NCIS (2003–…): Season 15, Episode 4 - Skeleton Crew - full transcript

(thunder crashes)

("Toccata and Fugue in D minor"
playing)

Hmm.

I'm not sure.

What do you think?

He was stabbed, genius.
No, it can't be.

That's too obvious.

This is so boring.
Can we please go?

We just got here.
Stop being a killjoy.

(sighs)

(upbeat hip-hop music playing)

* Yeah...

I bet he was poisoned
by some rare flower extract,

but the killer stabbed him
to throw us off the scent.

I have read enough Agatha
Christie novels to know

that the simplest explanation
is never the right one.

Wow. You cracked the case.

Fifth year of college
is really paying off.

(grunting)

Yes!

Another one bites the dust.

See, this is why
you're single.

Can't believe
how cheesy this is.

That blood looks totally fake.

He's not faking, Sarah.

This isn't part of the show.

*

ROSS (over TV): And on
to weather, Hurricane Molly

has been upgraded
to a Category 3 storm,

with winds reaching
up to 125 miles an hour.

Molly is expected
to make landfall

within the next 48 hours,

as local businesses
and residents

continue to make preparations.

The military has also begun
hurricane sortie operations,

with ships departing
Norfolk naval base

and Little Creek
today and tomorrow.

(TV clicks off)

(urgent knocking)

(doorbell ringing)

Yeah!

I hear you! Hey, hold on.

Holy cow, you're a sight
for sore eyes.

I went to five other houses
on the block.

No one was home.

Thanks for letting me in.

I didn't.

Boy, it's really
coming down out there.

We don't have many hurricanes
in California.

Earthquakes, but...
You know what I mean?

No. (chuckles)

Who are you?

Oh, sorry about that.

Uh, Jacqueline Sloane.

Don't worry.
I'm not a weirdo.

My car broke down

around the corner,
and my cell died,

and it's a whole thing.

Uh, maybe I can fix your car.
Let me get my tools.

Oh, no, no, no. Please.
That's not necessary at all.

It's a rental, so they'll...
they'll just take care of it.

I just need a phone
to call a tow truck,

and I'll be out of your hair.

D-Do you drink coffee?

Uh, yes. By the gallon.

Well, come on in.
Take a load off.

Thank you.

Very much.

How long do you think
it'll take them to get here?

MAN:
It's backed up. Maybe two hours.

Great. Thanks so much.

You're welcome.

Looks like I'm not the only one
stranded in this storm.

They're gonna take
over two hours to get here.

Could always be worse.

Could still be outside.

Ah, I see you're
a glass half full kind of guy.

It depends what's in the glass.

(chuckles)

Here you go.

What?

People usually comment on it.

Your flip phone?

I love it.

It's vintage.

Goes with your style.

The decor, the brick TV.

It's all kind of retro-chic.

It's very in right now.

I didn't know it went out.

Well, style is cyclical.

I have to notice these things
in my job.

Are you some kind of decorator?

No. I wish.

Maybe in a past life.

In this life, I'm a doctor.

Mmm.

And what do you do?

No, wait, wait, wait,
let me guess.

You are a...

carpenter.

No, no, I got it.

You...

are a cowboy.

(chuckling)
(phone ringing)

Yeah, it's Gibbs.

Sure. On my way.

I got to go.

No problem.
I'll just wait outside

till a tow truck comes.
Why?

Stay as long as you need to.

You're gonna leave
a complete stranger

alone in your house?

Yes.

I could rob you blind.

Lock up when you're done.

Thanks for the coffee.

(camera clicking)

TORRES:
All right. Well, thank you.

We'll, uh,
we'll stay in touch.

Okay.

That was crazy.

Butler give you anything?
No. No, but, uh...

you know, he stayed
in character the entire time.

(chuckles): You got to admire
that kind of discipline.

This place is amazing.

Delilah and I
came here last month

for their Game of Thrones
theme night.

I went as Ser Jorah,

she went as Khaleesi,

Mother of Dragons.

Mother of Dragons-- mother.
Get it?

What the hell did he just say?

I'm not your
nerd whisperer, Nick.

Okay, look, I can get behind
the whole murder mystery thing,

but the masquerade?

I just... I don't like that.

You know? I don't like
when people wear masks

and they pretend to be
somebody else. That's just...

that's just weird.

That's just creepy, man.

You're kidding, right?

You were an undercover agent.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

(chuckles):
Okay.

It's different, guys.

'Kay? I'm not pretending
to be someone.

I'm embodying someone.

It's a big difference.

You guys want to see
a little demonstration?
GIBBS: No.

Okay, maybe later.
What do we know?

Victim is Marine
First Lieutenant Ethan Wynn.

25. Stationed out of Dam Neck.

He was stabbed twice
in the abdomen

in the service hallway.

Stumbled into the dining room,
where he lost consciousness.

TORRES: Two partygoers
found him, and they called 911.

He was taken
to a local hospital,

and he remains in the ICU.

The local LEOs are trying
to contact the wife.

Okay. McGee, Torres,
get to the hospital.

See what he knows.

Bishop, witnesses?

Well, most were wearing masks,

so no one recalls
seeing Ethan beforehand.

A few guests
report hearing screams,

but it was part of the show.
(floorboards creaking above)

TORRES: To be undercover
is like being a chameleon.

You know? You have to connect

with the character
you're portraying.

You have to understand
what drives them.

That's what keeps them
authentic.

Know what I mean?

I stopped listening
a while ago.

(scoffs)
Excuse me.

Uh, we're looking
for Ethan Wynn's room.

ETHAN: Get off me! (grunts)
NURSE: Calm down, Mr. Wynn.

We found him.
ETHAN: Let me go!

I can't stay here.
Please, sir!

(grunting)

Lieutenant, relax.

I can't!
I need to call the police.

We are the police.

(grunting)

Thank God.

You have to help me.
I was attacked.

Yeah, we know.
That's why we're here.

No. You don't
understand.

The guy who did this to me
took my wife.

Please. You have
to find her.

Okay, guys. Go ahead.

Somebody ask me
what I did last night.

Abby, what'd you do last night?

McGee, so sweet of you to ask.

So, there was a zombie
movie marathon last night,

and I realized
how unprepared we are.

Unprepared for what?

The zombiepocalypse.

The what now?

ABBY:
I mean, think about it.

We're doing all this emergency
response for Hurricane Molly

because that's
what we're trained to do.

But none of us are trained

for the zombiepocalypse.

Because it's not a thing.

Not yet.

But fear not,
because I have taken matters

into my own hands.

I've made you all
an emergency kit,

in case the undead decide
to rise, and I've put one

in each one of your go bags.

Yes!
Check it out.

Hmm. What's in them?

Oh, you know,
the essentials,

like a compact mirror
for signaling,

and, um, a makeup palette

for any kind of
camouflage needs,

and a beeper for communication.

McGEE:
A beeper?

BISHOP: Like an
old-fashioned beeper?

Well... yeah.

Okay, no need
to thank me.

You guys enjoy.

GIBBS:
Come on.

Give me an update.

Right. Our missing sailor
is Lieutenant J.G. Helen Wynn.

26. A supply
officer stationed

on the USS Ewing
out of Norfolk.

BISHOP: According to her husband
First Lieutenant Ethan Wynn,

the two were cornered

at the murder mystery dinner
by a man in a devil costume.

He stabbed Ethan,

took Helen,
fled in the Wynns' car.

BOLO's already out on him.

What's the condition
of the husband?

Both stab wounds
missed any vital organs.

Yeah, Helen's mother
has been notified.

She's on her way in now.

Bishop, Torres,
get on board her ship.

See what you can find out.

Uh, Gibbs, the USS Ewing

left Norfolk early this morning
'cause of the-the hurricane.

Take a helo. Go on.
Get out there.

Flying to a ship at sea
in the middle of a hurricane.

(scoffs): Yeah.
What could go wrong?

I don't care that you're doing
everything in your power.

It's not good enough.

My daughter's missing.

Call the FBI.
We've done that.

Mrs. Belmont, I promise you
all available agencies

are looking for Helen.

I told her something
like this would happen,

but she just
didn't listen.

You're saying
you know why Helen was taken?

Of course I do.

Someone's obviously
after her money.

What money?

We're Belmonts.

As in the Belmont soap empire.

My daughter is a very
wealthy young woman.

Helen went against my wishes
by joining the military.

I don't know what
she was thinking.

She wanted to serve her country.

Oh, please.

Save it
for the recruitment video.

This is not the future
I envisioned for her.

Did many know
about Helen's money?

I can't imagine so.

She didn't like
to talk about it.

She didn't want people
to treat her differently.

