NCIS (2003–…): Season 20, Episode 5 - Guardian - full transcript
You all picked the wrong house.
Let's go.
Okay.
We done?
*N C I S*
Season 20 Episode 05
Episode Title: "Guardian"
Aired on: October 17, 2022.
Oh, God.
Guys.
Over here.
I'm a little beat up,
but I'll live.
Thank God you're okay, Director.
The cop outside said
there was a fatality.
We didn't know if...
I'm fine. Fine.
Can't say the same for him.
One of your uninvited guests?
Well, some don't know
when to leave.
Yo, you all right?
Man, don't do that again.
You'll give me a heart attack. I
appreciate your concern, Agent Torres.
So what happened?
I came for a glass of water,
I walked in on three
guys wearing masks.
Fought 'em off until
one pulled a gun,
and lucky for me, he missed.
This is the shooter here?
Yeah.
I incapacitated him
while the other two ran off.
Incapacitated
is an understatement.
Looks like you broke his neck.
Well, he started it.
Well, no ID.
- Hopefully prints are in the system.
- How'd they get in?
I don't know.
The alarm didn't go off.
- Did they take anything?
- No.
Looks like I interrupted them
before they could
steal anything.
Or maybe they weren't
here to steal.
Okay, we don't need
a Bandium alert for this one.
Let's get to it. McGee.
I'll go check
the alarm system.
Knight, talk
to the neighbors.
Torres, a bullet nearly hit
our beloved director
right over there,
so find it for me.
Agent Parker,
I appreciate you
taking this so seriously,
but is this all
really necessary?
I mean, it could just be
a random burglary.
Could be a lot of things.
But I'm not willing
to take that chance.
Anyone else having a hard time
keeping their eyes open?
Kidding?
We've been up since 3:00 a.m.
Oh, man, what I wouldn't give
for a shower and a shave.
I just want out of these pj's.
We're at work,
for crying out loud.
People keep staring at me.
And now you're staring at me.
"Medical Examiners
Convention 2013."
Is it me,
but does Jimmy have
the exact same T-shirt?
Well, Nick, uh,
yeah, I believe he does.
Oh, God.
Hmm.
Okay, what did we get?
Well, unfortunately, our
John Doe is still a John Doe.
Prints aren't in the system.
Jimmy has his body now, though,
so hopefully he can help ID him.
- What about the bullet?
- I found it lodged
in the cabinet.
Kasie's running the ballistics now,
but I also talked
to local PD.
Two houses
in Vance's neighborhood
have been robbed
in the last four months.
Could be the same guys.
Except they don't have
Vance's security system.
Thing is state of the art...
AI, biometrics.
Whoever broke in
knew how to bypass it.
So we're looking at pros.
Neighbors see anything?
No, but their
video doorbell did.
The same van drove past
Vance's house repeatedly
the day of the break-in.
Did you get a license plate?
It's a rental.
But the driver used
a fake ID and credit card.
I have a BOLO out on the van.
Yeah, this random burglary
is sounding less random
by the second.
Vance was targeted.
And with two men on the loose,
he could still be in danger.
Soon as I get there,
I'll call you, okay?
Uh, I got to go.
Director,
I think we got a problem.
What is that?
That's my luggage, Agent Parker.
I know what it is.
Where are you going?
Interpol Conference
in Berlin.
I told you about it last week.
You're still going to that?
- Of course I am. I go every year.
- Yeah.
Well, it's not every year
that somebody breaks
into your home to kill you.
- We don't know that for sure.
- Well, it's looking more like it.
And I think whoever broke in
might not be
finished with you.
I understand your concern,
Agent Parker,
but I'm not gonna let a threat
stop me from doing my job.
I got to say,
I think this is a big mistake.
You shouldn't go. That's
not your call to make.
Besides,
I won't be going alone.
Olivia,
send them in, please.
This is Agent Dominguez,
Agent Ford.
They are my protection detail.
Anything happens,
they'll be there.
Hey. Alden Parker.
Nice to meet you.
You're dismissed.
- Parker...
- Go!
Wait outside.
Hey!
- What the hell are you doing?
- You want to go to Berlin?
Fine.
I'm going with you.
I'll be your protection detail.
- You?
- I'm qualified.
No, you're overkill.
You're a senior agent, Parker.
- Your place is here with the team.
- They'll be fine.
Besides,
I always wanted to see Berlin.
Plane leaves in an hour.
Your bags aren't even packed.
I always keep
a go bag in my car.
I'll go get it.
Okay, we're good.
Great.
This way, Director.
Just keep moving.
Don't we have to check in?
I... already did it.
I took the liberty of
getting us adjoining rooms.
How nice.
Hey, um, I'd like to stop in
for a quick drink.
It's been a long flight.
We really should go
straight to the room.
- It's safer.
- Parker, it's one drink.
Besides,
I want to scope out who's here
- at the conference.
- Director, this way.
Please?
Should've brought
Torres instead.
Director Vance!
Hello.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Hey...
It's okay, it's all right.
Stand down. I know her.
It's good to see you, Director.
You as well.
It's been too long.
Uh, Agent Parker,
allow me to introduce
Deputy Lena Paulsen
of the German
Federal Intelligence Services.
BND. You'll be attending
the conference as well?
Oh, yes.
I wouldn't miss the opportunity
to talk shop with your director.
He is a bit of a legend
in these parts.
Deputy Paulsen and I
worked together years ago.
Oh, I worked.
You were too busy eating strudel.
Okay.
Uh...
I understand you'll be at the
cyberterrorism panel tomorrow?
Yes, yeah, I'll be there.
Then perhaps afterwards
we can talk some more.
Yes.
Until then, Deputy.
Director.
- Hey, Jimmy.
- McGee!
Good to see you
changed your clothes.
Yeah, well, I managed
to pop home for an hour.
Couldn't keep working
in my sweats, you know?
Yeah, especially now that
you're Acting NCIS Director.
I read the memo.
Congratulations.
That's just until Vance
gets back.
You don't sound too thrilled.
Uh, to be honest with you,
I'm...
kind of dreading it.
I'm a field agent.
I don't want to be stuck
behind a desk
dealing with politicians.
Why not try to
enjoy this, you know?
Embrace your new found power.
You go on longer lunch breaks,
use the private bathroom,
maybe boss some people around.
Okay, how about I start with
asking you for an update?
Not exactly "bossy,"
but we'll work on it.
Okay. Uh...
No big mystery as to how
our victim died.
This is what you get
if you mess with the director,
a former boxing champ.
Yeah, remind me never to get
on Vance's bad side.
Anything so far as to
- who our victim may be?
- Possibly.
He's had hair plugs
installed into his hairline.
They're synthetic plastic plugs
which have been banned
in the United States
for decades.
But they're apparently
still quite popular
in Eastern Europe, which is
possibly where he's from.
Oh, Knight found
the robbers' van abandoned
in a D.C. motel parking lot.
We are bringing in
the motel owner now.
Go get 'em, Director.
How many times you gonna
sweep the room? It's clean.
Never hurts to be thorough.
You know, Agent Parker,
I can handle myself.
It's not the first time that
my life has been threatened.
First time on my watch.
Okay, we're good.
Good.
You hungry?
I can order us
a couple of schnitzels.
I'm just gonna turn in.
It's been a long day.
Well, you need anything,
I'll be, uh...
- Right next door, got it.
- Thanks, Agent Parker.
Hey.
I'm on my way.
Yeah, okay, a little overpriced,
but that'll work.
Oh!
Going somewhere, Director?
Deputy Paulsen's room
perhaps?
I don't know what you mean.
Come on, it's obvious.
The way you couldn't
let go of each other
when you said goodbye?
