that thing locks onto a target, there’s no hiding.” Sam says “So that thing kills people.” Sydney looks at the van parked next to them and asks Sam “Can you drive this thing?” Sam says “Yeah”, so Syd tells him “Remember when you said you wanted to pump some thunder into your veins? You’re about to get your chance. I’ll get the weapon. You drive the van into the warehouse. Pick me up in 3 minutes. Syd cautiously enters the warehouse and Sam enters the van.
Inside the warehouse, Sydney hides behind a stack of boxes to see Gauster say to a henchman “Don’t touch that (the UAV). I’ll be in my office.” She waits until after Gauster leaves and then whacks the henchman with a crowbar. She takes the pistol from the unconscious man. Meanwhile Sam finds the keys to the van under the window shade. He inserts the key key into the ignition and tells himself “You can do this Sam. Just ... stay cool, man.” As Sydney examines the unmanned weapon, the device biometrically scans her face. She is unaware that Gauster is entering her as the target. From inside his office, the computer screen displays ‘Target Acquired’ just as Sam drives into the warehouse as arranged, crashing through boxes. Sam opens the passenger door for Syd and tells her “Get in!” She tells him “Here. Take this” and gives him the henchman’s handgun. Sam takes weapon and makes a distasteful expression as he examines it. Gauster sees Sydney hand her pistol to Sam from inside his office, so hurries back to his laptop computer and activates the Attack program. Sydney is about to pick up the helicopter when its pair of miniguns swivel upward towards her and the rotors begin to turn. Sydney looks in disbelief and jumps back from it. The electrically driven barrels of the miniguns begin to rotate, signalling that it is about to fire. She dives to the floor avoiding the gunfire. As the UAV takes off, Syd warns Sam “Get down. Stay inside (the van). Syd runs and turns at every corner of the warehouse shelves to avoid being target locked by the automated tracking program. The helicopter loses track of Sydney when she squeezes between two closely spaced shelves, so it flies off parallel to the aisle where she is running and fire through the shelving. Syd turns at the next aisle where the UAV loses track of her again.
Sam, meanwhile, spots Gauster with a pistol walking towards the van. Gauster spots his fallen henchman and rushes forward to inspect the van, but it is empty. As he leaves to hunt for Sydney, Sam walks out from behind the van when he had taken cover and begins following him.
As Gauster walks past Sydney’s hiding spot behind some boxes on a shelf, she is surprised to find Sam is shooting at him. Sam wildly fires 4 shots at Gauster, but they all miss him. Gauster advances at the terrified Sam and shoots him in the left biceps. Syd leaps out of her hiding spot and slams Gauster against some boxes. The UAV emerges from around a corner and reacquires target lock on her. Sydney spins the shocked Gauster in front of her as a human shield. The UAV machine guns Gauster, who falls back dead on top of Sydney, knocking her on her back. The UAV’s identifies Sydney’s face and then Gauster’s bullet riddled torso, which gives off a flatline EKG. To its computer logic, Sydney’s face and the dead body on top must be hers, so the UAV displays indicates ‘Target Eliminated’ and flies off to its platform. Sydney rises after the helicopter leaves to check on Sam, who is writhing on the floor. Seeing that Syd is okay, he jokes “I missed.” Sydney says in relief “I noticed.” Sam tilts his head up to look at Gauster and says in disbelief “That guy was my boss ... And he shot me!” He chuckles and wheezes “It doesn’t hurt!” Syd replies “It will soon” and examines his wound, causing Sam to groan “Oh, oh.” He looks bravely at her and says “We did it, huh? We saved the world.” Syd smiles “Something like that” and helps him get up.
Back in Angola, Sasha enters his office and closes the door. Jack compliments him “She’s lovely, your wife.” Korjev smiles and says “Indeed. We just found out ... She’s pregnant.” Jack pauses for a moment, then says “Congratulations.” Sasha reaches for two shot glasses and says “I’ll be honest with you. When we first saw the heartbeat, I was scared. I thought, what kind of father will I be? But seeing you here, I’m reminded of the tools you’ve given me.” Korjev pours two glasses of the whiskey that he talked about and continues “The tools of being a man.” They toast and drink. Jack replies “I gave you the tools. You decided how to use them.” Sasha notes seriously “There was a time, Jack, when we were both working for the higher purpose. But our goals were not the same.” He says ominously “That became clear when you and your agency decided to abandon me ... I realised on that day how naive I’d been. I had no option but to pick myself up, stay on course. Because that is the man that you taught me to be.” After a moment of silence, Jack clasps him on the right shoulder in admiration and paternal friendship. Sasha voice returns to its normal tone as he turns away and says to his mentor “I know that there are some in your government that see my business as a form of betrayal.” Before he can say another word, Jack reaches over his head with the piano wire and garrotes him from behind, saying “You betrayed ME!” He has a look of regret as he stares at the lifeless body. Jack exits Sasha’s office and tells a patrolling militiaman “Mr. Korjev asked not to be disturbed. He’ll be out shortly ... I need a car. I need to go to town.”
Nighttime at the APO. As Vaughn walks near Weiss’s desk, his friend calls out “Hey.” Vaughn replies “Hey”in return. Weiss asks him “When’d you get back?” Vaughn replies “About an hour ago” and stops to talk. Weiss asks quietly “Did you find Frank Murdoch?” Vaughn tells him “Nah, I couldn’t track him down.” Tilting his head back, Weiss gives him a sceptical look. Just then, Nadia arrives and asks Weiss “Ready? We should go.” Nadia explains to Vaughn “We’re going to the movies. Do you want to come?” He replies ‘Oh, no thanks. Not tonight.” Seeing that Weiss looks like he wants to say something to Vaughn, Nadia asks “Is it important, we don’t have to go. Before Weiss can reply, Vaughn insists “Oh, no, no, no. You guys, you guys go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Weiss reluctantly agrees, saying “All right.” Nadia smiles and says “Good night” to Vaughn. As they leave, Weiss wraps his right arm around Nadia’s waist. Vaughn sighs at having to deceive his best friend.
