NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–…): Season 2, Episode 21 - Rocket Man - full transcript

A major player in the private-sector aerospace industry, Drewett, whose firm operates under contract to the US Department of Defense (DoD), dies inside a test chamber at his facility in Palmdale, California, near Los Angeles; Callen and company investigate, in part to determine the security of US military (DoD) technology. Eric goes undercover as an FAA inspector; G, Sam, Kensi, and Deeks, taking a more direct approach, meet Drewett's business partner, Holt, and Drewett's daughter, Ariel, who suspects murder and gives a name; Holt stalls, argues, and resists; Eric does nicely in his assignment but runs into a big problem. Later everyone in the field watches a big bang; the team find Holt's body, then they go to a flea market in Saugus, between Palmdale and Los Angeles, where they not only watch a transaction but also grab and detain all the participants in it. All the pieces fit together.

Wait! I'm in here!

Open!

2x21
Rocket Man

.: Team UnderCovers :.

One or two n in inoculate?

One.

The man says "one".

How do you spell light-en-ing?

What report are you filing?

He's doing a crossword.

It's a word search, thank you, it helps
to keep my intellect razor-sharp.



It's pronounced lightning.
There's no e, Razor.

A silent e.

Never fails.

You guys give us
a four-hour delivery window

and always show up at the last minute.
What's up?

When a girl says
that she likes a man in uniform,

I don't think
that this is what she had in mind.

Don't push it. I'm so over this.
This is the worst assignment ever.

Come on, Sam. Can't be any worse
than the Puppy Park.

Do tell.
What's the Puppy Park?

Sam had to go undercover
as a dog walker,

only he forgot the baggies.

Five dogs... big dogs.

No baggies.



Poop-scooping aside going undercover's
the best part of our job.

- You get to be somebody you're not.
- For you, that's an improvement.

- And also you like to lie.
- I thought we were picking on Sam.

Secondly, it's not lying,

it's truth reimagined

for the higher good.

Houston, we have a problem.

That can't be good.

Ollie Drewett, 52,

an expert in rocket engine design,

and founder
of Drewett Space Technologies.

He got trapped
in a satellite test chamber.

Looks like he didn't pass the test.

Here he is showing off
his latest rocket

with his partner Harlan Holt,
and his daughter Ariel.

She's head of operations.

They're basically a rocket
for hire service.

You bring them a payload

and they put it in orbit for a price.

What's up with the Rubik's Cube?

That's the satellite being tested.

More specifically, a micro-satellite.

Looks like it'd fit in the overhead.

Miniaturization.

After Reagan deregulated
satellite launches

for the private sector, in the '80s,

the industry, it "took off."

Satellites got smaller and cheaper.

The one in question
was designed and built

by an American consortium

for a Turkish
telecommunications company.

As a favor to our NATO ally,

the U.S. government agreed
to build the satellite

using the latest
classified technology.

Ortam Communications pays for it,

but they never get to actually see
what makes it tick.

At least that's the agreement.

Anything useful
on Drewett's cell phone?

It froze and melted.

So, it "frelted"?

Spell that.

I managed to hack
into Drewett's IM account.

5 minutes before he entered the chamber,
he sent a text to his daughter:

"One last shake and bake."

But it was an unscheduled test.

After the chamber
is blast-chilled to below zero,

it then heats up
to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

All the air is sucked
out of those vents

and it creates a vacuum.

Like space.
And the shake?

The satellite stand is designed
to vibrate at a high speed,

to test if the satellite
will hold up during liftoff.

Which, I'm guessing,
has been postponed.

No, actually.

They're still scheduled to launch
in five hours and 22 minutes.

Which is why the DOD wants us

to make sure that this was
an unfortunate industrial accident

and not something
which might compromise

the security of our technology.

Drive or fly?

To Lancaster?

Wait, no, tell me that's
not a serious question.

Space technology

is a pretty specialized field.

You really need someone who speaks
their language to get them to open up.

Someone with the power to shut them down
wouldn't hurt either.

An FAA inspection
wouldn't be out of place,

considering the circumstances.

But the question is who?

There's a lot to learn
and not much time.

Why are you looking at me like that?

I think it's time for you
to take a little field trip.

A field trip?

