Hang Your Dreams

Now or Never

Two months pass and James is still dating Penelope. They seem happier than ever in each other's lives and it's become more and more evident to the public that their relationship is turning serious. Paparazzi have caught them on numerous occasions at fancy restaurants at night, getting close on set together and more.
"Good Morning" "Morning" "Hello James!" "Good Morning." James heard the echos of greetings as he walked into the studio. The crew was almost done setting up cameras while the director was discussing blocking with them. He hurried past everyone and greeted Penelope with a smile and her drink order. "Hot chocolate with a touch of caramel, no whip cream on Tuesdays." He winked as he handed her the drink. "No whip cream on Tuesdays?" She questioned laughing, as she took the drink from his hands. "Look, I know it's no whip cream every day but it felt cooler to say." James chuckled as he sipped his coffee. "Cooler?" She jokingly asked. "Anything to keep up with up your generation." He responded with a large smile. "Thank you my love" Penny said, leaning in and kissing James.
"Nervous about today?" He asked, observing the crew do their work. "Less nervous and more saddened. I wish I could've done more than 5 episodes but it's been fun. I'm glad to finally be back on set after being off for 2 weeks though." Penny said. "Likewise but you never know what happens. If ratings kick off and people seem to like you, maybe they'll bring you back." "There's not much to like, James!" Penny laughed out before continuing. "I meet up and kiss you in one scene. Then you come to my house in another talking about our past and what have you. Then, there's a short clip of me packing a truck for you so that's about 15 seconds of screen time in that episode and then we had that phone call scene and now today." Penny listed out her appearances in order. "Yeah but even though you have no lines today, it'll be an intense scene for Red and them." Penny nodded, unable to get a word in before a producer came over and went "we're on in 2, meet with your stand ins."
The two joined everyone on set and met with Hisham on their markers. "ACTION!"

The warehouse doors closed behind them as Reddington entered the area, Dembe behind him on his right and Wanda behind him on his left. Their footsteps echo'd for a moment before stopping, leaving the air filled with silence. The three stood still, staring across the warehouse at the 5 men looking back. "Popov" Red loudly echoed in the room as he called out the leader out of the 5 men. "I'm only here to collect what you intercepted. This doesn't need to end in bloodshed." He continued.
The 5 men walked forward, entering in the camera frame. Sidor Popov chuckled to himself as he walked slightly ahead of his men and said, "Raymond, my men and I...we do not bleed." He paused, taking a deep breath in before saying, "we make others do the bleeding." Before he could fully reach for his sidearm, Red had shot him in his left knee while Dembe stood behind him, both hands holding pistols loaded and aimed at the other men. Red's smoking gun still aimed at Popov. After a few blood curling screams, he finally manages to say, "don't just stand there you 'neblagodarnyye svin'i' (ungrateful pigs)"
Before the men could move, Dembe shot and killed both men with singular bullets. Wanda stood next to him, motionless, stoically staring at Popov bleeding on the floor.  "The guns, Sidor" Red demanded, aiming at his other knee. Popov spit on the ground and glares up at Raymond menacing lead. "Either you lead us to them, or we ransack your warehouse for them. Either way, we know they're here." Red continued. A few quick but silent moments went by before red and blue lights danced in the air nearby. Dembe holstered his weapons back in his pocket before they could get close. Raymond shot his final shot at Popov, killing him instantly. "Let's go" he said, holstering his gun and running towards a hallway with Dembe. "You guys go, I'll give an alibi." Wanda said running to Popev's dead body, getting blood on her hands intentionally and holding his head up as if to cry over him. Reddington paused for a moment and looked back at Wanda. "We need to go Raymond." Dembe grabbed his shoulder and they rushed off.

Police flooded the warehouse in minutes, taking Penny into custody for questioning and examining the bodies. She stated she was in a private relationship with Popov when she tracked his phone and found his body dead on the scene. The gun crate had a tracker in it which she showed the police that she in fact had a tracker pertaining to Popev but didn't give further details. No one was available to collaborate her story or prove her otherwise so she was let go.