Original subtitles

What are you thinking?

I'm thinking it was the accountant.

In the law office.

With the illegal wire transfer?

Either that, or colonel mustard in the library.

We can pull prints on the candlestick.

Let's grab his company's financial records from last year... They're on file.

You want me to do it?

We have clerks for that.

I got something better. I got you.

Okay.

Sticking around, huh?

Yeah.

Hey, is it true you once sent champagne to a surveillance van?

That's the rumor.

Been checking up on me?

You were part of my thesis at Quantico.

Really?

How'd we do?

94.

Not bad.

Find anything interesting?

Truth or rumor?

Is there a difference?

Well, the counterfeit stoccertificates were your only conviction,

but you're implicated in at least a dozen other confidence schemes,

frauds, and forgeries.

Is that why you asked to be reassigned to the White Collar unit?

Yeah, you know, I wasn't gonna pass a chance

to work with someone I've admired since college.

Hey, play your cards right, I'm sure we'll make a case or two.

Oh, honey, I was talking about Agent Burke.

He caught you twice. Right?

Hey, maybe you can help me out 'cause I'm looking for some records here.

Yeah, we got clerks for that.

- Uh, Peter. - Yeah?

Yeah, your wife's here. She's not alone.

She look upset to you?

Ah, they look... they both look upset.

You know, a buddy of mine, he always kept a separate cellphone...

One for the wife, one for the girlfriend.

Well, helps avoid this kind of crossover.

That's not my girlfriend, okay?

I... I don't have a girlfriend.

That's El's friend Dana. They've known each other since high school.

Hi, honey.

We need to talk.

Okay, thanks, Jones. That will be all.

Have a seat, honey.

So, why's Dana here?

Is she okay?

No. It's actually about her husband, John.

Hot-wings guy?

Remember, he made those hot wings at the barbecue, the cooper barbecue, a while back.

Right. Him.

Thought he was stationed overseas?

He finished his tour last month.

What's the problem?

Well, this morning, the FBI issued a warrant for his arrest.

All right. What's the last name?

- Mitchell. - Mitchell.

What happened?

Some stolen gold or something in a storage shed.

They think he brought it over. Dana came to me for help.

She has no idea why he's a suspect.

- I think I do. - Well, what is it?

It's gold artifacts from Iraq.

Got his prints all over the place, hair evidence.

El, this doesn't look good.

Found that file!

This can wait.

No, Neal, come in.

Now, Neal... Just because someone's accused of doing something,

that doesn't mean that that person is guilty, right?

Define "guilty".

You really think he's the best person to ask?

Neal.

I suppose it's possible.

See? That's what I thought.

This says, "whereabouts unknown". Is he on the run?

He's at his brother's.

I didn't know the address.

If you're keeping that information, that's aiding and abetting.

Okay, I think I grabbed the wrong file.

No. Stay. My turn.

If we have your prints and hair on the scene and you're on the run, are you guilty?

Oh, now he's the best person to ask?

Honestly, Ithink your friend should turn himself in.

I completely agree with you.

That's why I told Dana to tell him what to do... Turn himself in.

So, he is turning himself in?

Yes.

He's going to be turning himself in to you.

Yeah, I'll be back.

Uh, Peter, thank you.

God, do I feel guilty.

You think he did it?

Artifacts from the Royal Cemetery Crypts of Ur in Egypt.

1,000-year-old gold.

A lot of money is always a lot of motive.

That's a shame.

Apparently, he melted some of it down.

- John. - Peter.

I want you to know I didn't do this. I was set up.

Your prints were all over the gold, John.

My prints?

- We got to go. - Listen.

Please.

Look, my lawyer said I shouldn't say a word, but when I was overseas,

a guy asked me to help him bring some goods back to the states.

I said no.

- John... - His name is Ames. It's Patrick Ames.

He's in the State Department. Just look into it. Please.

I will.

Oh, my God.

White Collar - Season 01 - Episode 04

Hey, that was genuine surprise on Mitchell's face

when you told him his prints were on the gold.