Daytime in a sports arena, Sam is sitting alone in an aisle seat in the stands when Sydney comes down the stairs to talk with him. He has his bandaged left arm in a sling and looks happy to see her, greeting her softly “Hey.” Syd sits next to him and Sam looks at her expectantly. After a few moments of looking at her surroundings, she tells him “I spoke to my people. They spoke to people ... It’s safe for you to go home.” Sam nods and then looking around, announces “I think that I’m done here (with Salzburg). He and Sydney both smile and chuckle. Sam continues “It’s time for me to move on.” He muses “Must kill you...” Syd looks at him seriously, not sure of what he means. Sam continues “You get to do all these crazy things, and ... see these amazing places. You gotta keep it to yourself.” Sydney muses for a few seconds and then says “You know what? It’s not so bad ... It gives people like us something in common.” Sam is pleased and chuckles “People like us, huh?” nodding happily that Syd included him as a spy. Sydney’s smile fade and is replaced by a bit of sadness. Her mouth opens as if she wants to tell him something, but she can’t find the words and sighs instead. She looks away to compose herself, then looks at him again to tell him something, but once again, she can only sigh. Sydney can’t express herself in words, so she smiles and then starts to leave. Sam stops her and says optimistically “Hey ... I’ll see you around the globe!” Syd replies wistfully “Goodbye Sam” and gives him an affectionate smile, then leaves. It seems like both wish that they could stay together longer.
Sometime later, it is nighttime in Los Angeles. Sydney is entering the APO through the access tunnel when she sees Jack on his way out. Syd says “Hey dad. I heard that you located Korjev.” Jack replies “Yes, I did.” Sydney continues “Sloane said that he was taken in a standoff. Were you there?” Jack tells her the half-truth “I saw it play out.” Syd pauses at the answer and then asks “(Are you) heading home?” Jack replies “Yeah, I’m going to grab some dinner first.” She nods and says “Okay. Goodnight.” Jack smiles and replies “Goodnight” softly then heads towards the tunnel. But as Jack is leaving, Sydney gets a tentative look and turns to call out “Dad? Jack turns with a questioning expression. Syd offers hopefully “ I’m kind of hungry myself, if you wouldn’t mind the company. Jack asks “What about your report?” Syd replies “It’ll keep.” Jack grins and she grins in return. As they walk off towards the secret door, Syd wraps her left arm around his right arm in a rare display of affection. As the secret door opens Jack puts a gentle hand on her back as they exit the APO.
END
3/16/2005
Summary by superintelligentone aka SIO
Nighttime in Paris, France, Sydney enters a chic restaurant as an elegant woman dressed in black evening wear. She has a curly, auburn coloured wig and is wearing a prosthetic nose. The Maitre d’ greets her “Bon soir, Madame (Good evening, Madam).” Syd provides her name “Marie Gerard” for the man to check against the reservations list. Seeing her name on the list, the Maitre d’ announces “La table est prête (the table is ready)” and escorts her to her table. Vaughn is sitting at the bar sipping a martini, watching her, providing backup. Sydney orders “Un martini. Séche. Quatre olives (A martini. Dry. Four olives).” Vaughn com-links “She's in position. No sign of Connelly.” Outside the restaurant, inside a surveillance van, Dixon com-links in response “He'll reveal himself.” The Maitre d’ returns with the dry martini, presenting it by saying “Madame.” Sydney replies “Merci (Thanks).” She removes the four olives out of the glass and puts them on the table. Vaughn informs Dixon “She just made the announcement.” Seeing the four olive signal, the contact, Connelly walks up to Sydney and says the passphrase “Il est trop tard pour une femme être ici tout seul (It's too late for a woman to be in here all alone).” Syd responds with the counterphrase “Non plus dangereux ici que Bangladesh (No more dangerous here than Bangladesh).” Connelly nods, looks off to the side, and then sits down across from her. He comments in English “I thought you might not come.” Sydney coolly responds in English “You underestimate me already.” The man comments “Well, I almost didn't come.” Syd responds “Why is that? Crisis of conscience?” Connelly replies arrogantly “I thought I might find a buyer willing to pay more.” She says impassively “I am not here for small talk, Monsieur Connelly. Are you selling or no?” then slipping her martini. Connelly pauses and then says “I presume ... you brought the down payment.” Sydney smiles slightly and gives him look that conveys that was a ridiculous question to ask her. Just then a tough looking man wearing a tan leather jacket enters the dining area. Vaughn immediately takes notice and becomes more suspicious when he takes a table near Syd’s. He com-links Dixon “We may have a possible third party. Sending you a visual Outrigger” and sends a camera phone picture for Dixon to check on. Dixon replies “Got it, searching for a match” as he runs a facial database comparison scan on his computer. Meanwhile, Connelly asks Syd “So, what are your plans ... with your new purchase?” Sydney says impatiently “Monsieur Connelly, where ... is ... the chip? and then takes a sip of red wine. Connelly shows that he has the chip hidden in the false bottom of his wine bottle, saying “This is my way out.” Meanwhile, Vaughn com-links Dixon “Anything, Outrigger?” Dixon says impatiently to the computer “Come on ...” The computer search ends with the words “No Match Found” so Dixon com-links back “No matches Shotgun.” Connelly rationalises “With this sale, I can buy a new life. A house on the Mediterranean. Maybe, get a dog...” Just then a gunshot rings out and blood splatters the inside of his eyeglasses - Connally has been shot in the back of the head. Even though she is horrified by his sudden death, Syd immediately dives to her left for cover. The man in the tan jacket fires a second shot which shatters a flower vase. Vaughn calls out “We're under fire!” The gunman turns and fires a shot at Vaughn, who ducks for cover. Sydney falls to the floor onto her chest, causing her to groan. Seeing his opportunity, the man runs up and takes the chip. As gunman runs towards the kitchen, Vaughn rises to his feet and shoots him in the back of his shoulder, dropping him to the kitchen floor. The wounded man crawls to grab a chef’s knife just as Vaughn enter the kitchen with their guns drawn. In French, Vaughn orders him “Laissez le couteau! (put down the knife).” Sydney pulls her pistol on him and orders “Freeze!” The man pushes himself back towards a wall to try to get away. As he tries to rise to leave, he finds Dixon blocking his escape route, pointing his pistol at him too. The wounded man slumps against the wall and cries out “He won't get me ... my family. I'm not going to be made into an example of! I won't have it!” He weeps as he raises the knife up to his neck “My wife! My kids!” Syd orders him “Put down the knife!” but the man slits his own throat, causing her to look away in revulsion.
