Episode 2.1

Episode 2.1 is the first episode of the second season of Bulletproof, and the seventh episode of the series overall.

Summary
THE BOYS ARE BACK - A chance discovery propels Bishop (Noel Clarke) and Pike (Ashley Walters) deep undercover, and they soon find themselves at the heart of a notorious international crime family. After an action-packed sting results in the seizure of drug money worth a million pounds, Bishop and Pike set about tracing who the money belongs to, in an effort to thwart those responsible for an orchestrated drug drought, designed to strangle the market. Meanwhile, the Unit are under the watchful eye of the new ‘by-the-book’ Deputy Director, Richard Cockridge (Lee Ross)

Plot
A man is seen driving a red motorcycle through an abandoned market. He meets up with numerous other teenagers on bikes and it is revealed that Bishop is watching the deal from a distance. Pike remarks that if Bishop learned to drive the situation would be reversed. When one of the teenagers puts on a red cap, it is revealed that he is undercover for the NCA, and Bishop cites that the cap was the signal to go. Right before they are about to move, Chris Munroe’s — who is hiding in a portable toilet nearby — phone begins to ring and gives away the operation. Working together, Bishop and Pike are able to apprehend the majority of the riders. After the mission, Bishop teases Munroe about the phone, but each receives a stern word from Tanner when she arrives; hopes are soon raised, however, when the team finds a bag full of money in the back of the taxi cab.

The following morning, Bishop makes breakfast for his one-night stand, Larna. The two laugh about her letting herself out of the apartment after showering, with Bishop making a joke about him catching her if she were to steal anything. Arriving at Pike’s house, Bishop finds him doing yoga and is unable to contain his opinions. At work, Tanner introduces a new recruit joining the NCA on probation front the Child Protection Unit (CPU), Scarlett Hailton, and her associate, Paige Pennington. Tanner reveals that the bag retrieved from the deal contained over £1,000,000, and that they should try and find out who is missing the cash. The briefing is interrupted by the new Deputy Director, Richard Cockridge, who will be providing tactical advice. Richard announces that the previous year was difficult, and that he would like to talk to each member of the team individually at one point — he invites them to visit his office after the briefing. After Richard leaves, Bishop makes fun of his name whilst Munroe seems confused. After receiving a call from Arjana about her friend overdosing, Pike rushes to the hospital to console his wife; when he arrives, it is revealed that her friend, Grace, overdosed. Despite this, Arjana insists that Grace was a good lawyer and not an addict. She believes that Grace’s death has been a cover-up, and Pike agrees to run a toxicology report and get to the bottom of the death. Pike meets with the coroner who shows him a handful of people that all died due to a mixture of experimental drugs; Pike realises that the absence of drugs people want on the street are causing people to mix unknown substances together.

Down by the docks, the team eat and drink as per tradition. Bishop is distracted, however, and explains that the barber shop he frequents has been burgled that week for the first time in thirty years. Paige attributes this to the hard times experienced on the streets, whilst Pike and Bishop believe that someone is starving the streets of drugs in order to introduce a new product. Bishop suggests they talk with their informant, “Red Cap”, to get information on the stolen money.

Bishop and Pike question the guy, however he is reluctant to reveal any information. After a few playful slaps, the man reveals the location of a club in which the suspect deals from, the Pallas Health Club. The following day, Paige and Scarlett lead a steakout of the club and witness numerous men on bikes arriving for a pick-up. Bishop warns them that they are purely surveying and will be outgunned if they engage. After the suspects attempt to take off, Scarlett knocks him off his bike despite being ordered not to. Paige and Scarlett are able to take out the men and Scarlett forces the supplier's name from one of the men, “Markides”. Returning this information back to the NCA, Tanner reveals that she delt with Eleanor Markides years prior, but does not seem like the kind of person to be supplying cocaine on the streets. Tanner warns that they should make no mistake, the Markides are dangerous. The team decide to target Mikey Markides. Arriving at the club where Alex is partying, Bishop and Pike talk about Arjana and Ali. Pike reveals that Ali has changed a lot in the last year, much to Bishop’s surprise. Bishop and Pike engage with Mikey by telling him to keep the noise down, and this starts a rivalry between the two and Mikey’s crew. Akex does not engage, however, and instead sends over a bottle of champagne with apologies. Mikey invites them over to have a drink with him and his crew and, much to their dismay, Bishop agrees to drink with them as Pike returns home. After talking for numerous hours, Mikey invites Bishop to his club the following night and Bishop accepts.

Tanner visits her father in a retirement home, but he is unable to recognise her and asks where his daughter is. She seems sullen by the experience and worried when she receives a bill for £7,900.

Pike is reluctant to partake in the club night with Bishop following fears that his relationship with Arjana could fall apart again. Bishop is bummed by this, but agrees to continue with the operation solo. At the club, Mikey and Bishop bond over Bishop’s new watch, with Dezzy remarking that his watch is superior. The situation becomes tense when Mikey holds a miniature blow torch to his face out of anger. Bishop is privy to conversation about the £1,000,000 that was stolen from the Markides. Bishop remarks that they should take the money back, and Mikey tasks Bishop with getting the money back; Bishop agrees to scope out the operation and act if he thinks it is worth the risk.

Bishop presents the idea to Tanner, and she is at first reluctant, citing that she would be laughed out of the door if she presented the idea to Richard. Bishop pleads, announcing that they do not have to tell him and that he has formulated a fool proof plan including fake guards — one of which is Chris Munroe. Tanner reluctantly agrees to allow the operation to go ahead but is sceptical.

The operation goes ahead as planned when night falls, with Tanner, Jonesy, Scarlett and Paige watching from a surveillance van nearby. They are successfully able to infiltrate the lockup, but problems arise when Mikey begins threatening Munroe with the blow torch and Bishop cannot be contacted. Tanner authorises Paige and Jonesy to rescue Munroe and they initially believe to have ended the operation and captured Mikey red-handed. Pike arrives shortly after and — in the spirit of keeping with the operation — holds Paige at gunpoint allowing them to escape. Mikey thanks Pike and Bishop and attempts to give them a cut of the profits. They refuse, however, and remark that they would rather be dealing and selling for the Markides instead. Mikey is at first reluctant but accepts when he reveals that he has more product than he can sell.

Tanner approaches her locker and it is revealed that she has taken £10,000 of the cash from the bag before submitting it to lockup — she is struggling to fund her father’s care.

Main Characters

 * Noel Clarke as Aaron Bishop
 * Ashley Walters as Ronald Pike Jr
 * Lindsey Coulson as Sarah Tanner
 * Jason Maza as Chris Munroe
 * David Elliot as Tim Jones
 * Olivia Chenery as Scarlett Hailton
 * Lucie Shorthouse as Paige Pennington
 * Lee Ross as Richard Cockridge
 * Vanessa Vanderpuye as Arjana Pike
 * Ben Tavassoli as Mikey Markides
 * Stavros Zalmas Alex Markides

Recurring Characters

 * Oliver Bond as Red Cap
 * Sophie Craig as Lana
 * Jodie Campbell as Ali Pike
 * Florisa Kamara as Donna Pike
 * Robbie Gee as Glenmore
 * Simon Balfour as Doctor
 * Leeshon Alexander as Brandon
 * Marcus Rutherford as Dezzy
 * David Calder as Stan
 * Rosie Baker as Receptionist

Trivia

 * Whilst performing well in the United Kingdom, Episode 2.1 only attracted 386,000 viewers in the United States — a 0.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic.