NCIS s24e04 Episode Script

1
[ENGINE REVVING]
MOM: Don't you just love nature?
- You smell that?
- Yeah, I do.
- [PHONE BUZZING]
- Don't you dare.
- Mom, I'm not doing anything.
- [SCOFFS]
You promised. No texts, no games.
Fine. I'll turn it off.
Thank you.
Um, what are you doing?
- It's work, one second.
- Mom.
[SCOFFS]
You're low-key being a hypocrite.
- MOM: Oh, my God, Finn.
- FINN: What?
The point is for you to realize
the beauty all around you IRL.
Or we could just go home
and both be on our phones.
You're right. I make the rules.
I'm not above them.
No phones for anyone.
But first, a selfie.
[QUIETLY]: Okay, here we go.
Oh, my God.
The light is perfect.
- Okay, I'm gonna tag you.
- Please don't.
- On all platforms. [CHUCKLES]
- [SCOFFS]
♪
Guys, Parker needs us
to catch up on these ROIs.
Who wants to help out?
- Oh, love to help, love to help.
- Ooh, yeah.
But I got tons of important
things to to think about.
Okay. Knight, leaves us.
Agent Knight, a word
about the Anderson case.
Oh, uh
The Anderson case.
What is the Anderson case?
Beats me.
Excuse me, Director,
I think I'm a little behind,
- but what is the
- Anderson case? It's nothing.
I made it up. It's a cover.
[CHUCKLES] Well,
it's not a very good cover
because McGee's about to
find out it's not a real case.
[CHUCKLES] I know,
but it'll take him a hot minute.
Anderson?
So, uh, I need to talk to you
about something personal.
About Ziva having me
monitor your sugar intake?
Yeah, I'm not thrilled about it.
It's not about the sugar.
It's about my daughter.
And, uh
I just, I feel like you're
the person I should talk to.
- Because I'm a woman?
- Yes.
Which means that
you were once a teenage girl.
Guilty as charged.
So, when Tali first got
to boarding school
it was her decision to go
she was calling me every night,
and she would text me constantly
asking for advice
You guys are close, that's great.
Yeah.
And then, the phone calls stopped.
And now, the texting has stopped.
And when I reach out to say hello,
all I get is a "K" in response.
Yeah, that's harsh.
I don't like the letter K.
I think I know what's happening.
Boarding school cult?
Dead Poets Society,
but with skin care products?
I think Tali's made friends.
Boyfriends?
Like, a normal group of friends.
She's got a life
and she's enjoying school.
Yeah, that's what Ziva said, too.
You need a second opinion?
I need an American opinion.
I mean, Ziva's upbringing is
- just a little unconventional.
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
Hey, so we have a dead body
at Little Falls Valley.
Parker, uh, wants us to meet him there.
Unless, you know,
you need me to stay behind
- to work on this mystery
- No.
You go do what you got to do.
I'll keep you in the loop.
Mm.
This Anderson case,
it have anything to do
with the, uh, secret visitor
you had recently?
No. And let's keep the secret
in secret visitor.
[SIREN WAILS]
So the Anderson case, huh?
Ooh, first rule about the Anderson case,
don't talk about the Anderson case.
MCGEE: Why, because it's classified?
'Cause I couldn't find
anything about it in the database.
Second rule about the Anderson case
Don't talk about
the Anderson case. I get it.
I just want to know why Tony,
you know, asked you to help out.
Well, I have a particular set of skills
that makes me uniquely qualified.
Oh, yeah? Can your skills shed
some light on who our victim was?
Petty Officer First Class
Mark Brogan, 28.
Stationed at Andrews.
Judging by the disturbance in the dirt
over here, body rolled down the hill
before it landed in the tree.
The old dump and dash. Witnesses?
About 50 of them, actually.
Scattered all across the country.
Look, mother and son
took a photo here this morning.
Posted that to their socials.
They had no idea their selfie
was photobombed by a dead body.
I'm not surprised.
Smartphone distraction
can be a real problem.
This one time, Victoria
was so engrossed in her phone,
she followed a complete stranger
around the Fair Oaks Mall
- thinking it was me.
- Where were you?
I was watching her. Took her a while
before she realized that
she was in the suit section
of the big and tall outlet.
I bet Victoria learned
a valuable lesson.
JIMMY: Mm.
You learn anything about
Petty Officer Brogan here?
Based on the fracture lines and
bone chipping, I'd say it was caused
by a slender chopping weapon.
So, we're looking for
an actual axe murderer.
Yeah, well, look at his torso here,
confirmed that the wounds
had some sort Oh.
Okay.
Is that a costume?
JIMMY: Just like Superman.
No, that's not Superman.
That's Ralph Hinkley.
Come again?
Yeah, Greatest American Hero.
It was a TV series. 1981.
A crime-solving show, but with humor.
Had a catchy little theme song.
I wasn't alive in 1981.
Uh, I'm sorry, the Greatest
American Hero's name was Ralph?
- [PHONE CHIMING]
- Right. Yeah. Well,
the backstory was
Ralph was an-an idealistic
Hang on.
All right, that's gonna have to wait.
Torres found the victim's car
a mile up the road.
TORRES: All right, so the car
is registered to Brogan.
And there's blood in the passenger seat.
PARKER: So, our suspect
dumped the body,
then the car, fled on foot.
TORRES: Yep.
Could be a robbery.
Well, if it was, the robber
left the best stuff behind.
TORRES: My guess is about 50 grand.
What's the Greatest American
Hero doing with all that cash?
KNIGHT: Petty Officer Mark Brogan was
a Navy Information Systems Technician.
So, he's an IT guy.
What we don't know is why this IT guy
was dressed like a superhero.
Well, technically, Ralph Hinkley
was an everyday teacher
who was gifted a power suit
by alien visitors.
But he lost the instruction
manual for how to use it.
That's right. Remember,
he would he would
fly around everywhere,
but crash into everything.
Brick walls, uh, billboards.
A chicken coop one time.
But, yeah, it's true, uh,
we do not know why our victim
was wearing a power suit.
Or why he was carrying 50 grand.
But we do know he hasn't been at work.
He has been on emergency leave
for the past month.
Yeah, Brogan's got a sick kid.
- How sick we talking?
- Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Curable, but he's been in and
out of the hospital for months.
Man, a kid with cancer
and a dead father.
That family's going through it.
Cancer treatment? That comes
with a hefty price tag.
Maybe Brogan got involved
with some shady business
to cover the cost.
Briefcase full of cash go
a long way towards medical debt.
Actually, this briefcase full of cash
won't go very far at all.
Most of it is counterfeit.
Only a thin layer of bills
on top is real.
Oh, flash cash.
It's a trick drug dealers use, right?
The buyer puts, uh, real bills
around the fake bills.
Maybe Brogan tried
a similar scam and got caught.
Brogan has a clean record.
Nothing points to drug dealing.
Let alone scamming other drug dealers.
Yeah, but no telling
what a desperate father
would do to help his family.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
- [PARKER CLEARS THROAT]
Brogan's wife has just been
informed of his death.
She's at the hospital
with their son waiting for us.
[SIGHS] That's gonna be
a tough interview.
I'll take it.
You're a good man, McGee.
- Here you are.
- Thank you.
Sure.
I spent so much time
staring at these walls.
The whole point is to
distract you from reality,
but reality keeps coming.
How's your son?
Better.
Cole's new course
of treatment is working.
His dad was happy.
Again, I'm-I'm sorry for your loss.
Mrs. Brogan, was there anything
in Mark's life that
seemed off lately?
No.
If he wasn't working, he was here.
Just trying to make our boy happy.
He started dressing
as this old TV superhero
just to make him laugh.
- Greatest American Hero?
- [CHUCKLES] Yes.
He looked ridiculous.
The kids in the cancer ward loved it.
Something I have to ask
Were you having any financial issues?
Cole's on experimental
cell therapy. What do you think?
I think cell therapy
is not covered by insurance.
No. We struggled.
Got behind.
Then a few weeks ago,
Mark started paying the bills off.
How'd he manage that?
Some sort of Navy relief fund.
He was working overtime too, and
we were grateful.
Actually, your husband, um,
has been on leave the last month.
[SCOFFS] That's impossible.
We think that Mark may have
found another source of income.
We found a significant amount
of counterfeit cash in his car.
Sorry, uh
Y-You've come to my son's hospital
to accuse my husband
of some sort of crime?
We're just trying
to put together what happened.
What happened is that someone
murdered a good man,
and instead of blaming him,
you should be looking for who did it.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
[DINGS]
- [TONY GRUNTS]
- [BUZZER SOUNDS]
Oh.
- Hey.
- [DINGS]
Agent Knight, what a coincidence.
Hmm. Feels like you sprinted
to get in here.
Uh, more of a speed walk these days.
I have an update on the Anderson case.
Oh, we're still doing that.
Your theory was correct.
- Tali, she has friends.
- Ah. What's this?
I did some light research.