Sometime later at the APO, Sloane is in his office explaining to Syd “Marshall ran analysis of the memory chip recovered in Paris. The downloaded information confirms that a biometric targeting device is in fact being developed at a secure location in Austria.” Jack adds “Attached to a weapons system, this device would facilitate the targeting of an individual based solely on a DNA sample or a biometric scan.” Syd comments “A next-gen sniper.” Sloane says “Precisely. That's why I want you a plane to Salzburg by nightfall. Standard retrieval operation.” Puzzled by the lack of explanation of the Paris gunman, Syd asks them “But ... the man who killed himself?” Sloane explains “He was sent there to intercept the sale. When the assassin realized that the mission was a failure, he killed himself to protect his family from his employer ... Sasha Korjev.” As he says the name, “Sloane turns, looking at Jack. Hearing the name disturbs Jack, which Sydney notices, so she comments “I don't know that name.” With a slightly guilty expression, Jack comments “Korjev is a monster. He's run arms to rebel forces in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Angola ... And holds a very tight leash over his men. Amongst Korjev's tactics is leveraging the live's of their families.” Sydney says “And it's Korjev's network that's developing the device.” Sloane replies “Yes, that's correct. But now that we have confirmation that Korjev is alive, I'm tasking Dixon to locate his whereabouts and report to CIA proper. They'll send a tactical team to secure his arrest.” Jack interrupts “I have a liaison at the Angolan Chancery in D.C.. Put Dixon on something else.” Sloane turns in and says in amazement “You want to take this over?” Jack stares Arvin in the eyes as he says with a slight nod “For the sake of expedience.” Syd looks at them suspiciously and says “What am I missing?” Sloane gives in to the request, saying “Okay Jack ... It's yours.” Jack gives him a small nod of thanks. Turning to Sydney, Sloane says “Good luck in Salzburg.” Sydney looks at her father with suspicion. Jack has a guilty expression.
In the Briefing Room, Weiss and Vaughn are talking discretely in front of the wall of monitors. Weiss urges “I'm telling you, this is a mistake. You got to bring the team in on this one.” Vaughn rejects the advice saying “No way, not until I find out more.” Weiss offers “Alright, let's just assume that your father did write those journals.” Vaughn points out “I know my father's handwriting. Things were referenced, things he couldn't know about. I know it sounds crazy but...” Weiss interrupts with the wisecrack “The (Boston Red) Soxs winning the (baseball’s World) Series is crazy. What we're talking about doing here is insane. Vaughn points out “The nurse who led me to those journals, she disappeared. She was a plant.” Weiss agrees, saying “Fine, so someone's trying to manipulate you.” Vaughn wonders “What if my father is still alive? What if it's his way of trying to contact me?” Weiss turns to face him and says quietly while checking no one can hear them “Okay. Okay, but why now? Why let you and your mother believe that he's been dead for 25 years?” Vaughn replies “I don't know, that's what I'm gonna find out” and then starts to walk away. Weiss calls out “Hey” and hands him a slip of folded paper. Vaughn opens it and sees “ Paul Murdoch, 19217 Dove Avenue, San Diego, California, 92107" written down. He asks “What's this? Who's Frank Murdoch?” Weiss explains “The codename that you asked me to check in the journals. He's ex-Special Forces. Changed his name several times, finally settled on Frank Murdoch. He runs a furniture repair shop outside San Diego.” Fearing that others might know about the information, Vaughn asks “You didn't tell anyone else about this, did you?” Weiss expresses his annoyance by saying “Dude.” Still sceptical, Vaughn asks “Nadia?” Weiss is offended and expresses it by saying “Hey!” Vaughn looks sorry for doubting his best friend, saying “Thanks.” Weiss nods and looks puzzled at him as he walks away.
Sloane enters Jack's office where he is working on paperwork. Jack looks up expectantly, knowing what he is there to say. Sloane takes a seat and says in bemusement “The Angolan Chancery in D.C. ... Hmm ... Don't you think that's a bit thin, Jack?” Jack replies “You should've brought this to me first.” Sloane explains “The details of Sasha Korjev's mission are classified. As far is anyone is concerned, the assignment is merely to tag the location.” Jack points out “The CIA wants him assassinated.” Sloane explains “Which is why I felt it unfair to burden you with this. Dixon has the necessary experience.” Jack points out “With Dixon, it would have to be a distance hit. I'll be able to get close to Korjev.” Sloane says “Oh, I'm aware of that. And frankly, that concerns me.” Jack explains “I'll be fine ... Korjev should've been eliminated years ago.” He adds regretfully “When I had the chance.”
Nighttime in Madagascar, Jack enters a small bar, empty of customers. The bartender smiles in recognition and greets him with a trembling voice “Man, look at you. Back from the dead.” Jack walks up to the bar and greets the weasely man “Hello, Jimmy. You look awful.” The bartender Jimmy replies “I keep telling myself, green vegetables. Got to eat more of them” as he pours himself and Jack a shot of whiskey. He gives one to Jack and adds “But, you know how that is.” After they both touch glasses and drink, Jimmy asks nervously “So, um, Jack, uh ... You, um, come bearing gifts?” Jack places a satchel on the counter and says “Only the best.” He pulls out a portable DVD player and then a DVD case, explaining as he taps the case “This ... This was hard to find.” Jimmy licks his lips and rubs his hands together in anticipation. Jack puts the DVD in, plays it and turns it towards Jimmy to watch. Jack has a distasteful look as he watches Jimmy captivated at what we hear as a woman’s screams of torment as what sounds like an electric drill revs (or electric saw cutting)(and perhaps a baby’s crying in the background) are heard. Watching with perverse fascination, Jimmy's hands are moving as if he was touching the woman. He says in awe “Is this...? I thought it was just a rumour!” Jack slams the lid shut which causes Jimmy to wince as if he were in pain “Augh! huha, huha, ... Jack! ... huha ... ah What do you want?” Jack looks intensely at him and says “Information.” Jimmy replies quickly “Anything! Heh.” Jack demands “The protocol for contacting Sasha Korjev.” Jimmy's eager smile fades and says regretfully “Um ... Come on Jack. You know I can't!” Jack puts the DVD player back into his bag and says “I'm disappointed Jimmy. I thought you were a true connoisseur.” Jack turns and begins to walk away. Jimmy calls out “Seriously, man, that's, that’s just not right! Jack! Uh, please! If Korjev finds out it was me ... My life may not be worth much, huh. But whatever ... Still...” Jack continues to walk away, so Jimmy gives in “Okay!” Jack turns around and sees Jimmy say “I'll, uh ... I'll lay it out for you.”
