Épisode Ruslan Denisov S02E11 - The Blacklist Saison 2

Dans une église située dans le village de Khumhara en Ouzbékistan : le Père Nabiyev effectue la consécration lorsque plusieurs hommes armés de fusils d'assaut entrent. Après avoir localisé un téléphone sécurisé de la sécurité nationale caché dans l’autel, leur chef, Ruslan Denisov, lance le téléphone aux pieds de Nabiyev, en disant: "Tu n’es pas plus prêtre que je suis ... donc parle à ton Dieu." Parlant parfaitement l'anglais américain, Nabiyev appelle le QG pour signaler sa situation.

Vous vous rappelez quand Liz gardait Tom prisonnier sur le vieux bateau et que Tom a tué un garde du port ? Eh bien, sa femme, Susan Ames, a appelé la police, car son mari a disparu depuis plusieurs jours. Elle raconte au détective Wilcox qu'Eugène a dit qu'il a reçu une dénonciation anonyme signalant des intrus sur les quais de la marina et s’est heurté à un agent du FBI ... et heureusement Susan a encore la carte de l’agent Elizabeth Keen ...

Au bureau de poste : Liz a remis l’objet qui pourrait bien être leFulcrum, à Aram avec des instructions pour comprendre ce que c’est. Red rate de peu la conversation quand il passe la tête dans le bureau de Liz car elle ne répond pas à ses appels en colère, Liz rappelle à Red que la seule raison pour laquelle il s’est intéressé par elle, c’est qu'il veut le Fulcrum. Donc à partir de maintenant, il n'y a aucune raison pour eux de parler sauf si c’est sur le travail. Red lance un journal sur le bureau de Liz et la dirige vers une petite histoire sur la page 20 à propos de l'enlèvement de Nabiyev. Red sait que Nabiyev travaille pour la CIA et que l'utilisation d'une personnalité religieuse comme couverture pour un espion est un crime qui est mauvais. Et il sait que son associé, Ruslan Denisov, chef d'une bande de militants séparatistes appelé la SRU, est le kidnappeur. Pour financer son objectif de libérer l'Ouzbékistan, Denisov est devenu une sorte d’expert en kidnapping de dirigeants d'entreprises internationales. Dernièrement, il n’a pas tenu ses promesses et cela coûte à Red de l'argent. Connaissant la CIA, elle fera tout ce qu'il faut pour garder la situation calme. Red avertit Liz d'être prudente.

Le directeur des opérations de la CIA, Arnold Heyworth réfute la prédiction de Red et nie toute connaissance de Nabiyev devant Cooper et Reven Wright. Wright rappelle que l'enlèvement d'un citoyen américain est de la juridiction de FBI. Donc, si Nabiyev est un agent d’Heyworth, elle va le garder impliqué sinon il est exclu. Heyworth veut être informé de chaque mouvement et Wright charge Cooper  de l'opération. Liz et Ressler partent à Tachkent cette nuit. Ils sont accueillis à l'aéroport par le chef de la force de contre-insurrection de l'armée ouzbek, le commandant Kushan, qui leur demande de remettre leurs armes à feu et les informe que la courtoisie de son invitation expirera s'ils essaient de négocier avec qui que ce soit. Liz et Ressler savent qu'ils sont suivis à leur hôtel par des hommes en costume trop élégant pour être du gouvernement fédéral et ils découvrent une surprise qui les attend dans le hall. Red discute avec plusieurs hommes d'affaires en leur racontant une de ces histoires de guerre. Quand Liz demande l'identité de ses «amis», Red lui dit de se prépare parce qu'il l'emmène dîner. Liz et Ressler entrent dans l'ascenseur pour aller dans leurs chambres. Soudain, les lumières s’éteignent, des sacs sont placés sur leurs têtes, le panneau arrière de l'ascenseur s'ouvre et lorsque les sacs sont enlevés, ils sont dans l’enceinte de la SRU de Denisov. Il est heureux d'avoir enfin saisi l'attention de l'Amérique, mais il a enlevé l’agent Burke, alias le Père Nabiyev, pour une autre raison. Il y a vingt-cinq ans l'Ouzbékistan a vendu les droits de construire un pipeline à travers Tachkent à une société américaine appelée Anecca Oil. Maintenant le pipeline fuit et tue la population. Les avocats Ouzbeks ne font pas le poids face aux avocats d’Anecca. Alors, il a enlevé l'un des vice-présidents de la société, qu'il est dans une cage  immergée dans les déchets très toxiques qui tue les compatriotes de Denisov. Denisov offre  l'homme à Liz et Ressler comme un signe de bonne foi et annonce que les négociations pour l’agent Burke débuteront demain.

Liz appelle Cooper et lui demande de repérer l'emplacement du SRU. Curieusement, Anecca n’a jamais signalé la disparition de Jeffrey Hanovre, ce qui conduit Cooper à conclure qu'ils essaient de couvrir l’affaire du pipeline défectueux. Après que Ressler ait parlé à Dean Walker, le médecin traitant Hanovre, un des dirigeants d’Anecca se présente avec une offre d'aide amicale mais Ressler le reconnaît comme l'un des hommes de l'aéroport. Une fois, son secret révélé, Walker admet qu'il a été envoyé pour négocier avec Denisov que la société accuse de saboter le pipeline pour créer la fuite. Dans le couloir, Liz parle avec le commandant Kushan qui est en colère que, elle et Ressler soient en négociation avec Denisov et les confine dans leur hôtel sous garde militaire. Cette nuit-là, Ressler retrouve Red au bar. La prochaine rencontre avec Denisov est prévue pour demain matin. Liz et Ressler ont-ils besoin de l’aide de Red ? Ils ne le font pas car Denisov utilise son vieux truc de l'ascenseur pour les escorter. Une fois de plus, ils sont surpris de voir Red qui est déjà là, ayant offert ses services en tant que négociateur pour Denisov tout en faisant semblant de ne jamais les avoir vus. Une fois, Denisov hors de portée de voix, Liz demande à Red ce qu’il est en train de faire. Il lui répond qu’il les amène faire une visite dans le village de Khumhara, où la plupart des résidents sont atteints de mélanome, dommages aux organes internes, aux poumons, au foie et d'insuffisance rénale. Visiblement touchée, Liz suggère de contacter le département d'État pour aider à prouver la vérité sur ce qu'il se passe. La revendication, il n'y a pas d'autre alternative. Red propose que l'agent Burke soit libéré sain et sauf dans l'échange.

