Portrait of a Thief

Police approach the Chinese Pavilion, but then veer toward distant smoke. Daniel smashes the glass doors of the pavilion and then the showcase holding the snake zodiac fountainhead. Through earpieces, Alex alerts Daniel, Will, and Irene when their six minutes are up. The three escape via the lake behind the castle, where Lily waits with a speedboat.

Back at the hotel, the crew celebrates with room service and champagne. In a game of “Never Have I Ever,” each reveals a time when they broke the law. Irene’s story involves a Black Lives Matter protest, leading the crew to recall how the unrest of 2020 sparked change. Irene, drunk, kisses Daniel, but he knows she’ll never love him. He tells her that he’s going to let her go.

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.