In his lab, Marshall shows Sydney a cute home movie that he made of his son Mitchell, who is wearing a diaper and an antenna hat, walking on Mars, reaching for a little rocket. Marshall announces “One small step for Mitchell Flickman, one giant leap for mankind.” Sydney delights that baby Mitchell is so cute, saying “Look at those legs. Oh, he’s edible, he’s delicious.” Marshall jokes “Heh heh, I’ve taken many a chomp. Add a little salt and pepper. He’s the best. He makes it all worth it.” Getting back to the mission, Marshall says “Sorry, speaking of which -- Salzburg. Now, according to the memory chip, Korjev is storing the targeting system in the sub-basement of a discotheque that he owns, “The Club Felice” which officially begs the question: What is it with these guys and nightclubs?” He chuckles and Sydney smiles in amusement.
Sometime later in Salzburg, Austria in The Club Felice, Sydney who is dressed in a rancher’s jacket, sweater and jeans, is looking around the crowded floor from near the bar. In a flashback, she recalls Marshall briefing her “Korjev’s regional security chief is a Jeremiah Gauster. Gauster has instituted a security protocol based on access cards. You’ll need a Level 3 clearance to enter the belly of the building. Since the access card hardware is annoyingly difficult to duplicate, you’ll need to steal one from one of the nightclub employees (to get to the sub-basement).” Syd looks for an employee to steal their access card from, and sees that the waitresses only have Level 1 marked on the cards attached to their skirts. She spots a man clearing tables who is speaking German with an American accent and sees that he has a Level 3 access card attached to his apron. Sydney approaches him and says something in mangled German with her American accent with a shy, embarrassed smile. The man smiles and chuckles “Not bad ... Definitely in the ballpark.” Syd’s eyes widen and a big grin appears as she says in relief “Oh my gosh, thank you for being an American! I don’t think that I could bear mangling the language in front of one more local.” The American man replies with a grin “Shouldn’t feel bad. These people like to be offended. It’s their comfort zone.” Syd charms him by saying “Let me guess ... upstate New York.” The man is pleasantly surprised and says “Yeah, yeah, Rochester. How’d you know that?” She replies “I went to Buffalo State University. Undergrad(uate).” The man replies incredulously “Come on. Go Bengals (the school motto about their mascot). Sydney replies “Don’t even say that. It makes me want to cry. God I miss it so much. This time of year, me and my girlfriends should be grabbing two ‘Beef on Weck’ and a six-pack, you know, to...” Syd drops her purse as they are chatting and says in embarrassment “Oh, look at me!” As both stoop to pick it up, she continues “... root from the nose bleeds (the cheaper priced stadium seats that are so high up and so far from the playing field, people joke that the altitude gives them nose bleeds). There’s nothing like roast beef (sandwiches) and Pilsner (beer) in 30 degree (Fahrenheit) weather, you know what I mean?” Syd takes his access card clipped to his apron as they are stooped on the floor. They both stand back up, the worker smiling in fond recollections of similar experiences and says “Yeah”. But then one of his bosses calls out “Sam” and something in German about getting back to work. The man introduces himself “That’s me.” Sydney says his name “Sam.” Before going back to work, Sam says “Sorry I can’t help you with your drink. Barback (meaning that he is only a bartender’s helper/apprentice).” Syd waves her fingers goodbye as Sam leaves. She then has a flashback of Marshall in his lab saying “The good thing/bad thing about living in Austria? Smoking’s not prohibited. Ergo, you’ve just developed ... a smoking habit.” Marshall flips open the top of a pack of cigarettes and offers her one. Sydney replies “No thanks.” Marshall responds “Good answer. Just testing ... It is actually ... a mag strip encoder.” He shows the cluster of cigarettes are an electronic device and swipes a passcard through it, saying “Just slide it through here like so. It will analyse the access control algorithms, extrapolate the clearances and then reprogram the card to give you full access.” Back in the bar, Sydney is sitting at a table, using the device on Sam’s access card. From the back of the bar, Sam looks at her in interest. Having finished reprogramming the card, Syd puts the device back into the cigarette box just as Sam comes back, greeting her shyly “Hey.” Sydney turns to him in surprise and says “Sam!” Seeing that she is holding a pack of cigarettes, Sam asks “Do you need a light?” Syd replies “No ... Thank you. I was just looking...” The barback man apologies “Didn’t mean to scare you.” Syd pulls out what she was “looking for” and says “Good stuff ... Found it.” Sam sits down at her table and explains shyly “Uhm, so listen, ahh ... I never do this, really. But, uhm, I’ve been here for six months, and uh, I don’t really know anybody ... At least not anybody who knows about ‘Beef on Weck’. So, heh ...” Sydney smiles and turns away in embarrassment. Sam marvels “That smile, and those dimples are pretty much the greatest thing that I’ve ever seen. So I thought that if I didn’t come over and...” Realising that she has a mission to do, Syd regretfully says “I have a boyfriend.” Sam immediately says “Right, no right. Of course you do” in disappointment. Syd adds “But thank you.” He explains “(A) guy’s got to try.” Syd feels sorry for breaking Sam’s heart, then remembers she has to do her assignment and looks away saying “Where’s the bathroom?” Sam points and says “It’s uh, just, just...” Sydney leaves before he can finish, leaving Sam to make a disappointed expression at how she quickly she ran from him.
Sydney uses the access card to open the door to the basement and then heads down the stairs. Walking down the basement corridor, Syd com-links “Merlin? Merlin?” to Marshall. Back at APO, Marshall reaches for his headset, then putting it on replies “Okay, I got you Phoenix.” Sydney inserts the access card to the card reader next to the door to the sub-basement. The door unlocks so Syd com-links Marshall “Headed in” and enters the stairwell. Immediately, the security guards see on their computer screen that there is an unauthorised access to the sub-basement and Delta section is highlighted. Security chief Jeremiah Gauster responds “No one’s supposed to be down there. Run a sweep to Section Delta.” One man draws his pistol and goes to investigate. Gauster orders “Pull up all the employee access records ... Let’s find out who’s down there.” Sydney enters a work room and searches the desktop. Marshall com-links “What do you see?” Syd replies “Workstation’s cleared.” Looking around, Sydney sees something of interest and says “Hang on” and walks through a plastic room divider to another desk. Syd finds a file folder and com-links to Marshall that it is labelled “Status Report, Operation Hawkeye dated ... today.” Marshall tells her “Open it up.” Inside Sydney finds blank papers, so she announces “Nothing.” Realising that there is on reason for blank papers to be in the folder, Syd holds a sheet up to a desk lamp and she sees it is written with invisible ink. She announces “The reports embedded” and then looks towards a photocopier machine. She uses its intense scanning light to illuminate each sheet for easier reading than the desk lamp would. Syd reads aloud “‘Transport protocol enacted, delivery on schedule’ ... They moved the targeting device ... ‘Scheduled to leave the country at 06:00 hours.’” Marshall replies as he types into his computer “Okay, checking airfields and shipping yards.” Sydney continues to scan and read “‘Installation complete, status field ready.’ My God, its already weaponized.” Just then, Syd hears the door and sees that it starting to open. Marshall calls out “Syd?” Sydney picks up a box-cutter and then kicks the door at the guard as he enters the room, causing him to drop his pistol. She pulls him backwards by his left shoulder and presses the box cutter against his neck. Marshall calls out in concern “Syd? Syd are you okay?” Sydney interrogates the man “Operation Hawkeye, where’s it being shipped out of? Tell me!” The guard replies defiantly “No!” Meanwhile, security chief Gauster traces the owner of Sydney’s access card, reading from the computer screen “Sam Houser.” Gauster radios his security guards “Breach initiated by Sam Houser. Club level employee. All units locate and detain him!” Sydney hears the announcement through the guard’s radio and realises that she’s put Sam’s life in jeopardy. She impatiently tells her captive “It wasn’t a yes or no question. The name of the shipping yard.” She presses the blade harder against his neck, drawing blood.” The guard replies “Delongpre Shipping.” Syd then knocks him out with a right elbow strike to the head. Marshall calls out “Syd are you okay?”
