NCIS s23e01 Episode Script

1
PARKER: Carla Marino,
matriarch of the biggest
organized crime family in the Midwest.
If you ever go anywhere near Melinda
or her daughter again, I will personally
see to it that that is
the last thing that you ever do.
Alden, I have missed this.
PARKER: You got to be kidding me.
This is who you want
to hitch your wagon to?
I'm done.
- Don't.
- MCGEE: That was the FBI.
The real Agent Ford was found shot dead.
Carla is the head of Nexus.
All her rivals in one place.
She's gonna use that bomb
to take them all out.
Who's this lovely lady?
Carla Marino.
Hi. Roman Parker, Alden's dad.
Don't ever come here again.
You killed my son.
Killing me isn't gonna change anything.
I'm not gonna kill you, Alden.
That'd be too easy.
PARKER: Come on.
No!
- (INDISTINCT RADIO BROADCAST)
- (STATIC)
REPORTER: President Carter
has announced
- (STATIC)
- (MUSIC PLAYING)
(STATIC)
("TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS"
BY JOHN DENVER PLAYING)
Almost heaven ♪
West Virginia ♪
(DOOR SQUEAKS CLOSED)
Blue Ridge Mountains ♪
Shanandoah River ♪
(DOOR CLANGS SHUT IN DISTANCE)
- Life is old there ♪
- (HUMMING ALONG)
- Older than the trees ♪
- Alden?
Younger than the mountains ♪
- Growing like a breeze ♪
- Son?
- Country roads ♪
- (CONTINUES HUMMING ALONG)
Take me home ♪
Denver.
To the place ♪
This one was always my favorite.
I belong ♪
Really?
West Virgin ♪
Damn it, Alden.
First hubcaps, now grand theft auto?
You collecting charges
like merit badges?
You want to talk about merit badges?
You disappear for half a year,
a-and drop in with rules and lectures
like it means something
and y-you think I'm the problem?
- Look around.
- Every time we move,
every time you ship out,
y-you just expect me
to pick up the pieces.
It's you and your precious Navy.
You chose a uniform over your own kid.
I'm sorry you feel that way.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
You really think you're the
only one who hates moving?
You fooled me, Admiral Kiss-ass.
Dad's raising two kids alone
and serving his country.
But sure, let's make it about you.
He's not bulletproof, Aldie.
- Don't call me that.
- Your actions
are hurting Dad more than you know.
And the worst part?
You won't understand that
till it's too late.
(SIRENS WAILING)
(ECHOES): till it's too late.
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
Parker, I'm so sorry.
So am I.
But it's too late.
- (VAN DOOR CLOSES)
- (ENGINE STARTS)
♪
(SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE)
Well, it's Carla's shade.
And her style. Calculated and cruel.
She wanted Parker to suffer.
Well, she got her wish.
And we helped.
MCGEE: We pushed to work with Carla.
Parker warned us, but we didn't
know what she was capable of.
Oh, we knew. We just
didn't want to believe it.
Well, then we make it right.
We find her.
So, she took Parker hostage
and then let him walk.
Smart money says that she took
that time to flee the country.
Except preliminary time of death
puts her here two hours ago.
She can still be close.
What's her next move?
Assuming that Parker doesn't have
any more family
in the greater D.C. area?
His sister works at the Pentagon,
but even Carla knows better
than to go after a three-star admiral.
What about Carla's granddaughter
the one she tried to kidnap last year?
Lauren Jacobs. Protection
detail's already at her apartment.
Maybe we should join them.
Just in case Carla shows up.
You think she'd be that careless?
I want her to be.
All I need is one shot.
Well, you'll have to
get in line to take it.
KNIGHT: Right after Parker.
Based on what he did
to this innocent television,
I think he's got big plans
for the queen of Kansas City.
- Good.
- KNIGHT: Really?
When was the last time anything
good came from an agent running hot?
You know, maybe-maybe Parker
will be okay.
Last I saw him, he was
you know, holding it together.
For now.
How long do we really think
that's gonna last?
MCGEE: Parker, hold up.
(CLEARS THROAT)
That my bowling bag?
That's, uh, it's all I could find.
Packed a few of your things in here
toiletries, uh, change of clothes. Nick
wanted me to give you
the spare key to his townhouse.
You sending me to bed, McGee?
Well, your place is
a crime scene, and it's late.
