History Recap / LeverageS03E04TheScheherazadeJob

[[caption-width-right:326:Hardison [[{{Pun}} faces the music.]]]]

-->--'''Nathan Ford'''

* HowDidYouKnowIDidnt: Nate had no idea if the list of targets Moto was giving to the CIA was in the envelope.
** [[spoiler: It wasn't. It was the Italian's secrets, which is MUCH worse.]]

* TheUnfavorite: Alexander's brother is the president and a national hero. Alexander himself doesn't even speak his country's native language.

* Bulungi: Wadata is a classic example.

Alexander Moto, brother of President Simeon Moto of Wadata, meets with investors and assures them that his brother doesn't have the will to make the country attractive to investors. When the businessman wonder if Moto can succeed, Moto says he's making an effort to eliminate any threats. Meanwhile reporter Jane Akinyemi from West Africa Newswire is trying to call Moto when she is almost killed in a hit-and-run accident. At the [=McRory=] Pub, Eliot and Hardison question each other on why they are there. Eliot says he's here due to the client almost killed in a hit-and-run attack while Hardison is checking on what Nate does so he would one day run his own crew since he has all their skills - hacking, stealing, grifting. Eliot points out that Hardison doesn't have the hitter skills Eliot does, to which Hardison replies he has a dog for that. Nate is surprised to hear that Hardison wants to run his own crew one day and tells him that he can't do what Nate does. Before he explains further, Jane comes in, followed soon after by two African bodyguards. Eliot drives off the guards without much difficulty, and asking Hardison whether his dog can do that. Jane explains to them that Moto uses children to mine for diamonds before smuggling them into the US, laundering them, and using them to finance his bid to beat Simeon in the next election. Jane admits that the Justice Department has refused to follow up on her story despite her having proof, and Nate says he can find out why.

To get more information about Moto, Nate visits the Italian. She explains to him that Moto's a paid informant for the CIA, identifying terrorists that are really his political rivals. Before she leaves, she invites Nate for dinner but Nate refuses, worrying he'll get killed. Nate's plan is to cripple Moto by stealing his diamonds. After some investigation, Parker and Hardison find his vault at the basement of the Raines Concert Hall. Hardison then finds that Moto purchased a Stradivarius violin for $4.5 million, giving them a way in. Realizing that Moto isn't well-respected in Wadata, Hardison and Eliot create a fake photo that indicate Moto was drinking and insulting the people of Wadata and then make a fake newscast showing protests from the people of Wadata. Moto and Simeon argue over video chat about the bad press, and afterwards Moto blames one of his guards for not taking care of Jane. Enter Sophie in a new cover, who claims to be able to solve his problems as "Perception Management." What she suggests is to make him a hero by helping an individual rather than a big showy display that only proves his wealth. She shows a picture of 'Temi' (Hardison), saying that he's a taxi driver that emigrated from Wadata with a dream to attend the world-famous New England Conservatory to study the violin. Her proposition is to make his dreams come true.

As he prepares his equipment to recon the vault, Hardison mentions that he did play the violin as a kid, but stopped when he discovered computers. Hardison asks Nate why he thinks he can't do what Nate does. Nate doesn't answer. Sure enough, Moto shows him the Stradivarius in his vault. Watching through a button camera, Nate and Parker check out the vault. Parker tells Nate that the vault is unbreakable since there are no security cameras, meaning it uses motion sensors and Hardison can't hack it. Nate asks Parker to check the log to see when they shut it off and why. It turns out that when the orchestra above plays the 1812 Overture, the vault is shut off because the vibrations would set it off. Nate then tells Sophie about a new plan, having Sophie suggest to Moto that Hardison should play the violin for the concert since his brother is coming to visit in two days. Hardison insists that he can't do it, but Nate presses ahead anyway. Sophie comes in and tells Hardison that he's going to play "Scheherazade" by Korsakov (which ends with one of the most difficult violins solos) and has a rehearsal in two hours using Moto's violin. As he leaves, Sophie questions Nate if he has picked up any new skills during his time in prison but Nate avoid the question. While Hardison attempts to skip the rehearsal, Parker, Nate, Eliot, and Sophie try to find a way to open the door after the motion sensors go off. As Hardison practices at the concert hall, Parker does a walkthrough and tries (badly) to cheer up Hardison.