Back in the security room, Gauster radios his men “We’re going in” and leaves the room. One of the guards says “Let’s get him.” Gauster and two henchmen hurry through a sub-basement corridor, past the room where Sydney is hiding behind a door. After they pass, Syd steps into the hall and heads in the opposite direction. She com-links to Marshall “I’m okay.” Marshall sighs in relief and says “Be careful okay?” As she walks down a corridor, headed for an alternate way back to the first floor, Syd asks “What do you have?” Marshall checks the computer records “Houser, Samuel David. Living for half a year in Austria on a student visa. Odd jobs ... Owes money on some overdue movie rentals. Other than that, he’s just a guy.”
Back up on the club floor, Sam is standing in front of the bar, working. Gauster and his men arrive on the floor and begin looking for him. Syd arrives on the floor from the opposite end of the club near the bar and looks for Sam too. She spots him nearby and goes up to him with a smile, saying “Hey.” Sam replies “Hey” in surprise. She urges “Let’s get out of here.” He replies in confusion “Uhh, but you said you had a boyfriend, and I thought...” Seeing Gauster and a henchman getting closer, Syd interrupts “A girl can change her mind, right?” Sam replies in confusion “Uhm, I don’t get off for, like another hour, but you can wait for me at the bar, or I could...” Seeing that Gauster is about to spot Sam, Syd kisses him, hiding his face with her head. She says in an assertive tone “If you don’t leave with me right now, you will regret it!” Sam smiles and says breathlessly “All right, well, uh we could slip right out the back door...” Syd replies “You took the words right out of my mouth” glancing at Gauster still searching for Sam. Sam quickly leads Syd to the back storage room without them being spotted. As Sydney slides the door shut, she hears Gauster say to a henchman “Go check over there” pointing away from them.
Daytime at the APO Briefing Room, Nadia com-links to Syd “Delongpre shipping is 30 miles outside of Salzburg.” It is nighttime in Salzburg as Syd and Sam are descending an outdoor staircase to a pedestrian tunnel. She com-links back “I have an in-country contact.” Sloane com-links her “Use him. Have him supply you for the mission. We need to secure the weapon before it leaves port.” Think that they’re on a date, Sam says to Syd “Hey, if we cross over to Filton I know a great wine bar.” Syd turns towards him and replies “I’m sorry I’m on the phone with my sister” and points to her left hand pressing against her ear. Sam asks “Where’s the phone?” Syd doesn’t answer him and resumes talking to Nadia through her com-link “We have another situation, a civilian. Korjev’s team tagged him as my accomplice. I can’t leave him.” Sloane tells her “Pass him off to your contact. We’ll have him reestablished stateside by the weekend.” Seeing that she has ended her conversation, Sam marvels “That cell(phone) is insane. The guy at the store told me mine was the smallest. I knew he was jobbing (lying to) me. Sydney stops and turns to face him, saying regretfully “Sam...” Sam replies “Yeah?” Syd continues “There’s something I have to tell you.” He replies pessimistically “You’re having second thoughts.” Sydney shakes her head, saying “It’s not about that.” Sam says “If it’s about your boyfriend, let me just say...” Syd interrupts “Forget about the boyfriend.” Sam replies “Well, maybe we could just go back to my place and talk then. It would be nice to have a normal conversation, if you don’t mind a mess.” Sydney is exasperated and says “Sam!” The smile on his face fades and Sam replies softly “Yeah.” She continues “You can never go back to your place.” Sam looks at her dismayed and says “What?” Syd explains “Listen to me. Your bosses at the club are bad men. I was there tonight to stop them from doing a bad thing.” Shaking his head in confusion, Sam replies “Wait a minute. I’m...” Sydney continues “I needed your access card and I took it. And now they think we work together.” Sam checks and finds that his card is missing. He responds “Work together? What ... what about Beef on ... Who the hell are you?” She tells him “I need you to trust me right now.” Sam raises his eyebrows in disbelief and says “Oh, is that what you need? Okay, that’s good, because I got to get back to work so I can get away from the mind games.” He turns and heads back to work, but Syd gets in his way and says “Wait!” Sam moans. She asserts “If you go back there, they will kill you.” He stares and then realises “You’re serious?” Syd assures him “But if you stick with me, I promise I’ll protect you. We have ways of handling these situations.” Sam asks “Who’s ‘we’?” Syd gets a regretful expression and replies “I can’t tell you that.” Sam points out “Hold on. You’ve already lied to me once. So how do I know you’re not one of the bad guys?” Sydney explains “If I was one of the bad guys ... You’d already be dead.” Sam’s expression of doubt fades as he realises that is true.
Daytime in San Diego, a man in a wheelchair says “Thanks, Joe” as an employee hands him a baluster in woodworking shop. The man examines the workmanship and then wheels to a workbench. Just then Vaughn walks in and tells him “Hi, ah ... I’m looking for someone ... Frank Murdoch. Do you know him?” The man in the wheelchair replies “Nope ... Never heard of him.” Vaughn tells him “Well, this shop’s registered to his name.” The man looks at Vaughn and says “What are you? A cop?” Vaughn replies “No, it’s a personal matter regarding my father.” The man turns away to resume his work, so Vaughn says “Tell you what...” as he writes him a note “If you ever get your memory back, tell him that Michael Vaughn’s looking for him.” Vaughn tears the sheet from his notepad and drops it on the workbench. Vaughn adds “That’s my number. Thanks for your help” and starts to walk away. The man then asks “You really Bill Vaughn’s kid?” Vaughn stops and returns, saying “Yeah.” The man is Frank Murdoch.
