Original air date February 1, 2010

Season 3 episode 6

Synopsis

Chuck is training Hannah in the Buy More while Morgan is smitten and recalls Chuck meeting Sarah for the first time. The training gets interrupted when Casey tells Chuck it is “yogurt time.” In Castle, they are briefed by Beckman, but Shaw is on a mission.

Their mission is a computer engineer named Manoosh Depak, who has been paid by the Ring, and Chuck is to befriend him and find out what the work is. Manoosh is being steered to the Buy More so that Chuck can make contact and develop him as an asset. Sarah expresses concern about Chuck being pushed. 

When Manoosh enters the store, Chuck tries too hard and comes on too strong. Manoosh leaves without any connection made. Casey agrees with Sarah that Chuck isn’t ready.

Ellie talks to Devon about his weird behavior since the party with Goya. She also found Chuck’s bag check for Paris and tries to talk to Devon, but he bolts. 

Jeff and Lester try to charm Hannah, and Chuck rescues her. He then leaves for another yogurt break while Morgan takes Jeff and Lester into his office to ask them to help him find out more about Hannah. 

Casey and Chuck review Manoosh’s interests to set up another meet-up. Sarah gives him advice on how to handle an asset as he is set up with an earpiece, they reminisce about their first meeting. Chuck meets Manoosh at a bar and begins talking. Jeff and Lester give Morgan information on Hannah.

Chuck takes too long to close the deal with Manoosh, and Casey sends Sarah in as the Ring agents are coming. Sarah seduces Manoosh and then tranquilizes him. They drag him out as the Ring arrives, bringing along his briefcase. 

Manoosh awakes in bed with Sarah; she tries to get his secret from him without success. Casey keeps tranquilizing him when he tries to get physical with Sarah. Chuck talks to him on the phone and assures him he has the briefcase. Casey takes a box from the case, and Chuck will take the rest to Manoosh.

Devon tells Chuck he is freaked out. Chuck warns him he has to calm down, or he and Ellie might have to go into witness protection. Devon hides when Ellie arrives to talk to Chuck about Paris. He tells her the install story he told Hannah and says he was arranging a honeymoon for them. Casey and Sarah are on surveillance and hear Chuck. Casey tells her Chuck is ready to be a spy, and she looks upset. Devon tells Chuck how cold-blooded he is to lie to his sister like that.

Manoosh arrives, and Chuck gives him the case. The Ring calls while they are talking, and Chuck stalls to talk to Casey and Sarah. Casey is examining the box, and Manoosh tries to leave out the loading dock door. He is stopped by the Ring agents. The box Casey is checking sprays out a foam inside a containment unit. Manoosh puts on sunglasses and flashes, taking out all the agents. Chuck realizes Manoosh has an Intersect. The foam from the box was shaving cream.

Manoosh leaves with the case and flips his Ring phone behind him.

Casey explains that he must have reverse-engineered the Intersect.

Manoosh flees to Dubai for Weap-Con. Casey, Sarah, and Chuck are going to follow him.

Morgan tries to make a play for Hannah but instead is devastated to find out that Chuck went to Paris. She asks him about yogurt time, and Morgan tells her about Chuck’s ex and not letting go. 

In Dubai, the team finds Manoosh demonstrating his skills for the highest bidder. They confront him backstage, Chuck admitting that he is a CIA agent, and they set him up. Manoosh runs, but the Ring grabs them all and ties them up. 

Casey bought a laser pen that Chuck uses to get them loose.

They fight the Ring agents after escaping to rescue Manoosh. Chuck flashes on throwing stars and uses a plate to defeat an agent. Manoosh walks away after convincing Chuck that he won’t talk. As he leaves, Chuck realizes that he made a mistake and uses a tranquilizer gun to shoot Manoosh. Sarah again looks worried.

In Castle, Sarah volunteers to tell Manoosh that he is being taken away for his protection. Chuck tells her that he has to do it himself, and she listens as Chuck explains that Manoosh has to be detained and that he isn’t a friend to Manoosh but a spy. 

Chuck goes back to the Buy More, and Hannah tells heimthat she knows about Sarah. Morgan tries to fish for the truth, but Chuck keeps up the lies. Morgan then asks Jeff and Lester to research Chuck.

Ellie receives plane tickets from Chuck for them to go to Paris. Devon freaks out and refuses to go. 

Morgan and Ellie discuss the secrecy going on with Chuck and vow to get to the bottom of it.

Chuck sits alone, drinking, while Casey and Sarah watch. As Casey is leaving:

“The boys growing up, huh? When we first met him, did you think he would ever be able to burn an asset?”-Casey

“No” -Sarah

“He’s turning into a spy. That’s a good thing.” -Casey

“Is it?” -Sarah

Flashback to Sarah’s first meeting with Chuck: she is on the phone asking questions about Chuck. After being briefed, she sees Chuck standing at the Buy More Nerd Herd desk. “Piece of cake.”

Points of Interest

• “Piece of cake” is said by Chuck regarding his mission to handle Manoosh and get the information needed. Also said by Sarah in the flashback to when she first saw Chuck and received her mission.
• The graphic novel Chuck reads while at the bar is Y: The Last Man.
• ‘Sans Respirer’ movie poster in Morgan’s ‘office’ has the names of Scott Rosenbaum and Matt Miller credited. Those are two of the show writers
• The bar where Chuck meets Manoosh is named ’Two and a Half Amigos’  and is most likely a play on ‘Three Amigos’ movie or the tv series ’Two and a Half Men.’
• As Chuck is notably more able to actively lie to the people he loves and to burn an asset, Sarah becomes more and more distressed by his ability to do so. She is beginning to believe that Chuck is turning into a spy like Casey or Bryce. Cold hearted with no real attachments.

References

• Stripes- EM-50 is again used as a reference. This time it is an interrogation device. In Marlin is refers to a bug used the Fulcrum.
• The Untouchables- ‘bringing a knife to a gun fight’ line.
• Battlestar Galactica- Sarah’s ‘Frak Off’ t-shirt is a tribute to the show. A particular passion of Manoosh’s.

Music

Amarillo-Datarock: Morgan watches as Hannah enters the Buy More; flashback to when Chuck met Sarah.

Tropicana- Tropicana Orchestra: Chuck and Manoosh compare lives.

Swan Lake- Tchaikovsky: Morgan and Hanah talks in his office.

Merrymaking At My Place- Calvin Harris: Sarah enters the bar and the team drags Manoosh away.

Rock the Casbah- The Clash: Wrap-con

40 Day Dream- Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros: Devon tells Ellie they aren’t going to Paris; Ellie and Morgan agree Chuck is keeping secrets; Chuck drinks while Sarah and Casey watch then a flashback of Chuck and Sarah’s first meeting.