NCIS s24e01 Episode Script
Wayward Son
1
Why didn't you tell me I had a son?
OLIVIA: Now that you know,
where do we go from here?
I would like to be a part
of Mateo's life.
My job is to restore confidence
in this agency.
Why? What do you get out of all of this?
LAROCHE: I think I
already have what I need.
Is that Mateo? Ah, you guys
are getting thick as thieves.
I think there's something
that I got to tell you.
I I don't think NCIS is for me.
Mateo asked to use a workstation
to fill out an internship application.
That's not what he said to his dad.
Hey, Mateo. Why are you lying to me?
I said drop it.
Mateo, keep your hands
where I can see 'em.
[GUNSHOT]
- [SIREN WAILING]
- [CAMERA CLICKING]
- [ENGINE REVVING]
- [TIRES SQUEALING]
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[PANTING]
- Nick?
- Hey.
Nick, where's Mateo? Is he
is he in the ambulance or?
No, no, no, but try to calm down.
Calm down? I heard that you
you got in a gunfight with my son?
It sure as hell looks
like someone got shot.
- They did, but
- Clearly, you're not the one
that's hit, so where's Mateo?
I don't know, okay? I don't know.
But he didn't get shot, either.
He didn't?
No.
[PANTING]
Then whose blood is that?
Actually
it's mine.
Hey, Tim.
How's things?
♪
[PHONE RINGING]
Greetings and salutations.
You've reached Salus Mondiale's
new D.C. satellite office.
How?
Oh.
You want me to put what where?
That's, like, seven different
kinds of illegal,
depending on what country you're in.
[PHONE CLICKS, DIAL TONE DRONES]
Appreciate the creativity.
I just got this number.
Quiet Tuesdays.
I beg your pardon?
No talking in the bullpen on Tuesdays.
If you want to talk
on the phone, you have to
rent one of those.
Actually, I'm really not even
supposed to be here.
I rented a private office
on another floor.
A much higher floor, with secure lines,
and it even had a SCIF
if you must know.
I didn't need to, no.
I'm opening up a U.S. branch
Yeah, we heard.
Your fancy French security firm.
But there was a mix-up,
and you're down here
with the grunts
until things get cleared up.
[SNEEZING]
Or I die from Ebola.
It was a joke.
Agree to disagree.
[AIR HISSING]
[PHONE RINGING]
Greetings and salutations.
You've reached Salus Mondiale's
new D.C. satellite office.
Boris, hey.
Did you make it to Marrakech?
Really? Are you sure?
And you definitely heard
the kid say "NCIS"?
All right. Give me an address.
MCGEE: And who's Boris?
A hacker I know was running wiretaps
in some of my old stomping grounds.
What were they looking for?
Well, with that guy,
it's best not to ask.
He heard some bad-guy chatter
about NCIS.
Something about a dead drop
that was about to happen.
So, I figured I'd check it out
for old times' sake.
Maybe drum up some business?
Ah. My replacement is handsome
and smart.
Oh, I've been here for ten years.
Don't distract him.
TONY: Well, apparently,
they hired some kid
to make the drop, so I went over
to see what was going on, ran into
Agent Pretty Eyes here, and then
I got shot by the kid, aka your son.
Which, for the record,
is one more son than I knew about.
Look, McGee, nobody shot back. Okay?
Mateo just took off running. He's fine.
"Fine" is not the word that I would use.
Is it me, or is "new son"
something someone mentions?
Do you mean, like,
mentioning to a friend
- that you're in the D.C. area?
- Oh. I was gonna
Or that Interpol Red Notice
out for you and Ziva?
TORRES: Okay, guys,
you both need to chill out.
All right? People live
their lives, they get busy.
Oh, like you were too busy
to tell me about tailing my son?
People don't get that busy.
I thought I was overreacting, okay,
and I didn't want to freak you out.
So what I did was,
I tailed Mateo, and
just hoping that it was nothing.
Clearly, it wasn't nothing.
He shot someone.
I think the gun went off accidentally.
Look at this.
Barely grazed me.
Shot by a McOffspring.
What was he even doing with a gun?
And what-what am I gonna
tell his mother?
Look, whatever Mateo has gotten
into, we'll figure it out.
We will figure this out, Tim.
Together.
- Oh! Watch the arm.
- Sorry.
Can I get in there, or?
All we know is that Mateo took something
from our computer system
and delivered it to somebody.
We don't know who.
Ah, kids today.
You should see my daughter.
We have everyone at NCIS
looking for him, okay?
I promise you, we're gonna find him.
- How did Mom take it?
- Well, how'd Ziva take it
when, uh, those arms dealers
went looking for Tali?
Well, hopefully,
we have a lower body count.
By the way, Ziva is in
the Boston area if we need her.
Uh, what's in Boston?
Tali. She started boarding school.
Mama Bear is, uh, working
at a language institute nearby,
keeping an eye on things
for a few weeks.
Or years. Never can tell with Ziva.
So that's what Papa Bear
is doing in D.C.?
Trying to open a local office?
Yeah, expand the brand.
Plus a little helicopter
parenting, although I didn't
think that would involve getting shot.
MCGEE: Huh.
Or wearing one of your sweatshirts.
I'm just glad
you showed up when you did.
It's pretty crazy, huh?
Yeah, like rule 39 crazy.
No such thing as a coincidence.
You know, the older I get,
the more I feel someone up there is
really watching out for us.
Well, that got a little serious.
It's just being back
in this elevator, you know?
About to start working a case.
Starting to feel that old
[SNAPS FINGERS]
- spark again.
- [ELEVATOR CHIMES]
Hello, orange walls.
Very Special Non-Agent
Anthony DiNozzo is back.
LAROCHE: Get out! Now!
Out! All of you!
- Excuse me?
- Especially you, McGee.
You can't be anywhere near this case.
- This case involves his son.
- Exactly.
And you have broken
every protocol in the book
with your solo investigation.
And the last time I checked,
shooting victims don't work
their own cases.
You think this guy's ever heard
of box breathing?
Who died and put you in charge?
Actually, uh, SECNAV did.
She appointed him the new
NCIS director 30 minutes ago.
- What?
- And the new NCIS director,
aka me,
wants the three of you
out of the building immediately.
Or I will have you thrown out.
[HUMMING AN UPBEAT TUNE]
What a load of crap.
KNIGHT: You really
think Laroche is gonna
- suspend Torres?
- Who's gonna stop him?
- The guy's on a rampage.
- [SCOFFS]
Hey, Jimmy.
Hey. Why do I get the feeling
that I'm, uh, missing something here?
SECNAV just appointed Laroche
new director.
- What?
- Yep.
And he's suspending Torres? Why?
Because McGee's son stole something
from the NCIS computer system.
And then Torres tailed him
without telling anyone.
Oh, slow down. McGee's son stole?
And now the kid is in the wind.
- What'd he take?
- Kasie's working on it.
We just need to stop him
before he shoots somebody else.
He shot someone?
PARKER: Yeah, but that
looks like that was an accident.
Mateo's a good kid.
Whatever he got himself into,
it clearly got away from him.
Okay, McGee has got
to be losing his mind.
Is he upstairs right now?
No, Laroche kicked him out
of the building.
Torres, too.
And they left willingly
with Mateo on the run like that?
No, don't worry. Nobody is
staying away from this case.
They're setting up shop
with Tony as we speak.
Tony?
That's why you can't use the stairs.
And don't touch the tubes.
Nobody knows where they go.
This is your American branch?
Yeah. You got to start somewhere.
Stop right there, Mr. DiNuzzible.
I think we both know it's DiNozzo.
I don't care. What I do care about
is clients bringing in guests
without purchasing guest passes.
Any idea who I'm talking about?
Mm. I think she means us.
Oh, look. Goober has a brain.
- Goober?
- Don't engage.
Or feed her after midnight.
Kidding.
Can you break a Benjamin?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
She's a lovely lady, actually.
I'm guessing you have Wi-Fi.
I'm gonna check the BOLO on Mateo here.
And if I was him, I'd be laying low.
Best way to find him is
to know what's he mixed up in.
Clearly, I have no idea.
I mean, one day,
we're playing laser tag,
the next, he's shooting actual people.
Sorry again about that, by the way.
Yeah, well
Any idea what he took from NCIS?
Well, Kasie texted me,
said that was a dead end.
Mateo wiped his trail clean.
Or he just thinks he did.
What does that mean?
Well, the chatter
that led me to your son
came from a dark web forum
called Elusive Dream.
Can we trace it?