Even that...

husband of hers
didn't find out about it

until after the wedding.

You had issues with Ethan Wynn?

He robbed me

of giving my baby a wedding.

Instead of an elegant ceremony,

they eloped
at the county courthouse.

You're married;
you understand.

I got married, uh,
in my apartment, actually.

Rent or own?

Rent.

Dear God.

Let me make this very simple.

Whatever ransom her captor
is demanding, I will pay it.

A ransom hasn't been asked.

It will.

And when it does,
I will get you the money,

but I want you to bring
my daughter back unscathed.

Dr. Mallard
pulls these off so well,

but I don't think
I have the right neck for it.

Guy at the zoo did say
I have giraffe-like features.

What's wrong with
how you usually dress?

This week is my first
official week flying solo.

I thought that wearing
one of the doctor's bowties

would make me feel less anxious
about filling his shoes.

You have handled things
by yourself before.

You're gonna be great.

You don't have to be
an imitation of Ducky.

You just have
to be Jimmy.

You know, you're right.

I am a fully capable
medical examiner.

This is my opportunity.
This is my chance.

This is my shot.
No!

No! Please don't start
singing Hamilton again, okay?

'Cause it gets stuck
in my head, like, all day.

I can't help it.

It's educational and
it's entertaining.

Speaking of educational,

I'm trying to learn more
about Helen Wynn's abductor.

Yeah? What do you got?

Well, since there were

no cameras
at the murder-mystery dinner,

I started searching through
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook

to find any posts that were
taken there that night,

and I found this video.

That's Ethan and Helen Wynn
at the top of the stairs.

And there, in the background,
is our suspect

dressed in a
devil's costume.

Now watch what
devil man does.

He waits for Helen
and Ethan Wynn to walk by,

and then he follows them.

And he was prepared.

That is a compact river knife.

The size of the blade
matches the injuries

that Ethan sustained.

(thunder rumbling)

That's rather ominous.

(people murmuring)

VANCE: Everyone, may I have
your attention?

Due to the worsening
weather conditions,

I'm ordering all
nonessential NCIS personnel

to evacuate the Navy Yard
until further notice. Thank you.

McGEE:
Boss, what do we...?

We're not going anywhere.
What do you got?

I went through Helen Wynn's
cell phone records.

Now, the final call
she made yesterday was

to this man: Mitch Greyson.

He's a civilian employee

at the National Armed Forces
Credit Union.

Logs indicate
that they exchanged

a few calls
over the past few weeks.

Yeah, go, check him out.

Hey, cowboy. Catch.

Boss, you know her?

Apparently not.

Congratulations.
How are you?

Hi, Jack.
How are you?

Were those your house keys
that she just gave you?

Sorry. Norfolk. On it.

Oh. Very nice.

Thank you.

Very good to see you,
Special Agent Sloane.

Can I make you some coffee?

Yes, thank you.
You still take it
the same way?

Black, three sugars,
more sugar, then coffee.

Got it. You know,
I got to say,

I never thought I'd
live to see the day

that you would relocate
to the East Coast.

Well, you shouldn't be that
surprised. It was your idea.

I was always
under the impression

that you would rather quit
than leave California.

Oh, believe, me,
I thought about it.

Well, I'm very glad
that you reconsidered.

Headquarters can
certainly benefit

from a skilled forensic
psychologist such as yourself.

Well, I go where I'm needed.

But I have to say,
I was hesitant at first.

This office does have
quite the reputation.

Oh, really?

Yes. Every week,
I would hear a new story

about a certain hard-to-handle
agent who crossed some line,

but I'm sure that's
just pure urban legend.

I'd say it's 50-50.

Yikes.

Mm. I wasn't sure

how our personalities
would mesh together.

So, what changed your mind?

Like any agent worth their salt,

I did a little recon
on my subject.

Really? What did you deduce?

Let's just say I'm looking
forward to a new challenge.

Well, you certainly

picked one hell
of a day to start.

(thunder rumbling)

Big storm coming.

You have no idea.

Jack, I know you took this
assignment as a favor to me.

I appreciate it.

It's the least I could do, Leon.

I owe you.

No. That was
a long time ago, Jack.

That debt's been paid.

No, it hasn't.
Not even close.

Welcome to your new home,
Agent Sloane.

Thank you, Director Vance.

I am looking forward to it.

(helicopter blades whirring)

(thunder crashing)

TORRES:
Hey.

