Original release date: December 8, 2021
Secrets are revealed and hard truths emerge, culminating in a battle against two opposing forces.
* * *
Stay exactly where you are.
Jack, no!
What the hell is going on? And why is there an Avenger in my dining room?
Hi.
Oh, my God. You’re… You’re Archer.
Hawkeye.
Clint.
It’s the branding issue, I’m telling you.
Yeah, sure.
(CHUCKLES)
Hawkeye and I are working on a case, and we needed to use the bathroom. He did. So, we were by the house, we dropped in. No big deal.
Working on a case together?
How terrific.
He’s my partner.
We’re not partners.
Well, we’re friends-slash-partners.
I wouldn’t really describe us as friends.
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
Someone used my laptop to sign onto my work account ten minutes ago. Any thoughts, Kate?
Hawkeye?
You’ll never get anything outta him. See, CB-One has trouble opening up.
Nobody calls me CB-One.
I’m just tryin’ it out for a second.
Probably some early childhood thing. He thinks he doesn’t tell me much, but he ends up telling me all of it.
I tell her nothing.
I think it’s ’cause I’m generally pretty chill.
I’m not like, “Oh, my God, Hawkeye!”
(CHUCKLES)
Definitely not chill.
By the way, thank you… for saving the world.
Don’t mention it.
I would like my daughter to start telling me the truth.
I logged into your account because I needed information on an actual case with actual people who are in actual danger.
So, Kate is helping you with an Avengers-level threat?
Well, not exactly.
But you are working together?
Yes. Sounds weird, ’cause it is.
Okay.
Well, I guess I’m just gonna have to trust everyone at this table to do what’s right.
BARTON: Hmm.
Cool. It was great bumpin’ into you guys.
Please stay.
We should get…
Can I see you out?
I’ll get my coat. Jack.
Let me clarify.
Yeah.
She is not a superhero.
Oh, yeah. Come on, I already knew that.
She’s pretty good at all this, but…
Natasha Romanoff was pretty damn good at it, wasn’t she?
Being good isn’t always enough to keep you alive.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
I see.
Clint?
Yeah?
Do you have kids?
Yeah, I’m gonna assume that you do.
It’s been a rough week for my family.
But I am letting you know that I cannot lose Kate.
I’ve lost people before. I know in your line of work, you have, too.
I understand. Okay.
So, you’ll forget this case?
I can’t do that.
But what I can do is ensure that your daughter stays safe. Okay?
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
(SIGHS)
(LINE RINGING)
(LINE BEEPS)
It’s Eleanor. Um…
Could you call me back, please? It’s urgent.
Hey. Did you find anything?
I talked to that friend of yours. He’s really busy.
He’s been learning Russian and jogging a ton.
Tracksuits. So Sloan is their front?
Yep. He said that his boss, Jack Duquesne, never gives him a day off.
Jack’s CEO? He’s laundering money for the big guy?
Let me guess, you’re gonna need another day.
Yeah, look, uh, this kid I’m helping is stuck in the middle of it, so I can’t leave until I know she’s safe.
I’ve been wondering…
(SPEAKING GERMAN)
BARTON: You mean the Rolex?
It’s Dad.
I don’t think… I don’t think so.
Why? Wasn’t that destroyed, like, years ago?
Well, I thought so, but I thought the same thing about your fancy outfit.
It’s worth lookin’ into, ain’t it?
If you can, check the signal from the transmitter.
Okay. You sound like you’ve been runnin’ around all day. Are you tired?
Yeah, I’m a little banged up, but nothing’s broken.
Okay. Well, put your feet up.
Ice them if you have to. Okay? I love you.
I… I miss you.
I’ll see you soon. I promise.
Bye.
Uh, guys, looks like Dad’s gonna be stuck at work a little longer.
(NATHANIEL GROANS)
ELEANOR: Obsessed. Completely obsessed with Clint Barton since…
Well, ever since the attack.
JACK: She’s awfully composed around her own idol.
If I ever met Huey Lewis, I’d be a wreck.
ELEANOR: Kate’s always been confident, never had to worry about her on that front.
You’re getting that pre-headache look, darling. Let me get you some tea.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Would you like something, Kate?
No. Thanks.
Mom, I really need to talk to you about Jack.
Hey, could we… Um… Could we change the subject?
