Hustle
A motley group of London con artists pulls off a series of daring and intricate stings.
Cast:Robert Glenister , Robert Vaughn , Rob Jarvis , Adrian Lester , Marc Warren , Jaime Murray , Matt Di Angelo , Kelly Adams , Ashley Walters , Bill Bailey , Carol Cummings , Adam James , Liz May Brice , Indira Varma , John Macmillan , Sara Carver , Gary Cargill , Joanna Bobin
S1.E1 ∙ The Con Is On
In London, two teams are formed and prepare their operations, destined as adversaries. Michael 'Mickey Bricks' Stone is out of jail after two years for an unrelated offense; everybody knows he will do at least once more what he's good in, in fact the best in Britain: the intricate 'long con', always prepared by his American associate Albert Stroller, who finds and gains the confidence of a wealthy mark; their other known cahoots are Ash Morgan and Stacie Monroe. Meanwhile in the police force, a new man is stepping in as new head of the task force to catch them; his failed predecessor, DS Terri Hodges, fills him in on the findings, and Mickey's correctly presumed next target: businessman Peter Williams. The scam this time is to pretend a computer delay of under a second allows the 'investors' to earn a fortune on oil company Vestron's stock just before it rises as a consequence of its annual report, then pull the plug and run with the 'seed money'. A surprise element, however spotted by the police, is young short con- artist Danny Blue, who skilfully forces his way into Mickey's team after being refused a cut when he just asked for a chance to learn from the masters. The police already has a case against him, and offers him his freedom if he stays in the scam to spy and testify afterward. Things work out differently, because of another scam...
S1.E2 ∙ Faking It
Albert Stroller is severely beaten by a vicious casino owner, Frank Gorley, after being caught cheating at cards. The team decide to get their revenge by scamming Gorely for a load of money. Finding Gorley's weakness - he's a film buff who particularly likes old black and white movies from the '40s and '50s -the team sets up an elaborate quick-money scheme for him to invest in a film. They also let Danny play the lead in their elaborate charade, a first for him in a long con.
S1.E3 ∙ Picture Perfect
The team focus on the art world and specifically Meredith Gates, an art collector and dealer who is an expert on the works of Mondrian. The plan is to produce a forged Mondrian that would show he experimented with cubism long before Picasso. Having found their forger, they must now provide him with period-specific materials while at the same time setting the trap for Gates. What they do not realize is that they too are being set up and may end up with nothing.
S1.E4 ∙ Cops and Robbers
Mickey Stone find himself being blackmailed by Victor Maher into helping him catch a bank robber. Maher has an old videotape of Danny Blue involved in a robbery and unless Mickey agrees to help, he will turn it over to the police. Maher spent his career in the fraud squad and is now head of security for Moores Bank. He knows that Sam Richards will soon try to rob the their main London Branch and want Mickey to get a member of his team in on the robbery. Albert Stroller, who has had dealings with Maher in the past, warns Mickey that the ex-cop is very good at what he does and that Mickey himself is as much the prize as Richards. Left on the sidelines, Danny and Stacie spend a good deal of time together with Danny starting to fall for her.
S1.E5 ∙ A Touch of Class
The con artists set their sights on Katherine Winterbourne a very rich woman, now divorced, whose nasty reputation is well deserved. In her ongoing battle with her now ex-husband, she even killed his dogs. The team's plan is to use her hatred of her ex against her. They set themselves up as investors planning to build a luxury hotel that would compete directly with that of her ex-husband's. Her desire for further revenge is such that she insists on investing in the scheme. As Mickey gets to know her however, he comes to believe that they are scamming an honest person and wants to stop the con.
S1.E6 ∙ The Last Gamble
The mark is Anthony Reeves who has just received a controversial half-million pound payout on being fired from his most recent job. Reeves loves the horses so the team set him up for The Wire - convince him that they are getting race information before it's being made available publicly thereby ensuring a win. The scam works well until one of their previous victims decides he wants his money back. Meanwhile, Danny has an amusing crisis of confidence when a new receptionist refuses to go out with him.