Welcome to Lancaster
Air and Space Port.

See,

now that is seriously cool.

They take passengers
into space next year,

if you've got 200K burning
a hole in your pocket.

Does that include the baggage fee?

Wonder if they have
jet packs out here?

Got to talk to Hetty
about getting us some jet packs.

Settle down, Space Cadet.

You guys here about Ollie?

You knew him?

Yeah, I knew him.

At least the locals are friendly.

Photo I.D.'s.

That's Harlan Holt,

Drewett's business partner.

We'll start with him.

See if you can find
Drewett's daughter.

She lost her father last night.
Little female bonding may go a long way.

You got it.

I'm sorry,
did we have an appointment?

No. But here we are.

Can this wait? These gentlemen have come
a long way, we're on a strict schedule.

Pretty "business as usual", considering
your partner was just killed.

Ollie Drewett's death was a tragedy.

But we have a contract to uphold,
and a small launch window,

which is getting smaller every second
I stand here talking to you.

Look, I'm sorry.

We're all dealing with Ollie's death
and the stress of launching a satellite.

Feel free to look around,
and I'll see you have full access.

- Who are you?
- Special Agent Blye, NCIS.

This is Detective Marty Deeks, LAPD.

I already spoke to the police.

I'm an LAPD liaison,

but this is an NCIS
investigation now.

Sorry about your father.

Why is NCIS interested in this?

DOD request.

Protecting your classified technology,
is that it?

We're trying to safeguard
it hasn't been compromised.

It hasn't.

Where's the satellite now?

It's at the launch site.
It was mated about two hours ago.

- Mated?
- Put on top of the rocket.

Who would have done that?

It would have been my father.

Harlan Holt took his place, today.

Your father's business partner.

Any tension between those two?

Only about everything, 24/7.

My father didn't have
a malevolent bone in his body.

Every person that works here
loved and respected him.

But not Holt?

Different story.

How different?

We ran software checks on the computer
that controls the test chamber,

to see if there was a fault.

There wasn't.

Your father's death
wasn't an accident?

Someone had to close the airlock
and then activate the test signals.

You're saying that Harlan Holt...

Murdered my father?

Definitely.

Mehmet Osip
and Ali Yilmaz are here, representing

the Turkish telecommunications
conglomerate that bought the satellite.

We're running backgrounds.

These are Harlan Holt's career stops.

Any red flags?

Back in the '90s,
Holt started an export company

with a guy
by the name of Curtis Roby.

Not long after, they were cited
for shipping parts and software

on our Military Critical
Technologies List.

Recipients included Libya,
Syria, North Korea...

All national security threats...

So, they lost their license.

Holt then left the company and
started a new one with Drewett.

Where's Roby now?

He runs his own space-tech
company at Lancaster.

A direct competitor
to Holt and Drewett's.

So, did you finish forensics
on the stress chamber?

Still working.

The data at Drewett's a hard nut.

A lot of their intel is
on a closed system, no on-line access.

Which is why they need you out there.

Yeah, I guess.

Look, you're going to do great.

Really.

Why was your father alone
during the testing?

Isn't there some sort
of safety protocol?

It's built into the chamber program.

If there's a malfunction,
it shuts down automatically.

It didn't 'cause there was
no malfunction.

Who else had access to the control
system besides your father?

Me, Holt... some of our
ground systems engineers.

Why do you think Holt did it?

My father was all about vision.

Holt...
all about profit.

And our company was losing money.
Holt wanted to sell.

My father found out he put feelers out
to several companies.

How did your father feel
about selling?

He said, over his dead body.

Ariel Drewett said Harlan Holt
was trying to sell the company.

Her dad was not on board.

And by "not on board,"
she means that Holt killed him.

You guys find anything?

Nothing solid.

Holt's stalling us.

He is just about out of time.

Undercover work...

is a matter of confidence.

Right.

Were you ever
in a school play, Mr. Beale?

Twice... a tree and a horse.

Which end?

When you're in your chair, up in Ops,

you are one
of the most confident people

I've ever known.

Can I bring my chair?

A case of nerves is understandable.

You're going into the field
for the first time.

It's not that, it's, it's just...

Out with it.
What?

Black Ops... Call of Duty...

