NCIS (2003–…): Season 11, Episode 9 - Gut Check - full transcript

At the end of a classified presentation by the SecNav, a security system detects a bug, which proves to be inside a pen on the person of the SecNav, who tells Gibbs that she attended three classified briefings yesterday. Tony contacts the National Security Agency (NSA), where he finds a two-year-old paper describing the possibility of a breach such as the one which just occurred; Gibbs and Tony meet NSA analyst Ellie Bishop, who wrote the playbook. The SecNav receives a demand for money to prevent a leak of classified information; Ellie proposes a plan, and the SecNav approves it. Ellie identifies a suspect, Stalin, and Abby elaborates; Ellie's boss at NSA dies of gunfire; Gibbs, Tony, and Ellie catch Stalin, who provides a name and an address of another suspect; the gang find him and some evidence, Ellie puts the pieces together, then Gibbs and others nail the man responsible. Gibbs tells Ellie that he wants to keep her around on a joint duty assignment.

NCIS.S11E09.1080p.WEB-DL.DD5.1.H.264-CtrlHD

The Zumwalt-class destroyer.

Demanding the best from the Navy

and the companies constructing her.

You four represent the next wave
of U.S. defense companies

who will improve the lives
of our military personnel

by keeping them safer
and better equipping them to defend us.

Gentlemen, together...

we are the future
of the United States Navy.

Madam Secretary Porter,

why is my logo smaller than Marc's?

Beringer Marine laid down a million tons
of raw steel this year.

United Equinox made a tiny screw.

Correction,
we made a teeny, tiny screw

that could withstand a 1,200 degree
temperature swing.

And we made a crap-ton of them.

Is this another dramatic touch,
McGee?

Not exactly, Madam Secretary.

Network security detected
an unauthorized electronic transmission.

Everything shuts down automatically.

Does that mean someone's trying
to hack in from the outside?

No. Lockdown only happens
if the attack's internal.

The threat's in this room.

NCIS Season 11 Episode 09
Gut Check 1.0 LOL DIM

Synchro: Gaillots & Kujathemas.

Rereading: Bruno.

I just reread Moonraker.

Spent the whole day
reading on Sunday.

Don't remember
the last time that happened.

You read a lot?

You know, I went out
for a drink last night,

and I met a girl.

Great smile, great body.
Guess what she does for a living.

I'm thinking about getting a sex change,
Norma.

You say something, Agent DiNozzo?

I'm just trying
to make conversation.

- With me?
- Yeah.

I wasn't listening.

Start over.

Really?

So, I guess it turns out
that I'm dating a tennis pro.

Want to know
how she gave me her number?

Boop! Left it on her pillow.

Hello...

That's nice.

That's it?

What do you want?

A little something.

Just a jibe, a scoff,
a little stink-eye, you know?

I just... I need something.
The riff, the patter...

You got a stink-eye in there.
I can see it.

Listen, I just need the "pah".

Where's Agent McGee?

The burden shouldn't
always fall on Tim.

He's suffered enough.

What about Agent Gibbs?

Hey, Boss, dating a tennis pro.

That's nice.
Let's go.

See?

We got a body?

It's a breach.

We're not driving.

- Where we going?
- Upstairs.

What's happening, Leon?

In secure mode,

MTAC sensors constantly
scan for electronic signals.

Anything other than our equipment

emits a radio frequency,
room goes on lockdown.

Nobody's allowed to leave
till we find the source.

- Like a surveillance device, a bug.
- Right.

- Does this happen a lot?
- No.

Not the brightest idea
to bring one into a secure room.

That's why they're gonna
check you twice, Marc.

Save it, Ward.
Not exactly the time.

All clear.

I've scanned every square inch,
Boss.

Seats, walls, computer console...
no sign of any illicit devices.

- False alarm? Software glitch?
- Possible.

Does that mean we're free to let

our valued corporate partners go,
Director?

You can take us off lockdown,
fellas.

Gentlemen, please.

Another malfunction?

I thought you searched everyone.

I didn't think
you wanted me to pat down

the United States
Secretary of the Navy, sir.

Now, I do now.

Raise your arms, please, ma'am.

Just remember,
I have mouths to feed. Two goldfish.

I'm their only source of income,
and they're awfully cute.

Relax, DiNozzo. I'm as anxious
about this as you are.

I'm gonna have to search
your pockets, ma'am.

Do you have any needles
or sharp objects? I have to ask.

No. Proceed.

A pen?

You had me worried for a moment,
gentlemen.

The hell's that?

Well, first impression,
it's a flash drive

connected to a pinhole microphone.

We got our bug.

I'm the breach.

Let's clear the air right now.

I have no idea
when or where I got that pen.

Could have been a doctor's office,
bank, restaurant.

The last time I remember using it
was when I signed a permission slip

for my daughter yesterday morning.

I must have put the pen
in my pocket after that,

but I had no idea
it was recording me.

You believe that?

- Yes.
- Why?

Respect.
For you and the office.

And until there's evidence
to the contrary,

you'll get the benefit of the doubt,
Madam Secretary.

- Thank you, Agent Gibbs.
- Job now is finding who's responsible

before anything leaks.

I had classified briefings

at three D.O.D. off-site
locations yesterday,

and we talked enough
deployment strategy

to cause serious security problems
for the sailors and Marines I work for.

Understand, they are my only concern
in this, Agent Gibbs.

Abby's got the spy pen, Boss.

Based on the battery size
and the length of the charge left,

we think it's been recording
for about 30 hours or so.

- Can we track who's listening?
- It's not a live feed.

The bug stores the data internally,
which means whoever planted it

has to download the info.

Which we have to assume
they've already done.

I will alert the Pentagon that
my meetings yesterday were compromised.

And we should bring in the NSA.

I just put in a request for info.

They got ears open
for the sale of U.S. intel.

- Make sure it doesn't get that far.
- You zig, I zag, Boss.

While I was on the horn with NSA,
I pulled a threat analysis report.

They put this together
in the last ten minutes?

No. The paper's two years old.

But it predicts our breach exactly.

"Clandestine recording device,

"high-level government official,

"an everyday item

such as an ink pen."

Coincidence?

We need to talk to the person
who wrote this paper.

I thought we were gonna get
a cavity search coming in.

Interesting.

Look at that.

We better not tell McGee
about the Star Trek video game chairs.

It'll just irritate him.

It's like an Apple Store.

You must be NCIS.

Welcome to the National Security
Operations Center.

I'm NSA Special Agent
Chad Flynderling.

Call me Flynn.

Like Jeff Bridges in Tron?

That's original.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sensitive to NSA's public
perception right now.

We're not just a bunch
of reclusive data nerds.

Our employees are as diverse
as the work that we do here.

And I swear, if I have to hear another
crack about the Star Trek chairs...

Look at those.
Didn't even notice them.

I reviewed the threat report
you called about.

You write it?

No, but I can assist you
with anything you might need.

We asked for the original author.

Make it so, Number One.

- What's the problem?
- Well...

About those reclusive data freaks
I was talking about...

- So how long does this go on?
- Yeah, just wait for it.

I give you NSA Analyst Ellie Bishop.

She prefers to do her

unclassified research in here.

I thought we discussed
rule number one.

When my earbuds are in,
flash the desk light.

Couldn't help it.

It's good to meet you.

Sorry, I was
in the middle of... stuff.

Yup. That's my work.
What's up?

- You didn't even look at it.
- I wrote it my third day at the NSA.

It was a Wednesday morning.
I just finished a box of Cocoa Pebbles.

I remember that because it was

the prize inside the box
that inspired the entire paper.

Let me guess. A pen?

An everyday object hiding
in plain sight. It clicked.

So you got 25 pages
of national security strategy

from inside a breakfast cereal?

In order to prepare for attacks,

I dream up threats
that haven't happened yet.

