NCIS Los Angeles s12e02 Episode Script

1
Previously on "NCIS Los Angeles"
Your team is being ordered to investigate
allegations by two Navy SEALs
against Special Warfare Chief
Petty Officer Thomas Argento.
Everybody, cameras off.
Operators First Class
Kendricks and Barr claim
Chief Argento murdered
an unarmed, unconscious
and injured Taliban prisoner
in cold blood.
We're going to Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Afghanistan?
I'm NCIS Agent Sam Hanna.
I heard of Chief Hanna.
- The guy's like a legend.
- Chief Petty Officer Argento?
You're now in the custody of NCIS.
Do you swear that
the statement you've provided
is true and accurate to
the best of your belief?
- I do.
- I do.
- I do.
- I do.
You're never gonna convict me.
We'll talk after the trial.
Reveille!
Reveille! Reveille!
Reveille!
Reveille!
Reveille!
Reveille!
Reveille!
Reveille!
Good morning Chief.
Reveille!
Reveille! Reveille!
"Anchors aweigh."
Or is it "anchors going away"?
Reveille!
Reveille! Reveille! Reveille! Reveille!
All dressed up for your big day
Chief?
Anchors going away.
I'm coming.
This is a big day, G.
- A very big day.
- I know.
Then why aren't you here?
We'll be fine.
I don't want to be fine.
I want to be early.
I know. I'm sorry. I
I had an issue with my tie.
Just get your ass out here.
I got this.
I am the walrus. Whoa Look at that.
Nope. Kens?
- Yeah?
- Hi.
Hey. Talked to Rountree.
Ooh, hey. You think Rountree
can do this blindfolded?
Uh, I know he can.
You're probably right.
Is he heading down to San Diego?
No, he's actually almost there.
Oh, if he beats Sam and Callen
to the courthouse,
there is gonna be blood.
Yeah.
This is a big day, Deeks.
A really big day.
I know. I know it's a big day.
It's a huge day.
I'm just stating the obvious,
that, based on the circumstances,
Sam is gonna be
in a really, really bad mood.
You know what? I'm just
happy that Rountree's
gonna get to finish what he started.
You know? This was his
first case with the team,
it's his first time in-country,
it's his first war criminal.
Ah, yeah.
I remember my first war criminal
like it was yesterday.
You always remember your first.
Why?
Why, baby? Just why?
- What?
- Ugh.
What? It's a, it's a coping mechanism.
You know what I'm saying?
Without comedy, there is only pain.
Good morning.
I'm just on my way in, but, uh,
wondering if we have anything yet?
No, and I really hope it stays
that way, for SECNAV's sake.
How bad does it look?
It's bad. The president's
tweeting about it.
Well, that's obvious.
I mean, it's the only thing cable news
is covering right now.
Well, it's a big day.
A really big day.
And this trial's a really big deal.
The stakes couldn't be higher.
Well, let me tell you,
anxiety levels are definitely
creeping up there.
Now, is that more
of a professional assessment
of the situation,
or a personal observation?
Oh, that's personal.
Very personal.
Yeah, I hear that, girl.
I guess now it really depends
on the prosecution's case.
I can't even imagine what kind
of pressure they must be under.
Yes and no.
It's not their first rodeo.
I have a feeling
we're gonna be just fine.
Lieutenant Colonel Castro?
Special Agent Sam Hanna, NCIS.
- We spoke on the phone.
- Yes, a couple of times.
Thank you so much for coming.
Of course. My partners,
Agent, uh, Callen and Rountree,
are around here somewhere.
They're probably trying
to hunt down breakfast.
In the courthouse?
They got strong stomachs.
Hmm.
How are you feeling about today?
Good. It's a strong case.
As you know,
Kendricks, Barr, Moffet and Cole
gave almost identical accounts
of Argento's war crimes,
which speak for themselves.
The defense is gonna try
to tear them apart on the stand,
but they've been prepped,
and they're ready for it.
- How are they holding up?
- Incredibly well,
all things considered.
Not one of them has wavered
since we started down this road.
Well, they're sailors trying
to do the right thing.
Doesn't make it any easier.
Amen.
Let me know if you need anything, huh?
Will do.
Excuse me.
Ms. Castro?
Lieutenant Colonel Castro, yes.
Right, your title. I'm sorry.
I'm still getting used
to all of this pageantry.
I'm sorry. Who are you?
Margaux West, Esquire.