I've wiped out entire platoons
in an afternoon.

World of Warcraft...
God knows...

Mr. Beale...

I don't have to bring a gun?

I don't think I could
actually really kill someone.

Heaven forbid.

I have no intention
of making you carry a weapon.

Relax, Mr. Beale.

This isn't rocket science, after all.

Well, actually, in this case,
I guess it is.

You'll do fine.

Nell will be listening in on you
at all times.

At all times?

What if I have to use the restroom?
I have a shy bladder.

Ollie was being stubborn.

Is that what you call not wanting to
hand over his life's dream for a payday?

There wasn't going to be a dream
or a payday

if he kept running the company
the way he was.

Are they...
are they questioning them?

Just taking the tour.

Look, Ollie was an idealist.

All his Right Stuff fantasies
weren't making the overhead...

R & D, payroll.
This is a business, an expensive one.

So you stood to lose your shirt
if he didn't go along with the sale.

- What are you implying?
- No one's implying anything.

He just asked you a question.

I was in a meeting
when the accident happened.

That's not what he asked you.

With four other people
who can verify that.

- How is that for an answer?
- Sounds more like an alibi to me.

Gary Clay, F.A.A.

Why is F.A.A. involved in this?

The accident occurred
in a testing chamber.

Which raises safety issues
that could affect the flight.

I've got a... work order

... here.

It's a pre-flight data audit.

I want to speak to your supervisor.

Fine, but, you know,
if I can't do my job,

I got to make a phone call,

and the guy I call
makes a phone call,

and the launch is scrubbed, so...

Wait here.

0ne of our systems engineers
will escort you to the test chamber.

Awesome.

Cool.

I mean, great.
That'd be very helpful.

She seems nice.

You used to be in business with Roby,
selling things you weren't supposed to.

- People who weren't supposed to have.
- This business is expensive.

Your words.

I'm not selling anyone's technology.

We might want to take a
look at that satellite.

You'd better come back
with an army of lawyers,

'cause we launch in 4 hours,

and if we don't,
it'll ruin this company.

Not what Ollie Drewett
would have wanted!

And that's something
Ariel and I can agree on.

She thinks you killed her father.

Then she's wrong.

The Eagle has landed.

Eric, you're going to be great.

I got your back.

Colin Benson.
On a schedule.

Great, everyone's leaving
for the launch site but me.

- Where did you go to school?
- UC Boulder.

Couldn't make the cut at Cal Tech?

Undergrad.
Got my masters at MIT.

So did I.
Professor Gordon Ellis.

What a hard-ass,
but he sure knew his aerospace.

You know, I really
didn't need this today.

New fuel feed system has us
generating seven megahertz at...

liftoff.

Have to completely refigure
the POGO effect.

Hang on.

Searching "POGO effect".

You do know what I'm talking about,

right?

I'm still searching.

Actually, no.

'Cause anything over five megahertz,
you shouldn't be launching.

Nicely done.

I'm gonna need access to your system.

You can go to the launch site now.

Got something
for you on Gordon Ellis.

And by the way?

Gordon Ellis hasn't taught
at MIT for ten years.

And we're in.

I've got the data stream,
and scanning for bugs

in the software.

All right, good.
I'm gonna inspect the chamber.

Nell, we got a problem.

You gotta help me.

Help!

Somebody, help me!

- Problem, Miss Jones?
- It's the testing chamber.

Eric's locked inside
and I can't shut it down.

Mr. Callen, we've got an emergency.

Nell, emergency shutoff...
what am I looking for?

It's an override button.
It's red, protected by a clear cover.

You're sure Eric is all right,
Mr. Callen?

He's a little shaken up,
but Sam thinks he's gonna be fine.

Where was Holt when Eric got trapped?

The launch site, with everyone else.

A very convenient alibi.

Much as I understand
your cynicism, Mr. Callen,

it still begs the question:
Who set the chamber in motion?

Holt is either working
with someone else

or there's another suspect
we're just not seeing.

Eric wants to stay here
and keep fishing around.

Kensi and Deeks will keep an eye on him.
Sam and I headed back.

Very good, Mr. Callen.

Try not to get frozen
or melted again until we get back.

It's "frelted."

So, Eric... bad idea?

