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"Do you know how many people I've killed, I mean looked into their eyes, watched them die?" ― Philip to Charles Duluth

ARPANET is the seventh episode of Season Two of The Americans on FX, and the twentieth episode overall.

Synopsis[]

Philip uses his agent Charles Duluth to help him gain access to an early precursor to the Internet so that the KGB can bug American government communications. Nina faces the threat of a potential FBI polygraph exam, bringing her closer to KGB colleague Oleg.

Plot[]

At the Rezidentura, Arkady and Oleg persuade Nina to take the polygraph test Stan requested. Oleg claims he can show her how to trick the machine. Kate, wearing a head scarf, meets with Philip, who scoffs “You look like a spy in an old movie.” She tells him he’s been ordered by the Center to bug the ARPANET with a large, heavy, portable computer. Henry uses his new telescope to spy on the neighbors, the Tanners, and observes them leaving for vacation. Nina meets Stan and says she'll take the polygraph because she loves him. Philip goes to Charles Duluth's apartment and finds him passed out drunk. Philip pours water on his face and rebukes him.



Duluth hungover in ARPANET
You've lost your grip.
Elizabeth and Lucia meet in a café. Lucia says her father was a journalist who went to work one day and was never seen again. Elizabeth explains that Andrew Larrick will get Lucia into the Martial Eagle camp as an instructor. She'll then deactivate the electric fence surrounding the camp so the Jennings can get in. Lucia insists on knowing where Larrick will be inside the camp. At the Rezidentura, Nina is hooked up to a lie detector. Oleg tells her that one of the questions will refer to an "ambiguity" with one of her answers and that she's to respond "no." During the initial questions, she says she doesn't trust Oleg which he smiles at.



S02E07-Phil Liz cafe
Larrick is extremely dangerous.
The front office of Dupont Circle Travel is being painted as Elizabeth enters. (♫ Utopia - Set Me Free ♫) Elizabeth tells Philip that Larrick wants to meet. When Philip offers to go, Elizabeth says “No I’ll do it. You’re the better shot.” Posing as journalist "Peter Emery" working on a technology story, Philip and Duluth visit the office of university professor Thane Rosenbloom, head of the department of computer science. Rosenbloom describes the ARPANET and the location of the important components at the university including the Interface Message Processor (IMP) that Philip will need to bug. Duluth leaves his glasses on Rosenbloom's desk.



Philip ARPANET
Um, virtual space?
Continuing the lie detector test, Nina does poorly on the tough questions. Oleg tells her that she has to embrace what she's saying and lie to herself. Leaving Rosenbloom's office, Philip warns Duluth that he has to be sober for their mission which Duluth casually promises. Nina continues to do poorly on the test and breaks down in frustration. Oleg tells her to squeeze her anus before tough questions and she's surprised when it works. Elizabeth meets Larrick outside on a bench, while Philip watches from a building above, with a sniper rifle. Larrick says he’s leaving for Nicaragua for six months. Elizabeth tells him she’ll still need his help getting into the camp. Larrick looks up to where Philip is perched and implies a threat to Elizabeth.



Nina Oleg ARPANET
You need to lie to tell a greater truth.
Finished with the test, a happy Nina is told by Oleg that during the test, to pick out a spot in the apartment and imagine him there. Elizabeth meets Lucia jogging in a park. Lucia becomes upset learning that Larrick won't be in the Martial Eagle camp and reveals she planned on killing him as revenge for what he did to her people. Elizabeth tries to persuade her that they need Larrick and that the mission is more important than revenge but Lucia leaves in a huff. At home, Philip shows Henry a newspaper ad for a car and Henry leaves. Elizabeth tells Philip about Lucia and expresses doubts about her suitability for their work. Henry lets himself into the Tanners' house.



Lucia in ARPANET episode
He's a monster.
Nina meets Stan in their safe house and submits to the polygraph test. At the Tanners', Henry plays a video game, which he constantly asked his parents for but they wouldn't buy him. Nina denies knowing who who killed Agent Chris Amador but looks at Stan and answers "yes" to knowing who killed her friend Vlad. During tough questions, she looks into an empty corner and imagines Oleg there. She convincingly responds to the "ambiguity" question and is told by Stan she passed the test.



S02E07-Nina takes poly
Have you deceived your contact in the FBI?
At night, Duluth returns to the university and gets access to Rosenbloom's office from security guard Raymond using the excuse that he left his glasses there. He finds the keypad code to the room containing the "IMP" and writes it down on his hand. Meeting Philip, who is dressed as a janitor and pushing a large trashcan, Duluth panics when he sees the computer room is full of students. Philip calms him and leaves Duluth rubbing his hands together. At the safe house, Stan tells Nina he wants to get her out but she doesn't want to leave him. She lies that Oleg is only looking out for himself and Arkady despises him. Stan tells Nina he is willing to give Oleg the security logs he requested to keep her safe. She also says that Arkady is getting her access to the illegals program and she'll be able to get him anything.



S02E07-Duluth Phil hallway
Clam down, stay here.
Philip goes to the university basement and triggers evacuation alarms. Upstairs in the now empty building, Philip asks Duluth for the entry code, but he can’t read the ink which has smudged on his hand. Duluth recites the number from memory, then changes a digit. Philip has him repeat the code again before telling him to leave. The code works and Philip enters the room, attaching the computer he has hidden in the trash can. Setting his watch for one minute, he hides when a student returns to the room, to retrieve a wallet he’d left at his desk. The student notices the trash can by the "IMP" and while opening the door on the "IMP", Philip emerges from his hiding place and looks him in the eye. As everyone returns to the building, Philip pushes a very heavy trash can away from the computer room.



S02E07-Fernando and student
Wrong place, wrong time.
Philip meets a jubilant Duluth in a bar who brags about the mission and the adrenaline rush it gave him. Brushing off Philip mentioning his jitters and wondering why he isn't pleased, Philip says he had to kill a student who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As Duluth compliments Philip's killing skills, he questions why Duluth is drinking again. Charles bluffs that he's just drinking juice. Leaving and telling Philip he's open for a mission anytime, Philip discovers Duluth had vodka in his drink. At a luxury hotel room, Oleg and Nina snuggle in bed. She relates that imagining him during the test was her secret power. Oleg expresses his admiration for what she is doing with Stan who she says means nothing to her, but Oleg doesn't believe her.



S02E07-Nina Oleg in bed
Nothing to protect you, except your wits...

Notes[]

Music[]

Song Title Performer(s)
Set Me Free Utopia

Videos[]


Season Two
#201 "Comrades" #208 "New Car"
#202 "Cardinal" #209 "Martial Eagle"
#203 "The Walk In" #210 "Yousaf"
#204 "A Little Night Music" #211 "Stealth"
#205 "The Deal" #212 "Operation Chronicle"
#206 "Behind the Red Door" #213 "Echo"
#207 "ARPANET"
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