When the FBI becomes aware of one of the paintings on the treasure manifest, Peter hires Neal to find it. Neal and Mozzie have to stay one step ahead of the FBI and pretend to cooperate with them so that they don't find out that they have the whole treasure.
Tropes:
- Bait-and-Switch Comparison: When Peter realizes that the rat in the office was released by Neal as a distraction to make Peter sign the documents:Peter: The rat.
Diana: Oh, he drives me nuts.
Peter: No, well, I'm talking about the rat in the office. That's when he swapped the documents. - Bulletproof Vest: Anderson is interested in a bullet-proof vest at the conference that is advertised to withstand a greater projectile impulse than conventional vests. Later, Neal puts it on off-screen and remains unharmed when he is shot.
- Call-Back: At the Handler/C.I. Panel, Neal and Peter recount the events of “Pilot” and “Hard Sell,” showing not only their effectiveness as a team but also the trust they have in each other.
- Chekhov's Gun: The item that Anderson wants to steal from the conference is a prototype of a bullet-proof vest that can withstand a greater projectile impulse than conventional vests. When Neal is shot with a rifle at the end of the episode, he remains unharmed because he put on the vest off-screen.
- Double Entendre: When Dr. Drugov explains the properties of his bullet-proof vest:Dr. Drugov: Being shot in my vest feels not radically dissimilar from a nice, firm hug, and it's slim enough to fit under your suit jacket without a bulge.
Peter: Well, Diana doesn't like bulges. - Dramatic Ammo Depletion: Peter follows Anderson into a parking garage, and a shootout ensues as Peter tries to prevent Anderson from escaping. Peter eventually runs out of ammunition and urgently calls for backup.
- Faking the Dead: Neal argues that Sam may have faked his own death, and recounts that he himself faked his death on several occasions, including being mauled by a great white.
- Never Bring a Knife to a Gun Fight: Sam was waiting for Neal in his apartment when Mozzie walked in. When Neal returns he finds them both sizing each other up, and Sam eventually draws a gun:Mozzie: Great. I brought a corkscrew to a gun fight.
- Say My Name: Peter screams Neal’s name when Neal is shot.
- Silent Treatment: At the beginning of the episode, Neal pointedly gives Peter the cold shoulder because he believes that he is responsible for Ellen’s cover being blown and ultimately causing her death, and for “Sam” being on the run again.
- The Reveal: Sam Phelps has been dead for three years. The man who has been impersonating him is actually Neal’s father.
- Wardrobe Wound: Neal is shot and although the bulletproof vest protects him from being injured, he is upset that his favorite tie has been destroyed.
- We Need a Distraction: Neal brings Mozzie’s pet rat Percy into the office to distract everyone so that he can swap out the surveillance document and make Peter unknowingly sign it.
- Wham Line: After Peter calls Neal about the DNA results of “Sam”’s blood:Neal: Why didn’t you tell me?
”Sam”: Tell you what?
Neal: That you’re my father.
