S1E1 · Pilot

Complete story — includes the ending

In January 1981, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are deep cover Soviet intelligence agents from the KGB 's secretive Directorate S, operating in Washington, D.C. Their children, Paige and Henry, do not know their secret. The Jenningses abduct Timochev, a Soviet defector, but his stabbing of a third agent during the kidnapping prevents his transfer back to the USSR. Meanwhile, FBI counter-intelligence agent Stan Beeman has moved in across the street with his family. Philip and Elizabeth disagree on what to do with Timochev in the wake of Stan's presence, with Philip prepared to take him to Stan. However, Timochev reveals he had raped Elizabeth during training years before, leading Philip to kill him. The Jenningses dump the body in the Potomac River. Stan becomes suspicious when he learns that a car similar to Philip's is seen near the site of Timochev's abduction, but finds nothing when he covertly inspects Philip's trunk. In response to Timochev's disappearance, President Ronald Reagan issues a top secret executive order authorizing the FBI to use whatever means necessary to neutralize Soviet agents operating within the United States.