The Company You Keep (Season 1), Episode 6: Previously on ABC’s ‘The Company You Keep,’ we saw Charlie finally coming clean to Emma about being a con man. He learned about her identity after he was dragged to her office for an inquiry. However, she is oblivious to his real identity and to the fact that he works on the opposite side of the law and with people she despises. ‘
The ethics are brought into the discussion in the latest episode, streaming on Hulu. It results in the couple distancing and going their separate ways. Both want to save their own families from any danger. While Charlie clues Emma on a possible threat, she isn’t ready to forgive him that easily.
*spoilers ahead*
The Company You Keep (Season 1), Episode 6 Recap:
Episode 6: The Real Thing
As seen in the previous episode, Charlie (Milo Ventimiglia) learns Daphne’s (Felisha Terrell) plan to use a dirty secret of the Hill family to manipulate Emma (Catherine Haena Kim) to stop an investigation about her. As a result, Charlie is torn between being loyal to the woman he owes and loyal to the woman he loves. He chooses the latter so she can get a chance to save her family from any embarrassment.
Emma, however, does not accept Charlie with open arms. She is enraged that he kept this a secret and deals in this shady criminal underworld. Unlike him, she perceives everything in black and white. Thus, she refuses to be of any help and decides to cut ties with him right away. Charlie returns to Daphne, who continues to see him & his family as toys that she can use and manipulate any way she wants. Charlie is tired of that treatment and expects respect from her.
Instead of getting angry at his forthright approach, Daphne finds it appealing. She lets him have his dignity while getting him to perform yet another robbery. This time, she wants him to steal a painting from a Russian oligarch, Grigori Abramov (Mark Ivanir). Since its market price is roughly about $2 million, Charlie asks for $3 to do the job. She agrees to the deal.
Back at the bar, Charlie invites all the Nicolettis for a meeting, and everyone is understandably worried. Despite their queries, he remains silent for a moment or two – probably contemplating whether he should reveal it or not. But he finally does. He tells them that Emma works for the CIA and for a group that focuses on transnational organized crime. So his family learns that Emma is not just a fed but works specifically in the matters that they are currently dealing with, related to the Daphne & the Maguire empire.
Besides, Charlie heavyheartedly says that whatever Emma felt for him or his family is over. Nevertheless, Charlie does not want them to stop cooperating with Daphne since it would make her suspicious of them. Later, he returns to plotting their new con. For that, he wants Birdie’s (Sarah Wayne Callies) art-dealing ex-boyfriend to chip in. He considers she won’t mind doing so since they broke up a while ago. Maybe his own recent break-up left him to be a loveless figure.
However, there is a side that he does not know since she broke up around the same time when he was held back in Nicaragua. Since Leo (William Fichtner) was there with her, he thinks she should not get close to Simon. Charlie, however, takes it personally and leaves in anger.
Nevertheless, Birdie looks at the greater good and decides to meet Simon Norris (Geoff Stults) for a coffee. He is apologetic, not just for their unpleasant split. He confesses being an addict and is remorseful for leaving her and Ollie (Shaylee Mansfield) to live on their own. Coming to the discussion of his help in their latest con, she senses a tone of judgment in his voice and decides to walk out. However, due to his guilt, he agrees to do whatever she expects from him.
Emma receives an envelope at her home with photos disclosing the fact that her father, Joseph (James Saito), had an affair with Claire Fox (Marin Hinkle). It clarifies the doubts about why he wanted David (Tim Chiou) to beware of her intentions. However, now, he is left with explaining their affair to Emma. Turns out, Grace (Freda Foh Shen) knew about it but made peace with it to sustain their marriage.
While trying to digest that secret about her parents, Emma meets Daphne and tries to strike a deal with her. She uses their common daddy issues as a tool to manipulate her. She makes Daphne see how she deserves more respect than what she is getting offered. Daphne picks up on Emma’s manipulation technique and calls out Emma’s sense of moral superiority while her family is also corrupt in its own way. She refuses to entertain any deal besides Emma letting her off the hook.