Is it safe
for a ship to be out

at sea in the middle
of a hurricane?

Safer than being in port, sir.

Feels like a ghost ship.
Where's everybody else?

We operate with a small skeleton
crew during sorties like this.

How many on board?

40. This way if the ship sinks,

we don't lose the entire crew.

(laughs) Got a weird
sense of humor there, Smiddy.

Wasn't a joke, sir.
This way.

BISHOP: Is Helen Wynn's
department head standing by?

No, ma'am. Lieutenant Simoni
is on leave in Japan

right now, but our X.O.
is waiting to assist you.

Commander Thomas Buckner.
Oh.

I knew a Tommy Buckner
back in Oklahoma.

An ex-boyfriend of yours?
(chuckles) Hardly.

He was one of the popular kids
who made my life miserable.

I figured you more for
a, uh, homecoming queen.

Far from.

I was all knees and elbows.

I spent most of my time
in the computer lab trying

to avoi Buckner
and his friends.

God, I hated that guy.

Well, let's not hold it
against this guy

because he has the same name.

Sir, NCIS Agents Torres
and Bishop.

Ellie Bishop? Is that you?

You've got to be kidding me.

No.

Now, okay, this just got
really interesting.

I cannot believe it.
What a small world it is.

(chuckles)

Yeah, it's something.

Yeah, it's something.

So, uh, how long
has it been, huh,

since you two crazy kids
have seen each other?

Not since high school.
I mean, Scarecrow here

never showed up
to any of our reunions, so...

And there's why.

So, how've you been?

I mean, you-you look great.

Being an agent
certainly agrees with you.

Well, we're here
on business, Buckner,

not a trip down memory lane.

(clears throat)

Of course.

Roger that.

So, how can I help NCIS today?

Well, you can tell us about
Lieutenant J.G. Wynn.

Helen?
Mm.

Well, she's been our services
officer for the past 18 months.

She's hardworking, dedicated,

never had any
disciplinary issues.

Does she have any problems
with anyone on board?

No, not that I'm aware of.

Why didn't you report her U.A.
this morning?

'Cause she's not U.A.

Lieutenant Wynn

wasn't slated to be
a part of the skeleton crew.

What's all this about?

Helen was abducted last night.

Abducted?

Oh, my God.

I mean, you think
someone on board was involved?

Well, we're looking
into everything.

Time's a factor.

Yeah, I-I understand.

Um... (clears throat)

How can I help?

Uh, well,
we'll need Helen's files,

crew evals
and access to her stateroom.

Absolutely. Follow me.

(thunder rumbling)

Hey. Scarecrow?

(scoffs) Don't ask.

(siren wailing in distance)

Mitch Greyson?

I'm so sorry.
We're closing.

NCIS. I'd like to ask you
a couple questions.

Okay, yeah. Uh, you mind
if we make it quick?

Base commander ordered us

to shut down operations
and evacuate.

How do you know this woman?

Helen Wynn.

She handles the USS Ewing's
bank account.

I'm her financial liaison.

And the
multiple calls

you two exchanged
over the last two weeks--

those were all banking related?

We normally speak
only once a week

to schedule times
for Helen to come in

and make deposits
and withdrawals.

But with the ship set
to deploy in the next ten days,

there's more business
she needed to take care of.

So, when was the last time

you were in contact
with Lieutenant Wynn?

We spoke late
yesterday afternoon.

She was supposed to come by this
morning to pick up some checks,

but she never showed.

I mean, who can blame her
with this weather?

Why are you asking?

Is Helen okay?

BUCKNER:
No way.

So you were a striker, too, huh?
Oh, yeah, all-state

my senior year.

What about you?

Can't complain.

Full athletic scholarship
to Syracuse.

Whoa.

Most impressive.

Yeah. No, I don't like
to brag or anything.

Since when?

TORRES:
Okay, so,

I-I have to know.

What was teenage Bishop like?

She was an individual.

Never really followed the crowd.
Didn't really seem to care

what other people thought.
It was, uh... it was refreshing.

Oh, yeah?
What's up with that nickname?

Scarecrow.

Well, Bishop used to wear these,

um, oversized
patchwork overalls,

and had this straw-like
blonde hair.

She was never really around
a group of friends,

kind of always
on her own, so,

thinking back, I guess that
wasn't a really nice nickname.

You think?

Look, I get it. I mean,
high school kids can be cruel.

They gave me a nickname,
and I hated it.