Murdoch hands Michael a photo of six men dressed in military fatigues and plain clothes, saying “That’s your dad, in the middle. That’s me on the right. Everyone else is dead.” Vaughn looks up from the photo and asks in astonishment “What, you think that he’s still alive?” Frank replies “Well, I hope not” reaching for the photo and setting it back into a box of mementos. Vaughn asks him “When was the last time you saw him?” Murdoch replies “The Falkland Conflict. We were supposed to lead a team of locals to secure a British position. Our men were ambushed ... and Bill didn’t even flinch. I broke command, charged in to defend our men, and the next thing I know, my legs went numb. He shot me in the back. I don’t remember hitting the ground, but I remember lying there, looking up at him completely paralysed, and he just stared down at me, lit up a cigarette and walked away.” Vaughn shakes his head in disbelief. Frank continues “That’s the last I ever saw him.” Vaughn replies “I can’t believe that’s true.” Murdoch replies “Yeah, well, if he’s till alive, I’ll give you one piece of advice: Don’t turn your back on him.” Vaughn looks at him and then down in sadness.
Back in Salzburg, Sydney walks into a telephone booth and checks the telephone number of an personal advertisement taped on the side. She dials the number using the payphone. Sam asks her “Who are you calling?” Sydney smirks to indicate that she can’t tell him. He realises what she means and says “Oh, right, right, right. Sorry, my bad.” A man answers the phone and says “Good evening.” Sydney tells him “Phoenix inquiring about a late night snack.” The maître d’hôtel (head waiter) replies “And how many will we be serving?” Syd replies “Two. One in house special and the other will be ordering off the menu.” The head waiter asks “When will you be joining us?” Syd replies “As soon as possible.” The maître d’ responds “I’ll make sure the table is ready.” Sydney says “Thank you” and hangs up the phone. As Syd steps out of the phone booth, Sam says to her “Let me guess, that wasn’t a real restaurant.” Back in the restaurant, the maître d’ telephones someone. A man answers the phone, saying “Hello?” The head waiter informs him “I’ll have them for you shortly.” The man on the other end of the phone is Gauster, who says “Good. I assure you Mr. Tauber, Sasha Korjev will be made aware of you allegiance.” The treacherous maître d’ replies subserviently “That is all that I ask.”
Daytime in Angola, Jack walks up to a group of militiamen in the back of a pickup truck and says to the leader wearing the red beret “I’m looking for the rug merchant” in Portugese. A militiaman comes up from behind and takes the money from Jack’s wallet. Jack continues to explain to the leader “His shop is 60 kilometres up the Rio Bantu.” The man in the red beret walks behind Jack and then rifle butts the back of his knee to knock him to his knees. A sack is placed over his head and then Jack gets thrown into the back of the old truck. The men get into the truck and drive off.
Back in Salzburg near some warehouses, Sam Houser and Syd are waiting, seated on some wooden planks. Sam rubs his hands nervously and asks Syd “When are they coming?” Syd replies assuringly “It should be soon, Sam.” Sam stands up and tells Sydney “I’m not stupid, okay? I understand what happens in the witness protection program. I get shipped off, to some boring suburb. They pick a name right out of the Episcopalian Registry.” Syd looks at him in quiet sympathy. Sam then realises “I don’t get to see my family anymore. You think my mother’s going to be able to handle that?” Syd assures him “When I know everything’s safe, I’ll let her know you’re okay.” Sam chuckles at the irony and says “You know what the real p*sser of this whole thing is? Is I came here to pump some thunder through my veins. Try to find some inspiration. Maybe take a shot at writing something ... Didn’t happen ... Just ... drank a lot of beer.” Syd smiles and then hearing an approaching vehicle, says “Here we go.” She rises to her feet and stands next to Sam. The maître d’ exits a SUV truck and greets Syd warmly “Agent Bristow! So good to see you again” and kisses her on each cheek. Looking at Sam, the man says to her “Is this the cargo?” Syd nods and says “This is Sam, yeah.” The head waiter says enthusiastically “Well, we’ll have him whitewashed within the hour. Come please. No worries.” As the man leads Sydney towards his SUV, he tells her “Your supplies are in the vehicle. Syd spots the silhouette of someone hiding in the back seat of the SUV as the maître d’ walks her to the vehicle. She asks “You have a weapon for me?” The treacherous waiter replies “Of course, my dear. But let’s get out of the cold first, hmm?” As the maître d’ approaches the open driver’s side door, Syd wraps her left arm around the man’s neck to use him as a human shield and shoots through the back door window, killing the would-be ambusher. Sam backs away, dumbfounded. The maître d’ elbows Syd in the head, rocking her backwards, but she’s able to block his follow up punch. Sydney immediately counterattacks, delivering a right uppercut (punch) which snaps his head back, a left punch to the gut, and then a rising right elbow to the head. The man falls back against the truck so Syd smashes the door against him three times, knocking him out. Syd walks up to Sam and says “We need to get out of here. We’re not safe.” Sam is traumatised and shakes his head as he says “I’m not going anywhere with you.” Syd says forcefully “Sam! Take my hand. We have to go.” Sam points at the maître d’ and says “Look at what you did to him.” Sydney explains “We just got blindsided, and we dealt with it. But that, that doesn’t meant that we give up. It doesn’t change who we are ... I’m on your side ... I’m not going to lie to you, Sam. I’m not going to have the supplies I was counting on. I can’t promise you how this thing is going to turn out.” Sam turns his head in exasperation and says “What, you don’t have any backup?” Syd replies “I’m it ... I need you to think. Do you know any back ways to the Delongpre Shipping Yards?” Sam thinks for a moment and replies “I mean ... Yeah, you could take the Metro. Why?” Sydney reluctantly explains “The people who are after us have a weapon they shouldn’t have. I want to take it from them ... before they use it and people die.” Sam thinks for a few seconds and then says reluctantly “Let’s go to the Metro.” Syd turns and heads towards the SUV, but then Sam calls out “Hey, hold on ...You do understand that I don’t have any skills ... in the physical sense.” Syd nods and says “It’s okay. I got you. Come on.” She leads him by the arm.
