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

4x13 The Girls' Night Out Job
[Exterior Street]

(Mattingly runs around a corner and down a sidewalk followed by two men. He darts across the street and is nearly struck by a car driven. He continues across the street, losing his pursuers)

Thug: Where’d he go? He was just here.

(Mattingly is holding on to the side of an SUV, riding it on the opposite side of his pursuers as the SUV continues down the street. The passenger in the SUV sees him but the driver does not)


[Leverage HQ]

Eliot: Hardison!

Hardison: Yeah, yeah. One second, Eliot. Uh, Parker. (knocks on counter) Parker.

Parker: What? (walks over to counter)

Hardison: Guess what we’re doing Saturday night.

Parker: Um, going to the --

Hardison: Wrong. (holds tickets up) We’re going to fighting robots at the Civic Center!

Parker: Great.

Hardison: And check it. We are sitting right up next to the plexiglass. I can breathe on it.

Parker: Ooh, that’s close. Real close.

Hardison: You know what? We’re sitting, like, right above the area with the spinning saw blades and the mallets.

Parker: Sounds, uh, loud.

Hardison: Yeah, it’s real loud, ‘cause they send them in, they fight to the death. You know what I mean? You know what? (emotionally) I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced this, but have you ever seen, like, a robot bleed out oil? It’s so... emotional. I mean –

Eliot: Hardison!

Hardison: Yeah, I’m coming, man! Such a -- But you down, right? We good?

Parker: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Hardison: We going? Uh-huh. All right. Good times. (singing) What? Get it, get it! Robots, what?

Parker (singing): What?

Hardison (singing as he moves away): What? What?

Parker: What? Sophie!

(Hardison and Eliot move a card table into the loft toward the dining area)

Parker: Not even for a little while?

Sophie: Unh-unh. I told you. I have plans.

Hardison: Hey, and it is a valid strategy.

Eliot: It’s not strategy, all right? Betting on every hand is not strategy. It’s annoying.

Nate: I just got a phone message from detective Bonanno, saying that he -- he wants to come over. He’s -- (sees Hardison and Eliot setting up the card table) no, no, no, this. No, no, guys. Oh, come on.

Sophie: Your father had a poker game for 30 years. Police, criminals at the same table. This is good for you.

Nate: Yes, I want to be like my father. Good insight, Sophie.

Eliot: Nice. You know, living inside your own head, Nate, only having conversations with your crew -- that ain’t right.

Hardison: Name one person you can have a conversation with who isn’t on this team.

All: And don’t say Maggie.

Eliot: Look, I got my buddies that were in the service. Hell, even Hardison’s got his little internet friends. They’re all elves and gnomes, but at least --

Hardison: They’re orcs. They’re orcs. You just don’t listen.

Sophie: I have dinner plans. Even Parker’s meeting a friend tonight.

Parker: Mm-hmm. Remember Peggy from that jury job in Los Angeles? Technically, she’s Alice’s friend --

Hardison, Eliot and Sophie: You’re Alice.

Nate: You’re Alice, actually.

Parker: She went to Boston last year, so we’ve been doing brunch and other normal-people stuff.

Sophie: And we’re very proud of you.

Parker: For having brunch? Well, it’s not hard. There are forks.

Sophie: So, girls’ night out, boys’ night poker. It’s character-building for everyone. Have fun. (to Eliot) Do not let him go off and sulk.

(Parker follows Sophie out of the apartment)


[Hallway]

Parker: I’ve got to talk to you.

Sophie: Unh-unh, no. I can’t right now. I’m in a hurry.

Parker: No, it’ll only take a second.

Sophie: No, no, no. (enters elevator) It’s not a good time.

Parker: Wait! (holds elevator open)

Sophie: Parker, in or out? Come on.

Parker: No. You know that thing you do when you fix whatever I’m doing wrong?

Sophie: You mean advice?

Parker: Mm-hmm.

Sophie: I’m guessing you and Hardison?

Parker: Mm-hmm. Okay, so, he knows stuff, right? And I know stuff, too. But my stuff is completely different from his stuff.

Sophie: Okay, all right, yeah. It’s just typical early relationship jitters, all right? Just be patient, and soon you’ll be -- you’ll be thick as thieves. (moves Parker’s hand)

Parker: Wait! (holds elevator open) You haven’t fixed me yet.

Sophie: Oh, come on. I’m late. Can’t you talk to your friend Peggy?

Parker: No, she’s got a blind date. I’m supposed to go check him out first to make sure iLuvPaws72 isn’t a disaster.

Sophie: Who?

Parker: Well, they met online. They’re both cat lovers. And she doesn’t know what he looks like because they both use cats as their profile pictures.

(elevator doors close)

Sophie: Good night, Parker. Have a good night.


[Crush]

(Peggy walks across the room to where Parker is sitting at the bar)

Peggy: Hey. Hi.

Parker: Hi.

Peggy: Oh. (hugs Parker and sits down) Oh, gosh, I can’t believe I’m doing this. Is he here yet?

Parker: No, not yet. You can relax.

Peggy: Oh, God. You don’t understand. I’m taking a perfect stranger to a party I’m catering. And it’s at the Venezuelan Consulate. I mean, that’s a big deal for me.

Parker: Yeah.

Peggy (answers phone): Hello? What? No, no, no, no. No. The arepas are supposed to be flash-fried, not deep-fried. What? No. (to Parker) I’m sorry. Can you excuse me just for one second? (moves away from the bar)

Parker: Okay.

Peggy (into phone): You know what? You need to put Gustavo on the phone now.

(Parker turns around and sighs. She sees Mattingly move to the end of the bar and get the Bartender’s attention)

Bartender: Yes, sir. What can I get for you?

Mattingly: Can I get a tequila, top-shelf, very cold, and...

(Parker watches Mattingly check his phone)

Mattingly: Hmm -- a Cosmopolitan. No tab. I’m not staying.

(Parker uses her cell phone to take several pictures of Mattingly and uploads them to her SkyDrive, then makes a phone call)


[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: Bam!

Eliot: You bet out on a pair of 2s?

