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Chuck Versus the DeLorean
Season 02, Episode 10
Lichtenstein
Air Date December 8, 2008
Writer Matthew Miller
Director Ken Whittingham
Previous Chuck Versus the Sensei
Next Chuck Versus Santa Claus
"Welcome to adulthood. We've been waiting for you"
―Devon

Chuck Versus the DeLorean is the tenth episode in season two, which aired on December 8, 2008. It is the twenty-third episode overall.

Synopsis[]

Sarah's father, a con artist, comes to town, revealing that he conned a Saudi Arabian, Sheikh Rajiv Amad, out of nearly a million dollars. The Sheikh turns out to be connected to terrorist funding, so Beckman wants Sarah and Chuck to obtain intel from Sarah's father, but things get complicated when Ahmad shows up and wants his building.

Meanwhile, Anna wants to take her relationship with Morgan a step further and asks him to move in with her. Captain Awesome lends him some money for one, but instead, Morgan buys a terminal DeLorean.

Full Story[]

The episode begins with a flashback. Sarah as a little girl is seen riding her bike down the street, when an Windfield Armored Van that has just loaded in cash, hits her. A man claiming to be a doctor runs up to help her, taking her to the hospital. In the car, the innocent girl is not as innocent as she seems and inquires how much he stole from the armored car. Sarah's father, Jack Burton, is revealed to be a con man.

In the present, Sarah tells Chuck she is taking a personal day. She is being secretive which makes Chuck suspicious. Chuck decides to spy on her and follows her to the De Biaso's restaurant. His GPS locator, however, gets him caught by Sarah, even as he flashes on a scar on the wrist the man she's with, revealing at least four arrests for larceny. He tries to warn Sarah about the loser she is dining with, all before Sarah introduces him as her dad. She then introduces Chuck to her father as her boyfriend.

210ChuckDelorean

Back at Buy More, Anna Wu says that Morgan and she should move in together and he gets scared.

Back at the Castle, Sarah tells the director she will arrest her father, shocking Chuck. Instead, General Beckman wants Chuck and Sarah to help in the con to receive the back accounts for the Sheik. The CIA has tried to find the Sheik's hidden bank accounts and General Beckman wants the team to run the con and to receive at least $10 million so that they can trace the foreign bank account information.

Morgan still does not know what to do about Anna's proposition to move in. Awesome brings him back to reality and tells him that he has no car, no credit, and no ambition. Devon tells him that he will loan him money to get an apartment. As Morgan goes to tell Anna the good news, he finds out that someone is selling a run down 1981 DeLorean DMC that cannot be driven above 22 mph without stalling. Morgan buys it with the borrowed funds.

Sarah's dad has taken a lot of money from Sheikh Rajiv Amad, a Saudi Arabian who has been on the CIA terror watch list for many years. Jack reveals how he came by the cash; he pulled a 'Lichtenstein' and sold an opportunity to buy the L.A. Nagamichi office tower. But he has no right to sell the building, of course, but claims the bigger the lie, the easier it is to believe. Chuck flashes on some Arab men who walk by him as he and Sarah leave Jack. It's the Sheik, and he finds Jack and tell him that he wants his money back. Jack plays off the cuff and says that Sarah is Lichtenstein's personal secretary, and she offers them an appointment for the next day. He insists on an immediate audience, secretly holding a gun at her midsection. The hotel receptionist suddenly comes out saying there is a message for Herr Liechtenstein. Chuck naps his fingers and says "Here" with a German accent. He stands up to say hello and Sarah says he speaks no English. They agree to a meeting the following day at Lichtenstein's office.

Ellie questions why there is money missing from their account and Devon says he lent it to Morgan. However, at that moment Morgan stops by to pick up Chuck, honking his horn. Ellie states he doesn't have a car and Chuck tells them about Morgan buying the Delorean. Devon tells Ellie he'll get the money back and methodically hunts down Morgan. Anna finds out as well, and also becomes angry. Devon tells Morgan he has 24 hours to return the money or Devon says he'll pluck his hair from head to toe. Anna tells Devon to start with the groin because he won't be using that area for a very long time.

Sarah convinces Jack to split the money four ways if he wants the help of her team, which includes Casey and Chuck. Jack refers to her team as Cop-face and the Schnook respectively. Casey plays security, while Chuck continues as Lichtenstein, with the understanding he has to remain silent, and Sarah will play translator. The plan is to evacuate the 51st floor, rebrand it, and do the deal. Everything goes as planned until a translator is brought in by the sheik who does not trust Jack. In a fabricated German accent, Chuck cancels the deal claiming the translator has insulted him with his terrible German accent. The Sheik insists on the deal and pays them $10 million.

Jack, Sarah, and Chuck make it out of the building and back to Sarah's. Jack then steals the laptop that contains the sheik's bank account information. leaving the rest of the team in the lurch. Chuck later assures Sarah that she is not to blame, her father's sins are his, not hers.