Chief Argento's civilian defense counsel.
You've heard of me.
I'm a quick study.
I flew in this morning
from New York. Private.
I'm sure you did.
Thomas Argento's wife's cousin,
the senator, and I go way back.
He called in a favor,
I thought to myself,
"Ugh, how could I not say yes?"
How could you not?
So, all of this to say,
I know you've been dealing
with the public defender up until now.
The defense counsel.
But I will be taking the reins from here.
I look forward to it.
Good luck today.
Thank you.
I won't be needing it.
Oh, this is going to be fun.
All rise.
Chief Argento.
You have the right
to be tried by a court-martial
composed of a panel of members
including one-third enlisted persons
or by military judge alone.
If you choose military judge alone,
I will decide
if you are guilty or not guilty.
And if you are convicted of any offense,
I will determine your sentence.
Do you understand?
- Yes, sir.
- Do you wish to be tried
by a court-martial
or by military judge alone?
- Military judge alone, sir.
- Your request is approved
and this court-martial is assembled.
You may be seated.
This is a judge-alone trial,
as requested by the accused.
Presentation of witness
statements help me understand
evidence to be presented
but are not, in fact, evidence.
The government carries
the burden of proof.
Trial counsel, you may make
your opening statement.
Thank you, Your Honor.
There's a reason why the president
and all the television pundits
and the nation
have turned their attention
to this particular case.
And it is not because
the sailor in question,
Chief Petty Officer Thomas Argento,
has been accused of murdering an unarmed,
unconscious and injured Taliban prisoner.
As heinous as Argento's actions
and conduct may have been,
he is actually not the reason
why we are here today.
We're here because of how we know
about Chief Argento's alleged crimes.
We're here because four of Chief
Argento's SEAL Team members
had the audacity to speak up
about the atrocities they witnessed.
We're here because
these four brave sailors
recognized that their leader
was committing what could only
be described as war crimes,
and made the difficult decision
to not stay silent about them.
We're here because four honorable sailors
knew the code of conduct
and respected it enough
to come forward with the truth.
Now, over the course of this trial,
you will hear testimony
from three of them.
Special Warfare Operator
First Class Malcolm Kendricks,
Petty Officer William Moffet
and Petty Officer
Second Class Michael Cole.
Special Warfare Operator
First Class Adam Barr
is away on a classified op.
These men will swear
that on December 19 of last year,
immediately following
an air strike, Chief Argento
instructed his men
to turn off their vest cameras
while he used his hunting knife
to repeatedly stab and murder
a Taliban cleric who was injured
and medically sedated
but otherwise would have survived.
But that's not all.
Chief Argento didn't stop there.
The witnesses will also testify
that after Chief Argento
killed this prisoner of war,
he dragged the dead body
outside and forced members
of his SEAL to pose with the corpse for a photo.
I said everybody.
Move it, Kendricks.
Even though
Chief Argento had the foresight
to instruct his men
to turn off their vest cameras,
we do have this image to present
as evidence in this case.
As for what happened
before the photo was taken,
four sailors with impeccable records
have put their careers on the line
to defend the code of conduct,
even in a time of war.
Petty Officers Kendricks, Moffet,
Cole and Barr
embody what it means to be a sailor.
Chief Petty Officer Thomas Argento,
on the other hand,
is not worthy of the trident
that is pinned on his uniform.
He is a war criminal, plain and simple.
As plain and as simple
as the facts of this case.
Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel.
Does the defense wish to make
an opening statement now
or reserve until the close
of the prosecution's case?
The defense wishes
to reserve opening statement.
In that case,
after a brief ten-minute recess,
the prosecution will call
its first witness.
All rise.
Oh.
Hello?
Fatima?
I'm trying to meditate.
And, uh
how's this going for you?
I don't get it.
I spent a fortune on these candles.
And I didn't realize they were scented.
Yeah, I can, I can smell that.
I have such a headache
and I keep repeating the same thing,
but it just makes me more stressed.
Right.
Well, what is your mantra?
There's a lot riding on this.
Oh, I-I'm aware of that.
No, that's, that's my mantra.
Oh.
Oh.
Ugh, I'm doing this wrong.
No, no, it-it's not wrong.
It's just maybe
not entirely right.
Do you know of anything
that will make me feel better?
Unfortunately,
not while we're on the clock.
And I may have found something
that will make you feel even worse.
Okay, what is it?