Cooper et Wright rencontrent Heyworth qui veut attaquer la planque du SRU. Il ne se soucie pas de la confiance que le FBI tente de construire avec Denisov. Mais puisque c’est l'opération du FBI, Wright décide avec Cooper que le raid est reporté pour le moment. Retour à l'hôtel, Liz reçoit un appel du détective Wilcox qui a quelques questions à propos d'Eugene Ames. Liz explique que ce qu'elle a dit à Ames, c'est une couverture : elle ne pouvait pas partager l’information avec lui et ne peut toujours pas le faire. Elle rejoint ensuite Red pour un dîner dans le salon de l'hôtel. Elle veut parler de la négociation mais Red n’est pas de cet avis. Au même moment, Heyworth est au téléphone avec ses agents pour lancer un assaut à l’insu du FBI en utilisant les soldats Ouzbek. Pris par surprise, les hommes de Denisov sont attaqués par le commandant Kushan et ses hommes. Mais il n'y a aucun signe des otages.

Le lendemain matin, Cooper appelle Liz et Ressler pour leur annoncer le raid. Tout le monde sait qu'Heyworth est derrière ça. Au même moment, Red frappe à la porte en disant « La CIA a fait ce que la CIA fait », alors, pourquoi Cooper lui a donné l'emplacement de la SRU avec lui alors que Red lui avait dit de ne pas lui faire confiance ? Maintenant, il est impossible pour Red de contrôler un Denisov instable et violent,il ne fait plus confiance à Cooper, les négociations sont terminées. Red retourne à Khumhara pour rencontrer Denisov qui, a déplacé les otages, comme Red le lui avait conseillé. Denisov a un nouvel otage, un soldat blessé que Kushan à laisser derrière lui. L’homme peut servir de monnaie d’échange mais Denisov lui tire une balle dans la tête puis se rue vers la cage de l’agent Burke pour lui réserver le même sort. Red parvient à dissuader Denisov avec une histoire à propos de Bobby Fischer qui a perdu contre Boris Spassky parce qu'il n’avait pas de jeu à la fin. Passant à Burke, Red l’interroge sur Zhabin. La CIA a violé le droit fédéral en cachant Burke parmi les habitants parcequ'il y a un secret qu'ils veulent protéger. Prenant au sérieux la menace de mort de Red, Burke explique que l'ancien ministre Leonid Zhabin à autoriser la construction du pipeline à la fin des années 70 jusqu’au début des années 90. Impitoyable et corrompu, il a vendu à Anecca le droit de construire le pipeline, en recevant un pourcentage massif sur les bénéfices. Maintenant, il vit reclus, peut-être fou. Toutes les maladies et la dévastation dans Khumhara sont de sa faute.

Une chose est sûre, Zhabin est pieux. Après la flagellation de son dos nu dans une église ouzbek, il se dirige au confessionnal où Red et Denisov l’attendent pour lui demander des détails sur l’accord  avec Anecca. Denisov plonge Zhabin dans le bénitier pour l'aider à commencer à parler ...

Retour à l'hôtel : Liz dit à Ressler qu'elle n'a pas tué Ames. C’est Tom qui l’a fait pour la protéger et oui, il y avait un témoin qui est en ce moment même interrogé par le détective Wilcox. Wilcox sait le vrai nom du samoan : Samuel Aleko. C’est à ce moment-là que Red appelle avec de bonnes nouvelles : les négociations vont reprendre immédiatement. Comme Kushan ne laissera pas Liz et Ressler sortir de l’hôtel. Red promet de venir avec eux pendant qu'ils convoquent Walker qui refuse de négocier. Red présente Zhabin qui a une belle histoire à raconter : l'histoire du pipeline. Il s’avère que le pipeline actuel n’est pas la pire chose dans le monde : c’est le premier pipeline qu’Anecca a construit en 1988 qui a tué des villages entiers. Puis l'Union Soviétique est tombée dans le chaos et Anecca a payé Zhabin pour le couvrir et détruire les dossiers sur l'existence de la première canalisation. Heureusement, Zhabin a conservé l’ensemble complet des documents originaux dans l'espoir qu'un jour, il pourrait arranger les choses. Walker prétend qu’Anecca peut faire des réparations mais Red a un autre objectif en tête. La population Ouzbek veut qu’Anecca parte et s'ils ne le font pas, Zhabin a mené Denisov à un charnier rempli de centaines de victimes, qu’ils rendront publiques dans les prochaines 24 heures.

Peu après, Walker fait une annonce officielle pour dire qu’Anecca quitte l’Ouzbékitstan. Pendant ce temps, Ressler reçoit un message le convoquant à un endroit pour récupérer l’agent Burke. Ce que le FBI ne sait pas c’est qu’Heyworth a des tireurs embusqués dans les bois avec ordre de tuer Denisov et de prendre Red. Au moment où Red et Dembe offrent l’agent Burke, Cooper entre dans le bureau d’Heyworth, le menaçant de dénoncer ses actions illégales au ministère de la Justice. Heyworth ordonne à ses hommes de se retirer et Denisov est de retour à Khumhara avec Red. Craignant d'être arrester, Denisov veut que Red le fasse sortir clandestinement du pays mais Red refuse disant à Denisov qu'il ne voit toujours pas la fin du jeu. Denisov peut aller en prison pour quelques temps mais il  sortira en héros, capable de diriger le pays, car seul le commandant Kushan était capable de le gêner et ce n’est désormais plus le cas...

En faisant sa valise, Liz remarque une info télévisée : Quelques heures après l’annonce du retrait d’Anecca, la société française Savillion, a conclu un accord d'un milliard de dollars pour un pipeline flambant neuf. Elle se dirige vers le hall et trouve Red entrain de discuter avec le PDG de Savillion, Claude Hippeau : le même homme qui était dans le groupe de collaborateurs à leur arrivée en Ouzbékistan. Dégoûté, Liz accuse Red d’avoir utilisé le kidnapping pour faire obtenir le contrat. Il ne se soucie pas de confirmer ou d'infirmer mais porte un toast à la victoire.

