Burn Notice

Timo: Where you going? Michael: To relieve myself, why? Want to watch?

(about Veronica asking Sam to marry her) Michael: Do you love her? Sam: She could be the one. Michael: Then say yes. Sam: It's complicated. Michael: (slowly) Then say no. Sam : (sarcastically) You're a good friend Mike.

Michael: (voice-over) When you work in intelligence, there's no bigger slap in the face than a picture of yourself in the middle of an operation. It sends a clear message: we're one step ahead of you, we're in control, we own you. Mylar balloons and a bottle of champagne; that's just twisting the knife.

Michael: (voice-over) A certain kind of leader insists on controlling every aspect of an operation; so that nothing can possibly go wrong. A downside to insisting on controlling everything is that when something bad happens, people tend to think it was all part of your plan.

Michael: (voice-over) Sending messages in the middle of an operation is among the most dangerous things you can do. Sometimes you just have to drop a note and hope your backup team is paying attention.

Michael: (voice-over) Anytime you recommend a friend for a job, you're on the hook if things don't work out. In the retail sales business for example, make a bad referral and you might get fired. In the armed robbery business on the other hand, make a bad referral and you might get killed. So you really, really have to hope that the new guy knows what he's doing.

Michael: (voice-over) A criminal cover ID isn't just about a new name and phone number. It's about fitting in to a culture with its own rules and hierarchies. It's a world where bank robbers are the rock stars, con artists are the snobs, car thieves are the blue collar guys and safe crackers are the artists.

Michael: (voice-over) Safe cracking skills are a basic part of espionage training. Spies steal secrets and people keep their secrets in safes. But staying current with safe cracking is a little like staying current with computers; new model every year. Bottom line: if you want to breach a safe, you have to practice.

Michael: (voice-over) Twenty-four/seven surveillance on a location used to require a full team of operatives. These days you can get by with a webcam and wireless signal booster from your local electronics store. Ideally you'd drill holes and mount it on brackets, but when time is an issue I prefer a dental putt, easy to mix, easy to apply and as strong as cement when it hardens. But it hardens quick. So you better aim right the first time.

Michael: (voice-over) Making yourself invisible when you need to is a crucial skill for a covert operative; it sounds exotic but it's not like there's a super secret move they teach you at spy school that allows you to vanish into thin air. Often it's just a matter of quick thinking, fast feet... and strong fingers.

Michael: (voice-over) You can't stop a door alarm from going off, but you can explain it. Leave a few cigarette butts on the ground and anybody coming by will assume someone was just sneaking a smoke break.

Michael: (voice-over) When you're looking to get somebody arrested bad guys can't always be counted on to commit crimes on your schedule. Sometimes you have to give them a little push... Once you've got a crime in progress you can let the authorities take over. That assumes of course, that the authorities are paying attention.

Michael: (voice-over) Criminal hide-outs tend to be pretty nondescript; underground caves and spooky old mansions are dramatic but a boat house on the quays is easier to find.

Michael: (voice-over) Covert security is designed to blend in. People you never notice... until you see them in action. That means you have two choices: you can sit and wait for an incident to occur, or you can create your own incident.

Michael: (voice-over) Tailing a trained operative requires a number of time consuming preparations; everything from acquiring a vehicle they can't recognize or trace, to familiarizing yourself with all the local traffic patterns. Of course, since you can never be sure who's a trained op, there's always the chance you'll take all those precautions just to follow a secretary back to her cubicle.

Michael: (voice-over) One of the reasons surveillance is done in teams is that it's exhausting. Sitting in a car, remaining constantly alert while you watch a mailbox will knock you out like a handful of sleeping pills; doing it in shifts is the only way to make sure you don't miss something.