Not a chance.
It's anonymous by design.
But I do happen to know that
Elusive Dream uses I2P encrypted tunnels
to cover their tracks.
So if Mateo used their tool kit
to cover his own tracks,
you should have Kasie follow
the I2P traffic in the metadata.
And that might tell us
what Mateo was looking for
in the NCIS stack.
Is this the same Tony
that superglued your fingers
to your keyboard?
What the hell just came out
of your mouth?
Mm. Impressive, I know.
I've changed, Tim.
Accept the new me.
[HUSHED]: And you got this info
from DiNozzo?
The same DiNozzo who dressed up
as Fat Elvis for Halloween?
MCGEE: You know, I'm getting
worried he's been body-snatched.
And why are you whispering?
Ugh. You don't want to know.
NCIS has always been a great agency.
Under my leadership,
it will be an exceptional one.
My ears are bleeding.
I just threw up in my mouth.
You know, maybe we should
give him a chance, you know?
You can't argue with the efficiency.
He already approved a lab order
that I have been
waiting weeks to
Ooh. No, never I hate him.
[BEEPING]
Ooh. I also got a hit.
DiNozzo's idea worked.
Can you see what Mateo was after?
Yeah, looks like he downloaded
Ooh, that's not good.
And by "not good," you mean?
Mateo stole the dossier on
SECNAV's entire security detail.
Oh, yeah. Not good at all.
All right, get that to McGee and Torres.
We got to warn SECNAV.
She could be in danger.
At least we get to leave early.
As this new day dawns,
I hope to conduct my tenure at NCIS
- in the spirit of
- [CHAIR SCRAPING LOUDLY]
mutual respect.
Which brings me to my next point.
Progress demands
a willingness to change.
MCGEE: I can't believe
the Wi-Fi went down again.
At least the toilets are back up.
TORRES: Are these files
from Kasie as bad as it looks?
It looks like
someone's planning an attack
on the Secretary of the Navy, so, yes.
All right. We'll have
to check in with Parker.
You know, this data
was encrypted when Mateo downloaded it.
Maybe he didn't know what he was taking.
I'm happy to bet on that.
And for what it's worth,
I know how you feel.
You know what they say
about having kids.
It's like having your heart
walk around outside your body.
I'm scared, Tony.
Fear doesn't mean you're failing.
It means you're paying attention.
And I'll bet on this.
If NCIS Special Agent Tim McGee
is paying attention,
it is all gonna work out.
Appreciate that, Tony. Thank you.
Well, our kids are gonna be
who they're gonna be.
Sometimes they're hacking
federal agencies,
sometimes they're blinding hired
mercenaries with toxic gas.
- Wait. What?
- It's a long story.
Just don't get
on my daughter's bad side.
She has a knack for getting in trouble.
- Hmm.
- Speaking of trouble
Shermerville Ice Rink.
Does that ring a bell?
You know what? Actually, it does.
Yeah, this is on SECNAV's list
of-of regular destinations.
Yeah, but the SECNAV is at the Pentagon
surrounded by a dozen agents.
There's no way she's the target.
Thanks. She wasn't.
It was her daughter. That was Knight.
Two gunmen just took off with
SECNAV's kid at that ice rink.
Where where was her security?
She had two agents assigned to her.
They're both dead.
And, McGee, they already got ballistics.
It was Mateo's gun.
[QUIET CHATTER]
[DOOR OPENS]
Everyone, take five.
WORKER: Yes, sir.
How did this happen?
We had a security breach.
We are still digging into it,
Madam Secretary.
That's one hell of a security breach.
They had my daughter's schedule.
We'll get her back.
Do we know what the kidnappers want?
We just got their demands.
We have 20 hours
to release some kind of file.
Some kind of file? What's in it?
We don't know yet. All we have
is the docket number.
From an old, outdated filing system.
We have people looking now.
So, basically, you have nothing.
My daughter's life is on
the line, and you have nothing.
We have a suspect, actually.
We believe this man is involved
with your daughter's kidnapping.
But the evidence is circumstantial.
MARSH: This is the son of the man
I passed over for Deputy
Director last year, is it not?
Agent McGee, yes, which is why
I immediately took him off the case,
in case there's a connection.
Ma'am, Agent McGee believes
that his son is being
manipulated in some way.
That he's just an innocent pawn.
I got two dead bodies
that say otherwise.
What does Mr. DiNozzo think?
Excuse me?
What is Anthony DiNozzo's read
on the suspect?
- Um
- And Agent Torres, as well.
They were the first to suspect
something was amiss, were they not?
Uh
Actually, Agent Torres has been
in the field.
He's just pulled up in the parking lot.
He has? Right.
That's right.
DiNozzo is right behind him.
Let me know
as soon as they're debriefed.
Right now, I need to debrief my husband.
Is Agent Torres really downstairs?
Yeah. I told him to come in.
Thank you.
But if you ever countermand
my orders again,
you're done. Got it?
Yeah, I got it.
And you're welcome.
Got the eyewitness reports
from the abduction.
Anything useful?
Not unless you consider
"two guys in masks" useful.
Either one could be Mateo.
The daughter's cell phone
is a dead end, too.
And no traffic cameras in the area
- to I.D. the getaway car.
- Where's DiNozzo?
When he found out that SECNAV was here,
- he, uh, headed back to McGee.
- What's that about?
I don't know. I barely know the guy.
But I think
McGee will be happy to have him.
He's pretty beat up.
Yeah, he's gonna be
until we find his son.
Speaking of beat up, what the
hell is going on with the walls?
Someone's redecorating.
Well, that was quick.
Wait till you see the mints.
Laroche's own personal
White House M&M's.
Yeah, well, McGee doesn't need M&M's.
- He needs us to find his son.
- KASIE: Found him.
Or his cell phone, at least.
Mateo just turned it on.
Really? He had to have known
we'd be trying to track it.
Maybe he wants us to find him.
Then let's go find him.
Torres, SECNAV wants to talk to you.
She's in MTAC. Thanks, Kase.
Knight, let's move.
PARKER: Yeah, it's Mateo.
I can't quite see
who he's talking to, though.
KNIGHT: Maybe it's
one of the kidnappers.
Eyewitnesses said
there were two of them.
Does Mateo look like he's under duress?
He looks all kinds of duressed.
Well, let's go get him.
- All right.
- [TIRES SQUEALING]
Hang on.
I think there's about to be
a flag on the play here.
Why haven't you answered my calls?
We got kind of busy.
We got eyes on Mateo.
LAROCHE: Yes!
Good.
Nice work, team.
I will call in REACT.
There's no need. We got this.
We're doing this by the book.
That kid's already shot one person.
DiNozzo said that was an accident.
This could be a trap.
You aren't thinking clearly.
We just magically get a ping
on his cell phone? Come on.
For all we know,
that ping was a cry for help.
He might be in trouble.
We have no idea who's with him.
We do now.
LAROCHE: Son of a bitch.
Call McGee's cell.
KNIGHT: We've been trying to.
He's not answering.
I don't like this one bit.
McGee's either a hostage, or
he's helping his son get away.
You're out of your mind.
Come on, Knight. Let's move.
Belay that. I already told you,
we are waiting for REACT.
Mateo knows us,
but if you escalate this,
you're gonna get someone shot!
And I'm trying to stop you
from getting shot.
This isn't a discussion.
I forbid any agents
from going in that diner
until after REAC
gives us the all-clear.
And that's final.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but he did say
he forbids any "agents," right?
I turned my phone back on
because I didn't know what else to do.
Why didn't you come to me sooner?
Like, much sooner.
You-you know you can trust me, right?
But you don't know these people.
And you do?
Not exactly, but I'm
I'm pretty sure
I shot one of those guys.
Not exactly.
Last year,
when Mom went missing, I needed
some help forging documents,
and it turns out that
people that do that
expect more than money.
Let me guess. They wanted a favor.
They called it in last week.
They knew that my dad worked for NCIS.
And if I didn't steal that info,
they would hurt Mom.
But I didn't know why they
wanted me to take that stuff.
They used it to kidnap the
Secretary of the Navy's daughter.
What?
And both of the protective agents
watching her were killed using your gun.
What?!
Keep your voice down.
Mateo, keep your voice down.
[QUIETLY]: It wasn't me.
I left my gun at the drop,
along with all of that info.
Look, I understand, okay?
We can fix this.
How? You thought that I was a murderer.
This is all a mistake. I mean,
why did you even come here?
TONY: Because he's your dad.
And he only wants to help.
Refill?
Tony, what are you doing here?