The two of you
are having a fling.
You've been secretly meeting up
at these conventions each year,
booking rooms on the same floor,
checking in and out
at the same time, eh?
You got all that
from a handshake?
That, and I ran
a background check on her.
Why didn't you
tell me before?
Well, because it's
none of your business.
Uh, it is when your
life is in danger.
Well, now that you know...
can I count on your discretion?
Hundred percent.
But if you're planning
to see her tonight,
I can't let you go alone.
No. Absolutely not.
This is not
a party for three.
I don't need a chaperone.
All due respect,
that's not your call to make.
As long as you are
on foreign soil,
you're my responsibility.
Sorry, Director.
That's the way it's got to be.
Thank you for coming in,
Mr. Sykes.
We just have a few
questions about...
Oh, yeah.
Oh, boy, oh, here we go.
This is about
the Dateline exposé
they did on my motel rooms,
isn't it?
Look, I didn't know
all that gunk was in there
until they waved their
black lights around.
You know, it's like
I told the reporters,
I only rent the rooms,
you know?
I-I can't control
what people do in 'em.
People are animals.
- Mr. Sykes...
- I know,
it's a health hazard,
blah-blah-blah,
but I-I swear to you,
I got a brand-new cleaning lady
coming in first thing on Monday.
Or Tuesday.
As disgusting as that is,
we are not interested
in your rooms.
Oh.
Forget I said anything, then.
Yeah, I wish I could.
Do you recognize that man?
He would've been a guest
at your hotel with two others.
Mm. Yeah, okay.
Yeah, I remember.
Uh, they came in a few days ago.
Paid cash, kept to themselves,
you know.
I didn't really
socialize with them.
Do you remember
anything else?
One of 'em talked funny.
You know, had an accent.
Russian maybe.
Sorry to interrupt,
but this couldn't wait...
Is that the guy from
the Dateline exposé?
Oof, seriously, dude, nasty.
I'm cleaning it!
Kasie, what's going on?
I was able to track
the fake credit card
used to rent the van.
That same card
was used to book
a flight out of Dulles
earlier this morning.
To where?
Berlin.
No such thing
as a coincidence.
Can't believe this.
What wine did you go with? Red?
Ah, it's a nice choice.
Could you please
give me some space?
Riesling
would've been good, too.
You know, something German.
- Just saying.
- Yeah, Torres.
We found the
two guys that got away.
They booked a flight to Berlin.
Landed two hours ago.
- Lena?
- Director!
Stay back. Stay back.
Lena! Lena!
Oh, my God.
Call an ambulance.
I'm right here.
Help is on the way.
Lena, hang on.
Director Vance?
Frauke Biedermann
with the BND.
I'm leading the investigation
into Deputy Paulsen's attack.
- How is she?
- Still in intensive care.
Lost a lot of blood.
- Is she conscious? Can I see her?
- They had to put her
in an induced coma
to stabilize her.
May I ask how you and the deputy
know each other?
We're work colleagues.
I see.
And is it customary
for work colleagues
to visit each other's
hotel rooms late at night?
So, do you have
any suspects yet?
We are still
processing the scene.
- What about the hotel cameras?
- Dismantled.
But the attackers stole
the deputy's laptop and phone,
so hopefully we can trace them.
Speaking German...
I'm sorry,
I have to take this.
Is there some way
I can reach you?
Yeah, my cell number's
on the back.
Thank you.
Oh, one last thing.
The paramedics mentioned
the deputy kept repeating
the same word...
Festung.
It means "fortress" in German.
Does that mean anything to you?
No. I'm-I'm sorry.
Had to ask.
We'll be in touch.
We should have,
uh, told her
about the break-in
at your house?
- It's clearly connected.
- No. No, no, no.
I think it's best
if we keep
- BND in the dark until we know more.
- Right.
Okay, first things first.
Let's get you back to D.C.
I got us on a flight
leaving in two hours.
I'm not leaving.
What?
I got to find out who did this.
You're not safe here in Berlin.
If that was somebody
that you cared about
laying in that hospital bed,
would you get on a plane?
Okay.
But if we stay, you got to be
straight with me.
The word that
that deputy said, Festung?
You know what it means,
don't you?
It's how Lena and I met.
So, Festung is the name of an op
that you and Deputy Paulsen ran?
Six years ago.
Prior to the op, our offices
in Europe were chasing
a Chechen terrorist
named Goran Umarov.
I know him. Bad dude.
Tried to blow up
a U.S. naval base in France.
Right. We had received a tip
that Umarov was hiding out
in a small town
near the German border.
We coordinated with the BND
to bring him in.
Deputy Paulsen and I
put the classified op together.
So, what happened?
Umarov didn't want
to go down quietly.
There was gunfire,
he was killed.
Whoever came after you
and the deputy
is obviously connected
to that op.
Maybe payback?
Yeah, but why now?
Six years later?
Dig into Umarov's
family history.
See who's still around
that may want payback.
Also, we're gonna need to learn
everything we can
about this Operation Festung.
Talk to someone who was actually
there on the ground.
All right, being that it was
classified, Director,
we'll need access
to those files.
You'll have them.
Uh, in the meantime,
I'm gonna need one of you
to find the closest
beauty supply store in Berlin.
Why?
You don't want to know.
It's a neat little trick.
Where'd you learn that?
The FBI?
Tenth grade.
Used to remove labels
from beer bottles,
pretend they were soda.
Well, if you don't want to see
the inside of a German prison,
I suggest you mach schnell.
Jawohl, Director.
Ah, like butter.
Yeah, looks like
the Germans
went through this
with a fine-tooth comb.
Yeah, then we'll just have
to find what they missed.
I've been thinking.
Whoever attacked
me and Lena...
They weren't seeking revenge,
or they would've just
killed me back at the house.
They were looking for something.
Yeah, maybe
they already found it.
Agent Biedermann did say
that they stole
the deputy's laptop and phone.
No, Lena would never hide
anything important in those.
She's way too smart for that.
She means a lot to you, huh?
We talked the whole time.
I used to look forward
to these conferences
just so I could see her again.
It's the best part of my year.
You ever wish it was more
than just once a year?
We'd been discussing it,
taking the next step.
I was actually gonna bring it up
to her again
on this trip, but...
Director, you all right?
The position of her body...
It's all wrong.
- How do you mean?
- Look at the blood trail.
After she was shot,
she crawled toward
the credenza.
- So?
- So...
the phone is on the other end
of the room.
Shouldn't she have been
crawling toward the phone
to call for help
instead of away from it?
- What do you got?
- Bible.
Okay.
She's shot,
she thinks she's dying,
so she needs the comfort
of the Good Book.
Not likely.
Lena is a Buddhist.
That's Lena's handwriting.
Why is a Buddhist
writing down Bible verses?
- Hey, guys.
- Wow!
Acting Director McGee.
What brings you down
to our humble squad room, sir?
I'm dropping off some
of Vance's files here.
I'd thought I'd see
how you guys are doing.
See that, Jess?
Even at the top of Olympus,
he never forgets
about us little guys.
Yeah, shouldn't you be off
doing your director duties?
Oh, please, I've been
trying to avoid
the director's
assistant for hours.
So, any luck tracking anyone
on Vance's op or...?
I wouldn't know.
I can't even read this thing.
Half of it it's either redacted
or in German.
How come we're not talking
about the elephant in the room?
What's the elephant in the room?
Vance and the deputy.
What was he doing
in her hotel room at night?
Well, two people attending
the same conference.
They could just be
exchanging ideas.
Oh, they were
exchanging something.
Oh, heads up.
Vance's assistant at your three.
Acting Director McGee, I have
been looking all over for you.
Um, I was just...
Fraternizing with the agents?