In Angola, Sasha Kovjev descends the stairs from his compound, followed by two bodyguards as the pickup truck arrives. A militiamen wearing a green cap says to Jack in Bantu “This is your stop” and leads him from the truck. Korjev orders a militiaman in Bantu “Remove his hood” and “Untie his hands.” Sasha is shocked to see that it is old friend Jack. Korjev asks the men “Did this man carry identification?” The militia leader in the red beret replies “Yes sir.” Sasha says impatiently with his voice increasing with anger “And do you know who he is? Do you know who he is!” The man in the red beret apologises “Sir, I didn’t know...” Korjev is outraged that the man didn’t realise who Jack was. Sasha grabs a pistol from a bodyguard and shoots the man in the knee. Korjev announces in English to his henchmen “You strike this man (Jack), you strike me in the heart! Understand?” Sasha walks up to Jack, smiles broadly and says warmly “Jack, my dear friend!” Jack replies “Hello Sasha.”
Korjev and Jack walk along the long veranda in front of the compound, with Sasha saying “I apologise for that scene outside. I’ve always remembered what you taught me ‘Treat your men like children. Give them rope to become their own men. But if they make mistakes, hang them with it!’” Jack notes “I’d say my lessons have served you well.” Sasha says “I’d ask how you managed to find me, but I know you too well” as he stops at the entrance to he house. Jack says to his former protege “You can rest assured. You’re well insulated.” Korjev explains “I do what is necessary to stay alive. After all, I don’t have you or the CIA to watch my back anymore.” Jack takes note at hearing that and listens carefully as Sasha continues with a cryptic smile “I must say I was shocked at how abruptly our association ended. One day we are working together, arming a rebellion. The next, you’re gone.” Jack explains “My mandate changed.” Korjev says cautiously “Yet here you are ... Why are you here, Jack.” Jack explains “I’m entering the private sector.” Sasha reacts with surprise and fascination as Jack continues “Now that I’m out from under their watchful eye, I was hoping that we could talk business.” Korjev is astounded and then looks pleased as he says “It would be my honour to work with you. Just then his a cellphone rings, so Sasha says “Excuse me” and steps away to answer the call, saying “Yes?” The call is from Gauster who says “The delivery of the package is proceeding on schedule.” Korjev replies “Keep me posted” and hangs up. Getting back to his former mentor, Sasha says proudly “Jack, I want to show you my zoo.” Jack smiles and chuckles “It was a dusty ride” politely declining the invitation. Korjev says sympathetically “Of course, forgive me.” A broad smile comes to Sasha’s face as he says “I have an 18 year old, single malt (whiskey) that should remedy that, huh?” Jack smiles and says “Excellent.” Korjev opens the door for Jack and they enter the compound.
Inside, Sasha says “Jack, I’d like you to meet my wife, Lani.” Jack says “Pleasure” as the Angolan woman steps up to meet him and shakes hands. Lani smiles broadly and says “The Jack?” to her husband. Korjev replies “The One!” She is delighted to meet Jack and says “Then the pleasure is all mine! I hope you’ll be staying a while. I’d like to get to know the man that my husband talks about.” Jack replies “That’s very kind, but I’m not certain how long I can stay.” Lani replies “Well, dinner at least. I’ll see that the staff prepares something wonderful. Truly, it’s so good to finally meet you!” Jack replies politely “You too.” Lani then says “I need to steal Sasha away from you for just a moment.” Jack replies “Certainly.” Korjev tells Jack “Make yourself comfortable in my office. First door on the right.” Lani takes Sasha by the hand and walks away with him.
Jack enters the office and closes the door. He sees a bottle of whiskey and two decanters on a silver tray on the desk. As Jack walks to the seat, he finds a framed photo on his desk. He picks it up and sees that it that it is a picture of Korjev and he, dressed in camouflage fatigues and wearing bush hats. Jack sets it back down, then pulls a length of piano wire from his sleeve. He looks at his reflection in the wall mirror as he prepares it for use as a garrote.
Daytime at the Delongpre Shipping Yards, a radio controlled model helicopter is being wheeled into a warehouse on a cart by Gauster and a henchman. Sydney and Sam approach the warehouse door cautiously from the left side of a parked van. Sam asks her “Can you tell what it is?” Syd replies “UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Assault Chopper.” Sam comments “It’s kind of small” as if unimpressed, so Sydney informs him “They customized it.” Sam asks “What?” so Syd continues to explain “The biometric targeting system; it’s in the chopper. Once that thing locks onto a target, there’s no hiding.” Sam says “So that thing kills people.” Sydney looks at the van parked next to them and asks Sam “Can you drive this thing?” Sam says “Yeah”, so Syd tells him “Remember when you said you wanted to pump some thunder into your veins? You’re about to get your chance. I’ll get the weapon. You drive the van into the warehouse. Pick me up in 3 minutes. Syd cautiously enters the warehouse and Sam enters the van.
Inside the warehouse, Sydney hides behind a stack of boxes to see Gauster say to a henchman “Don’t touch that (the UAV). I’ll be in my office.” She waits until after Gauster leaves and then whacks the henchman with a crowbar. She takes the pistol from the unconscious man. Meanwhile Sam finds the keys to the van under the window shade. He inserts the key key into the ignition and tells himself “You can do this Sam. Just ... stay cool, man.” As Sydney examines the unmanned weapon, the device biometrically scans her face. She is unaware that Gauster is entering her as the target. From inside his office, the computer screen displays ‘Target Acquired’ just as Sam drives into the warehouse as arranged, crashing through boxes. Sam opens the passenger door for Syd and tells her “Get in!” She tells him “Here. Take this” and gives him the henchman’s handgun. Sam takes weapon and makes a distasteful expression as he examines it. Gauster sees Sydney hand her pistol to Sam from inside his office, so hurries back to his laptop computer and activates the Attack program. Sydney is about to pick up the helicopter when its pair of miniguns swivel upward towards her and the rotors begin to turn. Sydney looks in disbelief and jumps back from it. The electrically driven barrels of the miniguns begin to rotate, signalling that it is about to fire. She dives to the floor avoiding the gunfire. As the UAV takes off, Syd warns Sam “Get down. Stay inside (the van). Syd runs and turns at every corner of the warehouse shelves to avoid being target locked by the automated tracking program. The helicopter loses track of Sydney when she squeezes between two closely spaced shelves, so it flies off parallel to the aisle where she is running and fire through the shelving. Syd turns at the next aisle where the UAV loses track of her again.