Uh... they called you
"Thomas the Adonis."

It's not exactly the same thing.

Look, that was all
a long time ago, right?

I mean, look at you now.
You're a kick-ass federal agent.

Very cool.

I am glad you're impressed.

Uh, look, I need to search
Helen's disbursing office.

No can do.
I don't have access.

You're the X.O. of the ship.

Well, disbursing
is a secure space.

And DoD regulations stipulate
that only Helen and her clerk

are allowed the keys,
and neither are on board.
(knocking)

Excuse me, sir, there's an Agent
Gibbs calling on the sat phone.

Uh, thanks.

Gibbs.

Uh, no, we haven't found
anything on board.

Any word from Helen's captor?
No, negative.

I mean, it's been 24 hours
since she was taken.

Shouldn't a ransom
have been made by now?

I don't think
this is about ransom.

Boss, BOLO came back
on Helen's car.

Park ranger spotted it
near Lake Drummond.

Okay. Get the first helo out.

I want you and Torres

back in D.C., ASAP.

Agents McGee and Gibbs, I'd
like to introduce you to...

Special Agent Jack Sloane.
Yeah, we know.

We do?

Uh, nice to meet you.

McGEE:
Hi.

Nice to meet y-you, officially.

You have a minute?

Nope.

Ouch.

Looks like a "fool me once"
kind of guy.

This way.

Thank you.

Here you go.
Put your gear on.

What are you waiting for?
Let's go. Chop, chop. Come on.

Why? Are you flying the helo?

No. Just...
Then chill the hell out.

Oh, my God. I just want
to get off of this ship

and as far away from Buckner
as possible, so...

Yeah, you know what? I meant
to talk to you about that.

You're being kind of
rude to the guy.

(laughs) I was rude to him?

Yeah! He's kind of
a cool dude, man.

You know, he's saying the
nicest things about you.

I think you got
the guy all wrong.

Okay, "man."
The guy is playing you.

Believe me, it is all an act.

Okay, maybe he was
an ass as a kid.

High school was
a long time ago.

You got to get over it.

You know, that is easy
for you to say.

Y-You were a-a popular jock,
like Buckner, okay?

You have no idea
what it was like to be mocked

and laughed at every day.
A-And the only reason

Buckner even let up was
because of my brothers, so...

What'd they do, break his leg?

No, two of his fingers.

Wish they were here now.

Hey, look, Bishop, I'm sorry.

I'm not trying to be insensitive
about it, okay?

It's just, I can tell
that he bothers you.

Why don't you go up to him,
go talk to him.

Tell him.
Tell him how you feel.

I don't want to talk
about this anymore, okay?

Just want to get off
of this ship!

(door opens)

(thunder crashing)

Hey. Uh, is the helo ready yet?

Uh, I'm sorry, ma'am.

Sea conditions
have deteriorated.

All flight ops
have been cancelled.

For how long?
Until the storm passes.

I'm afraid you're both stuck
on board for the time being.

McGEE:
Deputies secured the area.

No one's been in or out
since we got the call.

It's a closed access road,
very off the beaten path.

Not a lot of foot traffic.

Whoever dumped the car
knew the area.

Yeah, I used to come here
as a Webelos, boss.

There's a, uh, a weather station
about a half mile up the ridge.

Maybe we'll find
Helen there.

We already did!

JIMMY: I might not wax poetic
as well as Dr. Mallard,

but I can assure you
my work is just as thorough.

(knock on door)

Ah, Agent Gibbs.
Right on time.

I don't mean
to disappoint you.

Sorry to interrupt.

I'm Special Agent
Jack Sloane.

As in Jack Sloane,
doctor of forensic psychology?

Mm-hmm.
Oh, Dr. Mallard's
talked about you.

He's a big fan
of your work.

Ah, you must be Dr. Palmer.
From what I hear,

he's a big fan
of your work, as well.
Me?

(chuckles)
I don't know about that.

Well, think about it.

Would Dr. Mallard entrust
his job with just anyone?

Point taken, yeah.

Care to show me
what you got?

Certainly, yes.

Our victim here is Lieutenant...

Agent Gibbs,

I was just about to
go over my findings.

By all means.

Awkward silences make me
extremely uncomfortable,

so I'm just gonna keep talking.

Lieutenant Wynn's
cause of death

was blunt force trauma
to the head.

