This week’s episode was less dramatic than the preceding first three hours of the season but is still enjoyable without any cold-blooded executions. Elizabeth and Phillip are ordered to actively pursue activities in “fly over country” concerning the grain tampering plot. Stan tries to come up with a plan to help Oleg from afar. Oleg adjusts to his new life in Moscow under the threat of exposure by the CIA. Paige shows some initiative, which makes her mom more fretful about her possible exposure. Henry, the forgotten son makes a brief appearance while Mischa, Phillip’s oldest son makes a daring journey to find his father and freedom.
Phillip and Elizabeth meet with Gabriel to review the next phase of the grain operation. Gabriel asks how their “contacts” did in Oklahoma; Phillip remarks that the woman “Marylyn” was fine but the man Norm needed to be “talked down.” (Perhaps Norm was tasked with getting rid of the lab director’s body.) The old man shows them the photos and files on two individuals in upper management at the Agricorp Company in Topeka. He notes they are both single. Phillip complains that it’s a burden to travel so much to Kansas for this mission. Gabriel suggests they go separately. Elizabeth begins to explain how many situations they are currently managing; the Morzov’s, Tuan, the threat of Paige’s relationship with Matthew Beeman and Pastor Tim. Phillip notes that Paige is “taking more time than usual.” Elizabeth concedes she knows the importance of this mission. Gabriel remarks dryly that he’s sure they can handle it all.
Alone together in the car, Phillip asks Elizabeth, “You think we are going to get fired?” Elizabeth replies, “It’s not funny.” Phillip sighs, “I know.” Measuring up to the Centre’s demands is something they are both concerned about. Ideally, they want to retire on their own terms or when the Centre recalls them.
The next morning, Phillip stares out the window, concerned about a potential tree hazard in their yard. Elizabeth makes toast as they discuss Henry, his math teacher has called them but they don’t know why. Henry enters, complaining about the lack of Apple Jacks. Elizabeth suggests he go to the store and buy some himself! She hands him a piece of toast she made for herself. Phillip confronts Henry about the math teacher but Henry pleads ignorance. This irritates Elizabeth and Phillip. In frustration, Henry admits he “laughs” in class. He throws out the toast without eating it, complaining it didn’t have enough jam. Paige enters, seeing her brother’s wastefulness states, “I would have eaten that!” Henry tells her to eat it out of the trash before exiting. (Paige, knowing about the possible grain shortage probably finds her brother’s behavior especially obnoxious.) The three of them share a look when Henry leaves.
Oleg is introduced to a new partner at work. The man, Ruslan, is known for his “advanced interrogation techniques.” The boss suggests Oleg and Ruslan go back to the store from last week and see what they can accomplish as a team. Oleg looks nervous about his new tough partner.
Phillip catches a flight to Topeka; he sports dark hairpiece and large framed glasses. Arriving at night, Phillip heads out to the local gym to chat up his mark. She uses an exercise cycle with a Walkman and doesn’t seem keen to talk. Phillip introduces himself as a man with business in the area and wants to know what to do in while in town. She is distant, claiming she loves her work in logistics. Phillip says his name is Gus; she introduces herself as Deidre Kemp. She will be a tough one for Phillip to seduce.
After work, Oleg finds his mother home alone reading. She can see her son is upset. Oleg confesses, “I’m in trouble.” Oleg first makes her promise that she will not tell his father. She agrees to keep the secret. Oleg explains that when he was in the United States, he trusted a man he shouldn’t have and said things he shouldn’t have. Oleg states they are now trying to use blackmail to get him to do things that would land him in jail. (or worse) Upon hearing this, his mother begins to cry. She is still grieving for the loss of Oleg’s brother in the Afghan war, losing Oleg is too much for her to bear. Oleg looks ashamed at the pain he’s caused.
Mischa prepares for his journey beyond the Iron Curtain. He must trust two men who plan to smuggle him under the seat of a small sedan. The men will transport a small refrigerator to give the young man some additional cover. It’s going to be a long, claustrophobic ride.