Sam, meanwhile, spots Gauster with a pistol walking towards the van. Gauster spots his fallen henchman and rushes forward to inspect the van, but it is empty. As he leaves to hunt for Sydney, Sam walks out from behind the van when he had taken cover and begins following him.
As Gauster walks past Sydney’s hiding spot behind some boxes on a shelf, she is surprised to find Sam is shooting at him. Sam wildly fires 4 shots at Gauster, but they all miss him. Gauster advances at the terrified Sam and shoots him in the left biceps. Syd leaps out of her hiding spot and slams Gauster against some boxes. The UAV emerges from around a corner and reacquires target lock on her. Sydney spins the shocked Gauster in front of her as a human shield. The UAV machine guns Gauster, who falls back dead on top of Sydney, knocking her on her back. The UAV’s identifies Sydney’s face and then Gauster’s bullet riddled torso, which gives off a flatline EKG. To its computer logic, Sydney’s face and the dead body on top must be hers, so the UAV displays indicates ‘Target Eliminated’ and flies off to its platform. Sydney rises after the helicopter leaves to check on Sam, who is writhing on the floor. Seeing that Syd is okay, he jokes “I missed.” Sydney says in relief “I noticed.” Sam tilts his head up to look at Gauster and says in disbelief “That guy was my boss ... And he shot me!” He chuckles and wheezes “It doesn’t hurt!” Syd replies “It will soon” and examines his wound, causing Sam to groan “Oh, oh.” He looks bravely at her and says “We did it, huh? We saved the world.” Syd smiles “Something like that” and helps him get up.
Back in Angola, Sasha enters his office and closes the door. Jack compliments him “She’s lovely, your wife.” Korjev smiles and says “Indeed. We just found out ... She’s pregnant.” Jack pauses for a moment, then says “Congratulations.” Sasha reaches for two shot glasses and says “I’ll be honest with you. When we first saw the heartbeat, I was scared. I thought, what kind of father will I be? But seeing you here, I’m reminded of the tools you’ve given me.” Korjev pours two glasses of the whiskey that he talked about and continues “The tools of being a man.” They toast and drink. Jack replies “I gave you the tools. You decided how to use them.” Sasha notes seriously “There was a time, Jack, when we were both working for the higher purpose. But our goals were not the same.” He says ominously “That became clear when you and your agency decided to abandon me ... I realised on that day how naive I’d been. I had no option but to pick myself up, stay on course. Because that is the man that you taught me to be.” After a moment of silence, Jack clasps him on the right shoulder in admiration and paternal friendship. Sasha voice returns to its normal tone as he turns away and says to his mentor “I know that there are some in your government that see my business as a form of betrayal.” Before he can say another word, Jack reaches over his head with the piano wire and garrotes him from behind, saying “You betrayed ME!” He has a look of regret as he stares at the lifeless body. Jack exits Sasha’s office and tells a patrolling militiaman “Mr. Korjev asked not to be disturbed. He’ll be out shortly ... I need a car. I need to go to town.”
Nighttime at the APO. As Vaughn walks near Weiss’s desk, his friend calls out “Hey.” Vaughn replies “Hey”in return. Weiss asks him “When’d you get back?” Vaughn replies “About an hour ago” and stops to talk. Weiss asks quietly “Did you find Frank Murdoch?” Vaughn tells him “Nah, I couldn’t track him down.” Tilting his head back, Weiss gives him a sceptical look. Just then, Nadia arrives and asks Weiss “Ready? We should go.” Nadia explains to Vaughn “We’re going to the movies. Do you want to come?” He replies ‘Oh, no thanks. Not tonight.” Seeing that Weiss looks like he wants to say something to Vaughn, Nadia asks “Is it important, we don’t have to go. Before Weiss can reply, Vaughn insists “Oh, no, no, no. You guys, you guys go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Weiss reluctantly agrees, saying “All right.” Nadia smiles and says “Good night” to Vaughn. As they leave, Weiss wraps his right arm around Nadia’s waist. Vaughn sighs at having to deceive his best friend.
Daytime in a sports arena, Sam is sitting alone in an aisle seat in the stands when Sydney comes down the stairs to talk with him. He has his bandaged left arm in a sling and looks happy to see her, greeting her softly “Hey.” Syd sits next to him and Sam looks at her expectantly. After a few moments of looking at her surroundings, she tells him “I spoke to my people. They spoke to people ... It’s safe for you to go home.” Sam nods and then looking around, announces “I think that I’m done here (with Salzburg). He and Sydney both smile and chuckle. Sam continues “It’s time for me to move on.” He muses “Must kill you...” Syd looks at him seriously, not sure of what he means. Sam continues “You get to do all these crazy things, and ... see these amazing places. You gotta keep it to yourself.” Sydney muses for a few seconds and then says “You know what? It’s not so bad ... It gives people like us something in common.” Sam is pleased and chuckles “People like us, huh?” nodding happily that Syd included him as a spy. Sydney’s smile fade and is replaced by a bit of sadness. Her mouth opens as if she wants to tell him something, but she can’t find the words and sighs instead. She looks away to compose herself, then looks at him again to tell him something, but once again, she can only sigh. Sydney can’t express herself in words, so she smiles and then starts to leave. Sam stops her and says optimistically “Hey ... I’ll see you around the globe!” Syd replies wistfully “Goodbye Sam” and gives him an affectionate smile, then leaves. It seems like both wish that they could stay together longer.
Sometime later, it is nighttime in Los Angeles. Sydney is entering the APO through the access tunnel when she sees Jack on his way out. Syd says “Hey dad. I heard that you located Korjev.” Jack replies “Yes, I did.” Sydney continues “Sloane said that he was taken in a standoff. Were you there?” Jack tells her the half-truth “I saw it play out.” Syd pauses at the answer and then asks “(Are you) heading home?” Jack replies “Yeah, I’m going to grab some dinner first.” She nods and says “Okay. Goodnight.” Jack smiles and replies “Goodnight” softly then heads towards the tunnel. But as Jack is leaving, Sydney gets a tentative look and turns to call out “Dad? Jack turns with a questioning expression. Syd offers hopefully “ I’m kind of hungry myself, if you wouldn’t mind the company. Jack asks “What about your report?” Syd replies “It’ll keep.” Jack grins and she grins in return. As they walk off towards the secret door, Syd wraps her left arm around his right arm in a rare display of affection. As the secret door opens Jack puts a gentle hand on her back as they exit the APO.
END