The next day, Sophie is introduced to Simeon by Moto. Moments before the concert starts, Nate is called to the props room by the Italian to steal an envelope from Moto's safe that links to Damien Moreau for her. The concert starts in full and the team moves into action with Nate timing the concert to make sure the musicians provide sound cover. Eliot fights a guard to cover Parker brute-forcing the combination on a door keypad and rigging some explosives. They blow a hole throuhg the roof of the vault, bypassing a retinal scanner that they wouldn't have time to hack. Nate, Parker and Eliot manage to take the diamonds but stop their tracks when Hardison's solo starts (which he nails). Unfortunately, once it ends, the motions sensors turn back on, and the alarm in the vault goes off - with Nate, Eliot, and Parker inside. Moto, Simeon, and their security team arrive in the vault. Moto brags about his security, but Nate tells Simeon a story about Moto trying to assassinate him by pinpointing the last-minute concert that Moto arranged, and suggesting that Moto wailing over Simeon's bleeding body live on the radio, would instantly bond himself to the thousands listening back home.

Moto laughs at him until Nate pulls out the list of terrorist names in Africa that Moto supplied to the CIA. Moto thinks it's a joke but Simeon believes it, knowing about the rumors about him and asks him to open it. Moto refuses as he says it isn't his until one of the security guards mentions there's a rifle in the projection room with a clean print on the scope. Before the performance Sophie brought a camera bag through the security inspection and one of Moto's mooks touched the lens, which was actually a scope for the rifle that Sophie planted. Simeon believes it was Moto's and has him arrested, bowing to Nate as they leave without further issues. Back at the prop room, the Italian asks if Nate opened it but Nate just tosses it to her. He points out that the envelope isn't a link to Moreau but to her, which is why she had him steal it.

Back at the Pub, Jane thanks the team about Moto's arrest. Nate adds that the assassination charges aren't going to stick against Moto, but it was enough to warrant a search at his vault containing the smuggled diamonds, crushing any hopes of Moto being president. Nate then gives her a check to use for the betterment of Wadata, having sold the Stradivarius. Hardison and Parker are talking at the bar, Hardison saying he can't believe that he could play that well. Nate reveals that he hypnotize Hardison and made him play as he did as a teenager, the last piece he played being Scheherazade. Hardison is upset, saying that hypnotism is done to the mark, but not your own crew. Nate reveals that this is supposed to be done, as you need to 'push every buttons' to get the job done, and this is what Hardison doesn't have but Nate has. Hardison angrily and Parker follows him to comfort him as Sophie comments that he likes being alone before leaving Nate all alone.

* TheUnfavorite: Moto's brother is the president and a national hero. Moto himself doesn't even speak his country's native language.

* ChekovsGun: The metronome sitting on the desk where Nate is working turns out to have been used to hypnotize Hardison.

Alexander Moto, brother of President Simeon Moto of Wadata, meets with investors and assures them that his brother doesn't have the will to make the country attractive to investors. When the businessman wonder if Moto can succeed, Moto says he's making an effort to eliminate any threats. Meanwhile Reporter Jane Akinyemi from West Africa Newswire is trying to call Moto when suddenly she was almost killed in a hit-and-run accident after a car tries to run her over her. At the [=McRory=] Pub, Eliot and Hardison question each other on why are they here. Eliot says he's here due to the client almost killed in a hit-and-run attack while Hardison is checking on what Nate does so he would one day run his own crew since he has all their skills (except Eliot who he says he has a dog named Megabite). Nate is surprise to hear that but then tells him he can't do what he does. Before he explains further, Jane comes in. But as they sit down, Jane tells them that she's been followed and sure enough two African bodyguards enters. Eliot stands up and take care of the guards with ease. As they leaves the bar, Eliot jokes to Hardison whether Megabite can do that. Jane explains to them that Moto uses children to mine for diamonds. He then smuggle it into this country, launders them, and uses them to finance his bid to beat Simeon in the next election. Jane admits that the Justice Department has refused to follow up on her story despite her having proof, and Nate says he can find out.