I noticed that.

But that doesn't get him off the hook.

There's something else.

What?

Before I say anything, what's the statute of limitations...

Just tell me.

You can't melt down precious metals like gold

without getting splash blisters on your arms, no matter how careful you are.

Well, Mitchell may be burn-free, but that doesn't make him innocent.

Maybe we should check out this Ames guy.

Already did.

He was working for the State Department,

overseeing reconstruction in mosul a few months back.

Where is he now?

Working for a private security contractor right here in New York.

Sounds like he's done well for himself.

- Yeah. I'm gonna go see how well. - All right.

Every room, every child gets that view every morning.

Mr. Ames?

Am interrupting?

Peter Burke, FBI.

If you wouldn't mind just waiting for me by the cars,

we'll finish this in just a minute.

If you don't mind, I have a few questions about some stolen Iraqi artifacts.

Oh, right.

I had read that some important pieces were recently recovered.

That's right. We have a suspect in custody.

Well, good.

I'm glad to hear justice will prevail.

Given your past experience there,

I thought you might have some insight as to how a bunch of gold from mosul finds

its way to a storage shed near Fort Monmouth.

Of course.

Call my office, we'll set up a meeting.

Sure.

There was one other thing.

The suspect says you framed him.

Any idea why he might say that?

I wish I knew.

Is there something else, Agent Burke?

Nope. I got everything I need.

Jones, have every recovered artifact moved to our office ASAP.

I want to re-examine the evidence.

Where's Peter?

I thought he called this meeting?

He's been poring over this stuff with the evidence recovery team

since he saw splash blisters on Ames' bodyguard.

Said something about a breakthrough.

I'm looking for clues.

Yeah, you're looking for your next jail sentence. Oh, my God.

Didn't you just join this unit?

Yeah, and I didn't even have to go to prison first.

So, if you were gonna frame somebody, how would you do it?

I've never framed anybody. Only been framed.

Yeah? What for?

Counterfeiting stock certificates and about a dozen other confidence schemes,

frauds, and forgeries.

Hear you had a breakthrough.

I got something. Notice the prints.

Very clean.

Maybe a little too clean.

They're all Mitchell's?

Yep. Notice anything else?

They're all left-handed.

- That's improbable. - It's impossible.

What does it mean?

I don't know.

What, you think the prints were planted?

Well, it wouldn't be hard, would it?

Don't look at me.

All right, it wouldn't be that hard.

It starts by getting a clean set of prints, and somebody got Mitchell's.

But only his left hand. Why only the left?

How was the gold found in the first place?

- Anonymous tip. - There's a red flag.

Could be.

Easy. Easy there, tiger.

Shouldn't you be getting home to Elizabeth?

Dana's been with us for a few days.

How's that going?

She's been through a lot.

No, this has got to be rough on her. It's got to be.

Look, I try to be a good person.

You have your moments.

- Yeah, it's just I... - Is it the crying?

Yes. I can handle everything else but women crying.

That's all.

I don't know what to do with it. I try to fix it.

I mean, with you I'd give you a slug on the shoulder and I'd tell you to cowboy up.

We got the print theory. That might cheer her up.

Yeah, it could be something if I can link it to Ames or the bodyguard.

What?

We've been here an hour, but in that whole time,

you've only touched these bottles with your right hand.

Mitchell had drinks with whoever lifted the prints.

Can you ask him?

The marshals are sitting on him.

I could take the time to reach out,

file the proper paperwork, go through the usual channels tomorrow.

- Or you could just ask his wife... - ...wife right now.

- Hey, honey. - Hey, honey.

Hey, Dana.

How you holding up?

It's hard, you know. The not knowing that's killing me.

Any news?

Well, which do you want first? The good news or the bad news?

There's bad news?

Not more than there has been.

He's still charged. It still looks pretty bad.

I'll go with the good news.

There are some evidence anomalies.

Someone may have planted his prints on the gold.

So, you mean he really was framed?

It's possible.

I'm curious.

Did he have drinks with anyone recently?