Hardison: Never tell me the odds. (answers phone and moves away from the table)

Eliot: Respect the game. Respect the game.

Hardison: Respect the swag. (into phone) Hey, girl. I’m a little busy.


[Crush]

Parker: I just uploaded some photos to my SkyDrive. Can you run that face thing that tells you if people are bad?


[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: You mean the one that took me six knockdown, drag-out months to hack?


[Crush]

Parker: Yeah.


[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: Girl, I’m trying to prove my manhood with my boys. You know what I’m saying? With my boys.


[Crush]

Parker: Please?


[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: H-hang on.

Eliot: Hardison, you in or out?

Hardison: What? (pulls up Parker’s SkyDrive on his laptop and runs facial recognition software) Oh, oh, okay. Parker, Craig Mattingly. He’s wanted for burglary and grand larceny in a whole bunch –



[Crush]

(Mattingly stands near the end of the bar)

Hardison: -- of countries. He is trouble. And he –

Hardison: -- he’s got some strikingly good features, squared-up jaw and everything. P-Parker, what are you doing with this guy?


[Crush]

Parker: Thanks. You’re the best.

Hardison: Wait. Parker, wait. I –

(Parker gets up from the bar)


[Bar]

Sophie (raising her glass): To a night of unbridled debauchery.

Tara: I’ll drink to that.

Sophie: Tara, we’ve been friends for so long. Why do we never work together?

Tara: Well, you only need one grifter per crew.

Sophie: It’s a silly rule. A yacht in Saint-Tropez, you and me, imagine the damage we’d do.

Tara: Well, there is that.

Sophie (answers phone: Hello?

Parker: Sophie, I need your help.


[Crush]

Parker: It’s my friend Peggy’s blind date.


[Bar]

Parker: I’m sending you a photo.

Sophie: Unh-unh, no. Parker, listen. Tara and I just sat down.


[Crush]

Parker: Does this man look like “iLuvPaws72”?


[Bar]

(Sophie looks at a picture of Mattingly on her phone and shows it to Tara)

Tara: Yum.


[Crush]

Parker: And look what Hardison found. (sends information to Sophie)


[Bar]

Sophie (looks at information): Ooh. Wanted in multiple jurisdictions.

Tara: Bad boy.

Sophie: Well, he must be targeting your friend for a reason.


[Crush]

Parker: Yeah. We have to help her.

(Peggy is standing outside of the bar, still talking on the phone)


[Bar]

Sophie: All right. This place is dead, anyway.

Tara: Zoom in on the picture -- the part with the wallet.

(Sophie does, revealing a key card from the Palaestra Hotel)

Sophie: Staying at the Palaestra.

Tara: We could toss his room, see what we can find.

Sophie: All right, Parker.


[Crush]

Sophie: Don’t do anything until we –

(Parker hangs up the phone)


[Bar]

Sophie: Parker? Parker!

(Sophie and Tara look at each other, then drain their drinks and leave the bar)


[Crush]

Parker (walks over to Mattingly): Hi, I’m Peggy.

Mattingly (looking her over): You’re Peggy?

Parker: Mm-hmmm.

Mattingly: TabbyFan76?

Parker: Guilty as charged.

Mattingly: iLuvPaws72 -- Craig Mattingly. (shakes Parker’s hand) It’s great to meet you.

Parker: You too.

(Mattingly hands her a glass)

Parker: Oh. Thank you.

Mattingly: Mm-hmm.

(Parker sips at her glass while Mattingly drains his quickly)

Mattingly: Ahh. Well, this place is swell, but we should really get to that party of yours.

Parker: Right, the party that I, uh -- that I’m catering, because I’m a caterer.

Mattingly: Yeah.

Parker: Yeah.

Mattingly: Gala at the Venezuelan Consulate. We should go.

Parker: Oh, uh, what’s the rush? (looks out the door at Peggy)

Mattingly: Well, you know, I’m a country veterinarian. It’s not every day I get to break out the formal wear.

Parker: Right, okay. Um, well, I just have to make a call, because I have to call my cat. He likes to hear my voice on the machine. When I go out, he gets sad. Sometimes he cries, and the neighbor calls. It’s crazy. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.

(Mattingly nods)

Parker: Okay.

(Parker goes to meet Peggy as she comes back inside the bar

Peggy: Sorry.

Parker: It’s okay.

Peggy: Okay. Is he here? What’s he like?

Parker: Yeah.

(Parker turns Peggy around so that she sees an unattractive man sitting at a table)

Peggy: Oh, no.

Parker: Yeah. (steals an invitation from Peggy’s purse)

Peggy: You know, I really liked this one. He sent me the most heartbreaking e-mail about declawing.

Parker: I’m sorry.

Peggy: Just let him down easy for me. Tell him I couldn’t make it.

Parker: Of course.

Peggy: All right, I have to go to work. Thank you for saving me. (hugs Parker)

Parker: Yes. That’s what friends are for.

(Peggy walks away and Parker looks down at the invitation in her hand. As Peggy walks out the door, a woman walks in with a dress in a dry cleaning bag and hangs it on the wall)


[Hotel Room]

(Sophie opens the door and enters the room, followed by Tara)

Sophie: Hmm. (walks to center of the room) All right, Craig Mattingly. What’s your game? (turns to see Tara going through dresser drawers) Tara! What are you doing?

Tara: Uh, searching the room?

Sophie: No, no, no. You can’t just barge in and break the joint. You have to slow down, get acquainted with the environment.

Tara: What, you’re not one of those Boylan touchy-feely-vibe types, are you? (continues looking through dresser)

Sophie: The Boylan method teaches us to treat a search like a crime scene. (picks up clothing from the bed and looks at it) You know, we only get one chance to --

Tara: Okay, you know what they teach us at Quantico? Lightning strike. You never have as much time as you think.

(a key card sounds in the lock outside, making both women look at the door)

Sophie: Oops.

(Sophie and Tara look at each other, then dash for the closet, where they manage to hide inside before two men enter the room. These are the thugs that were chasing Mattingly earlier. They quickly begin to go through the dresser and cut open the pillows on the bed)

Tara (whispers): Quantico.