Now, judging by
the size of the wound

and the moss-like debris
inside of it,

I would say she was hit
with a large rock.

Time of death?
Between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m.

the night she was abducted.

(clears throat)

Sorry. Tickle in my throat.

What else?

I found some fibers
under her fingernails.

Now, Abby has since confirmed
that it's red nylon,

probably from the killer's
devil costume.

GIBBS:
She fought back.

(clears throat)

Anything you'd like
to add, Jack?

No. It's your... rodeo.

But if you really did want
to hear my professional opinion,

I'd say that murder wasn't
the killer's original intent.

If so, he would
have used the knife

he stabbed her husband with;
instead, he uses a rock.

Look at this.
See how he ties her hands?

They're bound in front,
not in the back,

which is a better
stress position.

And he ties a cloth
around the rope?

He wanted to make her
comfortable.

Pretty considerate for a killer,
wouldn't you say?

Okay, so if he didn't want
to kill her, why did he?

Something must have happened
and he panicked.

Maybe Helen figured out
who her captor was.

You think they knew each other?

I think it was more than that.

Your suspect
had feelings for her.

Maybe even loved her.

Know anyone who fits that bill?

ETHAN:
What is wrong with you people?

First you tell me
my wife is dead,

and then you accuse me
of killing her?

You don't even have an alibi.

I was in the ho... (groans)
I was in the hospital.

No, you weren't.

You signed an A.M.A.
and you left at midnight,

giving yourself plenty of time
to kill your wife

and dump the car.

I left the hospital that night
to go out and look for Helen.

You have to believe me.

Oh, no, we don't.

Not if you keep lying.

Divorce papers your wife
had her attorney draw up.

Oops. Bet that slipped
your mind.

ETHAN:
Look, six months ago,

we decided to take
some time apart.

We both started
seeing other people,

but we soon realized how much
we still loved each other.

We got back together
two weeks ago.

Okay. So Helen postpones
the divorce, she dies.

You inherit her millions;
that's convenient.

Give me a polygraph, take
my DNA, do whatever you want.

I didn't kill my wife, and
whoever did is still out there.

McGEE: You said you were
seeing other people.

Who was Helen dating?

One of her coworkers.

She said things got
a little uncomfortable at work

when she broke things off
with him.

She wouldn't tell me who it was,
but I had my suspicions.

Who?

Her X.O.

Commander Buckner.

That's the most ridiculous thing
I've ever heard.

That's not an answer, Commander.

No, I'm not dating
Lieutenant Wynn.

Why would the husband
think you were?

I have no idea. Ask him.

TORRES: Did. He said you
spent a lot of time together.

We did.
We were on the same ship.

Okay, enough! I'm sick
of your crap, Buckner.

Just stop lying to us.

I'm not lying to you, okay?
Helen and I were just friends.

Executive officers
aren't friends

with their
junior officers.

You were her boss.

So what was going on
between you?!

Nothing!

(man speaking indistinctly
over P.A.)

(thunder rumbling)

You really haven't changed
at all.

You were a bully in high
school, and you still are.

So, tell me,
what's the matter?

Your-your fragile ego couldn't
handle getting dumped?

Hmm? Helen used you,
rejected you,

and you had to do something
about it, didn't you?

That's why you killed her.

Killed her?

Helen's dead?

Um...
(clears throat)

Uh, I don't know what to say.

We need details, Commander.

After, uh...

After Helen
and her husband separated,

I could see she was going
through a tough time, so...

I just wanted
to give her some guidance.

Because you're so wise?

Because I've been in her shoes.

Mm.

I went through
a divorce last year,

and I know how tough
it can be.

Ten years of marriage,

and then it just...
all fell apart.

I didn't want Helen to make
the same mistakes I did.

Were the two of you ever
romantically involved?

No.

I would never

cross that line.

You must really despise me

to think that I'm capable
of murder.

You know, whatever it is
I did to you in high school,

I'm truly sorry.

But I'm not that guy anymore.

Any word from
Bishop or Torres?

Radio silence.

The storm's knocked out
all lines of communication

with the USS Ewing.

I've been hailing the sat phone,

but there's no answer.

All right, keep trying.

Yes, sir.

Why is it that
everywhere I go, you go?

Must be a coincidence.

Rule 39: there's no
such thing as coincidence.

I don't believe in absolutes.

Something I can do for you?

Yeah. Stop following me.

You have a rule about
being paranoid, too?