Knight's worried about you.
We're all worried about you.
Afraid I'm not thinking straight?
- It's more than understandable.
- You can relax.
- My thinking is fine.
- All right, good.
Glad to hear it
because we have this, okay?
BOLOs are out. Transit's flagged.
Task forces are up in all directions.
You're running the playbook.
- Worked before.
- Not on Carla.
If you want to catch her,
you don't follow the book,
you flip the table.
How do we do that? It's not like we can
shut down every travel route
across the Eastern Seaboard.
Can't we?
(PHONE BUZZES, DINGS)
Oh, my God.
Multiple bomb threats
were just called in.
Dozens of them,
all at major transit hubs.
Guess someone shut down
the Eastern Seaboard.
Parker?
What did you do?
Okay. Got it. Thank you.
That was threat number 37.
(KNIGHT SIGHS)
Thankfully, all smoke, no fires.
Well, the smoke is working. It's
keeping Carla in the country.
Yeah, and burying Homeland
in the process.
26 airports, four train
stations, one cruise terminal.
- No way to trace the source?
- MCGEE: Not cleanly.
Someone knew exactly how
to cover their tracks.
Someone who loves, uh, pastries
and hates red tape.
- This was reckless.
- Bold.
And effective.
Homeland just flagged
an SUV matching Carla's.
Where?
Abandoned outside a terminal at Dulles.
- No cameras. No Carla.
- Well, that's a lead.
- I want custody of that SUV now.
- That won't be happening.
Excuse me?
Homeland has
jurisdiction over that vehicle.
They will process it.
Well, they got their hands full.
And whose fault is that?
Calling in bomb threats?
Go home, Parker. You're too close.
Which is exactly why I'm staying.
Then go home because
you're too dangerous.
Oh. That's funny, Director,
'cause that's exactly what
I said about working with Carla.
Too dangerous, and you said nothing.
You're grieving, Alden. Go home.
Before one of us says something
that we can't take back.
Parker.
Aren't those usually pink?
It's a Pentagon number. A direct line.
I figured Admiral Parker
would want to hear the news from family.
Yeah, well, clearly,
you don't know my sister.
(TOSSES IN TRASH)
JIMMY: Single nine-millimeter.
Clean entry, clean exit. No surprises.
Well, one surprise. Not exactly
case-related, though.
You mean Parker unloading on Vance
in the middle of the squad room?
Okay, two surprises. I was
talking about Parker's sister.
I didn't know she was an admiral.
- Vice Admiral Harriet Parker.
- Hmm.
Roman's mentioned her a few times.
Yeah, Parker never does.
Yeah, I feel like there's a whole
iceberg underneath that one.
Oh, speaking of submerged
Parker family drama
No, no, Jimmy, we talked about this.
Okay, no, no. Parker asked me
to look into his mom.
Yes, to find her grave.
The coroner's report
and the death certificate don't match.
(STAMMERS) It could be a clerical error.
But you think that somebody
is hiding something.
I don't know what I think.
And that is why
I'm suggesting that you just
- keep this to yourself.
- But now
No, now there's even more reason
to not bring this up.
I feel like this is something
that Parker should hear.
- And he will.
- Good.
- Eventually.
- Jess, you know
my track record with keeping secrets.
Jimmy, please. Please try.
Because right now Parker's
barely hanging on as it is, okay?
He is just telling himself
over and over again
to stay focused and to stay useful
because if he stops, even for
a second, he is gonna feel it.
And I'm not just talking about the loss,
he's gonna feel the guilt.
That quiet voice inside that says,
"You should have stopped it.
You could have stopped it."
You know that voice.
Yes, and I am pretty good at
putting things inside of a box
and moving on. But this?
The thought of losing a parent?
Yeah, suddenly that box
doesn't seem so watertight.
And it doesn't even make sense
because I barely knew Parker's dad.
Yeah, that doesn't matter. He's family.
Come here, come on.
(SIGHS)
(PHONE CHIMING)
(CLEARS THROAT)
That was fast.
Carla's SUV just showed up
in our evidence garage.
I thought Homeland had it.
MCGEE: Parker's pushing his luck.
First bomb threats,
now grand theft auto?
KASIE: Technically, it's not theft.
Chain of custody
is still legally intact.
How? Parker bypassed Homeland,
dodged protocol,
and dropped it at our doorstep.
- Yeah, call it a "creative transfer."
- I call her a baller move.
- Yeah, one that could get us fired.
- Starting with Parker.
This vehicle was on a secure lot.
Not that secure.
Effective immediately,
NCIS is being relieved
of this investigation.
All leads, evidence,
and active security details,
including Carla Marino's granddaughter,
will be handed over to the FBI.
But we need as many eyes
on Carla as possible.
We don't know what she's planning next.
And the last thing we need is Parker
turning a manhunt into a massacre.
Yes, sir. I'll coordinate
with the agent in charge.
No, you won't.
- Are we being benched?
- VANCE: Reassigned.
To sit on Parker, track his every move,
and keep him the hell away
from this case.
(KASIE COUGHS, CLEARS THROAT)
So, quick question,
uh, since the SUV's already here,
do I process it?
Or do I pack it all up and then
book a flatbed and waste time
and taxpayer money?
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
Process it, Ms. Hines,
and then ship every panel,
speck, and fiber.
Copy that.
Personal vendettas are not worth
jeopardizing the hunt
for a wanted terrorist
and murderer. Understood?
TORRES: Director
Understood?
Yes, sir.
Let me guess,
Vance sent you to babysit me.
- He did.
- Predictable.
But that's not why we're here.
Autopsy report.
Jimmy fast-tracked it.
I've been going through security logs,
transit hubs, trying to find where
Carla might've slipped through.
And, uh, these are from
that weird place on 8th.
They're French or something.
You sure you want to do this?
All right.
Let's get to work.
(SIGHS)
KNIGHT: Okay,
so we've been through
the mass transit logs twice.
So, if Carla ran, she did it barefoot
- through the shadows.
- TORRES: Or she's still here,
waiting for the heat to die down.
(SNIFFS)
It's, like, incredible.
- Found Parker's hand soap?
- Yeah, it's like
- almond with a hint of sage?
- (LAUGHS)
Classy for a hideout.
Yeah, last time we all went rogue,
Gibbs's cabin, there was no hand soap.
Or running water.
Well, don't knock it.
If Vance catches on to us,
that cabin might be plan B.
You know what? We're not
the only ones who might need
a backup plan here.
News is reporting multiple shootouts.
All in cities run by crime families
that Carla tried to bomb.
I guess "forgive and forget"
wasn't in the cards.
They're turning on Nexus.
They're hitting supply hubs, warehouses.
Burning down a haystack,
trying to find the needle.
KNIGHT: Civilians are getting
caught in the crossfire.
This is what Vance was warning us about.
We're not just chasing Carla.
We're stopping a bloodbath.
MCGEE: Ooh. That's Kasie's
forensics report from Carla's SUV.
(SNIFFS)
Oh, wow, that's really nice soap.
Yeah, you know, I know
we're down a plasma here,
so how about I just
give you guys the highlights?
Cool? All right.
Uh, let's see. Kasie found in the SUV
residue in the footwells
still testing
and an FBI ID in the glove box,
left behind by
- Agent Ford.
- TORRES: Fake Agent Ford.
- Right. Killed the real one.
- KNIGHT: Fake agent,
fake ID. Look at that hologram.
- It's misprinted.
- TORRES: That's bad work.
I know the bad guy who did it.
- Friend of yours?
- A forger from my undercover days.
He can point us to Ford.
Ford points us to Carla.
- Torres and I will find the forger.
- Do it.
(PHONE BUZZING)
I-I-I don't get it. The car was clean.
No-no prints, no plates.
How did, how did they
trace it back to me?
Was it the fireworks?
Fireworks? What are you
even talking about?
No, s-somebody must have sold me out.
I bet it was Dad.
Dad's in the hospital.
- What?
- That's why I'm here.
- Wh-What happened?
- He had a heart attack.
A heart attack? He-He's 39.
Which is why they think
he's gonna be okay.
This time.
That's that's not fair,
Harry. This isn't my fault.
Don't call me that.
And you think this helps Dad?
Y-You think the stress is nothing?
He already lost Mom.
Now, every time the phone rings,
he wonders if he's losing you, too.
So what?
You came all the way down here
just to lay a guilt trip on me?
(PHONE CONTINUES BUZZING)
Dr. Palmer?
JIMMY: Yeah, just a second.
Sorry about that. How can I Oh.
- Vice Admiral.
- Harriet Parker.
Jimmy Palmer. It's nice to
finally put a name to the stars.
Your office called about
your father's personal effects.
Only because my brother
won't pick up a phone.
No travel mug?
I only handle what was on the body.
The other items
are still being processed.
It was old, covered in Navy stickers.
Your father's? He must've been so proud.
Both of his kids serving their country.
My brother couldn't have
worn the uniform
- even if he wanted to.
- JIMMY: Oh, his juvie record.
(LAUGHS) We have heard the stories.
No. Not all of them.
Well, it's a good thing
that was a long time ago.
People do change.
Some do.
And others just stay stuck
in the same loop.
Thank you, Doctor.
Ma'am.
If you'd like a moment alone
your father's body's in 206.
Not today.
- (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
- (ELEVATOR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
(ROOM DOORS WHOOSH SHUT)
TORRES: He's late.
Only an hour.
You look hangry.
Want a tot?
What I want is a lead
and not a forger who ghosts
federal agents.
You know, I should have arrested him
years ago when I had the chance.
- Why didn't you?
- The less time I spend
with the guy, the better.
The guy creeps me out.
- Anything in particular?
- It's hard to say.
It's like he spent high school
in a basement
while everybody else had a life.
Early Mark Zuckerberg?
- Hoodie. Computer glow.
- Mm.
That's it.
Finally. That's him.
That is not Zuck.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(SIGHS)
Wasn't thrilled about meeting in public,
especially with him.
But you make it worth the risk, Bella.
Fernando.
TORRES: Oh, this guy.
Oh.
Jess. Thanks for making the time.
- More like wasting it.
- No time's wasted when spent
in such charming company.
- (KNIGHT LAUGHS)
- Okay.
Well, there is something
that would charm
this company even more.
- Uh-huh?
- Information.
- Who'd you make it for?
- Clearly, your partner
has no experience with foreplay.
- Name.
- You have a unique beauty, Bella.
Chinese father, American mother?
- Okay, that's it. You're under arrest.
- For what?
For making a piece of plastic?
For being a creepy.
- (SCOFFS)
- And that piece of plastic
got two federal agents killed.
KNIGHT: It's true. So,
how about we skip
the foreplay and just get
- to the main event?
- Who is he?
I don't have a real name.
- You know how this business works.
- Where'd you meet the client?
Now, Bella's asking the right question.
And Bella would like the right answer.
He picked the spot.
23rd and Lexington.
I hand off.
- I don't ask any questions.
- That's not a lot
- to go off of, Fernando.
- Well,
maybe I can give you more over dinner?
(CHUCKLES)
- (KNIGHT CLEARS THROAT)
- TORRES: Wow, really?
FERNANDO (LAUGHS): Playful.
I like playful.
(KNIGHT CHUCKLES)
(HANDCUFFS CLICK)
- Bella.
- I'm sorry,
but FBI gets the first date.
They're on their way.
Kasie?
Hey.
Hey, uh, can I come in here, or?
Mm. All right.
Mi lab cerrado es tu lab cerrado.
Why is your, uh, lab cerrado at all?
Vance.
The director works in mysterious ways,
and I don't want him looking
into our mysterious ways.
Wait, that's why you didn't
email me the ballistics report?
You're worried Vance is
monitoring our communications?
Legally, he could.
It's in the handbook that nobody reads.
But this isn't about Vance.
It's about Parker.
His dad was shot with
a nine-millimeter SIG Sauer.
- That much we knew, yeah.
- What we didn't know:
striations match a weapon
registered to NCIS.
Parker's weapon. The one that
Carla took when she kidnapped him.
She used Parker's
own gun against his dad?
Wow, that's cold.
My guess? She's trying to get
inside Parker's head.
Make him carry what she's been carrying.
Her son's death. She's been
living with the guilt,
- now she wants to return the favor.
- Mm-hmm. And I figure,
maybe we don't give her the chance.
MCGEE: All right,
tell me that is something
less depressing.
Okay, residue from Carla's SUV:
sawdust and animal fat.
- Classic combo.
- For what?
Butcher shop, slaughterhouse,
really sketchy petting zoo.
You know what? Pull up a map.
23rd and Lexington?
KASIE: Fernando the forger's drop spot?
Okay, right there. Three blocks away?
KASIE: Whitmore Meat Company.
"Proudly serving
- the best of KC in D.C."
- Kansas City
that could be a front or a hideout.
Two and a half stars? Definitely
not the place to grab lunch.
Yeah, forget grabbing lunch.
This could be our chance to grab Ford.
TORRES: We really think that
Fake Ford is hiding in a meat shop?
KNIGHT: I have no idea.
But that box truck across the street's
been idling for way too long.
Driver keeps eyeballing the shop.
KNIGHT: Maybe waiting
- for curbside delivery?
- Stay sharp.
So, listen, uh
is this really where you want to be?
I mean, I get it, the hunt helps.
But it's not the only thing that might.
Don't say "family."
Family?
I'm with family.
And one that doesn't grade on a curve.
Sounds like there's a story there.
Yeah, a short one.
She followed the rules,
made all the sacrifices,
wore the uniform.
You wear a badge.
Not the same thing. Not to her.
You both just lost your father.
Feels like a good time to call a truce.
Losing him just makes it easier
to point the finger.
You think she blames you?
She doesn't have to.
TORRES: Heads up.
It's Ford.
Get ready.
TORRES: We got movement. I see a gun.
Move.
- Federal agents!
- Everyone down!
- (PEOPLE SCREAMING) - Move!
- Go! Move! Move!
Against the wall! Get down!
(TIRES SCREECH)
(SCREAMING)
(BOTH GRUNT)
Get him to the truck!
Down, down! Everybody down!
CRUZ: Get in and drive!
(TIRES SQUEAL)
(CLICKING EMPTY)
(PEOPLE SCREAMING)
(SIREN WAILS)
KNIGHT: Director.
I take it you saw
our preliminary report.
I did. I just didn't see the part
that explains what the hell
NCIS was doing here.
We were following orders
by following Parker.
He led us here, we saw Agent Ford
and walked into a cross fire.
Best guess, the gunmen were
with one of the five families
- hunting Carla Marino.
- Okay, that explains them.
What explains Parker?
PARKER: I was hungry.
Really?
Lunch,
so soon after breakfast at the diner?
- I skipped breakfast.
- FBI says
that someone tipped them
about a wanted forger
handcuffed to a table.
Lucky them.
Hoagie?
(PHONE RINGING, BUZZING)
Vance. Go.
Guess he's not hungry.
Poking the bear wasn't enough?
You have to feed it now?
More heat on me, less on the team.
You didn't tell him
how we found Agent Ford.
Well, technically, we haven't found him.
Well, not yet,
but the truck should be easy to follow.
Don't tell me
you stuck your phone to it.
Please. I'm reckless, not stupid.
I used my key chain tracker.
- During the shooting?
- After I saved a damsel in distress.
- Come on.
- (TYPING)
Come on.
Hey, Torres, maybe next time
slap a phone under the truck
or something.
Key trackers
aren't exactly GPS-friendly.
Eh, too bad you're reckless, not stupid.
Can you give us something, Kasie?
KASIE: Ha! There you are.
Key chain's in the middle of an
abandoned water treatment plant.
Nothing but rust and runoff.
Middle of nowhere, lots of space.
No one can hear you scream.
- They're working Ford over.
- Yeah, or worse.
So what now?
They stole him, we steal him back.
Oh, please tell me that's a metaphor,
because Vance is not gonna buy
another public firefight.
Stealing used to be my thing,
and I never caused collateral damage.
I just need some smoke and mirrors.
That didn't sound like a metaphor.
- (PUNCHES LANDING)
- (FORD GRUNTING)
CRUZ: Come on, Agent Ford.
- Where's Carla?
- FORD: I swear,
I don't know.
(GRUNTS)
She tried to kill the five families.
My cousin was in that room.
(GRUNTING)
- Carla targets family, she dies.
- (FORD SPITS)
But you?
You can walk
if you tell me
what she's setting up next.
(DISTANT POP)
What the hell was that?
(DISTANT WHISTLING)
That ain't gunfire.
Check it.
(WHISTLING AND POPPING CONTINUE)
Fireworks?
What the?
I-I don't see anybody.
Don't just stand there. Put it out.
Must be some punk kids.
(ENGINE STARTS)
Hey!
Still got it.
Oh, thank God.
You all saved my life.
- Oh, you didn't tell him?
- Nope.
Tell me what?
I'm not your guardian angel.
(DOOR SLIDES CLOSED)
I'm the other guy.
- I think I need a lawyer.
- TORRES: No problem.
Just give us a little time.
Meanwhile, whichever
crime family owns this truck
is gonna be looking for it.
And they'll find it
with you still inside.
FORD: You guys are feds.
You're supposed to protect me.
KNIGHT: I mean, we'd rather get answers
and get you to a hospital.
Under federal custody, of course.
I don't know where Carla is.
Oh.
I swear.
After the old man was killed,
we split up.
The "old man"?
You mean my father?
I didn't shoot him. Carla did.
And you just watched?
I didn't know what she was gonna do.
I didn't know she still had your gun.
What did you say?
She kept your SIG.
One minute, she's ranting
about loose ends,
the next minute, bang.
Then she's gone.
- Where?
- I don't know. I swear.
That's not good enough.
Parker.
Let him work.
(FORD GRUNTING)
She mentioned a shipment.
Some last (COUGHS) big score.
On a boat
called the Quentin.
That's all I know.
Please
(GROANS)
I'm sorry, man.
Get him to an ER. Call the FBI.
Hey.
So, Ford give us anything?
More than I got from my own team.
You held back ballistics.
You knew Carla used my weapon.
Yeah, we did.
I don't need protecting, McGee!
Parker, right now I think maybe you do.
Listen, we know you're carrying a lot,
okay, but don't take it out on us.
You knew what you signed up for.
Yeah, and we signed up anyway.
Look, we have followed you this far
because we want to find Carla,
but we do not want to lose you
along the way.
Do you get it?
I haven't slept in two days.
We know.
Why don't you go inside,
try and get some rest, okay?
Let us do our job.
You call me the second
- you've got something.
- We will.
We're doing the right thing.
By helping him or by sending him home?
Same thing if we're lucky.
MCGEE: Port registry just came in.
Ford wasn't lying. The Quentin is real.
- This beauty's flagged from Liberia?
- MCGEE: Currently docked
outside Baltimore.
Manifest says it ships out tomorrow,
headed for Newfoundland.
Doubt she's gonna make it
past Delaware Bay.
So, Carla's really
hitching a ride on this
floating tetanus shot?
No first-class cabins,
no Nexus connection.
Doesn't fit.
A trawler with tidy paperwork.
It's too sloppy.
Well, Ford said this ship
was, uh, a "last big score."
Drugs? More dirty bombs?
Maybe Carla set up Ford
to give us bad intel.
Keep us chasing shadows?
- A head fake.
- Well, whatever it is,
we'd better find out
before this bucket sets sail.
I'm flagging port security
through an old contact.
Kasie's pulling logs
off Homeland's public feed.
Ooh. Staying off Vance's radar.
- I like it.
- No one's yelled at us yet.
I'd like to keep it that way.
I'm gonna update Parker.
You're really gonna call him?
I promised I would if we had something.
We don't know what we have.
Ah, voicemail.
Uh, maybe he is sleeping?
- Or still pissed.
- KNIGHT: Either way,
I say we give him a little more time.
We don't have time.
Port security logs just came in.
The Quentin didn't stick
to the schedule.
Homeland lifted travel bans an hour ago.
Ship's already left port.
- When?
- She pulled out 25 minutes ago,
- headed for open waters.
- Via Chesapeake Bay?
Last I checked, that's the only
route to Newfoundland.
Why?
Well,
because I just pinged Parker's cell.
Either Parker's learned
to walk on water
Or he is already on that ship.
Maybe Parker's not on that boat.
Maybe he dropped his phone
and a seagull mistook it
for a fish, right?
Picked it up, flew out over open waters,
and dropped it exactly
37.2 nautical miles out. Okay?
- (TYPING)
- Stranger things have happened.
- Like Parker ditching his own team.
- (EXHALES) Exactly.
Yeah, a team that has had
his back when no one else would.
A team that has done nothing
but try and help him,
- try to protect him.
- Maybe he's trying to protect us, too.
Keep us out of his mess.
You know what? That was Gibbs' excuse.
Didn't work then, pisses me off now.
Is this all port security has?
- This one angle?
- It's the only angle we need.
If Parker got on
that rust bucket, we'll see him.
Unless he beamed aboard
to make our lives harder.
Oh, cute. That'll kill
at the federal inquiry.
Okay, if Parker's on that ship,
maybe that's a good thing, right?
Okay? He is chasing
the best lead we have.