De retour à D.C, Aram rend l’objet à Liz. Il pense que c’est une technique de la fin des années 80 : un dispositif d'enregistrement mais il n’a aucune idée de comment cela fonctionne. Liz lui fait promettre de ne pas en parler à Reddigton. Quelque part dans les bois en dehors de la ville, une tempête se prépare. Le Samoa a conclu un accord avec le détective Wilcox : Il l'amène à la tombe d’Ames en échange de l'immunité.

Traduit et adapté du résumé du site officiel.

VILLAGE OF KHUMHARA, UZBEKISTAN

Men chanting in native language. Church bell tolls.A priest is saying the mass

Subtitles

PRIEST : Take this, all of you and drink from it. For this is the calice of my blood.

Armed guys enter the church and capture the priest. Indistinct shouting

PRIEST : Please. Please. I beg you. I'm a simple man of God!

DENISOV : You lie.

Breathing heavily

DENISOV : Would a simple servant of God have this?

He shows him a CIA's cell phone which is hidden in the church

DENISOV : You’re no more a priest than I am. Here’s your burning bush. So talk to your God.

The priest takes the phone : keypad beeps.Ringing

End subtitles

BURKE : This is Burke. OP-SEC 3828. We have a situation.

AMES'S HOUSE

Knock on door. A policewoman opens thez door. Mrs Ames is sitting at the table

WILCOX : Officer Collins.Martin Wilcox. We spoke on the phone.
COLLINS : Of course. Detective, thanks for coming. Susan, this is Detective Wilcox with Metro PD. I’ve brought him up to speed.
WILCOX : Mrs. Ames, we’ll do whatever we can to find your husband.
MRS AMES: Thanks. Eugene disappears sometimes to Atlantic City, once to Vegas, but he always calls, and he’s never gone for more than a few days.
WILCOX : And I understand there’s some incident that happened before his absence –
MRS AMES: Eugene came home. He said he got an anonymous tip about trespassers over by one of the marina docks.

COLLINS : The Lieutenant went to check it out, came back about an hour later, said he got the scare of his life.

MRS AMES : He ran into an FBI agent on one of the old ships, said she pulled out a gun as he was boarding.
WILCOX : An FBI agent?
COLLINS : Said the FBI was looking for two fugitives who escaped Cumberland the night before.

MRS AMES : If something happened to Eugene, it’s got to be one of them. Don’t you think?

WILCOX : This agent he spoke with – Is there any chance your husband got a name?
COLLINS : He did better than that. She gave him a card.

Reading

WILCOX : Special Agent Elizabeth Keen.

LIZ'S OFFICE

Aram holds the tiny wooden box

ARAM : I’ve never seen anything like it. What is it?
LIZ : I don’t know. It was – I think it contains some kind of message.
ARAM : Where’d you get it?
LIZ : I need you to see if you can figure out what it is, how it works.
ARAM : There are people who are far more qualified at this kind of thing than me.
LIZ : But none that I know and trust.

Footsteps approaching

RED : I hope I’m interrupting.
LIZ : Yes.
ARAM : No. No.
RED : You’re not answering your phone.
LIZ : So leave a message.
RED : Dembe did. Two, in fact. We have a new case, Agent Keen.
LIZ : Then tell Cooper.
RED : That’s not how this works.
ARAM : I think I left my soup in the microwave. Lobster bisque.

He leaves

LIZ : I know exactly how this works. You lie, say what you need to say to make me believe you actually care –
RED : That’s not true.
LIZ : You’re after the Fulcrum. It’s why you’re here. Not to help me or protect me or whatever spin you’re selling today. Well, I’m not buying it. From this point on, there’s no reason for us to talk unless it’s about the work.
RED : Fine. Then let’s work. I think you’ll find today’s most intriguing story on page 20, bottom-left corner.

Reading the newspaper Red gives her

LIZ : “According to Uzbek authorities, Father Aleksandr Nabiyev, a local priest in the Tashkent Region of Uzbekistan”– You’re intrigued because a priest was kidnapped?
RED : No. I’m intrigued because the priest is not a priest. From what I hear, the good Father Nabiyev is an agent of the CIA. That’s a crime, Agent Keen. Going back to the Cold War, the CIA has a long and controversial history of using religious figures as spies in violation of executive orders, internal CIA policy, and promises made by every president since Ford.
LIZ : And you know who kidnapped this agent?
RED : I do. Unfortunately, he’s an associate of mine. His name is Ruslan Denisov. He commands a nasty, little band of separatists known as SRU. Translated, they are the supreme republic of a free, righteous, and independent Uzbekistan. I told Ruslan it was a bit much, but he can be quite melodramatic, not to mention violent and entirely unreasonable. Politics are his passion, and to fund his separatist agenda, he’s become something of an abduction mogul, specializing in senior executives of foreign corporations working in or passing through the region. He holds them for ransom at prices far above market standard.

DENISOV COMPOUND

To a prisoner

RUSLAN DENISOV : Your company has made it clear it has no interest in paying for your release.

He shoots him

LIZ'S OFFICE

LIZ : And you do business with this man?
RED : Don’t underestimate the usefulness of a nasty band of armed separatists. But lately, Ruslan’s been breaking promises. His temper has cost me and my partners considerably more than he’s worth.
LIZ : So everybody wins. You help us rescue the agent, we eliminate a thorn in your side.
RED : Careful on this one, Lizzy. You have more than just a blacklister to worry about this time. The CIA will do whatever it takes to keep this quiet.

SPECIAL OPS DIVISION

ARAM : Richard Gagnon, Executive VP for a French video-component manufacturer. Here he is before he was taken...

Keyboard clacking

ARAM : ... and here he is the day SRU released him in exchange for $2 million cash.
LIZ : We have a list of over 30 victims.
SAMAR : I don’t understand. This guy makes a fortune taking corporate execs. Now he takes a CIA agent. Why change the business model?
RESSLER : Let’s find him and ask.
ARAM : I’m sorry, but people’s faith is sacred. Religion should be off-limits to spies.

SAMAR : Wouldn’t work in my country.
RESSLER : Yeah, well, the Agency knows the law, so they’ve gone this far, something big is going on in that area.