Sophie (whispers): “Quantico.”

Man 1 (getting Man 2’s attention): Really? That’s the first place you look? The pillows? (answers cell phone) Still looking, sir. Do you want us to go back to the event?

(in the closet, it becomes apparent that Tara is going to sneeze)

Sophie (whispering): No, no.

(Tara sneezes. Man 1 puts his phone away and pulls his gun before going to the closet door. Tara pushes the door open quickly, hitting him in the head and knocking him back. She punches him to the face and he drops his gun before falling to the floor. Sophie dives for the gun but Man 2 is there and wrestles the gun from her hand. He stands up and points the gun at her)

Man 2: Don’t move.

Sophie (panting): Your safety’s on.

(Man 2 pauses and Tara hits him from behind with a vase, knocking him down. Tara takes the gun and points it at the men, who get to their feet)

Man 2: Vámonos.

(the men exit the room and Tara helps Sophie to her feet)

Tara: The safety was off.

Sophie: Not to a grifter.

Tara: “Not to a grifter.”


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

(Parker and Mattingly make their way up a line of people waiting to get into the ballroom)

Mattingly: No, I love all kinds, even catfish. What kind of cats do you like?

Parker: Oh, yeah, I like big ones, you know, lions and tigers -- kind of a mix.

Mattingly: Like a liger?

Parker: Yeah.

Peggy (to doorman while going through her purse): You know, I must have lost my invitation. Yeah, I’m the caterer, so I’m on the staff list.

(Parker sees Peggy and turns to avoid being seen)

Doorman: If you don’t have an invitation, I can’t let you in. I’m going to need you to wait here, ma’am.

Peggy: Ma’am? Don’t call me ma’am! (a waiter pushes a cart of food past) Okay, you know, I need to check this. I have to – (follows waiter away from the door)

Doorman (follows Peggie): No.

(Parker and Mattingly move to the front of the line. Parker hands her invitation to a Woman)

Woman: Good evening. (takes invitation) Thank you.

Parker: Okay, in we go. Venezuela.

Mattingly: Ooh, arriba.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

(many people are dancing as Parker and Mattingly move through the crowd)

Mattingly: I should let you get to work.

Parker: Yes, the catering. But I hate to leave you by yourself.

Mattingly: Well, don’t worry about me. (kisses Parker on the cheek) I make friends easily. (moves away)

Parker (puts earbud into her ear): Sophie, Tara? You there?

(Sophie and Tara are in the line outside the ballroom)


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

Sophie: Right outside. What do you see?


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Parker (watches Mattingly move through the room): He’s paying a lot of attention to three guys with briefcases.


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

Tara: Are they here together or separately?


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Parker: Separately. I don’t think they know each other.

Sophie: All right, well, we’re almost there. Just hold on.


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

Tara (holds up a badge): Secret service alias. I’m here to protect high-level dignitaries. I’ll bring you in as my deputy.

Sophie (laughs): You’re serious? I don’t think so.

Tara: Suit yourself.

(Tara moves forward and shoes her badge to a guard)

Guard: Mm-hmm.

(Tara moves to the doorman and shows him her badge)

Doorman: Thank you, special agent.

(Sophie moves up next to an older man in line and puts her arm around his shoulders)

Sophie: Agency sent me.

Russian: All right.

(Sophie and Russian move to the front of the line)

Tara: Russian escort? So three years ago. (walks away)

(Russian shoes Doorman his invitation)

Doorman: Thank you, sir.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

(Sophie and Russian are standing near the bar)

Sophie: Hey, you want I call Yuri from downstairs? He was Golden Glove boxer. Now go! Go!

(Russian walks away. Tara joins Sophie)

Tara: Why so harsh?

Sophie: He thought I was a prostitute. Bloody cheek. (looks into wallet lifted from Russian) Ooh, diplomatic ID.

Tara: Nice.

Sophie: Very handy for getting out of parking tickets. Ah, ooh. (puts wallet on a passing waiter’s tray) Now, let’s figure out what Mr. Mattingly’s game is.

(the women begin moving through the crowd)

Tara: So much for a night of unbridled debauchery.

Sophie: Oh, boo-hoo. Just last Wednesday, you were sipping champagne on a G4 with a racing-car driver.

Tara: Yes, who thinks I’m heir to the Pillsbury fortune. Any guess how long that’ll last?

Sophie: Whatever happened to that nice chef in Lyon with the fabulous silver hair?

Tara: Oh, no. He thinks I’m a professional golfer... or banker, I keep forgetting. I got so many lies, I have to store them on my phone.

Sophie: The lament of the grifter. Who really knows us?

(Parker watches from across the room as Mattingly talks to Escobar)

Mattingly: Two thugs chasing me into traffic? Is that the way the cartels do their business these days?

Escobar: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Mattingly: Sure you don’t. If I offered to sell you something, you’d never try to steal it first. Would you?

(Thug puts his hands on a briefcase on the table)

Escobar: I brought the money in the briefcase, like you asked. Now close the deal.

Mattingly: No deal. Not until I hear all the offers.

Escobar: My mistake.

(behind Parker, Peggy chastises a waiter)

Peggy: Hey, hey, hey, your fingers are in the water glasses. Right, now you need to go back and get new ones.

(waiter sighs and walks away)

Peggy: Don’t roll your eyes at me. (spots Parker and walks over to her) Alice? Alice! What are you doing here?

(Parker chokes on her drink. Peggy sees Mattingly across the room) Wait, I saw him at the bar. Is that iLuvPaws72?

Parker: You know what? I’m really bad at explaining things, so can we just skip to the part where you’re not mad at me?

Peggy: Oh, my God, look at him.

(Peggy starts across the room, but Parker grabs her arm and pulls her back)

Parker: No, no, Peggy, he’s not who you think, okay?

Peggy: He’s a hot guy who likes cats. And you stole him from me!

Parker: No.

Peggy: Wait. You stole my invitation, too, didn’t you?

Parker: No, I was just trying to help.

Peggy: Well, you didn’t help! God, I thought we were friends. (walks away)

(Tara and Sophie walk through the room)

Tara: All right, so the thugs who were chasing him were looking for something.