No.

Not yet.

I ran a systems check
on the test chamber.

No sign of a software malfunction.

What about Colin Benson?

He was with me
right before I went in.

Well, he wasn't back
on his computer yet,

unless he logged in
from another site.

Look, I'm still sweeping the system.
I'll let you know if I find anything.

Sorry you almost got "frelted."

I hate that word.

She said "frelted," didn't she?

See, Kensi, it's catching on.

I heard what happened.
Is he okay?

He seems to be.

Is it possible for someone to remotely
activate the test chamber?

No, not that I'm aware of.
It's a closed system.

Where were you 15 min ago?

I was at the launch site.

Drewett fired at least a dozen
employees after their last launch.

One of them filed
a wrongful termination suit...

Jeff Kinto.

Kinto lives near the spaceport.

He claimed that DST
was violating some safety standards.

Got the FAA involved,
but the suit was settled.

FAA investigation
never came to anything.

Maybe it's time the FAA reopens
the case in view of Drewett's death.

Eric's up for another assignment
after he almost got killed once today?

What doesn't kill you
makes you stronger?

It's Eric...

Intellectual fortitude is just
as important as physical strength.

I'm just saying, in the short time

that I've been working
with Mr. Beale...

Now it's Mr. Beale.

He seems much more resilient
than he may appear to be.

Looks can be deceiving,
and since deception is one

of the key aspects of being
a good undercover...

Do you have something for us?

I was going over
Holt's phone records.

Seven phone calls to Curtis Roby
in the last two weeks.

Ariel said Holt was putting out
feelers to sell the company.

Roby was probably a potential buyer.

True. Holt and Roby
also worked together

ten years ago,
when they were convicted

of selling restricted parts
to hostile nations.

I think it's time we talk to Roby.

See if he's got the wrong stuff.

So this guy
fancies himself as an artist?

Not exactly Rodin, is he?

Coming from a guy
who decorates his living room

with a portrait
of dogs playing poker?

That's intentional.
I'm fully aware of the kitsch factor.

It's a statement of irony.

Is it what you tell the girls
when you take 'em to your place?

The art history majors.

Okay, Eric, it's showtime, buddy.

He looks nervous.

You would be, too,
if you almost got frelted.

Gary Clay, FAA.

I need to talk to you about
Drewett Space Technologies.

I settled.

We re-opened the case.

Because of what happened to Drewett?

You claimed they fired
you without cause.

They did me a favor.

Now I build what's really important.

Art.

Quite a 180
for an aerospace engineer.

Why did they fire you?

They modified the guidance system.

Ran a stationary engine test.

And it didn't turn out so good.

New parts were sub-standard.

But you ordered them.

Holt said he knew
where to get ones for a cheaper price.

Ariel Drewett approved it.

But when it was discovered,
they put the blame on you.

Getting this?

Loud and clear.

Could you elaborate
on "uh-oh", Ms. Jones?

I've been cross-checking
background information

on everyone associated
with this case.

It seems that one of
our Turkish friends

has some glaring discrepancies
in his personal history.

Ali Yilmaz did not attend
Ankara University as his CV suggests.

Everybody lies
on their resume or, at least,

that's what Sam told me.

His passport record
shows recent travel

to Tunisia, Syria and Libya.

Cell phones brought down
the Egyptian government.

In wrong hands,
a communication satellite

can crush a revolution
by controlling the airwaves.

Just sayin'.

I think we need to have a chat
with our friend Mr. Yilmaz.

Drewett Technologies

is scheduled to launch that rocket
in exactly 26 minutes.

They need to delay
until we can confirm

that neither their satellite
nor their rocket have been compromised.

Patch me into Mr. Callen.

We're on it.

Roby's gonna have to wait.

This thing go any faster?

Final checks are complete.
All systems are green.

Resume countdown.

Resuming countdown.

We have ignition...

And liftoff.

All systems look good.

We are in the green.

Too late.

Ten seconds into flight.

Positive tracking.
Burn rate is steady.

We have vehicle failure.

There's not much left.

Nothing left.

They determine the cause?

Take weeks.

Why bother?

All these...

test mock-ups.

People thought my father
kept them around for his vanity.