S2.E1 ∙ Gold Mine
Back from their holiday, the team learns that an old friend and con artist, has been sent to prison. He tried to con businessman Howard Jennings in a stock deal but unfortunately for him, Jennings knew the game too well. Danny is very keen to take this fellow on and now has to devise a plan for the most difficult of marks: conning someone without them ever knowing they have ever been conned. So, they try to convince Jennings that there is possibly a gold mine in the heart of London.
S2.E2 ∙ Confessions
When Albert doesn't show up for a planned scam the scheme falls through but he has already staked out another target. Johnny Keyes is now a successful London restaurant owner with a violent and nasty past. Keyes' son disappeared long ago and would give anything to find him and help him out in life. The plan is simple: have Danny impersonate the boy and tug on Keyes heart strings to the point where he will be just begging to give him money. When the plan falters, they go to their backup plan which proves to be a bit more successful.
S2.E3 ∙ The Lesson
The team set their sights on a former African despot, Anthony Mgube, who now lives in Switzerland. Mgube collects old banknotes and very much wants to get his hands on a 19th century US $1000 note. All is going well until Danny shows up with a new friend, Trevor Speed, who wants in on the long con. The team is reluctant to take him on, but eventually give in to Danny's ultimatum to trust him or he'll quit. Meanwhile, Stacie is upset that her bank has charged her £85 for a very minor overage on her account and she enlists Albie to help her get even. In the end, nothing is as it seems. Mickey has a bit of fun with bar owner Eddie who thinks the team are always taking advantage of him.
S2.E4 ∙ Missions
The con artists have to deal with a bent copper when she arrests Mickey and Danny in Eddie's bar in the middle of scamming someone. The police Officer, DI Sam Phillips, makes it quite clear that she expects 50% of the proceeds but also half of their next scam, involving original artwork for a 1930's comic book. The idea is to put the original up for auction and then swap it for a forgery once the sale is complete. The real question however is how will the con artists get away with their scheme and get rid of the pesky police officer at the same time?
S2.E5 ∙ Old Acquaintance
The team's next victim is Jake Henry, Stacie Monroe's husband. He walked out on her five years previously and cleaned out her bank account leaving her, as she says, a cactus, a Phil Collins CD and a stale piece of cheese. Henry fancies himself a top poker player so the plan is to scam him in a game of Texas Holdem. There may be cause for concern however when Stacie apparently starts to re-connect with Henry and he in turn wants them to renew their relationship.
S2.E6 ∙ Eye of the Beholder
The team plan to commit the crime of the century - the theft of the Star of Africa, largest diamond in the world and centrepiece of the Crown Jewels.
S3.E1 ∙ Price for Fame
The team plan to con a violent businessman out of a hundred grand by pretending to be music promoters interested in representing his young son.
S3.E2 ∙ The Henderson Challenge
Danny and Mickey have been bickering of late so Albert suggests they undertake the Henderson challenge, named after a New York con man who wanted to prove he was the best con man anywhere. The challenge is relatively simple: Mickey and Danny will be dropped off at noon in a very public location stark naked and have until 6 pm to make as much money as possible. The one with the most money wins. The two of them are soon running through Trafalgar Square in their birthday suits and the contest has begun. Danny focuses on what he does best - the short con, making a few hundred quid here and there. Mickey has a different approach and decides to get at a mark he has held in reserve to make one quick, but large, bundle. At the end of it all, they not only surprise themselves but Albert has a bit of news for them as well.
S3.E3 ∙ Whittaker Our Way Out
Con artist JW3 (James Whittaker Wright III) arrives on the scene hoping for revenge on the bank responsible for ruining his grandfather - who sold fake gold mines on the stock market. The team step into action, with Danny posing as a City businessman, but it's not long before they come unstuck and realize their ally could be just as deceitful as they are.
