Burn Notice Season 5 Episode 17

Michael: (voice-over) Communication in the field is critical for a mission's success, but it's even more important when an operation's going south. Best case, you have a secure line or a system of signals to warn your team without your enemies noticing. Worst case, you do whatever it takes to get your message across. If your enemies notice, so be it. So if you find yourself in a situation where modern methods of communication won't work... you can always send up a smoke signal.

Ian: You still don't agree with this, do you?
Michael: Not too late to change your mind.
Ian: Nope, I'm tired of living in a gray world. My line of work, alliances change, priorities shift. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to make up good reasons for doing bad things. Sooner or later, you have to see yourself for who you really are. Whatever. A guy like you fighting the good fight his whole life wouldn't understand.
Michael: I understand completely.

Michael: (voice-over) Making deals with prisoners in covert detention facilities is always a challenge. The problem is there's not much to bargain with...no lawyers to discuss plea deals, no judges to reduce sentences. It's usually just you, the prisoner, and a lot of razor wire.

Michael: (voice-over) When approaching an underworld target, you don't get points for being subtle. Most bad guys live in a world where the point of money is to show it off. It's one of the few times having a blue silk shirt and diamonds on your watch sends the message that you're a good business partner.

Michael: Breaking into a diplomatic residence that's well guarded even with weeks to plan, it's iffy. With a few days, impossible.
Ian: I thought impossible was what you did.
Jesse: He's heard a few Michael Westen stories.

Michael: (voice-over) Most people assume that the best time to rob someone is on a dark street at night. But the fact is, a daytime heist has its advantages. Bystanders are more focused on their own business than on what's going on around them. And, most importantly, the target is less likely to have his guard up.

Michael: (voice-over) Audio surveillance is more difficult than it sounds. Taking coherent notes on a half-heard conversation is a challenge. And aiming a directional mike at a target without being too obvious takes the skills of a marksman.

Michael: (voice-over) Law firms are used to run all sorts of shady businesses for good reason. They're discrete, powerful, and protected. Between the high security and privacy rules, getting intel from a law office is more or less impossible, unless you're willing to break those rules.