Sophie: I think he’s holding a sale. The guests there with the shiny cases -- they’re the buyers.

Tara: The question is, what’s he selling?

(the women join Parker)

Sophie: Yeah. Parker, what’s his angle?

(Parker sighs)

Sophie: Parker?

Parker: Sorry. Um, I saw him stalling the mean-looking guy, so whatever he’s selling, he doesn’t have it on him.

(Mattingly walks away from Escobar)

Sophie: Well, why would he do that?

Parker: It’s called a stop-and-shop. You steal something, then turn around and sell it on-site. Saves you the risk of transit and storage.

(Mattingly moves to sit down with another man. Parker looks upset)

Sophie: Parker, we’re gonna fix things with you and Peggy.

Parker: No, I know, but it’s not just about me. I used Peggy’s invite to get Mattingly into the party, so whatever he’s up to, she’s gonna get blamed for.

Tara: Then we’ll just have to stop him.

Sophie: Tara and I will cover the buyers. You stick with Mattingly. Let him steal his mystery item.

(Mattingly moves to talk to another man with a briefcase)

Sophie: With any luck, we’ll take them all down.

(Mattingly exits the ballroom through a side door)

Tara: Target’s on the move.

(Parker sighs, gathers herself, and walks after him)


[Office]

(Mattingly enters a darkened office and crosses the room to pick the lock on another door. Before he can finish, Parker comes into the room, acting drunk)

Parker: There you are! CatFan72, or whatever it is. (laughs) Look, Miche. (hands him a drink)

Mattingly: Whoo!

Parker: It’s from Sugarcane.

Mattingly: Peggy, what about the catering, huh?

Parker: Oh, (takes two paperclips from a desk behind her back) they said I’m not allowed to be around fire right now, so drink!

Mattingly: Mmm. (takes drink)

Parker: It’s 45% alcohol. It’s a good thing I can hold my li— ooh! (stumbles and falls against the door, laughing) Oh, what’s through here?

Mattingly: Uh, my friend works here. Um, he borrowed my sweater, and he left it inside.

(Parker leans against the door and uses the paperclips to pick the lock behind her back)

Parker: Oh, I love sweaters. I knit one for my cat once with little mice all over it.

Mattingly: You are so cute.

Parker: You’re tall. (the door opens behind Parker and she falls into the room) Oh, oh! Oh! Oh! Oh, let’s go. (pulls Mattingly into the room)

Mattingly: Great.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Tara (into phone): Move over, or he’s not gonna hear you.

Sophie (into phone across the room): If I get any closer, I will be standing on him. Now shush. I’m starting. (louder) I told you. Mm-hmm. We brought enough. I know he expects big offers.

(Sophie turns a bit to see the Texan watching her)

Sophie (softly): It’s working. (louder) Don’t you tell me what to do! (softer) Deep tan means he lives in a warm climate. I’d say rich Texan, oil man, maybe. (looks at Escobar as she moves through crowd) Huh. Private tailor. Yummy, top-of-the-line Italian fabric. Not afraid to show his wealth. I like that in a man. Big ring, huge watch.

Tara: What are you, the wardrobe whisperer?

Sophie: It works.

Tara: Hmm. There’s more to it, Soph. If he’s so rich, why isn’t anybody mingling with him? I see micro-expressions of fear in the people around him. They’re avoiding him. I recognize his type. He works for the drug cartels.

Sophie: Can you read my micro-expression?

Tara (laughs): Bite me.

Sophie: I brought half a million. What more does Mattingly want?

Tara: Micro-expressions of anxiety, followed by relief, and then pride. Rich Texan brought a lot more than half a mill.

Sophie: Rich Texan is rich, but not that rich. His Rolex is a fake. I’d say he’s carrying $600k. (louder) Yes, mm-hmm. I can get the full million. You want me to make the call?

(Sophie looks at Escobar, who is eating)

Sophie: Huh. Cartel heard our offer and looks unfazed. Look at him. I mean, you only eat when you feel safe.

Tara: I see pride and contempt. He brought more than $1 million.

Sophie: He brought more than $1 million.

(Sophie reaches Tara and they both put away their phones)

Tara: All right. Guy with the glasses -- he’s an odd duck, isn’t he?

Sophie: Yeah, I can’t get a read on him at all. What’s his game?

Tara: Well, let’s go find out. (pulls badge and walks over to Garcia) Secret service. Can we have a word with you?


[Exterior, Venezuelan Consulate]

(Tara looks at Garcia’s ID)

Tara: Umberto Garcia, professor of Latin American Studies at Harvard. What are you doing here?

Sophie: Professor, the man that you’re meeting with tonight is here to steal something, and we’re here to stop him. Ca-can you tell us what he’s after?

Garcia: Information -- the exact reserve levels of the oil fields of Venezuela, not the lies the government has been spreading.

Sophie: Those lies are all that’s keeping the government in power. The opposition could use that information to topple the current regime.

Tara: And the drug cartels can use it to keep the government off their back. A Texas oil speculator can use it to make a fortune betting on the price of crude.

Sophie: You’re a teacher. Uh, where did you get the money for your bid?

Garcia: I have something better than money. (lifts his suitcase and opens it to show a tape recorder that plays a choir singing in Spanish) I come here with only the hopes and dreams of the Venezuelan people to trade.

Tara: That’s hilarious.

Sophie: That’s lovely.

(Garcia closes the suitcase)

Sophie: We’ll take that.


[Office]

(Mattingly sits at a desk going through files on a computer while Parker walks behind him)

Parker: Oh, geez. No sweater, huh?

Mattingly: No. (catches Parker) Oh.

Parker: Oh! Hey, you know what? I’m gonna just check my e-mail real quick.

Parker: Mm, okay. Well, I’m gonna go call the kitchen, make sure they’re not goofing around. (walks toward the outer office holding her phone)

Mattingly: Yeah, you go get them, Peggy.

Parker: Yeah.

(in the outer office, Parker dials her phone)


[Marco’s Tavern]

Hardison: I’m your worst damn nightmare. I’m a dirty cop! (phone rings) So you -- excuse me. Got to take this.