Need I remind you, you have
a full plate today...
Budget meeting at 4:00,
Zoom with the DoD at 5:00,
and you're late for a lunch
with Senator Roskin.
Is there any way we can
maybe reschedule all that?
I'll see you guys later.
Bye, Tim.
Thank you, Kasie.
She just tracked down a name
I pulled from the files.
An NCIS agent who worked
on the op in Germany.
- Where is he now?
- He is retired. In D.C.
Works part-time
as a technical advisor.
For the military?
Not exactly.
Drop your weapon!
And... cut!
All right, that's lunch!
Well, thank you for seeing us,
Mr. Newcastle.
Oh, call me Phil.
Always happy to help out
my NCIS family.
If you don't mind me asking,
what exactly do you do here?
Well, basically
I advise production
on how to make things
look legit.
You know, tell them
the right jargon,
make sure they hold
the weapons properly.
Is the movie any good?
It's a piece of crap.
Half the stuff
on the script
would never happen in real life.
Hey, checks don't bounce
and the food's good.
Um, so, Phil,
we had spoke on the phone
about Operation Festung?
Oh, yeah. Vance's German op.
So, uh, what do you remember?
We were to take down
this terrorist Goran Umarov.
I was assigned to lead the raid.
On Umarov's house?
Yeah.
German intel
had Umarov staying there
with his girlfriend
and three of his guys.
We went in at dawn with orders
to take them alive.
So, what happened?
Well, one of my guys
accidentally triggered
the alarm.
Umarov came out, guns blazing.
We returned fire.
After the smoke was cleared,
all five in the house were dead.
Messy.
Is there anything else
that you can remember?
Well, yeah.
The diamonds.
Diamonds?
Yeah.
After the raid,
we went through Umarov's loot,
found a stash of diamonds
in a coffee can.
Two, three million. Easy.
We didn't read anything
in the file about diamonds.
Well, they were there.
I saw 'em with my own eyes.
Okay, Kasie's emailing me
the evidence logs
from the files.
$3 million in diamonds
doesn't just go missing.
Somebody took them.
Yeah, it could be what
our bad guys are after.
Oh, got it.
Let's see.
Any mentions of
the diamonds? No.
And guess who signed off
- on the evidence logs.
- Deputy Paulsen.
She would've been the last
person to see the diamonds.
Which means...
Maybe Vance's girlfriend
wasn't a victim.
Maybe she's a thief.
Uh, me, too, me, too.
I had a wonderful time, yeah.
Well, if you keep ordering
bottles of wine like that,
I just may have to.
That could be arranged.
Now, listen, I've got to run,
but before I do,
I just want to know,
do I have your support
for that extra funding?
Count on it.
Great, great.
No, thank you, Senator.
And, uh, say hi to Trish
and the kids for me, okay?
Sorry, guys.
Where were we?
My man!
In the big chair!
Yeah, McGee. You've really
taken to your new role here.
It was just a phone call.
I don't know.
You look pretty comfy
behind that desk.
Yeah, what's next, huh?
You gonna rearrange
the furniture?
Okay, did you come up here
to give me an update
or to bust my chops?
Both.
Uh, so we believe that
Deputy Paulsen stole
millions in diamonds
from the raid on Goran Umarov.
She falsified the evidence
logs to cover it up.
Well, how can you be sure
it was her?
Days after the raid,
the deputy took an unplanned
trip to Antwerp, Belgium.
And what's at Antwerp?
Well, besides waffles?
Diamonds.
It's the diamond capital
of the world.
Yeah, it isn't
looking good.
All right.
So our deputy took the diamonds,
and now our bad guys
want them back.
Any idea yet who
these guys are?
Uh, we know one.
Goran's older brother
Sergei Umarov.
Kasie ran facial recognition
on the two guys who boarded
the flight to Berlin.
We got one direct match.
Sergei's the real deal.
Former leader
of the Chechen mafia,
wanted for sex trafficking,
arms smuggling.
And seven years ago,
Sergei was arrested by Interpol
and had been rotting away
in a Turkish prison.
So he broke out
about two months ago,
which would explain...
Why Sergei is after
the diamonds now.
- Okay, do we know where the diamonds are?
- Not yet.
But Kasie's working
on those Bible verses
that Vance and Parker found.
Maybe they'll give us something.
Well, let's hope so.
If we can find the diamonds
before Sergei does,
we can use them to
bait him and catch him.
Yeah, but first, uh...
we may have another problem.
Somebody's gonna have
to tell Vance that
his lady friend is a thief?
Oh...
I forgot about that one.
Sorry.
Couldn't have been easy
taking that call.
You just... you take a second.
I'll be outside.
You know, back
when I was an agent,
I used to look at the
older guys in the office.
Most of them were single,
they were drinkers...
married to the job.
I always wondered
if I would end up that way.
You didn't end up like them.
You got married, had a family.
Yeah, but now I'm alone
in that big house.
Job's all I got left.
Yeah, my ex left, and I-I filled
my time with all these hobbies...
Pastries,
birdwatching, piano.
You play the piano?
Like a fiend.
Doesn't matter, though.
It's just, sometimes
I think it's...
just a distraction.
You miss being married?
Know what I miss?
Going to the movies with her.
We used to go
to this revival house
around the corner
and see the classics.
Sucks going to the movies alone.
Oh, yeah.
Sitting there...
the lights come down,
surrounded by all these couples?
Pretending to read
the back of the Goobers box
that you brought in?
I guess I was hoping things
would be different with Lena.
Was hoping
I wouldn't be alone anymore.
Maybe you're not
as alone as you think.
I'll be outside.
Agent Parker.
I would have thought you'd
be back in D.C. by now.
Yeah, we've got some unfinished
business in Berlin.
Your director,
I take it he and the deputy
were more than
just work colleagues?
Lena was my mentor.
She trained me at the academy.
Like your director,
I care about her very much.
So maybe we can help each other.
How do you mean?
I'm a good cop.
I know there's something
you're not telling me.
Sorry, I got to take this.
- Uh, to be continued?
- I hope so.
Yeah, Kasie.
Oh-ho-ho, that is
Sister Kasie to you
because I am ready
to join a convent.
I have spent
hours trying to figure out
the passages Deputy Paulsen
scribbled down.
It's like
The Da Vinci Code up in here.
But you cracked it, right?
- Tell me you cracked it.
- Ah...
"He that is patient
is governed by much wisdom."
Proverbs 14:29.
Kasie...
Okay, all right.
Yes, I cracked it, okay?
Turns out,
when the deputy
wrote down a passage,
say, um, Second Kings
chapter 14, verse five,
she wasn't telling us to go to
the passage and find the clue.
The numbers were the clue.
Two, 14, five.
When you put all the numbers
from the Bible passages
together in a row,
you get a bank account
and a routing number,
specifically a bank in Berlin.
- I checked the account and, uh...
- it's big.
- Let me guess, $3 million big.
- Yup.
All right, hallelujah, Kasie.
You did it.
Deputy Paulsen must have
sold the diamonds
and deposited the money.
Only the account
isn't in the deputy's name.
It belongs to someone
named Elisabeth Wenders.
Wenders?
Who is that, a partner?
Beats me.
But she lives outside of Berlin.
You got an address?
- Hey, Jimmy.
- Oh, McGee.
To what do I owe
the pleasure?
Well, I...
was gonna make an excuse
about dropping off
some forms, but, uh...
I guess I really
just want to talk.
Oh.
Pull up a slab.
What's up?
Is it, uh, acting director stuff?
You still hating it?
Actually... I don't.
No, I kind of surprised myself.
Talking to senators and dealing
with big picture stuff,
I'm actually...
I'm actually pretty good at it.
