Leverage Transcripts derived from the closed captions available online and formated by slaysvamps. Feel free to download and share, but please give credit and a link back to me here.
Leverage Main | When Darkness Falls

1x03 the Two Horse Job
[Kensington Stables, Kentucky]

(car pulls up to a burning barn, horses screaming, one horse runs out ahead of Willie who stumbles into Aimee's arms)

Aimee: Dad! Dad! Dad, are you alright? The other horses?

Willie: It’s too late.

Aimee (looking at barn): Yeah.


[Willie's Office]

Willie: Nine dead. One horse survived. Baltimore, with smoke in his lungs. My family has been training horses since civil war. Never had anything like this.

Nate: But you didn't own any of those horses, right?

Eliot: That's not how it works. Trainers raise them and break them. They race them but they don't own them. It's a rich man's game.

Willie: Well, I've always dreamed to have my own horses, so when this wall-street guy came to town, Mr. Foss, he said that he wanted to start his own horse franchise. Mr. Ford, he offered me 10% ownership, real ownership. I took the deal, and six months later, the horses aren't running to Foss’ liking.

Eliot: He burned nine horses Nate, nine of them, to get his investment back.

Willie: And he's running round blaming me for the fire. Bad enough I lost my stable, no one will ever hire me again. I'm non insurable.

Nate: Yeah. Well Foss is up for a 2 million dollar insurance payout, so we can get you piece of that money.

Willie: I don't want a dime of Fosse's damn money.

Nate: Wh-I'm sorry, wh-what is it that you do want?

Willie: They scream. In a fire, Mr. Ford, the horses scream. Foss only has one horse left alive. Get Baltimore for me, I'll take care of him. That's all I want. For that son of bitch to never be in the horse business again. Nothing more.

Aimee (enters office): You called him?

Willie: We need him.

Aimee: Yeah, no, we don't.

Eliot: I forgot how much I like these Southern welcomes.

Aimee: Eight years, no phone calls, no letters, you don't earn a homecoming parade.

Eliot: How's your husband, Aimee?

Aimee: Gone. Seems I have a weakness for men with one foot out the door. (leaves room)

Willie: Excuse me. (follows Aimee out)

Nate: So when you said you knew the family, you meant you... knew the family, huh? Please tell me you weren't engaged to her.

Eliot: No. M-may have given her a promise ring, or...

Nate: A what?

Eliot: So that…

Nate: No, never mind. Well, there's no way we're gonna do this if I have to worry about you being stupid because you're too involved with...

Eliot: I'm not involved. I'm -- I want to help Willie. Did you hear the guy's story? Scout's honor.

Nate: Wrong hand.


[Leverage Offices, Conference Room]

Hardison: Alan Foss, hedge-fund manager for Smith & Marken in New York. He made $40 million in the last two years. And he picked up some pretty high-cost, high-profile hobbies. Started with high-stakes poker and now owning racehorses.

Parker: I think I have a fever. Can I be excused from this one?

Sophie: Oh. Come here. Let me feel your head.

Nate: No, don't -- don't feel her. Why do you -- what -- what's the deal? W-what we --

Parker: I once saw a horse kill a clown.

[Flashback]

(Camden, Illinois, 20 years ago.)

Clown: Bobbie, no! No! Ugh! Aah! No! I'll give you more money! No! Aah! Aaah!


[Conference Room]

Parker: I just really don't like horses.

Nate: Moving on.

Hardison: Six months ago, Foss poured a pile of cash into buying all of the horses from Willie's stable. After the fire, wh--

Eliot: Massacre. The massacre.

Sophie: Ooh, you are a bit hot on this one.

Hardison: Oh-okay, hot, yes. Everybody, y'all want to take over the briefings? Okay, I-I go to a lot of trouble to make these things interesting, have a little something visual for the visual learners and the auditory learners, and y'all, i-it's just interruption --

Parker: Hey, IYS. Your old insurance company holds the policy on Foss' horses.

Sophie: Is that gonna be a problem?

Nate: No, if I can find a way to stick it to my old bosses, even better.

Hardison: Our mission is to take Foss' last surviving horse and deliver it to Eliot's friend Willie. Meet Baltimore, three wins, two places, insured for $200,000. Thank you very much, that concludes this briefing. Appreciate your attention. Now, how to we get the damn horse?

Nate: Well, what do we know about Foss' schedule?

Hardison: According to his online calendar, he's going to a big race at Kensington racetrack this weekend.

Nate: Miss Devereaux, how is your "southern belle"?


[Turf Club, Kensington Racetrack]

Sophie: How y'all doing? Well, hi, there.

Man: How are you?

Sophie: Nice to see you again.