Phillip returns from Kansas and meets with Elizabeth back at the travel agency. Elizabeth tried to figure out why they need to meet with Henry’s teacher, it’s especially curious since he is not having problems with his grades. Phillip is frustrated that all Henry wants to do is play video games and talk on the phone! (Again, it seems Phillip and Elizabeth don't know anything about typical American teens!) Phillip is sarcastic about Deidre, “She has a real passion for logistics!” Elizabeth hopes it’s promising. “If I don’t die of boredom first!” Phillip replies. Elizabeth is going tomorrow, presumably to seduce her mark.
Mischa and the men arrive at a border checkpoint. The men use the soccer game on the radio to distract the men. It allows them to cheer, and honk while the car containing Mischa is inspected. After a few tense minutes, the men are through. (Presumably to Italy.) The car continues on in the darkness.
Oleg and Ruslan confront the department store manager again. She claims to not know the names of her suppliers, just as she did last week. Oleg notes it is still curious how she can always get the best of everything. The woman replies it’s because she’s so skilled at her job. Raslan approaches her, he threatens that she will lose her job, her apartment and perhaps even her husband’s job if she does not cooperate with them. “Who’s going to take care of your children when you are in prison?” At this, the woman breaks down and provides a name after Raslan promises the information will not be traced back to her. Oleg clearly is more comfortable playing “good cop” but Raslan’s “bad cop” has yielded results.
Elizabeth shops at a health food store in Topeka wearing high-waist acid wash pants, a dark short wig and glasses, which would make Velma proud. After spotting her man, she proceeds to spill her bulk food all over the floor. Elizabeth pretends to be shy and asks the classic "80's question, "What is carob?" Ben is chivalrous and helps her clean it up while flirting with her. Elizabeth says her name is Brenda and she’s in town for business and was hoping to go for a hike. Ben proclaims himself the local hiking expert and plans to take her out soon.
Phillip and Alexei share a pint of beer at a bar. One on one, the defector seems less agitated. Alexei remembers a drink they used to have in the Soviet Union, kvass, which is not available in the U.S. He states it’s made from dark bread and has a cola-like taste. He brews it now in his basement but he can’t get it to taste like back home. Alexei asks Phillip became interested in flying. Phillip shares he had a small toy as a child and used to live near an airfield. He learned how to fly at age sixteen and entered the Air Force at age eighteen. There is probably some truth to these statements, in last week’s flashbacks young Phillip was seen playing with a crude toy plane.
Alexei asks if he fought in the war and Phillip says yes, in Vietnam but only resupply missions. (Soviets view the American war as colonial aggression, therefore, it was too abhorrent even for Phillip to lie about.) Alexei wonders if Tuan is his “natural” son but Phillip states they couldn’t have children so adopted him. Alexei is concerned about how his family doesn’t seem to be adjusting to the United States. Phillip commiserates that teenager boys are tough; Alexei notes his wife is not a teenager. “If it wasn’t for my job, I’d blow my brains out!” Phillip asks for details about his job. “At work, they think I’m a genius!” Alexei explains that transportation is not the problem in the United States that it is in the Soviet Union. He states sometimes the grain goes bad due to lack of infrastructure to get it to markets. Sometimes, they have to use horse-drawn carts on muddy roads. “System is broken!” Phillip listens with interest.
Phillip waits up for his wife, watching a nature show about bees. She seems tired from her day in Topeka. She’s brought him back a little bottle vodka a man insisted on buying for her, despite the fact she told him he was married. (Again proving her skill at seduction, it is easier for women, however.) Phillip notes Paige is babysitting for Pastor Tim on Saturday night. Elizabeth describes Ben as “Full of himself, we’re going hiking this weekend.” She rests her head on Phillip for support. Obviously, her mission was more successful than Phillip’s but she seems tired of the game.