I am not surprised.
Being a director definitely
plays to your strengths.
Oh.
You know, when Gibbs left,
there was talk of me
stepping into his position.
I turned it down because
I didn't want to
have to make the choice between,
you know, family and work.
But being director?
You thinking of a career change?
Well, I... Let's be clear.
I'm not angling for
the director's job here.
I love being an agent,
I love Vance, and hopefully
he will be here forever.
And when forever ends?
This is it.
Elisabeth Wenders,
56 Osterstrasse.
Do you think this is, uh,
Lena's partner in crime?
Well, there's only
one way to find out.
Director, it's still my job
to protect you,
but in case I can't...
Voice speaking German nearby...
Teddy bear speaking German...
Woman shouting in German...
Okay, ma'am.
It's okay.
Hey, hold on.
Who are you? What do you want?!
It's okay. My name
is Alden Parker.
This is Director Leon Vance.
We are with the U.S. Naval
Criminal Investigative Service.
Oh.
Uh, Leon.
My sister has told me
a lot about you.
You're Lena Paulsen's sister?
Yes.
But why are you here?
The diamonds that
your sister stole?
There's some bad people
looking to get 'em back,
and they've already put Lena
in the hospital.
Oh, my God.
And you could be next unless
you tell us what is going on.
The people who hurt Lena...
they don't want the diamonds.
They want her.
Why, is she your daughter?
No.
She's Lena's.
Six years ago, after the raid
on Goran Umarov was over,
Lena went to his house
to assess the damage.
She heard crying coming from
a closet in the back room,
and that's where
she found Heidi.
She was only a
few months old,
stashed under a pile
of dirty clothes.
Malnourished, neglected.
So, it was Goran's baby?
Yes. And Lena
didn't know what to do.
The child couldn't go
to Goran's next of kin.
The Umarovs are monsters.
Giving Heidi to them
would have been too cruel.
So Lena raised
the baby as her own.
And enlisted you
to help keep her secret.
What my sister did
was the right choice.
It was the noble choice.
No.
It was criminal.
Your sister broke the law.
She stole evidence.
She withheld crucial
information from the BND.
From me.
The diamonds were Goran's.
They had been
in his family for years.
Lena simply took what was
rightfully Heidi's
and put it
in a trust fund for her.
Lena never touched
a dime of that money.
Still, she could've told me
about the child.
She lied to me.
Yes.
And she always
hated herself for that.
She was only trying
to protect Heidi,
to give her a better life.
Surely, as a parent,
you can understand that.
Well, despite your...
your good intentions,
Ms. Wenders,
unfortunately
your secret is out.
Goran's brother knows about
Heidi and he's looking for her.
And if we can find her,
so can he.
So, what are we going to do?
We need to get
the two of you out of here
and go someplace safe.
Agreed. But where?
Nearest NCIS safe house is
a thousand miles from here.
Great.
Yeah, text me the address.
Thanks.
McGee came through.
BND is gonna let us use
one of their safe houses,
no questions asked.
That was fast.
How did he manage that?
Apparently our acting director
has some, uh, friends
in high places.
Yeah, he's probably already
rearranged the furniture.
Heidi...
Speaks German...
Nein.
- Speaks German...
- Nein.
Problem?
She doesn't want to leave.
And she's scared.
I've tried explaining it
to her, but...
Do you mind if I talk to her?
Speaking German...
Ah.
Mm-hmm.
Not...
Nein, nein, nein. Okay.
Um...
Okay, how do you say
"Smokey" in German? Um...
Smokey.
I speak English, you know.
Thank God.
Your aunt,
did she tell you anything
about what's going on?
Some bad people hurt Mommy.
But those bad people who hurt
her are on their way here.
And that's why
we need to leave now.
- What if they hurt me?
- No, I'm not gonna let that happen.
Your mom has always
protected you,
and so will I.
But I'm gonna need you
to trust me.
Can you do that?
Nick. Hey.
- You wanted to see me?
- Yeah, you speak to Parker?
Yeah, I just got off
the phone with him.
He is headed to the safe house
now with the girl and the aunt.
Oh, that's a relief.
All we got to worry about
now is finding Sergei Umarov.
Well, you might not
have to look too far.
We tracked the ID
Sergei has been using in Berlin.
He rented another car,
and, using his GPS,
I may be able to find
Sergei's current location.
Great. Then we can call BND
to pick 'em up.
Yeah, just finishing up
the trace now and... boom.
Where is that?
Looks like it's in
the industrial part of Berlin.
Some old factory called
the Ekkehart...
- Power Station?
- Wait, you've heard of it?
That's where BND said
the safe house is.
Wait, Sergei's at
the safe house now?
Parker and Vance are headed
right towards them.
Did you know
she was gonna be here?
Nobody said anything to me.
Okay, just, uh...
Just wait in the
car. - Okay.
Agent Biedermann.
BND never told us
you were gonna be here.
I'm in charge of this case.
Of course I'd be here.
You know how much
this means to me.
We have everything
set up for you inside.
You'll have round-the-clock
protection.
Good.
Yeah, McGee.
Is the girl with you?
We never told BND
about the girl.
Hey, Parker! Parker!
Sergei's here!
Let's go, let's go!
Stop, stop!
You'll hit the girl!
Okay, you okay?
I think so.
Come on, get
out. Run as fast as you can.
Let's go. Let's go.
I got right.
I got left.
Let's go!
Sergei's running.
I got him.
Go!
Cover me.
Hey.
It's okay, it's okay.
It's all right. Come with me.
Come on. Let's go.
This way.
Let's go. Let's go!
This way, this way.
Let's go.
This way. Let's go.
Stay with me, stay with me.
Stay close.
Sergei whistles...
Heidi.
All right.
Heidi.
No.
Shh, shh.
I'm here to take you home.
Damn it.
Heidi.
It's okay.
Nobody's gonna hurt you, okay?
Trust me.
Heidi.
Found you.
Teddy bear speaking German...
Hey!
Oh-ho.
You okay?
He's in there.
Hey.
Hey, uh...
thanks for letting me
borrow him.
He's a very brave
little bear.
Here.
Just like you.
Leon.
Hey. How are you feeling?
Um, how do you Americans say it?
I have been hit by the truck?
Lena, you should know,
everything's gonna be
all right now.
Heidi is safe.
No one's gonna come
after her again.
Oh, I am... I'm so sorry, Leon.
- No.
- I never meant...
- It's okay.
- No, no.
I should have told you.
But I only wanted to do
what was best for her.
I understand.
You were protecting
somebody that you love.
There is so much
I want to tell you.
- I...
- No, no.
Save your energy.
Save your energy.
We'll talk later.
Will there be a later?
I almost forgot.
There's someone
who wants to see you.
Mommy.
Speaking German...
- Heidi.
- Speaking German...
All speaking German...
Okay, got it. Thanks.
McGee spoke with
the head of BND.
Turns out that Agent Biedermann
was on Sergei's payroll
and that's how
he learned about the op
and yours
and Lena's involvement.
Well, I guess there's only
one question left, then.
Speaking German...
What do we do about her?
She broke the law.
Well, I think that the BND
is more interested
in their mole problem
than a little girl
being given a better life
by someone doing
the right thing.
And if the BND comes around
and starts asking questions?
You'll know what to do.
Speaking German...
Anyway, we should, uh, grab
a flight and head home.
Although McGee said
not to rush it.
Yeah, I bet.
You know, I noticed
that there's a...
movie theater near the hotel.
It's playing The Third Man.
Orson Welles, ooh,
Joseph Cotten.
- That's a classic.
- Mm-hmm.
You feel like
catching a flick?
Sure, why not, Director?
Call me Leon.
Let's go to the movies.
Synchronized by srjanapala
Let's go.
Okay.
We done?
*N C I S*
Season 20 Episode 05
Episode Title: "Guardian"
Aired on: October 17, 2022.
Oh, God.
Guys.
Over here.
I'm a little beat up,
but I'll live.
Thank God you're okay, Director.
The cop outside said
there was a fatality.
We didn't know if...
I'm fine. Fine.
Can't say the same for him.
One of your uninvited guests?
Well, some don't know
when to leave.
Yo, you all right?
Man, don't do that again.
You'll give me a heart attack. I
appreciate your concern, Agent Torres.
So what happened?
I came for a glass of water,
I walked in on three
guys wearing masks.
Fought 'em off until
one pulled a gun,
and lucky for me, he missed.
This is the shooter here?
Yeah.
I incapacitated him
while the other two ran off.
Incapacitated
is an understatement.
Looks like you broke his neck.
Well, he started it.
Well, no ID.
- Hopefully prints are in the system.
- How'd they get in?
I don't know.
The alarm didn't go off.
- Did they take anything?
- No.
Looks like I interrupted them
before they could
steal anything.
Or maybe they weren't
here to steal.
Okay, we don't need
a Bandium alert for this one.
Let's get to it. McGee.
I'll go check
the alarm system.
Knight, talk
to the neighbors.
Torres, a bullet nearly hit
our beloved director
right over there,
so find it for me.
Agent Parker,
I appreciate you
taking this so seriously,
but is this all
really necessary?
I mean, it could just be
a random burglary.
Could be a lot of things.
But I'm not willing
to take that chance.
Anyone else having a hard time
keeping their eyes open?
Kidding?
We've been up since 3:00 a.m.
Oh, man, what I wouldn't give
for a shower and a shave.
I just want out of these pj's.
We're at work,
for crying out loud.
People keep staring at me.
And now you're staring at me.
"Medical Examiners
Convention 2013."
Is it me,
but does Jimmy have
the exact same T-shirt?
Well, Nick, uh,
yeah, I believe he does.
Oh, God.
Hmm.
Okay, what did we get?
Well, unfortunately, our
John Doe is still a John Doe.
Prints aren't in the system.
Jimmy has his body now, though,
so hopefully he can help ID him.
- What about the bullet?
- I found it lodged
in the cabinet.
Kasie's running the ballistics now,
but I also talked
to local PD.
Two houses
in Vance's neighborhood
have been robbed
in the last four months.
Could be the same guys.
Except they don't have
Vance's security system.
Thing is state of the art...
AI, biometrics.
Whoever broke in
knew how to bypass it.
So we're looking at pros.
Neighbors see anything?
No, but their
video doorbell did.
The same van drove past
Vance's house repeatedly
the day of the break-in.
Did you get a license plate?
It's a rental.
But the driver used
a fake ID and credit card.
I have a BOLO out on the van.
Yeah, this random burglary
is sounding less random
by the second.
Vance was targeted.
And with two men on the loose,
he could still be in danger.
Soon as I get there,
I'll call you, okay?
Uh, I got to go.
Director,
I think we got a problem.
What is that?
That's my luggage, Agent Parker.
I know what it is.
Where are you going?
Interpol Conference
in Berlin.
I told you about it last week.
You're still going to that?
- Of course I am. I go every year.
- Yeah.
Well, it's not every year
that somebody breaks
into your home to kill you.
- We don't know that for sure.
- Well, it's looking more like it.
And I think whoever broke in
might not be
finished with you.
I understand your concern,
Agent Parker,
but I'm not gonna let a threat
stop me from doing my job.
I got to say,
I think this is a big mistake.
You shouldn't go. That's
not your call to make.
Besides,
I won't be going alone.
Olivia,
send them in, please.
This is Agent Dominguez,
Agent Ford.
They are my protection detail.
Anything happens,
they'll be there.
Hey. Alden Parker.
Nice to meet you.
You're dismissed.
- Parker...
- Go!
Wait outside.
Hey!
- What the hell are you doing?
- You want to go to Berlin?
Fine.
I'm going with you.
I'll be your protection detail.
- You?
- I'm qualified.
No, you're overkill.
You're a senior agent, Parker.
- Your place is here with the team.
- They'll be fine.
Besides,
I always wanted to see Berlin.
Plane leaves in an hour.
Your bags aren't even packed.
I always keep
a go bag in my car.
I'll go get it.
Okay, we're good.
Great.
This way, Director.
Just keep moving.
Don't we have to check in?
I... already did it.
I took the liberty of
getting us adjoining rooms.
How nice.
Hey, um, I'd like to stop in
for a quick drink.
It's been a long flight.
We really should go
straight to the room.
- It's safer.
- Parker, it's one drink.
Besides,
I want to scope out who's here
- at the conference.
- Director, this way.
Please?
Should've brought
Torres instead.
Director Vance!
Hello.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Hey...
It's okay, it's all right.
Stand down. I know her.
It's good to see you, Director.
You as well.
It's been too long.
Uh, Agent Parker,
allow me to introduce
Deputy Lena Paulsen
of the German
Federal Intelligence Services.
BND. You'll be attending
the conference as well?
Oh, yes.
I wouldn't miss the opportunity
to talk shop with your director.
He is a bit of a legend
in these parts.
Deputy Paulsen and I
worked together years ago.
Oh, I worked.
You were too busy eating strudel.
Okay.
Uh...
I understand you'll be at the
cyberterrorism panel tomorrow?
Yes, yeah, I'll be there.
Then perhaps afterwards
we can talk some more.
Yes.
Until then, Deputy.
Director.
- Hey, Jimmy.
- McGee!
Good to see you
changed your clothes.
Yeah, well, I managed
to pop home for an hour.
Couldn't keep working
in my sweats, you know?
Yeah, especially now that
you're Acting NCIS Director.
I read the memo.
Congratulations.
That's just until Vance
gets back.
You don't sound too thrilled.
Uh, to be honest with you,
I'm...
kind of dreading it.
I'm a field agent.
I don't want to be stuck
behind a desk
dealing with politicians.
Why not try to
enjoy this, you know?
Embrace your new found power.
You go on longer lunch breaks,
use the private bathroom,
maybe boss some people around.
Okay, how about I start with
asking you for an update?
Not exactly "bossy,"
but we'll work on it.
Okay. Uh...
No big mystery as to how
our victim died.
This is what you get
if you mess with the director,
a former boxing champ.
Yeah, remind me never to get
on Vance's bad side.
Anything so far as to
- who our victim may be?
- Possibly.
He's had hair plugs
installed into his hairline.
They're synthetic plastic plugs
which have been banned
in the United States
for decades.
But they're apparently
still quite popular
in Eastern Europe, which is
possibly where he's from.
Oh, Knight found
the robbers' van abandoned
in a D.C. motel parking lot.
We are bringing in
the motel owner now.
Go get 'em, Director.
How many times you gonna
sweep the room? It's clean.
Never hurts to be thorough.
You know, Agent Parker,
I can handle myself.
It's not the first time that
my life has been threatened.
First time on my watch.
Okay, we're good.
Good.
You hungry?
I can order us
a couple of schnitzels.
I'm just gonna turn in.
It's been a long day.
Well, you need anything,
I'll be, uh...
- Right next door, got it.
- Thanks, Agent Parker.
Hey.
I'm on my way.
Yeah, okay, a little overpriced,
but that'll work.
Oh!
Going somewhere, Director?
Deputy Paulsen's room
perhaps?
I don't know what you mean.
Come on, it's obvious.
The way you couldn't
let go of each other
when you said goodbye?
The two of you
are having a fling.