The senator Argento's wife's cousin
Just posted something on social media.
Will you read it to me?
Yes.
"Chief Petty Officer
"Thomas Argento
"is an American hero
of the highest regard.
"And those who slander his good name
"will burn in the eternal fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels."
- Well, that's a ray of sunshine.
- Yeah.
You think he knows something we don't?
I hope not.
Me, too.
Petty Officer Kendricks.
Did you provide a signed
and sworn statement
of the events in question to NCIS
while they were still fresh in your mind?
Yes, ma'am, I did.
Let the record reflect
that I'm handing the witness
a sworn statement
dated April 20, 2020.
The record shall so reflect.
Please take a moment
to review the sworn statement
and look up
when you're finished reading it.
Petty Officer Kendricks?
Is that your sworn statement?
Yes, ma'am, it is.
And is your sworn statement
a true and accurate account of the events
that took place on December 19, 2019?
No, ma'am, it's not.
What about your statement is inaccurate?
It's true that a Taliban cleric
died after he was in our custody.
But Chief Petty Officer Argento
wasn't the one who killed him.
Uh
who killed the prisoner,
Petty Officer Kendricks?
I did, ma'am.
It was me.
What the hell just happened?
Kendricks just blew
this case out of the water.
You know what really hurts?
We fought to get that guy immunity.
Counsel, please approach the bench.
Lieutenant Colonel Castro,
- what the hell is going on?
- I can fix this.
Can you, though?
Do you want to continue
questioning your witness
or do you need time?
I need time.
I respectfully request
a one-week continuance, Your Honor.
Your Honor
When you're spoken to, Counselor.
This can't wait that long.
You know what kind of pressure
we're all under here.
Best I can do is, uh,
give you an hour.
Your Honor?
I think that's being more than generous.
And I think you just changed my mind.
Lieutenant Colonel,
you now have until 1400.
Thanks for the help, Counselor.
Appreciate it.
At the prosecution's request,
the court will stand
under recess until 1400.
The witness is dismissed until then.
All rise.
Look at him.
Cool as a cat.
Think Argento had anything to do
with Kendricks changing his story?
I don't know, but I
can't wait to find out.
Kendricks.
Kendricks, talk to me!
Get away from me, Sam.
Come on, what was that back there?
You know you can talk to me, right?
Hey.
Kendricks, you know
you can talk to me, right?!
Kendricks!
Agent Callen.
Tough break today, huh?
Yeah, and the hits keep on coming.
I just found out that Moffet,
my second witness, never showed.
Well, that sucks.
And I can't risk putting
anyone on the stand
until I know what the hell
happened to Kendricks.
I just
can't believe how similar this
case is to the Gallagher trial.
Look we're here to help.
Just tell me what you need.
I need to know what the hell happened.
Okay, I'm gonna have my team look into
everyone that went to visit
Argento when he was at the brig.
If there was a plan to move
against your witnesses
Someone would've told
Argento about it in person.
Exactly. I'll also look
into Kendrick's family.
If somebody on Argento's team
threatened them,
they may have convinced
Kendricks to change his story.
Agent Callen?
Yeah?
Thank you.
Don't thank me yet.
Agent Rountree.
Agent Rountree. Petty Officer Cole.
- It's been a while.
- Yeah.
It has.
How can I help you?
You got it all wrong. I want
to know how I can help you.
I heard about Kendrick's testimony.
And?
And-and I fought next
to that man for three years.
In all that time,
I never heard him tell a lie.
Till he just did under oath.
I know Kendricks.
And Moffet and Argento.
I can help.
Well, that's good
because we're gonna need it.
Hey, how we looking?
Um
Fatima, I like you.
I like working with you.
But we haven't developed a shorthand yet,
so you're gonna have to just spill it.
Okay, okay, um, so I've been reviewing
Argento's visitors log
and it is bizarre.
How so?
Well, for starters, his wife
never went to see him.
Ooh, that's an ouch.
Yeah, neither did
his sister, his brother,
his parents or his in-laws.
Okay, that makes no sense.
Each of them have been
all over the press for weeks
beating the drum that Argento's
the victim of a witch hunt,
- that he's totally innocent.
- Yeah.
Exactly, it's super weird.
Wait. Are you at Hetty's desk?
How do I look?
It suits you.
Hold on, has anyone visited Argento?
Well, that brings us
to chapter two of Argento's
very bizarre visitors log.
Because a ton of people
visited him in the brig.
Who, random SEAL Team fanboys?
I don't know.
I don't recognize their names,
but that doesn't
necessarily mean anything.
Or maybe it does.
Quiet neighborhood.
Too quiet.
Like 28 Days Later quiet.
Like zombies quiet I don't like this.
Federal agents!
Open up!
Federal agents! Open up the door!
I'm sorry, who are you?
We're federal agents with NCIS.
We heard a scream.
Can you open up the door, please?
No problem, I'll open the door
as soon as you put your G-U-N-S away.
Oh, okay.
Oh.
Yeah oh.
Hi, I am Special Agent Kensi Blye
with NCIS, this is my
partner, Detective Deeks.
And, uh, this belongs to Colin,
who just found Sasha in
a game of hide-and-seek.
Hence the scream.
Hence the scream.
Which makes you Monica Kendricks.
- We worked with your husband?
- I know who you are.
Thank you for everything
you did to support Malcolm.
He couldn't have gotten up
and testified today
without your support.
Uh, actually, about that
What?
Could we have a word
with you for a moment?
I don't understand Is Malcolm okay?
Yeah, no, he-he-he's totally fine.
We-we promise you.
Oh, thank goodness.
The pressure that man has been under.
That he's put on himself.
You have no idea.
That's actually what
we wanted to talk to you
about given what happened in court today.
What happened in court today?
What? I turned my phone off
and I haven't been watching the news.
I didn't want the kids to see something
about their dad that might scare them.
Um
so Malcolm changed his testimony
on the stand today.
Changed it how?
Listen, there's no easy way to say this.
Malcolm said he was the one
that killed the Taliban cleric,
- not Argento.
- What?
- I'm sorry, that's
- No.
Did Malcolm receive
any threats about his testimony,
or were you and the kids
threatened in any way?
No. I don't believe you.
Which part do you not believe?
That my husband would put
himself through a living hell
just to lie when he got
on the stand today.
Look at that.
If it isn't the man,
the myth, the legend himself:
Sam Hanna, in the flesh.
To what do I owe the great honor?
Not in a talking mood today?
I've been there. I get it.
Bet you didn't see that coming, did you?
The question is, did you?
Did you know Kendricks was
gonna change his testimony?
I think I was more surprised
than anyone else
in that courtroom.
Imagine the key witness
claiming he was the one
who committed the crime.
How crazy is that?
I don't know what kind of game
you're playing, Argento
Oh, this is no game.
This is my life.
And I have no intention
of spending the rest of it
behind bars.
And after what happened today,
doesn't look like I'm gonna have to.
This isn't over, Argento.
Pretty sure it is.
Straight to voice mail.
And Moffet's not picking up
his home phone, either.
Which means he's either in trouble,
or he's gone underground
Either way, we need to find him
and make sure
he's ready to testify by 2:00.
- Or Argento walks.
- So where is he?
You said you wanted to help.
Let me hear something.
Look, I know
I know Moffet works out
at a gym downtown.
And he has an ex, so
so if he's not at home
and he's not at the gym,
and he hasn't been kidnapped
and tortured by Argento's minions,
then maybe he's holed up at her place.
All right, go to the gym,
see if anyone's seen Moffet.
I'll head to his ex's house.
This is not how today
was supposed to go down.
Wow, I don't even know what to say.
Told you it was bizarre.
Yeah, you were right,
and it gets more bizarre by the minute.
Should I call Kensi and Deeks?
Yeah. I'll patch Kensi in.
Hey, Kens?
- Hey.
- Fatima and I have something
rather curious to share.
Okay, what is it?
So we've been going through Argento's
visitors log at the brig,
and not one of his visitors
has any kind of connection to him.
Not through family,
not through social media.
That's weird. FATIMA: Yeah, don't worry,
it gets weirder. We did some digging,
and we realized that
even though none of the visitors
have a connection to Argento,
they all have a connection to each other.
All of them work for the same
courier service here in L.A.
So there were couriers
literally delivering messages to Argento
- from the outside?
- So it seems.
Good work, ladies.
Send me that address
to the courier service.
Already did.
Nice work, Fatima.
I am the woman who looks
like she's still in her 40s,
in the Nancy Reagan red suit.
Godspeed.
Lieutenant Colonel.
Did I get that right?
I was wondering if we could talk.
About dropping the charges
against my client?
Not quite.
Mm. Because your first witness
blew himself up on the stand.
Didn't even have the
pleasure of crossing him.
And so, I hear your second didn't show?
And if memory serves, you only
have one witness left, so
Don't get me wrong, I cannot
wait to go toe-to-toe with you.
Ah, when the senator called,
told me about this case,
who I'd be up against,
I literally cleared my
calendar for this trial.
I'm so flattered.
Ah.
Hi.
Thank you.
But you have got to give me
something to work with here,
because the most challenging
part of my day so far
has been Postmating this Red Eye
to the courthouse.
Careful what you wish for.
Because if I find out you
or anyone working with you
was responsible for my witness
changing his testimony
or not showing up to court,
you will be disbarred so fast
that coffee will still be
hot enough to burn you.
Well, all right.
Maybe this is worth my time after all.
I'll see you at 1400.
- Hi.
- Hello,
and welcome to Seda's
Printing & Direct Mailing,
the fastest, most affordable,
most secure way to deliver
your message anywhere
in Southern California.
- Well, hi.
- Don't take my word for it.
Just ask our customers on Yelp.
They love us there,
and I'm confident you will, too.
- That's great. So
- My name is Martin.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
How may I assist you?
I don't Is he done?
- Yeah, no, he's done.
- Are you done?
The man posed a question, so now it's
- We get to go. Hit it.
- Okay.
- Hi.
- Howdy.
Hi. I'm Special Agent Kensi Blye, NCIS.
This is my partner, LAPD Detective Deeks.
My name is Martin.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
- How may I assist you?
- Yeah, you already said that part.
- Please don't distract him.
- That's a valid point.
Listen, couriers from this company
have been sending messages
to Thomas Argento,
who's been in military prison,
for the last five months.
- Whoa. Is that even legal?
- It's debatable.
Which is why we need to know
who's been sending those messages.
I'll say.
What was your name again?
Martin Deeks. LAPD.
- No way. My name is Martin.
- You said that.
Twice, actually.
Uh
Yeah, sorry, we haven't sent anything
to anyone named Martin Deeks,
- like, ever.
- No. No, no,
Martin. Um
I'm Martin Deeks.
You are Martin.
What we need is
who's been sending messages
to Thomas Argento.
How do you spell that?
A-R-G-
- E-N-T-O.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Hold your horses.
- Slow down.
G-
E-N
T-O.
- T
- O.
Oh.
- Yes, O.
- No, I meant "oh,"
Whoa, we've definitely
been sending messages
- to that dude.
- Okay. Well, that's great.
Do you have the name of the person
who's been sending these messages?
Do you want me to say it out loud,
or should I write it down,
and slide it?
Or I could e-mail it to you.
- Or I'll text
- You know what? Stop. Just
If you could just turn
the monitor towards us,
then you don't have to use
the Bat-Signal.
Just crank that thing
a little bit further.
There you go. Almost there.
Got it.
Five stars, Martin.
- Thank you.
- No. Thank you
for choosing Seda's
Printing & Direct Mailing,
the fastest, most affordable,
most secure way
to deliver your message
Hey, are you seeing what I'm seeing?
I-If you mean a ghost, then yeah.
So the person who's been sending
all those messages to Argento
just doesn't exist.
The name was a fake.
The law firm that he supposedly
worked for, also fake.
Well, I mean, I'm looking at these dates,
and whoever it is,
they've been sending couriers
to the Brig since Argento
entered pretrial confinement.
Which means whoever's pulling
the strings here
has been plotting this for months.
And we have how many hours
to figure out who's behind this all,
undo the damage they've done,
and get the case back on track?
Oh, you know, less than two.
I like those odds.
That's the spirit.
Nice place.
And Cole thinks Moffet is holed up there?
Yeah, his ex-wife lives here.
Well, let's hope they're on good terms.
No kidding.
Moffet's running.
- Moffet!
- Have fun with that.
It's Agent Rountree, NCIS!
I just want to talk!
I just wanted to talk.
Come on, Moffet, what's going on, man?
You know we're on your side.
And I know I let you all down.
What the hell happened this morning, man?
Who got to Kendricks?
I honestly don't know.
You don't know what happened,
or you don't know who got to Kendricks?
Oh, I know what happened.
Yesterday, I started
getting text messages,
pictures from outside this house.
My boy eating breakfast.
My boy swinging on a tire.
My boy on his scooter.