To get more information about Moto, Nate visits the female Italian and she explains to him that that Moto's a paid informant for the CIA, identifying terrorists that are really his political rivals. Before she leaves, she invites Nate for dinner but Nate refuse, worrying he'll get killed. At the office, once Nate tells his team about it, everyone is shocked to hear what Moto do. So Nate's plan is to steal the diamonds by finding his vaults. Parker and Hardison finds his vault at the basement of the Raines Concert Hall, after they did some investigation. Hardison then realize that he purchase a Stradivarius violin for $4.5 million, knowing this is their way in. Hardison and Eliot create a fake creating fake photos that indicate Moto was drinking and insulting the people of Wadata and then makes a fake newscast showing protests from the people of Wadata. This sparks the flame bewteen Moto and Simeon about this incident. After closing the chat, Moto blames one of his guards for not taking care of the reporter and doesn't want to sit here doing nothing while his own people hates him for it. Just then receive a phone call to resolve this problem. It turns out that Sophie acts as the Perception Management to help out his problems. What she suggest is to make him a hero by 'saving the individual'. She shows a picture of Temi (Hardison), that he's a taxi driver that emigrated from Wadata with a dream to attend the world-famous New England Conservatory to study the violin, proposing to make his dreams come true.

Sure enough as they invite Hardison, Moto shows him the Stradivarius violin in his vault. Thanks to the cam, Nate and Parker looks in the vault but Parker tells Nate that the vault is unbreakable since there's no security camera and it uses motion sensors. Nate ask Parker to check the log to see when they shut it off. It turns out that they shut it off during the orchestra worrying ti causes vibrations. Nate then tells Sophie about a new plan as Sophie suggest to Moto that Hardison should play the violin for the concert since his brother is coming to visit him in two days. Next day, Hardison grumbles after a nap and later complains to Nate he can't do that. Nate just says he can do anything but Hardison says he can't copy Itzhak Perlman. They then find out that Hardison's going to play "Scheherazade" By Korsakov and has a rehearsal in two hours using Moto's violin. As he leaves, Sophie question Nate if he has pick up any new skills during his time in prison but Nate avoid the question saying he's the best candidate. While Hardison attempts to skip the rehearsal, Parker and Eliot finds a way to open the door after the motion sensors goes off. At night, Parker tries to cheer Hardison up when he's doing his practice as Hardison stops playing before he reaches 14.

The next day, Sophie was introduce to his brother before the concert starts. Nate was then called to the props room by the female Italian, to steal an envelope that links to Damien Moreau for her. The concert starts as Sophie leaves the place and what they do is blowing up the floor that's above the vault. After Eliot takes out the guards, once Hardison starts to play, Eliot detonate the floor as a few guards fall down. Nate, Parker and Eliot manages to take the diamonds but stop their tracks due to Hardison's performance. But once it ends, they somehow hits the motion sensors once it turns on, making Moto, Simeon, and the security team arrive at the vault coming down to the vault to catch them. Moto was very please that they capture him and assure his brother of the security. But then Nate tells Simeone about Moto trying to assassinate him by pinpointing out the last-minute concert that Moto arrange and his wailing over Simeon's bleeding body live on the radio,instantly bonding himself to the thousands listening back home.

Moto doesn't believe him and his 'gang of thieves' until Nate mention that he holds a list of terrorist names inside the envelope in Africa that Moto supplies. Moto thinks it's a joke but Simeon believes knowing about the rumors about him and ask him to open it. Moto refuse as he says it isn't his until one of the security guard mention there's a rifle in the projection room with a clean print on the scope. What happen earlier was that before the performance Sophie brought a camera bag during inspection and Moto touches the lenses. What he doesn't know is that the lenses turns out to be a scope for the rifle that Sophie planted it before regrouping with the team. Simeone believe it was Moto's and had him arrested. Simeon bows to them as they leave them alone without charges. Parker ask how Nate knows but Nate tells her he lies as he doesn't know at all while Sophie adds that 'Scheherazade would be very proud of him'. Back at the prop room, the female Italian ask if Nate opens it but Nate just toss it to her saying he didn't as she owes him because the names aren't link to Moreau but to her.

Back at the Pub, Jane thanks the team about Moto's arrest. Nate adds that this gives enough to make a warrant search at his vault containing the smuggled diamonds. Nate then gives her a check that they use to sell the violin that Moto bought to be good use for the people of Wadata. As Eliot follows Jane outside, Hardison can't believe that he really play well but Nate tells him the truth that he hypnotize him by making him play when he was a teenager. It also reveals that he hypnotize him after Sophie and Hardison returns to HQ (after Sophie announce Hardison to play the violin) and Scheherazade was the last piece that teenage Hardison play. Shocked, Hardison says this was suppose to be done to the mark but not his own crew. Nate reveals that this is suppose to be done as you need to 'push every buttons' to get the job done and this is what Hardison doesn't has but Nate has. Hardison leaves at rage while Parker follows him to comfort him as Sophie comments that he likes this before leaving Nate all alone.