Names, addresses, hobbies.
I didn't want to go crazy.
I thought you were dealing with
the Armed Services Committee today.
I have that under control.
I need to know
my rules of engagement here.
Do I exploit my position?
Take tactical advantage or?
Uh, they are teenage girls,
not an enemy machine gun nest.
- Equally scary.
- Mm.
I got to do something.
Nothing. You do nothing.
The Anderson case is closed.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Jimmy knows about the Anderson case?
I'm also the father
of a teenage daughter.
I-I think it's healthy for
kids to want to break away
from their parents,
you know, form new bonds.
I'm fine with new Bonds.
Sean Connery, Roger Moore.
There can be two Bonds.
Tony, it's time for you
to hang back, all right?
Waiting in the wings
with a credit card and a hug.
Tali will come back.
Is that what happened
with you and Victoria?
That's the hope.
- Let's change the subject.
- Hmm.
Something easier to digest, like murder.
Well, there was nothing easy about, uh,
Petty Officer's murder here.
The head wound here
is just icing on the cake.
There's also extreme rope burns
around his wrists
and bruising underneath his fingernails.
- So he was tied up?
- Mm.
TONY: They didn't just tie him up.
Look at the bruising.
He was hung from something,
and for a long time.
And that is not even the weirdest part.
Look what I found in his stomach.
KNIGHT: Ugh.
Is that what I think it is?
That is a Mexican bark scorpion.
- Did that thing just move?
- No, she's dead,
but might not have been
when Brogan swallowed her.
The Emberá Cartel's been known
to force their enemies
- to swallow scorpions.
- KNIGHT: And trying to scam them
with fake money is a great way
to piss off the cartel.
JIMMY: Well, according to Kasie,
there's only one
local pet importer
who specializes in scorpions.
Okay, in what twisted world
is that thing a pet?
Different cultures, different customs.
And the importer recently
fulfilled an order
for Mexican bark scorpions.
Titan Collective. What is that?
All Kasie knows is that the buyer
wanted to remain anonymous,
paid in cryptocurrency,
had the package shipped
to that warehouse in Anacostia.
Sounds like you're in
for some gas station chili dogs
and bad coffee.
God, I miss stakeouts.
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING]
PARKER: Steel reinforced door,
couple of big dudes out front.
Looks like a cartel hangout.
Might be a drug factory.
PARKER: McGee,
we got two possible suspects out front.
What do you got?
MCGEE [OVER COMMS]:
All we see are walls
and boarded-up windows here.
Whoever's inside
doesn't want us to see in.
We could just knock.
Ask and see if they're
breaking any federal laws.
Unorthodox. I like it.
- [MUFFLED THUD]
- [WOMAN SCREAMS]
♪
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
TORRES: Um, that's a giant pig.
Knight, McGee, move in.
Hands in the air now! Federal agents!
MCGEE: In the air. Get those hands up.
NCIS! Don't move!
Hello? Hands off the piggy.
Is this part of the challenge?
MAN: Cut. Cut!
- Cut!
- Hey, don't move.
- [BELL RINGS]
- WOMAN: That's a cut.
Did Jordan send you guys as another gag?
'Cause those guns look super real.
They are real.
What the hell is going on here?
What's going on is
you just raided the set
of Jackpot's Choose or Lose.
Choose or Lose?
It's the number one competition
show on the Internet.
So
it's not a cartel?
[SMACKS LIPS] It's a game show.
FEMALE VOICE [OVER SPEAKERS]:
Player eliminated.
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
Oh. Ooh, man!
Choose or Lose! ♪
Not sure I see the point of the game.
They stand with their hands
on the piggy bank
until there's only one contestant left.
So it's Hands on a Hardbody?
It's Hands on a Hard Piggy.
Very different, legally speaking.
Chelsea Jacobs. I got this.
You, uh, you must be legal counsel.
And executive producer and
pretty much anything else
that needs an adult in the room.
We're so shocked to hear
Mark Brogan's dead.
Camera loved him.
So Brogan was a contestant
on your game show?
Jackpot's Choose or Lose
isn't just a game show.
It's a sensation.
Jordan's got millions of followers.
You've heard the catch phrase, I'm sure.
"What's it gonna be"
"Choose or Lose?"
My kids watch.
Bottom line is, uh, these people
do crazy stunts for cash.
Yes! Unc here gets it.
"Crazy stunts for cash" is the vibe.
Got five before we need you
on camera, Jordan.
That makes you Jordan Jackpot?
Host. Creator. Innovator.
Some say self-made genius.
Chelsea here likes to call me
- "insurance liability."
- [CHELSEA CHUCKLES]
Jordan, they're not interested
in nicknames. This is NCIS.
Oh, man.
Uh, just heard about
Superhero Sailor. Guy was fire.
Literally willing
to do anything for money.
Does that include eating live scorpions?
Gnarly, right? Dude was pure aura.
Okay, dude has a name.
Mark Brogan. Also has a family,
didn't know he was participating
in this show.
CHELSEA: That's standard.
Everyone signs an NDA.
The show's top secret,
even to contestants' families.
You ask a lot of your contestants.
JORDAN: They have a lot to gain.
Grand prize is $3 million cash.
MCGEE: Counterfeit or actual cash?
'Cause we found a briefcase full
of fake money in Brogan's car.
Prop money. That's a Chelsea rule.
Can't be storing that much green here.
[CHUCKLES] NEW RULE: don't let
contestants take props home.
Camera's ready, Jordan.
Sorry. Kind of on a tight schedule.
PARKER: Uh, we're kind of investigating
a murder, so, uh,
the camera will have to wait.
Hey, I feel for this guy
and his family, for real,
but whatever happened to Brogan
has nothing to do with me or my show.
- We don't know that.
- CHELSEA: Exactly.
So, until you can find evidence
that Brogan's death is connected
to Jackpot's Choose or Lose,
I'm gonna have to ask you
to vacate the premises.
Think I found some evidence.
There's another set.
[BELL RINGING]
Okay, this is our set
for the Jackpot
Game of Throws competition.
It's axe throwing. Get it?
Throws, yeah, like the TV show.
It's my grandma's favorite.
Can we talk about these axes?
JORDAN: Straight fire, right?
The axes are real, but
we do not throw them at people.
That's another Chelsea rule.
It's an everybody rule.
All right, how many axes
- are supposed to be here?
- JORDAN: Seven.
After the, uh, seven kingdoms
of Westeros. Why?
Because you're missing one.
JORDAN: Oh. Uh
And our victim has an
axe-shaped hole in their skull.
FEMALE VOICE [OVER SPEAKERS]:
Player eliminated.
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
We'll cooperate with whatever you need.
I'm not just a sailor willing
to do anything for his son.
I have a secret identity.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm the Greatest American Hero,
and I'll soar
above the competition.
TORRES: Wow.
- Mm-hmm.
- He's a sailor
and a superhero?
Okay, now I see why
Jackpot would pick him.
And he was true to his word.
He won every challenge
he participated in.
Jimmy just confirmed that
the throwing axes that we found
on Jackpot's set
match the wound patterns
on our victim's skull.
So, the missing axe
is the murder weapon.
Which means that our killer is
likely connected
to Jackpot's Choose or Lose.
Well, Jackpot sent us a crew list
and also a ton of the show footage.
We also watched the audition tapes.
The contestants all had
one thing in common,
- they are desperate for cash.
- Just like our victim.
Rhonda's been drowning in student loans,
Jeff's been unemployed for three years,
and Stephanie is in bankruptcy.
And with our victim on track to
win $3 million, you can see why
they would want him out of the way.
Any of them stand out as particularly
vindictive about it?
Kasie is combing through
200 hours of show footage.
See if she's got a sense of, uh,
who had it out for Brogan the most.
If she hasn't died of boredom yet.
Whoa. Rhonda is totally
putting the moves on Jeff.
Did you see the way she
looked at him during the whole
"Wheel of Misfortune" debacle?
TONY: No way. It's a ploy.
[TABLET CHIMES]
Rhonda's smart.
She knows you catch
more bees with honey.
She's a walking honey stick.
Why do you hate love?
Well, well, well. Look who's
ready to like and subscribe.
Well, you got to keep up with the trends
if you want to keep up
with the kids. Speaking of which,
I took your advice
regarding the Anderson case.
Oh. Do nothing and drop it?
- Was that your advice?
- Yeah.
I did the opposite.
So you hired a mariachi band
and had her escorted to class?
No. I invited Tali and her friends
to come to D.C. for the weekend.
Do a little shopping at Tysons Corner,
there's a viral pizza place
in Georgetown,
and a VIP tour of the Smithsonian.
Being director has its perks.
Can I come?
Wow.
I don't know your "wows." Was that a
"Wow, you've done a good job" or
"Wow, that's a lot"?
Little of both.
I'm just trying to stay connected.
If Tali's friends
are important to her now,
they are important to me, too.
If anyone can master
the role of cool dad,
it is you, Director.
And if anyone can master
crushing 200 hours
of game show footage, it's me.
Any of these contestants
rise to the level of suspect?
They have been too busy trying
to win $3 million.
KASIE: Caleb Silver, however,
had nothing but time
to contemplate murder.
Caleb Silver? He wasn't on
the contestant list.
That's because he was kicked off
the show two weeks ago
for violent behavior.
[CONTESTANTS CHEER]
Just take it easy, man.
It's just a game.
Just a game? Just a game?!
- CONTESTANT: Whoa
- [GRUNTS]
[ALL CLAMORING]
Ah! Get your hands off of me!
Caleb was angry he lost the challenge.
He blamed Brogan.
Then he was forcibly removed
by security.
Wow.
Oh, that's a "wow" I can read.
Why aren't we kicking down
Caleb's door right now?
Mainly because we don't know
what door he's behind.
According to his friends and family,
Caleb took his camper
and went off the grid.
Off the grid means woods.
I gave the National Park Service
a heads-up, but
[PHONE CHIMES]
Well
Park rangers just spotted Caleb's van.
Park ranger says
camper van is just up ahead.
This guy gets kicked off one game show,
comes out here to play Survivor.
It's been a few weeks.
Maybe he'll be happy
to see another human.
TORRES: Uh, I'm not getting that vibe.
PARKER: Caleb Silver? NCIS!
[ENGINE STARTS]
[ENGINE SQUEALING]
TORRES: You put a pinecone
- in the tailpipe?
- Couldn't find a banana.
[IGNITION SPUTTERING]
NCIS!
- PARKER: Let me see your hands!
- Okay. Okay!
Out of the van!
Okay. All right.
Ah!
[PANTING]: Okay. Thank God.
I thought you guys were debt collectors.
Wait, NCIS isn't a bank, right?
Well, that's a new one.
We're investigating the murder
of Petty Officer Mark Brogan.
Can't believe Mark's dead.
I heard you weren't a fan.
It was a game show.
Mark was my competition.
We were rivals, but it was
all for fun.
Didn't seem like it was too much
fun when you punched him.
- We have the footage.
- CALEB: I don't want to see it.
Come on, man. P-Put it away!
Sorry.
I-I [SIGHS]
I don't want to relive it.
Losing 20 grand would piss anybody off.
Yeah, sure, I was mad
about the money, but
I wasn't thinking straight. Okay?
Jackpot barely fed us.
He kept us up all night. Humiliated us.
Yeah, he wants you to crack.
Exactly.
And if it happened on camera,
even better.
More drama, more clicks.
I complained to Jackpot.
Next thing you know,
he kicks me off the show.
- That seems kind of petty.
- CALEB: You got no idea.
Kid goes after anybody who's a threat.
That's why, when I told him that
I was going to the police
He didn't take it well?
Let's just say that somebody
leaked my personal information online.
I got my identity stolen.
It ruined my life.
All right, all right, so are you
sure that it was Jackpot?
Well, it can't be a coincidence, but
nobody believed me.
Nobody except Mark.
Mark?
The two of you have talked
since you fought?
Yeah, Mark heard about
my information getting leaked,
and he reached out.
Said he'd dig into Jackpot.
Look where that got him.
[SIGHS]
Blaming Jackpot for a leak,
that's one thing, but murder?
Guys like him don't get rich
by playing nice.
[CASH REGISTER SOUND EFFEC
DINGS ON PHONE]
[SIGHS] Speak of the devil.
Jackpot just posted.
You still follow him?
Guy destroyed my life.
Damn right I keep tabs on him.
Looks like Jackpot found a new target.
There's even a video.
"NCIS Violently Attacks
Jackpot Studios."
Violently? Give me a break.
Looks like Jackpot just
turned you into the villains.
- Choose or Lose! ♪
- JORDAN: Get ready for a season
so crazy, the Feds
- tried to shut us down.
- Choose or Lose! ♪
[SIGHS] Wow. Great promo.
- For Jackpot. Terrible for us.
- That's not what happened.
Well, that's the power of editing.
Recut some scenes, add new music,
and even The Shining can
look like a warm family film.
Nobody's gonna fall for that.
TONY: His fans already have.
Our switchboard's
been swamped all morning.
And I am even catching
some heat from up top.
- SECNAV?
- Worse.
Tali. She and her friends think
Daddy DiNozzo is trying to
destroy their favorite YouTuber.
What does that mean
for the Anderson case?
Who told you?
Lucky guess.
Well, the trip to D.C.
has been canceled,
and I am back in texting jail,
where all I get is "K."