You've been secretly meeting up
at these conventions each year,
booking rooms on the same floor,
checking in and out
at the same time, eh?
You got all that
from a handshake?
That, and I ran
a background check on her.
Why didn't you
tell me before?
Well, because it's
none of your business.
Uh, it is when your
life is in danger.
Well, now that you know...
can I count on your discretion?
Hundred percent.
But if you're planning
to see her tonight,
I can't let you go alone.
No. Absolutely not.
This is not
a party for three.
I don't need a chaperone.
All due respect,
that's not your call to make.
As long as you are
on foreign soil,
you're my responsibility.
Sorry, Director.
That's the way it's got to be.
Thank you for coming in,
Mr. Sykes.
We just have a few
questions about...
Oh, yeah.
Oh, boy, oh, here we go.
This is about
the Dateline exposé
they did on my motel rooms,
isn't it?
Look, I didn't know
all that gunk was in there
until they waved their
black lights around.
You know, it's like
I told the reporters,
I only rent the rooms,
you know?
I-I can't control
what people do in 'em.
People are animals.
- Mr. Sykes...
- I know,
it's a health hazard,
blah-blah-blah,
but I-I swear to you,
I got a brand-new cleaning lady
coming in first thing on Monday.
Or Tuesday.
As disgusting as that is,
we are not interested
in your rooms.
Oh.
Forget I said anything, then.
Yeah, I wish I could.
Do you recognize that man?
He would've been a guest
at your hotel with two others.
Mm. Yeah, okay.
Yeah, I remember.
Uh, they came in a few days ago.
Paid cash, kept to themselves,
you know.
I didn't really
socialize with them.
Do you remember
anything else?
One of 'em talked funny.
You know, had an accent.
Russian maybe.
Sorry to interrupt,
but this couldn't wait...
Is that the guy from
the Dateline exposé?
Oof, seriously, dude, nasty.
I'm cleaning it!
Kasie, what's going on?
I was able to track
the fake credit card
used to rent the van.
That same card
was used to book
a flight out of Dulles
earlier this morning.
To where?
Berlin.
No such thing
as a coincidence.
Can't believe this.
What wine did you go with? Red?
Ah, it's a nice choice.
Could you please
give me some space?
Riesling
would've been good, too.
You know, something German.
- Just saying.
- Yeah, Torres.
We found the
two guys that got away.
They booked a flight to Berlin.
Landed two hours ago.
- Lena?
- Director!
Stay back. Stay back.
Lena! Lena!
Oh, my God.
Call an ambulance.
I'm right here.
Help is on the way.
Lena, hang on.
Director Vance?
Frauke Biedermann
with the BND.
I'm leading the investigation
into Deputy Paulsen's attack.
- How is she?
- Still in intensive care.
Lost a lot of blood.
- Is she conscious? Can I see her?
- They had to put her
in an induced coma
to stabilize her.
May I ask how you and the deputy
know each other?
We're work colleagues.
I see.
And is it customary
for work colleagues
to visit each other's
hotel rooms late at night?
So, do you have
any suspects yet?
We are still
processing the scene.
- What about the hotel cameras?
- Dismantled.
But the attackers stole
the deputy's laptop and phone,
so hopefully we can trace them.
Speaking German...
I'm sorry,
I have to take this.
Is there some way
I can reach you?
Yeah, my cell number's
on the back.
Thank you.
Oh, one last thing.
The paramedics mentioned
the deputy kept repeating
the same word...
Festung.
It means "fortress" in German.
Does that mean anything to you?
No. I'm-I'm sorry.
Had to ask.
We'll be in touch.
We should have,
uh, told her
about the break-in
at your house?
- It's clearly connected.
- No. No, no, no.
I think it's best
if we keep
- BND in the dark until we know more.
- Right.
Okay, first things first.
Let's get you back to D.C.
I got us on a flight
leaving in two hours.
I'm not leaving.
What?
I got to find out who did this.
You're not safe here in Berlin.
If that was somebody
that you cared about
laying in that hospital bed,
would you get on a plane?
Okay.
But if we stay, you got to be
straight with me.
The word that
that deputy said, Festung?
You know what it means,
don't you?
It's how Lena and I met.
So, Festung is the name of an op
that you and Deputy Paulsen ran?
Six years ago.
Prior to the op, our offices
in Europe were chasing
a Chechen terrorist
named Goran Umarov.
I know him. Bad dude.
Tried to blow up
a U.S. naval base in France.
Right. We had received a tip
that Umarov was hiding out
in a small town
near the German border.
We coordinated with the BND
to bring him in.
Deputy Paulsen and I
put the classified op together.
So, what happened?
Umarov didn't want
to go down quietly.
There was gunfire,
he was killed.
Whoever came after you
and the deputy
is obviously connected
to that op.
Maybe payback?
Yeah, but why now?
Six years later?
Dig into Umarov's
family history.
See who's still around
that may want payback.
Also, we're gonna need to learn
everything we can
about this Operation Festung.
Talk to someone who was actually
there on the ground.
All right, being that it was
classified, Director,
we'll need access
to those files.
You'll have them.
Uh, in the meantime,
I'm gonna need one of you
to find the closest
beauty supply store in Berlin.
Why?
You don't want to know.
It's a neat little trick.
Where'd you learn that?
The FBI?
Tenth grade.
Used to remove labels
from beer bottles,
pretend they were soda.
Well, if you don't want to see
the inside of a German prison,
I suggest you mach schnell.
Jawohl, Director.
Ah, like butter.
Yeah, looks like
the Germans
went through this
with a fine-tooth comb.
Yeah, then we'll just have
to find what they missed.
I've been thinking.
Whoever attacked
me and Lena...
They weren't seeking revenge,
or they would've just
killed me back at the house.
They were looking for something.
Yeah, maybe
they already found it.
Agent Biedermann did say
that they stole
the deputy's laptop and phone.
No, Lena would never hide
anything important in those.
She's way too smart for that.
She means a lot to you, huh?
We talked the whole time.
I used to look forward
to these conferences
just so I could see her again.
It's the best part of my year.
You ever wish it was more
than just once a year?
We'd been discussing it,
taking the next step.
I was actually gonna bring it up
to her again
on this trip, but...
Director, you all right?
The position of her body...
It's all wrong.
- How do you mean?
- Look at the blood trail.
After she was shot,
she crawled toward
the credenza.
- So?
- So...
the phone is on the other end
of the room.
Shouldn't she have been
crawling toward the phone
to call for help
instead of away from it?
- What do you got?
- Bible.
Okay.
She's shot,
she thinks she's dying,
so she needs the comfort
of the Good Book.
Not likely.
Lena is a Buddhist.
That's Lena's handwriting.
Why is a Buddhist
writing down Bible verses?
- Hey, guys.
- Wow!
Acting Director McGee.
What brings you down
to our humble squad room, sir?
I'm dropping off some
of Vance's files here.
I'd thought I'd see
how you guys are doing.
See that, Jess?
Even at the top of Olympus,
he never forgets
about us little guys.
Yeah, shouldn't you be off
doing your director duties?
Oh, please, I've been
trying to avoid
the director's
assistant for hours.
So, any luck tracking anyone
on Vance's op or...?
I wouldn't know.
I can't even read this thing.
Half of it it's either redacted
or in German.
How come we're not talking
about the elephant in the room?
What's the elephant in the room?
Vance and the deputy.
What was he doing
in her hotel room at night?
Well, two people attending
the same conference.
They could just be
exchanging ideas.
Oh, they were
exchanging something.
Oh, heads up.
Vance's assistant at your three.
Acting Director McGee, I have
been looking all over for you.
Um, I was just...
Fraternizing with the agents?
Need I remind you, you have
a full plate today...