The prints are crisp, which would indicate a glass or a bottle,

so it was probably for a beer.

It's not okay, really.

Yes, it is.

This is the good-news part.

Can I talk to you for a second?

Okay. I'll... I'll be right back.

What did I do?

I don't know, but you see she's crying.

Yeah, I see that she's crying!

I need to know if John met someone for a drink.

Maybe he didn't tell her.

Does she suspect him of cheating?

Yeah, now I'm gonna let you go talk to her.

- This is important. - Go upstairs.

Upstairs. Thank you.

I'm sorry.

No, it's okay.

Sometimes Peter doesn't realize that he's an FBI agent.

No, it wasn't Peter.

It's...

John and I had a fight before all this happened about...

A woman who took him for a drink.

John's not the cheating type.

What if he's not the guy that I think he is?

What if he really did steal that stuff?

- I mean... - Look, you heard Peter, okay?

Evidence was planted. Okay?

But who was this woman who took him out for a drink?

I don't know. She's a journalist. She, uh...

She was embedded with John's unit.

And she called about a month ago.

And she wanted to do a follow-up story.

Something like, uh... "The life of a returning vet" kind of thing.

Wait, so, they went for a beer?

Yeah.

And I was mad at him for not telling me about it beforehand instead of after.

Yeah.

That night, John was more mad about his Yankee cap

than he was about the fact that I had just accused him of cheating on me.

What happened to the Yankee cap?

I don't know. He left it at the bar. It never turned up.

Well, the hat would explain the hair fibers.

Yeah.

You had Elizabeth talk to her?

I thought some female intuition would be helpful.

Dana started crying, didn't she?

I didn't even do anything.

I had no idea what went wrong.

So, who's this other woman?

This is Alisha Teagan, segment producer.

She was a reporter embedded with Mitchell's unit.

All right, so, she invites Mitchell out for a beer.

Let's say she takes that opportunity to lift the prints off of the bottle.

She grabs the baseball hat as an added bonus.

Oh, yeah. Toss in a little DNA evidence to really lock the case.

Right. Now, how do we connect her to Ames?

Do they know each other?

Other than the fact that they were in Iraq, there's nothing.

If Ames stole the gold, he isn't gonna ship it himself.

He's gonna get someone else so that his hands stay clean in case they get intercepted.

Press credentials aren't a bad way to get by customs.

Let's go talk to her.

Wait here.

I'll check in.

I'm here to see Alisha Teagan.

She's not in yet.

Agent Burke, FBI.

Sorry, sir.

Would you care to wait upstairs? She should be in any minute.

Yeah, why don't I do that?

Be sure to let her know Agent Burke with the FBI is here to talk to her.

- I'll be sure to do that. - Thank you.

So, what's it like to be on camera?

Oh, I'm not on camera.

Really?

'Cause your badge here says, uh, "Studio access".

I'm a publicist, actually.

How is it up there?

Cutthroat.

Looks like they just moved my meeting to 12:30.

Excuse me.

Hello?

Peter? Where are you?

Upstairs. On my way to Alisha's office.

Thank you.

You left me in the lobby?

Well, you looked busy.

Listen, Alisha's on her way in.

I want you to watch how she reacts

when the guard tells her there's an FBI agent waiting for her.

N...

- Hi, Phil. - Morning.

Miss Teagan, uh, there's an FBI agent here to see you.

- Sorry? - An FBI agent.

Said his name was Burke.

Uh, just tell him today's not a good day.

Oh, he's already upstairs.

Did he say what he wanted?

All he said was to let you know he's here.

Mm, thanks.

- Hi, Phil. - Morning, Judy.

- What's up, Phil? - Morning, Christian.

Hey, Phil.

Morning.

I ran out of hands.

My card's in my pocket here, you just want to grab that there.

- Uh... Don't worry about it. - All right, thanks, bud.

This is Neal. Leave a message.

Neal, I don't know what you're up to, but whatever it is, stop.

Morning.

Hi, Kim.

How you doing?

Excuse me, sir.

I don't think I've seen you around here before.