COOPER'S OFFICE

WRIGHT : It’s a simple question, Mr. Heyworth. Is Father Nabiyev an operative of the CIA or not? HEYWORTH : We all know that would be illegal.
WRIGHT : That’s not an answer to my question.
HEYWORTH : Not to my knowledge.
COOPER : Look, I didn’t call this meeting to make a case against the Agency. We’re here because I have an informant who I think can help get your man back safely.
HEYWORTH : If he were our man – and I’m saying “If” – the Agency would prefer to handle this on its own.
WRIGHT : If an American citizen’s been kidnapped overseas, that’s FBI jurisdiction. If he’s your asset, I can keep you involved. If not, you’re out. Agent Cooper, your task force will run point on the investigation and any hostage negotiations.
COOPER : My people can leave tonight.

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN

At the airport

LIZ : Commander Kushan. I’m Agent Keen. This is Agent Ressler. On behalf of the Bureau, we appreciate your help.
KUSHAN : Let me be very clear, Agent Keen. It is you who are here to help me. This is an Uzbek military operation.
RESSLER : All due respect, sir, an American citizen has been abducted.
KUSHAN : Which is why we have extended the courtesy of our invitation. But you will not be negotiating with Ruslan Denisov, and you will not be negotiating with me. And you will turn over your firearms. If that’s a problem and you wish to return to your country –
LIZ : No. No problem.
KUSHAN : My men will escort you to your hotel.

He leaves. Liz to Ressler

LIZ: We’re being watched. One o'clock.
RESSLER : I didn’t notice him. I was too busy checking out Hugo Boss on the corner. Whoever he is, he isn’t a fed. That suit wasn’t bought on a government salary.

HOTEL

Ressler and Liz enter in their hotel and see Red, speaking with men

RED : The other one, the watercolorist, she – legs like a shot-putter. She gets me in this headlock. I black out. Next thing I know, I wake up, no sheets, vaseline everywhere. The lipstick on the mirror overhead reads, “Same time next year?” I haven’t missed an art expo in Basel since. Lizzy! Please excuse me.
LIZ : What are you doing here?
RED : I promised to help. I can’t be an effective resource if I’m thousands of miles from the action.
RESSLER : It’s not safe. We just saw the CIA at the airport. They see you –
RED : I’ll be sure to say hello. Uzbekistan has no extradition treaty with the United States.
LIZ : Who are your friends over there?
RED : Go get cleaned up. We’ll have dinner. I know a wonderful little hole in the wall that’s actually in a hole in the wall.

Elevator bell dings

RESSLER : What’s going on with you and Reddington? You two have a little lovers’ quarrel?
LIZ : I don’t trust him.
RESSLER : Reddington’s untrustworthy? Hmm.

Hotel's elevator creaks, thuds :the wall of the bottom of the elevator opens

Ressler and Liz have been taken hostages

DENISOV 'S COMPOUND , LOCATION UNKNOWN

DENISOV : Welcome to my country.The FBI in Uzbekistan – for a year, I tried to get your attention. Now here you are because the only thing Americans understand is violence.
LIZ : If you know so much about Americans, you’d know that our government doesn’t pay ransoms to terrorists.
DENISOV : One man’s terrorist, another man’s freedom fighter. I don’t want your money – not for myself, anyway. As you can see, business is good. I took your Agent Burke for another reason completely.
RESSLER : Burke – that’s his name?
DENISOV : Almost 25 years ago, my country sold an American company, Anneca Oil, the rights to build a pipeline through Tashkent to Andijan Region. The price was absurd. The Uzbek people received a fraction of the value. Corruption – well, you know. These things happen, and I don’t care. But now, the pipeline is leaking.
LIZ  :Leaking?

DENISOV : Hundreds of villagers have been killed, hundreds more are sick, and the company does nothing. Our lawyers are no match for your wealthy attorneys. The American embassy looks away. The CIA is here, watching, doing nothing, reporting on any threats to your American interests.
LIZ : Mr. Denisov –
DENISOV : I took one of theirs. A vice president of Anneca Oil. I tell him that there are chemicals in the water that we drink, that our children bathe in. But he says no. The company did tests. The water is safe. So I did a test of my own.

He shows them a man in water : his skin is burned, corroded.

DENISOV : I give him back to you now to show you my good faith so you can show the others the truth. The negotiations for your Agent Burke begin tomorrow.

FBI SPECIAL OPS DIVISION

On phone with Liz

LIZ : We saw hostages, at least four. I don’t think Agent Burke was one, but he’s probably there.
We have got to find that compound.
COOPER : That won’t be easy. The local army can’t even find them.
ARAM : Well, we got your photo of the guy Denisov released – the Anneca VP – compared it to known company execs and got a match – Jeffrey Hanover.
LIZ : How long ago was he taken?
ARAM : That’s the thing. I don’t know. From what I can tell, Anneca never reported him missing.
LIZ : You’re kidding.
COOPER : They tried to handle it privately. If that pipeline is leaking, the last thing they want is attention.
LIZ : Yeah, well, I’ll tell you one thing. Whatever it was eating at Hanover’s flesh, it wasn’t just water.

HOSPITAL, JEFFREY HANOVER'S ROOM

FEMALE DOCTOR: He should survive. His skin has been burned, corroded.
RESSLER : And the chemicals?
DOCTOR : It’s certainly consistent with prolonged exposure to benzene and polycyclic hydrocarbons commonly associated with oil development.
RESSLER : Thank you, Doctor.

The doctor leaves, a man enters the room

DEAN WALKER : Agent Ressler.Dean Walker, EVP at Anneca. Just wanted to say thanks for bringing Jeff home.
RESSLER : It’s all part of the job.
WALKER : I just flew in. Company sent me straightaway.If there’s anything you need, I’m here to help.
RESSLER :Yeah, I doubt that. We saw you this morning watching us at the airport. How long have you really been here?
WALKER :Three weeks. The company sent me to deal with Denisov, see if we could work something out.
RESSLER :Privately?

WALKER : Jeff’s family wanted it that way. They were afraid if the FBI got involved –
RESSLER :Maybe you’re the ones who were afraid.
WALKER :Anneca’s got nothing to hide.This leak Denisov keeps talking about –He the one responsible. It’s a scam. His men sabotage the pipeline and then demand a fortune because the locals are getting sick.