Meanwhile, Birdie infiltrates Abramov’s ‘monthly salon’, which is where he most likely launders his assets. Simon acquires an invite to this event and takes Birdie as his plus one. She tries to sneak a look at Abramov’s lofty apartment while Charlie sits outside in a van, scanning the space for the painting. However, one thing bothers her the most. There is very little security at the place, considering the high value of this item. While trying to get their con to succeed, she and Simon start playing around with their feelings for one another. Since Charlie keeps advising her against it, she cuts the contact for a few moments.
So, Charlie impulsively decides to enter the place since security is not an issue. By then, Simon tells Birdie that the painting at Abramov’s place is a counterfeit. She informs Charlie about it, and they both wonder where Grigori keeps his precious real art. Charlie recalls Abramov speaking about Vespertine. Simon figures that Abramov must be keeping the actual pieces in that small art gallery on the way to Freeport.
Charlie steals Simon’s key card, hoping to gain access to that place. He does not mind Simon getting in trouble. However, Birdie develops a sweet spot for Simon by then and does not want him to get caught for stealing (since his name will be on the log when they sneak in). After meeting Simon, she learns new intel. The Freeport will be closing for two hours before the exchange of a painting with a secret guest of Abramov. There is a brief window that the Nicolettis can use to get into the building. He chooses to help them to let Charlie and Birdie covertly enter.
During the time of their security reboot, the two create a distraction by getting the fire alarm turned on. As a result, Abramov and his special guest escape while Charlie and Birdie sneak in to steal the painting. Later, they get out as firefighters.
By that time, Emma’s CIA co-worker gets a few clicks of Abramov with that special guest. The guest happens to be Brad Wilford, who works for the American armory that manufactures military-grade weapons. As it turns out, Daphne was furious when she departed the meetings Maguires had with Abramov. Still, she wants in on the gun trade and decides to manipulate Abramov with the painting into aiding her instead of Connor.
The Company You Keep (Season 1) Episode 6 Ending, Explained:
What does Emma’s deal with Charlie mean for their relationship?
Charlie and Birdie bring the real painting back to their bar’s basement with Simon. That’s when she learns that Leo made Simon disappear from her life. While walking out, he notices Ollie and tells her his name in sign language.
Birdie gets worried now that Ollie saw this side of her personality and takes her back to the bar. She confesses being ashamed of being a robber by profession. Ollie says that she wants Birdie to be only truthful and isn’t ashamed of what she does. However, Birdie does not let her meet with Simon just then.
Still, Charlie senses that Simon will be around their family since Birdie mentioned Simon’s sincere desire to reconcile. Besides, Charlie notices that Simon went out of his way to learn sign language to communicate with his daughter. Why would he do that if does not want them to accept or be a part of her and Birdie’s lives?
On the other hand, while looking at her co-worker’s clicks, Emma notices Charlie in disguise as a firefighter. She recalls witnessing a grey side of her father and struggles with the thought that her own life cannot be seen through a prism of black-and-white. Since she is giving another chance to her father, she decides to do the same for Nicolettis. So, she goes to their bar and proposes a deal to Charlie.
Charlie needs to help them take down Daphne in exchange for legal protection for his entire family. So basically, he helps Emma save her family and, in exchange, gets the same deal. She also shows him the recent evidence (the photo) suggesting his link to the Maguires. Since she is not arresting him right then, he figures he should accept the deal.
So, Charlie goes to meet Daphne to give her the stolen painting. In addition, he reveals the location details of Brad’s firearms storage unit. He shows this initiative in exchange for an expectation from her. He knows that all she wants is to steal the Maguire throne from Connor. So he offers his help in doing so in exchange for letting him and his family away from any dealings with her.
Since there are only two more episodes left in the first season, the excitement is at an all-time high to know how he deals with her and Emma. Be it in either of his deals, it is evident that he will go to any length for his family. The guilt of his previous partner conning them still hovers over him.
We see that reflected in how he interacts with Emma when she proposes the deal. He is more cautious and alert, not allowing his emotions to get in the way his family’s safety. Emma is doing the same from her side. Let’s hope that they both win in their attempts.
