The Blacklist Episode 2.15 The Major

New York City, 1994. Swinging a purse that's clearly not his, a 14-year-old boy we'll call Jacob rockets out of an upscale restaurant with the maître d' hot on his tail. The door of a black Cadillac sedan opens at just the right moment, and Jacob accepts an invitation to get in. He's got a lame story about his sister's purse, but The Major (whom we met in the last episode as Bud McCready, Tom's handler) already has foster kid Jacob's file splayed on his lap. It seems Jacob's delinquent tendencies are special and invaluable, and The Major is offering him an opportunity to leave his crap life behind to become... anything.

Cooper calls Liz into his office to meet with Reven Wright. A D.C. grand jury has been impaneled to investigate the death of Harbormaster Eugene Ames, and Cooper has been subpoenaed to corroborate the story of Liz's encounter with him on the Phoenix. Cooper knows full well Liz wasn't at the marina on official business. Liz refuses to explain, other than to insist the truth is she didn't kill anyone, and she did what she thought necessary to stop Berlin. Wright has filed a motion to quash the subpoena, which is a good thing, because a very angry Cooper makes it plain that he will not commit perjury to protect Liz. But things don't start off well at D.C. Superior Court, where Wright's motion has moved Judge Richard Denner out of his courtroom to a cleared floor, where Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Marking and his witness Detective Wilcox are wanded and forced to surrender all their devices - including pens. Wright explains: even though the judge et al view these proceedings as routine, they pose a threat to national security, which makes everything her call. But Denner insists it's his job as judge to determine what happens next. Thus, Liz will testify on behalf of the Justice Department in his chambers. Wright can comply with his ruling right now, or be taken into custody. Saying, "You've made a mistake, Richard," Wright acquiesces. All this brings Red rushing into the Post Office to introduce the next Blacklister: The Major runs a finishing school of sorts, transforming sociopaths with "promise" into attractive and highly dangerous adults. In order to get to The Major, Red wants the FBI to kidnap the Malaysian Deputy Minister to the U.N. Yes, it's a felony, but it's the only way to keep Liz out of jail.

Alone with a stenographer and Denner in chambers, Liz refuses offers of water and legal counsel, then starts her story at the beginning with her classified assignment at the Post Office and the inception of her relationship with Red. Amazed and incredulous, Denner presses for more details about Red, which Liz questions - what does all this have to do with the case? After Liz explains that Red chose her as his primary contact to excavate The Blacklist, she allows the reason she stuck with him is that they shared an unknowable connection. Red knew things about her and her husband Tom, and she needed to know why he chose her. Meanwhile, across the sea in Dresden, Tom is kicking ass at a barroom game of Hammerschlagen while eavesdropping on Gerst discussing an impending arms deal with his men. Even if gun seller Kohl is unreliable, Gerst needs guns. Tom offers a contact in Salzburg, but Gerst tells him to mind his own business. Later, Tom tails Gerst, then hides and watches the deal go down, making sure to clock Kohl's license plate. Then Tom hops on his motorcycle and follows Kohl to a stoplight, knocks on his window and shoots him dead.

Telling Ressler to get lost, Red interrogates the abducted Malaysian U.N. diplomat, whom he knows is one of The Major's assets, working for the Sinaloa Cartel. Now it's time for him to cough up a location on The Major or face certain tongue removal at the hands of the Sinaloans - and Red will be happy to take the guy's money for offering this choice.

Liz continues her testimony on the subject of Tom, whom she claims died four months before Ames did - and yes, she shot Tom in self-defense. Liz admits her love was blind; Tom was a spy who was only in her life because of her connection to Reddington. Once she discovered the truth about her husband, she spied on him, trying to find out who he worked for. She murdered Tom because he abducted her and put a gun to her head on behalf of his boss, Berlin. Denner finds this story way too convenient, which infuriates Liz. She knows Denning is calling her a murderer - but is he implying her allegiance lies with Reddington?! Red is merely her C.I., and if Denning wants to air that fact in open court, so be it. But he better not question where her loyalties lie. Meanwhile, Wilcox has utilized his down time to visit Aleko in prison, hoping to get him to recant on his recant. When Aleko laments that he's already taken a bullet for his troubles, Wilcox gets the break he's probing for. Intuiting that the bullet came from Liz's gun, he orders a forensic unit to comb the Phoenix.

Back in chambers, Denner wants to know why Liz thinks Red and the task force need to be protected. Liz admits Red has saved many lives, and his intel seems to indicate that there's a conspiracy in play within the highest levels of the U.S. government. Denner moves on to more personal questions. While Liz allows that she once thought Reddington might be her father, and that her adoptive father Sam Milhoan had a relationship with him, she fails to mention that Red killed Sam. Liz thinks many of the Blacklist cases are connected, and that Red is on a quest to find The Fulcrum, which is essentially a blackmail file that proves the existence of a clandestine organization - and that he hopes to find through her. Liz thinks this is the real reason Red surrendered in the first place. When the judge expresses skepticism, Liz goes off, sarcastically listing the reasons why she sucks at her job, as a wife and as a human being. Chastened, Denner finally steers his questions back to the Harbormaster's death. Liz lies, claiming she was only on the Phoenix looking for Aleko, whom she hoped to employ. But Denner has reviewed Aleko's recanted testimony, claiming Liz conspired with Tom to kill Ames. Liz insists Tom is dead, and that the only evidence against her is circumstantial. That's when Denner calls Cooper in to testify, asking only one question: can Cooper confirm Liz was on the Phoenix for official business only? Cooper hopes Liz already addressed the matter, eliminating the need for him to testify, but when Denner explains Liz put him in the hot seat, Cooper blinks, then commits perjury and confirms her story. The next man to see the judge is Detective Wilcox, who's delighted to present a new piece of evidence: a bullet found in the hull of the Phoenix, matching Liz's service weapon and containing DNA from Aleko's blood.

The Major is none too happy to be called to a meeting by his operative, the Malaysian diplomat, and even more unhappy when Red and Dembe walk in. Red is angry; he hired Tom on The Major's guarantee, and the merchandise was defective - Tom became emotionally involved. The Major claims Tom hasn't been in contact, but Red knows this is a lie. And since The Major allowed Tom to turn when Berlin doubled Red's payment, The Major is now effectively in debt to Red. Once their business is concluded, Dembe pulls Red aside. Red should have told Liz all about Tom a long time ago. When Red admits he doesn't know how to do that, Dembe counters. Red does know what to do: tell Liz everything. Red doesn't think he can...