(Parker watching from stairs, Nate putting on button cam)


[Private Room]

(team setting up poker game with cameras and special cards. Eliot holds up a hand and it’s clear what he’s holding)

Hardison: He's got trip 3s.


[Turf Club]

Foss: Now, if I wanted a glass of ice, I would have ordered that, okay? So try again, thanks.

Sophie: And a bourbon, straight.

Foss: Wow. Like it. I like when a woman knows how to order a drink.

Sophie: Hmm. Katherine-Beth Lovery, but you can call me Kitty.

Foss: Alan Foss, and you can call me whatever you want. So, are you here for business or pleasure?

Sophie: A little of both, I'm a bloodstock agent. You in the market for a horse?

Foss: Got anything fast?

Sophie: I don't deal with sprinters, no, no, no. I like mine to finish the mile.

(Sophie pulls his wallet, passes it to Parker)

Foss: I-I'm sorry. um... I don't really recognize the last name. What owners have you worked with?

Sophie: I brokered the deal for the last two derby winners. It's good for business, but I'm a little shy of publicity.

(Parker runs Foss' credit card in a strip reader)


[Back Room]

Hardison: He's got a $50,000 limit.


[Turf Club]

Parker (looking through wallet): He bet on Kentucky Thunder.

(Parker returns wallet)

Sophie: In fact, one of the horses racing today was my sale. Kentucky Thunder.

Foss: Yeah, I hear he's a great horse. I have a couple of thousand in spare change on him.

Sophie: Well, that is my kind of spare change.


[Grand Stand]

Foss: After this race, you let me buy you a drink?

Sophie: Sadly, on this occasion, I have to run. See, I host a monthly poker game here at the track for some of my higher-end clients.

Foss: Uh, I'd like in on that game.

Nate: He's got $50,000.

Sophie: It's awfully high-stakes. $50,000 buy-in.

Foss: Yeah, I'd like in.


[Private room]

Sophie: Evening, gentlemen. Mr. Foss, this is our friend, Sheik Khalid from Dubai. His daddy did business with my daddy. Oil first, then horses.

Hardison: Pleasure's mine. Good luck.

Foss: Thank you.

Sophie: And this here's Brad Mackie.

Eliot: I'm Mackie.

Sophie: One of the best trainers in town.

Eliot: Oh, Miss Kitty.

Foss: Oh, really? Really? Well, then why doesn't he work for me, then?

Nate (entering): Well, evening, ladies. Didn't have to wait for me.

Eliot: Because I work for him.

Nate: I'd have caught up. Bob Gibson. Who are you?

Sophie: Bob, this is Alan Foss the investor from New York.

Nate: Oh, yeah, the one who’s, uh, stable burned down, right? You're the guy who had the stable burn down, all those horses are -- ? Yeah, well, I know you're new around here and everything, so why don't I just give you a little tip? Don't let your stable burn down, there, boss. Why don't we play some cards?

Foss: Actually, why don't you just hold on one second, please? Do you mind if I, uh... Anybody mind -- I got this out of a gift shop today -- play with a fresh deck?

Nate: That's a rookie move, but I don't mind.

Eliot: I don't have a problem with that.

Nate: Why don't you just hand her the deck there, uh, Fossil...

Foss: Yeah sure. fine, why not?

Nate: So we can play some cards, and you can lose some money.

(group plays several hands of cards)

Foss: Ahh.

(Nate showing hand with a King, two 6s and two 4s)

Foss: All right. Uh, I'm $40,000 light, but I'm sure, uh, (taking off watch) this'll just be worth --

Nate: We play for cash or we play for horses. Now, you still got one of those left, or did you, did you lose that one, too?

Foss: Cute. All right, I'm going to put in my last horse (writes on a napkin) Baltimore. Witness it.

(pushes napkin at Sophie who signs it)

Foss: thanks, darling. See? 'cause that's how we do it where I'm from, hoss.

Nate: You're bluffing.

Foss: There's, I don't know, is four 9s. Good?

Nate: Damn. Mmm.

Foss: "c. u."

(Nate reveals hand, four Jacks and a 7)

Foss: You're a cheating son of a bitch!

Nate: I don't know what you're talking about.


[Flashback]

(Hardison, Nate and Eliot pass cards around the table using slight of hand)


[Private Room]

Nate: Why don't you make sure Jersey boy here gets my horse, number 1, and you, well, you can come back to play with us anytime you want.

Foss: Okay, you know what? This isn't binding, so good luck.

Nate: Oh, it's not binding, huh?

Foss: No.

Nate: You had four 9s, and I had four jacks. Four 9s, four jacks. Four 9s... Four jacks, I believe, is better than four 9s. I'll tell everybody from Vegas to Houston that Alan Foss welches on his bets, is that what you want? I'll tell 'em. Pleasure doing business.

