So, we’re at episode five of eight, and this case has got to start to gel together here, and it does. The criminal dealings that Saxton has in play, including dancing with the Russians, have to start to make sense. Ellis and Hayes start to uncover a conspiracy of murder, drugs, and cover-ups. Don’t forget, though, that Ellis is going to be on tenuous ground with Saxton over the lost Lincoln Limo. Let’s see how it all plays out.
Ah, damn. The before credits bit always gets ya, doesn’t it? Hello, Richard Nixon and Watergate! Also, Hello Saxton, because after the credits, Saxton is on that predictable rant over the loss of the gifted car. It seems it wasn’t for Saxton, but for someone in the Russian deal. A quick cut reveals that Hayes is also getting reamed out by the higher-ups. Abbot’s boss is in to tell her how her actions have jeopardized much. It actually turns into a few quick cuts back and forth between the two of them and their tongue lashings. Neither one can get a word in edgewise, but one fares better than the other. Saxton fires Ellis, but Hayes proves that she’s close to breaking Saxton and given 48 hours to make it happen.
Hayes’ plan is to become Saxton’s new Russian interpreter. During Saxton’s rant, he said something to the effect that unless Ellis spoke Russian, he was useless to him. His planned interpreter was nailed for tax fraud, and he was beside himself with frustration. In their daily parking garage meetup, Hayes tells Ellis she put a halt to the interpreter on purpose so she could plant herself in the position instead. Ellis being fired, though, is a setback. Hayes’ plan there is to get Ellis’ father, an old friend of Saxton’s, to get involved.
In Hayes and Awan’s investigation they learn that Breen was given LSD intentionally, to make him appear ‘batshit crazy’. So, these two are about to reveal the cover-up. They know it involves the FBI, the CIA, Russians, Howard Hughes, Joey Ellis, Saxton, and the mystery man, Xavier. Should she add Tricky Dickie to that list? Anyway, Breen was getting close and silenced. But what is it? Well, since Ellis wasn’t able to convince his Dad to go against his old war buddy, Saxton, Hayes visits Wade Ellis herself. Getting to be a part of Saxton’s next sit-down with the Russians could crack this case open further. Wade & Hayes have a heart-to-heart, and the shadow of doubt he had about Saxton and his empire helps to take her offer. To get her on her way, Charlotte comes into the room, in a comedic moment, to tell Hayes how to lock into character and pull the performance of her life. Whenever Charlotte is on the screen, it’s a treat.
Meanwhile, the troubled Ellis pays a visit to Genesis Saxton, Ezra’s daughter. She has woes of her own, and I’m guessing we are even being told this because if Ellis helps her out, that will lead him towards some benefit for himself. It seems Genesis’ girlfriend is getting married to the son of a Saxton rival, an arranged marriage she wishes she could stop. Ellis has a plan to go ruin that wedding, embarrass Saxton’s rival, and hope that that action would get him back in Saxton’s good graces.
We see how it all plays out. Wade strides into Saxton’s office and offers to help out by planting his knowledge of a Russian interpreter; Awan has all sorts of solid fake IDs and credentials for his partner, and Hayes has the tough job of convincing Saxton that she can handle what he needs. As for Ellis & Genesis, they rescue the bride in the trusty Duster with the aid of some fireworks. Complicating matters, and we knew there had to be some bad element to come along, is a corrupt agent in D. C., who answers to Xavier on a payphone and is instructed to squelch the investigation into Saxton. During the last seconds of the episode, that agent is picked up from the airport by Agent Grant from the field office. We knew he was a suspicious character all along. As usual, everything is a silly, hot mess!
And that is how Hayes & Ellis enjoy their Fourth of July. We continue the ride next week.
