Portrait of a Thief

Before the heist, Will researched the Chinese Pavilion’s collection to ensure they only took items from the Old Summer Palace, so they’re “not stealing but returning” (143). As he lists the items they stole, he realizes some aren’t included in the official catalog. He knows collectors and museums aren’t always transparent about their acquisitions, which means some cultural artifacts can never be found and reclaimed. Will sees the heists as justice, and though he’s always been motivated by a desire to make his parents proud, his role in the heists is his own way to make a mark on history.

The morning after the heist, Irene apologizes to Daniel for kissing him. His response, “I’m not stupid, Irene. We’ve been to Pride together” (147), suggests he knows she’s only attracted to women; however, he’s still hurt. Later, Irene carries the snake zodiac fountainhead in her suitcase through airport security. Agents pull her bag for additional screening. They open it and find the zodiac fountainhead, but it’s accompanied by documents proving she had it when she entered the country. The agents apologize for the inconvenience and let Irene go.

Will made a replica of the zodiac fountainhead, which was claimed at customs upon entering Sweden, then disposed of once the crew got the real artifact. He’s not surprised Irene made the deception work, but is proud nevertheless. On the flight back to the US, Will again sketches Lily. She reveals she’s looking for a feeling of home, a sense of belonging. Will shares that he sometimes feels he’ll break under the weight of his family’s dreams and expectations.

A flashback to the heist shows Alex creating a police diversion by setting fire to a row of cars owned by leaders of Sweden’s white power movement. After the heist, her job at Google feels meaningless. She looks at a flash drive on her desk. It prompts a memory that reveals Alex did hack Daniel’s father’s computer the night she joined them for dinner. From the flash drive, she uploaded her own code onto his laptop, which will give her access to his FBI files. She told Lily about her decision, but no one else.

People in Irene’s public policy class are talking about the Drottningholm Palace theft. One student suggests the theft wasn’t ordered by the Chinese government, as Irene tries to hint, but “private entities within China vying for power” (163). This comment makes Irene realize the crew might have competition for the remaining zodiac fountainheads. Later, she calls Alex and demands to know the progress of the FBI investigation of the theft. Alex admits to hacking Daniel’s father’s computer, and Irene learns they didn’t leave any DNA or usable footprints. The conversation is laced with hostility.

The crew discuss their heist over Zoom, and how much attention it’s getting in the press. Later, Will sends Lily a photo of the sketch he did of her. Her feelings toward him become complicated, but she tells Irene that she knows better than the girls who break themselves for his affection.

The crew flies to Paris. In need of a getaway vehicle, they buy a cheap used car and have a nitrous oxide tank installed. While waiting at the mechanic’s, Lily and Daniel bond over their pasts. Daniel says he and his father go to Beijing every summer and invites Lily to join them next time. He says she should see where her parents grew up. She encourages him to work on his relationship with his father.

That night, Lily enters a street race mentioned by the mechanic. She wins a Bugatti driven by the only other Asian racer. When he hands her the keys, he also gives her his number, saying he’d like a rematch if she’s interested.

The crew’s target in Paris is the Chinese Museum at the Château de Fontainebleau. Will joins a guided tour and asks the guide, who speaks flawless Chinese, about the artifacts in the collection that weren’t gifts. She acknowledges they were taken during the destruction of the Old Summer Palace, but shrugs it off. Will tries to argue, but then regrets calling attention to himself.

The crew spends the rest of the day sightseeing. At dinner, they agree to return to Paris together after the heists are over, to experience it as real tourists. Will feels that in the midst of everything temporary in his life, the friendships they’re creating might last.

Alex monitors the second heist from the hotel room, directing the others via earpiece. After the first shattering of glass at the museum, she hacks into the police station’s vehicle tracker and realizes police are already heading for the Château de Fontainebleau. She has no idea what went wrong, but tells the crew to get out.

As Daniel hears Alex’s warning, he sees the rooster zodiac fountainhead and other artifacts from the Old Summer Palace are already gone. Daniel, Will, and Irene leave empty-handed before the police arrive. Back at the hotel, Irene says their competition beat them to the artifacts. Will blames her for not sharing her suspicion and accuses her of being set on the heist failing. Daniel pulls Will aside and makes him realize he’s being unfair to Irene. Will apologizes, then begins making a plan for damage control.

To delete footage of their break-in, Alex needs access to the museum’s internal server. She thinks it’s impossible, but Irene reveals the coffee shop next door uses the museum’s Wi-Fi. This allows Alex to delete the incriminating footage and every backup she can find. She and Irene remain antagonistic, but begin to develop a begrudging respect for each other.

Alex shows the crew footage of the museum being robbed before they arrived. Will says he’ll explain the situation to Yuling, but the crew suspects their chance to earn $50 million is already gone. In the footage, Lily recognizes the rival crew’s yellow Lamborghini: It was acquired by the other Asian racer when she won the Bugatti. She remembers she has his phone number and tells the crew that she knows how to find the other thieves.