(Foss leaves room)

Eliot: I owe you one. Thank you.

Nate: We're done.


[Parking Lot]

(Nate walking alone through the dark lot, Sterling pulls up in car)

Sterling: Hello, Nate.

Nate: Sterling.

Sterling: Why are you playing poker with my client, Nate?

Nate: Alan Foss is your client. Huh. The fire, you're investigating the stable fire for IYS, you got my old job.

Sterling: Actually, I have your old office, very roomy. Allow me to rephrase. Why is an ex-insurance agent playing poker with the subject of an open insurance investigation?

Nate: Open investigation? Local cops think it was an accident.

Sterling: Local cops don't have to write a check for $2 million. It's my job to make sure that doesn't -- Ah huh. Oh, Nate, that's pathetic. This is another one of those complicated little games that you like to play. All right, so, you're hustling Foss, trying to prove arson or get him on fraud. Whatever, as long as the company doesn't have to write the check. You're trying to get your old job back.

Nate: You know, okay. You have it all figured out. I'll just back off from -- from now on.

Sterling: Nah, it's too late for that. Tell you the truth, though, I'd kind of given up on Foss. I like the trainer for the fire, Willie Martin.

Nate: Willie Martin's an innocent man.

Sterling: We're insurance men, Nate. We don't care about who's guilty or who's innocent, just who pays.

(Sophie pulls up in car)

Sophie: Sterling.

Sterling: Sophie Devereaux. Haven't seen you since... what was it? That little coup in Sierra Leone? This is getting very interesting.

(Sterling pulls away, Nate gets in Sophie's car)

Sophie: We need a...

Nate: New plan.


[Grand Stand]

(Team walks into stands)

Parker: Is it true Sterling spent three days in the trunk of a car waiting to catch someone?

Nate: No, no.

Sophie: It was five.

Parker: What?

Sophie: Look, I'm not saying that he's better than you were but --

Nate: "Were"? Wh-I-I'm sorry.

Sophie: We need to get Willie that horse back and get out of here very, very quickly.

Nate: It's a little too late for that. I mean, Sterling thinks that I'm trying to get my job back, right? He doesn't care about the claim anymore. He's just gonna mess with anything I do. If I try to keep Baltimore for myself, he's gonna try to get Baltimore back for Foss. If I give Willie the horse, Willie becomes the target, and believe me, you don't want to be, you know, the target of Sterling.

Sophie: I thought we could get away from Sterling.

Eliot: Great. So, wait, wait. You're saying Willie loses the horse and Foss stays in business? Nice.

Nate: No, no, no, listen. I think I know a way we can tackle both -- I think. Sophie, try to get Foss here, and you guys keep a tab on Sterling, run interference. Eliot, find us a stable.


[Stable Aisle]

Eliot: Aimee got us the horses. We need her help to pull this off.

Nate: So all of these are mine?

Aimee: Uh, well, no. Trainers work with a lot of different owners, so only a few of them will be yours. But the stables belong to the trainers, not the owners. So his office would be right down there.

Eliot: You can't even say my name now?

Aimee: No, sirree.

Eliot: Whatever.

Nate: Uh, and the logos?

Eliot: Well, like she said, my stable. These stables are all identical, the only way to tell them apart is by trainer logos, so Hardison faked a couple of them up this morning.

Aimee: Anything else so you need so you can wrap this up and go back to being a somewhat disappointing memory?

Eliot: I thought you said you were fine with this.

Aimee: I thought you said you were coming back in a three weeks.

Nate: Oh, boy, this is perfect.


[Parking Lot]

(Sterling pulls into a parking spot)

Parker: Where the hell is he?

Hardison: Incoming.

Parker: And... Sterling.

Hardison: Electronic locks, electronic throttle, power steering, keyless entry... uh, you know what runs all that?

Parker: Computers?

Hardison: Oh, yeah.

(Sterling's doors lock, electronics go haywire. He sees Parker and Hardison in the van behind him, pulls cell phone)

Sterling: Hello? Police? Listen, I'm at the racetrack. Yeah, I just passed a black van. I can't be sure, but I think I heard screaming from inside. And there as blood, like, all over the back of the doors. Sure, yeah, they could have had guns. Who knows? Yeah, a black van. Yeah, sure. I'll hold.

Parker: How did--

(Sterling waves to Parker)

Parker: He's like Nate. Evil Nate.

Hardison: Let's flee now, talk later.


[Stable Aisle]

Sophie: I sure do appreciate you coming on such short notice.

Foss: How could you -- Gibson. Gibson, listen, we need to talk about my horse.

Nate: And how nice he looks in his new home here. Huh, is that what you're tal-- whoa. Yeah, not as nice as you, darlin'. Good thing there's not a rule about short skirts in horse stables. Yeah, let's go talk.