You need to give him a break. Come on.
I… I need your help with a few decisions on the Bishop holiday party.
I don’t… I don’t think I’m in the mood.
Come on, Kate. You’re great at this sort of thing.
The party’s non-denominational, encourages company camaraderie with a festive spirit.
Sounds like a blast already.
Did someone say parties?
Just make sure there’s plenty of dancing.
Well, my mother doesn’t dance.
Oh, really? I beg to differ. Darling?
(ELEANOR CHUCKLES)
(SINGING) Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nippin’ at your ear
(JACK CHUCKLES)
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
And though it’s been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you
(ELEANOR CHUCKLES)
Don’t think I’ve ever seen you like that before.
(CHUCKLING) Wow!
A superhero house call and a serenade, all in one day.
Well, you know what they say… life is short.
You never know what you’re gonna get.
(BOTH LAUGH)
What? What’d I say? Did I say something wrong or…
Every time you use one of those aphorisms, they are… wrong.
What? No. That can’t be right, is it? Darling. Please.
(CHUCKLING)
The other day, you said, “Absence makes the heart grow older.”
(CHUCKLES)
Because that’s what it does.
(CHUCKLING) Yeah. Honey. Come here.
No. Really?
Aw. You’re making my heart grow older.
(JACK CHUCKLING)
I guess getting laughed at by family is better than being alone in the holidays, right?
ELEANOR: What’s better than being with family? I’m so glad you’re both here.
JACK: You know, we should play a board game.
ELEANOR: That’s a cute idea.
JACK: Risk, Yahtzee, Stratego.
(EXHALES)
(SIGHS IN RELIEF)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(INTERCOM BUZZING)
(BUZZING)
KATE: It’s me. I come bearing pizza and holiday cheer. Let me in.
Mmm.
(DOOR BUZZES)
Come on, Pizza Do… Okay.
(CHRISTMAS SONG PLAYING)
Hey!
Hey.
A little help?
Hey, get outta there.
All right, this is the classic Hawkeye costume we’ve been waitin’ for.
What is all this?
This is me saving the holidays.
Is that right?
I’ll get you home in time for the big day.
Figured in the meantime, we could celebrate.
It’s movie marathon night, right? Check this out. I got movies.
That’s very thoughtful of you.
Thanks.
But yeah, can we put a pause on that and talk about Sword Boy for a minute?
You got good instincts, kid.
What do you mean?
So, I did a little digging and turns out, Sloan’s a shell company that launders money for the Tracksuits.
And Jack Duquesne is the CEO.
You sure?
Mmm.
Okay, well, we’re just gonna have to come up with a plan to take down my mom’s fiancé’s organized crime ring while simultaneously having a heartwarming holiday celebration.
(CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING)
Got any more of that slushy stuff?
BARTON: In the kitchen.
Okay.
Okay, cops. We need to get the cops off my back.
TSM, we need to get them to leave us alone.
And we need to figure out why and how Jack is connected to it all.
Yeah, right.
This the part where you finish my sentence with a plan.
Planning’s not really my thing. Are you sure that’s dry erase?
(CHRISTMAS SONG PLAYING)
Good boy.
(CHRISTMAS SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
How do we get more trick arrows?
Well, there are no more trick arrows.
Like in the world?
Basically. I have a few more trick arrowheads.
But you can’t just put ’em on any shaft.
So, we really have to get these back.
What’re you doing?
See? Tree covers the parts that won’t come off.
Well, now you’re problem-solving.
Have you ever heard of boomerang arrows?
What?
Why would I ever want to use a boomerang arrow?
Because they come back.
Exactly.
Yeah, well, if all trick arrows were boomerangs, then we’d have them all.
Coming back at us.
You’d have to… You’d have to dodge.
(CHUCKLES)
BARTON: No, it’s not impossible.
The first arrow you release just has to be wood.
So when you release the second one, it splits it up the middle.
I call bullshit. I’ve tried it.
Well, I’ve done it a few times.
You got any other cool tricks?
Well, I can knock somebody unconscious with that, like, 20 feet away.
No, you can’t.
I’d use a quarter or a nickel. A dime’s too light.
Prove it.
What, knock you unconscious?
No, I want you to hit something.
Fine, live forever without me believing you.
I’ll just tell every stranger that I see that Hawkeye is full of bullshit.