I was here first, so if
anything, you're following me.

But I'll let it slide this time,
'cause I'm nice like that.

What about your stunt
at my house?

Oh, well, that's
a different story.

To really understand
what makes a person tick,

you have to interact with them
on their home turf.

Yeah, or you could just ask.

What's the fun in that?

I don't like games.

And I don't like
people lying to me.

Then we are off to a bad start.

You want in on my cases,
you need to come through me.

No, actually, I don't.

I answer to Director Vance,
not to you.

Hey, look,

I'm not...

trying to step on
any toes here.

My job is to provide insight
to help solve cases.

Whether you decide
to utilize my expertise

or not is up to you.

You may not understand
my methods,

but they work.

I wanted to see
what kind of man you are.

And what I saw is someone
who is driven to help people,

even at the expense
of himself.

And I asked myself,

"Is this a person
I can work with?"

And the answer was, "Hell yes."

So, give it a chance, Gibbs.

You'll like having me around,
I think.

Why is that?

'Cause you enjoy a good fight.

(door opens, closes)

Abby, hey,
got your message.

(whispers):
Be very quiet.

What are we whispering about?

(thunder rumbling)

I don't want to disturb
the power gods

while I'm running
a database search.

You found DNA?

Well, yes and no.

The fibers that Jimmy
pulled from underneath

the victim's fingernails,
they had trace amounts of DNA.

But I ran it through the system,
and I got nothing.

So that rules out
the husband.

The juicy stuff ended up being
from the vehicle.

Exhibit A,

her car key.

It was left in the ignition.

Exhibit B...

...my keys.

Notice a difference?

You're a key hoarder.

Each one of them
has a purpose.

You know? Like your car
and home and office,

church, bike, coffin.

I could go on.

The point is,
no one has just one key.

Killer must've taken it
off the ring.

Which would be
pretty much impossible

if you were wearing gloves.

So, I dusted the key
for prints,

and that is what I'm running
through the system right now.

Okay, how long until...

(beep)
ABBY: Oh!

I'm so good.

Okay.

So, the print belongs to

Petty Officer
Third Class Joe Smiddy,

and he is on board
the USS Ewing.

Isn't that...
That's the same ship

that Bishop
and Torres are on.

They're on board
with the murderer,

and they don't know it.

What are you waiting for,
McGee? Call them.

I can't.

The hurricane has knocked out
all the ship's comms.

And with no answer
on the sat phone,

I can't get in contact
with anyone

until the storm blows over.

That could... be hours.

That could be days.

(thunder rumbling)

Still no answer
from the USS Ewing.

Sat phone signal's strong,
but no one's responding.

Call base ops.
We're flying out there.

The storm's starting to pass,
but, boss, we can't.

Air traffic's grounded.
No one's getting on board

until it's moved
farther away.

Well, that's just
not good enough, McGee.

I know. So I think
I figured out a way

to get word
to Bishop and Torres.

The zombiepocalypse.

What is that?

It's a survival kit

that Abby packed in our go bags.

Each one contains a beeper.

Now, beepers work
off satellites.

Don't know if they're powered on
or not, but it's worth a try.

Yeah, go, go.

Hey, Buckner, have you
seen the sat phone?

Torres and I have been
looking for it everywhere.

Buckner?

Uh...
(clears throat)

No, I, uh...
I haven't seen it.

You okay?

(sighs)

You seriously just ask me that?

Look, I'm...

I'm sorry for how I broke
the news about Helen.

I know it was harsh,
but I just...

I had to see
if you were telling the truth.

I trained for a lot of things.

This was not one of 'em.

Death is... never easy.

Death is one thing,

murder is... quite another.

How do you let that
go and move on?

(sighs)

I had a...

a friend who was killed
a few months back.

And, uh... getting
through it wasn't easy.

Force yourself
to get up in the morning,

get through the day, and...

eventually, life starts
to suck a little less.

You know, I miss being a kid

and not knowing how screwed up
the world really is.

Yep, there is a lot of bad
out there.

It's why I do what I do.

I wanted to be a part
of making things right.

Sounds like why I joined
the military.

You know, I-I
don't blame you

for holding a grudge.

I was an ass
in high school.

You know, the truth is,
you, uh...

you always kind of
intimidated me.

Still do.

Bishop. Just got
word from McGee.

You found
the sat phone?

(beep)
No, he sent a message on this.

Hmm.