S3.E4 ∙ A Bollywood Dream
Albert identifies their next mark, Kulvinder Samar, a businessman with a love of Bollywood movies. Their play is quite simple: convince him to invest in their Bollywood movie and even offer him a part in the film. Samar is arrogant and runs a sweatshop so as far as they are concerned, he's an ideal target. The con is just a little too perfect however and he's soon on to them. Fate intervenes in the form of a car accident resulting in Samar losing his short-term memory. The con artists decide to just run the con over again - a little less perfect this time - but Samar has undergone a serious personality change and is no longer the smug SOB they set out to get.
S3.E5 ∙ The Hustlers News of the Day
When Stacie's friend attempts suicide because of a slanderous story about her by a newspaper. The team, expectedly, decide to make a mark out of the newspaper. A false headline about the identity of the queen mother quickly intrigues the chief editor and his top reporter. However, the editor isn't the only one worrying about the truth of the story.
S3.E6 ∙ Law and Corruption
The crew are blackmailed by a policeman to catch Adam "The Ghost" Rice, a famous thief.
S4.E1 ∙ As One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest, One Flew In
As Mickey leaves for a big score in Australia, Danny steps up to the mark as the gangs new leader, but can he convince a greedy American businessman to buy the Hollywood Hills sign?
S4.E2 ∙ Signing Up to Wealth
Albert has found the team a new mark: Richard Brennan, who runs an adult video production company and has a passion for race horses. He has three horses in training, but not a single won race so far. Danny's idea: to "sell" Brennan a horse that would win. Danny also thinks they need a new permanent fifth member an is interviewing applicants - who "by chance" happen to all be women, all 21 of them!
S4.E3 ∙ Getting Even
The grifter's barman Eddie approaches them as his father is in a nursing home that is trying to take his home from him in a very underhand way. The nursing home has just taken over by Veronica Powell and the grifters, having seen her in action, vow to taken her down.
S4.E4 ∙ A Designers Paradise
The team finally allow Billy into their inner realms just as a figure from his past resurfaces and threatens to blow Billy's cover if he doesn't give him £20,000. The crew look to con Clarissa Bartwell an immoral "fashionista" using the "Emperor's New Clothes" as their inspiration.
S4.E5 ∙ Conning the Artists
Danny and the crew successfully scam a greedy Japanese businessman, Mr. Yakubi, using a foreign currency scam. They then go against their own better judgment and decide to try the same ruse on a caviar importer. Their scam is interrupted however when Yakubi's son shows up at Eddie's bar and demands revenge, saying he has to retrieve his father's honor. The crew aren't impressed until he reveals that he is holding Eddie hostage.
S4.E6 ∙ Big Daddy Calling
While on a holiday in Las Vegas, Albert is recognized by an old friend, the head of security at a major casino. Although satisfied that Albert isn't scamming the hotel the owner - Joey Maranzano, son of a famous mafia boss - decides to teach Albert a lesson anyway, taking a baseball bat to his hand. The team decide to get their revenge by stealing $5 million on display behind an aquarium in the hotel lobby. Even if they get away with the theft, Maranzano is ruthless and the real question is whether they can get away with their lives.
S5.E1 ∙ Return of the Prodigal
Mickey returns from his sojourn in Australia to find that the old team is no more. Danny and Stacie are still in America working long cons, Ash has been reduced to grifting in bars and Eddie was forced to close the bar and is working as the head waiter in a restaurant. Even Albert is out of action finding himself in jail. He does have a mark for Mickey however, an attractive young woman Sarah Naismith who has made a fortune in real estate, usually taking advantage of people in less fortunate circumstances, and would likely fall for any scam that suggested inside information was available. Mickey poses as William Dagmar, a stock trader with supposed insider information and they hook their victim pretty easily. What no one one realizes is that the grifters are under surveillance by a previous victim and some quick thinking is required is they are all to survive.
S5.E2 ∙ New Recruits
With a new team ready for action, Mickey focuses on Carlton Wood and Harry Fielding, high tech entrepreneurs who have essentially robbed a small-business of a valuable patent. Ash is worried that their new mates are a little too inexperienced to undertake a complicated con but Mickey decides there's only one way to test their mettle. When they learn that their marks have recently fired their advertising company, causing a delay in the product launch, Mickey decides to set them up by posing as PR consultants and convincing them to sell their new security product as being so secure, users will not have to insure their valuables. The entrepreneurs sell the product to a museum for use on a very valuable painting. Having hooked their marks, they now have to figure out a way to steal the painting.
