Burn Notice

My name is Michael Westen. I used to be a spy until...

Man: We got a burn notice on you. You're blacklisted.

When you're burned, you've got nothing --

no cash, no credit, no job history.

You're stuck in whatever city they decide to dump you in.

- Where am I? - Miami.

You do whatever work comes your way.

You rely on anyone who's still talking to you.

A trigger-happy girlfriend...

Should we shoot them?

...an old friend who used to inform on you to the FBI...

You know spies -- a bunch of bitchy little girls.

...family, too... Hey, is that your mom again?

...if you're desperate.... Someone needs your help, Michael.

...and a down-and-out spy you met along the way.

That's how we do it, people.

Bottom line -- as long as you're burned,

you're not going anywhere.

Fiona: "Dear Michael, I don't know if this letter will reach you,

"but the thought that it might

"is a small comfort in this place,

"where even the smallest comfort is something.

"It seems likely it will be my home from now on,

"until I'm officially tried.

"They're holding me at Allarod Federal Penitentiary,

"a maximum-security facility for, as they like to say,

"'the worst of the worst.'

"My trial is still some months away,

"but my lawyer tells me that my confession

"makes a legal defense... a challenge.

"I told her not to waste her time.

"The worst part, really,

"is what they make you give up in here.

"It's not just your freedom.

"They take your dignity, your hope...

"so you give up and do as you're told.

"And you know how good I am at doing what I'm told.

"For the most part, I'm just another prisoner.

"I don't expect to make many friends here,

but, then, I've never made friends easily, anyway."

"At least I have a little privacy.

"When I'm not in the yard, at meals, or on work duty,

"I'm housed in a unit for violent offenders...alone.

"It reminds me of the first time

"that I lost you in Ireland.

"I'd see you in my dreams, but I'd wake up...

"and you were still gone.

"The dreams hurt, but they were all that kept me going.

"They did then... and they do now.

Love, Fi."

You all right, brother?

She's close to giving up.

I need to see her, Sam.

She has to know we're trying to get her out.

I'm afraid you can't, Mike. She's too high a risk.

Look, I had to pull strings at Homeland Security just to get that letter.

So seeing her? Forget it.

Now, come on.

Before you wreck a perfectly good table,

you should get talking with your pals at the CIA

and get some help.

I already talked to Pearce. She tried.

No one's touching this.

You know, Mike, uh,

you used to have friends in high places at the Agency.

I know they turned their backs on you

when you got burned, but...

Why would they help me now?

Maybe if you give them a reason to.

Michael: There are certain people in life you get stuck with,

whether you love them, they drive you nuts, or both.

They've made you who you are.

For most people, it's a coach or a favorite teacher.

For a spy, it's his training officer.

Michael.

Tom.

How long's it been? Eight years?

Something like that.

Sit, please.

There's no need to pretend for me.

I, um -- good.

You have every reason in the world to hate my guts.

I wasn't exactly great at returning calls when you,

um...well, you know.

It was nothing personal.

There simply wasn't anything I could do to help you.

You can make it up to me now.

I need to see Fiona Glenanne.

This is all about your girlfriend?

Yeah, I heard about that situation.

Trust me -- she's innocent.

Look...just do yourself a favor...

and walk away.

Not with this, I can't. You have to.

Your status at the Agency is not exactly helped

by your association with her.

You are just back in.

Card, I know you've been moved from training to operations,

so if I have to earn some points around here

to make this happen, just give me a job.

You want a job... with me?

You're serious?

Come on.

I will do whatever it takes, Card.

Now, you owe me at least that.

I was your star pupil.

Hell, you're sitting in that chair because of me.

I can't even believe I'm doing this.

Okay.

Fine.

There is...something.

I wasn't gonna do it

because I didn't have an operative in Miami.

I guess I do now.

Michael, let's be real clear about this right up front.

If you screw this up,

there is not going to be any lifeline, no safety net.

It's just going to be you and me

with our asses flapping in the wind.

And exactly how does that sound to you?

That sounds like a risk I'm willing to take.

Burn Notice 6x02 Mixed Messages Original Air Date on June 21, 2012

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

Woman: We have your table ready, Mr. Card.

John, how are you?

Seems like old times, huh?

If by "old times," you mean running me through

counter-interrogation exercises on one hour of sleep.

Oh, cry me a river, Michael. I wasn't that bad on you.

The old Card never would have treated me

to a five-star meal.

Who said the new Card was?

Woman: Whiskey neat.

And an iced tea for my friend.

That is still your drink of choice, yes?

Nothing gets by you, Card -- nothing.

Cheers.

It's funny.

What?

Me being the one to help you see Fiona.

Why? Because you never liked her? I liked her fine.

I didn't like my protégé

sleeping with a foreign arms trader

he met under a cover I.D.

That sort of thing can make your training officer look bad.

You said she would ruin my life.

I was just calling it the way I saw it.

In my defense, I didn't know so many people

would be lining up to ruin your life anyway.

So, what's the job you need me for?

I have spent most of the last year down in Mexico

in a joint CIA-DEA task force

focused on the Zetas Cartel --

1,000 man-hours.

We have exactly squat to show for it.

Where in Mexico?

No need to even pack your bags.

Cartel is trying to establish a foothold in Miami.

We need to shut them down there.

Right now, we are focused on two Mexican nationals.

Ramiro Salazar is the boss.

He's not gonna get my vote for grandfather of the year.

He's not even the real problem.

That title belongs to Rafael Montero.

He's linked to 10 homicides.

He's totally paranoid.

Every time I get somebody close to him,

they wind up dead, chopped up in about a hundred little pieces.

I assume you have a plan.

We caught a break in an operation out of Veracruz,

found out that 2 tons of cocaine are coming into Miami

in the next 48 hours.

We need to figure out where that shipment is landing.

I'm in.

Who is it?

Madeline: Your mother.

Nate: And me, bro.

Nate, what are you doing here?

Well, I guess I could ask you the same question.

Where's Ruth and the baby?

Back in Vegas.

Look, I heard what went down around here.

I figured you could use some support.

I'm gonna be staying for a while.

You don't need to do that.

Look, uh, Michael, the reason that I, uh,

dragged Nate over here is I thought

it would be nice if the two of you talked

about, you know, things.

'Cause God knows you never talk to me.

I just can't do this right now.

I have an assignment that may help me get to see Fiona.

Okay, okay. Not now. I get it.

Mom, just not right now, all right?

Take care, you and Fiona both.

Going to prison is always a possibility for an operative.

When your job involves working outside the law,

sometimes it can't be avoided.

If you find yourself inside,

the first thing to remember is patience.