Yeah, no backup, no plan,
just emotional baggage and bravado.
What could go wrong?
What if Parker knows what he's doing?
- Mm.
- No, no, no, I mean it this time.
If he boarded that ship,
that means Parker
must have seen something,
something that we're missing.
I-I think you might be right.
If Parker saw what I'm seeing,
he definitely got on that ship.
MCGEE: Middle-aged blond,
Same height and same build.
KNIGHT: Same pointed stilettos.
- And plenty of muscle.
- Carla Marino.
So, how long have you known?
We, uh, just found out.
Came straight here.
But this intel
didn't just fall into your lap.
There's another shoe.
Drop it.
Before Carla makes her next move.
We also believe
that Parker is on that ship.
Boarded just before it left port
about an hour ago.
You've been on this
a lot longer than an hour.
I had hoped for better.
How long do we have before the
Quentin hits international waters?
Not long.
Parker alone with the woman
who murdered his father.
Director, we can fix this.
No, Agent McGee,
we can't.
Well, then, we call in the cavalry.
Coordinate with Joint Ops Center.
I'll notify the Navy.
GUARD: Man, this is a joke.
I'm not a damn bellboy.
GUARD 2: Can't believe
she drags designer luggage
onto a fishing trawler.
GUARD: Hey, come on. She's down here.
WOMAN: Thank you.
Just put it over there.
- GUARD 2: Sure thing, boss.
- WOMAN: When do we set sail?
The sooner the better.
GUARD: Hey.
Who's there?
Stay here.
KNIGHT: Speed and course are steady.
No radio chatter.
If they know that Parker's on board,
- they're not showing it.
- Not yet.
Either way, though,
we're running out of water.
MCGEE: Parker's running out of time.
I'm trying to scramble helos
out of Andrews,
get eyes on deck.
Maybe we can get a Coast
Guard cutter to intercept.
Stand down.
Command and control
is being relinquished
to Navy Special Operations.
Vice Admiral Parker.
NCIS personnel,
follow the instructions from
my team and then clear the room.
Terminate all NCIS computer feeds,
establish DoD links
and satellite tracking systems.
Director, is the admiral aware
That my brother is on board?
Yes, Agent McGee.
That's why I've taken control
of the operation.
- Operation?
- Yes. We have had
our eyes on the Quentin
for several days.
Intelligence has confirmed
that it is moving weapons and personnel
tied to active threat networks.
And now NCIS intel places
a known terrorist aboard.
Carla Marino.
We think this woman killed your father.
- Oh, I'm aware.
- OFFICER: Ma'am?
Priority transmission.
This is Parker.
Yes, sir.
We have been hailing the Quentin.
No response.
We're escalating.
I want air wing
mission readiness confirmed now.
Air wing?
(MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY OVER P.A.)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN DISTANCE)
GUARD: Hey, down this way.
(EXHALES) God.
I hate ships.
Follow me.
Come on, come on.
GUARD 2: Hey, did you hear that?
(DOORKNOB RATTLING)
GUARD: Let's check the other way.
Oh, crap.
HARRIET: With respect, sir,
I recommend holding.
Our window to de-escalate
may not be entirely closed.
No, sir. The Quentin
will breach territorial waters
in 90 seconds.
Copy, Admiral.
Acknowledged.
Admiral?
The Quentin has been confirmed
a threat to national security.
My orders are clear
to disable or destroy
before it clears U.S. waters.
Destroy?
What, you're gonna blow it
out of the water?
Carla Marino tried to detonate
a dirty bomb on U.S. soil.
Command is not giving her
a chance to try again.
YANKEE ONE: Command,
strike package is in position.
YANKEE TWO: Yankee Two confirms.
Admiral,
Carla may be on that ship,
but so is your brother.
You cannot do this.
Director, I need time to think.
Restrain your team, or I will.
Chief?
NAVAL COMMAND: Yankee One and Two,
Command has transferred
weapons release authority
to Admiral Parker.
YANKEE ONE: Confirmed.
Yankee One is go for strike.
YANKEE TWO: Yankee Two is go for strike.
Yankee One and Two, I am command.
- Admiral, please.
- I have my orders.
That ship crosses the boundary,
it is off our board.
We lose our shot.
Can we risk that?
We have to.
Give me another option.
Yankee One and Two,
you are cleared hot.
Fire.