Original air date October 20, 2008
Season 2 episode 4
Synopsis
A flashback of a teenager, obviously Sarah Walker, driving a Volkswagen, and arriving home to see her father being arrested at their home. She runs into the woods and digs up an emergency box buried there to find money and a note.
Current day, Sarah identifies a possible hostile tail and puts Chuck in a computer room in Castle where he geeks out over the tech. Messing with the computer keyboard he finds the surveillance in place by the CIA and spies on Sarah in the Orange Orange while she speaks with the tail, who turns out to be high school classmate, Heather Chandler. He hears Sarah called Jenny Burton by Heather and immediately rushes into the Orange Orange, getting yogurt from the machine while introducing himself. He asks Heather multiple questions about Jenny in high school while Sarah throws him threatening looks. Heather is joined by her husband, also a former classmate, and they invite them to their high school reunion.. Sarah is annoyed and snaps at Chuck, telling him he has no right probing into her life.
Chuck flashed on Heather’s husband, Mark Ratner, and Beckman orders them to double date to find out more about the super bomber that Ratner is working on. Sarah tries to back out, claiming her cover is compromised but Beckman disagrees.
Big Mike is heading out for a fishing trip and is leaving Lester in charge. Lester decides they will give discounts on their products in order to sell more. Chuck and Morgan see that this is going to be a disaster but Morgan is excited to watch.
Chuck arrives at Sarah’s hotel room to pump more information from her as part of a mission brief. Sarah is angry and tells Chuck she doesn’t like personal questions then throws a pencil into the photo of the two of them that she keeps in her room. Chuck is rightfully intimidated.
At the restaurant date to get to know one another, Chuck again tries to get information on Jenny and Sarah ‘accidentally’ spills wine to shut him up. When he goes to the bathroom to clean up he walks into Mark being threatened and flashes on Russian mafia members. Chuck stashes Mark in a stall and Casey slips into the bathroom as Chuck engages the men. Casey knocks them out and slips out the door while Mark assumes Chuck beat them. Chuck lets it slip who they are so Mark believes he is CIA. Chuck goes along and introduces himself as Charles Carmichael.
Casey interrogates Mark, who is so impressed by Chuck he insists Chuck be his handler. Casey and Chuck play good cop, bad cop to get Ratner to agree to spill information. He shares a text he receives setting up his next meeting, the night of the reunion.
Lester has underpriced all their merchandise and is in a big financial hole as Big Mike is returning to the Buy More. They decide to throw a party to raise the $3700 shortfall.
Sarah is using her punching bag in her room to work off emotional baggage and flashes back to her life in high school after her father’s arrest. Picked on by the school bully, Dick Duffy, Sarah is an outsider. Chuck interrupts to bring her a dress for the reunion. She is reluctant but he reminds her that is where the mission will be.
At the reunion, Chuck flashes on Duffy’s tattoo and believes he is part of the Russian mob, assuming he is the contact. Casey is close by, as the DJ. When Sarah confronts Duffy she discovers he is just small time, not the contact. The real mobsters arrive and meet up with Heather, the real contact. She overheard Mark refer to Chuck as CIA and wants them all killed. Chuck identifies the Russians to Casey and Sarah pursues Heather as she takes flight. Sarah and Heather fight their way through the school halls and shower, Sarah ultimately prevailing.
Casey fights the Russians and saves Ratner but he is hidden in a locker and believes Chuck saved him when he comes out. Sarah, wet and bloody, reenters the gym as she is announced reunion queen. She smiles at Chuck as he cheers for her.
The party at the Buy More is out of control. Norman is damaged and Lester orders everyone out. They clean the mess before Big Mike returns. As Big Mike comments on how good everything looks, Norman falls apart and Lester resigns.
Chuck and Sarah share a meal in her apartment. He wonders what happened to her in high school. Sarah flashes back again and we see Langston Graham step out of the bushes after Jenny Burton opens the money box. He offers her a job in the CIA after reminding her she has no real life and is in danger. She steps forward in agreement and becomes Sarah Walker.
Sarah tells Chuck that he can ask her one question, he earned the right. He refuses, telling her he knows who she is; even if she doesn’t think he does.
Points of Interest
- Sarah Walker is a CIA cover name. The other aliases we see in this episode- San Diego: Jenny Burton, Wisconsin: Katie O’Connell, Cleveland: Rebecca Franco. None of these are her real name. Jenny cuts Graham off before he can say the name on her birth certificate. A name that has Lisa as the middle name; the only thing we really know.
- Norman, the Marlin, is damaged for a second time.
- Sarah refers to her cheeseburger commercial she supposedly did as an actress in her attempt to help Heather identify where she knows her from. Nicole Ritchie plays Heather and the cheeseburger commercial reference is for a Carl’s Jr. commercial that starred Richie’s friend, Paris Hilton.
- In the high school flashback we see Jenny carrying a violin case, suggesting that Sarah played violin at one time.
- Sarah’s CIA dossier lists 1982 as her birth year. She is a senior in 1998 which would make her 16 her senior year. Not likely her CIA info is correct, part of her CIA misinformation.
- During their fight in the high school hallways, Heather asks Sarah if she thinks someone like her could ever fall for a dorky nerd like Mark. Sarah replies, “you’d be surprised.” Obviously a reference to Sarah falling for Chuck.
- “So I guess the big secret about you is that you used to be just a typical high school student. Wish I knew what happened to change that.” Chuck’s comment to Sarah as they eat their burger after the Cougar fight. Sarah’s backstory has been slowly developed during this episode. But it becomes obvious that Chuck’s desire to know more about her previous life is less important as he becomes more understanding of who Sarah is now.
- The photo Sarah puts the pencil through is the same as the one she carries in her suitcase and the photo taken during the filming for Seduction.
- We see the fake Comic Con picture in Sarah’s room. Not the one she took during Sandworm.
References
- Heathers – 1988 cult film where Heather Chandler is the name of the leader of the mean girls in the film.
- Casablanca- Chuck’s line about the yogurt store is in the same style as the famous Rick quote in the film.
- Revenge of the Cheerleaders- 1976 film is referenced by Heather.
- Carrie- Sarah enters the gym after her fight with Heather, she is reunion queen.
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High- Mark Ratner is a character in the film.
- Risky Business- referred to during the Buy More egger.
- Sixteen Candles- referred to during the kegger.
- Weird Science- referred to during the egger.
- Grosse Pointe Blank- the premise of a high school reunion filled with agents and hitmen.
- Welcome Back, Kotter- James Buchanan High School is the name of the school in the series.
Music
Tubthumping- Chumbawamba: Sarah in San Diego 1998.
Shop Til You Drop- Billy Martin: Lester’s sale strategy.
Open Late Weekends- Daniel May: Chuck complaining that Sarah doesn’t visit him at the Buy More.
Beautiful Disaster- 311: Sarah works out while remembering.
Everybody- Backstreet Boys: The reunion begins.
MmmBop- Hanson: Dick Duffy flash where Chuck thinks he is the contact; Casey posing as a DJ.
I Don’t Want To Wait- Paula Cole: Mark tells Chuck he regrets his choices.
Smack My Bitch Up- The Prodigy: Sarah and Heather fight in the shower.