(COIN CLATTERS)
(TV POWERS OFF)
Whoa!
(DOG WHINES)
You’ve got to show me how you did that.
(CHRISTMAS SONG PLAYING)
All right, you ready?
Yeah.
You have a nice snap. Make sure you get that curve.
Just a little one. Right, you got it, right?
(COIN CLATTERS)
BARTON: Oh, God.
(LAUGHS)
What are you doing?
Ring finger.
Grip it tight.
Yeah.
That was better.
You can do it this time.
Okay. (CLEARS THROAT)
(TV POWERS ON)
KATE: Oh, my God!
What?
Holy shit, I did it.
Yes.
That was crazy.
Hey, not bad, kid.
Not bad. All right. Best shot you ever took?
Uh, the one I didn’t take.
What does that mean?
Uh, it means… Never mind, shouldn’t have said it.
Oh, come on, you can’t do that.
Never mind, it’s nothin’.
What? Come on, consider it my Christmas present.
No, it’s not the right time.
Yes.
Look, it’ll be a good story, I’m sure…
It’s just not a good story, okay?
It’s… about the time I met someone.
I was sent to take her out.
And when I got there, when it was time…
Um…
I couldn’t do it.
I just had this feeling that she wanted out.
Turns out, I was right.
KATE: You mean Natasha.
Yeah.
She was the best there was.
(SIGHS)
I’m sorry.
It’s all right. It’s, uh… When you do what I do for a living, it…
It’s just a game of managing loss, right? So…
(BARTON SIGHS)
Kids, Janie, Janie, Tommy!
MAN: (ON TV) Look at you. Oh, I could eat you up.
Where’s your mother?
BOY: She went looking for you.
You lost your family in the Blip?
Yeah. Like half the world.
God, that must have been devastating.
Yeah, there are no words.
Is that where you met the Ronin?
(SIGHS)
It’s you, isn’t it?
Everybody dealt with the Blip in their own way.
I continued doing what I was trained to do.
Protect people.
Hurting people. Investigating first, but in the end, my job has always been to hurt people.
You were a hero.
I was a weapon.
I was aimed by the right people at the right targets, so…
Look, you made mistakes, but those are behind you.
No, it’s tied to me.
Tied to my family.
That’s why I’m here. And I can’t go home till I fix it.
I really appreciate what you did tonight.
It means a lot.
You know, you should get some rest. You got a big day tomorrow.
Yes, boss. Good night.
‘Night.
(CLICKING TONGUE) Come on!
(INHALES)
(EXHALES)
How about now? (CHUCKLES)
NATASHA: Killing all these people isn’t gonna bring your family back.
It’s okay.
Please.
(NATASHA GRUNTS)
No!
WOMAN: (OVER RADIO) It’s three days until Christmas and we’ve got your soundtrack for the holiday season.
You’re listening to New York’s 107.6, light FM.
(CELL PHONE BUZZING)
Morning.
Mornin’.
Some coffee.
Oh, thank God.
Okay, this morning, I’m gonna have a talk with our friend, Kazi.
What I want you to do is track down the trick arrows from our friends, the LARPers.
(CHUCKLES)
Wait, what?
My tracer arrow stopped moving, and it’s over by an NYPD facility down by the bridge.
And now the LARPers, they’re mostly first responders, one’s a cop.
See if they can get access to that NYPD facility.
LARPer friends.
Yeah, they’re… They’re colorful. You’re gonna love ’em.
You know, I like to think of them more as our arrows.
Okay. Go get our arrows.
Hmm.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
WOMAN: Thrust!
MAN: Lightning Bolt! One, two, three, four, five.
WOMAN: Retreat! Formation. Stab!
(SHOUTS)
Ice Wall!
(WOMAN YELLS INDISTINCTLY)
Superpower Doom!
(ALL YELLING)
Hey, I, uh… I don’t mean to interrupt…
(ALL YELLING)
Wow. You guys are…
WOMAN: Retreat!
Dedicated.
Who are you?
Uh, Hawkeye sent me here on official Avengers business.
I’m his partner-slash-best-friend, Kate.
He said you guys could help us out. One of you is a cop?
That’s me, Officer Wendy Conrad. Better as Els-Bath of Deepdale.
Officer. Basically, all we need is some casual, run-of-the-mill evidence tampering.