(Hardison answers phone and moves away past Eliot, who looks angry. Many men are slumped over the bar and tables, unconscious)

Parker: Hardison.

Eliot: Hey.

Hardison (ignores Eliot): Hey, hey, hey. What’s happening, baby?

Parker: I just sent you a photo of a room.


[Office]

Parker: If you were gonna hide a super-secret computer file –


[Marco’s Tavern]

Parker: -- where would you put it?

Hardison (looks at picture on phone): Okay. Look.


[Office]

Hardison: You see that frame on the desk?

Parker: Mm-hmm.

(Parker looks back into the inner office at the electronic photo frame and Mattingly smiles at her)

Hardison: It’s probably in the frame.

Parker: Mm. (smiles drunkenly at Mattingly


[Marco’s Tavern]

Hardison: P-Parker, are you still with that guy?

Parker: Thanks.

Hardison: P-parker? Parker? (hangs up and walks toward back of bar)


[Office]

Parker (reenters inner office): It’s all better. (sits on desk and picks up frame) I should get one of these.

Mattingly: Mm-hmm?

Parker: Yeah. Family photos can go on there, a picture of my cat.

Mattingly (looks at USB slot on frame): How clever.

Parker: It’s perfect. I have so many photos of her. (puts down frame and picks up drink) Hmm.

(Mattingly picks up the frame and plugs a USB drive into it where Parker can’t see. The display changes to reveal computer language)

Parker: I could put those on, even like a little video, where she’s, like, cleaning herself.

Mattingly (almost drops the frame): Oh. Whoops.

Parker: Hmm? (puts down drink) Ahh.

(Mattingly puts something into the inner pocket of his jacket)

Mattingly: You want to hit that dance floor?

Parker: Mm, yeah. Yeah.

Guard (from outer office): I’m checking the South tower.

(Mattingly turns off the lamp on the desk and the guard shines a flashlight into the room. At first he doesn’t see anything, then he spots Parker’s legs beneath the Venezuelan flag against the wall. She moves the flag aside and squints into the light)

Parker: Hola.

(Mattingly grabs the guard from behind in a choke hold and knocks him out, letting him fall to the ground. Parker joins him in the doorway)

Mattingly: You know what? I don’t think my friend told them about the sweater.

Man on Radio: Cruz, check in.

(Matting grabs Parkers hand and pulls her from the office)

Man on Radio: Cruz, report. Cruz, are you there?


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

(Mattingly leads Parker into the hallway and to the elevator, where he pushes the call button. A sign on the elevator says ‘Out of Order’)

Mattingly: Oh, come on.

Guard 2: I got him. South elevator.

Mattingly: Peggy, stand back.

Parker: Okay.

(Mattingly breaks the glass over a fireman’s ax and uses it to pry open the elevator doors. Parker pushes past him and gets on the top of the elevator, looking up

Parker: Let’s go.

(Parker begins climbing the cables as the doors close)


[Elevator Shaft]

(Mattingly follows Parker up the cables)

Mattingly: You don’t know anything about cats.

(Parker smiles and continues to climb)


[Roof]

(Parker and Mattingly exit onto the roof)

Parker: I don’t know about you, but I could sure use another drink.

Mattingly: Who are you?

Parker: I’m Peggy. CatFan772.

Mattingly: No, it’s TabbyFan76.

Parker: Oh, yeah.

Mattingly: And the short con’s not your game. No, you got the cocktail dress. You picked the lock. The picture frame. You’re a thief. A great one. Now, relax. This doesn’t have to get ugly. I’m gonna cut you in, say, for... 20%?

Parker: 20%? (whistles) 20%? (laughs) Are you kidding me? I did everything. You couldn’t even operate a thumb drive.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Sophie: Parker, remember why we’re here.

Tara: Right. Remind me.

Sophie: The hopes and dreams of the Venezuelan people. (holds up briefcase)


[Roof]

Mattingly: Oh, look, Peggy, whatever the hell your name is, I have been on this job for months. My hacker buddy did the encryption on that data, and he tipped me off. All you did was --

Parker: I don’t want money.

Mattingly: You don’t?

Parker: No. I want you to give the thumb drive to Professor Garcia, for free.

Mattingly: Why?

Parker: Because it’s the right thing to do.

Mattingly (laughs): Well, at least I know you’re not a cop.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Sophie: Parker, tell Mattingly to wait five minutes. He’ll get his money.


[Roof]

Parker: Don’t move.

(Parker walks away with Mattingly watching her)


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Sophie: Oh, look, no sign of rich Texan -- must have got cold feet -- which means the only briefcase full of cash is there.

(They look across the room where Escobar is standing next to a table, the briefcase at his feet)

Tara: All right, you start a fire in the kitchen. I grab the briefcase. We use the crowd for cover.

Sophie: I was thinking something a little less... trample-y. Let’s work with what we’ve got. Two identical briefcases.

Tara: You want to do a kick switch.

Sophie: I’ll peel Escobar away from his bodyguard, and you –

(Tara walks toward Escobar)

Sophie: Wait. I... (sighs) It’s still my idea.

Tara (to Escobar in Spanish): My boyfriend is a diplomat. He is ignoring me. He will be sorry.

Escobar (in Spanish): Shall we dance?

(Tara takes his hand and they move to the dance floor and begin to dance sensuously. Sophie approaches the table where Escobar’s goon is standing over the briefcase and puts the identical briefcase on the floor. Tara continues to hold Escobar’s attention on the dance floor)

Sophie: Ooh, waiter. I -- what have you got there? I’m starving.

Waiter: Here you go. (holds out tray)

Sophie: Thank you –

(the Waiter stumbles over Escobar’s briefcase, knocking it over)

Sophie: Oh! I’m so sorry. I just -- I -- I stumbled. (takes something from the tray as she kicks Escobar’s briefcase to the other side of the table) But thanks. I got it now. Thanks.