HOSPITAL'S CORRIDOR

KUSHAN : So this is how you respect my operation? I told you, you have no authority here.
LIZ  : Denisov contacted us.Commander, I know this is your case, but if Denisov wants to talk to the FBI –
KUSHAN : Not an option.
LIZ :It’s an option if Denisov says it’s an option. He’s the one who’s holding an American hostage. Yes, a Frenchman, a German, and many others.
LIZ :I’m sorry. You can’t order us not to talk to him.
KUSHAN : I could arrest you and your partner for interfering in my investigation.
RESSLER : What investigation? You’ve been tracking this guy and his group for over a year. He’s still abducting innocent people, holding them for ransom –
KUSHAN : You and your partner will remain at the Tashlan Hotel under military guard.If you try to leave, your stay in Uzbekistan will be a lot longer than you bargained for, hmm?

HOTEL'S BAR

Red looking at Ressler's military guard

RED : Well, you certainly make friends fast. Truth is, I’m impressed. Not with you – with Ruslan.He never really struck me as a man of the people.
RESSLER : The guy’s a psychopath. He’s in over his head. He doesn’t know anything about pipelines.
RED : Agent Keen is late.
RESSLER : She’s having room service. What, are you in the doghouse?
RED : Oh, that’s a shame. She’s gonna miss the most tantalizingly delicious khorem baklava.
RESSLER : Ruslan’s a criminal. Even if Anneca comes to the table, Denisov would have no idea what to ask for. The guy doesn’t even know enough to know what he wants. The lawyers would eat him for lunch.
RED : You may be right. When’s the next sit-down?
RESSLER : Tomorrow morning.
RED : Well, given your new entourage, I gather you may need my help to attend.
RESSLER : Actually, I think we’ve got that covered.

Next morning, in the elevator : bell dings, elevator creaks, thuds. Liz and Ressler follow Denisov's men

DENISOV'S COMPOUND

LIZ : Mr. Denisov, thank you for your willingness to talk to us. The Bureau spoke with Anneca Oil, and the good news is, they want to fix this.
DENISOV : That is good news. To be honest, I was a little worried... mean, who am I? I’m just a criminal. I don’t even know enough to know what I want. I will not be negotiating this deal myself. I’ve decided to bring in a professional, someone to make sure that the company lawyers don’t eat me for lunch.

Ressler remembers his conversation with Red and understands. Red arrives, happy

RED : Mr. Denisov, it is my pleasure to be here. Hello.

To Liz & Ressler

RED : My name is Raymond Reddington. And you are?

COOPER'S OFFICE

COOPER : I’ve spoken to my agents. They assure me Agent Burke is alive.
WRIGHT : So, where are we?
COOPER : My people are concerned. They were driven to a village less than 40 miles from the SRU compound. They saw the damage being done by the pipeline firsthand.
HEYWORTH : Wait. Your people know where the compound is located?
COOPER : They don’t know the exact location, but based on drive time and the terrain they encountered, we think the compound is somewhere near the southeast base of the Zarafshan Range.
HEYWORTH : We can have a black-ops team on the ground tonight.
COOPER : That would be a mistake. We don’t know with certainty if Agent Burke is even there.
HEYWORTH : I’m willing to take that chance.
COOPER : And destroy the trust they’re trying to build with Denisov as well as endanger the lives of those still on the ground?
WRIGHT : I agree. At this point, a raid is premature. Agent Cooper, I’m assuming your informant can be of assistance on this one?
COOPER : From what I hear, he’s right at the center of this.
WRIGHT : Then we stay the course for now.

DENISOV'S COMPOUND

To Denisov

RED : I will see to it that every one of your interests and expectations are met or exceeded.

Denisov leaves

LIZ : What the hell are you doing?
RED : I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. Did I screw up already?
RESSLER : You’re not really gonna negotiate for Denisov, are you?

To Liz

RED : You’re the one who insisted that our interaction be strictly professional.

LIZ : You gave us this case to help us get the agent back, not represent the other side.
RED : Agent Keen, in this world, there are no sides, only players.
LIZ : Are we really supposed to sit here and hammer out a deal?
RED : Absolutely not. I was thinking we might get out for a bit. The first day of negotiation is rather like the first day of school.
RESSLER : Get out? Where?
RED : Let’s go on a field trip, shall we?

Outside goat bleats, people, familly live here.

DENISOV : What you’re smelling is benzene, a common pollutant in oil production. It’s in the air we breathe and the food we eat. This way. We boil all our water for drinking and add andrographis to counteract the toxins.
LIZ : Does that work?
DENISOV : No. Carcinogens are ingested and cause melanomas, damage internal organs– lung, liver, and kidney failure.
RED : Somewhere, 6,000 miles away, a group of bean counters in a boardroom did a cost-benefit analysis and concluded that these people aren’t worth the cost of responsibly maintaining their pipeline.
RESSLER : The exec I talked to, he said your men were sabotaging the pipeline. Said it was a scam.
DENISOV : My youngest brother died of benzene poisoning last year.
RED : So, who’s the hostage here, Agent Burke or these poor devils?
RESSLER : Look, I don’t care what math they did. No company can ignore this. It’s bad for business.
LIZ : Only if someone can prove the truth. Anneca spends a fortune on lobbyists to make sure that doesn’t happen. Maybe we can contact the State Department, see if they can apply some pressure, try and clean up this mess.
RED : And I can see to it that Agent Burke is released unharmed. See? No sides. Only players.