Oh, I'm Gary... The, uh... new sports anchor.

New sports anchor?

New guy brings the coffee, right?

Thanks, Gary.

- Hey, no problem. - Thanks, Gar.

What about Leonard?

Oh, you didn't hear?

Yeah, that's... that's why the meeting got moved to 12:30.

Uh, don't... say anything to Leonard.

Great work, champ.

Alisha Teagan.

Oh, you, uh, must be Agent Burke.

I hope this won't take long. I'm on deadline.

Have a seat.

I'm curious about the piece that you did on captain Jonathan Mitchell.

Oh, Mitchell?

Of course.

What was your impression of him?

He seemed like a good soldier.

That it?

To be honest, I didn't find him that memorable.

Then why'd you have a follow-up on him?

I was doing a series of segments on vets returning home,

how they're readjusting to life after the military.

- How did he seem to you? - He seemed to be really fine.

So, you took captain Mitchell out for a beer?

Yeah, he was one of several soldiers I was, uh, considering.

You say "considering". What exactly do you mean by that?

Well, we want to get a a sense of what they are going through,

if reality lived up to their expectations.

Excuse me.

Did they change the code again?

You could use mine.

There you go.

What exactly are you investigating, Agent Burke?

Captain Mitchell was arrested yesterday for the theft of Iraqi antiquities.

I'm sorry to hear that.

So, there was nothing particularly special about Mitchell?

No.

In fact, I'm really sorry I couldn't help you further.

Why the rush?

I told you. I'm on deadline.

Now, if you have no other questions, I, uh, would like to get back to work.

Wait.

My card.

When you think of something else.

If I think of something else.

What was that about?

You had me off my game.

You told me to watch her reaction. That's what I did.

By breaking and entering?

Phil let me in.

- Who's Phil? - The guy at the door.

Okay, you want to know what I found?

- No. - She got rattled when she heard "FBI".

She went to her desk and locked something in the top drawer.

- Oh, God. - I didn't steal it.

I photocopied it.

It's a pawnshop ticket.

Bet I know what she was pawning.

No. I didn't see this. You didn't see this.

But I did see it.

- Hey, Moz. I got a favor to ask you. - What's up?

I need you to check out a pawnshop ticket for me.

As good as can be expected.

Um, do you think we could finish watching the movie?

- Little girl time? - Yeah.

Yeah, I'll find something to do.

Oh, you're a good man.

Ah, that's what I keep telling people.

Have fun.

"X" marks the spot.

Kate loves the classics.

Moz, it's me.

You nearby?

Did your suit put a tail on me?

What? No, I think I figured out the map on the bottle.

It's a Bordeaux label.

Bordeaux with an "X". "X" marks the spot.

You know, Kate loves the classics.

Yes, she does.

I found a bit of treasure, too.

On my way to show you.

- Hurry up. - I walk at a delicate pace.

Well, that was fast.

Yep, coming.

Hey, my...

...my man.

Expecting somebody?

- N... Not at all. - Good.

Come right on in.

Unbelievable.

Last time we had a drink, we made a breakthrough.

Hoping tonight we can solve the whole damn case.

- So, Dana's still at the house? - Yup.

Here's to freeing captain John Mitchell. So I can go back home.

I'll drink to that.

I'll get that. It's probably June.

Photocopy of a pawn ticket... but I got this coin.

What?

Sorry, Mr. Haversham. June isn't here at the moment.

Oh, well... Uh, too bad.

Um, tell her I look forward to our next round of drinks and Parcheesi.

- Yep. - Hang on a second.

Oh, I'm sorry. Apparently I'm interrupting something.

Who are you?

I'm the neighbor... Dan-te Haversham.

Dante Haversham.

And you're dating June?

Uh, uh, courting... Courting.

Yeah, w... what could I say? She likes a little, uh... cream in her coffee.

You really want to keep this up?

No, I don't. You're right. This is...

No. I know.

How about I just call you Mr. Haversham?

Come on in.

Thought you'd be taller.

Me too.

Well, you're here. Have a drink.