Trying to make sure
nobody else takes a bullet.
Oh, my God. You're the guy that I shot.
Do you you know him?
It's a long story.
TONY: One that will have to wait.
Parker sent me here
to give you a heads-up.
This place is about to go
Dog Day Afternoon.
Why? Who else knows we're here?
Someone who wants to yell
- into a megaphone.
- Laroche?
Plus the boys in body armor
and sniper rifles.
Which did not end well for John Cazale.
[LAROCHE GROANS]
LAROCHE: Now we got a waiter in the mix.
Seems awfully chatty.
Five-star service.
That was Kasie. She found the files
that the kidnappers are looking for.
What's in it?
No idea.
Kasie said the data's corrupted.
Some no-bid contractor
botched the archive migration.
Can it be repaired?
Kasie's word was "hopeless"?
[HORN BUZZING]
Good. Cavalry's here.
AGENT: Go, go, go, go, go!
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
- AGENT 2: Got visual!
AGENT 3 [OVER RADIO]: Eyes on the door.
- Any weapons?
- PARKER: Apparently, no need.
AGENT 3: Got two coming out.
One of them's tied.
Guess sometimes talking works.
AGENT 4 [OVER RADIO]: Stand down.
AGENT 3: Copy that. REACT standing down.
Get that kid back to NCIS.
[RADIO CHATTER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
Agent Parker.
For you, good sir.
And Director. Two sugars?
You sent DiNozzo in?
You said no agents. He's not an agent.
And I told you what would happen
if you countermanded one
of my orders ever again.
Your badge and credentials.
Excuse me?
Special Agent Alden Parker,
you are hereby relieved of duty.
You're fired.
You fired Parker for my actions.
I fired Parker for his.
But I have to admit,
I am surprised by your behavior.
I thought you and I were more alike.
Thank you?
I thought we both understood
what it means to protect
the integrity of this agency.
I also understood
that my son needed help.
Mateo is not a killer. He's being used.
You're a good father, Tim.
Today, that made you a bad agent.
I don't know.
I'm not that bad of an agent.
I got a vehicle description from
Mateo before he surrendered.
He said that there is a car
that has been following him.
It's got to be related
to the kidnapping.
Now, we got a partial plate number.
So, how about,
instead of standing around,
we pull the traffic cams
and track the kidnappers?
Forget the traffic cams.
Right now, our best chance
of saving SECNAV's daughter
is finding what the kidnappers want.
Kasie already found the file.
It's a dead end.
You give up too quickly.
[KNOCKING]
KASIE: Director? Hi. It's Kasie.
Hello? Director?
Director, that, uh, file
that we've been looking for
might not be a dead end.
I took your advice
and checked the archivist notes.
Turns out,
I found a notation that suggests
the original physical copy still exists.
- Nice work.
- Before we spike the sportsball,
the notation doesn't say
which archive the file's been stored in.
Not sure if you've heard,
we have a lot of archives in D.C.
Well, find it.
Hmm.
Agent McGee,
you are hereby suspended,
pending review.
I met my son at a diner.
I would meet any frightened suspect
that reached out to me for help.
If our positions were reversed,
I'm sure you'd be suspending me, too.
Then I guess
we're not as alike as you think.
[SIGHS]
MORTON: So you're tracking
down a kidnapper's car, huh?
You federal agents
all treat the department
like it's your personal concierge.
Flash a badge, demand records,
then vanish
till they need another favor.
Not you, Agent Parker.
You ask nicely.
You always remember my mother's name.
- How is Doris?
- You never miss.
Which is why
I'm pretending not to notice
that neither of you
is even wearing a badge.
Relax. Midatabase es sudatabase.
Just try not to break anything.
I'm looking at you, DiNozzo.
You remember me?
I remember the ashtray you
dropped the last time you were here.
It was a gift.
From Lee Iacocca.
TONY: Mm.
Thanks.
Well, I think Morton has had
this job a long time.
I used to have a job.
Well, now you have a former coworker
and his son who need your help.
Let's just find the car
that was following Mateo
before we end up
with warrants for our arrest.
TONY: I wouldn't worry
too much about Laroche.
Every new director comes
with growing pains.
Vance split up our entire team
on day one.
Yeah, I heard you tell
that story at the funeral.
But, uh, Laroche isn't Vance.
No one is.
Maybe just give it time.
I can see you are not
the give-it-time type of guy.
[BEEPING]
There we go. That's our kidnappers.
PARKER: Gray sedan,
just like Mateo said.
Can't see the full plate, though.
TONY: Let's download everything,
from the kidnapping
to when Mateo said
he was being followed.
Uh-oh.
Did we break something?
Apparently, viewing access
and download access
are not the same thing.
Are you sure Barbara wanted to
meet us in the evidence garage?
It's hard to tell.
She spent the whole phone call
whispering about the file
we were looking for.
How long we been standing here?
BARBARA: Psst!
[WHISPERING]: Long enough.
♪
I had to make sure that you two
weren't being followed.
Have you been drinking?
I'm in trouble.
So is SECNAV's daughter.
I know, and you're trying
to find the original copy
of the file the kidnappers want, right?
That's the idea.
Which is why you asked me
for the old NCIS storage ledger.
A ledger that would tell you
where the original file is stored.
Yeah, we know all that.
We called you, remember?
I'm guessing the reason why
you're in trouble
is because of our call?
Fine. You broke me.
[SIGHS]
A few years ago,
I returned to work too soon
after a colonoscopy.
- Okay, say no more.
- Please.
I was so loopy, I tried
to expense a decorative gourd.
- Okay, you said more.
- Well, turns out,
I also failed to input a few ledgers,
including the one you're looking for.
So it's not in the system?
It was an accident.
Under previous leadership,
my mistake would have
merely been embarrassing.
But if Director Laroche finds out,
I'll be balancing books
for a strip mall chiropractor.
Or Spirit Halloween.
Oh, yeah, t-take a deep breath, okay?
Laroche is only getting mad
at field agents.
Field agents, and whatever it is
- we're calling DiNozzo.
- Mm-hmm.
DiNozzo?
As in Tony DiNozzo?
You know him?
In so, so many ways.
- Hmm.
- Barbara?
- Hmm?
- Do you know where the ledger is?
We need it for the file.
[SIGHS] I hope this helps.
Because if you got fired, Nick,
I would really miss the view.
PARKER: We've checked
every camera within five miles
of where we first spotted
that car, but nothing else.
You know, Washington and Paris
have a lot in common.
French design, pointy monuments,
and an irrational fear of right angles.
Well, one's got better wine.
The other's got cameras
that don't seem to point at criminals.
MAN: Keep looking.
- You'll find them.
- You better.
Is that encouragement?
Don't make a big thing of it.
The missing girl is 17, same age
as our granddaughter.
You two are together.
That's a mental image
that's gonna stick.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Oh, excuse me.
All visitors require guest passes.
Yes, I found them.
I will call you back, Madam Secretary.
You're still working the case.
No. I'm working for Salus Mondiale.
We're evaluating
traffic-camera weaknesses
in the tri-state area.
Wonderful.
Evaluate this.
DISTORTED VOICE: We
know you're trying to find us.
Since you have so much free time,
we're moving up the deadline.
Two hours.
- Find the file or she dies.
- [CATHERINE SOBBING]
This morning, we had 20 hours.
Now we have two.
And you came all the way
over here to blame us?
Thankfully, while the two of you
were playing private investigator,
NCIS traced a copy of the file
to an off-site records annex.
Agents are already on their way.
[PHONE RINGING]
Madam Secretary.
It's for you.
Bonjour. Salus Mondiale.
That was fast.
I've been encouraged
to leave the continent.
She mention me?
TORRES: If Barbara's file is here,
it's not gonna be easy to find.
If I wanted to lose something,
this is where I'd put it.
Oh, then we might be in the right place.
KNIGHT: Let's hope so.
We need that file.
According to Barbara's ledger,
cabinet 12, row 43.
What's the file number again?
Let me see.
X-J-one-one-zero-two.
KNIGHT: Mm. Here we go.
Uh
Oh-two. Here we go.
Moment of truth.
Huh. This is a requisition form
for office supplies.
Office supplies from 60 years ago.
Typewriter ribbon,
correction fluid, fax toner.
Nothing in here is even
remotely classified.
Wrong file?
Hmm. Everything matches.
This is exactly
what the kidnappers wanted.
People are getting killed
for paper clips?
No, people don't kidnap the daughters of
high-ranking government
officials over office supplies.
There's got to be something
valuable in that file.
Trust me. I have looked.
Invisible ink? Uh, negative.
Secret messages? Nada.
Hidden codes? None that I've found.
It's the kidnappers' only demand.
There's got to be a reason.
Hold on. Aren't you suspended?
[SCOFFS] Well, technically,
but it doesn't seem
- to stop anyone else.
- Ah.
True. I've heard that Parker and
DiNozzo have resorted to wearing
- fake mustaches.
- Okay, Kasie, I need
I need to help Mateo,
and the only way to do that
is to find the kidnappers
and get SECNAV's daughter back.
[RHYTHMIC, DISTORTED RUMBLING]
Am I the only one hearing that?
Nope. Uh, it's the kidnappers'
demand video.
While everyone else has been
watching, I've been listening.
I stripped out the voices,
uh, in hopes that whatever's
underneath might tell us
where they're holding Catherine.
Maybe an old air conditioner,
or bad plumbing? Just
[RHYTHMIC, DISTORTED RUMBLING CONTINUES]
You hear something, don't you?
Man, I've been listening to this
for an hour, and in two minutes,
- you
- No. Shh.
[RHYTHMIC, DISTORTED RUMBLING CONTINUES]
MARSH: We have what
these people asked for.
This is the file they wanted.
Why aren't we making the exchange?
With respect, Madam Secretary,
NCIS can't hand over something
we don't understand.
It's a supply form,
not the Manhattan Project.
We don't know that for sure.
It could be some kind of code.
What exactly is your plan
for getting my daughter back
Director?
- [SIGHS]
- [INTERCOM RINGING]
Yes.
ASSISTANT: Excuse me, Director.
You asked to be notified if Anthony
DiNozzo entered the building.
He just signed in downstairs.
[ELEVATOR CHIMES]
- [SIGHS]
- LAROCHE: Stop right there!
Call security. Now.
One of these days,
I'll get a warm welcome.
This is what happens when you
ignore my advice, Mr. DiNozzo.
Yes, it is, Madam Secretary, but
if I had, we wouldn't have this.
Did you preload a presentation?
Well, Parker still has the password.
The point is,
we managed to track down
the kidnappers' car again here.
Baltimore Harbor.
Can you narrow down their location?
KASIE: I can. McGee recognized
the background audio
from the hostage video.
It's a dock buoy rubbing
against a ship's hull.
The acoustics narrowed the size
of the vessel.
Parker and DiNozzo gave us
the harbor it was in.
Only one ship fits the profile.
Looks like we got lucky.
MARSH: You found them.
That's where they're holding Catherine.
Agents Torres and Knight, notify REACT.
Have Baltimore PD establish a perimeter.
- On it.
- Wait!
This feels wrong.
Fine. Credit where it's due.
- Mr. DiNozzo, nice work.
- No!
You were right, Kasie.
We got lucky. Too lucky.
What are you talking about?
Mateo just happened to catch
a partial plate,
and the kidnappers avoided
every single traffic camera
like the plague,
but then just happen to go by this one?
And then they just happen
to leave a clue in a hostage video?
Does that sound right to you?
It sounds like good police work.
- I agree.
- It sounds like Die Hard 3.
Simon keeps feeding fake clues
to John McClane.
Actually, it sounds
a little like The Fugitive.
We've all seen that one.
Tommy Lee Jones hears the L Train
in the background of that phone call.
Or the fake engagement in The Proposal.
It's all a misdirect.
- See? She gets it.
- I don't, Mr. DiNozzo.
Are you saying
the kidnappers are film buffs?
No. I'm saying
they're writing the script
and we're following it.
They want us to look at that trawler.
TORRES: Yeah.
It's either a diversion or a trap.
I don't believe this.
I will take evidence
over movie references.
I'd like to think instinct and
experience count for something.
We are moving on that ship.
Torres and Knight, with me. Now.
One of you is right.
God, I hope it's him.
'Cause that file is clearly a dead end.
It is.
Why do you look so excited?
Goonies.
AGENT: We have Team One in position.
[EXPLOSIVE POP]
Go, go, go!
Federal agents!
NCIS!
- Find the girl!
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
♪
AGENT: Move in! What do you see?
- AGENT 2: All clear!
- AGENT 3: Clear! Moving on.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
AGENT 4: Clear left!
AGENT 5: Right side, right side.
[AGENTS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[OBJECT SCRAPING ON FLOOR]
Drop the phone. Slowly.
Who are you?
A fellow Gooniesfan.
Take it easy.
Well, come on.
The 1985 Richard Donner classic.
The bad guys used the kids
to find the treasure.
And that's what you did with that file.
You needed it to find the real treasure.
And we led you right to it.
The cabinet was the real treasure.
Now you got to pick them up, Siskel.
That's funny. I always thought
of myself as more of an Ebert.
Siskel's good.
Two thumbs up.
AGENT 5: Right side, right side.
- AGENT 6: Got nothing!
- Status report.
AGENT 7 [OVER RADIO]:
All compartments clear.
Negative on the hostage.
No indication she was here.
Agents Torres and Knight, report.
[STATIC DRONING OVER RADIO]
Torres and Knight?
- Copy?
- [STATIC DRONING]
GUNMAN: Faster.
You ever try picking up diamonds?
They're slippery. Clearly, somebody
hid these diamonds in a place
where nobody would ever find 'em:
government bureaucracy.
[LAUGHING]: It's genius.
[SIGHS]
Clearly wasn't you. Or you.
I mean, this cabinet's older
than any of us.
So who told you what was inside?
Deathbed confession?
Old prison cellmate?
Oh. The problem was,
the cabinet got moved,
and the diamonds were lost forever.
Unless you could find someone
with enough juice in D.C.
to turn this town upside down
and help you find 'em.
Secretary Marsh fit the bill.
Last one. Pick it up.
Oh, wait. There were two.
There we go.
[SIGHS]
Package secure. We're coming out.
KIDNAPPER [OVER RADIO]:
What do I do with the girl?
Kill her. No loose ends.
That includes you.
You know, in moments like this,
I really miss having a team.
Federal agents.
Do not move.
That's why I borrowed one.
Those guns do anything
but hit the floor, so do you.
Talk to me, Parker.
We got the girl?
PARKER [OVER RADIO]: We got her, Tony.
- She's safe.
- [ELEVATOR CHIMES]
We're, uh we're going
right over here, Catherine.
Right this way.
Mom.
Oh!
- Oh, I got you.
- I know.
[CRYING]: I know.
MARSH: I was so worried.
Oh, you're okay, baby.
I'm here.
This will never happen again.
Parenthood.
Best thing that'll ever happen to you.
And the scariest.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
How's Mateo doing?
Well, we'll see.
He's no longer facing murder charges.
Though I just wish
he'd trusted me a little more.
I guess we need to work on that.
LAROCHE: You ignored a direct order.
- Yes, sir.
- You jeopardized
- this investigation.
- Yes, sir.
LAROCHE: This is unacceptable.
Agent McGee.
A word?
[SIGHS]
Wish me luck?
Luck.
♪
LAROCHE: I tell you one thing,
and you disobey me.
And these two
[LAROCHE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
You are absolutely right, Mr. Reynolds.
My attention has not been
entirely focused on your company.
But if you would just give
Salus Mondiale
one more opportunity to show you what
Hello? Hello.
Hello.
Au revoir.
MARSH: Mr. DiNozzo?
Madam Secretary.
How can Salus Mondiale
help the U.S. Navy?
Well, from the sound of things,
you're the one that needs the help.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Well, we're calling it a growth period.
I came to say thank you.
Wrong office. Thank Parker and his team,
assuming it's still his team?
It is. I made sure of that.
Then I guess it's a happy ending.
One that almost didn't happen.
Turns out, I put the wrong
person in the director's chair.
I shouldn't have let
my first choice say no.
The timing was complicated.
Yes. That was the excuse
you gave for turning me down.
Complicated.
This case made things simple.
The director of NCIS
has to be willing to listen.
To challenge assumptions.
Gabriel Laroche is not that man.
You are.
Thank you, but nothing's changed.
- Tali is
- Is a two-hour flight away.
And the only reason why you're
trying to open an office in D.C.
Well, there's Ziva.
I mean, I would have
to talk to her and
I have it on good authority
she told you to take the job
the first time I asked.
You two have already spoken.
I guess when you look at it,
it's not really that complicated.
Your country needs you.
How long do I have to decide?
You don't. The press release
went out an hour ago.
See you Monday, Director DiNozzo.
