NCIS (2003–…): Season 10, Episode 18 - Seek - full transcript

TED:
What you say, Dex? Anything good?

VIRGIL: Not unless there's a big juicy
T-bone somewhere in there.

- Yeah, he'd have to fight me for it.
- Would that make a difference?

You want better chow?

Because we can have you and Dex
eating steaks every day.

Pshh. Like I said yesterday, Virg,
my wife is a hell of a cook.

VIRGIL:
Come on, this is a great opportunity.

I'm sure it is, but so is getting
back home and starting a family.

VIRGIL: Why not make a butt-load
of money first

doing the same thing Uncle Sam has
you and Dex doing for us right now?

Hey, kid! Stop!

[BARKING]

[SCREAMING]

No, no, no. Tell them not to move.
Keep them back.

- Hey, ma'am, you gotta stay back.
TED: Come on, Dex.

Seek, Dex. Seek.

Come here. Seek. Attaboy.

Seek.

[BARKS THEN GROWLS]

What is that?

All right, good boy, good boy.
No booms.

No booms. Good dog.
Come on, Dex.

Hey, kid, come on. All right?
Come here. Come with me, all right?

We're taking the same way out, okay?
Stay behind me.

Stay behind me. You'll be all right.

Easy, Dex. Good dog. Attaboy.

Go on, Dex.

Okay. All right. Go back to your mom.
Go on. Go on.

[WOMAN SPEAKS
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[WOMAN CRYING]

- Good job. Ha, ha.
- Good boy, Dex.

- Good boy.
- That was awesome.

- Hell, yeah.
- Good dog.

Attaboy, Dex, good dog.
That was awesome.

[GUNSHOT]

VIRGIL:
Teddy.

Teddy.

We got a Marine down.
We got a Marine down.

West end of the village.
We need a corpsman, now.

[DEX WHIMPERING]

WOMAN:
Such a nice office, Mr. Vance.

LEON:
Thank you.

- Will your children be joining us?
- No, today's a school day.

Actually, I thought
we'd have a preliminary chat

before anybody met the kids.

WOMAN: Well, that seems fair.
- Preliminary chat?

How many of those have we heard
in the last week?

ZIVA: At least ten.
- Twelve.

Twelve prospective nannies
and Vance still can't pick a winner?

It cannot be easy trusting
a stranger with your children.

Well, don't look now, but those
children are practically teenagers.

Practically teenagers
who just lost their mother.

Well, I'm just saying, if Vance
is waiting for Robin Williams in drag

to come floating on some
magic umbrella singing "Do-Re-Mi,"

- he's gonna be waiting a long time.
- Wow, Tony.

Three movie nannies in one reference.
That's impressive.

Thank you.
It's called a mash-up, McPhee.

And that makes four movie nannies,
in case you were counting.

RUBY:
Excuse me.

I was hoping
to speak to someone in charge.

- That would be Special Agent Gibbs.
- He's not here.

Uh, so based on seniority,
for the moment, that would leave me,

Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo
at your service.

Uh, Ruby LeMere.

My husband, Ted,
is a Marine stationed in Kabul...

Or I should say he was.

Yeah? Where is he now?

- That is Special Agent Gibbs.
- He's the man in charge.

He's nowhere, Agent Gibbs.

Ted was killed two days ago.

The COD report said it was enemy fire,
a Taliban sniper, but...

- But?
RUBY: Ted, he e-mailed me

this video message the day before.

- It's not long.
- Put it up, McGee.

I'm sorry.

Hey, Rubes, my signal's too weak
to call, so I hope you get this.

Listen, baby,
I, uh, did something stupid.

I got mixed up in something
I shouldn't have,

and, well,
it's gonna piss some people off,

but I'm gonna have to blow the whistle
to get out of it.

MAN [ON SCREEN]:
Moving out, LeMere.

On my way, sir. Ahem.

Anyway, no worries.

Try you again tomorrow.

Dex sends his love.

Me too.

The next day he was dead.

- You don't believe the report?
- No.

To send that message,
trust me, he was scared.

It would not hurt to look.

They're flying him into Dover tonight.

Um, his body, I mean.

I know it's not much to go on,
Agent Gibbs,

but if you can pull some strings...
Please.