Oh, no, I... I don't drink.

Well, you do tonight.

Gin's good.

I... I don't get it.

Girl leaves nothing but an empty bottle behind.

At least Kate could have left a full one.

Guys, I'm right here.

Fair enough, fair enough.

Man, look at that view.

Is this why you guys do it?

Is this what it's all about?

It's not about the stuff.

Moz...

It's about doing what we want to do.

Who cares about 9-to-5's and 401k's?

Playing by the rules only makes borders

that just take away everything that's good about living life.

Moz, Moz... You lived in a storage unit.

Yeah, but I lived there, man. I lived.

Long as I don't have to live under anyone else's time or dime, I'm a free man.

I can do whatever I want.

Like going to the pawnshop and getting that coin you have in your pocket?

Come on. Let's see it.

Oh, it's a hell of a thing.

Islamic dinar from the Abbasid dynasty.

Last seen in the museum in Mosul.

I really shouldn't even know about this.

Alisha's guilty, isn't she?

Looks like it.

I'm holding damning evidence, and I can't do a damn thing with it.

Your rules, tin man, not mine.

Come on, Peter, give me the coin.

I can see it now... "FBI agent illegally obtains evidence."

"News at 11:00."

It's a hell of a story.

Too bad she can't report it.

Maybe she can.

When you're done moving out, I want everything set up.

Great story on the Governor.

- Teagan! - Yeah?

Got a story for you.

Guy says he wants to talk about

a high-level cover-up in Iraq involving a soldier.

Says he'll only talk to you.

- Why me? - Maybe he's a fan of your work.

Okay. Got a number? I'll give him a call.

Got something better. He's here.

McQueen!

Let's set up to get this guy on tape.

We rolling?

Uh, Alisha Teagan.

Good to meet you. I'm a huge fan.

Oh, thank you.

Wow, you look... you look even better in person.

Wow, thank you. You're all miked up.

Let's, uh, get started. Your name?

Ah, we'll get to that.

Just relax. Take a deep breath.

So, why don't we, uh... Why don't we start at the beginning?

Okay, yeah.

Once upon a time in Iraq, there were two people.

One was greedy and a thief.

The other was pretty and opportunistic.

Together, they found a great deal of treasure.

I think this is something we should be discussing off-camera.

Oh, wait, no. That's the prologue.

I'm getting to the setup.

They smuggled that treasure back here. It went off without a hitch.

But they needed a fall guy...

somebody to take the heat off them so they could sell the treasure without interference.

That fall guy is a soldier you know...

John Mitchell.

Well... Unfortunately, your story

is missing something very important... Proof.

Oh, I've got proof, yeah.

Recognize this?

What this story is missing is an ending.

I'm not sure what happens to Mitchell.

The outcome of his life...

It may as well be decided on the toss of a coin.

Want to call it for me?

Turn off the cameras.

Turn off the cameras!

I want immunity.

You're funny.

What you get depends on what you give me.

Ames looted Saddam's museum.

He set the whole thing up.

All I did was... was help him transport it back to the states.

You were his mule?

What was your cut?

Well, it doesn't matter. I haven't seen a dime.

Not even this really old dime?

Prosecution hasn't taken immunity off the table.

I need the money.

Oh, I'll bet. I looked at your portfolio.

You lost a lot when the market crashed.

Yeah. I lost enough.

Look, I still had access to the gold.

So I took some of the smaller pieces and turned them over.

And when you got scared that you were leaving a paper trail,

you decided to set up Mitchell as a fall guy.

I didn't want to set him up. Ames did.

All you did was get the prints and the hat.

What I want to know is why you melted some of the pieces down.

He thought if we made it look like most of the gold was gone,

you guys wouldn't spend so much time searching for it,

even after Mitchell was locked up.

Where's the gold now?

I don't know.

He moved it on you?

Yeah. I swear. I don't know where it is.

Then you're gonna help us find it.

You're gonna tell Ames that the FBI has been poking around.

We've been talking to him, too, so he'll believe you.

He won't trust me.

