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Chuck Versus the Break-Up
Season 02, Episode 3
Breakup
Air Date October 13, 2008
Writer Scott Rosenbaum
Director Robert Duncan McNeill
Previous Chuck Versus the Seduction
Next Chuck Versus the Cougars
"My professional opinion? She's in love with Chuck, dude."
―Devon

Chuck Versus the Break-Up is the third episode in season two, which aired on October 13, 2008. It is the sixteenth episode overall.

Synopsis[]

Bryce Larkin returns to town with news. Fulcrum has hired a wealthy software magnate, Von Hayes, to decrypt information on a stolen data drive containing highly classified information. Bryce and Sarah have to pose as a married couple at Von Hayes' dining party to steal back the chip, while Chuck has to pose as a waiter in hopes of flashing on intel.

Meanwhile, Morgan has an encounter with the Mighty Jocks at the Buy More.

Full Story[]

The episode begins with a flashback, Bryce and Sarah undercover in Bogota, Colombia. They have a briefcase, Sarah grabs it, and they are chased by bad guys. Bryce is held at gunpoint so Sarah agrees to give the man the suitcase, but then shoots him in the head.

Back to present day, and Chuck knocks on Sarah's door, to be confronted with Bryce and Sarah together. Chuck walks home, throws his rose away, tells his family that Sarah's ex is in town. He is given a pep talk by Ellie and Devon. Chuck is trying to cope, but again feels he comes second to Bryce.

At the Orange Orange, Sarah tells Bryce that they should keep things strictly professional this time. Outside, Ellie comes by to invite Sarah to serve as a bridesmaid and sees them as he holds her hand. She heads to the Buy More to inform Chuck.

Next day, Casey and Chuck head to Castle, to meet Sarah. They are told a Fulcrum agent stole a chip with classified information. Bryce has learned that Von Hayes is involved, and he is having a party that evening. Much to Chuck's chagrin, Bryce and Sarah will be playing a couple while in attendance, while Chuck will be a waiter as he tries to flash on something. Since the microchip is supposedly hidden in the mansion, Bryce and Sarah will snoop around and find it.

As they ready for the mission, Chuck and Bryce discuss Chuck and Sarah's relationship. Chuck brushes off the idea they are anything more than colleagues. Sarah enters the room, dressed in a beautiful salmon colored evening gown, and asks how she looks. Chuck, is stunned, but tries to recover to save face in front of Bryce, he tells she looks great but red isn't his thing. Bryce takes note of Sarah's confusion and realizes Sarah has feelings for Chuck.

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Bryce and Sarah Anderson

Bryce, Sarah, and Chuck head to Von Hayes party. Chuck delivers a bottle of wine to Hayes' table, to see if he'll flash. He accidentally spills wine on Hayes' lap while distracted by Sarah and Bryce's sultry tango. He then drops a bottle when he looks up to see them kissing, not knowing Sarah is figuratively keeping Bryce at arm's length. Hayes has Chuck removed, telling the serving staff coordinator to fire him, but before he is escorted out, Chuck flashes on the voice of a woman who asks Hayes if he has her microchip.

Casey orders Chuck to go back inside to get a look at the Fulcrum agent. He hides under the dining room table and watches as the Fulcrum agent shoots Hayes' bodyguard. Hayes, panicked, drops his keys. Chuck spots the chip is on his key chain, and reports to Casey when he thinks it's safe. The agent, however, hears Chuck and returns, ppointing a gun at him, "Did you say Fulcrum?" Hayes makes his escape, Bryce and Sarah move to pursue, but Sarah turns back to save Chuck instead, leaving Bryce to go after Hayes, who gets into Lamborghini and escapes.

Sarah shoots at the Fulcrum agent, allowing Chuck to get free. The agent then gets picked up by a henchman, and before they drive away, she drops a high tech grenade on the road. Sarah sees it, pushes Chuck away, and although he escapes injury, she is hurt. The next day, Chuck visits Sarah in Westside Medical. Bryce loiters outside, incognito. Ellie watches, unhappy to see Sarah's ex. Devon decides to take care of it; he treats Bryce's facial cut, and then asks about Sarah. Bryce admits to being her ex, playing the cover, and inquires to how serious Chuck and Sarah are. Devon informs him that they are indeed serious; Sarah is in love with Chuck.

Bryce then confronts Chuck outside his apartment, he says he's worried about Sarah, that she went off mission. Chuck points out her job is to protect him. Bryce thinks that Sarah's feelings for Chuck will get her killed. Chuck assures Bryce that Sarah knows what she's doing.

A Fulcrum operative shows up at the hospital looking for Sarah's room. The henchman dresses as a doctor and checks up on Sarah. He is about to inject her with something, but she sees that his name tag does not match his face, so she beats him and asks where his boss is.

Devon returns home and gives flowers to Chuck – he intercepted them because he thought they were from Bryce - they weren't. Von Hayes sent them, and Chuck calls the number on the card expecting Bryce and getting Von Hayes. He is scared and needs help, so Chuck talks to him, plays it well, and makes sure he still has the chip. Chuck then tells Casey what he's done. He negotiated the return of the chip, Hayes will meet Chuck only, he will receive full immunity, and he wants $4.5 million in unmarked bills.

