Covert Affairs (TV Series)

Trigger Cut (2014)

Hill Harper: Calder Michaels

Quotes 

• Sydney : You want me to spy on my client?

  Calder Michaels : I want you to serve your country. When are you seeing Mashkov again?

  Sydney : I don't know.

  Calder Michaels : Would it be possible to schedule a date with him without raising suspicion?

  Sydney : A few weeks ago, you were scolding me for dating Mashkov.

  Calder Michaels : Yeah.

  Sydney : Now you wanna know when I'll be seeing him again?

  Calder Michaels : [holds up his hands]  You're right, I apologize for that. You were in a bind, I helped out, and I used that opportunity to lecture you. It was wrong, and I am sorry.

  Sydney : [skeptical]  You're sorry?

  [nods] 

  Calder Michaels : But if I was hard on you, Sydney, it is only be...

  [shakes his head] 

  Calder Michaels : Can I call you Stephanie? I know that's your real name, so it feels strange calling you Sydney now. Okay? If I was hard on you, it's only because I see a lot of myself in you. You want people to believe that you're an island, completely self-sufficient. But underneath, I know that you're looking for more meaning out of your life.

  Sydney : Really?

  Calder Michaels : Yeah.

  Sydney : [taunting]  You got all that from screwing me?

  [gets up] 

  Sydney : Mashkov's in town. We've got a date set for tomorrow.

  Calder Michaels : I thought you just sat there and said that you didn't know...

  Sydney : And if you want my help, you're gonna have to pay for it. I'm a working girl, I have my price.

  Calder Michaels : How much?

  Sydney : My going rate. Multiplied by ten.

  Calder Michaels : Why so much?

  Sydney : Consider it... a risk precaution. If I'm discovered spying on my client, it would be bad for business.

  Calder Michaels : If you're discovered spying on Mashkov, there are a lot bigger risks than that. You should know that going in.

  Calder Michaels : Are you negotiating against yourself? 'Cause we can make it twenty.

  [shakes her head] 

• Calder Michaels : What we're gonna do, is hot-synch Mashkov's phone.

  Sydney : Hot-synch?

  Calder Michaels : When you have the chance, pick up this phone, press it against his for thirty seconds. Technology will do the rest.

  Sydney : Do I have to hit a button... or hold it in any special kind of way?

  Calder Michaels : No, just get them together.

  Sydney : Okay.

  [checks herself in car's mirror, sighs] 

  Calder Michaels : Hey. There's nothing to worry about, okay? Mashkov has no reason to suspect you,

  [she nods] 

  Calder Michaels : and I'm going to be able to listen in. If you're in any distress, you say the word. I'll send in backup.

  Sydney : We have backup?

  Calder Michaels : Conor, say hi to Sydney.

  [behind them, in street, Conor waves] 

  Calder Michaels : I wouldn't have asked you to do this if I wasn't certain that you could handle yourself, okay? If you feel like you can't make the synch, that's fine. Okay? We'll wait for another opportunity.

  [she nods] 

  Calder Michaels : I trust you to make the right call.

  Sydney : I press mine against his for thirty seconds, and it's done?

  Calder Michaels : Yes.

  Sydney : Just like every other trick. Okay.

  [opens car door] 

  Calder Michaels : Hey.

  Sydney : [before she leaves]  Yeah.

• Calder Michaels : So, I guess we'll be in touch soon.

  Sydney : Yeah.

  Calder Michaels : [puts large amount of cash on the counter]  The amount we agreed upon. You earned it.

  Sydney : The intel on his phone. Was it valuable?

  Calder Michaels : I believe so.

  Sydney : Then... Am I still valuable? To you? I mean, will you need me to keep... dating Mashkov?

  Calder Michaels : [sighs]  That will be helpful, yes. But listen, if you're having second thoughts, or if you want to interact with someone else at the Agency, you just say the word.

  Sydney : [shakes her head]  If I'm gonna keep doing this, I don't wanna do it for the money.

  [shakes her head] 

  Sydney : This...

  [returns the money] 

  Sydney : I wanna keep separate.

  [he takes it back] 

  Sydney : You'll still be in charge of me, right?

  Calder Michaels : If that's what you want, Sydney, of course.

  Sydney : I'd like you to call me Stephanie.

  Calder Michaels : Okay, Stephanie.