[Trainer’s Office]

Nate: uh, you -- I don't remember your name, but I need your office.

Eliot (standing): You asked me...

Nate: No, today. today.

(Nate sits in Eliot's chair)

Nate: not -- not -- not -- not tomorrow. Today.

(Eliot leaves room)

Nate: All right, go.

Foss: All right, look, my insurance guy's a real prick. He says until the claim clears, I can't sell that last horse.

Nate: Yeah, well, of course he did.

Foss: All right, anyway, whatever. Um. I would like to buy Baltimore back, please. Okay, so here's $40,000.

Nate: No, the price went up. It's $2 million.

Foss: What -- ex-- say what?

Nate: I got this big deal coming up, don't I, darlin'? And I could use the liquid cash. 2 million bucks.

Foss: You know what? You're ridiculous. You're a joke.

Nate: Well, that's the way we play where I come from. Listen, why don't you and I, why don't we go talk about how much money you're gonna make me. And you, why don't you call me when you're serious. Come on, there, Kitty.

Foss: Oh, you're just gonna go with -- 'cause, yeah, he's -- he's -- he's a real charmer. Have a good time.

(Nate and Sophie leave, Eliot re-enters office)

Eliot: I'm sorry. I've just seen that look before. That's a Bob Gibson special.

Foss: What, are you serious?! How do you even put up with that?

Eliot: He's a little worse this week 'cause he's got this deal, and he, uh... anyway, I'm sorry he didn't sell you your horse back.

Foss: And what is this deal with kitty?

Eliot: W-- I-I can't help you with that, Mr. Foss.

Foss: See, this industry is changing. Yep, wasted my time with that petty-ante crap. Cheap horses, low-rent trainers, okay. Well, you know what I did, though? I called my hedge-fund buddies up, and we're gonna form investment portfolios, only with horses and not stocks. Modernize the sport, so guys like Bob Gibson won't know what hit them when New York money comes to town. So you do me a favor, here's how I can help you. You either join the revolution or you get the hell out of my way. See ya.


[Stable Aisle]

Eliot: Great news, not only is Foss not out of the horse business, he's bringing in more money and more partners.

Nate: Caught that, working on it.

Aimee: You're working on it? You said that you had a plan.

Eliot: He just said he's working on it.

Aimee: Right, but you convinced my dad that things were gonna be okay. Things have only gotten worse. Now, I-I appreciate you trying to help, but if you don't know what you're doing, just walk away. At least I know you're good at that.

(Aimee walks away around a corner, Eliot follows)

Eliot: Can't let it go, can you? Can't let it be the past.

Aimee: No, I was fine until the long-lost hero came back into town.

Eliot: Your dad called me.

Aimee: You could have said no.

Eliot: When did I become the bad guy, huh? You-I-I left because you got married.

Aimee: Oh, yeah, and the first 15 times you left?

Eliot: I came back, all right? You're the one that moved on. So I don't even know why--

Aimee: No phone calls, no letters -- nothing! Eliot, what kind of a person does that? What -- what reasonable justification could you have for just dropping off the planet, huh?


[Flashback]

(Eliot being dragged through hallway by goons)

Guard: Tell us what you did with the monkey! Where is it? Where is the monkey?!


[Stable Aisle]

Eliot: I was working.

Aimee: Not good enough.

(Aimee walks away, Eliot grabs her arm)

Eliot: Hey, just listen to me just for a – (they scuffle, he takes hold of her) oh, don't start with your stuff. Oh, don't. You know you can't get out of this. Stop.

(Aimee pushes Eliot away, then grabs him)

Aimee: Come here.

(They kiss, Eliot picks up Aimee and carries her into a stall)


[Owner’s Office]

Sophie: What about that thing you did in -- in Kazakhstan?

Nate: No, Sterling knows about that one.

Sophie: And you're sure this isn't about sticking it to your old rival? Because, you know, it's really not worth putting the rest of us at risk.

Nate: No, listen, you know, Sterling is gonna do everything in his power to take us down, all right? And he's gonna take Willie with him, so I-I'm just trying to come up with some plan that he doesn't see a mile away with a blindfold on.

(Parker and Hardison enter)

Parker: Same thing with a zebra, they bite and they never let go --

Hardison: No, no, no, no.

Parker: -- in the jungle

Hardison: Hold up, wait, wait. What about Mister Ed?

Parker: Yeah, a talking animal that nobody else can hear? That never ends badly.

Hardison: It didn't turn out badly. Wilbur loved Mister Ed. He loved him like a second cousin twice removed.

Nate: That's it. That's it. That's it.

Sophie: What? A talking horse?