Double date time! Beeman and his new squeeze Renee meet Phillip and Elizabeth for an Italian dinner. Renee brags about being a tomboy, a result of growing up with older brothers. It seems something is a little too easy about her relationship with Stan. Phillip gave her a skeptical look upon meeting her at the gym. Stan seems really happy. Elizabeth and Phillip make up boring background stories, Elizabeth is from Chicago, Phillip from Pittsburgh. Renee has relatives in Pittsburgh but Phillip fakes his way through the knowing about the area. Is Renee on to Phillip?
Oleg and Ruslan deliver their results to the boss. The boss is impressed with their work as he reviews the information on the department heads involved with the corruption. Ruslan points out the “weak spot” of on man, he has a son serving in Afghanistan. They are asked to sit down; Oleg asks his boss if there isn’t “another” way. The boss is bemused by Oleg’s “softness.” Oleg explains families with children serving in the war are already going through enough hardship. (This is especially important to Oleg, who’s lost his only brother in the conflict.) The boss notes they do what “gets results.” He chides Oleg; “We’re they soft at the PGU?” Oleg replies, “It’s not about softness, it’s about doing the decent thing.” The boss counters, “The decent thing is what’s best for the Soviet Union!” He notes Oleg’s father knows about “tough decisions” and asks if Oleg has talked to his father about it. Oleg notes he was sworn not to disclose to his family the nature of his work. Sensing the tension between the two men, Ruslan takes the file and promises his boss Oleg and him will work together to form a plan for their mission.
Back in Washington, Aderholt and Beeman continue their surveillance, camped out in a car during the day. Aderholt relates he’s been thinking about Burov, and another case he worked in San Francisco. Aderholt was trying to get the man to work for them, offered him cash but the man kept refusing. Through their investigation, they discovered he was having an affair and threatened to blackmail him. The man wanted to keep his family together, and worked with the FBI. Coincidently, he ended up earning from the FBI. The point of the story is everyone has something they would sacrifice themselves for, in Oleg’s case it’s probably his mother. “We blackmailed the shit out of him and everyone ended up happy!” Stan is silent but secretly hopes for a good outcome for Oleg.
Paige is instructed on the baby’s routine by Pastor Tim’s stressed out wife Alice. Paige asks politely what happens if the baby doesn’t go back to sleep, “Panic!” advises Alice. Pastor Tim asks Paige about volunteering at the food pantry. (Did they ever find the body of would-be rapist near the food pantry?) Tim notes Elizabeth deserves credit for trying to be close with her. Pastor Tim gives her a book of Marx to help her understand her parents better. “I thought he hated religion?” Pastor Tim states he was pretty clear on class and poverty issues. The couple leaves Paige in a quiet house.
Phillip attempts to call Deirdre from a pay phone to attempt to ask her out on a date. She rebukes him, unwilling to commit outside of her work schedule. Is it possible she isn’t interested in men?
Ben and “Brenda” go on their nature hike date. Ben relates his knowledge of birds and wildlife in the area. He seems very easy to talk to and makes her laugh.
Paige checks on the little baby girl, the picture of innocence asleep in her crib. Leaving the nursery, Paige begins to snoop through the Pastor’s things. She finds an address book and some notes. In Topeka, Elizabeth and Ben make out by the fire. Paige heads upstairs to find a romance novel by Alice’s bed. Ben removes Elizabeth’s glasses. (Like a romance novel cover!) Finally, Paige strikes gold. She’s found Pastor Tim’s personal diary.
Before Ben can “strike gold” Elizabeth stops the session of passion. She says she likes him but “is a really bad planner” and has to go to work. He asks if she has a boyfriend, which she truthfully denies. She arranges to see him when she returns to town next week. It’s unclear why Elizabeth didn’t have sex with Ben. Is she simply trying to maintain his interest or is she developing conflicting feelings about him? Usually, sex is just part of the job which Phillip and Elizabeth accept. Back in Pastor Tim’s bedroom, Paige starts to decipher the diary.
