Burn After Reading

Ozzie. Come on in.

Palmer. What's up?

You know Peck and Olson.

Peck, yes, hiya. Olson, by reputation.

I'm Osborne Cox.

Yeah, hi.

Aren't you with... Isn't he...

Yeah, that's right. Have a seat.

Look, Oz, look.

There's no easy way to say this.

We're taking you off the Balkans desk.

What? Why?

In fact, we're moving you out of SIG INT entirely.

Just... No discussion? Just "You're out"?

Well, we're having the discussion now.

Look, Oz, this doesn't have to be unpleasant.

Palmer, with all due respect,

what the fuck are you talking about?

And why is Olson here?

Ozzie, look...

What the fuck is this?

I know it's not my work. Ozzie.

I'm a great fucking analyst.

Okay, Ozzie.

Ozzie, things have not been going well, as you know.

You have a drinking problem.

I have a drinking problem?

This doesn't have to be unpleasant.

We found something for you in State. It's a...

Well, it is a lower clearance level. Yes.

But it's not... Look, we're not terminating you.

Hmm.

This is an assault.

I have a drinking problem?

Fuck you, Peck. You're a Mormon! Ozzie.

Next to you, we all have a drinking problem!

What the fuck is this? Whose ass didn't I kiss? Huh?

Let's be honest! Okay...

I mean, let us be fucking honest.

This is a crucifixion! This is political!

And don't tell me it's not!

I have a drinking problem!

You're home.

Honey, hang on to your hat. I've got some news.

Did you pick up the cheeses?

Huh?

The cheeses? Were they ready?

The cheeses?

I didn't realize you could be home so early.

Yeah. I left a message for you to stop by Arnaud's.

The Magruders and the Pfarrers are coming this evening.

The Pfarrers... What did Kathleen say?

What?

When you left the message?

That she would give you the message.

Well, I don't know, I guess we had bigger news today.

My day didn't revolve around whether...

Do you mean that you didn't pick up the cheeses?

Well, if I didn't get the message,

then I didn't pick up the cheeses.

For fuck's sake, Ozzie. But, honey, hang on to your hat.

What, now I have to go and pick them up? I have some news to...

Stay here and get dressed.

Honey, we have to talk.

Well, not now. I mean, they're gonna be here in less than an hour.

Is that goat cheese?

Ch鑦re, yes, that is a goat cheese.

'Cause I have a lactose reflux, and I can't...

You're lactose intolerant?

Yeah, but I... Or you have acid reflux?

They're different things. I know what they are.

So you misspoke.

Well, thank you for correcting me.

You should try the ch鑦re, Harry. It's very good.

Yeah. I can eat goat cheese.

I was just telling your husband that I have a condition

where I go into anaphylactic shock when I...

Harry works in the Marshals Service, Doug. And my throat...

Oh! I'm on the legislative side.

I work with Senator Hobby.

I was with Treasury, dealing with Homeland Security.

I'm with the Marshals now.

If you want, he'll show you his great big gun.

Very funny. Gun's no big deal.

Twenty years of Marshals Service, I never discharged my weapon.

That sounds like something you should be telling your psychiatrist.

I don't have a psychiatrist.

Boy, I guess my job is pretty undramatic.

I'm on the legislative side.

Mrs. Pfarrer, what do you do?

Do you also carry a big gun?

No, I write children's...

She writes children's books.

Y eah. Oliver, The Cat Who Lives In The Rotunda.

Those are wonderful! Thank you.

My nieces and nephews just love them.

Oh! Yeah, it's a beloved, beloved series.

Oh! Thank you.

You should see the fan mail she gets.

Are you sure this is goat cheese?

Why don't you let your wife tell them about her own books, Harry?

Come with me into the kitchen. I'm sorry. Was I dominating?

Help with the crudit閟.

God damn it. He knows, doesn't he? These are nice floors.

Knows what? About us, he knows about us.

Little prick. Don't be such an ass.

He doesn't know a thing.

What is that, Forbo?

What a horse's ass.

I don't know why we see them.

Well, she's all right.

She's a cold, stuck-up bitch.

You quit?

Uh-huh.

Well, thank you for telling me.

Well, I tried to tell you this...

You tried? You tried?

And then what, aphasia kicked in?

No. Then our guests came and then...

Why? For fuck's sake, Ozzie. I don't know.

I just got so tired.

You're tired?

Yes, of swimming against the current.

Uh-huh.

Independent thought is not valued there.

They resist it. They fight it. The bureaucracy is...

So they gave you a pension or severance or something?

I didn't retire. I quit. I don't want their benefits.

But my benefits, they will do you, right?

They'll see you through, is that the idea?

It's not like that's the only way to make money.

Yes? Yes? Well, what're you gonna do?

I'll do some consulting.

Consulting.

Yes, to help out while... I've always wanted to write.

Write. Write what?

I've been thinking about writing a book.

Or, you know, a sort of memoir.

You okay there, Dad?

Dad, I left my job at the Agency.

I'm sorry, Dad.

Government service is not the same as when you were in State.

Things are different now.

I don't know, maybe it's the Cold War ending.

Now it seems like it's all bureaucracy and no mission.

I'm writing a memoir.

I think it can be pretty explosive.

But I don't think you would disapprove.

I don't think you would disapprove.

Katie's had trouble accepting it.

But sometimes there's a higher patriotism, Dad.

I know this kind of man. We've seen this.

Mrs. Cox, you cannot let this man

take advantage of you, and he will.

He will.

Yes. This is my fear.

Though he's trying... Well, he says

he's trying to pull himself together but...

Yeah. Look, sure, I'm obliged to tell you to try to salvage things,

and you should. It's not unheard of

that people turn themselves around,

but you haven't broached the possibility of divorce yet.

No. Well, that's good.

Because first you should get his financials before he's forewarned.

Because here is a man...

Here is a man practiced in deceit.

This was almost, you could say, it's his job,

and there is no reason it's not improper.

There is no reason you shouldn't get a picture of the household finances.

Paper files, computer files, whatever. That's your prerogative.

You can be a spy, too, madam.

Do this, before he's put on alert.

Before the turtle can draw in his head and his...

Feet. Feet.

And hopefully everything will work out.

He will reform.

But if not,

forewarned is forearmed.

We were young and committed and there was nothing we could not do.

We thought of the Agency less...

Um...

The principles of George Kennan,

a personal hero of mine,

like the fabled Murrow's Boys,

at a time of...

OSBORNE ON ANSWERING MACHINE: You have reached the Cox Group.

We can't answer your call right...

Hello?

I'm looking for Dr. Cox. Is she there?

No. She isn't. Hers is the 5719 number.

This is the Cox Group,

but you can reach her on her portable or at her office.

She's married!

Number four.

Has a boyfriend!

And number six.

She's pregnant!

I should try to get a run in.

Ozzie!