[LAUGHING]: You you can't
Wait. What?
Why didn't you tell me I had a son?
OLIVIA: Now that you know,
where do we go from here?
I would like to be a part
of Mateo's life.
My job is to restore confidence
in this agency.
Why? What do you get out of all of this?
LAROCHE: I think I
already have what I need.
Is that Mateo? Ah, you guys
are getting thick as thieves.
I think there's something
that I got to tell you.
I I don't think NCIS is for me.
Mateo asked to use a workstation
to fill out an internship application.
That's not what he said to his dad.
Hey, Mateo. Why are you lying to me?
I said drop it.
Mateo, keep your hands
where I can see 'em.
[GUNSHOT]
- [SIREN WAILING]
- [CAMERA CLICKING]
- [ENGINE REVVING]
- [TIRES SQUEALING]
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[PANTING]
- Nick?
- Hey.
Nick, where's Mateo? Is he
is he in the ambulance or?
No, no, no, but try to calm down.
Calm down? I heard that you
you got in a gunfight with my son?
It sure as hell looks
like someone got shot.
- They did, but
- Clearly, you're not the one
that's hit, so where's Mateo?
I don't know, okay? I don't know.
But he didn't get shot, either.
He didn't?
No.
[PANTING]
Then whose blood is that?
Actually
it's mine.
Hey, Tim.
How's things?
♪
[PHONE RINGING]
Greetings and salutations.
You've reached Salus Mondiale's
new D.C. satellite office.
How?
Oh.
You want me to put what where?
That's, like, seven different
kinds of illegal,
depending on what country you're in.
[PHONE CLICKS, DIAL TONE DRONES]
Appreciate the creativity.
I just got this number.
Quiet Tuesdays.
I beg your pardon?
No talking in the bullpen on Tuesdays.
If you want to talk
on the phone, you have to
rent one of those.
Actually, I'm really not even
supposed to be here.
I rented a private office
on another floor.
A much higher floor, with secure lines,
and it even had a SCIF
if you must know.
I didn't need to, no.
I'm opening up a U.S. branch
Yeah, we heard.
Your fancy French security firm.
But there was a mix-up,
and you're down here
with the grunts
until things get cleared up.
[SNEEZING]
Or I die from Ebola.
It was a joke.
Agree to disagree.
[AIR HISSING]
[PHONE RINGING]
Greetings and salutations.
You've reached Salus Mondiale's
new D.C. satellite office.
Boris, hey.
Did you make it to Marrakech?
Really? Are you sure?
And you definitely heard
the kid say "NCIS"?
All right. Give me an address.
MCGEE: And who's Boris?
A hacker I know was running wiretaps
in some of my old stomping grounds.
What were they looking for?
Well, with that guy,
it's best not to ask.
He heard some bad-guy chatter
about NCIS.
Something about a dead drop
that was about to happen.
So, I figured I'd check it out
for old times' sake.
Maybe drum up some business?
Ah. My replacement is handsome
and smart.
Oh, I've been here for ten years.
Don't distract him.
TONY: Well, apparently,
they hired some kid
to make the drop, so I went over
to see what was going on, ran into
Agent Pretty Eyes here, and then
I got shot by the kid, aka your son.
Which, for the record,
is one more son than I knew about.
Look, McGee, nobody shot back. Okay?
Mateo just took off running. He's fine.
"Fine" is not the word that I would use.
Is it me, or is "new son"
something someone mentions?
Do you mean, like,
mentioning to a friend
- that you're in the D.C. area?
- Oh. I was gonna
Or that Interpol Red Notice
out for you and Ziva?
TORRES: Okay, guys,
you both need to chill out.
All right? People live
their lives, they get busy.
Oh, like you were too busy
to tell me about tailing my son?
People don't get that busy.
I thought I was overreacting, okay,
and I didn't want to freak you out.
So what I did was,
I tailed Mateo, and
just hoping that it was nothing.
Clearly, it wasn't nothing.
He shot someone.
I think the gun went off accidentally.
Look at this.
Barely grazed me.
Shot by a McOffspring.
What was he even doing with a gun?
And what-what am I gonna
tell his mother?
Look, whatever Mateo has gotten
into, we'll figure it out.
We will figure this out, Tim.
Together.
- Oh! Watch the arm.
- Sorry.
Can I get in there, or?
All we know is that Mateo took something
from our computer system
and delivered it to somebody.
We don't know who.
Ah, kids today.
You should see my daughter.
We have everyone at NCIS
looking for him, okay?
I promise you, we're gonna find him.
- How did Mom take it?
- Well, how'd Ziva take it
when, uh, those arms dealers
went looking for Tali?
Well, hopefully,
we have a lower body count.
By the way, Ziva is in
the Boston area if we need her.
Uh, what's in Boston?
Tali. She started boarding school.
Mama Bear is, uh, working
at a language institute nearby,
keeping an eye on things
for a few weeks.
Or years. Never can tell with Ziva.
So that's what Papa Bear
is doing in D.C.?
Trying to open a local office?
Yeah, expand the brand.
Plus a little helicopter
parenting, although I didn't
think that would involve getting shot.
MCGEE: Huh.
Or wearing one of your sweatshirts.
I'm just glad
you showed up when you did.
It's pretty crazy, huh?
Yeah, like rule 39 crazy.
No such thing as a coincidence.
You know, the older I get,
the more I feel someone up there is
really watching out for us.
Well, that got a little serious.
It's just being back
in this elevator, you know?
About to start working a case.
Starting to feel that old
[SNAPS FINGERS]
- spark again.
- [ELEVATOR CHIMES]
Hello, orange walls.
Very Special Non-Agent
Anthony DiNozzo is back.
LAROCHE: Get out! Now!
Out! All of you!
- Excuse me?
- Especially you, McGee.
You can't be anywhere near this case.
- This case involves his son.
- Exactly.
And you have broken
every protocol in the book
with your solo investigation.
And the last time I checked,
shooting victims don't work
their own cases.
You think this guy's ever heard
of box breathing?
Who died and put you in charge?
Actually, uh, SECNAV did.
She appointed him the new
NCIS director 30 minutes ago.
- What?
- And the new NCIS director,
aka me,
wants the three of you
out of the building immediately.
Or I will have you thrown out.
[HUMMING AN UPBEAT TUNE]
What a load of crap.
KNIGHT: You really
think Laroche is gonna
- suspend Torres?
- Who's gonna stop him?
- The guy's on a rampage.
- [SCOFFS]
Hey, Jimmy.
Hey. Why do I get the feeling
that I'm, uh, missing something here?
SECNAV just appointed Laroche
new director.
- What?
- Yep.
And he's suspending Torres? Why?
Because McGee's son stole something
from the NCIS computer system.
And then Torres tailed him
without telling anyone.
Oh, slow down. McGee's son stole?
And now the kid is in the wind.
- What'd he take?
- Kasie's working on it.
We just need to stop him
before he shoots somebody else.
He shot someone?
PARKER: Yeah, but that
looks like that was an accident.
Mateo's a good kid.
Whatever he got himself into,
it clearly got away from him.
Okay, McGee has got
to be losing his mind.
Is he upstairs right now?
No, Laroche kicked him out
of the building.
Torres, too.
And they left willingly
with Mateo on the run like that?
No, don't worry. Nobody is
staying away from this case.
They're setting up shop
with Tony as we speak.
Tony?
That's why you can't use the stairs.
And don't touch the tubes.
Nobody knows where they go.
This is your American branch?
Yeah. You got to start somewhere.
Stop right there, Mr. DiNuzzible.
I think we both know it's DiNozzo.
I don't care. What I do care about
is clients bringing in guests
without purchasing guest passes.
Any idea who I'm talking about?
Mm. I think she means us.
Oh, look. Goober has a brain.
- Goober?
- Don't engage.
Or feed her after midnight.
Kidding.
Can you break a Benjamin?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
She's a lovely lady, actually.
I'm guessing you have Wi-Fi.
I'm gonna check the BOLO on Mateo here.
And if I was him, I'd be laying low.
Best way to find him is
to know what's he mixed up in.
Clearly, I have no idea.
I mean, one day,
we're playing laser tag,
the next, he's shooting actual people.
Sorry again about that, by the way.
Yeah, well
Any idea what he took from NCIS?
Well, Kasie texted me,
said that was a dead end.
Mateo wiped his trail clean.
Or he just thinks he did.
What does that mean?
Well, the chatter
that led me to your son
came from a dark web forum
called Elusive Dream.
Can we trace it?
Not a chance.
It's anonymous by design.
