1x14: Out of the Box (Season Finale)
This episode starts with Neal arriving to the conference room where Jones, Lauren and Peter probably discussing a case and waiting for their superior. Why? Because Caffrey goes to pick up the cup waiting and Cruz stops him. But after all, we're talking about con man Neal Caffrey he starts to explains some findings and filling out a cup of coffee with sips of the others.
Jones jokingly says he's one step closer to his death by touching that coffee, but Burke's smarter and doesn't allow him to get his hands on the beverage. It's in that moment when Caffrey gets a message saying June is holding a champagne brunch and if can go. Peter's response was genius: "(What kind of monster would I be if I didn't let Neal Caffrey near champagne?" - Peter ... or as close as I got it)
But he isn't headed home. He goes to a pool, where Alex is waiting for him. She knows he's no longer with the tracker, but she wants to find out if he's wired. So, in another act of sexiness, Caffrey jumps with his clothes on into the water. After a brief flirt, she tells him the music box is in the private safe of the Italian consulate, and since there will be a party the following saturday, all they have to do is get in, steal it and split.
So far, he's liking the idea, but Mozzie asks if he's plain crazy to start an international mess because of that because he doesn't want to end up in prison in some horrid place and knowing that the suit won't let him go that far. But it's not Peter who has to set our con man, but Fowler. So Neal calls Fowler's office to give a cryptic message: That he has information on something he wants and that they'll meet the following day at midnight in a place he should've figured out already.
At the Burkes', Peter is checking up a map that is Neal's route when Elizabeth comes to keep him company and asks what he's up to. 'The suit' has a theory in progress, close if you ask me.
Then it jumps to Neal's meeting with Fowler to say he's got the information on the box, and that if he gets to it, he should release Kate and never hear of Fowler ever again. "Just don't make it my problem" is the response and walks off. Burke was watching it all unfold from his car, asking himself what he's up to. Credit sequence.
Caffrey, Mozzie and Alex are on his place, going over the plan to get into the consulate and into the office where the music box is at. They have the schemes and plausible covers...until June tells him they have company. It's Peter, so they have to hide it all, and the FBI agent seems pleased to see 'the usual suspects' all together. Alex and Mozzie leave and Burke tells Caffrey that he knows what he's up to and that he should do the right thing.
Then, jumps to Fowler's office where he is handed surveillance photos of Neal's place where Peter was at. We also found out a report he filed and that the goon is watching Jones and Cruz as well. Once the other person leaves, Fowler makes a call and says that they're on...but that Peter could become a problem.
THANK YOU!! Shirtless Neal carving a work of art that looks like the real thing and that is his 'gift' to the italians. It is then when Alex shows up. She is impressed with his talent for it, and they even sit down to remember old times, including the last time they tried to steal the music box. But she points out the tracker issue once again, but he says it's off. Fowler has been manipulating it, and that causes Alex to smile widely.
Elizabeth was with some clients at the catering business when Fowler comes in with his goons and says something about an illegal import of food, excuse to search the place. Of course, when she's told they're FBI she calls her husband desperate. He was with Jones, who knows him and Lauren are being bugged as well. After that call, he rushes in and he's not happy with seeing Fowler there. With the sole mention with that name, Elizabeth also gets pissed off and, even though Peter tries to calm her down, he ends up punching Fowler...and earning a suspension. Fowler tells Jones to take his badge and gun, but he refuses.
The couple arrives home, both clearly upset. Poor Elizabeth, she has been humilliated and is worried for her business and her husband. But he did the logical thing to protect her, and I'm sure they will pull through. But he is furious with Caffrey, and blames him for it. But he assures he has no idea that he'd get to that extent when he gets to their place. This causes conflict, but apparently Peter believes it and has to see his wife bummed. Since he's suspended, they will need the badge of someone who isn't linked to him that can help him.
That person is Diana (remember her from the season premiere?). She meets with him in a park and says he needs her to check on Fowler. And she even asks about Neal and his hat.
At his bachelor pad, Neal tells Mozzie that the Italians have accepted the statue, and that the security is as tight as they expected it to be. And he gives Mozzie the honors of cutting off the tracker, toast included.
Back with Peter and Diana, she managed to get Fowler's file and find something interesting that goes beyond it: He's been monitoring it from OPR offices, and the only way is to get in is by appointment. He can't, but she can.
Night has fallen in New York, and now we are in the consulate's party. Neal has managed to get in, and he is assured that the art piece is safe in the consul's office and he is told to enjoy the evening. Mozzie is undercover, so is Alex, who has stolen a key card so Neal can enter. He even takes the time for a toast, saying he's a thief there to steal.
Of course, they try to downplay it and take him away, a punch in the stomach included. Eventually, Alex is depositing on plant pots something that looks like lipstick that really is an explosive.
The ballroom is evacuated and Mozzie manages to get in the nick of time. He is holding a photo camera to make the surveillance feed look normal and allowing Caffrey to break in, get something out of the statue and pull off a very sofisticated theft that gives him access to the music box in the safe. But time's ticking, guards are on them and he uses a hammer to block the door. Alex gets there but the bitch has just played him. She left with the music box and that the guys managed to save themselves any way they can.
Neal arrives defeated at his place, where Peter is at. He says everyone is looking for the con man, and he explains he has been played. But that not all hope is lost because Burke has a trick under his sleeve. Then, June says he's got a visitor. It's Alex, who has the music box in her hand. She didn't play him, after all. She changed her mind and gave it to him, since she knows what meaning it has for him, and also because Fowler wouldn't come after her if she didn't have the box. So they part, and she hopes Kate hasn't changed. Looks like he's saying goodbye to June too.
Neal and Fowler meet at an alley, and the first thing he asks for is assurance that they will be safe. Fowler hands her an envelope that contains new identities for both him and Kate so they can legally disappear in exchange for the box. When and where to meet with Kate is in the envelope.
Meanwhile, Diana manages to get inside his office while he's out to copy the needed files. At first, someone comes in asking but since he's suspicious he comes back to find she's gone with the entire hard drive off his laptop. So this guy calls Fowler to warn him.
Mozzie and Neal are on the street, talking about this disappearing act and how he's free to go anywhere he wants with Kate under this new ID. Mozzie asks if he'll say goodbye to the suit and the two buddies say goodbye. Mozzie seems quite sad.
Elizabeth arrives home to find a flower bouquet for her, and a phone that leads to Neal. The way to thank her for everything is getting her a high-end catering event. Caffrey asks how she and Peter met, as if he wanted that. He hangs up and throws the phone in the trash.
Diana gets off the building and finds Fowler there, questioning her and threatening her with a weapon to get his files back. But Peter gets here in the nick of time, and he sees Diana is carrying a gun. But she was carrying an extra one and they shoot Fowler, but the bastard had a bulletproof vest. Fowler says Neal is working for them now and sees the music box. So he either gets the Mentor file to DC or they talk business.
To close this up, Neal is at an airfield and Kate is aboard a jet waiting for him. But as he walks with a smile, Burke shows up as a friend. He tells him what happened and wants the goodbye. Caffrey can now walk away and it'll be legal. Kate is looking at all this from the plane and Neal is about to get in, when....
...the plane blows up in flames! Peter is protecting Neal as he
can't believe what eyes are seeing. End of season.
Wow, and now we're done with it. I gotta say this show was a breath of fresh air. Loved the plot, the characters. And Neal's charm won me over. Bring on season 2! :)
Nicodrina
Photo credit: mattbomerfan.com
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