Budget meeting at 4:00,
Zoom with the DoD at 5:00,
and you're late for a lunch
with Senator Roskin.
Is there any way we can
maybe reschedule all that?
I'll see you guys later.
Bye, Tim.
Thank you, Kasie.
She just tracked down a name
I pulled from the files.
An NCIS agent who worked
on the op in Germany.
- Where is he now?
- He is retired. In D.C.
Works part-time
as a technical advisor.
For the military?
Not exactly.
Drop your weapon!
And... cut!
All right, that's lunch!
Well, thank you for seeing us,
Mr. Newcastle.
Oh, call me Phil.
Always happy to help out
my NCIS family.
If you don't mind me asking,
what exactly do you do here?
Well, basically
I advise production
on how to make things
look legit.
You know, tell them
the right jargon,
make sure they hold
the weapons properly.
Is the movie any good?
It's a piece of crap.
Half the stuff
on the script
would never happen in real life.
Hey, checks don't bounce
and the food's good.
Um, so, Phil,
we had spoke on the phone
about Operation Festung?
Oh, yeah. Vance's German op.
So, uh, what do you remember?
We were to take down
this terrorist Goran Umarov.
I was assigned to lead the raid.
On Umarov's house?
Yeah.
German intel
had Umarov staying there
with his girlfriend
and three of his guys.
We went in at dawn with orders
to take them alive.
So, what happened?
Well, one of my guys
accidentally triggered
the alarm.
Umarov came out, guns blazing.
We returned fire.
After the smoke was cleared,
all five in the house were dead.
Messy.
Is there anything else
that you can remember?
Well, yeah.
The diamonds.
Diamonds?
Yeah.
After the raid,
we went through Umarov's loot,
found a stash of diamonds
in a coffee can.
Two, three million. Easy.
We didn't read anything
in the file about diamonds.
Well, they were there.
I saw 'em with my own eyes.
Okay, Kasie's emailing me
the evidence logs
from the files.
$3 million in diamonds
doesn't just go missing.
Somebody took them.
Yeah, it could be what
our bad guys are after.
Oh, got it.
Let's see.
Any mentions of
the diamonds? No.
And guess who signed off
- on the evidence logs.
- Deputy Paulsen.
She would've been the last
person to see the diamonds.
Which means...
Maybe Vance's girlfriend
wasn't a victim.
Maybe she's a thief.
Uh, me, too, me, too.
I had a wonderful time, yeah.
Well, if you keep ordering
bottles of wine like that,
I just may have to.
That could be arranged.
Now, listen, I've got to run,
but before I do,
I just want to know,
do I have your support
for that extra funding?
Count on it.
Great, great.
No, thank you, Senator.
And, uh, say hi to Trish
and the kids for me, okay?
Sorry, guys.
Where were we?
My man!
In the big chair!
Yeah, McGee. You've really
taken to your new role here.
It was just a phone call.
I don't know.
You look pretty comfy
behind that desk.
Yeah, what's next, huh?
You gonna rearrange
the furniture?
Okay, did you come up here
to give me an update
or to bust my chops?
Both.
Uh, so we believe that
Deputy Paulsen stole
millions in diamonds
from the raid on Goran Umarov.
She falsified the evidence
logs to cover it up.
Well, how can you be sure
it was her?
Days after the raid,
the deputy took an unplanned
trip to Antwerp, Belgium.
And what's at Antwerp?
Well, besides waffles?
Diamonds.
It's the diamond capital
of the world.
Yeah, it isn't
looking good.
All right.
So our deputy took the diamonds,
and now our bad guys
want them back.
Any idea yet who
these guys are?
Uh, we know one.
Goran's older brother
Sergei Umarov.
Kasie ran facial recognition
on the two guys who boarded
the flight to Berlin.
We got one direct match.
Sergei's the real deal.
Former leader
of the Chechen mafia,
wanted for sex trafficking,
arms smuggling.
And seven years ago,
Sergei was arrested by Interpol
and had been rotting away
in a Turkish prison.
So he broke out
about two months ago,
which would explain...
Why Sergei is after
the diamonds now.
- Okay, do we know where the diamonds are?
- Not yet.
But Kasie's working
on those Bible verses
that Vance and Parker found.
Maybe they'll give us something.
Well, let's hope so.
If we can find the diamonds
before Sergei does,
we can use them to
bait him and catch him.
Yeah, but first, uh...
we may have another problem.
Somebody's gonna have
to tell Vance that
his lady friend is a thief?
Oh...
I forgot about that one.
Sorry.
Couldn't have been easy
taking that call.
You just... you take a second.
I'll be outside.
You know, back
when I was an agent,
I used to look at the
older guys in the office.
Most of them were single,
they were drinkers...
married to the job.
I always wondered
if I would end up that way.
You didn't end up like them.
You got married, had a family.
Yeah, but now I'm alone
in that big house.
Job's all I got left.
Yeah, my ex left, and I-I filled
my time with all these hobbies...
Pastries,
birdwatching, piano.
You play the piano?
Like a fiend.
Doesn't matter, though.
It's just, sometimes
I think it's...
just a distraction.
You miss being married?
Know what I miss?
Going to the movies with her.
We used to go
to this revival house
around the corner
and see the classics.
Sucks going to the movies alone.
Oh, yeah.
Sitting there...
the lights come down,
surrounded by all these couples?
Pretending to read
the back of the Goobers box
that you brought in?
I guess I was hoping things
would be different with Lena.
Was hoping
I wouldn't be alone anymore.
Maybe you're not
as alone as you think.
I'll be outside.
Agent Parker.
I would have thought you'd
be back in D.C. by now.
Yeah, we've got some unfinished
business in Berlin.
Your director,
I take it he and the deputy
were more than
just work colleagues?
Lena was my mentor.
She trained me at the academy.
Like your director,
I care about her very much.
So maybe we can help each other.
How do you mean?
I'm a good cop.
I know there's something
you're not telling me.
Sorry, I got to take this.
- Uh, to be continued?
- I hope so.
Yeah, Kasie.
Oh-ho-ho, that is
Sister Kasie to you
because I am ready
to join a convent.
I have spent
hours trying to figure out
the passages Deputy Paulsen
scribbled down.
It's like
The Da Vinci Code up in here.
But you cracked it, right?
- Tell me you cracked it.
- Ah...
"He that is patient
is governed by much wisdom."
Proverbs 14:29.
Kasie...
Okay, all right.
Yes, I cracked it, okay?
Turns out,
when the deputy
wrote down a passage,
say, um, Second Kings
chapter 14, verse five,
she wasn't telling us to go to
the passage and find the clue.
The numbers were the clue.
Two, 14, five.
When you put all the numbers
from the Bible passages
together in a row,
you get a bank account
and a routing number,
specifically a bank in Berlin.
- I checked the account and, uh...
- it's big.
- Let me guess, $3 million big.
- Yup.
All right, hallelujah, Kasie.
You did it.
Deputy Paulsen must have
sold the diamonds
and deposited the money.
Only the account
isn't in the deputy's name.
It belongs to someone
named Elisabeth Wenders.
Wenders?
Who is that, a partner?
Beats me.
But she lives outside of Berlin.
You got an address?
- Hey, Jimmy.
- Oh, McGee.
To what do I owe
the pleasure?
Well, I...
was gonna make an excuse
about dropping off
some forms, but, uh...
I guess I really
just want to talk.
Oh.
Pull up a slab.
What's up?
Is it, uh, acting director stuff?
You still hating it?
Actually... I don't.
No, I kind of surprised myself.
Talking to senators and dealing
with big picture stuff,
I'm actually...
I'm actually pretty good at it.
I am not surprised.
Being a director definitely
plays to your strengths.
