Nate's ex-wife, Maggie Collins, is framed for the theft of a Faberge egg from a museum in Kiev. The crew has to team up with Sterling to retrieve the stolen egg, catch the real thief, and clear Maggie's name.
Tropes stolen in this job:
- Break the Haughty: It's a little hard to feel bad for Sterling when Eliot beats the crap out of him.
- Continuity Nod: Sterling mentions he liked the old offices better. Hardison glares at him, considering he had to blow up said offices because Sterling put the heat on them.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Eliot gives Sterling a real beating when the latter comes into the bar. Sterling tries to fight back, but Eliot No Sells his hits.
- Death Glare: Eliot has a particularly effective one. Tara refers to it as "the thing with your eyes that scares people." It's enough to make an experienced fence freak out.
- Diplomatic Impunity: Repeatedly mentioned, with a large portion of the episode taking place in an embassy. Attempted again with an embassy car, but Tara switched the plates, making it appear as any other sedan would.
- Enemy Eats Your Lunch: Reversed - Tara takes a couple bites of the fence's sandwich while Eliot is staring at him to freak him out.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: Nate's off the wagon, but when he finds out who Maggie is involved with he does one shot and immediately grabs another.
- Interpol Special Agent: Sterling is offered as position at Interpol at the end of the episode.
- Now or Never Kiss: Maggie plants one on Nate when she thinks they're about to die via bomb.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Hardison and Eliot run afoul of one while trying to spring Maggie from jail. Notably, the guy has a point - regardless of what paperwork gets thrown at him, if Maggie is released, she'll run straight to the American embassy and he'll look like an idiot when she doesn't return for a trial. They solve the issue by faking a call to make it seem like Maggie has pull above his head.
- Oh, Crap!: Nate, when he sees Sterling walk into the bar. Partly because Sterling is there, and partly because he knows Eliot will do something violent if he sees him. Also Nate when Maggie walks in, having just been released from jail under suspicious circumstances.
- Pet the Dog: Sterling covers for Nate to Maggie, saying he's there as a consultant and it's all aboveboard. He balances it out by not telling Nate that his ex-wife is dating the apparent villain of the week until he sees them kissing.
- Sterling also attempts to help when Nate and Maggie are taken hostage, though he leaves when the gang doesn't want to do things his way and ends up using the situation for his own gain.
- Playing Drunk: Sterling comes in with this to distract a security guard so Parker can slip by.
- Red Herring: Alexander Lundy appears to be the real thief, and both Nate and Sterling consider him the prime suspect, but in the end it turns out to be Alexander's assistant, Sam.
- Revealing Cover Up: It doesn't take much digging to find out, but when Alexander's assistant produces a bunch of documents laying out Alexander's alibi, all it does is make him look suspicious.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Maggie is released when the Leverage crew makes it look like she's a cabinet minister's mistress.
- Ship Tease: Yet again, Parker and Hardison play a couple during the con. Also Nate and Maggie show some sparks.
- Smile of Approval: Hardison and Parker are just delighted to watch Eliot beat up Sterling.