They found Petty
Officer Smiddy's print

at the crime scene.

Smiddy?
That doesn't make any sense.

He's an engineer. He hardly had
any contact with Helen.

Why-why would he
want to kill her?

Well, let's find him and ask.

Wait, why would Smiddy come
to the ship after killing Helen?

There has to be
a reason.

I mean, he must be after
something on board.

You said Helen
was one of two people

who had the keys
to the disbursing office.

What if this was about getting
access to the ship's safe?

Yeah, and with a skeleton crew
on board,

that's fewer witnesses.

How much money's in there?

Pre-deployment?

Close to $300,000.

I was just, uh...

What, sleepwalking?

Drop that.

Should've stuck
with robbery, Smiddy.

You'd be looking at 15 years
in prison

instead of a life sentence
for Helen Wynn's murder.

Whoa, I didn't kill anybody.
(handcuffs click)

Okay, my job was just
to break into the safe

and get the money--
that's it.

Then how did Helen end up dead?

I don't know.

M-My buddy's the one who planned
this whole thing, okay?

He was supposed to hold
Lieutenant Wynn

until I got back with
the cash, and then,

once we got out of town,
he was gonna call the cops

and tell them where she was.

He promised me
no one would get hurt.

He lied.

Does your friend have a name?

(helicopter blades whirring)

(grunts)

McGEE:
Morning.

Agent McGee.

Much better weather today.

Looks like we're
through the worst of it.

Uh, you're not.

Excuse me?

You were dating Helen Wynn.

(chuckles) We went out
to dinner a couple times

during her separation.

It was no big deal.

Ah, it was more
than that, Greyson.

You were in love with her.

But then she dropped you
and went back to her husband.

You found a way to get even

and make a whole lot of money
in the process.

You didn't anticipate
Helen figuring it out.

That's when you panicked.
That's when you killed her.

Look, I'm not saying
another word without a lawyer.

See, that's the best part,
actually.

We don't need a confession,
'cause Petty Officer Smiddy

already gave you up.

And there's
the killer's DNA

that we found
underneath Helen's fingernails.

You want to bet that
that matches yours?

(man speaking indistinctly
over P.A.)

Helo's fueled and ready.
You're good to go.

All right, thanks.

Let's go.

Hey, uh, thanks again
for your help.

I should be thanking you.

You guys got Helen justice.

I'm extremely grateful for that.

Well, she was lucky
to have you looking out for her.

Yeah, well,
I'm not sure it did any good.

Believe me, it did.

(helicopter blades whirring)

I wish it was under very
different circumstances, but...

I'm glad our paths
crossed again.

You know what, me, too.

(chuckles)

Take care of
yourself, Eleanor.

Keep fighting the good fight.

You, too.

Hey, uh, Thomas.

Drop me a line when you get back
from deployment.

Can grab a coffee, catch up.

Count on it.

(phones ringing)

(elevator bell dings)

Ha.

What were you saying
about coincidences?

(exhales)

I'm not stalking you,
by the way.

Just headed down to the gym.

Care to join me?
No.

Mm-mm.

(chuckles)

(elevator stops)

Something I said?

When I showed up
at your house the other day,

you knew who I was
the whole time, didn't you?

Not the whole time.

How long did it take?

About 30 seconds.
Ouch.

What gave me away?

Flashed your license
like a cop does a badge.

Mm.

(elevator starts)

And Ducky mentioned there was
a new forensic psychologist

coming in from California.

So why didn't you
call me out right then?

I wanted to know what
kind of person you are.

Gonna take you a long time
to figure that out.

Yeah. We'll see.

We'll see.
(elevator bell dings)

(doors open)

Special Agent Sloane.

Special Agent Gibbs.

* I'll smile, I know what
it takes to fool this town *

* I'll do it
till the sun goes down *

* And all through
the nighttime *

* Oh, yeah

* Oh, yeah, I'll tell you
what you want to hear *

* Keep my sunglasses on
while I shed a tear *

* It's never the right time

* Yeah, yeah

* I'll put my armor on

* Show you how strong I am

* I'll put my armor on

* I'll show you that I am

* I'm unstoppable

* I'm a Porsche with no brakes

* I'm invincible

* Yeah, I win
every single game *

* I'm so powerful

* I don't need batteries
to play *

* I'm so confident

* I'm unstoppable today

* Unstoppable today

* Unstoppable today

* Unstoppable today

* I'm unstoppable today.

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