HOTEL'S STAIRS

Cellphone rings

LIZ : Keen.
WILCOX : Agent Keen. I’m glad I caught you. You know, you’re not an easy woman to reach.
LIZ : I’m sorry. Who is this?
WILCOX :Detective Martin Wilcox, Metro PD. Assistant Director Cooper’s office gave me your number. I hope I caught you at an okay time.
LIZ : What’s up, Detective?
WILCOX : I’m looking into this missing-persons case. The vic actually works for the PD. It’s a Lieutenant Ames, DC harbormaster.
LIZ : How can I help?
WILCOX : I heard that you two ran into each other up on one of the harbor rigs. It looks like you gave him one of your business cards.
LIZ : Right. Right.
WILCOX : I think you said something about the FBI searching for fugitives out of Cumberland. Thing is, I-I’ve made a few calls, and nobody seems to know anything about it.
LIZ : Well, that’s because it didn’t happen. It was a cover. I couldn’t share why with the Lieutenant at the time.
WILCOX : Is there any chance you can share it with me now? Might help me clear this case.
LIZ : I’m sorry.
WILCOX : Well, you’re gonna have to tell me something. I mean, you being out there alone, drawing your weapon, giving a false story – it raises some questions.
LIZ : I’ve already said more than I can say. May I ask – Lieutenant Ames – who reported him missing?
WILCOX : His wife. Married 32 years.
LIZ : Oh. Well, I hope you find him, Detective. Good luck.

HOTEL'S RESTAURANT

Uzbek folk music plays

LIZ : You told Ruslan the State Department was open to the idea of an inquiry.
RED : You haven’t touched your baklava.
LIZ : You told him, and he’s not interested?
RED : Just one bite.
LIZ : I didn’t come here for the baklava. I came here to talk about the negotiation.

Tango music plays. Applause

RED: Ah. A Russian milonga. Watch closely, Lizzy. Everything you need to know about negotiation is there in the tango milonga.

NEAR DENISOV'S COMPOUND

CIA commandos is in a car, watching Denisov's compound

CIA'S AGENT : We’ve got eyes on the SRU compound.
HEYWORTH: You spoke to Commander Kushan?
CIA'S AGENT : Yes, sir. He understands we want this resolved tonight.
HEYWORTH : I want full deniability for the Agency. Get out in public, far away when this happens. We’ve been ordered to stand down, but local authorities dealing with local issues – nothing we can do about that.
CIA'S AGENT : Understood.

HOTEL'S RESTAURANT

Tango music continues while the campound is attacked

RED : At the outset, they are opponents. Each has something the other wants. They size one another up, assessing risk, setting boundaries, challenging each other to breach them. A sensuous battle – violence and sex balanced on the blade of a knife. Nothing given that is not earned – nothing taken that is not given. This is the pure essence of negotiation. Not a poker game, but a milonga. A tango. A seduction.

Red frozes

LIZ : What’s wrong?

Red sees a CIA's agent

RED : Everything.

DENISOV'S COMPOUND

CIA commandos and Uzbek Special Forces led by Kushan attack compound, killing many of Denisov’s men

SOLDIER : Commander, we have searched all the buildings. There is no sign of the hostages, including the American.

LIZ'S ROOM

LIZ : When exactly did this happen?

On phone with Cooper

COOPER : Last night around 2100 hours. Uzbek Special Forces are reporting a full-scale raid of the compound.
LIZ : It was the CIA – the man in the restaurant, he wanted to be seen in public.

RESSLER :What about Burke? They went this damn far, they better have found him alive.
SAMAR : According to the official report, they haven’t found him at all.
ARAM : It was an all-out assault. At least a dozen SRU fighters were killed by an army unit led by- RESSLER : Commander Kushan.
LIZ : How the hell did he know how to find the compound?
COOPER : Heyworth. That son of a bitch was ordered to stand down.

Knock on door

Ressler opens it : it's Red

RED : Who’s on the phone?
RESSLER : Cooper.
RED : Harold! Good. I want you to hear this.
COOPER : Reddington, you know this wasn’t our move. The CIA –
RED : The CIA did what the CIA does. I expected as much, which is why Agent Burke and the other hostages were moved from that compound. The question is why on earth you would share the compound’s location with the very people I advised you not to trust.
COOPER : I’ll deal with Heyworth.
RED : Oh, Heyworth is the least of your troubles now. I warned you about Denisov. I told you he was violent and unstable. How do you think he’ll react to losing a dozen of his men?
RESSLER : You think he’ll kill Burke?
RED : I have no idea. But now I’m afraid Denisov may not trust me, and I certainly don’t trust you. The negotiations are over.

DENISOV'S COMPOUND

DENISOV : I was stupid to trust you!
RED : Ruslan.
DENISOV : I was stupid to think that they respected us or would deal with us fairly!
RED : Take a breath. I told you to move the hostages. You did. Your assets are intact.

Showing a prisoner

DENISOV'S MAN : He was left behind at the compound, abandoned by his commander.
RED : Ruslan, he’s more valuable alive than dead.
DENISOV : Not to me.

He shoots him

RED : I hope that made you feel better. Apparently not.

Denisov fetches Burke in his cell, brutally

BURKE : Aah!
DENISOV : The CIA killed you, you understand? They did this!

Red, trying to distract Denisov

RED : Sacrifice the bishop. Reykjavik, ’72. God, I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was in Steven Bash’s rec room down in the basement, eating fried egg and bologna sandwich when he did it.
DENISOV : Did what? Who did?!
RED : Bobby Fischer. It was game 13, move 50– rook takes bishop, B5. He sacrificed his bishop.

Slaps leg

RED : That’s when Russia lost the Cold War. It was staggering. Spasky had no answer because he had no endgame, and neither do you. When you capture and kill a CEO, you incur the wrath of a company. When you capture and kill a CIA agent, you incur the wrath of the US government. That’s boots on the ground, drones overhead. What will be your answer to that?
DENISOV : My men were murdered. A message has to be sent.

Burke grunts

RED : You’re only seeing the next move. People have been pillaging your country’s resources since time began. Someone has to offer a better alternative. That someone could be you. Ruslan, there is an endgame here that you don’t yet see. But you see it, don’t you, Agent Burke?
BURKE : I don’t know what you’re talking about.
RED : Denisov here is so blinded by anger, he thinks this problem started when he became aware of it. But you and I both know that’s not true. Why don’t you tell us about Zhabin?
BURKE : I don’t know anything.
RED : The CIA put you here for a reason. They violated their own policy and federal law to hide you among locals because there’s a secret they want to protect. Now tell us about Zhabin.
BURKE : No.
RED : Make no mistake, Mr. Burke. My friend here is still making the bed he’ll have to lie in for the rest of his life. But my bed is made, and I assure you my bed accommodates a broad spectrum of behavior. So you tell us what little you know about Zhabin, or I’ll put you in the ground myself.