This dream came true.

So I was right.

Secretary of the Navy was bugged.

Security intel is at risk.

Which is bad.
But I submit my reports to my superiors,

who then distribute them
accordingly.

Anyone with basic security
clearance could have access.

Did you give this paper
to anybody else?

Are you asking
if I'm in on it or something?

No, I-I'm not, I...

I wrote the playbook,
but I have no idea who's running it.

Sorry.
Hope you find your guy.

It was nice to meet you.

Like I said,

- she's not a field agent.
- I can still hear you, Jeff Daniels.

Jeff Daniels wasn't in Tron.
That was Jeff Bridges.

Flynn, you are a fan.

Yeah, Duck?

Yep, we're on our way back.

We have got a second pen.

So I guess this means
I'm riding with you guys.

No, but she is.

- What? Why?
- What? Why?

'Cause, like you said,

you wrote the playbook, right?

What are we doing here?

I'm waiting for Ducky, our M.E.

"Medical examiner."

This isn't my first case.

I meant, what am I doing here?

I analyze big-picture data,

present detailed strategies
in the global war on terror.

Chess moves that can take
years to implement.

You enjoy playing board games?

Look, everything I can offer you
is in that report.

What good can I do in person?

I don't know,

but you can start
by catching up on the case file.

Well, then,
can you tell me how long?

Of course I can hold on.

I don't suppose you're from the FBI
and you've come to tell me

that all this is a misunderstanding?

- Sorry, NSA. My name...
- That is totally irrelevant.

I was just talking
to the man ten minutes ago.

The D.C. M.E. is dodging my calls.

I thought this was about another bug,
not a body.

Both.

Thanks to our BOLO, the M.E.
found a second pen

when he went back
through this man's personal effects.

He's Claude Sherman, accountant
for United Equinox Electronics.

He worked for one of the companies
in MTAC this morning.

- Murder?
- No, natural causes.

Myocardial infarction two days ago.

- What's he doing here?
- Body and personal effects

travel together in order
to preserve the chain of evidence.

Like I said,
this is not my first case.

Stop.

- Ducky, where's the pen?
- It's missing.

That's why I've been
on the phone all morning.

Yeah,
according to the M.E.'s office,

an FBI agent collected
the personal effects

just before the transfer at 0915.

The problem is,
when I called to confirm,

the FBI doesn't know
anything about it.

- Somebody posing as an agent.
- Yes.

Leaving us a body
and more questions.

Who stole the pen?

Was it the same person
who planted it on SECNAV?

What's the connection?

I'm sorry...

- What was your name again?
- Bishop.

- You got something?
- Yeah, uh, maybe.

You got any food around here?

Anything?

We'll find stuff. Come on.

Pentagon refuses
to release any of the minutes

from SECNAV's briefings.

Once the intel leaks,
the whole world will know.

It's what I told them, except all
they could say was topics of discussion

included Russia,
China, Syria and Iran.

That narrows it down.

That her?
She fall down?

Don't let the chaos fool you.
This is just... how I work.

All right, Jeff Goldblum,
guy plants a bug on SECNAV,

uploads the data.
What's he do with it?

Go

Did you read my paper?

Some... some of it, but I...

Time is a factor here, and I...

Is that a wedding ring?
Are you married?

I'll have my report
to you by tonight, okay?

Report?

- Tonight?
- Wait, let's back the truck up.

How old are you?

I thought time was
a factor around here.

Isn't talking about my personal life
a waste of it?

The way I see it,
our guy has three options.

One: he releases the information
in the name of full disclosure.

- Which he would have already done.
- Two: he sells the data to the enemy.

Except he had no way of knowing
what kind of intel the bug would record.

- Needs to find the right buyer.
- Which takes time.

Leaving us with option three:
he sells the information back to us.

Extortion.

Yeah, wait, that...
that was just a guess.

We need to alert the SECNAV's office
he might be calling.

- He just did.
- Extortion?

Clock's already started.

12:30 p.m.,
SECNAV's office was contacted

via an encrypted e-mail.

We have one hour
to deposit $10 million

into an offshore account
or he leaks the intel.

- Can we track the communication?
- No, who's ever behind this

knows their way around computer code
and knows how to hide.

Any chance of catching this guy
before the deadline?

They get better if we just pay him.

Give the man what he wants.

We don't like
giving terrorists anything,

much less taxpayer money.

Neither do I, but like I told my boss,
it's the cost of doing business.

If we deposit the money into the account
and he accesses it,

it gives us something to trace.

- It's all outlined in my paper.
- Would that be the same paper our spy

could be using
as a paint-by-numbers?

- He'll know that's our strategy.
- He would have guessed it anyway,

which makes it our NSA codes
against his.

And statistically,
the odds are in our favor.

It's our best way of finding him.
Statistics don't lie.

- Yeah, but our bad guy might...
- Lie?

About what?

We don't know
anything about him or what he wants.

He wants... money, right?

Unless he hasn't shown
his full hand.

Keep digging till we find it.

- That doesn't... doesn't make sense.
- Sometimes you got to go with your gut.

Sure, but gut logic aside,
I think we can all agree here

that actual logic is better.

We're about to find out.

SECNAV just approved
Bishop's game plan.

Gave NSA the lead on the money-drop.

Porter wants to have a word with us.

Good.

The same kind of surveillance device
was found on my corporate accountant.

I didn't plant
a bug on your employee,

and I sure as hell
didn't plant a bug

on the Secretary of the Navy!

You got stones
accusing me of treason.

- There's no sense pointing fingers.
- Quit playing the patriot.

I am a patriot. My company's
been serving this military

for four generations.

We're not
some startup war profiteer.

That's enough.

I understand you're concerned
about corporate secrets being leaked.

Even if nothing leaks,

word of this would kill me
on Wall Street.

We're talking hundreds of millions.

We are following up on the device

found on your employee, Marc,
but give us time to do our jobs.

I can assure you both

that our best agents are working
on this around the clock.

Isn't that right, Agent Gibbs?

I'm pretty sure
you just took us off the clock, ma'am.

Gentlemen,
if you'll excuse me for a moment.

I'm getting hit
on all sides with this...

Pentagon, White House.

Last thing anybody needs
is another intel scandal,

and NSA is prepared
for this kind of threat.

So are we, Madam Secretary.

And I want you to keep up
the good work, Leon.

I'm not benching you, I'm just
adding more players to the game.

Different players have
different strengths.

Yes, and as head coach,
I have the lineup

just the way I want it, Director.

Is that understood?

Everybody's looking

at a female SECNAV
with no military background,

wondering if either one of those things
are gonna be a factor.

I'd like to answer them
by setting this right.

And to do that,
I need all the help I can get.

Especially yours.

Oh, God.

Stupid pen, give me answers.

How long have you been
standing there?

Just a few minutes.

- I thought you knew.
- No.

But you were talking to me.

No, I was talking to myself

and a... pen.

But now I'm not talking anymore,

'cause who knows who's listening?

Who do you think's listening?

No, don't believe
everything you hear. I mean,

we don't randomly listen
to conversations and phone calls.

I'm serious.

We need a court order just like you.

We've had a few bad apples,
but we're good people

out to uphold the law
and make a difference.

So you haven't bugged my phone?

Look, I can prove I'm here to help.

I drew this using D.C.
examiner's description

of our bogus FBI agent

fed it into the NSA database,
and got a hit

Rudolph Stalin.

Rudolph Stalin is
an American citizen

with a history
of international espionage

and strong political ties to Russia.

And a very nice mustache.

I wonder if it's supposed
to be ironic.

He's been on our radar for a year.

And he is an American citizen.

Which is exactly
why we needed a court order.

I remember reading
his file a few months ago

over a bowl
of cream of mushroom soup.

I food-associate.

I'm just still stuck
on the fact that you can draw.

I mean, this isn't Kate good,
but it's good good.

Who's Kate?

That would take a few hours

and a whole box of tissues.

Then we should get
this BOLO out first,

and I wanted to check up
on the NSA operation.

Hey, Gibbs, did you know
that Bishop can draw?

Yeah, she's still here.
Why?

What?
Is it about the money-drop?

Maybe we should have
that talk about Kate.

Manager heard the shots, called
the police. Nobody saw the shooter.

NSA deposited the extortion money,

and our spy accessed it
using the coffee shop's Wi-Fi.

Not the first place
I'd come to collect $10 million.

Agent Flynderling
thought the same thing.

That's why he came to follow up
before calling in a task force.

Three gunshot wounds
to the chest at close range.

Based on the stippling
and tissue damage,

- he never had a chance.
- Barely got out of his car.

- Ambushed.
- Boss,

he's got something in his pocket.

Hey, boss, isn't this her...

My report.

You were right, Agent Gibbs.

It's not about that, Bishop.

Somebody plants
a surveillance device

on the Secretary of the Navy,
and extorts the U.S. Government.

Likely the same guy
who posed as an FBI agent

to steal a second spy pen
from the D.C. morgue.

Rudolph Stalin.

He's an American wanted
for selling U.S. intel to Russia.

With a name and a mustache like that,
I'm shocked.

But when the NSA tried to pay him off
and track the deposit...

He murdered NSA Agent Flynderling
and got away with the money.

Actually, I just checked
the offshore account.

- The extortion money's still there.
- He left behind ten million bucks.

- Doesn't make any sense.
- Could've panicked after the shooting.

Maybe he's not as professional
as we thought.

Or maybe it's not about
Uncle Sam's money in the first place.

What else does Stalin get by luring
and killing a federal agent?

Authentication. Proof to another buyer
that his intel is genuine.

- Somebody willing to pay more than ten.
- So he used us?

This guy was playing chess,
and I never even saw it.

I know what I have to do.

Reset.

I'll start over.

I'll get it this time. I just need
some time to clear the chessboard.

Take a break.

Go get a soda.

There's no time, and I have no cash.

Take it.

- Yeah, Abs?
- Can you come to my lab?

Michelangelo, Shakespeare,
da Vinci, Hemingway.

You can count me
amongst their ranks.

I do every day.
What do you got?

A masterpiece.

Well, it looks like
a date and time stamp.

Sometimes the greatest works
of art are simple.

- You got into the pen?
- No. I failed.

The internal memory chip
was too well encrypted.

- Then what is this?
- That is the last day and time

the chip was accessed
by the Wi-Fi transmitter.

That the send-y part?

So, I can't tell you what our bad guy
downloaded from the pen,

but, because of the send-y part,
I can tell you when he did it.

Yesterday. 7:23 p.m.

And assuming that SECNAV
still had the pen in her pocket,

I cross-referenced her schedule.

Porter was at a restaurant
having dinner

with her teenage daughter
when Stalin was downloading.

- How close would he have to be?
- Close.

It's a small pen, small antenna.

So I pulled street surveillance footage
from near the restaurant,

and found Stalin sitting in his car,
committing high treason.

I guess having eyes and ears
everywhere can be helpful.

- But don't tell Bishop I said that.
- License plate.

Already added to the BOLO.

Our chances of finding this guy
just skyrocketed.

That's really great work.

I'm sorry for your loss.

The agent who was killed,
was he a friend of yours?

More like an older brother.

Everything okay?

It's tough not being able to talk
to my family about what I do.

You should've seen my mom
when I told her

I was taking a job
outside of Oklahoma.

Why did you?

That's the difference
between Mom and Dad.

His first rule is: comfort
makes for complicity.

Means the only way to grow
is by challenging yourself.

It helps to remember
why we do the job.

Keeps us going.

Actually, I should get back to NSA.

You're not getting off that easy.

Gibbs likes rules, too.
Number 45:

always clean up your mess.

How?

For starters, the BOLO came back
on Rudolph Stalin.

We know where he is.

Come on.
Time's a-wastin'.

Okay, thanks.

Metro PD says Stalin's car
is still parked in a lot out front.

They're not sure which theater he's in,
but there are only two screens.

Where do I go?
I aced my weapons and field training.

You got a gun, Ado Annie?

I left it in my surrey
with the fringe on top.

Don't quote Oklahoma to me.

Stay in the car.

You bet.

Him.

That's him!

Federal agent!

Stop, stop, stop!

Bishop, why'd you hit him
with the car?

Technically, he ran into the car.

Got to say, that was a gut move.
Gut's good, right?

We intentionally
flushed the guy out.

Gibbs had the exit covered
the whole time.

What?

She pulled a Palmer on this guy,
Boss.

At least he'll go quietly.

I'm not saying anything
without a lawyer.

You hit me with a car.

I thought he was getting away.

I read in his file that he was
a high school track star.

I remember almost everything I read.

Which includes more
than a few interrogation transcripts.

- Meaning what?
- I have an idea.

Hang on. These.

I need to borrow this.
Thank you.

Now, a major principle
of an interrogation

is to let the suspect draw their own
conclusions, right? Which means,

as long as I never say
I'm his lawyer,

as long as he never asks...

Stop.

I can keep up.

Did that guy see you
before you hit him?

Look, we called
the public defender...

Finally. Are you my...

Sorry for the outfit. Today was supposed
to be my day off. Ellie Bishop.

- Have you ask him questions?
- Legally, we can ask

as many questions as we want.

- Up to him to talk without a lawyer.
- That's true.

Do you want to talk?

Shouldn't we speak somewhere
in private first? Or...

It's up to you. I've read the file,
they do have a pretty solid murder case.

- Murder?
- Yeah!

- Of a federal agent.
- No way. I didn't kill anybody.

They know about the pen
on the Secretary of the Navy.

They know you were at the restaurant,
and they know about the $10 million.

You can help yourself, though.
If you cop to the murder,

- might reduce sentencing.
- I didn't kill anybody!

You shot a federal agent
three times in the chest!

Take it down a peg.
He said he didn't kill anybody, okay?

- Let's hear him out.
- Then you make it fast.

I did not extort the government,

and I did not kill this agent.

- But I know who did.
- Name.

Edward Gracy.
He's sold me info before.

Corporate stuff at tech secrets.

First time
he's offered government intel.

So you're admitting to treason.
We supposed to believe this?

I don't know
if I believe him at all.

Need an address to prove it.

Here you go.

- What about my deal?
- Take that up with your lawyer.

You said you were my lawyer.

No, I didn't.
Gave you my card.

Is that gonna hold up in court?

I don't know.
I'm not a lawyer, either.

All right, got confirmation
on a downtown office,

rent in the name Edward Gracy.

I alerted Metro PD,
and they're on standby.

- Getting used to your pace here.
- Well, then you're gonna need this.

Has this been used?

Yes, sir.

Of course.

Yes, right away.

- What's the matter?
- Problem with Metro?

It was my boss at NSA.

They need me back at HQ
to debrief immediately.

Got to go.

Federal agents!

Nobody's home.

What do you think?
We being played again?

Check the desk.

Nothing here but junk mail,

back issues of GSM.

They're all addressed here
to Edward Gracy.

This is our master chess player?

Boss, I got something back here.

Well, this is definitely
where Gracy makes his bugs,

and apparently raises awareness
about heart disease, as well.

Charity mailers?

- Our killer has a conscience?
- Nope.

His targets do.

Shipping receipt for a mailer
sent to Sarah Porter.

- SECNAV.
- He's sending them with the brochures.

Junk mail free gifts.

Instead of return-address labels,
you get a super spy pen?

It's a big risk with no guarantee
it's gonna make it past

your junk drawer, let alone MTAC.