In 600 B.C., the ancient Greeks
were the first to employ war dogs,

unleashing them on rival armies
to create havoc.

It wasn't until the American Civil War

that canines actually accompanied
soldiers into battle.

Unofficially, of course.

World War II marked the first time

that dogs were actually recognized as
valued members of the armed forces.

Yes, you are part of a proud
and noble tradition, Sergeant LeMere.

It will be my honor

to provide your widow
with any measure of peace that I can.

What do you think, Duck?

Our personnel in Germany
did a splendid job

of preserving LeMere's head wound.

It tell you anything?

Cause of death appears accurate.
Textbook sniper wound.

Yeah, high-caliber, single shot
and armor-piercing.

As to the distance of the shot,

well, your educated guess will be
a great deal more accurate than mine.

The bullet went through and through...

- Well, not entirely through.
- What is it?

While the helmet did not stop
the projectile,

it apparently caused something
to be left behind.

Something small and metallic.

Bullet fragment?

Why, I suggest we leave
that up to Abby.

ABBY: You know,
I'm a big fan of recycling, Gibbs,

but I hate how the Taliban does it.
They'll reuse any old weapon.

Soviet issued... Thanks.
- Or Chinese stuff.

They buy tons of ammo like this
straight off the black market,

which could be
from anywhere in the world.

- Where's it from?
- Well, this particular shard

is made of pure tungsten carbide.

It's an armor-piercing alloy
that's primarily manufactured...

[MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY]

What'd you say, Abs?

Here, Gibbs. It was made here.

It's American?

Well, the Taliban could've totally
bought it off the black market.

The wife could be right.

It might not have been the Taliban.

If not the Taliban, then who?

- Anything new on the nanny front?
McGEE: Not that I've heard.

Vance's search enters
its second week.

[AS HUMPHREY BOGART] Which left
his agents feeling like a gaggle of nuns

waiting on white smoke
from the Vatican chimney.

Are you getting a cold, Tony?

Are you doing Bogart?

The way Ruby LeMere walked in here
the other day,

a handsome dame with a broken heart
and a mystery to solve,

it was pure Sam Spade,
it was Philip Marlowe.

Um, no and no. I write mysteries,
remember? This is nothing like those.

It was ripped straight from the pages of
a dime-store pulp magazine, I tell you.

You sound like a Kennedy.

Let's go.

TONY [IN NORMAL VOICE]:
Sergeant Theodore "Ted" LeMere.

Thirty-one years old, married, no kids,
serving his final tour in Afghanistan.

Spotless record,
numerous commendations.

His working dog, Dex, has been
returned to Pax River for evaluation

before being reassigned
to a different handler for another tour.

McGEE:
According to an eyewitness,

the shooting occurred
after Sergeant LeMere rescued

two Afghan children
from a Taliban minefield.

- Who's the witness?
- James Virgil, 38 years old.

He's an American civilian contractor.

His company, Beta-Co,
works for the military

maintaining our facilities
while rebuilding Afghan infrastructure.

- What about the bullets?
- According to LeMere's

commanding officer,
they use the bullets we asked about.

But a handful
of unused eight-round clips

were apparently lost
in a firefight last month.

Hmm. Which would lead us back
to the Taliban, wouldn't it?

It would, except for the wife's video.

It is entirely possible that
one has nothing to do with the other.

Start with the eyewitness.
Go from there.

Boss, Beta-Co's full statement's
in the report.

But we'll gladly do it in person.

I've seen a lot in my time here,
agents,

but I will never be able
to unsee that.

Teddy saving that kid one minute

and then in the dirt
with a hole in his head the next.

You did not actually see the sniper,
Mr. Virgil?

VIRGIL [ON SCREEN]:
No, ma'am.

The shot came from a hilltop about
200 yards from Teddy and me.

You and the sergeant were friends?

No, I was more like a fan, ever since
he was assigned to our company.

Assigned to do what?

Save our lives.

The Taliban booby-trap
a lot of the buildings that we renovate,

so Teddy and Dex,
they'd go sniff around.

Found dozens of IEDs.

So no enemies or conflicts?

No, he, uh...

Wait. What do you mean?

Did the sergeant have
any troubles or grievances?

Any arguments that you know of?

