The Agency

★ 6.9 · 2001 · 60m · Drama

The Agency is a CBS television drama that followed the inner-workings of the CIA. The series was created by Michael Frost Beckner and was executive produced by Michael Frost Beckner, Shaun Cassidy Productions and Radiant Productions in association with Universal Network Television and CBS Productions. It aired from September 27, 2001 until May 17, 2003, lasting two seasons. It featured unprecedented filming from the actual CIA headquarters. The show was controversial regarding its exploration of current international affairs and its treatment of the ethical conflicts inherent in intelligence work. Beckner's pilot script, written in March 2001, posited a re-invented CIA tasked with a "War on Terror" after Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist organization plots a lethal attack on the west. The pilot was to premiere at CIA Headquarters on September 18, 2001 and set to air on CBS September 21, 2001, however, the actual 9/11 attacks convinced the network to hold the pilot and instead air a later episode. That first episode was aired later as the third episode of the first season. The September 11, 2001 terrorist events changed the way Americans viewed topical entertainment and "The Agency", at the time, was one of the most topical offering on network television. The producers of the series quickly responded to this new American perspective on world affairs, but CBS chose to cancel the show shortly after the second season's final episode.

Episodes

▶1. Viva Fidel!60m · After unearthing a secret plot by Castro's own men to assassinate him, the agents rush to thwart the plan in order to prevent the U.S. from being framed for his murder.▶2. God's Work60m · When the CIA misidentifies a missionary plane in Colombian drug-trafficking airspace and the Colombians shoot it down, Director Pierce must try to clean up the mess, while the former CIA director tempts Carl to betray Pierce. Meanwhile, Matt and Lisa must contend with a dead body when a foreign agent dies while attempting to sell the CIA classified information.▶3. The Year Of Lying Dangerously60m · The local governor plans a political coup after some American miners are taken hostage in Indonesia.▶4. In Our Own Backyard60m · CIA tries to uncover if someone has sneaked a Russian atomic bomb into the US.▶5. Pilot60m · ▶6. Anthrax60m · ▶7. Closure60m · In an effort to learn the truth about his brother's mysterious death, Matt begins piecing together clues and finally forces his superiors to tell him the truth. As Matt begins to gather information about his brother Eric's final mission abroad, he poses painful questions about the mysterious death to his parents and finally forces Jackson, Carl and Director Pierce to explain the circumstances so he can get Eric's body back for a proper burial. Meanwhile, Jackson, Terri and Joshua are working to entrap an Indian Intelligence Bureau double-agent working for his own country against the CIA to acquire a submarine capable of launching nuclear weapons.▶8. Nocturne60m · The CIA conducts an internal investigation when it suspects Jackson of leaking sensitive information. In order to test Jackson's loyalty to the CIA, Matt and Carl secretly recruit the Persian cellist with whom he is romantically involved to gain information about a terrorist threat at the Yemeni embassy. Meanwhile, Terri must forge a 50-year-old document implicating the CIA in illegal activity involving the Dalai Lama that would prove calamitous for present-day Tibet should it fall into Chinese possession.▶9. Rules Of The Game60m · When the National Security Agency (NSA) learns of a plot to assassinate the King of Saudi Arabia, Matt and Lisa help track down those involved only to discover that there is a larger terrorist plot in the works. Soon after Matt and Lisa catch the would-be assassins, Israeli intelligence informs the CIA that one of the incarcerated terrorists is their own agent on an undercover mission and requests his safe return. Once Matt arranges this, the Agency discovers that Israeli intelligence has deceived them and the man they released is a link to a terrorist they had been pursuing for years.▶10. Deadline60m · A ambitious journalist plans to run a career-making story about one of the Agency's great Cold War successes, which will expose and therefore cost the life of a now retired Russian general who risked his life to help Director Pierce and the CIA. The journalist refuses to kill the story, and Director Pierce and his team must do everything they can to protect the Russian, even if it means putting another life in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Terri's estranged husband begins divorce proceedings, and Matt pushes Jackson for answers about his brother's mysterious death.▶11. Son Set60m · After the young son of a British Intelligence officer is kidnapped and the man fails to report him missing, the CIA and British Intelligence's investigation takes an unusual turn. They learn that the man didn't report his child missing because the kidnappers are Iraqis and he has arranged to trade plans for an Allied invasion of Iraq in exchange for his son's return. Matt and Carl join the investigators in London to ensure that the officer's plan is derailed without losing the boy in the process. Meanwhile, Robert Quinn, who is temporarily replacing Director Pierce, starts implementing changes. Daniel Benzali (""Murder One"") guest stars.▶12. The Enemy Within60m · After the daughter of the United States Ambassador to Greece is kidnapped by terrorists, Matt and Jackson attempt to track her down. Following the abduction, the CIA reveals to the ambassador that the young woman has actually been working undercover for them for several years. Matt and Jackson think they have successfully rescued her, but then realize they have an imposter and must save the real girl before she is murdered. Meanwhile, Robert uses Lisa to get important information from Patrice, which he turns against her.▶13. The Golden Hour60m · An assassination attempt on Lisa strikes Matt instead and leaves him hospitalized and fighting for his life. While Robert tries to hide the events from the press, Jackson is forced to work with the chief of counterintelligence to determine who ordered the attack on Lisa and how her position at the CIA was uncovered. Eventually, Lex admits to indirectly blowing Lisa's cover to the assassin and, in the process, unknowingly giving him access to information on Lisa. However, Lex soon redeems himself by leading Robert and Jackson to the terrorist organization behind the shooting. As Matt hangs on to his life by a thread, Lisa contemplates a leave of absence from the CIA.▶14. The Gauntlet60m · Matt and Terri learn about shipment. The CIA gets a new cheif.▶15. Sleeping Dogs Lie60m · On his first day as the new Director of the CIA, former Senator Tom Gage is immediately confronted with a high-profile crisis when the Agency is linked to the death of a young Vietnamese man in Washington D.C. As Tom works with Jackson and Carl to learn how the CIA was involved, he discovers that when Robert was acting as the director of the CIA, his secret negotiations with a Middle Eastern prince were directly responsible for the Vietnamese man's murder. Tom must find a way to hide the Agency's involvement without implicating an innocent man for the crime. Meanwhile, Terri runs into a photographer whom she realizes is linked to a radical pro-life group that has bombed abortion clinics.▶16. The Plague Year60m · The CIA tracks an Algerian suicide bomber as he enters the United States, but they don't realize that he is infected with the smallpox virus.▶17. Moo60m · Tom and Carl learn that a story about a war crime Tom allegedly committed during his service in Vietnam is about to be revealed in the press and that the source of the story has been found dead. Meanwhile, Matt and Jackson receive word that a visiting Eastern European dictator is near death and they enlist a hooker to help determine how ill he really is. At the same time, Joshua must deal with a museum curator when he accidentally destroys a cow costume that's part of an upcoming exhibit.▶18. The Greater Good60m · Gage tells Matt to blow up a chemical weapons plant in sudan,even though 100 people work inside.▶19. Peacemakers60m · The CIA tries to stop nuclear war between to countries.▶20. The Understudy60m · Justin sells weapons to the mob.▶21. Doublecrossover60m · After a CIA agent is murdered, the agency joins with the police department of Washington, D.C. to investigate his murder.▶22. Finale60m · A CIA Agent is taken Hostage.

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