Burn Notice quotes

Fiona

How was your mission?

Michael

It was rough. I mean, it worked out.

Fiona

But you can't talk about it. Whatever. [slides a piece of paper his way] The lead on your bomber.

Michael

How did the job go?

Fiona

Does it matter? You got what you needed.

Michael

Fi, did something happen with Armand?

Fiona

Oh, now you're full of questions. A lot happened with Armand, years ago back in Ireland in the bad old days.

Michael

Were you and he --

Fiona

Yes, we were, Michael. Until I found out that he had paid to meet me by doing a favor for some of my associates. He killed a British customs agent, if you're curious. Quite a romantic gesture, don't you think?

Michael

I didn't know that, Fiona.

Fiona

No, you didn't. Ignorance is bliss.

Fiona

Do you know what kind of girlfriend drives all the way to Tallahassee to search a crusty old man's equally crusty apartment?

Michael

A good girlfriend!

Fiona

A great girlfriend. The kind of girlfriend that deserves dinner at The Forge.

Michael

Point taken. How about two dinners?

Fiona

[twirls in her new dress] How does the discretionary fund look?

Michael

Expensive.

Michael

Shall we tango?

Fiona

Let's.

Michael

Can I lead?

Fiona

Fine. Just this once.

Michael

They got you too?

Fiona

[lifts handcuffed wrists] Picked me up at the bridge. I heard what was going on and asked if I could say goodbye in case --

Michael

Hey, an hour ago I was on my way to jail for the rest of my life. How much worse is this really?

Fiona

The man is ruthless! He killed one of his own people to avoid capture. You won't even have a gun!

Michael

The only way I'm going to get out of this is if I get Tavian to talk. I can't ask anyone else to risk their life for this.

Fiona

Michael, come back to me.

Michael

[voice-over] For a spy, finding out you've been compromised, that someone has something on you, is the ultimate nightmare. The worst part for someone who has spent a career training for every situation is knowing that there is nothing you can do but grit your teeth and try to find out exactly how bad the nightmare is going to be.

Michael

[voice-over] For a spy, the worst thing that can happen is to become someone else's asset. You do anything you can to avoid it, making sure there's nothing people can grab onto and use as leverage. You move through life unattached, keeping the world at a distance. It's a hard way to live, but there's a cold logic to it. Love nothing, and nothing you love can be used against you. Once you violate that rule and make that connection with someone, you've handed your enemies the key to destroying you.

Fiona

Forget it. I don't think you should do anything for that parasite.

Michael

I don't think I have a choice.

Fiona

Of course you have a choice! You can say no. You can tell the C.I.A. all about Anson and --

Michael

And watch you go to jail for the rest of your life for something you didn't do? I can't do that, Fi.

Michael

Well, Oswald sure knows how to stay protected. I count four armed guards covering just the rear of the compound.

Fiona

Michael, are you sure you want to do this now? We could wait and see what Sam and Jesse find. I mean, if I'm past saving, what's the point?

Michael

We have to assume we can get you out of this.

Fiona

What if we can't?

Michael

I've been past saving before, Fi. You didn't walk away and I'm not going to.

Fiona

Well, that's terribly romantic, Michael, but we don't have the numbers or the firepower to get past those guards.

Michael

Maybe we can get around them. If you set a diversion out front, I can make an approach from the water, grab Oswald before anyone knows I'm there. Please, Fi.

Fiona

Don't look at me like that! It's unsettling when you're that sincere! Fine, yes! I'll get the guns. [walks away in a huff]

Michael

[voice-over] For a spy, loyalty is a strange thing. Your job is to deceive, to live among your enemies, to perform dark deeds for a noble purpose. And it's that purpose that guides you through the darkness. When you lose sight of that, the darkness is all there is.

Michael

Sometimes betrayal is as easy as pushing a button. The hard part is being able to live with yourself after you've done it.

Michael

[voice-over] There's nothing quite like searching the home of someone you care about for evidence they've betrayed you. It's something spies have to do regularly, even with the people they love the most. It's never easy searching for something as hard as you can and praying you find nothing at all.

Fiona

I should disappear. You'll be able to bring Anson down.

Michael

And you'd keep running for the rest of your life. Not after all this. I am not losing you, Fi.

Michael

What do you want? What do you want me to say, Fi? I'm doing this for you.

Fiona

Stop. Just stop. There has to be a line.

Michael

There is no line when it comes to you!

Fiona

I can't do this anymore. We can't do this. Let's just go. We'll go to the FBI, and I'll turn myself in. I'll make them understand.

Michael

They won't understand us. We start down that road, we can't come back. And I'll lose you. And I can't lose you.

Fiona

[in goodbye letter] Even before I knew your real name, I loved you. Before I should have, I trusted you. Because I've always known your heart. You do what's right, no matter the cost to you. And I've learned that when you love a spy, you have to be willing to make that sacrifice, too. At times, your job has made it hard to be with you, but it's never shaken my faith in you. I can't let you ruin anyone's life to save mine. I have to force you to tell what you know. If you don't, you won't be the man I love. Do the right thing. I love you, Michael. Forever.