Nate: No. the lost heir.

Hardison: What's that?

Sophie: Classic European scam. You pose as a long-lost descendant of the royal family, and when you pull it off, well, the payoffs are really good, loads of parties, money, and... a fabulous Faberge egg.

Parker: What does that have to do with horses?

Nate: Well, with horses, it's all about bloodlines.

Sophie: The lost heir of the royal equine family is gonna be worth millions.

Nate: We are gonna sell this guy the greatest horse that never lived.


[Grand Stand]

Eliot: Go ahead. I know you're itching to say something.

Sophie: I like Aimee. I do. I mean it. I like you both. I just -- you know, I don't know what comes of chasing the past, you know, Eliot?

Eliot: Yeah, well, Sophie, sweetie, I don't think you and Nate get to serve me that particular meal.

Sophie: Ouch.

(Joining the others at a table)

Nate: We're using Baltimore as the lost heir.

Hardison: I hacked into the IFHA website, that's the database with all the horses' bloodlines. Now, all that information is linked on numbers to microchips in the horse's neck. Now, we'll link Baltimore's microchip number to a fake horse with a great bloodline, then we'll disguise the white stripe on his face with some paint.

Eliot: No, no, it's not gonna work. His lungs are still messed up from the fire.

Nate: Well, he can still run.

Eliot: He can run, but Foss is gonna see how slow he is. That paint thing, that's not gonna hold up if he gets close enough to scan the chip.

Nate: Uh... Ahh. Well, we need to find a horse that can run like a champion.

Hardison: What about that horse from the other day? Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Eliot: Kentucky Thunder?

Hardison: That's what I said.

Nate: Oh, we steal an actual championship racehorse in order to fake another championship racehorse. Ooh, I like it.


[Stable Yard]

Sophie: Whoo-hoo, Todd? Lina Watters. Todd Hazen, right? Kentucky Thunder's trainer?

Todd: Yes, can I help you with something?

Sophie: Great, well, we're all set.

Todd: Set?

Sophie: Well, you are ready for the interview, aren't you?

Todd: Excuse me?

Sophie: Well, my office has been calling you all day. I've set up an interview with sports illustrated.


[Owner’s Office]

Hardison: A couple years ago, all the cell phone companies went digital with their voicemail systems. Man, it was like somebody put a brand-new swing set on my playground.

(Hardison hacks into Todd's phone)


[Stable Yard]

Todd: Damn it.

Sophie: Like I said, been calling you all day.

Todd: I heard you, ma'am.

Sophie: So, listen, the reporter's gonna be at the turf club any second now.

Todd: I hear you.

Sophie: Thank you. Um, listen, if he's not there, please wait for him for half an hour. Maybe an hour...or two. Have a snack.

(Eliot enters stable)


[Paddock]

(Sophie talking to an Asian couple)

Nate: Any sign of Sterling?

Hardison: No, all clear.

Nate: Parker?


[Grand Stand]

Parker: Nope.


[Paddock]

Nate: What about these guys? Any trouble getting them here?


[Flashback]

(Hardison in airport watchign passengers disembark and consulting a passenger list. He writes a name on a sign and picks up a couple of Asian tourists.)


[Paddock]

Hardison: Well, the little one has a bladder the size of peanut. She had to go to the bathroom three times on the way here and once when we got here.


[Cart]

Eliot: You ever hear of the Beijing Jockey Club?

Foss: Yeah, flew out there a few years back with a couple of buddies. We met with the founder, J.P. Chang. He, uh, was trying to start this horse hedge fund. Right idea, wrong investment.

Eliot: Yep, imported 600 horses, all the best bloodlines in the world.

Foss: Yeah, for all the good that did them. Communist government cracks down a year later, kills every single horse. 600 thoroughbred racehorses dead, and nobody makes one cent on the insurance payouts. That is the real tragedy, my friend.

(Eliot stops cart suddenly, visibly controlling temper)

Eliot: They didn't kill 600 horses. They killed 599.

Foss: What?

Eliot: That's the surviving horse.

(Eliot hits stopwatch)


[Paddock]

(Nate hits stopwatch as Kentucky Thunder begins running)


[Cart]

Eliot: That time beats every Derby winner in the last decade. His name's Fei Kuai, born September 15th.

Foss: That's a month before the others were killed.

Eliot: Those are the original owners. They're trying to unload him before the government finds him.

Foss: Wait, are they trying to sell it to Gibson?

Eliot: For a fraction of what he's worth.

Foss: No, no way. Not happening.


[Paddock]

(Eliot using a scanner on Kentucky Thunder)

Eliot: Can you get internet on your phone, Mr. Foss?