S5.E3 ∙ Lest Ye Be Judged
Albert is due for parole and a key member of the parole board is Judge Kent. Years earlier he was alleged to have been involved in a gold bullion robbery but,after the main robber died, the whereabouts of the loot were lost and he never received his pay-out.Mickey and Emma convince him that they know where the loot is, in order to get the wherewithal for Albert's coming out party whilst Ash schools Sean in the niceties of casino cons.
S5.E4 ∙ Diamond Seeker
Due to a mix-up jewellery fence Frank gives Mickey a valuable diamond necklace, rather than a fake ruby needed for a scam. Obsessive diamond collector Tony Baxter, anxious to acquire the necklace, has Frank hospitalized and the team plan their revenge on Baxter, persuading him to buy a fake necklace whilst they pass the real thing onto his rival
S5.E5 ∙ Politics
The con artists set their their sites on Rhona Christie, a Member of Parliament who is not only ruthless in her business dealings but is also lining her pockets. Her crooked deal is to buy properties with listed buildings at reduced prices and then through her position in government have them de-listed, resulting in a huge rise in value and a substantial profit following a quick re-sale. She's very discreet however and working through intermediaries, keeps her own hands clean; she is, for all appearances, the hard working MP with only the people's interest at heart. With Arthur posing as a local real-estate mogul and young Sean as the inside man working as her unpaid PA, they set about convincing her to invest in a major re-development project. Not satisfied with just taking her money however, they also decide to make sure they ruin her reputation as well.
S5.E6 ∙ The Road Less Travelled
The con artists seem destined for trouble when five of their most recent victims join forces to get their money back. High tech entrepreneurs Carlton Wood and Harry Fielding were taken for £500,000 and they recruit the others. Soon, Albert Stoller has taken the bait thinking he has hooked a high rolling aristocrat, Alfie, the son of a Duke who has recently come into a good deal of money. The man is in fact an old school chum of Wood and the plant that they will use to swindle the swindlers. Mickey and company use an old money laundering scam with a tale that Alfie will double his money with no risk. They have a few plans of their for Wood and Fielding however. Meanwhile, Mickey and Emma begin exploring a personal relationship.
S6.E1 ∙ And This Little Piggy Had Money
The team plans to shake down an investment banker bailed out by the government during the credit crisis yet still getting a 500 grand pension per year. Complications arise when the chief police constable Britford announces herself with the intention to apprehend Mickey.
S6.E2 ∙ The Thieving Mistake
Clumsy burglar 'Liability' Finch steals a Van Gogh painting in Rio but, due to publicity surrounding the theft, leaves it in a luggage locker back in Brazil. By coincidence his old grifting partner Ash is at the airport when he arrives home and he asks Ash and the gang to help him smuggle the painting into England. At first Ash and Mickey are reluctant but when over-zealous customs officer Clifford Davies tries to blackmail them into proving Finch's guilt they devise a far-fetched plan to send a pair of elderly con artists to Brazil to retrieve the picture and discredit Davies.
S6.E3 ∙ Tiger Troubles
When Albert finds himself half a million pounds in debt to the far from refined Czech Charlie, following a poker game, and needs to get the money in under a week, a mark is sought in earnest to provide the cash. The gang seize upon Luke Baincross, choleric playboy, tax dodger and womanizer, who has inherited a country house and a vast collection of Indian art, the centre-piece being a jewel-encrusted tiger which he would like to sell but cannot due to a clause in a family trust. For a fee the hustlers agree to steal the tiger whilst it is on loan to a museum so that Luke can collect the insurance, but maximum security abounds at both Luke's house and the museum, forcing a complicated plan to swap the real tiger for a dummy one.