That's messed up.
Only the pictures
weren't taken yesterday.
I could tell from the weather
and by my boy's hair that
somebody had been watching him
for several months.
Unbelievable.
So I called my ex, and
I told her to take our son
to her folks' place in Palm Springs.
And I've been here keeping watch
ever since.
Well, what did the text messages say?
Nothing at first.
Just a stream of pictures.
I didn't know what they wanted.
And then I got a message last night
threatening me not to show
my face in court tomorrow.
So, what happened with Kendricks?
I mean, we know they
didn't threaten his family,
and he still changed his testimony.
They knew Kendricks
was gonna testify first,
so they told me to stay home and
Kendricks to change his story
or they were gonna kill my boy.
So Kendricks lied
to save your boy's life.
Martin.
Hello, and welcome to Seda's
Printing & Direct Mailing,
the fastest, most affordable,
- most secure
- Martin, hey, hey, hey, it's us.
It's I. Martin, as well.
LAPD detective, NCIS agent.
We were just here, like, 40 minutes ago.
I thought you two looked familiar.
Okay, listen, the name you gave us,
of the person delivering
messages to Argento in jail,
turns out it's a fake.
No way.
- Way.
- Ay-yi-yi. Yeah.
Actually, that adds up.
- Uh, what does?
- He was pretty weird.
- The guy.
- For the love of all that is holy,
gather your thoughts, think clearly
and tell us what the heck
you're talking about, please.
Look, I don't know.
He was a weird dude,
and for all the trouble
that he was going through, it makes sense
that he would use a fake name.
Okay, and you know this because?
Look, I'm kind of
the linchpin around here.
This whole operation
falls apart without me.
Thank God it's not a hospital.
That is a terrifying thought.
And the guy that you're asking about,
he came in here every week for months.
He never did business
over the phone or by e-mail.
And he always paid in cash.
So you've seen him.
Of course I've seen him.
This joker's a detective? Really?
- Hello?
- Okay.
Do you know what he looks like?
Can you tell us?
Presents as male. Pronouns: He/him.
He's white.
Always very well-dressed.
- Military?
- Sure. Yeah.
And he's pretty old, too.
Wow, Martin, that's actually
incredibly helpful, finally.
You don't happen to have
a photo of him, do you?
No. Sorry.
Hmm.
What do you think?
I think we have less than two
hours to get Moffet to court.
Well, Nell's sending agents from 29 Palms
over to the grandparents' house
to protect the kid.
That should make everybody
feel a little bit better.
Well, if the person
who threatened Moffett
is anything like Argento,
this doesn't end today.
They're gonna keep coming
after Moffet's kid
till the trial's over.
Yeah, Which is why Kendricks
changed his story
and Moffet never showed up today.
Might be a shot in the dark,
but last time these guys needed
help, they came to you, Sam.
Maybe if I talk to Moffet now
It's worth a shot.
Where's Moffet?
Sam's gonna try and talk to him.
Agent Callen, we're running out of time.
We understand, and we are doing
the best we can
given the hand we've been dealt.
So there was witness tampering.
Just a bit.
Do we know who's behind it?
Still working on that part.
Damn it.
We were so close.
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Hmm?
Who is that?
A legend.
Decorated former SEAL, the whole thing.
He also happens to be
Petty Officer Second Class
Michael Cole's father Parker.
Why?
No reason.
Okay, Parker Cole.
Captain, United States Navy, retired,
graduated from Annapolis
in the class of '69,
at the height of the Vietnam War.
He served 11 years in SEAL Teams.
Guessing he skipped the hippie phase.
Yeah, this guy's a decorated war vet
who's been active in
the Fleet Reserve Association.
And his only child, Michael Cole,
basically followed
in his exact same footsteps.
Naval Academy, SEAL Team and war.
Makes sense why Parker Cole would care
- about Argento's case.
- Well, yeah.
It's his son's team leader
whose life is on the line.
And yet
We don't know whose side he's on.
Send his photo to Kensi and Deeks.
You got it.
So tell me.
- How bad is it?
- Not great.
Kendricks' testimony dealt
a huge blow to the prosecution.
The judge needed to hear
irrefutable evidence
that Argento's a war criminal.
And instead, Kendricks went
up there and said he did it.
From what I understand,
he did it to protect your son.
He's just a four-year-old boy.
He doesn't deserve
to be mixed up in all this.
You're right.