(Sophie kicks Garcia’s briefcase to the other side of the table. The thug sees it on the floor and picks it up. Sophie picks up Escobar’s briefcase and leaves the room as Tara continues to dance with Tara)


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

(Sophie hands the briefcase to Parker)

Sophie: Tell Mattingly professor Garcia is ready to make a deal.

(Parker nods and hurries down the hall)


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

(Escobar and Tara dance as the music comes to a conclusion)


[Roof]

(Parker approaches Mattingly with the briefcase in her hands. He takes it and opens it to find it full of money)

Mattingly: You got this from a teacher? (chuckles) That must have been some bake sale.

Parker: Thumb drive.

Mattingly: Yeah, yeah, I’m a man of my word. (hands her the drive) That’s the real deal. The estimates on that are 30% lower than the official numbers. It’s a game-changer.

(Parker begins to walk away but Mattingly grabs her arm)

Mattingly: Hey, hey.

Parker: It’s gonna be real hard to count that money with five broken fingers.

Mattingly: You got me all wrong.

Parker: Really? ‘Cause I’d say you’re a second-story man who doesn’t care about anything besides his next score.

Mattingly: Look, I’m glad this is going to the good guys for once. I really am. But this is my job. And I have people depending on me, so let’s just leave it at that, yeah?

Parker: Well, I better go find my friend Peggy.

Mattingly: Who?

Parker: TabbyFan76.

Mattingly: She really likes cats.

Parker: Yeah, a lot. She has like seven.

(they laugh and Parker beings to walk away)

Mattingly: Hey, look, I never got your real name.

Parker (stops and looks at him): Oh. Parker. (walks away)

Mattingly (looks after her): Wait, not THE Parker?

(Mattingly laughs and dials his phone)


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Escobar: Where on earth did you learn to tango like that?

Tara: Indiana.

(Escobar looks at her doubtfully)

Tara: Octavio, I am many things, but I am not a liar.

Escobar: Hmm. (phone rings) Well, unfortunately, I have to go.

Tara: Now? Why?

Escobar: Business. (begins to move away, but turns back) Dance with your boyfriend the way you just did with me. If he ignores you, then you will know he is gay. (kisses her hand and walks away)

Tara: Escobar’s on the move.

(Escobar rejoins his Thug, who picks up the briefcase and follows him from the room)

Parker: Sophie, you stay on Escobar. I’m gonna look for Peggy and make things right.

(Sophie follows Escobar from the room)

Sophie: I have him.


[Employee Area]

(Parker enters the room looking for Peggie)


[Pool Room]

(Escobar and his Thug enter the room. Thug takes a pool cue from an older man and intimidates him into leaving the room. Thug puts down the cue and Escobar places the briefcase on the pool table. Across the room, Sophie looks through a set of curtains in a doorway as Mattingly enters the room)

Sophie: It’s Mattingly... without the briefcase.

(Mattingly holds up a thumb drive)

Sophie (gasps): That dirty double-dealer. Where’d he get a second thumb drive?

(Thug plugs the drive into his phone to check the data on it)


[Kitchen]

(Parker pauses halfway across the room)


[Flashback]

(Parker and Mattingly on the roof)

Parker: You couldn’t even operate a thumb drive.

(Parker sits on the desk while Mattingly takes information from the frame onto a USB drive)

Parker: I could put those on, even like a little video, where she’s, like, cleaning herself.

Mattingly: Oh. (fumbles the frame, pushing one drive into his watch band and pulling out a second drive, plugging it into the frame)

Parker: Hmm?


[Kitchen]

Parker: He’s not clumsy. He’s a dirty liar.

Sophie: Yeah.


[Pool Room]

Sophie: A dirty liar who’s about to open a briefcase with nothing but a tape recorder in it.

(Escobar opens the briefcase to show that it’s full of cash)

Sophie: Wait, I -- I switched out the briefcases. What’s going on?

(Mattingly takes the briefcase and looks at the money)


[Kitchen]

Parker: I don’t know, but I’m gonna find out.

(Parker moves through the kitchen pauses when she hears a muffled scream from a side room)

Parker: Peggy?

(Parker goes to the freezer and opens the door to find a man tied up and gagged who falls at her feet)

Parker: It’s the rich Texan. Escobar must have stolen his briefcase.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Tara: Escobar looked confident. We figured that meant he had a million. It turns out it was because he planned to steal the money from the highest bidder and pocket the rest.


[Flashback]

(Thug drags a tied and gagged Texan through the kitchens as Escobar follows. Thug pushes Texan into the freezer and closes the door. Escobar hands both briefcases to Thug, who follows Escobar from the room. In the Ballroom, Thug puts one of the briefcases under a table)

Tara (voice over): He must have stashed the oil guy’s money.

(Escobar kisses Tara’s hand and walks off the dance floor)

Tara: Escobar’s on the move.

(Escobar rejoins his Thug, who picks up the briefcase and follows him from the room)

Tara (voice over): And after the switch, he used that money to pay Mattingly.

(Thug reaches under a table and retrieves the second briefcase)


[Pool Room]

Mattingly (counts money): Hmm. (closes briefcase) We’re done.

Escobar: I told you I don’t like people who waste my time, Mr. Mattingly.

Mattingly: This isn’t your money, Escobar. You stole it from the oil guy. And now you’ve got the thumb drive, giving your cartel clients leverage of the Venezuelan government, so... yeah. We’re done. (leaves room with briefcase)


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

(Mattingly walks into the hallway and moves toward Sophie, who ducks into a doorway so he doesn’t see her. She watches as he pulls the second briefcase from beneath a table and moves to the elevator)

Sophie: He’s got both briefcases full of money now. Parker –


[Kitchen]

Sophie: -- what should we –

Parker: He’s mine.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

(Tara leans against the bar, watching the crowd as Sophie joins her)

Sophie: Hey. Do you think Escobar realizes that we ripped him off?

(across the room, Escobar takes a glass of wine from a waiter)

Escobar: Thank you.

Tara: Would you drink to losing $500k?

(Escobar takes the drive and drops it into a glass of champagne)

Sophie: Wait a minute.

Tara: What?

Sophie: Why would you pay a briefcase full of cash for something and then throw it away?