Oh.
You know, when Gibbs left,
there was talk of me
stepping into his position.
I turned it down because
I didn't want to
have to make the choice between,
you know, family and work.
But being director?
You thinking of a career change?
Well, I... Let's be clear.
I'm not angling for
the director's job here.
I love being an agent,
I love Vance, and hopefully
he will be here forever.
And when forever ends?
This is it.
Elisabeth Wenders,
56 Osterstrasse.
Do you think this is, uh,
Lena's partner in crime?
Well, there's only
one way to find out.
Director, it's still my job
to protect you,
but in case I can't...
Voice speaking German nearby...
Teddy bear speaking German...
Woman shouting in German...
Okay, ma'am.
It's okay.
Hey, hold on.
Who are you? What do you want?!
It's okay. My name
is Alden Parker.
This is Director Leon Vance.
We are with the U.S. Naval
Criminal Investigative Service.
Oh.
Uh, Leon.
My sister has told me
a lot about you.
You're Lena Paulsen's sister?
Yes.
But why are you here?
The diamonds that
your sister stole?
There's some bad people
looking to get 'em back,
and they've already put Lena
in the hospital.
Oh, my God.
And you could be next unless
you tell us what is going on.
The people who hurt Lena...
they don't want the diamonds.
They want her.
Why, is she your daughter?
No.
She's Lena's.
Six years ago, after the raid
on Goran Umarov was over,
Lena went to his house
to assess the damage.
She heard crying coming from
a closet in the back room,
and that's where
she found Heidi.
She was only a
few months old,
stashed under a pile
of dirty clothes.
Malnourished, neglected.
So, it was Goran's baby?
Yes. And Lena
didn't know what to do.
The child couldn't go
to Goran's next of kin.
The Umarovs are monsters.
Giving Heidi to them
would have been too cruel.
So Lena raised
the baby as her own.
And enlisted you
to help keep her secret.
What my sister did
was the right choice.
It was the noble choice.
No.
It was criminal.
Your sister broke the law.
She stole evidence.
She withheld crucial
information from the BND.
From me.
The diamonds were Goran's.
They had been
in his family for years.
Lena simply took what was
rightfully Heidi's
and put it
in a trust fund for her.
Lena never touched
a dime of that money.
Still, she could've told me
about the child.
She lied to me.
Yes.
And she always
hated herself for that.
She was only trying
to protect Heidi,
to give her a better life.
Surely, as a parent,
you can understand that.
Well, despite your...
your good intentions,
Ms. Wenders,
unfortunately
your secret is out.
Goran's brother knows about
Heidi and he's looking for her.
And if we can find her,
so can he.
So, what are we going to do?
We need to get
the two of you out of here
and go someplace safe.
Agreed. But where?
Nearest NCIS safe house is
a thousand miles from here.
Great.
Yeah, text me the address.
Thanks.
McGee came through.
BND is gonna let us use
one of their safe houses,
no questions asked.
That was fast.
How did he manage that?
Apparently our acting director
has some, uh, friends
in high places.
Yeah, he's probably already
rearranged the furniture.
Heidi...
Speaks German...
Nein.
- Speaks German...
- Nein.
Problem?
She doesn't want to leave.
And she's scared.
I've tried explaining it
to her, but...
Do you mind if I talk to her?
Speaking German...
Ah.
Mm-hmm.
Not...
Nein, nein, nein. Okay.
Um...
Okay, how do you say
"Smokey" in German? Um...
Smokey.
I speak English, you know.
Thank God.
Your aunt,
did she tell you anything
about what's going on?
Some bad people hurt Mommy.
But those bad people who hurt
her are on their way here.
And that's why
we need to leave now.
- What if they hurt me?
- No, I'm not gonna let that happen.
Your mom has always
protected you,
and so will I.
But I'm gonna need you
to trust me.
Can you do that?
Nick. Hey.
- You wanted to see me?
- Yeah, you speak to Parker?
Yeah, I just got off
the phone with him.
He is headed to the safe house
now with the girl and the aunt.
Oh, that's a relief.
All we got to worry about
now is finding Sergei Umarov.
Well, you might not
have to look too far.
We tracked the ID
Sergei has been using in Berlin.
He rented another car,
and, using his GPS,
I may be able to find
Sergei's current location.
Great. Then we can call BND
to pick 'em up.
Yeah, just finishing up
the trace now and... boom.
Where is that?
Looks like it's in
the industrial part of Berlin.
Some old factory called
the Ekkehart...
- Power Station?
- Wait, you've heard of it?
That's where BND said
the safe house is.
Wait, Sergei's at
the safe house now?
Parker and Vance are headed
right towards them.
Did you know
she was gonna be here?
Nobody said anything to me.
Okay, just, uh...
Just wait in the
car. - Okay.
Agent Biedermann.
BND never told us
you were gonna be here.
I'm in charge of this case.
Of course I'd be here.
You know how much
this means to me.
We have everything
set up for you inside.
You'll have round-the-clock
protection.
Good.
Yeah, McGee.
Is the girl with you?
We never told BND
about the girl.
Hey, Parker! Parker!
Sergei's here!
Let's go, let's go!
Stop, stop!
You'll hit the girl!
Okay, you okay?
I think so.
Come on, get
out. Run as fast as you can.
Let's go. Let's go.
I got right.
I got left.
Let's go!
Sergei's running.
I got him.
Go!
Cover me.
Hey.
It's okay, it's okay.
It's all right. Come with me.
Come on. Let's go.
This way.
Let's go. Let's go!
This way, this way.
Let's go.
This way. Let's go.
Stay with me, stay with me.
Stay close.
Sergei whistles...
Heidi.
All right.
Heidi.
No.
Shh, shh.
I'm here to take you home.
Damn it.
Heidi.
It's okay.
Nobody's gonna hurt you, okay?
Trust me.
Heidi.
Found you.
Teddy bear speaking German...
Hey!
Oh-ho.
You okay?
He's in there.
Hey.
Hey, uh...
thanks for letting me
borrow him.
He's a very brave
little bear.
Here.
Just like you.
Leon.
Hey. How are you feeling?
Um, how do you Americans say it?
I have been hit by the truck?
Lena, you should know,
everything's gonna be
all right now.
Heidi is safe.
No one's gonna come
after her again.
Oh, I am... I'm so sorry, Leon.
- No.
- I never meant...
- It's okay.
- No, no.
I should have told you.
But I only wanted to do
what was best for her.
I understand.
You were protecting
somebody that you love.
There is so much
I want to tell you.
- I...
- No, no.
Save your energy.
Save your energy.
We'll talk later.
Will there be a later?
I almost forgot.
There's someone
who wants to see you.
Mommy.
Speaking German...
- Heidi.
- Speaking German...
All speaking German...
Okay, got it. Thanks.
McGee spoke with
the head of BND.
Turns out that Agent Biedermann
was on Sergei's payroll
and that's how
he learned about the op
and yours
and Lena's involvement.
Well, I guess there's only
one question left, then.
Speaking German...
What do we do about her?
She broke the law.
Well, I think that the BND
is more interested
in their mole problem
than a little girl
being given a better life
by someone doing
the right thing.
And if the BND comes around
and starts asking questions?
You'll know what to do.
Speaking German...
Anyway, we should, uh, grab
a flight and head home.
Although McGee said
not to rush it.
Yeah, I bet.
You know, I noticed
that there's a...
movie theater near the hotel.
It's playing The Third Man.
Orson Welles, ooh,
Joseph Cotten.
- That's a classic.
- Mm-hmm.
You feel like
catching a flick?
Sure, why not, Director?
Call me Leon.
Let's go to the movies.
Synchronized by srjanapala