Episode 8 of "Countdown" unfolds in Burbank, the year 2021, where a drunken Borys regales the company with a dark humor joke, poking fun at Belarusians' supposed tolerance for pain. His words hint at a broader knowledge among the attendees about the millions he had stolen, turning him into a marked man. Enter Piskun, a Belarusian lawyer who offers his services to Borys, not without a price tag attached.
In the present day, Mark receives urgent news from his contact about an explosion that rocked Borys' residence. Rolf is in possession of an ID and a singed yet recognizable photograph of Borys. Mark presents his theory to the task force, a narrative that closely mirrors the actual events. Finau expresses puzzlement over what could have driven Borys to contemplate bombing Los Angeles.
Flashing back to 2021, Borys pleas with Piskun to assist him in concealing his ill-gotten gains. He yearns for a clean slate, avoiding further trouble. The lawyer suggests the establishment of a legitimate business as a means to launder his funds.
Switching back to the present, the task force delves deeper into Rolf's background. Mark's headache intensifies, prompting Oliveras to urge him to inform the team of his condition. They have proven their worth and deserve to be aware of the risk he poses. Mark jests about it but concedes. However, before he can confide in Blythe, the agent rushes out on a mission.
Blythe attempts to forge an alliance with Astapov once more, invoking the memory of his deceased security guard. His aggressive approach falls flat as Astapov reveals himself to be a coward. Frustrated beyond measure, Blythe petitions his superiors to involve the Belarusian ambassador in the investigation.
In the year 2021, Borys acquired ten parking lots frequently utilized by colossal Hollywood trucks. Currently, a Gallagher Freight vehicle, camouflaged to resemble the American Postal Service, sits menacingly in front of the Federal Building. Shepherd receives a distressing phone call from her sister Molly, who promptly hangs up. Mark attempts to engage Blythe in conversation once more, but their attention is abruptly drawn to the suspicious truck. They swiftly evacuate the premises, only to discover the truck deserted, save for an array of surveillance cameras. Realizing Borys is gauging and scrutinizing their reaction to potential threats, they piece together the puzzle. Blythe sternly reprimands Mark for disregarding the evacuation orders, accusing him of harboring a death wish, while shutting him out yet again as he tries to confess his secrets for the third time.
Back in 2021, Ross from the municipality asserts that public vehicles are entitled to free parking on the lot, much to Borys' chagrin, foreseeing a loss in revenue. Presently, Shepherd places a call to her mother, informing her that Molly, her irresponsible sister, is about to move in with her, a situation they can't alter.
In a twist of fate from 2021, Borys bribes Ross but is promptly arrested—a meticulously orchestrated trap. Denied his fundamental rights, he's incarcerated where fellow inmates subject him to bullying and brutality. Meanwhile, Bell checks in on Shepherd, who unburdens herself about Molly's irresponsible nature. It's then that Bell stumbles upon the revelation that Borys' company, VKN, has acquired expansive farmland. As they depart, Blythe offers Bell a compliment, leaving him pleasantly astonished.
Tragically, the remaining trucks have just departed the farm, prompting the task force to calculate that each truck carries approximately 45,000 pounds of explosive chemicals. Blythe solemnly warns that time is of the essence; failing to stop Borys now spells disaster.
On their way home, Shepherd encounters her sister waiting patiently. Her patience wears thin as Molly labels her a hypocrite, reminding Shepherd of her own past as a party girl.
OliverasEscorts Mark back home, where a tender moment unfolds as he tentatively extends an invitation for her to join him inside. However, she abruptly打断了this intimate exchange by bringing up his extramarital affair. Fortunately, no hurtful sentiments linger between them.
Flash forward to 2021, where Borys, having been granted bail, crosses paths with Piskun, his lawyer. The attorney unveils a grim reality: the city authorities are determined to frame him, aiming to slap him with a 30-year prison sentence. Borys, consumed by grief and anger, lays the blame for the loss of his brother and wife squarely at the feet of his homeland. Seeking solace and a fresh start, he emigrated to the United States, believing not everyone there could be malicious. Yet, his illusions have been shattered. In a fit of rage and defiance, he takes Piskun's life as a bold statement before vanishing into thin air.
By the climactic scene of Countdown Episode 8, Astapov finds himself coerced by his superiors into cooperating with Blythe, a move he reluctantly agrees to. With a heavy heart, he arranges a covert meeting to hand over crucial evidence he possesses against Borys. At the designated spot, tensions run high. Borys, ever cunning and ruthless, strikes first, eliminating Astapov with cold precision. Without missing a beat, he plunges a knife into Blythe and flees the scene, leaving chaos and bloodshed in his wake.