- We hate to have to ask.
- Then why the hell are you?

- Well, due diligence.
- How about due respect?

Okay, agents?
This kid was a war hero.

There's no need
to dig up dirt on him.

- Who you talking to, Virg?
- NCIS.

They wanna know if Teddy LeMere
had any enemies.

Yeah, we all do. The Taliban.

VIRGIL: Look, was the kid perfect?
Who the hell is?

We still wanted him on our team,
even when he was done.

I offered him a job
just before he died,

but the poor kid...

Look, all Teddy wanted
was to get home.

You want trouble?
Maybe it was there,

because it sure wasn't here.

[DOORBELL RINGS & DEX BARKS]

[DEX WHIMPERS]

RUBY:
Come.

- Agent Gibbs.
- Hey. Dex.

RUBY: Sorry. Down, Dex.
- You got him back, huh?

Yeah, just a day or two
until Pax River reassigns him.

- You have a minute to talk?
- Oh, yeah, sure. Come on in.

RUBY:
I don't understand.

Ted was killed over there.
Why ask about here?

I'm just covering all the bases.

Well, um, Ted and I had arguments
like any couple,

but nothing that I think would...

No, not you. At work.

Trouble on the base
with other Marines?

None.

Teddy was like a big dog himself.

He was real easygoing.

And, uh...

And what?

Ahem. I'm sorry. Can I get you, um,
a cup of tea or water or something?

No. No, I'm fine.
What were you gonna say?

Oh, nothing, um,

just this scrap he had at the base
about six months ago.

Scrap like a fight?

One of the base trainers
is kind of a cranky old man.

Pitt, they call him.

As in "bull," I guess.

I don't even know his real name.

What'd they fight about?

Ted thought that he was
a little rough with Dex,

and one thing led to another.

Both of them got written up,
but Teddy never mentioned it again.

- Why "Dex"?
- Heh.

Poindexter.
He's too smart for his own good.

Teddy and I got him
at about three months,

and we raised him together

right here in this house.

He can't stay longer?

No, that's not how it works.

He's only 4,
so he's got a few tours left in him.

That's what we signed up for, right?

Duty calls.

It was so very nice meeting you.
I do hope you'll do me the honor

of being governess
to your lovely children.

- We'll play games and sing songs.
- Oh, that sounds great, Maria,

but I do have
a few other applicants to meet.

I promise I'll let you know soon.
Thank you.

[SIGHS]

- Is there a problem?
- Like Maria?

Ha, ha, no, no. I mean, no, sir.

- Not at all.
- Uh, she just seemed, um, sweet.

Where are we
with the LeMere case?

GIBBS: That's what I wanna know.
- Well, we located that Pitt guy, boss,

the dog trainer
you had called about.

Full name's Norman Pittorino, 61.

Known on base simply as "Pitt,"
he is a civilian contractor

listed at the Pax River Canine Unit
as a special consultant.

Generally considered
their in-house dog whisperer.

Our military also flies him around
the world to troubleshoot dog issues.

- Recent trips?
McGEE: Well, as luck would have it,

he just returned home from Kabul
a few days ago.

Flight took off just three hours
after LeMere's death.

This is the incident report
from six months ago

when he had a fight with LeMere.

It says punches were thrown
and threats were made.

They were given a light reprimand and
ordered to steer clear of each other.

You think this Pitt fellow may have
settled the score before he left Kabul?

McGee, take DiNozzo with you.
Find out.

Ha, ha. Shh, wait, listen.

Is that a rivulet of sweat I hear
trickling down your back, Tim?

No. Dry as a bone. Why?

It seems every time we deal with dogs,
you don't fare so well.

I seem to recall you and I both hopping
a fence not that long ago.

Besides, I'm sure
we can outrun this guy.

TONY:
Hmm. And this guy.

HAGEN: Unh.
- Excuse me, we're looking for Mr...

Inside.

TONY:
Nice talking to you.

Remind me never to invite him
and Gibbs to the same dinner party.

Great. You point them right to me.

Get in here.

Get the lead out, now, now, now.

PITTORINO:
My sister's kid.

- Useless.
- "Useless."

Well, with a name like that,
what do you expect?

- Ha, ha.
- Mr. Pittorino, we're with...

