Human Target Episode 2.12 The Trouble with Harry

Chance sits in a nice bar, secretly handcuffed. Nearby, tough guys watch him. In walks his old pal Harry, the nebbishy private detective. Chance waves him off, but Harry's got a blind date. Pretty soon Harry realizes he's walked into a situation.

Flashback to two days ago. Winston introduces new client Sarah Hunt. Her fiance, Henry Claypool, runs a heavy-duty security firm. He caught her looking at computer files about his secret assassination-for-hire division and threatened to kill her if she told anyone or tried to leave him.

Ilsa privately asks Guerrero about the mystery woman with her husband in the photograph. He reluctantly tells her the woman, who's basically untraceable, was Marshall's mistress. "Sorry, dude."

The plan is to tie Claypool to the hit squad and get him arrested. But his computer isn't on any network, so they'll have to break into his compound. Which is on a vast ranch with major security, including 24/7 armed patrols and ferocious Dobermans. Claypool's office has temperature-control sensors AND lasers covering the floor.

Plus, they need a way in. Ilsa volunteers: Claypool always wanted to do business with Marshall, so she'll ask for a sit-down. Chance worries that, because their client was lied to by a man she thought she knew, Ilsa's taking it personally. She hotly denies it.

At the bar, Harry can't believe that Chance let Ilsa go with, but figures it worked out. Actually, someone didn't make it. In about ten minutes, they're going to exchange Claypool's files for the prisoner: Chance. His handcuffs are wired to an IED. If he moves, he dies. Harry wants to help. OK, step 1 is for Harry to order a martini. On with the story.

Chance's plan revolves around Ilsa, despite Winston's and Guerrero's protests that she's an amateur. She'll share a $9,000 bottle of wine with Claypool, who likes the good stuff. They lace the wine with sodium thiopental - truth serum. Ilsa just has to ask for the password. Then Ames and Chance can copy the files from his computer.

Guerrero poses as Ilsa's driver, while Chance and Ames are concealed inside the limo. They pass Sarah exercising a horse. Claypool's security chief, Mr. Vaughn, escorts Ilsa. Guerrero has to wait in the service area - and fold napkins. Winston taps into the CCTV to guide Chance and Ames, who defeat the temperature sensors. But getting to Claypool's computer will be tough.

Meanwhile, Claypool is impressed by the wine. Sarah joins them as Ilsa makes a business proposal, but Claypool notices that Ilsa's not drinking and puts down his glass. Stuck, Ilsa proposes a toast and joins Claypool. She dosed herself! Amateurs, dude.

At the bar, Chance has a toothpick from the martini and one of Harry's socks. Now he needs Harry to buy a bottle of scotch. He'll reimburse.

Back at the compound, Claypool feels ill and suspects the wine. The dosed Ilsa confesses all. Guerrero rushes to help her. Chance leaps for Claypool's desk, but he slips and ends up hanging on between the desk and a table. Guerrero gets the password, and Chance downloads the files.

Guerrero and Sarah escape, but Ilsa's busted! Chance tells Winston he's going after her, then sets off the alarm. Fleeing in the limo with Sarah, Ames, and the files, Guerrero speeds in reverse toward the exit, under fire. Winston blows the gates, and Guerrero barrels away. Chance rescues Ilsa, who's still spacey. Outside, she says Chance was right - as he often is when he's doing that prosaic, but admittedly sexy, protective male thing. She rambles a heartfelt apology, which Chance interrupts. They've found a ride: the horse. They gallop off, with a motorcycle in hot pursuit.

During the high-speed shootout on horseback through the dark woods, Chance decides to surrender so Ilsa can escape. The team has Claypool's files; they can bargain him out later. But first he has to jump the horse over a log to elude the motorcycle, which hurtles through the air and crashes in flames.

OK, we're caught up. Some might be impressed by all that, but Harry thinks Chance's judgment is uncharacteristically clouded. Hey, he SLIPPED. I was distracted, protests Chance. Yeah, says Harry, you got caught because you've got feelings for your boss.

When Ilsa arrives with the files, Claypool double-crosses her. Harry distracts a thug as Chance picks the handcuffs' lock, crushes a glass into the sock, grabs the scotch, parks it all on top of the IED wire, and bails. The barstool explodes! After a shootout, Vaughn gets Chance in his sights . . . but SHWOOP! Guerrero flings his knives into Vaughn's back. Let's see an amateur do that! Winston nabs Claypool.

Chance says he and Harry could've managed alone. Well, actually . . . the guys tricked Harry into going to the bar. Because you can't find a less threatening character, says Winston, and yet Harry's guaranteed to fall ass-backwards into the lap of success. Indeed.

Later, Ilsa sits on her office floor, drinking rum and crying over the photo. Chance arrives. Ilsa says OK, Marshall had an affair, but why should this photograph send her into such a tailspin? And now, why can't she remember him as she knew him? All Chance knows is that Marshall was an idiot if he cheated on her. She deserves better. Ilsa moves toward him. Chance says it's not a good idea to mix rum and thiopental. They kiss - a lot - then pull apart and stare at each other. Speechless!