Foss: Yes. (pulls out his cell phone)

Eliot: Pull up the IFHA website, I'll tell you why. Every thoroughbred worldwide has their bloodlines registered there. Punch in that number right there, that'll give you the bloodlines of this horse.

Scanner: 8-9-9-3-3.

Foss: Native Dancer, War Admiral, Secretariat. You got to be -- this horse is a Kennedy.

Eliot: Yeah, if you're gonna start a franchise, Mr. Foss, this is the horse you need.


[Stable Yard]

Nate: What did we find out about his investment group?

Hardison: Six investors. They each matched Foss' $2 million seed money. They put Foss in charge.

Nate: All right, Sophie, get in there. He's got $12 million with your name on it.


[Paddock]

Sophie: Mr. Foss, how nice to see you again. Brad.

Eliot: Miss Katherine.

Sophie: Pardon us, but we need to get this horse back to his stable now.

Foss: Hold it right there, kitty cat. I want to buy your horse. Whatever Gibson offered you, I want to give you more.

Sophie: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Mr. Gibson offered them $11 million.

Foss: Great. $12 million by tomorrow.

Sophie (in Mandarin): This nice man also welcomes you. He likes your shirt, do you remember where you bought it?

Chinese Man (in Mandarin): I think it was a gift.

Sophie: If you have the money by tomorrow, the horse is yours.

Foss: Yes! Slap it. Slap it.

(Asian woman holds out a camera)

Sophie: Of course. In the Chinese culture, it is customary to take a picture together when you transfer a property.

Foss: What are you kid-- hell, yeah, come on. Let's do it right now. Take it. Let's do it.

(Sophie takes picture)

Sophie: Smile.

(Hardison walking away with Asian couple, woman speaks)

Hardison: You got to go again? Of course you do. It's right on in there, right around the corner. Go on, go on ahead.

Asian woman: Ok?


[Stable Aisle]

Asian woman (in Mandarin): hello. I have your camera.

Sterling (in Mandarin): Did you get some nice pictures?

Asian woman (in Mandarin): I think so. I have to go.

(Sterling watches video on camera of Sophie talking to Nate, smiles)



[Owner’s Office]

Sterling (walks in): You know, I couldn't believe it at first.

Nate: Sterling, welcome.

Sterling: Then again, you did drink yourself right out of a job. Lost your house, your wife, plenty of money troubles.

(Nate takes drink of alcohol)

Nate: Keep talking, you'll get to the point eventually.

Sterling: You crossed the line. Nathan Ford is a common criminal.

Nate: Oh, "common"? Well, that's just hurtful.

Sterling: I spoke to my client tonight. Do you want to know what I told him?

Nate: I don't think you told him anything, 'cause if you had proof that Foss started the fire, you'd be gone already. I don't think you'd risk a $2 million payout just to stick it to me. No, I think you probably did what you always do. You gave your client just enough rope, just enough to hang himself. Am I right?

Sterling: This time, Nate, I think there's just enough rope for two.


[Paddock]

Hardison: There's no way to fake the numbers on that chip.

Nate: You faked it before.

Hardison: No, no, no. I faked the information on the database. Okay, now, when Foss scans that chip, if it's not the same number that showed up before --

Parker: Oh, we're screwed.

Hardison: Basically. Now, either we cut the chip out of the horse and insert it into another one --

Sophie: Or we deliver Kentucky Thunder.

Nate: No, we're not a library. We can't just take horses in and out as we like.

(Eliot and Aimee join them)

Eliot: Kentucky Thunder's gone.

Nate: What?

Sophie: Racing?

Aimee: Worse. Stud farm.

Nate: Oh.

Hardison: No, no, no, no, no.

Nate: All right, we're not gonna get Foss to write a $12 million check for an empty horse trailer. This doesn't work without Kentucky Thunder. So we're gonna stall.

Eliot: No.

Nate: What do you mean, no?

Eliot: Sterling's gonna catch on. Foss is gonna get cold feet, man. No. we have a chance. We got to get this horse.

(Nate pulls Eliot aside, Sophie follows)

Nate: Ok, listen. I am not gonna jeopardize the rest of the team because you have something to prove to your high-school sweetheart. It's just not gonna happen.

Sophie: Oh, and you're not trying to prove something to Sterling? You're not trying to prove something to the world every time we help somebody out? We're all trying to prove something, just being here with you.

Nate: If it gets too close, I will pull the plug and you and you will walk away, and that will be that.

(Eliot walks away)

Nate: And you -- who do you have someone to prove to?

Sophie: Myself... you arrogant son of a bitch.


[Interior Truck]

(team sitting in truck looking at the Kentucky Thunder’s stable)

Parker: Can you hack it?

Hardison: Hack a lock? Nice. You still really don't understand what I do, do you?