Hawkeye’s trick arrows are in an NYPD facility near the Manhattan Bridge.
I can probably help you out if you make it worth my while.
Worth our while.
Yeah. Yeah, sure, totally. Whatever you want. All right.
All in? Okay. This is gonna be great.
You guys are awesome, outfits, the… It’s just really awesome.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
Surprise. Ah, ah. Just wanna talk.
I need to get out of the city.
But before I go, I need to put this Ronin situation to bed.
Look, I know you have Maya’s ear, and you seem like you’re a reasonably not stupid guy.
If you’re tryin’ to flatter me, you are way off the mark.
Don’t get me wrong, I think you’re a doormat.
Look, you’ve been working under William Lopez as a lieutenant for, what, for four years?
And now under Maya for a few more years.
You know this operation better than anybody.
You know what Maya’s boss wants.
And you know what he’s already done to get it.
So what do you know?
I know he doesn’t like this attention, that’s for sure.
I know Maya’s obsession, wanting to hunt Ronin down, is dangerous.
Clouds her judgment, don’t you think?
So you’re concerned for the organization? And, uh… And my rank in it?
What do you want?
I don’t want anybody else to die.
But Maya’s need for vengeance is gonna get her killed.
Period.
Looking for this? Or maybe it’s the box cutter under the seat.
Look, are we done here?
She’s chasing a ghost.
I think you know that. But I can’t convince her of that.
And I’m guessing you’re the only one who can.
This is the final warning. Just get it done.
Hey, can I have my gun back?
Yeah, what do you think?
(DOOR CLOSES)
Ah, come on.
(CHRISTMAS SONG PLAYING)
There’s our guy.
Hey.
Snickerdoodle? They’re still warm.
Okay.
Hey, come on in.
Hey, Clint. How’d your day go?
Hi.
My, uh… My day’s been fine. How are you doing?
Great, yeah. Better than yours, I’d say.
So did you, uh, get my gear?
Yeah, yeah. They’re on the way.
They should be here any minute. Yeah, relax.
What?
Check that out.
(KATE CHUCKLES)
Not gonna lie, I look pretty good as a Viking.
I… You know, I made this myself.
No way!
By hand.
Could I hire you to make my next one?
Oh, yeah. I would love to.
Hey, wait a second. What if that’s our deal?
What deal?
We get you the arrows and info, and you get us materials for a new costume.
Okay, how about enough materials to make your costumes plus two more?
I know a certain someone who needs a little help with theirs.
I’m in.
Great!
Hey, Orval, you hear that? We gettin’ new costumes.
Uh, Kate, I asked you to simply retrieve my arrows, not stage a play.
Uh, we’re a… We’re a guild.
(PHONE BUZZING)
Okay. I gotta go.
We gotta go. We’re in this together, right?
Excuse me, sorry.
You’re gonna have to change.
Hawkeye.
Oh, hi.
Arrow Retrieval Mission complete.
Oh, yes. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
This is my bag.
Okay.
You didn’t bring your own bag?
No, I mean…
My wife gave me this bag. It’s embroidered. It says “Bombshell.”
I… I can see that, that it’s very important to you.
He’ll get it back to you. Yeah, I’ll make sure of it.
Right?
I promise.
Let’s go.
Right. Okay.
Thank you. See ya.
Okay then.
Thank you so much.
Beautiful bag.
Thank you.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
KATE: You wanna tell me what we’re doing here?
BARTON: Something very important to me is pinging inside that apartment.
It was stolen from a black market auction. I need it back.
No lights, no movement.
(KATE SIGHS)
This is our chance.
This would have been easier if we were on a higher rooftop.
That’s what you think.
Yeah, exactly. That’s why I said it.
Kate, you always wanna prioritize a quick exit over a quick entrance so when things go sideways, and they usually do, you have an exit strategy.
That’s why I chose this spot.
It’s got good sightlines for all my exits.
Entry should be easy.
Think it should take me about three and a half minutes to get in.
So, if you see anything out here, just give me a signal, Kate. All right?
Kate?
(CAR HONKING)
MAN: What’re you doin?
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Kate? Kate?
There you are.
I told you you’re supposed to be lookout.
Yeah, but of the two of us, who do you trust up there not to get distracted?
That’s not fair, that your inability to act like a grown-up helps you get your way.