This is full of receipts.
He sends them out like clockwork.

These are all
from the same post office.

What the hell are you doing here?

Okay, I can explain.

I kept digging
into the name Edward Gracy.

- I just... I couldn't help myself.
- Get back in your car.

Okay, but wait.
The name Gracy is an alias,

and I found an open credit card
with weekly purchases...

at this post office, okay?

I came here to follow up.

Gracy's P.O. box
is inside the store.

I know! So is he.

It's what I'm trying to tell you.

You're on a stakeout.

Go!

What, did you read a book
on disarming bad guys?

Three older brothers.
Quit squirming!

I think we'll find this weapon's
a match to the one that killed Flynn.

- I'll take it from here.
- You got it?

All right.

Here we go, big guy.

What?

We were both right.

And we got him.

You're still missing the point,
Bishop.

Got a hit on the fingerprint.

Real name is Thaddeus Knox.

Multiple arrests
for corporate espionage.

Now we can add treason and murder.

- It doesn't make any sense.
- What now, Russell Crowe?

Hasn't your mind gotten you in
enough trouble today?

I don't quit until I get it right,
and our corporate

pretty boy just doesn't fit
into the big picture.

We've never seen him, NSA or NCIS.

- He's a first-timer.
- Exactly.

But if he sends bugs to tech employees
looking for corporate secrets,

why make the jump to SECNAV and a crime
that carries out a life sentence?

Something made him leave
his comfort zone.

It's not about ideology
or power, it's...

it's about challenging himself,

- proving that he can do the job.
- Who's he trying to impress?

His boss.

Don't tell me those crazy
papers are finally paying off.

I have staff lists from the corporations
in MTAC this morning.

Bugs have been sent to employees
of every company except one.

- The same company that's paying Gracy.
- Beringer Marine.

What do they have against SECNAV?

You here for the update?

- What's going on?
- Hell if I know.

Madam Secretary's
cut me out of the loop.

I couldn't help but notice
the tension between you two earlier.

You know,
I don't mind taking orders.

I'd prefer they come
from fellow Marines,

or someone who's served.

I hear you.

A civilian giving orders
that affects thousands

of military personnel pisses me off
more than you know.

Few months back,

I was on the short list
for the SECNAV appointment.

I was honored,
but didn't feel right about it.

Why?

- You seem qualified.
- Maybe.

But I haven't served in uniform.

And I have too much respect
for those who have.

Like you.

It's not right for Porter to pretend
she knows what they need.

She should've done the right thing,
like I did, and declined the position.

But...

I guess she'll have to now.

- What is this?
- A bug at the NSA.

Who would've thought?

- You turn on me, Marine?
- The only turncoat here is you, Ward.

By hiring one
of your corporate spies

to embarrass me,
you put the entire country at risk.

I had nothing to do with that.
I only want to protect this country

and the people defending it.

I may not have served,
but I know about duty

and sacrifice.

Takes more than a uniform
to make a team.

Tony and McGee said
you'd still be here.

I am.

Sorry to bother you so late.

Never say you're sorry.

It is a sign of weakness.

I thought that was the point.

Especially after today.

But I think I've finally
figured something out.

You always got to have the right answer,
don't you, Bishop?

Unfortunately.

But if you'll let me finish,
I can explain why that's wrong.

I work hard.

And when I fall,
I get right back up.

I'm smart, and I want
to make a difference.

And I can.

Been so busy looking at...

the chessboard on my own,

I forgot to be a part of it.

I wasn't a team player.

That's what I wanted to say.

That's it.
Good night.

Good luck.

Never mind.

You forgot something.

- That's not mine.
- It's got your name on it.

This is my NCIS application
from years ago.

Before I took the job at NSA.
How did you know about this?

Your name sounded familiar,
I went back and looked it up.

That's why you brought me
along today.

You play chess, too.

I wanted to see
if you were still up for a challenge.

Why?

I'd like to keep you around.

Joint duty assignment.

What?