Well, then let's lean on Jackpot
to take down the video.
No, the Internet is forever.
There is no un-ringing that
bell, but we can solve a murder.
So what do we know?
We know that someone leaked
a former contestant's
personal information online.
And Petty Officer Brogan
was trying to figure out who.
Thought it might be Jackpot.
But before Brogan can prove it,
he winds up dead.
If Jackpot is involved,
maybe he dropped this video
to distract us.
I will not be influenced
by an influencer.
I'll handle Jordan Jackpot
and his little video, too.
We'll see if Brogan reached out
to any other contestants.
Yeah, one of them might know
something else about the leak.
[PHONE CHIMES]
Another "K."
Yes. I understand, but NDAs
do not apply in federal cases.
Hello?
That is the fifth hang-up in a row.
I'm starting to take this personally.
Yeah, the contestants are using
the NDA as a as an excuse.
Yeah, they're afraid if they talk to us,
they're gonna lose the prize money.
Actually, we may not need them to talk.
Just read the show's contract.
Wait, what? All 60 pages?
Every single one. Look what
I found buried on the last page.
"All contestant communication
must be conducted
exclusively through
the Jackpot's Choice App."
This kid already has a game
show. He needs an app, too?
Maybe that's how Petty Officer Brogan
communicated with the other contestants.
How do we get it?
We don't. It's private. Invite only.
Yeah, no way that Jackpot
will give us access.
And if he does, he'll erase
anything incriminating first.
Maybe we can get the director
to scare Jackpot
into giving us an invite.
The words "federal indictment"
are pretty terrifying.
Look, if that doesn't freak
him out, I don't know what will.
Jordan Jackpot here
with NCIS Director
Anthony DiNozzo.
Hey, Tali. Love you.
Quick PSA, fam. NCIS and I just talked,
and we are all good now,
so stop blowing up their phones
and roasting them online.
Chill out or lose!
[CHUCKLES] Love you guys. Peace.
[SIGHS]
[CHUCKLES] That was perfect.
That's great. Thank you.
Hey, you, uh, you owned up
to your mistake and apologized.
Mad respect.
I thought the director was gonna
make Jackpot sweat a little.
Relax. He-he always has a plan.
The kid smeared us online.
The director should be
tearing him apart.
Maybe he is.
- Here's Jackpot.
- [PHONE CAMERA CLICKS]
He literally just took a selfie.
My daughter is gonna lose her mind
when she finds out about this.
Always happy to help out a fan.
Not gonna lie,
I thought you were gonna
chew me out over that video.
You tripled traffic to our website,
which got me thinking,
would you ever want to do
a recruitment video for us?
- Oh, my God, he's serious.
- Seriously dead to me.
Have your people call my people.
Uh, look, I got to bounce,
but I will post that video soon.
Actually, can I grab a copy
for my public affairs office?
Sure. AirDrop okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, right.
[PHONE CHIMES]
Thanks, J-Dog.
So, look, I know you want
to impress Tali, but
this is not the way.
KASIE: Okay, so people can trash talk
NCIS as long as they film
an apology video?
The apology video was for PR.
This was for us.
You got a Jackpot authorization token?
When he sent you
the original video, he didn't
scrub the export.
This got us access to the app
that we needed.
Feel free to brag to McGee about this.
Told you. He always has a plan.
Did the director's ruse work?
Oh, yeah. I cracked
the Jackpot's Choice App.
It's got everything.
Applications, schedules,
private chats. I was right.
Jeff and Rhonda were hooking up.
- And they are?
- Mortal enemies on the show.
- Mm.
- Their chats are spicy. [LAUGHS]
You want to read some?
Uh, that is a negative, Ghost Rider.
I'm only interested in
Petty Officer Brogan's messages.
Your loss. Brogan's chats are all P.G.
Call times, food orders,
boring stuff. Except for this chat
with a user who
calls himself "TheHammer."
Not exactly subtle.
Brogan told TheHammer
that he found a bug.
Called it illegal and dangerous.
Then Brogan demanded they meet up.
- Did they?
- Chats ended after that.
Then Brogan ended up dead.
I'm starting to think TheHammer
is more like "TheKiller."
You got an ID?
Working on it. Every account's
tied to an email
except this one, so I
cross-referenced log-ins, and
- [COMPUTER CHIMES]
- Ooh. Just got the results.
Let's see who this Hammer man is.
[COMPUTER CHIRPS]
Huh.
Look, my client already
apologized to your director.