(SCOFFS) No, it’s not. But it is what it is.
I need you to use your grappling hook arrow to anchor yourself in.
Propel down the side of the building to the window.
If it’s locked, break in quietly.
Yeah, love all of that. Great plan, just a slight tweak though.
Good evening, sir. Can I help you with your bags?
Oh. Thank you.
(CHUCKLES) Sure.
What are you… No, no, no.
BARTON: No, no, no. Don’t… Don’t engage.
Got celery, a little Kashi.
BARTON: Kate.
Okay, some pretzels?
Where are you?
(DINGS)
Oh, relax. I’m taking the elevator.
I’m sorry, what was that?
Oh, I, uh… I’m sorry, I wasn’t talking to you.
(CHUCKLES)
Can I tell you a secret?
BARTON: Please don’t do this.
I was talking to an Avenger.
He’s in my ear.
BARTON: Maybe you should stop talking.
Yeah, I’m his partner.
I’ll just take this back.
I can help you to the door, no problem.
No, that’s all right. I got it from here.
Okay, are you sure? It’s really no problem.
All right, you take care now.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
(GROANS)
What do you do with this giant bow problem?
I have a collapsible one.
Oh, that makes sense.
Okay. I’m at the door.
We’re good.
(DOORKNOB RATTLING)
(DOOR CREAKING)
Okay. Living room’s all clear.
Oh, shit.
(ARROW WHOOSHES)
(ARROW WHOOSHING)
What was that?
I don’t know. There are, like, strobe lights attached to the wall.
BARTON: What do you mean, strobe lights?
I don’t know.
Yeah, what do you see?
Okay, what am I lookin’ for?
A watch, vintage Rolex.
Belongs to someone I used to work with.
Is that the whole story, Clint?
BARTON: They’ve been out of the game a long time, but their identity is still attached to that watch.
Hmm. And if the Tracksuits find out about it?
It would blow their cover. Goodbye, friend.
Got the watch.
Great.
Hang on a minute.
Clint, somebody is taking notes on your family.
BARTON: What?
“Clint Barton, wife, Laura, daughter, Lila, age 14, son, Cooper, age 16, son, Nate.” What…
Kate, get out of there now.
What? Why?
That light’s an alarm. It’s a silent alarm for people that can’t hear.
Oh, my God.
It’s Maya’s apartment.
BARTON: All right, I’m coming…
(BARTON GRUNTING)
Clint, what’s going on?
Clint?
(BARTON GROANING)
(GRUNTS, GROANS)
Maya’s here.
BARTON: Yeah, I can see that.
Then why didn’t you tell me?
BARTON: I did. Maya’s on the roof with me.
No, Maya is definitely here.
(GLASS BREAKING)
(GRUNTING)
Well, who the hell am I fighting then?
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(BREATHING HEAVILY) A little help?
(GROANING)
Give me a second. Incoming.
Get on the zip line.
(GASPS)
(BARTON GRUNTING)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(WIND BLOWING)
(EXHALES)
(BARTON GRUNTING)
Oh, this is great. (BREATHING HEAVILY)
(GASPS)
(ZIPLINE CREAKS)
(GRUNTS) Come on. Come on.
(GRUNTS)
(KATE GASPS)
(GROANS) That hurt.
(GUN COCKING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTING)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(YELLING)
No, no, no! No, no!
(BREATH TREMBLING)
Pull me up!
(BARTON BREATHING HEAVILY)
Get outta here.
(GRUNTS)
(LIGHTS CLATTERING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
(HIGH-PITCHED RINGING)
(GROANS)
(GRUNTING)
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTING)
(GRUNTING)
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(GROANS)
(EXHALES)
(EXHALES SHARPLY) Who the hell was that?
You don’t wanna know, Kate.
I cannot be your partner if you don’t tell me what’s going on.
You’re not my partner. Do you understand that?
You never were.
Someone has hired a Black Widow assassin.
This has gotten very real, very quickly.
So I’m doing this alone.
No, you’re not.
Look, I know that tonight didn’t go as planned, but I chose to be here.
I understand the risk, I understand all of that.
I’m not gonna do it.
Do you hear me?
Do you hear me?
(SNIFFLES)
Go home, Kate.
It’s over.
(SLOW INSTRUMENTAL CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING)
