"I'd want him to know the truth. Who we are, and where we come from. What we do." ― Leanne to Elizabeth
The Walk In is the third episode of Season Two of The Americans on FX, and the sixteenth episode overall.
Synopsis[]
Philip and Elizabeth infiltrate a submarine parts factory, photographing propeller plans. In disguise, Elizabeth visits Jared Connors, intent on delivering a letter from his now-deceased mother. Paige skips school to track down Elizabeth's Aunt Helen. Stan investigates Dameran's work history with the World Bank.
Plot[]
In 1966, new mother Leanne Connors and fellow KGB illegal, Elizabeth, are on a mission together in Silver Spring, Maryland. Leanne asks if the Jennings have started trying to have children. Elizabeth is evasive, saying kids aren't something she's always wanted. Leanne tells Elizabeth she and Emmett have written a letter to their son, Jared, explaining who they are and where they come from. Elizabeth promises that if anything ever happens to the Connors, she will get the letter to Jared.
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In the present, at home, Philip tells Elizabeth that the Center has ordered they go to a submarine parts factory to steal the specifications of a propeller. Although the Center has indicated they'll have someone clandestinely watch Paige and Henry, she's not reassured. Telling the kids they'll be late from work that evening, Elizabeth asks Paige to watch Henry. Stan comes home after a night of staking out Bruce Dameran, watching him do laundry, and meets Sandra as she's about to leave for a Werner Erhard course. She's frustrated when he refers to the course as "fun." Going to school, Paige lies to Henry that she's going shopping after class and asks him to look after himself. He promises not to tell their parents.
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In 1967, Elizabeth tells Philip "I'm ready." She begins to undress and it's obvious that they haven't slept together yet. When Philip realizes her intentions, and Elizabeth says he'll be a good father, he's disappointed, realizing she's proposing sex for procreation only. In the present, they drive to Newport News. Paige skips school and goes to Pennsylvania, to find out if Aunt Helen really exists. On the bus trip, she meets Kelli, a girl whose parents are divorced and they begin to talk.
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At the FBI, Stan shows Agent Gaad the file on Dameran which indicates that a wound he obtained in the Vietnam War ruined a promising career. Posing as moving coordinators, a disguised Philip and Elizabeth arrive at the shipyards and are oriented by Edgar Thompson. They split up with Elizabeth heading to the mill. Paige tells Kelli how private her parents are but arriving at her destination, Kelli gives Paige her phone number. While opening crates at the mill, Elizabeth is caught by a worker, Derek. Asking about a machine that makes the propeller, she picks up a crowbar and is silently menacing. Intimidated, Derek leads her to a propeller that has the specifications taped to it. He shows her pictures of his kids, hoping to gain her sympathy. After the Jennings get what they want, Elizabeth keeps Derek's photo of his youngest son, as collateral for his silence.
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Paige gets to Helen's house and finds an old lady, who is suffering from dementia. The woman thinks Paige is her daughter, "Shelly." Paige's confusion is furthered when she sees a framed picture of Elizabeth holding an infant on her wall. Stan visits Gary Lia at the World Bank to learn more about Bruce Dameran. He finds that Dameran didn't show up to work, and that there's a big event that evening at the Marquis Hotel, with World Bank executives arriving from around the globe. Stan then realizes Dameran was actually staking out the Marquis Hotel while he was doing laundry, and notifies emergency personnel.
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Stan finds Dameran with a sniper rifle on a roof facing the hotel. When he refuses to put it down, Stan shoots him. Elizabeth goes to the Connors' home to retrieve the letter written by Emmett and Leanne. Stan meets Nina and after sex, tells her about stopping Dameran. Thanking her for the information leading to finding Dameran, he tells Nina her loves her. Philip arrives home where Henry lies about where Paige is. A lucid Aunt Helen calls and tells Philip about Paige's visit. Disguised as a social worker, Elizabeth visits Jared, who is staying with a neighbor, Nancy. She speaks highly of Jared to Elizabeth.
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Philip waits for Paige to get home and then berates her for sneaking around and lying. Philip says his own father died when he was six years old and asks Paige if she has any idea what that's like. The reality of raising culturally foreign children in such drastically different circumstances than those he grew up in, combined with his fear that Paige left home while whoever killed the Connors is presumably looking for the Jennings, causes Philip to angrily demand that Paige understands. Upset, Paige runs upstairs. While typing up her report on Stan, Oleg invites Nina to a hockey game, but she turns him down.
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While talking to Elizabeth, Jared tells her that he blames himself for the murders, because he had gone to the swimming pool against his mother's wishes. Elizabeth tries to comfort him. After noting his fragile emotional state, Elizabeth realizes she can't add to his pain by giving him the letter. Nina brings her report to Arkady and tells him about her success with Stan. He's pleased with the progress and believes she may be able to turn him. Paige calls Kelli and leaves the house yet again without getting permission, in order to meet her. (♫ Peter Gabriel - Here Comes the Flood ♫) Philip doesn't hear Paige leave because he's in the laundry room developing the propeller pictures taken earlier. Elizabeth takes the letter the Connors wrote to Jared and burns it.
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Notes[]
- "Here, There and Everywhere" is a song written by Paul McCartney released on the Beatles' 1966 album Revolver. McCartney includes it among his personal favorites of all the songs he has written. Revolver was the Beatles' seventh studio album. Released on 5 August 1966, it was their final recording project before retirement as live performers. The Beatles started recording the album in April 1966. The songs reflect the influence of psychedelic drugs such as LSD and the lyrics address themes including death and transcendence from material concerns.
- In a flashback to 1967, Philip and Elizabeth discuss the Vietnam War and General Westmoreland's request for 100,000 more troops which occurred on March 18, 1967.
- Agent Frank Gaad tells Stan Beeman that he was burned at the Battle of Khe Sanh.
- As Oleg invites Nina to a Washington Capitals vs Chicago Black Hawks game (which occurred on January 30, 1982, Washington winning 5-2), he mentions his admiration for Capitals player Dennis Maruk. Maruk scored 136 points for the Capitals in the 1981-82 NHL season, which is still a Capitals team record. (see Timeline of Historical Events)
- "Previously on The Americans" voice: Elizabeth.
Music[]
Song Title | Performer(s) |
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Here Comes the Flood | Peter Gabriel |
Videos[]
Season Two | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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