But I do happen to know that
Elusive Dream uses I2P encrypted tunnels
to cover their tracks.
So if Mateo used their tool kit
to cover his own tracks,
you should have Kasie follow
the I2P traffic in the metadata.
And that might tell us
what Mateo was looking for
in the NCIS stack.
Is this the same Tony
that superglued your fingers
to your keyboard?
What the hell just came out
of your mouth?
Mm. Impressive, I know.
I've changed, Tim.
Accept the new me.
[HUSHED]: And you got this info
from DiNozzo?
The same DiNozzo who dressed up
as Fat Elvis for Halloween?
MCGEE: You know, I'm getting
worried he's been body-snatched.
And why are you whispering?
Ugh. You don't want to know.
NCIS has always been a great agency.
Under my leadership,
it will be an exceptional one.
My ears are bleeding.
I just threw up in my mouth.
You know, maybe we should
give him a chance, you know?
You can't argue with the efficiency.
He already approved a lab order
that I have been
waiting weeks to
Ooh. No, never I hate him.
[BEEPING]
Ooh. I also got a hit.
DiNozzo's idea worked.
Can you see what Mateo was after?
Yeah, looks like he downloaded
Ooh, that's not good.
And by "not good," you mean?
Mateo stole the dossier on
SECNAV's entire security detail.
Oh, yeah. Not good at all.
All right, get that to McGee and Torres.
We got to warn SECNAV.
She could be in danger.
At least we get to leave early.
As this new day dawns,
I hope to conduct my tenure at NCIS
- in the spirit of
- [CHAIR SCRAPING LOUDLY]
mutual respect.
Which brings me to my next point.
Progress demands
a willingness to change.
MCGEE: I can't believe
the Wi-Fi went down again.
At least the toilets are back up.
TORRES: Are these files
from Kasie as bad as it looks?
It looks like
someone's planning an attack
on the Secretary of the Navy, so, yes.
All right. We'll have
to check in with Parker.
You know, this data
was encrypted when Mateo downloaded it.
Maybe he didn't know what he was taking.
I'm happy to bet on that.
And for what it's worth,
I know how you feel.
You know what they say
about having kids.
It's like having your heart
walk around outside your body.
I'm scared, Tony.
Fear doesn't mean you're failing.
It means you're paying attention.
And I'll bet on this.
If NCIS Special Agent Tim McGee
is paying attention,
it is all gonna work out.
Appreciate that, Tony. Thank you.
Well, our kids are gonna be
who they're gonna be.
Sometimes they're hacking
federal agencies,
sometimes they're blinding hired
mercenaries with toxic gas.
- Wait. What?
- It's a long story.
Just don't get
on my daughter's bad side.
She has a knack for getting in trouble.
- Hmm.
- Speaking of trouble
Shermerville Ice Rink.
Does that ring a bell?
You know what? Actually, it does.
Yeah, this is on SECNAV's list
of-of regular destinations.
Yeah, but the SECNAV is at the Pentagon
surrounded by a dozen agents.
There's no way she's the target.
Thanks. She wasn't.
It was her daughter. That was Knight.
Two gunmen just took off with
SECNAV's kid at that ice rink.
Where where was her security?
She had two agents assigned to her.
They're both dead.
And, McGee, they already got ballistics.
It was Mateo's gun.
[QUIET CHATTER]
[DOOR OPENS]
Everyone, take five.
WORKER: Yes, sir.
How did this happen?
We had a security breach.
We are still digging into it,
Madam Secretary.
That's one hell of a security breach.
They had my daughter's schedule.
We'll get her back.
Do we know what the kidnappers want?
We just got their demands.
We have 20 hours
to release some kind of file.
Some kind of file? What's in it?
We don't know yet. All we have
is the docket number.
From an old, outdated filing system.
We have people looking now.
So, basically, you have nothing.
My daughter's life is on
the line, and you have nothing.
We have a suspect, actually.
We believe this man is involved
with your daughter's kidnapping.
But the evidence is circumstantial.
MARSH: This is the son of the man
I passed over for Deputy
Director last year, is it not?
Agent McGee, yes, which is why
I immediately took him off the case,
in case there's a connection.
Ma'am, Agent McGee believes
that his son is being
manipulated in some way.
That he's just an innocent pawn.
I got two dead bodies
that say otherwise.
What does Mr. DiNozzo think?
Excuse me?
What is Anthony DiNozzo's read
on the suspect?
- Um
- And Agent Torres, as well.
They were the first to suspect
something was amiss, were they not?
Uh
Actually, Agent Torres has been
in the field.
He's just pulled up in the parking lot.
He has? Right.
That's right.
DiNozzo is right behind him.
Let me know
as soon as they're debriefed.
Right now, I need to debrief my husband.
Is Agent Torres really downstairs?
Yeah. I told him to come in.
Thank you.
But if you ever countermand
my orders again,
you're done. Got it?
Yeah, I got it.
And you're welcome.
Got the eyewitness reports
from the abduction.
Anything useful?
Not unless you consider
"two guys in masks" useful.
Either one could be Mateo.
The daughter's cell phone
is a dead end, too.
And no traffic cameras in the area
- to I.D. the getaway car.
- Where's DiNozzo?
When he found out that SECNAV was here,
- he, uh, headed back to McGee.
- What's that about?
I don't know. I barely know the guy.
But I think
McGee will be happy to have him.
He's pretty beat up.
Yeah, he's gonna be
until we find his son.
Speaking of beat up, what the
hell is going on with the walls?
Someone's redecorating.
Well, that was quick.
Wait till you see the mints.
Laroche's own personal
White House M&M's.
Yeah, well, McGee doesn't need M&M's.
- He needs us to find his son.
- KASIE: Found him.
Or his cell phone, at least.
Mateo just turned it on.
Really? He had to have known
we'd be trying to track it.
Maybe he wants us to find him.
Then let's go find him.
Torres, SECNAV wants to talk to you.
She's in MTAC. Thanks, Kase.
Knight, let's move.
PARKER: Yeah, it's Mateo.
I can't quite see
who he's talking to, though.
KNIGHT: Maybe it's
one of the kidnappers.
Eyewitnesses said
there were two of them.
Does Mateo look like he's under duress?
He looks all kinds of duressed.
Well, let's go get him.
- All right.
- [TIRES SQUEALING]
Hang on.
I think there's about to be
a flag on the play here.
Why haven't you answered my calls?
We got kind of busy.
We got eyes on Mateo.
LAROCHE: Yes!
Good.
Nice work, team.
I will call in REACT.
There's no need. We got this.
We're doing this by the book.
That kid's already shot one person.
DiNozzo said that was an accident.
This could be a trap.
You aren't thinking clearly.
We just magically get a ping
on his cell phone? Come on.
For all we know,
that ping was a cry for help.
He might be in trouble.
We have no idea who's with him.
We do now.
LAROCHE: Son of a bitch.
Call McGee's cell.
KNIGHT: We've been trying to.
He's not answering.
I don't like this one bit.
McGee's either a hostage, or
he's helping his son get away.
You're out of your mind.
Come on, Knight. Let's move.
Belay that. I already told you,
we are waiting for REACT.
Mateo knows us,
but if you escalate this,
you're gonna get someone shot!
And I'm trying to stop you
from getting shot.
This isn't a discussion.
I forbid any agents
from going in that diner
until after REAC
gives us the all-clear.
And that's final.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but he did say
he forbids any "agents," right?
I turned my phone back on
because I didn't know what else to do.
Why didn't you come to me sooner?
Like, much sooner.
You-you know you can trust me, right?
But you don't know these people.
And you do?
Not exactly, but I'm
I'm pretty sure
I shot one of those guys.
Not exactly.
Last year,
when Mom went missing, I needed
some help forging documents,
and it turns out that
people that do that
expect more than money.
Let me guess. They wanted a favor.
They called it in last week.
They knew that my dad worked for NCIS.
And if I didn't steal that info,
they would hurt Mom.
But I didn't know why they
wanted me to take that stuff.
They used it to kidnap the
Secretary of the Navy's daughter.
What?
And both of the protective agents
watching her were killed using your gun.
What?!
Keep your voice down.
Mateo, keep your voice down.
[QUIETLY]: It wasn't me.
I left my gun at the drop,
along with all of that info.
Look, I understand, okay?
We can fix this.
How? You thought that I was a murderer.
This is all a mistake. I mean,
why did you even come here?
TONY: Because he's your dad.
And he only wants to help.
Refill?
Tony, what are you doing here?