This isn't about Jackpot. [SIGHS]
It's about TheHammer.
MCGEE: Not sure the nickname fits you.
You should see me in court.
Maybe you will.
How'd you get these? They're private.
Nothing's private with a warrant.
MCGEE: We looked into the bug
that Petty Officer Brogan
messaged you about.
Found it in the Jackpot's Choice App.
It's exposing user personal information.
MCGEE: It's exactly what
happened to Caleb Silver.
That app ruined his life.
CHELSEA: Brogan had
concerns about the bug.
I told him the app
is only used by contestants.
Worst case, only affect a few people.
Yeah, a few people today,
but next month? That could be millions.
What are you talking about?
Okay, you can drop the act.
We know that your boss
is launching this app
with the new season
of Jackpot's Choose or Lose.
MCGEE: Jackpot has 50 million followers.
That's 50 million users at risk.
I can call the company
that developed the app.
They'll fix it.
No, they won't
because they're the ones
that created the bug.
It wasn't a mistake.
That company wanted
to siphon users' data.
- Why would they want to do that?
- Because it's a front.
For the Russian Federal Security System.
MCGEE: The new and improved KGB.
You paid the Russians to build that app.
Oh, my God.
This isn't a software problem.
It's a national security threat.
No, no, no, look, I knew about the bug,
but I had no idea that
the Russians were involved.
Jackpot gave me a tight budget.
I had to hire the cheapest
developers I could find.
Your millionaire boss
wouldn't give you the money?
That's your defense?
Jackpot's a child.
He can't run a company.
You think I wanted to work
for a Gen Z YouTuber? [SCOFFS]
I studied constitutional law at Yale.
Now, I get to argue over
who owns the copyright to a fart sound.
Didn't know you could copyright those.
After Caleb's information was leaked,
these developers
completely ghosted me, so
I reached out to Brogan for help.
You approached Brogan?
He was a Navy cyber specialist.
I wanted to fix this, fast.
Why didn't you tell us about this?
If word got out
that we put users at risk,
hundreds of people who work on
the show would lose their jobs.
Brogan wasn't trying
to expose the company.
He was trying to save it.
How many holes did we punch
in the lawyer's story?
Surprisingly, none.
KNIGHT: The lawyer's emails confirm
that she hired Petty Officer
Brogan to look into the leak.
MCGEE: And the files
she sent over show that
Brogan was working on the app.
In fact, every time he logged in,
it triggered a remote monitoring system.
Yeah, he was being recorded
while he worked.
That's pretty creepy.
When was the last time he logged in?
Let's see.
The night he died.
Please tell me you have footage.
Queuing it up now.
I'd recognize that piggy bank anywhere.
TORRES: Yeah, Jackpot Studios.
Jackpot swore no one
was there that night.
What's it gonna be? ♪
Choose or Lose! ♪
Is that Jackpot's
Choose or Lose theme song?
- Choose or Lose! ♪
- Hello?
Brogan wasn't alone.
Choose or Lose! ♪
That's all we got.
Brogan looks like he saw a ghost.
Or his killer.
Check the timestamp.
It's right before he died.
Who else was there that night?
And why are they playing
the game show's theme song?
Are you sure the song came from here?
Brogan looked right here
at Jackpot's office
when he heard it play.
TORRES: Maybe a computer or
or a speaker somewhere?
Wow, check this out.
The Mic Drop Award
for Creator of the Year.
Okay.
- What's it gonna be? ♪
- Ooh, that's the song.
Choose or Lose! ♪
And look what's underneath.
Choose or Lose! ♪
TORRES: Whoa.
Jackpot's got a secret safe.
Someone must've moved the award
to get to it.
And Brogan must've caught them.
What are you doing in here?
This is harassment!
Mm, well, not according to this warrant.
Who else has the combination
to your safe?
No one. Just me. Why?
'Cause we believe Petty Officer Brogan
was murdered while someone
was accessing it.
And you just said you're
the only one with the code.
I wasn't here the night he died.
You have an alibi?
Maybe someone was just trying to rob me?
Okay. We need you to open the safe.
I mean, is that really necessary?
Okay, you have a choice here.
Either you open the safe,
or you become a prime suspect
in Petty Officer Brogan's murder.
Choose or lose, Jackpot.
What's up, guys?
It's your boy Jackpot here.
And if you want my money,
you got to choose,
chug a jar of pickle juice
or go home a loser.
Now, what's it gonna be?
Choose or Lose.
[SIGHS]
I'm confused. What does this
video have to do with your case?
This video belongs to Jordan.