- You boys have four seconds.
- Excuse me...

[DOOR CLOSES]

- Four seconds for what?
McGEE: Tony, run!

[DOGS BARKING]

Zeus! Apollo! McGee, no!

No, McGee! Don't lock that door!

[GRUNTS]

Way to be a team player, McGee.

I'm sorry. I panicked, okay?

You heard me.

Mistaken identity.

So your Doberman gang mistakenly
took us for a pair of rib-eyes?

I thought you were with the bank.
I'm late on a loan payment.

Why am I here?

You were just in Afghanistan.

Yeah, Kabul. A few days ago. Why?

You happen to see Sergeant LeMere
while you were over there?

LeMere? Yeah. I saw him briefly.

God-awful. The frigging Taliban.

Why only briefly?

You're the dog whisperer.
He had a dog.

He had a dog with no issues.
LeMere is...

Well, he was always
very particular with Dex.

Overprotective.

Around you, especially?

Now, why would you say that?

TONY:
The fight you had six months ago.

We were just wondering if there was
anything you left unresolved

until, say,
the day you left Afghanistan.

So I look like Taliban to you?

Sniper still hasn't been found.

So me and LeMere
had philosophical differences.

He coddled that dog
like it was his own kid.

Me, I'm not the coddling type.

BOTH:
We've noticed.

Anyway, there was
no bad blood between us.

Hell, I was the guy that
recommended him for that outpost.

Hotbed like that
needs good Marines,

and LeMere, with that dog,
was top-shelf.

Kids like that
just don't grow on trees.

Believe me,
I got a nephew to prove it.

Okay, Mr. Pitt, you sit tight.

Sit tight for what?
I just said I didn't kill him.

Until we know that's true,
you're still facing a weapons charge.

Assault with a deadly Dobie.

- As you can see, kids are my life.
- Hmm.

And I think my age uniquely
qualifies me to relate to preteens

in a way
that older nannies might not.

Sandy, you may have a point.

You, uh, certainly
are the youngest applicant that...

[CELL PHONE CHIRPS]

Oh. Sorry. Go on, I'm listening.
Just need to reply to this real quick.

Well, I see you got your master's
in child development...

Oh, my God.

Sorry, my Twitter feed is blowing up
over this interview.

Six shout-outs
to celebrate my new job.

That is, if you hire me, duh.

But I think this is going well,
don't you?

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Oh. Sorry. I'll come back later.

No. Gibbs, come in.
For God's sake. We're done.

Oh, we are?

Sandy, it was very nice meeting you.
My assistant will show you out.

But we haven't discussed salary,
or even when I start.

Well, I'll call you as soon as I know.

Better yet, I'll text you.

- Oh, but...
LEON: Thank you, again.

This was a mistake.

- Don't hire her.
- No, I mean all of it, Gibbs.

The whole nanny idea,
it's just one big mistake.

I make decisions that affect
hundreds every day, thousands.

And I can't make a decision
about a nanny?

I'm asking. What do you think?

I don't think nannies
are exactly in my wheelhouse.

Then what do you want?

You said the commandant
wanted an update.

Here it is.

- This is it, just one page?
- Not much to tell. Not yet.

The wife made an allegation, Gibbs.

Commandant's gonna need
more than this.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

Yeah, well, when we have it,
he'll have it.

There's something there.
I just don't know what it is yet.

Yeah, Gibbs. Yep, on my way.

Oh, what a day.
First my car wouldn't start,

so I had to talk a bus driver
into letting Dex ride with me.

No dogs allowed on a city bus, huh?

Not without a vest
calling him a service dog.

If they only knew
the kind of service Dex provides,

he'd be allowed anywhere
and everywhere. Ha, ha.

You not big on dogs, guys?

- Me? No, I love dogs.
- Me too.

- I just...
- We're just fighting a little something.

- Ahem.
- Yes, the old Doberman flu.

GIBBS: Well, hello, Dexter.
Nice of you to stop by.

Sorry to just show up like this,
Agent Gibbs,

but something came in the mail
this morning

that I'm not sure what to make of.

It's postmarked two weeks ago.

Ted said to expect a surprise,
but that usually meant photos of Dex

or some kind of gag gift
like a cave rock.

- Well, that is no rock.
- Anniversary? Birthday?