Trying to make sure
nobody else takes a bullet.
Oh, my God. You're the guy that I shot.
Do you you know him?
It's a long story.
TONY: One that will have to wait.
Parker sent me here
to give you a heads-up.
This place is about to go
Dog Day Afternoon.
Why? Who else knows we're here?
Someone who wants to yell
- into a megaphone.
- Laroche?
Plus the boys in body armor
and sniper rifles.
Which did not end well for John Cazale.
[LAROCHE GROANS]
LAROCHE: Now we got a waiter in the mix.
Seems awfully chatty.
Five-star service.
That was Kasie. She found the files
that the kidnappers are looking for.
What's in it?
No idea.
Kasie said the data's corrupted.
Some no-bid contractor
botched the archive migration.
Can it be repaired?
Kasie's word was "hopeless"?
[HORN BUZZING]
Good. Cavalry's here.
AGENT: Go, go, go, go, go!
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
- AGENT 2: Got visual!
AGENT 3 [OVER RADIO]: Eyes on the door.
- Any weapons?
- PARKER: Apparently, no need.
AGENT 3: Got two coming out.
One of them's tied.
Guess sometimes talking works.
AGENT 4 [OVER RADIO]: Stand down.
AGENT 3: Copy that. REACT standing down.
Get that kid back to NCIS.
[RADIO CHATTER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
Agent Parker.
For you, good sir.
And Director. Two sugars?
You sent DiNozzo in?
You said no agents. He's not an agent.
And I told you what would happen
if you countermanded one
of my orders ever again.
Your badge and credentials.
Excuse me?
Special Agent Alden Parker,
you are hereby relieved of duty.
You're fired.
You fired Parker for my actions.
I fired Parker for his.
But I have to admit,
I am surprised by your behavior.
I thought you and I were more alike.
Thank you?
I thought we both understood
what it means to protect
the integrity of this agency.
I also understood
that my son needed help.
Mateo is not a killer. He's being used.
You're a good father, Tim.
Today, that made you a bad agent.
I don't know.
I'm not that bad of an agent.
I got a vehicle description from
Mateo before he surrendered.
He said that there is a car
that has been following him.
It's got to be related
to the kidnapping.
Now, we got a partial plate number.
So, how about,
instead of standing around,
we pull the traffic cams
and track the kidnappers?
Forget the traffic cams.
Right now, our best chance
of saving SECNAV's daughter
is finding what the kidnappers want.
Kasie already found the file.
It's a dead end.
You give up too quickly.
[KNOCKING]
KASIE: Director? Hi. It's Kasie.
Hello? Director?
Director, that, uh, file
that we've been looking for
might not be a dead end.
I took your advice
and checked the archivist notes.
Turns out,
I found a notation that suggests
the original physical copy still exists.
- Nice work.
- Before we spike the sportsball,
the notation doesn't say
which archive the file's been stored in.
Not sure if you've heard,
we have a lot of archives in D.C.
Well, find it.
Hmm.
Agent McGee,
you are hereby suspended,
pending review.
I met my son at a diner.
I would meet any frightened suspect
that reached out to me for help.
If our positions were reversed,
I'm sure you'd be suspending me, too.
Then I guess
we're not as alike as you think.
[SIGHS]
MORTON: So you're tracking
down a kidnapper's car, huh?
You federal agents
all treat the department
like it's your personal concierge.
Flash a badge, demand records,
then vanish
till they need another favor.
Not you, Agent Parker.
You ask nicely.
You always remember my mother's name.
- How is Doris?
- You never miss.
Which is why
I'm pretending not to notice
that neither of you
is even wearing a badge.
Relax. Midatabase es sudatabase.
Just try not to break anything.
I'm looking at you, DiNozzo.
You remember me?
I remember the ashtray you
dropped the last time you were here.
It was a gift.
From Lee Iacocca.
TONY: Mm.
Thanks.
Well, I think Morton has had
this job a long time.
I used to have a job.
Well, now you have a former coworker
and his son who need your help.
Let's just find the car
that was following Mateo
before we end up
with warrants for our arrest.
TONY: I wouldn't worry
too much about Laroche.
Every new director comes
with growing pains.
Vance split up our entire team
on day one.
Yeah, I heard you tell
that story at the funeral.
But, uh, Laroche isn't Vance.
No one is.
Maybe just give it time.
I can see you are not
the give-it-time type of guy.
[BEEPING]
There we go. That's our kidnappers.
PARKER: Gray sedan,
just like Mateo said.
Can't see the full plate, though.
TONY: Let's download everything,
from the kidnapping
to when Mateo said
he was being followed.
Uh-oh.
Did we break something?
Apparently, viewing access
and download access
are not the same thing.
Are you sure Barbara wanted to
meet us in the evidence garage?
It's hard to tell.
She spent the whole phone call
whispering about the file
we were looking for.
How long we been standing here?
BARBARA: Psst!
[WHISPERING]: Long enough.
♪
I had to make sure that you two
weren't being followed.
Have you been drinking?
I'm in trouble.
So is SECNAV's daughter.
I know, and you're trying
to find the original copy
of the file the kidnappers want, right?
That's the idea.
Which is why you asked me
for the old NCIS storage ledger.
A ledger that would tell you
where the original file is stored.
Yeah, we know all that.
We called you, remember?
I'm guessing the reason why
you're in trouble
is because of our call?
Fine. You broke me.
[SIGHS]
A few years ago,
I returned to work too soon
after a colonoscopy.
- Okay, say no more.
- Please.
I was so loopy, I tried
to expense a decorative gourd.
- Okay, you said more.
- Well, turns out,
I also failed to input a few ledgers,
including the one you're looking for.
So it's not in the system?
It was an accident.
Under previous leadership,
my mistake would have
merely been embarrassing.
But if Director Laroche finds out,
I'll be balancing books
for a strip mall chiropractor.
Or Spirit Halloween.
Oh, yeah, t-take a deep breath, okay?
Laroche is only getting mad
at field agents.
Field agents, and whatever it is
- we're calling DiNozzo.
- Mm-hmm.
DiNozzo?
As in Tony DiNozzo?
You know him?
In so, so many ways.
- Hmm.
- Barbara?
- Hmm?
- Do you know where the ledger is?
We need it for the file.
[SIGHS] I hope this helps.
Because if you got fired, Nick,
I would really miss the view.
PARKER: We've checked
every camera within five miles
of where we first spotted
that car, but nothing else.
You know, Washington and Paris
have a lot in common.
French design, pointy monuments,
and an irrational fear of right angles.
Well, one's got better wine.
The other's got cameras
that don't seem to point at criminals.
MAN: Keep looking.
- You'll find them.
- You better.
Is that encouragement?
Don't make a big thing of it.
The missing girl is 17, same age
as our granddaughter.
You two are together.
That's a mental image
that's gonna stick.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Oh, excuse me.
All visitors require guest passes.
Yes, I found them.
I will call you back, Madam Secretary.
You're still working the case.
No. I'm working for Salus Mondiale.
We're evaluating
traffic-camera weaknesses
in the tri-state area.
Wonderful.
Evaluate this.
DISTORTED VOICE: We
know you're trying to find us.
Since you have so much free time,
we're moving up the deadline.
Two hours.
- Find the file or she dies.
- [CATHERINE SOBBING]
This morning, we had 20 hours.
Now we have two.
And you came all the way
over here to blame us?
Thankfully, while the two of you
were playing private investigator,
NCIS traced a copy of the file
to an off-site records annex.
Agents are already on their way.
[PHONE RINGING]
Madam Secretary.
It's for you.
Bonjour. Salus Mondiale.
That was fast.
I've been encouraged
to leave the continent.
She mention me?
TORRES: If Barbara's file is here,
it's not gonna be easy to find.
If I wanted to lose something,
this is where I'd put it.
Oh, then we might be in the right place.
KNIGHT: Let's hope so.
We need that file.
According to Barbara's ledger,
cabinet 12, row 43.
What's the file number again?
Let me see.
X-J-one-one-zero-two.
KNIGHT: Mm. Here we go.
Uh
Oh-two. Here we go.
Moment of truth.
Huh. This is a requisition form
for office supplies.
Office supplies from 60 years ago.
Typewriter ribbon,
correction fluid, fax toner.
Nothing in here is even
remotely classified.
Wrong file?
Hmm. Everything matches.
This is exactly
what the kidnappers wanted.
People are getting killed
for paper clips?
No, people don't kidnap the daughters of
high-ranking government
officials over office supplies.
There's got to be something
valuable in that file.