To Ruslan

RED : Give me the gun.
BURKE : Leonid Zhabin – he’s the former cabinet minister, part of the old Soviet regime. Ran this whole region from the late ’70s to the early ’90s. A ruthless, corrupt, evil man. He gave Anneca the right to build the pipeline. And in return, he got a massive kickback and piece of the ownership interest. Possibly insane, very religious now, as if that can save him. All these sick people are his fault.

ZHABIN'S LOCATION

In confessional Zhabin mutters, asking God’s forgiveness

Subtitle

ZHABIN : Come holy spirit and all blessed Archangels...Angels and Saints of God. Amen. Why does the Lord hide his face from me ?

Red in priest’s place

End subtitle

RED : Maybe he doesn’t like you. For you, I’m afraid absolution won’t be quite so easy to obtain. I need all the details of exactly how the Anneca Oil rights were sold – for how much, including gratuities, contingencies, and all the participants.
ZHABIN: I want absolution in the next world, not a life in prison in this one.
RED : Understandable. But it’s the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.

Denisov holds Zhabin’s head under water in baptismal font
Gurgling, muffled shouting.Gasping

RED : The US government says this isn’t torture. What do you think?

Gurgling

ZHABIN: Let me talk, please.
RED : Look at yourself. Rich as Croesus, and you let Anneca Oil poison your own countrymen.
ZHABIN : We didn’t just poison our countrymen. We killed them, hundreds of them.

LIZ'S ROOM

Outside soldiers

RESSLER : Looks like we’re hostages now, too.
LIZ : Ressler, I think I’m in trouble.
RESSLER : You think you –
LIZ : I got a call from Metro PD. They’ve got a missing-persons case, the DC harbormaster. He showed up where I was holding Tom.
RESSLER : Whoa, whoa. Whatever you’re about to confess, Keen, don’t.
LIZ : I didn’t kill him. I didn’t. It was Tom.
RESSLER : Tom? Why would Tom kill the one person in a position to rescue him?
LIZ : To protect me. I realize how insane that sounds. I met the harbormaster the first time he showed up and gave him my card, told him I was there searching for two fugitives.
RESSLER : You lied to him.
LIZ : To explain why I was there I had no idea Tom would kill him. I tried to stop it.
RESSLER : Was there witnesses? Somebody must have been watching Tom while you weren’t there.
LIZ : There was someone.

WILCOX'S OFFICE

Interrogation room

WILCOX : Thanks for coming down.
ALEKO : Look, I don’t think I can help you. You can’t keep me here.
WILCOX :Take it easy. Nobody’s keeping you here. Just want to ask you a few questions, then you’re free to go. Tell me about Elizabeth Keen.

RED'S CAR

Cellphone ringing

LIZ : Where have you been?
RED : Good news. I’ve reconsidered our position. Negotiations will resume immediately.
RESSLER : Did you talk to Denisov?
RED : No questions.?
RESSLER : Burke’s dead, isn’t he?
RED : No. We have new evidence to present. There is one proviso, however. That mouthpiece from Anneca, the one you spoke to? Bring him along.
LIZ : Wait, wait. We can’t leave. Kushan’s doubled the guards outside. It’s too risky.
RED : I may need to have a chat with this Commander Kushan. We’ll come to you. See you in an hour.

WILCOX'S OFFICE

Interrogation room

ALEKO : We’ve been through this. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
WILCOX : Well you are Samuel Aleko, the same Samuel Aleko who was the custodian for an abandoned vessel docked in DC harbor, a rig called the Phoenix. Zebra mussels. Yeah, I got to say, Sam, I’ve seen guys tripped up by a lot of things, but zebra mussels? Yeah, that’s a first.

Papers rustling

WILCOX : Ah, there it is. Yeah, see? Y-y-you– you spoke to the shellfish inspector, and y-you refused to let him board, and you promised to vacate the slip. See? I know you were there.

RESTAURANT

RED : You gentleman are doing a wonderful job.Sorry.Sorry.Traffic coming into the city. Price of progress.

LIZ : This is Dean Walker from Anneca. Who’s this?
RED : The smoking gun. Ugh! That sounded dramatic.
WALKER : Leonid Zhabin. This is the new evidence that you were talking about. Ex-minister Zhabin hasn’t been in power for 20 years, and with all due respect, sir, the man is not mentally well.
RED : Perhaps not, but “In a mad world, only the mad are sane.” Kurosawa.
WALKER : What the hell is he talking about?
RED : History, Mr. Walker. My new friend knows a great deal about the history of your company’s pipeline.
WALKER : History is not new evidence.
RED : Or maybe it is. As it turns out, we do agree on one key detail. Your company’s current pipeline is not the worst thing on earth.
LIZ : Then what is?
RED : The first pipeline– the one Anneca built in 1988, four years before the current one.
WALKER : Is that what he told you? The man is delusional.
RED : Probably.
WALKER : There was only one pipeline. We broke ground to build it in ’92. Read the contracts.
RED : You’re right. The contracts do say that.
ZHABIN : It started before the Wall fell. Uzbekistan was still a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. Mr. Gorbachev was changing our future. I was allowed to secretly open our markets for an American pipeline.
WALKER : This is fiction.
ZHABIN : I sold the rights to them that year, and they built the first pipeline right away. You couldn’t even wait to do it right! We were all so greedy.

RED : The first line was an unmitigated disaster. Hundreds were killed.

ZHABIN : Whole villages became ill. I still see their faces.
RED : Then the Soviet Union collapsed, and all hell broke loose. Anneca paid Mr. Zhabin to orchestrate a cover-up. Bury the dead, destroy any record that the first pipeline ever existed.
It wasn’t the only disaster cloaked by those momentous events, hidden from view in the fog of a new world order.
WALKER : It’s a good story. But that’s all it is– a story from a crazy old man.
RED : Who happened to keep a complete set of the original documents in the hope that, one day, he might find the courage to set things right. Your engineers did better the second time around.
At least this one took 20 years to start leaking.
LIZ : If this is true and Anneca is responsible for hundreds of people’s deaths, then you and the other high-level executives will be prosecuted.
WALKER : Reparations can be paid to the alleged victims. We can fix this.
RED : Reparations are all well and good, but the people I represent don’t want you to fix it.
RESSLER : They don’t?
RED : No. The Uzbek people have had quite enough of Anneca’s promises. They want you to leave. Pack up your pipeline and leave.