Neither. Just out of the blue.

- Looks expensive.
RUBY: I thought so too.

No idea how he'd afford
something like this.

You mind leaving this here, Ruby?

No, that's why I brought it.

I'll take it personally to Abby.

Careful not to lose it on the way.
It's been counted.

Just take care of your flu, Tony.

That's a good boy. That's a...

[DEX BARKS]

ABBY: This is nice, Ziva. It's been
too long since we got to hang out.

Yeah, I know.
I'm sorry, I've just been busy lately.

Yes, you have.

- Doing what?
- You know, just stuff.

What is this I hear

about you helping Director Vance's
daughter with a science project?

- Oh, A-plus, baby.
- Heh.

And you'd think after that, that he'd hit
me up for help on his nanny search.

I know so many good people.
Nannies and mannies.

- Yeah, I'm sure.
- Like my friend Iris.

She juggles on the Rehoboth
boardwalk on the weekends.

It's like chainsaws and fire.
I mean, she's this amazing multitasker.

You know, Abby,
I'm not sure we should...

I have this friend Lenny.
He just... He loves kids.

And he just lost 300 pounds.

He's literally half the man
he used to be.

You know, I think it may be best

to steer clear of Director Vance's
hiring process.

You know, it's a very
personal decision, after all, and...

[COMPUTER BEEPS]

Well, we were right. Solid gold.

And the emeralds?

They're the real deal.

And there's manganese and iron ore
imbedded in the settings,

which would point to a desert climate
like Afghanistan.

What about the design?

Looks like a symbol. But of what?

That could be all night
finding that answer. You in?

I'm sorry, I'm busy.

Right. Stuff.

I'll draft McGee.

I really appreciate the ride,
Agent Gibbs.

Yeah, well, just couldn't let Dex
take another bus.

- And thank you for believing me.
- My job.

No, you could have dismissed me
as a paranoid grieving widow,

but you didn't.

And whether you find
who killed Ted or not,

it means a lot
that you're even trying.

If someone murdered your husband,
we'll find him, okay?

Good night, Dex.

RUBY: Thanks again.
- Yep.

Okay, buddy, let's see about supper.

[GROWLING]

What is it, Dex?

[GLASS CLINKS]

Hello?

[CLATTERING NEARBY]

Dex, wait!

[DEX BARKING]

[MAN GRUNTING]

[SCREAMS]

- Ruby.
- In here!

[DEX BARKING]

- You okay?
- He went out there.

[MOTORCYCLE RETREATING]

Where's...? My grandmother's ring.
Oh, thank God he didn't take it.

I can't believe this.

That's not what he was after.

Well, then what?

Drop it, Dex.

Attaboy.

Good boy, Dex. Good boy.

McGEE: The design's a symbol,
all right. It's the Junagha family crest.

Royalty of some kind?

No, just wealthy
by Afghan standards, boss.

Ran a successful jewelry shop
in Kabul

before fleeing the Taliban in 2003.

Now living in Pakistan.

So they "Pakistanned" up in a hurry
and forgot this baby?

Or they used it as barter to assure
their safe passage to Pakistan.

I have a theory.

GIBBS:
Hey, morning. What do you got?

ABBY:
So, what if Dex and the sergeant

were sniffing around
the Junaghas' house for IEDs,

and they fell into a cave

that was full of jewels
and precious metals and chalices...?

Abs,
if you're gonna go Aladdin on us,

just keep in mind that was set
in Baghdad, not Afghanistan.

I feel certain that there is more
than one genie in the world.

And I'm not that far off either,

because a lot of families
that were fleeing Afghanistan,

they would bury all their valuables

rather than risk losing them
to the Taliban.

Get anything from that shirt sleeve
I dropped off?

ABBY: Yes. It's a cotton-poly blend,
and I found traces of dog saliva

and both dog and human hair.

- DNA.
- I'll put a rush on it.

So, what's this thing worth again?

Well, the gold alone is just over 4,000.
Emeralds are another 5.

All right, 9 grand,
that's a lot of dough,

but is it enough to make someone
break into Ruby's to get it?

And how did that someone
know it was there?

He has to have a contact
in Afghanistan.

No, it's gotta be more.

Mm, no, boss. I based my numbers
on current market value.

No, I meant
where the pendant came from.

There's gotta be more.
You two, start digging.

The pendant, the sleeve, there's gotta
be an answer in here somewhere.

What about McGee, boss?

McGee is coming with me.

Sure, boss. Where to?

- Afghanistan?
- Afghanistan?

Scene of the crime, Leon.

- Is this really necessary?
- It is after last night's break-in.

There's more going on here
than we thought.

- You sure about this?
- Yeah, boss, you sure about this?

Fine. You can get the next transport.

There might be one tonight
if you're that eager.

- I'll need three seats.
- Three? Who's coming with us?

MAN:
Fire!

[DEX BARKS]

What's up, Dex?

Agents, welcome to Sayed Abad.
Captain Dale Martens.

I'm Special Agent McGee.
This is Special Agent Gibbs.

And obviously you know Dex.

Yeah. It's weird seeing him
without Sergeant LeMere.

- They were inseparable.
MAN: Fire!

- You were LeMere's CO?
- Yeah, but let's talk inside.

No one's ever safe around here.

The natives have been
a little restless lately.

You realize we'll be reassigning Dex
as long as he's here.

There's a real need
since we lost Teddy.

He was a good guy. Great Marine.

GIBBS:
Still no lead on the sniper?

- Oh, no, we got him. Just last night.
MAN: Fire!

- Can we talk to him?
- He won't give you much.

We did a sweep of suspected Taliban
in the area where the shot came from.

Rounded up eight known hostiles.

That is, until this guy tried to escape.

Khalid Al-Hatan.

He's been ducking us for a while now,
but not anymore.

- He dead?
MARTENS: Affirmative.

Civilian contractors we work with,

I believe you spoke with Virgil,
their supervisor.

Yeah, I did.

MARTENS:
One of his members took the shot.

A little trigger-happy for my taste,
but understandable.

So you don't actually know
if this is your sniper or not.

Well, the other suspects indicated
this is our guy.

In this environment, Agent Gibbs,
that's good enough for me.

Right. Something to do
with the restless natives?

MARTENS:
Kind of the perfect storm.

Pro-Taliban don't want us
killing one of their own,

while the locals are just fine with us
killing whoever might've killed Teddy.

So where do we find
these contractors?

LEON:
Agent David.

- Early bird.
- Heh.

Morning, director.
Um, we worked late last night.

I was just catching up
on a few things.

- You?
- Same. Catching up,

- before another round of interviews.
- Heh.

Uh, if I may, director?

You and I are bound
by recent events.

A mutual introspection of sorts.

Maybe I can lend support
where others cannot.

That is, unless, I'm completely
overstepping my bounds.

Try me.

- What is it you're looking for?
LEON: Basics.

Someone to cook, clean,
take the kids to school.

Well, I've seen many women
pass through here.

Most of them were capable
of at least that much.

Your point?

My point is that
there has to be something else.

Something that you're afraid of.

Long as we share this bond,
David, promise me

when I come to offer my perspective

concerning what it is
that you're catching up on,

you'll be as forthcoming
as I'm about to be?

Promise I'll try.

I don't know if I'm scared,

but I will admit that I do worry some.

I worry that...

That the act of hiring a nanny
means that I'm moving on.

And if I'm moving on,

I worry that

Jackie's death will,

you know, feel like...

It's a bit more final?

Well, then I suggest you
take your time, director.

Hire a nanny or do not hire one,

but do not let anyone tell you
when you're ready

or should be ready to move on.

That is entirely up to you.

You may be onto something.

- I have some experience.
LEON: Yeah?

Where were you
a week and a half ago?

[ZIVA CHUCKLES]

Ah, something's not right here.

A sniper would target the dog
before he would the handler.

The dog finds bombs, saves lives.

You take out the dog,
nobody gets saved.

Why am I telling you this?

McGEE:
Boss.

Special Agent Gibbs,
this is Jim Virgil,

the witness Ziva and I spoke to
in MTAC.

VIRGIL: Hey, Dex, buddy.
You're a sight for sore eyes.

You back working already?

You NCIS boys travel fast,
assuming you heard about last night.

Which one of your security detail
took out the sniper?

Work fast too.

I took a shot at the Taliban SOB.