Trust me. I have looked.
Invisible ink? Uh, negative.
Secret messages? Nada.
Hidden codes? None that I've found.
It's the kidnappers' only demand.
There's got to be a reason.
Hold on. Aren't you suspended?
[SCOFFS] Well, technically,
but it doesn't seem
- to stop anyone else.
- Ah.
True. I've heard that Parker and
DiNozzo have resorted to wearing
- fake mustaches.
- Okay, Kasie, I need
I need to help Mateo,
and the only way to do that
is to find the kidnappers
and get SECNAV's daughter back.
[RHYTHMIC, DISTORTED RUMBLING]
Am I the only one hearing that?
Nope. Uh, it's the kidnappers'
demand video.
While everyone else has been
watching, I've been listening.
I stripped out the voices,
uh, in hopes that whatever's
underneath might tell us
where they're holding Catherine.
Maybe an old air conditioner,
or bad plumbing? Just
[RHYTHMIC, DISTORTED RUMBLING CONTINUES]
You hear something, don't you?
Man, I've been listening to this
for an hour, and in two minutes,
- you
- No. Shh.
[RHYTHMIC, DISTORTED RUMBLING CONTINUES]
MARSH: We have what
these people asked for.
This is the file they wanted.
Why aren't we making the exchange?
With respect, Madam Secretary,
NCIS can't hand over something
we don't understand.
It's a supply form,
not the Manhattan Project.
We don't know that for sure.
It could be some kind of code.
What exactly is your plan
for getting my daughter back
Director?
- [SIGHS]
- [INTERCOM RINGING]
Yes.
ASSISTANT: Excuse me, Director.
You asked to be notified if Anthony
DiNozzo entered the building.
He just signed in downstairs.
[ELEVATOR CHIMES]
- [SIGHS]
- LAROCHE: Stop right there!
Call security. Now.
One of these days,
I'll get a warm welcome.
This is what happens when you
ignore my advice, Mr. DiNozzo.
Yes, it is, Madam Secretary, but
if I had, we wouldn't have this.
Did you preload a presentation?
Well, Parker still has the password.
The point is,
we managed to track down
the kidnappers' car again here.
Baltimore Harbor.
Can you narrow down their location?
KASIE: I can. McGee recognized
the background audio
from the hostage video.
It's a dock buoy rubbing
against a ship's hull.
The acoustics narrowed the size
of the vessel.
Parker and DiNozzo gave us
the harbor it was in.
Only one ship fits the profile.
Looks like we got lucky.
MARSH: You found them.
That's where they're holding Catherine.
Agents Torres and Knight, notify REACT.
Have Baltimore PD establish a perimeter.
- On it.
- Wait!
This feels wrong.
Fine. Credit where it's due.
- Mr. DiNozzo, nice work.
- No!
You were right, Kasie.
We got lucky. Too lucky.
What are you talking about?
Mateo just happened to catch
a partial plate,
and the kidnappers avoided
every single traffic camera
like the plague,
but then just happen to go by this one?
And then they just happen
to leave a clue in a hostage video?
Does that sound right to you?
It sounds like good police work.
- I agree.
- It sounds like Die Hard 3.
Simon keeps feeding fake clues
to John McClane.
Actually, it sounds
a little like The Fugitive.
We've all seen that one.
Tommy Lee Jones hears the L Train
in the background of that phone call.
Or the fake engagement in The Proposal.
It's all a misdirect.
- See? She gets it.
- I don't, Mr. DiNozzo.
Are you saying
the kidnappers are film buffs?
No. I'm saying
they're writing the script
and we're following it.
They want us to look at that trawler.
TORRES: Yeah.
It's either a diversion or a trap.
I don't believe this.
I will take evidence
over movie references.
I'd like to think instinct and
experience count for something.
We are moving on that ship.
Torres and Knight, with me. Now.
One of you is right.
God, I hope it's him.
'Cause that file is clearly a dead end.
It is.
Why do you look so excited?
Goonies.
AGENT: We have Team One in position.
[EXPLOSIVE POP]
Go, go, go!
Federal agents!
NCIS!
- Find the girl!
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
♪
AGENT: Move in! What do you see?
- AGENT 2: All clear!
- AGENT 3: Clear! Moving on.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
AGENT 4: Clear left!
AGENT 5: Right side, right side.
[AGENTS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
[OBJECT SCRAPING ON FLOOR]
Drop the phone. Slowly.
Who are you?
A fellow Gooniesfan.
Take it easy.
Well, come on.
The 1985 Richard Donner classic.
The bad guys used the kids
to find the treasure.
And that's what you did with that file.
You needed it to find the real treasure.
And we led you right to it.
The cabinet was the real treasure.
Now you got to pick them up, Siskel.
That's funny. I always thought
of myself as more of an Ebert.
Siskel's good.
Two thumbs up.
AGENT 5: Right side, right side.
- AGENT 6: Got nothing!
- Status report.
AGENT 7 [OVER RADIO]:
All compartments clear.
Negative on the hostage.
No indication she was here.
Agents Torres and Knight, report.
[STATIC DRONING OVER RADIO]
Torres and Knight?
- Copy?
- [STATIC DRONING]
GUNMAN: Faster.
You ever try picking up diamonds?
They're slippery. Clearly, somebody
hid these diamonds in a place
where nobody would ever find 'em:
government bureaucracy.
[LAUGHING]: It's genius.
[SIGHS]
Clearly wasn't you. Or you.
I mean, this cabinet's older
than any of us.
So who told you what was inside?
Deathbed confession?
Old prison cellmate?
Oh. The problem was,
the cabinet got moved,
and the diamonds were lost forever.
Unless you could find someone
with enough juice in D.C.
to turn this town upside down
and help you find 'em.
Secretary Marsh fit the bill.
Last one. Pick it up.
Oh, wait. There were two.
There we go.
[SIGHS]
Package secure. We're coming out.
KIDNAPPER [OVER RADIO]:
What do I do with the girl?
Kill her. No loose ends.
That includes you.
You know, in moments like this,
I really miss having a team.
Federal agents.
Do not move.
That's why I borrowed one.
Those guns do anything
but hit the floor, so do you.
Talk to me, Parker.
We got the girl?
PARKER [OVER RADIO]: We got her, Tony.
- She's safe.
- [ELEVATOR CHIMES]
We're, uh we're going
right over here, Catherine.
Right this way.
Mom.
Oh!
- Oh, I got you.
- I know.
[CRYING]: I know.
MARSH: I was so worried.
Oh, you're okay, baby.
I'm here.
This will never happen again.
Parenthood.
Best thing that'll ever happen to you.
And the scariest.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
How's Mateo doing?
Well, we'll see.
He's no longer facing murder charges.
Though I just wish
he'd trusted me a little more.
I guess we need to work on that.
LAROCHE: You ignored a direct order.
- Yes, sir.
- You jeopardized
- this investigation.
- Yes, sir.
LAROCHE: This is unacceptable.
Agent McGee.
A word?
[SIGHS]
Wish me luck?
Luck.
♪
LAROCHE: I tell you one thing,
and you disobey me.
And these two
[LAROCHE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
You are absolutely right, Mr. Reynolds.
My attention has not been
entirely focused on your company.
But if you would just give
Salus Mondiale
one more opportunity to show you what
Hello? Hello.
Hello.
Au revoir.
MARSH: Mr. DiNozzo?
Madam Secretary.
How can Salus Mondiale
help the U.S. Navy?
Well, from the sound of things,
you're the one that needs the help.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Well, we're calling it a growth period.
I came to say thank you.
Wrong office. Thank Parker and his team,
assuming it's still his team?
It is. I made sure of that.
Then I guess it's a happy ending.
One that almost didn't happen.
Turns out, I put the wrong
person in the director's chair.
I shouldn't have let
my first choice say no.
The timing was complicated.
Yes. That was the excuse
you gave for turning me down.
Complicated.
This case made things simple.
The director of NCIS
has to be willing to listen.
To challenge assumptions.
Gabriel Laroche is not that man.
You are.
Thank you, but nothing's changed.
- Tali is
- Is a two-hour flight away.
And the only reason why you're
trying to open an office in D.C.
Well, there's Ziva.
I mean, I would have
to talk to her and
I have it on good authority
she told you to take the job
the first time I asked.
You two have already spoken.
I guess when you look at it,
it's not really that complicated.
Your country needs you.
How long do I have to decide?
You don't. The press release
went out an hour ago.
See you Monday, Director DiNozzo.
[LAUGHING]: You you can't
Wait. What?