The Art of Lies "Pilot"

The Art of Lies “Pilot”

Synopsis

Kyiv, February 2022. A highly, well-equipped entry team breaks into an art museum. A security guard stumbles across the team and is killed. Fedya, the team leader, is looking for two specific paintings. When told the paintings aren’t at the museum, he demands to know where they are.

Los Angeles, present-day. Dan Winter is a veteran FBI undercover agent who specializes in art crime investigations. He is also a talented forger, but is he using those talents for work, personal enrichment, or something else?

A confirmed loner, Winter has nonetheless taken a liking to task force officer Dez and introduced her to UC work. When Dez is assaulted during a late-night UC meet, Winter vows to identify the perpetrators. North, Winter’s training school classmate and long-time nemesis who is now his FBI LA boss, orders Winter not investigate Dez’s assault – LAPD will handle it.

War hero, author, and podcaster Evan Stack and his partner Tasha take a call on Stack’s Warrior PodCaste from someone who suggests Stack was responsible for the deaths of his US Army Ranger subordinates in Afghanistan in 2014. Stack disconnects the call and complains that it’s not easy being a “true patriot.”

In defiance of North’s orders, Winter investigates Dez’s assault and is himself assaulted while doing surveillance. Winter fights his way out of trouble and takes a photo of his beaten-down assailant.

Stack meets with his old Ranger sergeant, Larson, who is now a county sheriff’s deputy. They toast fallen comrades before Larson reveals he’s been contacted by the FBI about a corruption case. Stack reacts sharply before telling Larson not to worry about it – everything will work out.

North introduces Winter to his new partner, Akira Tenkiller – a young female agent with a strong academic background in art. Winter makes clear his reluctance to team up with a new agent, but circumstances have forced them to work together. They observe together behind a two-way mirror as Dez interviews Larson and learns he has given Stack information from law enforcement databases – a no-no.

Dez asks Winter for help to keep her on the FBI’s task force – Inglewood PD wants her back to work patrol. Winter agrees to do what he can.

Winter meets with Grace, a former lover, now an LAPD lieutenant. He wants help with his investigation into Dez’s assault. Grace harbors ill feelings and is reluctant to help. Winter shows her a medallion he found during an unauthorized search of the Dez assault scene. Grace identifies it as a Russian special force (Spetsnaz) badge.

Tasha meets Fedya at a run-down LA hotel. They have a history and agree to use Tasha’s relationship with Stack to further their own agenda.

Akira is investigating a shadowy counterfeiter she has dubbed the Broken Arrow Forger. When she shared this information with Winter, whom she idolizes as a legendary Bureau UC, he urges her to abandon her investigation and focus on Bureau-sanctioned cases.

North visits Grace. They have a shared FBI history with Winter.

Akira reveals to Winter a Russian military intelligence report indicating that Stack and his Army Ranger unit looted art and cultural artifacts in Iraq and other foreign locations.

Winter calls in a favor to learn about Russian Spetsnaz veterans who have entered the US.

Stack meets Fedya, who introduces himself as Tasha’s cousin. Stack is looking for information about the Krutin Diary, a possible key to looted paintings Stack wants to locate, and help with another problem. Fedya is on board.

Stack retrieves the Krutin Diary from a Glendale bookstore, but not without issues.

Dez is shot to death on the plaza in front of Inglewood PD by a masked motorcycle rider as she prepares to meet with Winter.

Winter receives video information about Dez’s murder from a trusted informant. He begins to put the pieces together.

The next morning, Winter confronts Larson outside the county courthouse. They agree to meet at Larson’s residence late that day.

Akira discovers the identity of the Broken Arrow Forger – Dan Winter.

Fedya assassinates Larson in his home.

Winter finds Larson dead in his home.