Eliot: Parker, you're gonna have to go in through the air duct, drop down, and let us in.

Parker: But the horses are in there.

Aimee: No, no, no. there's a back room, there won't be any horses in there.

Eliot: We need you to do this. I need you to do this. Please.


[Air Duct in Stable]

Parker: Looks like Parker's gonna have to crawl through the air duct again. God forbid anyone else would have to learn how to freakin' crawl on their stomach through a tiny space. It's not rocket science, people.

Eliot (on com): Parker, you realize that we can still hear you.


[Stable Back Room]

(Parker drops down into room right next to Kentucky Thunder)

Parker: Aimee... I've found Kentucky Thunder. He's a really, really big horse.


[Interior Truck]

Aimee: Oh, I'm so sorry. Uh, yeah, sometimes they keep him in there before he gets teased.


[Stable Back Room]

Parker: I don't want to be in a stall with a horse that's about to be teased!


[Interior Truck]

Eliot: We're running out of time, Parker.


[Stable Back Room]

Parker: Oh, my God!

(Parker petting Kentucky Thunder)

Eliot: Parker, hurry up!


[Stable Aisle, Horse Farm]

(Parker takes lock off doors and they open, Hardison, Aimee and Eliot entering)

Hardison: See, you're not dead, good.

Parker: Don't be silly. Horses are much less murderous than I originally thought.


[Stable Aisle, Track]

Sophie: Alan, when I met you at the races the other day, I said to myself, "Kitty, now, this is a man who is going to take you places."

Foss: Are we going the right way?

Sophie: Darlin', I'm quite familiar with these stables. We're just taking a little shortcut.

Foss: Sterling's gonna meet us here, and a few investors are coming, too. They can't wait to meet Fei Kuai.

Sophie (stops before stall): And here we are.

Foss: I've never come this way before. It's funny.

Sophie: I'm just gonna go check on the truck, you stay right here. Right here.

(Foss looking at name plate on stall)


[Trainer’s Office]

(Sophie walks into office)

Nate: Hey, did you get him turned around enough?

Sophie: I think so. He doesn't seem that familiar with the stables.

Nate: Okay, Foss is in place. Where are you?


[Interior Truck]

Eliot: We're close, any minute now.

(Exterior shot of wreck blocking road ahead of the truck, traffic stopped)


[Trainer’s Office]

Nate: Listen, the hauler's gonna be here in five minutes. If you're not here, Foss is gonna open up an empty trailer and there'll be no lost heir.


[Interior Truck]

Eliot: I said we'll be there!


[Trainer’s Office]

Nate: Hardison, show me what you're looking at.


[Interior Truck]

(Hardison using cell phone to video wreck, cop car approaching, road completely blocked)

Hardison: I'll be damned.


[Trainer’s Office]

(Nate looking at video on his phone)

Hardison (on com): We're going to jail.


[Interior Truck]

Aimee: My father's lost his job, he lost his horses, and now he's gonna have to visit me in jail. That's great.

Parker: On the bright side, you'll have all of us to keep you company.

Eliot: Hey, nobody's going to jail. I promise you. We're gonna make it.

(Eliot getting out of truck)

Aimee: Where are --


[Trainer’s Office]

Nate: All right, all right. We're not gonna make it. I'm pulling the plug. Eliot, bring the horse back to the stud farm, meet us at the rendezvous spot.

Hardison: Uh, boss, we might have a hard time with that.

Nate: Why?


[Interior Truck]

(Hardison shooting video of Eliot riding Kentucky Thunder away from the truck)


[Trainer’s Office]

Nate (watching video on phone): Oh, great. Great job not getting emotionally attached or doing anything stupid.

Sophie (phone ringin): It's the front gate, the hauler's here.

Nate: Well, perfect, right on time.


[Stable Aisle]

(Foss checking his watch)

Nate: No, we got Sterling showing up any second. Now, listen, this thing -- it's over. So we're gonna do the blowoff right now because --

(Eliot riding up on Kentucky Thunder)

Nate: Whoa.

Eliot: Pony express is never late, boss.

Nate: Didn't I tell you I was gonna kill you?

(Eliot riding horse into the stables)

Nate: Okay, we're back on.


[Stable Yard]

(Near horse hauler, Eliot bringing Kentucky Thunder up)

Sophie: Gibson called, he's upset. He really had his eye on that horse, but I guess the best man won.

Foss: Yeah, well, I have a way of, things have a way of going in my direction. Just lucky, I guess.

Sophie: I guess.

(Eliot approaching with Kentucky Thunder)

Eliot: Mr. Foss, I got something you might want to take a look at.

Foss: Yeah, figured you would.

(Foss handing Eliot a scanner, Eliot checking the horse)

Foss: You might as well double-check before my insurance investigator takes a look. You know, you wouldn't want anything to go wrong. Right?