The assistant AG of the FBI meets with Stan in the “vault.” Stan opens the conversation, “Do you remember that guy Vladimir Kosygin who has killed three years ago during the course of an investigation?” The director does not. Stan reminds him; Vladimir was kidnapped by a group of FBI agents and then shot in cold blood. Stan admits he killed him. (This was after the death of his partner and Stan was searching for revenge.) The director wants to know what Stan wants; does he want to be arrested, prosecuted? Stan admits that’s up to what happens to Oleg Burov. If the CIA refused to leave Oleg alone, Stan will go to the public and confess his crime and how the FBI executes innocent people. Indignant by these statements the boss reminds him, “I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, and unlike you, I haven’t forgotten what that means!” Stan sighs, “Then I’m guessing you’ll keep quiet like the rest of us and find a way to make sure the CIA leaves Oleg Burov alone.”
Paige returns home from school to find her mom in the kitchen making lasagna. Phillip is at work and Henry is at a friend’s house. They discuss Henry, Elizabeth is curious about his long conversations on the phone with girls. Paige notes that her parents have been traveling a lot. Elizabeth turns on the sink faucet and motions her daughter to come closer. Elizabeth speaks in a whisper, “It’s what we’ve been talking about, the grain thing.” Elizabeth notes the “new sources” need to be developed, far away, separately. Paige is curious about how her mom pretends to be different people. (If she could see the wigs!) Paige notes she’d be scared of someone finding out.
Paige tells her mother about finding Pastor Tim’s diary and doesn’t get the approval she was hoping for. Elizabeth chides her, noting “You can look different and sound different after doing something like that!” Paige had hoped to use the information to gain compromising information about Pastor Tim. (She’s a natural.) Elizabeth notes her actions were smart and brave but she’s worried if Alice were to find out she would go straight to the FBI. Paige replies, “I’m sorry, but I was there, not you.”
Oleg puts up his feet after a long day. His mother comes to him in a bathrobe with her hair in a loose braid. It is obvious she was once a great beauty. She sits down with her son. “A few years after I married your father, before we had you, they took me. I was sent to a camp.” Oleg is incredulous as his mother describes her five-year stay there, “I did what I had to do to survive!” (This was probably in the post-war period under Stalin’s savage rule. It’s possible she was forced to prostitute herself there. It may be possible that Oleg’s has a different father.) Her message to Oleg is clear; “Do what you have to do to survive.” (Even if that means cooperating with the Americans.)
Mischa arrives at JFK in New York via TWA. He looks lost in the big modern airport. He steps off the curb into a new world.
Elizabeth and Phillip speak in hushed tones about Paige’s stunt. Phillip is very worried about her being caught. Elizabeth shakes her head, “If there was something on him with a parishioner...” She does admire her daughter’s smarts. When asked about Kansas, Elizabeth doesn’t want to talk about it. This peaks Phillip’s interest even more. “I don’t know what to say about it, he’s nice, he talks about hiking and birds, he’s funny. Phillip observes dryly, “You like him!” Elizabeth replies, “I have to sit there and laugh at his jokes when he’s planning to starve an entire country!” But is she trying to talk herself out of having feelings for him? The couple stares quietly together at the ceiling.
Next week’s episode shows Mischa meeting with Gabriel as he looks for his father. Gabriel scolds him for speaking Russian. Stan and Renee get closer and she probes him for details about his work. Phillip suspects Renee could be a fellow agent. Claudia and Gabriel discuss whether to allow Mischa to see Phillip.
It seems clear from this episode, Elizabeth and Phillip are more concerned than ever about being caught. The scene with Elizabeth speaking in whispered tones with the faucet running was especially telling. The episode illustrated some of the tedium of working in intelligence. Stan has long stake-outs with his partner, Phillip endures being rebuked by a surly woman from Topeka. The for the Jennings danger is becoming acuter. Despite all their precautions, they simply have too many things to balance. Where will the couple slip remains to be revealed but Matthew, Pastor Tim or even the math teacher may tip their delicate balance into the free-fall of being caught.
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