But there are other ways
to protect your son.
You could have called us.
You could have called me.
You don't have to do this alone.
I wasn't thinking clearly.
And whoever's pulling the strings,
they were counting on that. Hmm?
So what now?
Kendricks' damage is done.
You still have time
to do the right thing.
Hey.
Hey. I know you two.
We'd be concerned if you didn't.
Is that the guy?
Which guy?
Martin, focus.
The guy who was sending
messages to Argento in jail.
Oh, yes. That's definitely him.
That's exactly what he looks
like on my security footage.
- What?
- You said you didn't have any photos.
I don't. I have a video.
- Martin.
- Wow.
So, Cole's father's been
pulling the strings.
- Do you think Cole knows?
- I don't know.
But if he does, he's been
helping us all day long.
Either that,
or he's feeding his father information
as we get it.
Kens?
I know.
Our key witness is also a sitting duck.
Nice work, Kens.
Agent Callen.
- What's going on?
- We have reason to believe
that Parker Cole
has been sending messages
through a courier service to Argento
the entire time he's been in custody.
- What did the messages say?
- It outlines a plan.
First, to monitor Moffet's son
and then use those photos
to try and convince Moffet,
as well as Kendricks,
to change their testimony in court.
Bastard.
Well, you're handling this pretty well.
Because that's witness tampering.
And it sounds like
we have enough to arrest him.
- Give me a second.
- Mm-hmm.
Sam, where are you?
We're headed back to court.
Be careful.
We don't know that Cole
is necessarily involved,
but his father is the one
that's been helping Argento
behind the scenes.
Well, if Cole's been feeding
his dad information,
then he knows exactly where to find us.
Stay safe. G, we got company.
Call San Diego PD.
Cole, put the gun down now. Cole.
Let's talk about this.
- There's nothing to talk about.
- Yes, there is.
- There's always a way.
- You don't understand!
Yes, I do. More than you know.
Maybe one day I'll tell you stories
about my own father. Hmm?
But for now, I need you
to put the gun down.
All right? Just put it down.
Put it down, Cole.
Just put it down. Come on.
Come on. Nice and easy.
Nice and easy.
Nice and easy. There you go.
- It was you!
- I'm sorry.
It's a little late for that now,
don't you think? I'm so sorry. I'm sorry!
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm good.
You still want to do this?
More than ever.
All right.
As soon as San Diego PD
gets here, we got to go.
Parker Cole?
Who's asking?
Special Agent Callen, NCIS.
You're under arrest
for obstruction of justice.
Take him away.
This is ridiculous.
I'm a captain, damn it.
All rise.
Everybody, please be seated.
Counselor, are we ready to proceed?
Your Honor, the prosecution
wants to thank you
for granting us a recess this morning.
- It's not lost on us
- Counselor,
it is 1404. Are we ready to proceed?
Counselor?
Yes, your Honor.
The prosecution is ready
to call its next witness,
Petty Officer William Moffet.
Trial counsel,
please administer the oath.
Please stand,
face me and raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear
that the testimony
you will provide here today
shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?
Yes, ma'am, I do.
Wow. Lieutenant Colonel Castro
does not mess around.
Really? She's charging Parker Cole
with obstruction of justice?
She got the U.S. Attorney to do it,
and they're throwing out
Kendricks' false testimony.
And Moffet still took a stand
and told the truth,
Which is all that matters.
Now I just hope the judge
does the right thing.
Oh, I'm not worried about that.
I'm sure he's gonna do the right thing.
I'm just talking about the betrayal.
- You know?
- Mm-hmm.
I mean, Shakespeare can't
come up with this stuff.
These guys were like brothers, right?
On the same SEAL Team,
fighting side by side,
surviving the atrocities of war.
Yeah, I know.
And yet, Cole still turned on Moffet
to get his father's approval.
Woosh. Talk about daddy issues.
Well, that's actually not the
definition of "daddy issues."
That's textbook definition
of daddy issues.
No. No, it's not.
Uh, what else could "daddy
issues" possibly mean?
Oh, my sweet, sweet Kensi.
What, you miss me already?
Ha. You wish.
So, what's up?
This was a big day.
This was a very big day.
We did the right thing.
We absolutely did the right thing.
There's no doubt about it.
I'll tell you what, though,
the next time we have to go to San Diego
- for something like this?
- Yeah?
If you touch my radio even once,
I'm throwing you out of the car.