Casey, Chuck, and Bryce take the meeting at the train station. Chuck has a large duffel bag with the money, Hayes has the chip. The exchange falls through when Chuck spots a thug and Hayes panics and runs. Casey runs after Hayes and the thug. Hayes runs up the train track, but is surrounded by the thugs for hire. Casey and Bryce show up, and in the middle of the stand-off, Chuck arrives with the duffel of money. He negotiates – the thugs take the money and leave Hayes with them. The thugs happily take the deal and leave.

Casey goes retrieve the money. Chuck and Bryce take Hayes out of the station, but Chuck is taken at gun point by Juliette. Hayes runs away. Juliette demands the chip, using Chuck as a human shield. Bryce puts down his weapon, but only after he sees Sarah behind Chuck. Sarah aims at Juliette, but she can't take the shot, for fear of hitting Chuck. Casey arrives and shoots Juliette from behind, after having retrieved Hayes and the money.

Back at Castle, Sarah admits to letting her guard down, but insists she can protect Chuck. Casey doesn't seem to hear. Chuck, acting on Bryce's concerns, meets her that night and tells her that although she is the greatest thing that ever happened to him, they could never have a future together because he'd never be allowed to know her, "...the more I think about it, the more I realize that you and I can never have a future together. I fooled myself into thinking that we could, but the truth is we can't. Because even if we had a real relationship, it would never really be real. I'd still never know anything about you - your real name, your hometown, your first love, anything. And I want more than that....I'm a normal guy... who wants a normal life. And as amazing as you are, Sarah Walker, we both know that you will never be normal." Sarah assures him that one day he will forget all about her, and says he seriously doubts that. She stands up, and visibly fights tears before he joins her at Ellie's door, both appearing heartbroken. Then they both put on cover faces and go in.

Later that night, Chuck finds sunglasses in his bedroom left behind by Bryce. Once he tries them on, they upload an Intersect update into Chuck's brain. Chuck collapses upon completion, muttering that he hates Bryce Larkin.

Meanwhile, at the Buy More, newly appointed assistant manager Lester Patel tells Morgan to deal with the "Mighty Jocks", employees from neighboring sporting goods store, who are camped out in the Home Theater Room. Led by Mitt (Michael Strahan), the bullies demand Sony PSPs to leave, which Morgan nervously agrees to.

Chuck - 2x03 - Chuck Versus the Break-Up.avi snapshot 11.51 -2015.01.13 22.23

Morgan in the Buy More

When the Mighty Jocks later return and demand more blackmail, Morgan stands up for himself and pours a drink over Mitt's head. As the two square off to fight in the cage, Anna enters, twirling a camera tripod like a bō staff and beats down Mitt.

An interested Casey calls for a background check on Anna Wu, wondering if she is field agent material.

Guest Stars[]

Trivia[]

  • Chuck brings gardenias to Sarah at the hospital, she admits to their being her favorite.
  • Chuck's line, "...off somewhere in Paraguay quelling a revolution with a fork," is a reference to the movie Grosse Pointe Blank, where the protagonist, Martin Blank, says, "I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork."
  • Chuck's collapse, like a tree being felled, as the Intersect glasses complete the update, is a duplicate of his collapse when he received the first Intersect email from Bryce in the Pilot.
  • Like Zachary Levi, Adam Baldwin, and Ryan McPartlin, guest star Steve Valentine is also about 6'4" (1.93 m).
  • The data on the chip includes the files for CIA operatives Sarah Walker, Lauren Goldenberry, Scott Hatcher, and NSA agents John Casey (NSA 5498-5684), Sarah Cruz (NSA 8842-6367), Kevin Mock (NSA 3234-28008) which is also the name of the series editor.

Quotes[]

Morgan: I'm worried about Lester as the new assistant manager.
Chuck: Why, is he making you work?
Morgan: Please, Chuck. I have mad work avoidance skills.
Chuck: True, true.

~

Casey: Lunch break -- Orange Orange.
Chuck: Yogurt again? Can't we have a meatball sub?
Casey: We're not eating, idiot. We got a new mission.

~

t have I tol Buddy, what have I told you about direct confrontation with the Mighty Jocks - Mitt specifically?h my tail between Run with my tail between my legs and go get John Casey.re�

Music[]

  • “Fake Empire” by The National
  • “Barracuda” by Heart
  • “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver


previous: Chuck Versus the Seduction Chuck Versus the Break-Up next: Chuck Versus the Cougars
Season Two
Season Two

Chuck Versus the First DateChuck Versus the SeductionChuck Versus the Break-UpChuck Versus the CougarsChuck Versus Tom SawyerChuck Versus the ExChuck Versus the Fat LadyChuck Versus the GravitronChuck Versus the SenseiChuck Versus the DeLoreanChuck Versus Santa ClausChuck Versus the Third DimensionChuck Versus the SuburbsChuck Versus the Best FriendChuck Versus the BeefcakeChuck Versus the Lethal WeaponChuck Versus the PredatorChuck Versus the Broken HeartChuck Versus the Dream JobChuck Versus the First KillChuck Versus the ColonelChuck Versus the Ring

See Also: Season One EpisodesSeason Two EpisodesSeason Three EpisodesAll Episodes

QuotesMusicTrivia, Notes, Allusions and Pop/Geek Culture References


External Links[]

How to get over a breakup

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