I don't know
if it was the shot, though.

- Chet Tyber, he's our head of security.
- We were all firing.

Could have been any of us.
Me, Virg, Martens' crew, anyone.

VIRGIL:
Martens tell you it was us?

- Would it matter?
- Covering their asses, as usual.

VIRGIL: We get a little more
wiggle room to operate

than our friends in the military,

so naturally,
there's some low-grade resentment.

- You mean Captain Martens?
- If he can avoid explaining anything

that even smells like it wasn't
by the book, we're the fall guys.

And killing an unarmed
Taliban suspect

is something you're saying
he'd rather not own up to?

- Would you?
- The sniper, where'd you find him?

We didn't. It was Martens' team
that rounded up the suspects

from behind this mountain here,
where the shot came from.

You saw it?

I heard it. It was like a thunder clap.

Which way was LeMere facing?

Well, uh, I was over here,
and Teddy was with Dex

right here when the bullet hit.

The shot didn't come
from the mountain.

What you heard was the echo.

Well, how do you know that?

Shooter was in that building there.

It's the best hide.

Bullet hole in the helmet.
Angle of the shot.

Trust me, he knows.

- Is this possible?
- You were here, not me.

McGEE:
That means the Taliban

rounded up from behind the mountain
were the wrong suspects.

You're telling me
we got the wrong guy?

The real one's still out there.

[AS HUMPHREY BOGART]
The dame with the funny shoes

- was taking her time with the DNA.
- Would you please stop that?

While the Israeli femme fatale
was losing her patience.

- Only with you, Tony.
- No, there's no DNA yet, Bogie,

but there is something
about the hairs

that I found on the sleeve
of Ruby's attacker.

- Something like?
- I don't know yet.

But I did think of another friend who'd
be a great nanny for Vance's kids.

Again, Abby, I think we'd be wise
to stay out of Vance's business.

TONY [IN NORMAL VOICE]:
Wise? That's putting it mildly.

Vance has put out
some very clear signs.

Stop. Yield. No trespassing.
You'd have to be a complete idiot

- to even offer your 2 cents.
- I don't know about an idiot.

[COMPUTER BEEPS]

I knew it.

- Whose hair is it?
- Not "whose?" "What?"

- What?
- So there's three hairs.

One is human,
and two are from a dog.

But only one of the dog hairs
belonged to Dex.

The other one's
not even the same breed.

What breed is it?

ABBY: Anyone know a Doberman?
- Ah.

Well, just keep looking, Fred,
and call me if you see anything, okay?

Thanks.

That was my buddy in Surveillance.

He's checking satellite images of
the building the day LeMere was shot.

Here you go. Photos our corpsman
took of our Taliban suspect.

As you can see,
both shots went through and through.

I still can't believe that's not our guy.

- Something else bothering you?
- Yeah.

It just burns my butt you're even
asking me about bullets, Agent Gibbs.

I tell you Virgil's man took the shot,
they turn around and say it was us.

It just never ends with these guys.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

Uh, boss?

GIBBS [OVER PHONE]: Yeah?
ZIVA: I thought you should know,

Abby found Doberman hair
on the sleeve of Ruby's attacker.

- Doberman? Pitt had Dobies.
TONY: Pittorino. Yeah, boss.

That's the first name
we thought of too.

We were only just slightly off target.

I mean, sure,
I wanted to make some real money,

but can you blame me?

Anything beats working
for my uncle the rest of my life.

The pendant was just the tip
of the iceberg.

Marty Hagen was helping
to smuggle stolen items just like it

from Afghanistan,
using his uncle's business as a cover.

Crooks over there stashed the goods
in Pitt's baggage

for his nephew to unload here
and store until they got stateside.

What crooks? Who's "they"?

Hagen is reluctant to give us a name,
unless, of course, we cut him a deal.

Ziva, get me a name.

Corporal Ryan reporting
for canine reassignment, captain.

MARTENS:
At ease, Ryan. Paperwork?

RYAN:
Fully trained and authorized, sir.

And, uh, if it's all the same to you,

Dex and I will get to know
each other in the field.

That's not procedure, corporal.
What's your rush?

RYAN:
Well, no rush, sir.

Just Beta-Co needs a replacement,
and I need experience.

