Neal infiltrates the Pink Panthers, where he unexpectedly meets Keller, who has infiltrated them as well. In order to prove his loyalty, Neal has to steal a valuable stamp for them.
Tropes:
- Black Market: Bianca Esteverena auctions off valuables from the black market at secret top-secret auctions.
- Boxed Crook: Keller reveals that he has a similar work-release plan like Neal:Neal: You take down the Panthers, then what? You do that and your criminal career is over.
Keller: Freedom, Neal. See, I got the same deal that you do. - Can't Tie His Tie: Elizabeth fixes Peter’s tie for him:Peter: I can tie my own tie, you know.
Elizabeth: You say that every time, and every time it turns out like a wad of chewing gum. - Distracting Fake Fight: Neal starts a fight with a random man at the auction to create a distraction, allowing him to steal the stamp during the commotion.
- Don't Celebrate Just Yet: Lampshaded when Peter offers Neal a cigarette to celebrate that his release contract has been signed:Neal: Oh, no, no, no, no. You are the one who taught me that it's bad luck to do a victory dance before you cross the finish line.
- Emergency Impersonation: Peter has to pretend to be "Nathaniel's" (Neal's) father when Bianca insists on talking only to Elias.
- For Your Own Good: After discovering that Keller is also part of the Pink Panthers, Peter wants to remove Neal from the operation, which would also prevent him from using his contract for freedom:Neal: You can't do this to me again.
Peter: I’m trying to protect you.
Neal: I don't need you to protect me. I can protect myself. - Framing the Guilty Party: After Neal steals the stamp and Bianca orders a guard to search him, Neal suggests they search Bianca too. They find the empty case for the stamp that Neal planted on her while keeping the real stamp.
- Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!: Despite Keller's presence and Peter's concern that Keller could betray him, Neal is determined to stay undercover with the Panthers, even if this could lead to his death:Peter: Is your freedom worth dying for?
Neal: It might be. - Glasses of Aging: Peter wears glasses to impersonate Neal's, alias "Nathaniel's", father who is in his 60s.
- I Kiss Your Hand: Neal kisses Bianca’s hand when he greets her.
- Impersonation Gambit: Neal impersonates Nathaniel Dietrick, a potential client of Bianca. Peter impersonates Nathaniel's father, Elias, when Bianca insists on talking to Elias.
- Impossible Theft: Exploited by the Panthers, who use Neal to secretly test the Braxnet security system:Neal: I recognized the system as soon as I entered. It's impenetrable.
Woodford: Precisely.
Neal: You wanted me to fail.
Woodford: And yet, here you are. The goal of your mission was to test Braxnet's response once the alarm was tripped. - It's Personal: Peter is still upset about Keller kidnapping Elizabeth, which makes him even more displeased that Keller is now part of the Panthers too:Peter: It's more personal than that.
Neal: Well, it is personal for me too. - Mutually Assured Destruction: Keller uses this to threaten Neal. With both knowing each other's secrets — that they are both moles for government organizations — either could expose this to the Panthers, leading to the destruction of both.
- Oh, Crap!: Neal's expression reveals his shock when he sees Keller among the Pink Panthers. Keller remarks on it:Keller: You know, it was a real Kodak moment when you saw my face.
- One Drink Will Kill the Baby: Mozzie deduces that Elizabeth is pregnant since she isn't drinking any wine.
- Parental Substitute: Jones lampshades that Peter has been acting like Neal’s father which Peter promptly denies.Jones: I mean, you've acted like Neal's dad for years.
Peter: More like his slightly older, much wiser brother.
Jones: Yeah, whatever you need to tell yourself. - A Rare Sentence: When Peter discusses his former love of stamps with Neal:Peter: You know, you have to admit, the stamp is a pretty exhilarating mission.
Neal: I don't think exhilarating and stamp have ever been used in such quick succession. - Replaced with Replica: Neal recovers the stamp needed for the Pink Panthers, but Sweden demands it back. Neal forges a replica to give to the Panthers but doesn’t have enough time to make it perfect and instead hides a message for Keller within it. Keller later confirms its authenticity.
- Sherlock Scan: Neal notices that Keller frequently scratches his arm, leading him to realize Keller has an Interpol tracking chip implanted under his skin.
- Taken Off the Case: Peter wants to remove Neal from the case due to Keller, while Neal wants to stay:Neal: He had the chance to rat me out and he didn't. He needs something from me.
Peter: Are you out of your mind? There's only one reason Keller would lay eyes on you and not sell you out. He is setting you up. - Tracking Chip: Neal deduces that Keller has a tracking chip in his arm because he keeps scratching it:Neal: You know, I always heard Interpol had one foot in the future. They don't slap bulky anklets on their criminal informants. That'd be too inelegant, too crass, too American. Instead, they insert chips under the skin of their informants like dogs.
- Wham Shot: It's revealed that Keller is a part of the Pink Panthers and is not in prison as believed.