He will if you tell him that the case against Mitchell is falling apart

and that he needs to unload the gold immediately.

What if he gets spooked, okay, and wants to wait?

Then you'll have to convince him that you found a private buyer...

A very rich, very discreet buyer.

So, Ames is willing to meet you

at a private gallery later today?

Apparently, I'm a wealthy buyer.

And this is your car for the day.

You're not... you're not kidding.

It's a Mercedes.

Oh, this isn't even an S-Class.

I need to look like I can drop a few million on antiquities.

This says, "Look what I kept in the divorce."

Really? You can't make this work?

What kind of a con man are you?

The Neal Caffrey I did my thesis on could make this work.

- Moz, wake up. - Leave me alone.

Come on. Come on, Moz, come on.

Did you draw on my face?

What? No.

Ames is meeting with me today.

Got to go in as a serious high roller. Need a car.

I'll get my Slim Jim.

No. Can't steal it.

Yeah, we "can't steal it".

Excuse me, sir. Could you step away from this car?

No.

Thank you.

- Yo, you need something? - Yeah.

Captain told you I was coming, right?

- Says FBI. - What you talking about?

One of your limos was involved in a 418 last night.

I'm supposed to bring it back to the forensic motor pool.

What's the plate on that?

Uh, XC7 32W.

We're cleaning it now.

Griggs, get this guy out of here.

Yo, I didn't get a call about any of this.

You, beat it.

Is that our vehicle?

We got gunshot residue.

Looks like it's been snowing back here.

How many of your guys touched this car?

We're a cleaning company.

Oh, really?

Okay, there's two ways we can do this.

One, I take the car back with me,

no one gets asked any questions.

The second way, we assume whatever's in the backseat belongs to one of you.

That's above my pay grade, pal.

Take it.

Griggs, give him a receipt.

- Say no to drugs, chief. - Whatever.

Oh, we got a high roller coming through.

I thought we gave him a Mercedes.

Yeah, I guess he made it work.

God, that driver looks familiar. Is he one of ours?

That's Haversham. Good man.

Relax, you're gonna be fine.

Yeah, you have no idea how dangerous Ames can be.

It's just a game.

Never let them see you sweat, right?

Alisha, you look lovely.

This is the gentleman I was telling you about.

This is my business manager.

- Charmed. - Likewise.

Come in.

Enjoy.

How long have you been collecting antiquities?

Years.

I also admire the occasional reproduction.

So, you're familiar with Ptolemaic period, then?

I am. Shame the Greeks put an end to it.

Shame you didn't have a better history teacher.

Soter's reign over Ptolemaic Egypt ended after the death of Cleopatra

and the Roman conquest of 30 BC, not the Greek.

Or so I've been told.

Would you like to see the actual pieces, then?

I think I already have.

These aren't reproductions.

Good eye.

They've been here all along?

I've always believed the best place

to hide something is in plain sight.

Is everything all right?

Of course.

She's not holding it together.

Smile, Alisha. It's almost over.

Yes. Can we move this along?

What's going on?

Don't play games with me.

You're with the FBI.

Technically, I'm just a consultant. She's with the FBI.

Regardless, no need for a fifth wheel.

Ames is gonna run.

Jones, you take the front exit. Go, go!

You two go with him!

Looks like we have a standoff.

No, we don't. Shoot him. Then I'll have you on murder, too.

Go on.

You.

Hey... hey, don't make me shoot you!

Drop the gun!

Jones, I need immediate backup.

This is not what I needed today.

No, no, no. I was never here.

FBI! Get on the ground!

Get on the ground right now!

Hands on your head!

Nice bluff.

I know you were bluffing.

'Cause it's what I would have done.

I'll make sure the courts know that you helped us out.

Looks like you can go home again.

Hi, baby.

I'm really proud of you.

Oh, John's free 'cause of you, El.

Yeah, if you hadn't given me that push.

Well, it was more like a nudge.

- Nudge. - Maybe a little love talk.

I love talk.

He must be really happy he's going home.

He's not the only one.