- Where you taking him, corporal?
- A few buildings in the city

Mr. Virgil wants sniffed out
before they start renovating.

- We good to go, sir?
- No.

Not yet.

VIRGIL: That's the dog I requested,
Corporal Ryan,

but I didn't say anything
about the, uh, entourage.

We just wanted to see what
you were renovating next, Mr. Virgil.

Look, Agent Gibbs, we got work to do,
so whatever this is about...

It's about what you did
to Sergeant LeMere.

Using him and Dex to clear bombs
out of buildings you were looting.

Looting?

McGEE: The sergeant only thought
he was keeping you safe.

When he found out
what you were really up to,

you tried to buy him off
with that pendant.

The one he sent to his wife.

The same one
you had Pitt's nephew, Marty,

try and steal back from her
to cover your tracks.

Yeah, that kid's back in D.C.
Right now spilling his guts.

Look, there was no looting, okay?
Teddy had that wrong.

All we did was collect
what was left behind.

With no one around
to even miss the stuff.

For days, I was offering the kid a job.

When Teddy didn't take it,
you killed him.

What are you talking about?
I was standing right next to him.

I wasn't talking to you.

Prove it.

[GROWLING]

GIBBS:
We will soon enough.

Background check says
you're a marksman.

Former Special Forces,
sniper training, top of your class.

Son of a bitch.

McGEE:
Hands in the air.

[DEX WHIMPERS]

Okay, tell Gracie's mom
I'm on my way, sweetie.

Yeah, um, sure. We can get
some takeout on the way home.

Okay? Great.
Okay, I'll see you soon. Bye.

Oh. We were just about to knock.

And you are?

Your 7:00. Lara Morgan.
The agency sent my r?sum?.

They sent over quite a few,
Miss Morgan.

Um, I actually thought I had canceled
my remaining interviews.

Obviously they missed one,
or maybe I did.

Hmm, well, as long as I'm here.

Actually, I'm afraid I'm no longer
looking to hire anyone.

And I'm on my way to pick up
my kids at a friend's house,

so we wouldn't have time anyway.

Well, isn't that interesting?

- I'm sorry?
LARA: Are you?

Word at the agency is that you've been
wasting a lot of my friends' time lately.

Is that right?

LARA:
In fact, there's some doubt about

whether you were ever serious
about hiring anyone to begin with.

Well, I can assure you,
I was serious.

So were the women
who needed this job, Mr. Vance.

Look,

I'm just not... I'm not quite ready.

I understand. I do.

And I sympathize.

I've seen it before.

You have?

LARA: Losing the woman you love,
the mother of your children,

is a horrible thing. Horrible.

I certainly hope
you weren't expecting any nanny

to come close to filling that void.

No, you can believe me
when I say that I wasn't.

Good.

Because I'd have had no trouble
making sure your children were fed

and their clothes were clean
and their homework was done.

But I'd never dream
of trying to be their mother.

Or ever letting them forget her,
for that matter.

So good luck.

Wait.

No guarantees,

but would you mind
meeting my kids?

Sure.

Thank you.

SERGEANT:
Right face!

Forward march!

Detail halt! Ten hut!

You guys go ahead.
I'll be there soon.

Agent Gibbs.

I'm sorry. Sit.

No,

I'm sorry, Ruby.

Your husband deserved
better than he got.

Well, at least
they didn't get away with it.

And Teddy would have liked
knowing that Dex helped.

Yes, he did.

And now he's doing what he loves.

What he was trained for.

I guess that's for the best.

Tell me, you met the new handler.

Did he seem okay to you?

Ruby,

Dex isn't serving anymore.

What do you mean?

Unofficial, but he earned it.

[RUBY CRYING]

Dex. God, is he okay?

Ask him yourself.

Dex. Oh.

- Are you okay? Look at you.
- Yeah, well, he got shot.

- He got lucky.
- Well, how long is he out for?

The rest of his days.
He's officially retired.

And he's yours.

Thank you.

Dex.

Thank you, guys.

You're awfully quiet, Tony.

Who's coming home?
Who's coming home?

You know, I've been thinking
about getting a dog.

[RUBY CHUCKLES]

That's not a dog. That's a Marine.
Ripped By mstoll