--->'''Hardison:''' All the technology in the world... and we still can't make something that sounds as beautiful as this, and no one knows why.

* CallBack: Sophie uses the Kristen Connolly persona that she used in "The Miracle Job".

Alexander Moto, brother of President Simeon Moto of Wadata, meets with investors and assures them that his brother doesn't have the will to make the country attractive to investors. When the businessman wonder if Moto can succeed, Moto says he's making an effort to eliminate any threats. Meanwhile Reporter Jane Akinyemi from West Africa Newswire is trying to call Moto when suddenly she was almost killed in a hit-and-run accident after a car tries to run her over her. At the McRory Pub, Eliot and Hardison question each other on why are they here. Eliot says he's here due to the client almost killed in a hit-and-run attack while Hardison is checking on what Nate does so he would one day run his own crew since he has all their skills (except Eliot who he says he has a dog named Megabite). Nate is surprise to hear that but then tells him he can't do what he does. Before he explains further, Jane comes in. But as they sit down, Jane tells them that she's been followed and sure enough two African bodyguards enters. Eliot stands up and take care of the guards with ease. As they leaves the bar, Eliot jokes to Hardison whether Megabite can do that. Jane explains to them that Moto uses children to mine for diamonds. He then smuggle it into this country, launders them, and uses them to finance his bid to beat Simeon in the next election. Jane admits that the Justice Department has refused to follow up on her story despite her having proof, and Nate says he can find out.

Back at the Pub, Jane thanks the team about Moto's arrest. Nate adds that this gives enough to make a warrant search at his vault containing the smuggled diamonds. Nate then gives her a check that they use to sell the violin that Moto bought to be good use for the people of Wadata. As Eliot follows Jane outside, Hardison can't believe that he really play well but Nate tells him the truth that he hypnotize him by making him play when he was a teenager. It also reveals that he hypnotize himthe Scheherazade was the last piece that teenage Hardison play

The next day, Sophie was introduce to his brother before the concert starts. Nate was then called to the props room by the female Italian, to steal an envelope that links to Damien Moreau for her. The concert starts as Sophie leaves the place and what they do is blowing up the floor that's above the vault. After Eliot takes out the guards, once Hardison starts to play, Eliot detonate the floor as a few guards fall down. Nate, Parker and Eliot manages to take the diamonds but stop their tracks due to Hardison's performance. But once it ends, they somehow hits the motion sensors once it turns on, making Moto, Simeon, and the security team arrive at the vault coming down to the vault to catch them.

Sure enough as they invite Hardison, Moto shows him the Stradivarius violin in his vault. Thanks to the cam, Nate and Parker looks in the vault but Parker tells Nate that the vault is unbreakable since there's no security camera and it uses motion sensors. Nate ask Parker to check the log to see when they shut it off. It turns out that they shut it off during the orchestra worrying ti causes vibrations. Nate then tells Sophie about a new plan as Sophie suggest to Moto that Hardison should play the violin for the concert since his brother is coming to visit him in two days. Next day, Hardison grumbles after a nap and later complains to Nate he can't do that. Nate just says he can do anything but Hardison says he can't copy Itzhak Perlman. They then find out that Hardison's going to play "Scheherazade" By Korsakov and has a rehearsal in two hours using Moto's violin. As he leaves, Sophie question Nate if he has pick up any new skills during his time in prison but Nate avoid the question saying he's the best candidate.

To get more information about Moto, Nate visits the female Italian and she explains to him that that Moto's a paid informant for the CIA, identifying terrorists that are really his political rivals. Before she leaves, she invites Nate for dinner but Nate refuse, worrying he'll get killed. At the office, once Nate tells his team about it, everyone is shocked to hear what Moto do. So Nate's plan is to steal the diamonds by finding his vaults. Parker and Hardison finds his vault at the basement of the Raines Concert Hall, after they did some investigation. Hardison then realize that he purchase a Stradivarius violin for $4.5 million, knowing this is their way in. Hardison and Eliot create a fake creating fake photos that indicate Moto was drinking and insulting the people of Wadata and then makes a fake newscast showing protests from the people of Wadata. This sparks the flame bewteen Moto and Simeon about this incident.