(Escobar and Thug leave the room)

Tara: I’ve only seen this happen one other time before, in Odessa.

Sophie: What happened in Odessa?

Tara: There was a bomb in Odessa.


[Venezuelan Consulate Hallway]

(Mattingly stands before the elevator as it opens to reveal Parker, who grabs him by the throat and pushes him across the hall against the wall)

Mattingly: Hey. Hey, I can explain.

Parker: Too late.

(Sophie and Tara walk toward them)

Tara: Let him go.

Sophie: Parker.

Parker (lets him go): I thought I had you all wrong, that you had people depending on you.

Mattingly (gasping for air): I do! I’ve got two ex-wives, a bookie, and a barkeeper. Well, to be fair, the last two are the same guy, but --

Tara: We’ve got bigger problems.

Sophie: Escobar doesn’t work for the cartel anymore. He works for the Venezuelan government.

Mattingly: That doesn’t make sense. Why would the government pay for their own data?

Sophie: They don’t want to buy it. They want to blow it up, along with everybody else in this building.

(Sophie, Parker and Tara walk down the hall toward the ballroom)

Tara: They can blame the bombings on professor Garcia, call him a terrorist.

(Mattingly begins to follow the women)

Tara: Bye-bye, opposition leader. Bye-bye, thumb drive. Everything tied up with a nice bow.

Parker (to Mattingly): All thanks to you.

Mattingly: Well, this was just supposed to be a simple stop-and-shop.

Parker: Yeah, you’re pretty good at running one of those. Let’s see how you are at finding a bomb.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

(group enters the ballroom, moving through the crowd as they look around)

Tara: Okay, this place is huge.

Parker: Where would Escobar hide it?

Mattingly: Well, Escobar is too smart to bring it himself. He would have hired a subcontractor. (puts briefcase under a table)

Tara: It would have to be someone with unlimited access, maybe a high-level diplomat.

Sophie: Yes. (spots a waiter) Or the exact opposite.


[Flashback]

(Escobar takes a glass of wine from a waiter)

Escobar: Thank you.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Sophie: The first thing any waiter learns is how to hold a tray with one hand.

Tara: It’s a little thin.

Parker: Wait, no. I remember the waiter you’re talking about.


[Flashback]

(Peggy talks to the doorman about her lost invitation)

Peggy: Ma’am? Don’t call me ma’am! (a waiter pushes a cart of food past) All right, that food can’t go out. (follows waiter)

Doorman: No, no. (follows Peggy)

Peggy: So I need to --

(Waiter pushes a cart of food through the crowd)


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Tara: So where is this guy?

Parker (into phone): Peggy, one of your waiters is not who he says he is.


[Kitchen]

Peggy (into phone): You mean the worst waiter that ever lived? Yeah, I see him. (to workers) Hey, guys, can you clear out, please, just for a second? Everybody, clear out. Thanks.

(other kitchen workers begin to leave the room)


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Parker: No, no. No, no, no, don’t. (hangs up phone) She hung up. (heads for the exit)


[Kitchen]

(Peggy stops the waiter from leaving the room)

Peggy: Hey, skinny jeans. Where do you think you’re going?

Waiter: I was -- I thought I could --

Peggy: Uh-huh. No. Uh, who hired you?

Waiter: Uh, I’ve got my paperwork over there in my bike messenger bag.

Peggy: You know what? (takes his name tag) You’re not going anywhere until I figure out what’s going on here.

(Peggy turns away. Waiter picks up a knife and Peggy sees him reflected in a pan as he comes at her. She ducks and blocks a few blows with a frying pan, knocking the knife from his hand. It sticks in a wall)

Peggy: That knife was part of a set!

Waiter: Look, we got to get out of here!

Peggy: Let me ask you something. (hits him with the pan) Why can’t a small business owner... (hits him again) who happens to like cats... (hits him again) find a nice guy?!

Waiter: Aah! Aah!

Parker (grabs Peggy’s arms): Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Mattingly (moving between Peggy and Waiter): You can finish him later, okay? For now, we just need to ask him a question.

(Peggy tries to hit him again, Parker grabs her and pulls her back)

Parker: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay, okay. Okay, okay. (pulling her away) It’s okay. Okay.

Mattingly (looking at Waiter) : Oh, geez. Can somebody get this guy some ice?


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Sophie: It’s in a serving cart? Which one?

Parker: He doesn’t know. He was just paid to bring it upstairs.

(Sophie and Tara look around the room seeing several serving carts)

Tara: The one that would block any survivors from escaping.

(the two women approach the cart and lift the skirt covering it to reveal a bomb with 2:24 minutes left. They look at each other, then drop the skirt, stand, and look around at the crowded room)

Sophie: Uh... okay.

(they begin pushing the cart from the room)

Sophie: How do we do defuse it?

Tara: You’re asking me?

Sophie: Well, you were in the Army.

Tara: You stole paintings. That doesn’t mean you know how to draw.

Sophie: All right, Parker, clear the room. Be subtle.

(Parker and Mattingly run to the stage and grab a microphone)

Parker: Oh. Ka-boom!

(everyone looks at her and she laughs)

Parker: Got your attention! Okay! I’m Meg Dawson. I am your party planner. And this is Chaz, and we are here to tell you that the fireworks are about to begin!

Mattingly: Yes, that’s right, Meg. The colors of the Venezuelan flag are about to light up the sky, yellow, red, and... (looks at flag) blue with stars.

Parker: Stars. Stars. So if you could all just file out in an orderly fashion...

(everyone starts moving slowly toward the exits)

Parker: Now, yeah. Más rápido. (begins following the people from the room) Sophie, what’s the plan?

(across the room, Sophie is on the phone)


[Impound Lot]

(Hardison runs across the lot, followed by many dogs)

Hardison: Who needs this many dogs! Aah! (jumps up a fence) Whew! Whew! (kicks at dogs as phone begins to ring) Get! Get your -- get your ass – (answers phone) What?! I’m busy!


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Sophie: Look, I just sent you a picture.