It was on a, uh, USB drive
inside his safe.
And we think you stole it.
What?
Why would I want to steal
some stupid home video?
KNIGHT: Well,
it's not just some stupid home video.
It's proof that Jordan
isn't who he says he is.
You see that kid playing Jackpot?
It's not Jordan.
It's you.
KNIGHT: You created
the Jackpot character
and the game
Jackpot's Choose or Lose.
PARKER: Jordan built his empire
claiming that he was a self-made genius.
And if that video got out,
his entire reputation could be at stake.
Jordan and I have been friends
since we were kids.
And yeah, I came up with Jackpot, but
Jordan was always better on camera.
I didn't care he took credit. I just
liked making videos
with my friend.
See? Told you this was a dead end.
Nathan wouldn't do this.
We've been friends since second grade.
That was a long time ago.
He convinced me to start making videos.
I mean, he believed in me
before anyone else did.
People change.
Not Nathan.
I didn't steal anything, okay?
Jordan's USB drive logs every
computer it's plugged into.
And it was plugged into your laptop
the night Petty Officer Brogan
was killed.
PARKER: You thought
you were alone in the office.
KNIGHT: But he caught you. You panicked.
Couldn't let him go to the police.
Things got out of hand.
[SHUDDERS]
I've worked with Jordan for 14 years.
He's always taken care of me.
If I wanted revenge,
- why wait till now?
- PARKER: Because of the app.
When Jordan launches this app,
his media empire is gonna double.
And for the first time in 14 years,
you won't get a cut.
We subpoenaed the contract.
You're not listed anywhere.
I-I didn't know Nathan
got cut out of the contract.
But you signed it.
Legal should've told me.
Well, it's Legal's job
to protect the company.
It's your job to protect your people.
KNIGHT: After everything
the two of you built together,
Jordan cut you out.
That's an odd way to show
that you're a friend.
NATHAN: He's not my friend.
Friends go out for drinks.
They take care of each other.
They show up when you need them.
My mom died
three months ago.
I kept waiting for Jordan to call.
But he never did.
NATHAN: I tried to talk to Jordan,
but he was
in meetings or filming content.
So, you stole the video
to teach Jordan a lesson.
I wanted Jordan to finally
give me some credit.
I figured, once I posted
the video, he'd
He'd have to tell the truth.
The world needed to see the real Jordan!
He uses people,
and then he forgets about them.
Nathan's mom
I kept meaning to reach out.
But you didn't.
I was just so busy.
You know, it's easy
to do the right thing
when the cameras are rolling, but
it's a lot harder when
nobody's watching, isn't it?
My friend needed me,
and I couldn't even make time
to talk to him.
Hey.
Sometimes, people just need to
know that you're there for them.
[SEABIRD SCREECHING]
[SMOOTH JAZZ PLAYING]
Got the final case report.
Ah.
Appreciate that.
Just goes to show
followers are a lousy
substitute for friends.
Is that a new toy from DARPA?
Kasie helped me modify it, actually.
Tali has one in her room,
so when I touch mine,
it lights up on her end.
- Well, that sounds simple.
- That's the point.
No texts. No emojis. No "K." Just
love you.
Huh.
Who would've guessed that
less talking was the solution?
I kept trying to fix things
with more words,
but sometimes, your kid just needs
to know that you're there for them.
What just happened?
She loves me back.
- [CHUCKLES]
- [PHONE CHIMES]
Well, you're not the only one
who's feeling the love today.
Jackpot's giving us money?
Well, he came to realize that the show
was hurting more people
than helping them,
so instead of launching an app,
Jackpot is starting
a compensation fund for all
the contestants as an apology.
I don't believe Jackpot
actually wants to help us.
[SIGHS]
[KIDS SHOUTING IN DISTANCE]
This is usually when Mark
would've shown up in his costume.
The kids are gonna be so disappointed.
Maybe not.
Hope I'm not too late.
I asked Jordan to help out.
It's a big cape to fill,
but I'll do my best.
Mark would've liked that.
Where's your camera crew?
This isn't for the cameras. Which room?
- KATE: Oh, Doctor?
- Yeah?
Can you please take Mr. Jackpot
to see the kids?
Oh, sure, my pleasure. We
Nice suit. Follow me.
Believe it or not ♪
I'm walking on air ♪
I never thought
I could feel so free ♪
- Hey, kids, look who it is.
- [KIDS CHEERING]
[CHUCKLES]
On a wing and a prayer ♪
Thank you.
Who could it be? ♪
Believe it or not,
it's just me. ♪