Walker scoffs

WALKER : That won’t happen.
RED : Mr. Denisov thought you might need some additional incentive, so Mr. Zhabin was kind enough to direct him to one of the mass graves where victims of the first pipeline are buried. His men are on their way there now. I can stop them if we have a deal.

Walker clears throat

WALKER : Can I get some water, please?
RED : Oh! Yes! Of course. This is the water they drink in the villages, the ones directly above your pipeline. Drink up... Talk to your board. You have 24 hours until we go public.

HOTEL'S RECEPTION

Camera shutter clicks

Walker's speech: «Effective immediately, Anneca Oil has elected to cease operation of its local pipeline.
And we are thrilled to announce some exciting and highly profitable new initiatives on the horizon…»

RESSLER : We got to go. SRU just confirmed – Agent Burke’s being released.
LIZ : Where?
RESSLER : Drop point outside the city.

Walker: «… construction of three new schools for the people of this great country.
Thank you. And now I’ll take a few questions.»

HOTEL'S STAIRS

RED : Commander Kushan. It’s good to meet you. I’ve heard nothing but terrible things.

WILCOX'S OFFICE

Interrogation room

ALEKO : What kind of deal are we talking about?
WILCOX : It all depends on what you got to say, how valuable it is to the case.
ALEKO : Can take you to the body. Is that valuable enough?

IN THE FOREST

Outside the city, Red arrives for the liberation of Burke in a car

In another car, Ressler and Liz

LIZ : They should be here any time now.

CIA's agents are hidden in the forest. One of them on phone with Heyworth

HEYWORTH'S OFFICE

On phone

CIA'S AGENT : Director Heyworth, the agents are on site. Please advise.
HEYWORTH :Do not move until they take possession of the asset.
CIA'S AGENT : SOG team is standing by in the perimeter, awaiting your go.
HEYWORTH : Once the exchange is complete, I want Reddington taken into custody. If Denisov shows, kill him.

Ruslan arrives with Burke

CIA'S AGENT : Car’s arriving now, sir.Team Leader, stand by.
HEYWORTH :Can you confirm Reddington is in the vehicle?
CIA'S AGENT : Affirmative.

IN THE FOREST

Liz welcomes Burke

LIZ : Agent Burke. Welcome back.
CIA'S AGENT : We have eyes on target. Reddington’s out of the car, sir.
HEYWORTH : Nobody moves until I give the order.

HEYWORTH'S OFFICE

Cooper barges in

COOPER : Hey, Arnold.
SECRETARY : Sir, I tried to stop him –
COOPER : You and I have a problem.
HEYWORTH : Take a step back, Harold.
COOPER : You ignored a Justice Department directive. You told Kushan how to find that compound.
HEYWORTH :You can’t prove that.
COOPER : You and I both know my people are there to protect an asset of yours.
HEYWORTH : I can neither confirm nor deny –
COOPER : : If anything happens to those agents, the next time your phone rings, it’ll be the Attorney General calling.

IN THE FOREST

On phone

CIA'S AGENT : Sir, standing by for your order. Sir, our window’s closing. Requesting authorization to take immediate action.
HEYWORTH : Stand down.

Receiver slams

DENISOV'S COMPOUND

A crate marked UN Humanitarian Aid has arrived

DENISOV : I need your help. Commander Kushan and his men are at my compound.
RED : His men are.

DENISOV : If you can get me out of the country –
RED : I can. But I won’t.
DENISOV : They will arrest me.
RED : Perhaps. Sooner or later, we all must pay for our crimes.

Knock on box

Kushan is in box

DENISOV : Is Kushan – ?
RED : You still don’t see it, do you?

DENISOV :The endgame.

RED : You could run this country, Ruslan. What you’ve done is that important. You brought a multinational corporation to its knees, saved countless lives. You’ll make this country billions. You may go to prison for a bit. But you will emerge a hero. One of the few standing in your way is Commander Kushan.

Knock on box

RED : Well, not standing.

DENISOV : Commander Kushan? –

Knock on box

HOTEL'S RECEPTION

TV Woman: «More on this breaking story. Just hours after Anneca Oil’s announcement that the company is shutting down its pipeline comes this surprising development. The government and French oil conglomerate Savillion have reached a deal to nationalize a brand-new pipeline.
The deal, said to be worth billions, should gain easy approval and will be finalized within days.»

LIZ :I never saw that coming. I knew you had to have an angle.
RED : Elizabeth Keen, this is Claude Hippeau, Senior Vice President of Savillion.
HIPPEAU : Enchanté.
LIZ : You were having drinks together the day we arrived. You knew exactly what was gonna happen.
RED : I had an inkling.
HIPPEAU : Au revoir, mon ami.

Smooches.Pats back

RED : Give my regards to the wife – and the mistress.
LIZ : That’s why you wanted Anneca to abandon the pipeline, to clear the way for another company to get the contract?
RED : You say that as if it’s a bad thing. Anneca shuts down operations, the victims are well compensated, maybe get a little justice, a new firm is poised to deliver a state-of-the-art pipeline – everybody wins.
LIZ : You get a payday from Savillion for making it happen.
RED: Vive la France.

Smacks lips

LIZ'S OFFICE

Knock on door

ARAM : Hey.

Door closes

LIZ : Did you find anything?
ARAM : No. I mean, uh, yes. Looks like some kind of beta technology. A recording device.
I’m thinking it’s late ’80s, early ’90s. But how it works, what it does I don’t have the faintest idea.

Door opens

ARAM : Have you spoken to Mr. Reddington about this?
LIZ : No.
ARAM : But he might have some insights.
LIZ : You have to tell me – promise me you will not talk to Reddington about this.
ARAM : Mum’s the word.

Door closes

THE LOCATION OF AMES'S BODY

ALEKO : We got a deal, right? No jail time if I testify? You’re not gonna believe what I have to say.
WILCOX : Tell me about Elizabeth Keen.

 

Adapté du site «The Blacklist Classified», mise en page par mnoandco