[Impound Lot]

Hardison: Oh, let me guess. It’s a picture of another handsome dude. (kicks at dogs) Aah! Aah! (looks at phone) Okay, it’s a bomb. Um... whoa.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Sophie: Yes, it’s a bomb. Now just stop playing with that dog and help us!

(bomb displays 48 seconds)


[Impound Lot]

Hardison: That -- that’s a Radicova night train. Um, it’s very sophisticated work.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Hardison: Okay, you see -- you see, the, uh -- the three wires on the front panel?

Sophie: Yes.

Hardison: I need you to do this. L-listen.


[Impound Lot]

Hardison: Cut those wires in this sequence – uh, um, primer –


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Hardison: reactor, ignition timer. But -- but –

(Tara and Sophie look at each other)


[Impound Lot]

Hardison: -- but first you got to figure out which one is which. So get a nail clipper. Strip the wires.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Hardison: The live one -- that’s the ignition timer. Yes, right, but –



[Impound Lot]

Hardison: -- but don’t cut it yet. Strip. Strip the wires, okay? If you cut it, the bomb will blow.


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

Hardison: Are you still with me so far?

(Sophie and Tara look at the phone)

Sophie: Three wires in sequence. Strip, don’t cut.

(timer reads 13 seconds. Sophie and Tara look at each other)


[Exterior Venezuelan Consulate]

(cart smashes through a window and explodes as it falls toward the ground making the crowd ooh and aww)


[Venezuelan Consulate Ballroom]

(Sophie and Tara sit at a table as Sophie holds the phone and Tara pours drinks from a liquor bottle)

Hardison: I-I-I don’t know if y’all are gonna make it.

Sophie: That is the first thing we’ve agreed on all night.

(they touch glasses and drink)

Hardison: Look. Look. Um, okay, you see the -- you see the...


[Exterior Venezuelan Consulate]

(Parker and Mattingly look at the crowd gathered nearby)

Mattingly: We did it.

Parker: Yeah.

Mattingly: Yeah.

(they hug, laughing)

Parker: Oh! Okay. (pulls back)

Mattingly: Oh, I’m sorry. It’s not every day I get to be this close to Parker. Five years ago, I was casing out the Chácara Do Céu museum in Rio, and you boosted a Matisse right in the middle of carnival. It’s...

Parker: Yeah. I’m -- I’m not that big on parties.

Mattingly: So the word is you got out of the game.

Parker: No, no, I-I’m still in the game. I just play by a different set of rules.

Garcia: I was told you have something for me.

Parker: Uh... (hands Garcia a thumb drive) You can thank him. (gestures toward Mattingly)

Garcia: May God bless you and grant the people of Venezuela their hopes and dreams. (moves away)

Mattingly: So, stealing, not for yourself, but for other people’s hopes and dreams and whatnot.

(Parker nods)

Mattingly: So, I guess what you’re saying is that sometimes bad guys... don’t have to be so bad.

Parker: Yeah.

Mattingly: Hey, before the cops get here, I got something for you.

(Mattingly moves away and Parker follows)


[McRory’s Pub]

(Parker sits behind the bar with her feet on two briefcases. Sophie and Peggy sit on the other side of the bar)

Peggy: Alice, yeah, it’s okay. You were just looking out for me. And now I know your secret.

Parker: You do?

Peggy: Yeah. (whispers) You’re a spy.

Parker: Mm. That’s right. I am a spy.

Sophie: What a relief.

Parker: Whew. And that is why I cannot tell you anything else about what I do.

Sophie: Mnh-mnh. National security.

Peggy: Oh, yeah, of course. Of course. I get it. (laughs) Oh, I just wish Escobar hadn’t gotten away, right?

Sophie: Oh, he won’t get far.


[Flashback]

(Escobar and Thug walk down a hallway. Ahead of them, Detective Grayson opens the door, followed by several other officers)

Grayson: Going somewhere?

Escobar: You can’t arrest us. We’ve done nothing wrong.

(Grayson grabs Escobar and puts him up against the wall as other officers do the same to Thug)

Grayson: I got attempted murder, kidnapping, grand theft.

Escobar: Grand theft of what?

(Grayson puts Escobar in handcuffs)

Texan (entering): That’s him. I want my money, Escobar.

Escobar: I don’t even have his money. I don’t even have his money.

(Grayson shoves Escobar against the wall)

Escobar: Ugh!


[McRory’s Bar]

(the girls laugh)

Peggy: You know, all I wanted to do tonight was meet a really nice guy. But I guess I helped stop a bombing, so that’s pretty good. (laughs)

Parker (laughs): Cheers

(they touch glasses and drink)

Peggy: Mmm. Well, I’m gonna go. But I will see you next week at book club.

Parker: Okay, “The Contortionist’s Daughter.” I am loving it, and I will see you there.

Peggy: Okay, great. (gets up) All right.

(Parker mouths to Sophie “I am not loving it”)

Peggy: Oh, and you know what? Marge, you should come, too.

Sophie (laughs): Ah. Okay.

Peggy: Bye! (heads toward back room)

Sophie: Marge?

Parker: I had to come up with something. I know. I know.

Sophie: Listen, Parker. I wanted to apologize about giving you the cold shoulder about Hardison earlier.

Parker: Oh, that’s okay. I think I figured it out.

Sophie: You did?

Parker: Yeah. I mean, I was worried at first, ‘cause Hardison and I are different, the stuff we like. But I just spent all night with Mattingly, a guy who likes all the same stuff I do. And you know what? It would have been more fun with Hardison. So I guess the same is boring. Where is Mattingly, anyway?

Sophie: Oh, he took the cab behind us.

Parker: I thought that was Tara’s cab.

Sophie: Yeah, it was. (smiles) The things we do for friends.


[Hotel Room]

(Tara and Mattingly are kissing passionately in his hotel room as Latin music plays. She takes off his jacket and they move toward the bed and fall down upon it, smiling and kissing again, the tape recorder from Garcia’s briefcase on the nightstand)

The End
Content and graphic are copyright © 2011 When Darkness Falls. Scripts are under fair use and published for educational and entertainment purposes. No infrigment intended. This web site, its operators and any content on this site is not authorized by TNT.