S6.E4 ∙ The Father of Jewels
Sean is unsettled to see Rex, the father who abandoned him and Emma when they were toddlers and is determined to get his revenge by ripping him off. He devises a plan involving supposed buried treasure from a plane that crashed in 1940 on land Rex is aiming to sell. An expensive bracelet is planted for Rex to find, along with items of wartime memorabilia - but Rex proves to be far less greedy than imagined and prepared to share the treasure with Sean. This gives the lad cold feet about fleecing his father and it is up to Emma to pick up the baton of revenge, leading to a family confrontation - and possible reconciliation.
S6.E5 ∙ Conned Out of Luck
Mickey gets conned after buying a defective mobile phone online and to sensible Emma's amazement the three older men believe that bad luck will result when a hustler is duped unless he can turn the tables on his swindler. This is brash yuppie entrepreneur Mervyn Lloyd. Sean becomes the team's inside man, working for Lloyd after supposedly being fired by Albert and persuading him to invest in a wonderful new product, a universal insect repellent, before Albert does. Barman Eddie,normally one of life's unfortunates, finds himself on a roll as he takes on board Mickey's good luck while Mickey hits rock bottom.
S6.E6 ∙ The Hush Heist
When the hustlers get caught they are offered an amnesty by MI6 officers Jenny and Nigel if they will steal a safe box from the vault in the National Bank of Syria. However the couple are hoping the team will steal money from a second vault so they can be re-arrested. Sean poses as a bank client to discover a way in and the hustlers make use of Ash's gadgetry to penetrate the vault while Albert creates a diversion.The mission is accomplished in terms of acquiring the box but Jenny and Nigel still have to be taught to back off.
S7.E1 ∙ Silent Witness
Having 'sold' the Houses of Parliament to some Japanese businessmen the quintet of hustlers smugly seek another mark and have a choice of three unsympathetic victims. However they change their plan to trap Wendy Stanton,who rooks young girls like Eddie's niece Kacey of their savings with her less than above board model agency. Micky poses as a designer anxious to sign Kacey up as the face of his UK Chic line. A bogus shoot is set up in a disused warehouse where Wendy is asked to invest a five figure sum to have her name associated with the launch. An even more elaborate scam follows,involving the supposed ransom of a non-existent Brit caught drug peddling in Thailand,which allows the hustlers to also fleece their original three targets whilst Kacey is given a contract with Wendy's honest rival.
S7.E2 ∙ Old Sparks Come New
Emma meets an old boy-friend,Joe,now a widower with a little son,facing eviction after borrowing money from Dosh4You,a loan company run by hard-hearted Georgina Althorp,who has thrown many families onto the street via legal loop-holes. Somewhat improbably the hustlers take over a castle,complete with elderly extras,to reel in Georgina and 'sell' the building to her,along with its accompanying title,from its impoverished 'owner' Ash for half a million pounds. Of course she bites, with the result that Dosh4You collapses,benefitting not only Joe but others of Georgina's victims.
S7.E3 ∙ Clearance from a Deal
American Marcus Wendell opens his first British casino, proclaiming his hatred of cheats. He tells how, at the very first Wendell casino a hundred and fifty years ago, Albert's great grandfather was branded a cheat, which Albert denies. Marcus knows that the gang are hustlers so that, when they agree to help Albert clear his ancestor's name in a grudge match, they are at a disadvantage. An elaborate scheme to sell Marcus a supposedly antique roulette wheel which is rigged backfires but fortune literally favours Albert when Marcus's own wheel, a family heirloom, proves that his ancestors were less honest than they claimed.
S7.E4 ∙ Benny's Funeral
The hustlers are at the funeral of old grifter pal Benny but later find that he faked his death to escape fearsome Iranian hard man Danush, to whom he is in debt. The gang decide to help Benny back onto his feet by hitting Danush. Learning that he is interested in importing cigarettes illegally they decide to offer Danush a lorry load, most of which is made up of old newspapers. The hand-over is made but the money is stolen by two masked men in a car. it looks like the hustlers have been hustled but is Benny responsible for setting them up?