He told me they reminded him
of how far we had come,

and how hard we'd worked.

He saw every single one
of them as a sacrifice.

What did you see them as?

Something that he and I did together.

And now we'll...

I lost my father, too.

He was an amazing man.

Strong. Principled.

And you still miss him?

Every day.

But...

I found a way to move on.

It's what he would have wanted.

And it's definitely what I needed.

Eric Beale, returning from the field.

Is there a debrief?
Do I write a report?

Not exactly sure
what the protocol is.

You can return
your FAA credential to me,

and go back to Ops.

I'm most appreciative
of your efforts.

Really?

You brought us valuable intelligence

at great risk
to your own personal well-being.

That's what I call
solid undercover work.

And without the aid of a weapon.

What now?

Now we find out
who sabotaged that launch,

and why.

You called Curtis Roby
one hour after your partner died.

Our company was devalued,
but we still had assets.

Better to get something than nothing,
which is certainly what we have now.

Drewett found out you bought parts
for the launch vehicle

that were substandard and unreliable.

That's not a reason to kill someone.

Besides, Drewett replaced everything.

He oversaw the installation himself.

One of the Turkish representatives,
Ali Yilmaz,

has links to six countries
barred from military trade with the U.S.

You have a history of selling
sensitive technology to bad people.

Maybe you let Yilmaz get a look
at the classified technology

in that satellite.

And Drewett found out about it.

Now, that's a reason
to kill somebody.

He reminds me of every guy
who looked me in the face,

and said, "I'll call you".

Ladies see through that?

Really?

Kensi thinks he looks hinky.

Looking hinky and being hinky
are two different things.

Ariel is wrong about Holt?

Maybe.

Holt was nowhere near that test chamber
when Eric almost got fried.

Frelted.

Why try to kill Eric?
That doesn't make any sense.

A misdirect.

Putting the focus on a software
malfunction, instead of the murder.

Which we know it's not.

So the operating system
was remotely activated.

Which could indicate
Holt has an accomplice.

Or that he doesn't,
and we're looking for somebody else.

Whoever locked the chamber and started
the test had to have Eric go inside...

And Drewett, too.

Cameras?

There's only one.

It feeds
to a closed-end security system.

Unless...

My old desk.

Just as you left it.

My chair.

Untouched and unswiveled.

Are you okay?

It's just not easy coming back
in after you've been out there.

I guess I understand.

Even if you were out there
for only...

seven hours.

You must be hooked.

It was challenging,

and exhilarating,

but ultimately...

Unsatisfying.

We have a ton of data to go through.

I'm back, Nell.

I'm glad, Eric.

Accessing Drewett's computer.

I got e-mails.

They were hidden in a cloud file.

This one's recent.

Holt to Drewett: "New MEMS are here."

Micro Electro Mechanical Systems.

It's special chips.

Drewett to Holt, "Great".

- Holt to Drewett...
- "I'm happy to install."

Drewett: "Be my guest."

But Holt told Callen and Sam
that Drewett installed them.

- He must have lied.
- Why?

Because maybe
he never swapped them out.

Camera within a camera.
Sneaky.

Just like we did in Kosovo.

Question is, who put it there?

We're missing something.

In my case, a fortune.

But how is that possible?

Because you have no future?

Just sayin'.

We've analyzed the telemetry data
on all three launches.

The first two were test launches,
they went perfectly.

The third, carrying the satellite,
went ka-boom

after 15 seconds.

But the graphs and data
on all three are the same.

Which is weird.

What kind of weird?

The first two didn't carry a payload.

The third carried the satellite.

It's small, but it's heavy.

There would have been
a weight differential.

Which would have skewed
the telemetry data.

Unless it wasn't carrying a real one.

A dummy.

Like the mock-ups
that weigh practically nothing.

The rocket failure was a cover.

The final shake and bake test
wasn't scheduled.

It was Drewett's idea,

checking things one last time.

The moment he started that test,

he would've found out
that the satellite had been replaced.

It's your motive.

The launch goes ahead,
the rocket explodes,

destroying the evidence.

And someone walks off
with a state of the art satellite

loaded
with classified U.S. technology.

Seller's market.

It would fit in an overhead.

Stealing a satellite
is one thing, but selling it?