Sophie: Good thinking.

Scanner: 8 9 9 3 3

(Eliot hands back scanner)

Foss: Thank you.

Sophie: So, ready to make this official?

(Sophie puts documents on hood of car)

Foss: Yes, I am.

Sophie: Just sign here and initial there.

(Foss signs documents)

Sophie: Now, there's just that small matter of $12 million.

Foss: $12 million coming right at you.

(Foss uses his cell phone to make transfer, Sophie double checks it on her phone)

Sophie: Why, that is a lovely string of zeros. My friends will be very pleased.

(Eliot puts Kentucky Thunder in stall and closes the door)


[Stable Aisle]

Foss (leading his investors): Right down here.

Sterling: I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news, Mr. Foss.

Foss: Hey, Sterling, not right now, okay? I'm showing them the horse.

Sterling: The horse you have in there is not from China, and it's definitely not the lost heir of Secretariat.

Foss: What are you talking about?

Sterling: That horse is Kentucky Thunder.

Foss: What?

(Foss opens stall door)


[Inside Stall]

Trainer: That ain't Kentucky Thunder.

Foss: Well, of course it isn't. It's Fei Kuai.

(Foss hands over paperwork to Sterling, who pulls out scanner and scans the horse)

Scanner: 0-2-2-1-3.

(Foss pulls out his own scanner)

Foss: Okay, obviously your scanner isn't working.

Scanner: 0-2-2-1-3.

Foss: Okay, I-I just put the horse in here. How is this happening?

Investor: What is going on, Foss?

Foss: How am I supposed to know? What horse is this?


[Flashback]

(Eliot leading Kentucky Thunder down stable aisle)

Foss: They need men like myself to, uh, show them vision.

(Parker and Hardison switching name plates and stall numbers)



[Inside Stall]

Sterling: It's Baltimore.

Foss: Um...e-excuse me. That's impossible, because I lost Baltimore in a poker game.

Sterling: Well, it looks like you just bought him back and you tried to insure him for $12 million. In the previous claim, you insured this very same horse for $200,000, and that's insurance fraud. I'm gonna have to deny your claim on the fire. I think you owe these gentlemen an explanation.

Investor: I think he owes us $10 million.

Foss: Whoa! Wait! Hold on! Let me just -- his is not ha-- this isn't -- we're gonna -- we're gonna get the money back.

Investor: Oh, we're gonna get the money back. You're on the hook for fraud. You'll pay the debt.

Foss: $10 million is all I have left.

Investor: We'll settle for that.


[Willie’s Office]

Nate: Looks good. All right. And, uh... We got you just a little bit of cash to get your stable going. $12 million more will be in your bank account. (hands Willie the napkin) And here is... your first horse.

Willie: This is legal?

Nate: Absolutely. The fraud invalidates the second sale, ownership reverts back to the previous owner -- me -- and I'm giving him to you.

Willie: I-I don't know what to say. Next horse I get, I'm naming him Mr. Ford.

Nate: Mr. Ford. Well, I look forward to putting a little money on Mr. Ford. All right. Okay. Eliot, Eliot?

Eliot: Yeah, uh, cou-- can I -- could you give me, uh --

Nate: Yeah, yeah. just -- yeah.

(Nate and Willie leave the office)

Aimee: So... I was wrong.

Eliot: I don't think I've ever heard you say that before. Wrong about what exactly?

Aimee: You're never gonna be the kind to settle down, but, uh, I'm glad you found a family.

Eliot: Th-- those guys?

Aimee: I'm just sorry it couldn't be me.

(Eliot kisses Aimee before leaving)

Song Voice Over: Living with me, it ain't easy. Well, I do it every day and sometimes even I, I want to run away. But there you are, you're trying to please me, and you stand your ground. That's more than I deserve


[Leverage Offices]

(Nate walks in to find Sterling waiting)

Nate: Nice move with the tourists and the camera. Did you have to hide in Hardison's trunk all week to pull that off?

Sterling: Your crack team handed me that one. A little sloppy, letting her have bathroom breaks.

Nate: And bringing Kentucky Thunder's trainer, well, that wrapped things up nicely for us. Made you look like an idiot, but helped us out.

Sterling: And the paperwork that you had Foss sign helped me save the company a pile of money in the payout. And you know from personal experience just how much they hate to write a check. Look, it's terrible what happened to your son, no one's denying that. Suffering doesn't automatically make you a hero.

Nate: I never claimed to be.

Sterling: You just think you're above the law.

Nate: Oh, no. I like to think of it as I pick up where the law leaves off.

Sterling: I'm not gonna be so nice next time.

Nate: Neither will I.

The End

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