S7.E5 ∙ The Fall of Railton FC
When his old football club,Railton,goes into administration because greedy sports agent Don Coleman has sold his client, star player Asda Price, at vast profits to himself,Ash declares a grudge match against Coleman. Mickey reels him in by posing as a businessman whose company are looking for investors in worthy sporting projects,then,as a show of faith,the hustlers pay Coleman to manage Sean,masquerading as a Canadian footballer looking for a work permit. Mickey resumes the remainder of the sting in which Albert,alias millionaire Karl Schultz,'sells' his non-existent football team to Coleman,the result ensuring that Railton F.C. are back in business.
S7.E6 ∙ The Delivery
Cool Hand Cooper mails himself in a crate from jail seeking the hustlers' aid. He is due for parole but fears for his life having stolen diamonds from the Mafia and asks the team to retrieve them for him. Unfortunately a police station has been built over the burial place calling for a complex plan of action,involving a traffic jam to snarl up London and to call the cops out and the supposed repair of faulty drains to justify digging. The rocks are recovered but,with the help of Albert's friend Yusef,the hustlers claim them for themselves. Albert himself sits out the operation as he meets his long lost daughter.
S8.E1 ∙ Gold Finger
The gang go after mouthy Dexter Gold (born Dexter Pratt) whose advertisements claim that he pays top prices for gold but cheats his customers,including Albert's friend widowed Vivienne. Furthermore he would seem to be a fence for several bullion robberies,laundering the proceeds to a German contact. The hustlers engineer an accidental meeting,claiming that they are renegade soldiers who stole gold bars from Muamma Gaddafi though only one bar is genuine. With an inside accomplice and the fortuitous intervention of the army Gold is easy to fleece. A harder task is making up to Eddie after they have childishly defaced the signed photo of his soccer god Ian Rush.
S8.E2 ∙ Picasso Finger Painting
When a Picasso is stolen from East European mobster Petre Sava the hustlers foolishly try selling him a forgery painted by eccentric Dolly Hammond,leading Petre to think they stole it from him so he abducts Micky and locks him in a car boot until his property is returned. The group learns that another gangster,Harry Holmes,has had the picture stolen to impress his upper class father-in-law and mount an operation to retrieve it. When both Sava and Holmes turn up,mob-handed,for the hand over Ash knows how to set them against each other.
S8.E3 ∙ Curiosity Caught the Kat
Mickey simultaneously tries to con their next mark, Linda Runcorn, while dealing with threats from corrupt Detective Inspector Fisk; meanwhile there's an old friend of Sean and Emma wanting to join the crew.
S8.E4 ∙ Eat Yourself Slender
'Doctor' Dean Deville and his wife Dana are an American couple who have made millions selling sham health food products from their Eat Yourself Slender plan but their bogus diet pills induce a heart attack in the hustlers' friend,con woman Carol. The grifters play on the Devilles' weakness, buying art treasures to sell at a profit,by stealing for them a priceless Faberge egg but this is just for starters as the main hustle involves burgling a research lab to rob a supposedly genuine slimming cure . It is,of course,a placebo - and a trap. Barman Eddie however finds romance with Carol.
S8.E5 ∙ Ding Dong That's My Song
Dale Ridley,a former TV game show host sacked for corruption,is now an equally dishonest property developer,bribing his way into getting what he wants but clever enough to let his minions appear to be the twisters. When he demolishes Albert's favourite pub the hustlers decide to make him their latest mark. Posing as American businessmen Albert and Micky persuade him to buy into their consortium which is aiming to purchase London City Studios,the very building from which Ridley was sacked and which he is itching to bull-doze. The appearance of Ash's young godson Alfie,whom the grifters are minding,almost jeopardises the heist as Ridley steals back his money but the gang manage to retrieve it - apart from the wad to which Alfie helped himself.
S8.E6 ∙ The Con Is Off
The final episode comes to a dramatic conclusion when Mickey proposes taking on their most dangerous "Mark" yet. In the Team's sights is Madani Wasem, who inherits his fathers Bahraini business. Unpopular with the Company directors, who have prevented him taking control, he operates using violence and threats to get what he wants. He has to prove he can make money for the Company before the Board will let him take control and this is what Mickey intends exploiting. Mickey and the Team risk everything to complete the con with a surprise or two along the way.