Not easy to get one through security.

It's not the satellite that's important,
but what's inside.

The satellite...

Solar panels, battery,
transponders...

But in here...

nanotechnology.

Tiny machines,
smaller than the hair on a flea.

And very classified.

Chop-shop.

Strip it down, mark up the parts.

Hard to trace.

Holt has to be working with someone.

He's got an alibi
for when Drewett was killed.

So he gave someone remote access
to the test chamber.

Someone who could have monitored
and activated it

from his computer or smartphone.

Whoever was watching
the micro-camera.

Curtis Roby?

He and Holt do have a history

of selling restricted parts
to the wrong people.

Kensi, Deeks, find, check him out.

Curtis Roby?

I know who you are.

How'd you find me?

Smartphones.

Law enforcement's friend.

That's an invasion of my privacy.

Maybe you should have answered
when we called you.

Why?
I've got nothing to talk about.

Even Ollie Drewett?

Let's talk about Harlan Holt.

You two do have a history
of being naughty?

That was a long time ago.

Holt's calls weren't a long time ago.

Seven calls
in the space of two weeks?

The most recent being
an hour after Drewett died.

He wanted me
to buy into Drewett's company.

That would have been a sweet payback.

Payback for what?

For not making me a partner
in his company, like he did Holt.

I guess two guys
with a history of illegal sales

wouldn't have looked good
in the company profile.

Drewett wasn't going
to let the deal go through.

Pretty good reason to get him
out of the way, no?

I was nowhere near that building
when Drewett was killed.

I can prove it.

You are a software engineer

who specializes
in remote operating systems.

You didn't have to be there.

You and Holt team up again?

This time, get real naughty?

- You've got it wrong.
- Do we?

I hated Ollie Drewett.

But I did not kill him.

Looked you right in the eye
when he said it.

And didn't even blink.

Which leaves us with... Mr. Hinky.

Kensi, ready?

We're in position.

On your mark.

Clear.

That's funny.

Didn't really see him
as a country music fan.

Nell, Holt's dead.
Where's Yilmaz?

At his motel.

He hasn't been anywhere
near Holt's place since the launch.

And Roby?

Nothing on Roby's computer

suggests that he could have been
monitoring the chamber

or had any remote access
to control it.

This rules out Holt.

Somebody knew Drewett
went into that chamber.

You can't sit around,
watching a camera feed all day.

Drewett's text to Ariel
said he was going to do one last test.

Maybe someone hacked into her phone.

They intercept the text,

check the monitor, see Drewett,
activate the system.

Murder by remote.

And we've got our hacker.

Jeff Kinto.

Who better to help Holt
screw over the company

than someone
that the company screwed over.

Only Kinto decides to kill Holt

and sell the satellite
technology himself.

If he hasn't done so already.

We could be in luck, guys.

Kinto rents a booth
at the Saugus Speedway Flea Market.

Trading starts at 7:00 a.m.
tomorrow morning.

Ten bucks? Really?

What did you pay for yours?

Let's go this way.

Eyes on Kinto.

Coming up on his booth now.

They've made contact.

It can't be the sculptures
they're interested in.

More likely what's attached to them.

Hiding the satellite chips
in plain sight.

Wait for the exchange.

Take the buyers.

We've got Kinto.

Everybody down!

Power system, fueled and ready.

Pre-flight checks, complete.

Rotor systems, go.

Structural and engine
post-assembly check, go.

Launch area, cleared and ready.

Vehicle power, on.

Engaging remote flight
control system.

This is going to be so cool.

Initiate countdown.

Initiating countdown.

A little thing to show my appreciation
for helping me through my first,

and hopefully last,
undercover assignment.

This is so sweet.

Couldn't have done it without you guys.
Especially Sam.

Me?

After Callen told me
about how he found you

puking your guts out

before you went on your first
undercover assignment, I figured,

I could do this, no sweat.

I had food poisoning.

Think of it as truth,

re-imagined for the higher good.

That's nice.

I almost forgot.

I heard you're going back on your...

delivery job tomorrow.

Figured I'd save myself some time.

- Is that right?
- It's not a problem, is it?

- It's fragile?
- Very.

- It's insured?
- Of course.

That was a very smart decision.