Casey tracks Jack to a downtown hotel, but Jack has been abducted by the Sheik. The Sheik calls Sarah and tells her to get the money or they will kill her dad.

Chuckaccount

$10 million in Chuck's account.

Morgan asks to borrow the money from Chuck, who agrees to lend him the whole amount, even though his total balance is $2,520 which would leave him only $20 to his name. It was when he opened the account, however, that he discovered that the $10 million deposit of the Sheik's money has been deposited in it. When he tells Sarah and she says leave it, he's happy enough to acquire interest for a few days.

Sarah meets with the Sheik to exchange the bags supposedly filled with cash to get her father back. They surround her and hold her at gunpoint and discover the bags are nothing but clothing. Chuck then drives up in the DeLorean with a wireless laptop so he can wire the money back to the Sheik, claiming they are just grifters in over their heads. The Sheik enters his account number then orders them all killed.

Casey drives up impersonating a Treasury Department agent and cuffs, Chuck calling him Lichtenstein. Casey hands off a gun to Sarah which she pulls on the Sheik, who in turn threatens to shoot Jack. With Jacks nod, Sarah shoots Jack in the shoulder and threatens the Sheik. A gun fight erupts, and the Sheik drives off in the DeLorean, but its top speed is only 22 MPH. Then Chuck makes call to the local police about a stolen DeLorean, assuring them it is not a prank call.

General Beckman says they were able to freeze the Sheik's account of almost $1 billion. Beckman also wants to arrest Jack for embezzlement. Casey tells her that he played a crucial role in capturing the Sheik and getting the bank account information. Beckman say that she will tell the prosecution this.

At the Buy More, Morgan approaches Chuck to inform him of how his DeLorean has been impounded after being reported stolen. This means that insurance will give him Blue Book value so he can regain the money he owes Awesome, as well as $10k and regain Anna's trust. Jeff and Lester then show him the General Lee from Dukes of Hazard with a for sale sign on it.

Sarah asks why Jack deposited the 10 million in Chuck's account. He confesses "I read people, that's the only real talent I got. One thing I know - that kid would never betray you. I made a $10 million bet that he loved you. Turns out I was right." She then sends him to buy her an ice cream, so he won't be there when the police come for him. Chuck runs into Jack outside and they see the arrival of the police, Jack has figured out his daughter is 'some type of cop' and Chuck agrees it's something like that. Jack tells him to take care of her.

Trivia[]

  • In the flashback sequence, Sarah is shown a packet of stolen $100 bills. However, the bills have a modern design which didn't exist in 1990.
  • The scene in which Chuck plants a message for 'Mr. Lichtenstein' and assumes the identity is a nod to the film "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", in which Michael Caine plays a con artist impersonating a psychoanalytical physician known as Dr. Schuffhausen. The shot in which Chuck takes the message is almost identical to the corresponding shot in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
  • 'Lichtenstein' can also be a reference to the film A Knight's Tale, starring Heath Ledger.
  • When the real employees of the building are returning to the upper floor, the elevator incorrectly shows them traveling downwards rather than upwards.
  • Stefanie Scott who played Young Sarah, was nominated for the 2009 Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a TV Series-Guest Starring Young Actress".
  • Devon's loan to Morgan had a weekly interest of 12%, Morgan would be better off using a credit card with which the interest is charged monthly.
  • Jack Burton is also the name of Kurt Russell's character in the cult classic Big Trouble in Little China.
  • Chuck says Sarah is 28 years old, if however, she was indeed born 1982, she'd be 26 or 27 if the May birthday is correct.
  • Jack Burton used the alias Guido Merkens, the name is that of a professional NFL player who played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, punter and defensive back for ten seasons for the Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Guest Stars[]

Quotes[]

Sarah: Why did you put the money in Chuck's account?

Jack Burton: I needed to put it somewhere cause I didn't trust Cop Face.
Sarah: But you trusted Chuck.
Jack Burton: I read people. That's the only real talent I got. One thing I know, that kid would never betray you. I made a $10 million bet that he loved you... Turns out I was right.

~

Casey [to himself]: Nice plan Bartowski - of course I'll never tell him that.

~

Chuck: Eleven years ago, my father left Ellie and me. He's a... he was an unusual man. I guess that's generous...We used to get Christmas cards and birthday calls, and then one year it just stopped. I don't know why. What I do know is that it wasn't my fault. Granted, it took a significant amount of time and an incredible amount of therapy to come to that realization, but you need to know that your father's sins are his and not yours.

Sarah: That's pretty eloquent for 9:00 a. m.
Chuck: What can I say? I am an articulate schnook.

Music[]

  • Blitzen Trapper – “Furr”
  • Yello – “Oh Yeah”
  • Daniel May – “Womens Wear”
  • Supergrass – “Diamond Hoo Ha Man”
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