Episode 7 of The Old Man's Season 2 kicks off with Dan, now in captivity, finally confronting Pavlovich face-to-face, amidst the haunting hallucinations of Emily that persistently cloud his senses. Despite this, Dan maintains his composure, engaging in a calculated dialogue with Pavlovich, desperately seeking a way out.
Pavlovich holds the crucial antidote, but its release is contingent upon Dan proving that he and Zoe pose no threat to his empire. Amidst cartel whispers of a potential mole within his ranks, Pavlovich's paranoia escalates, prompting him to consider eliminating Zoe and Dan preemptively, before addressing the cartels' concerns.
Dan, fueled by desperation and cunning, cunningly convinces Pavlovich that sparing their lives aligns with his own interests. He leverages Zoe's strategic position—one where she holds the key to either dismantling or salvaging his reputation with the authorities—as his bargaining chip. Amidst these negotiations, Dan's mind is racked with Emily's voice, urging him to avenge her death by striking down Pavlovich.
Meanwhile, Zoe storms into the local police station, boldly demanding an audience with a powerful figure from the CIA. Initially met with skepticism, Zoe's extraordinary tale of witnessing the demise of prominent CIA agents piques the officer's curiosity, leading to a summons. Enter Pete, a man burdened with the mission to unravel the mystery surrounding Morgan's murder. Zoe's request for immunity before divulging any information catches him off guard, yet he attempts to counsel her on the perils she's courting. Undeterred, Zoe stands firm, prompting Pete to step aside to make a fateful call.
In a distant corner of Hong Kong, Marion finds herself at the center of Harold's intense interrogation. Seeking privacy, they retreat to her abode, where Harold cuts straight to the chase, probing into Marion's connection with Pavlovich. Her initial attempts at deflection and feigned innocence are swiftly exposed by Harold's perceptive gaze. Eventually, Marion relents, confessing her role in aiding Pavlovich's ascendancy over the mine deposits.
However, the revelation unveils a deeper layer of intrigue—Fraz's reluctance to collaborate with Pavlovich and his preference for the Americans. Marion's about-face, sparked by Harold's plea to save Emily, reveals a selfish motive: Parwana, or Marion herself, sought a new Hamzad to helm the mines, exploiting Harold's quest as a means to achieve her own ends.
Returning to Dan's relentless resolve, he artfully maneuvers Pavlovich into believing that their paths might yet diverge, allowing them both to witness another dawn. With a calculated tone, he divulges that while vengeance against Pavlovich burns within him, he's bound by a solemn promise to Zoe—a pledge to return unscathed. If Pavlovich, in turn, offers the antidote and grants him freedom, Dan swears to contact Zoe, instructing her to reveal to the authorities that it was he who dealt the fatal blow to Morgan. Pavlovich's expression contorts with shock upon uncovering the truth about Emily's enigmatic past. Dan, leveraging this newfound leverage, adds a condition: Pavlovich must relinquish Emily's remains for a respectful burial, salvaging their respective deals with the dangerous cartels. Unseen by Pavlovich, Emily's indignation smolders fiercely within Dan's conscience.
As Pavlovich listens, his countenance a mask of contemplation, he grudgingly allows Dan to make the call to Zoe. However, fate has other plans, as the delicate balance of their agreement is upended before Pavlovich can seal the deal. A peremptory summons from his superiors disrupts the fragile truce, demanding his immediate presence to account for his actions. Pavlovich's resolve hardens; he deems it prudent to sever Dan's thread of existence forthwith, knowing that his henchmen are already on Zoe's trail, narrowing the window of opportunity. With a curt nod, he dispatches a single assassin to deal with Dan before hurrying off to confront his superiors, leaving a trail of deception and impending doom in his wake.
Meanwhile, Zoe's mind drifts back to the rubbles of her former union, revisiting the intricate tapestry of its inception and unraveling. Pete's eloquent words about the essence of partnership ignite a fiery introspection within her, casting light on the alliances she's forged in the past. As her phone rings, disrupting her reverie, she answers with a sigh of relief, finding solace in Dan's voice. She assures him with a steadfast resolve, her tone betraying her determination to adhere to their strategy. But fate intercedes abruptly, as Dan's call is abruptly severed, and Pavlovich's henchmen strike, laying waste to Pete and storming the police station.
In a split-second of brilliant reflexes, Zoe salvages her life, dispatching the attacker with a swift precision. As she navigates her escape, her path crosses with Julian, Harold's emissary dispatched to her aid. Their encounter is brief yet fraught with a sense of urgency, for behind Julian's arrival lies Harold's unwavering support.
Elsewhere, in the smoldering tensions of Hong Kong, Harold and Marion's discourse escalates into a fiery exchange. Harold's anger boils over at the mere thought of Marion's scheme to turn Emily into a pawn for China, even as the Americans turn their backs on him. Loyal to his roots, he cannot fathom the betrayal of his nation, despite the odds stacked against him.
Marion, undeterred, persists in her claims, accusing Pavlovich of discarding her like yesterday's news once his objectives were met. Harold's skepticism runs deep, accusing Marion of exploiting Emily as a pawn in her own game. Their conversation is punctuated by Pavlovich's call to Marion, a subtle warning that resonates between them. Marion seizes the moment, taunting Harold with Pavlovich's fear, painting him as a cornered beast.
But the truth reveals a more nuanced picture. Pavlovich's grip on the mines proves tenuous, hindered by the entrenched local militia in Afghanistan. He endeavors to reassure his patrons of his relentless efforts to overcome these obstacles, his voice echoing with the weight of unresolved challenges.
The narrative shifts to Emily, resilient and vibrant, her very presence a testament to her unyielding commitment to safeguard the mines. Her struggle is a living testament to the resilience of the human spirit, defying all odds to protect what matters most.
