------------------ ZAPPING -----------------
[Venice. There’s an event at the beach: “USMC 1st Battalion feeds the homeless –volleyball tournament”. A man is tenderly speaking to his pregnant wife’s belly]
MARINE: Hey, little man, your daddy's got game.
MAN: Yo, Ed!
[He hands him a trophy]
ED: Nice. You were pounding the ball out there, man.
MAN: You set it up so good, the ball was practically hitting itself.
ED: You know it. All day!
MAN: All night!
BOTH: Oorah!
[The three beam at each other; Ed looks at his wife]
ED: What do you think?
WOMAN: Aw, where we gonna put this one?
ED: On display with the rest of them.
WOMAN: I guess I can make room.
[Ed tenderly kisses her forehead. They hear yells]
WOMAN: Hey, stop! Stop! My camera!
[A woman is chasing a guy running away.]
ED: Let's get him, Roy!
[Roy and Ed start the chase.]
ROY: Stop!
ED: Take his flank!
[The guy is running along a parked car; Roy is between this car and a truck and Ed is on the other side of the big vehicle…and at that right moment the car blows up! The blast is terrible. Ed’s ears rings when he slowly gets up – Roy and the thief couldn’t make it. Ed looks around: people are trying to stand up – but his wife is lying motionless on the ground…]
ED: Linda!
[He kneels down – she groans…]
ED: Baby.
♫ ♫ NCIS: LA 5x23 ♫ ♫ Exposure ♫ ♫
♫ ♫ Original Air Date on May 6, 2014 ♫ ♫
[NCIS office. Sam and Callen carrying bags hurry in; Nell is briefing 4 agents sitting around a table in the entrance]
NELL: ...Homeland's network. I want minute-by-minute updates. Initiate a vector search on chatter, keyword "Venice."
CALLEN: What's the latest, Nell?
NELL: Two fatalities, 26 wounded. Info's still coming in, but it's looking like a terrorist attack. Hetty had me bring in some more techs for processing intel.
SAM: Have you talked to other agencies?
NELL: CIA's got nothing. FBI's casting a wide net.
CALLEN: Anybody claiming responsibility?
NELL: No, nothing yet.
SAM: It's just a matter of time.
KENSI: Sorry I'm late. Stopped to give blood. What do we have?
[Deeks is also here- wearing shorts]
NELL: Well, the immediate area around the explosion has been closed off.
DEEKS: Navy sealed off the bay.
[They stare at his legs]
DEEKS: What? I surf on Saturdays! You thinking foreign or domestic?
CALLEN: Until we identify them, it doesn't make a difference.
HETTY: Mr. Callen is right. And right now, time is of the essence. I suggest you start in ops.
[She’s in pants. They (but Nell) obey; Hetty sighs heavily]
[OPS center. On screen: footage of the explosion]
ERIC: It was a Marine-sponsored charity event. The footage was taken by tourists' cell phones and nearby security cameras. Now, the two men giving chase are Marine Sergeants Edward Jones and Roy Kilpatrick. Now, they both returned home two weeks ago from a tour in Afghanistan. The man they're chasing: Brian Colvern. History of petty theft. Colvern and Sergeant Kilpatrick were the two reported fatalities.
SAM: Survives Afghanistan, dies in a terrorist attack at home.
ERIC: Car bomb.
KENSI: The ice truck took the brunt of the blast.
DEEKS: Could have been a lot worse.
CALLEN: A Saturday. Military personnel, lot of tourists, cameras.
SAM: It was a perfect target. Lots of footage for the 6:00 news.
CALLEN: We have any idea how that car got there?
ERIC: This is from seven hours earlier. Here's what we've got. The footage is low-res. I did my best to enhance it. There's no way to I.D. these guys.
CALLEN: You can't take out that license?
ERIC: I've tried. There's just not enough to work with.
SAM: No one blinks twice at a meter maid car.
ERIC: Yeah, except it's not. It was fitted out to look like one. I'm running a Kaleidoscope search to see if I can track its route to the beach.
KENSI: So, we don't have anything?
DEEKS: And no one's claimed responsibility yet?
ERIC: Actually, this just aired two minutes ago.
[Eric puts onto screen live footage from ZNN. “Exclusive: terrorists identified as JLF”. The journalist Dana Steele is speaking to the camera]
DANA: [over video] Sources have confirmed the Iran-based Islamic militant group Jihadist Liberation Front, or JLF, is responsible for this morning's horrific Venice Beach attack, killing two and injuring dozens...
DEEKS: That's, uh, Dana Steele. She does the "Nerves of Steele" segment where she ventures into dangerous situations. Her tagline is "Anything for the story."
ERIC: She graduated early from Columbia School of Journalism. Runner-up for the duPont Award for digital journalism, and a host of other accolades.
DEEKS: Smart and ambitious.
SAM: Try the other outlets, Eric.
[Journalist Dave Lopez from CBSLAnews2 pops up on screen]
DAVE: Hold on, Pamela. Just getting this update right now. It is being reported that the Jihadist Liberation Front masterminded this morning's deadly attack...
[Other channel]
WOMAN: Saturday morning's attack on a military charity event was carried out by the JLF...
[Another again]
MAN 2: ...one dead and multiple injured was carried out by the Jihadist Liberation Front.
KENSI: Domino effect.
DEEKS: Other stations are picking up her story.
SAM: Homeland's been tracking a JLF cell in L.A. for months. It's time they share their intel.
CALLEN: Eric, plug us in to the FBI checkpoints. Let's get a team scrubbing through surveillance. We're looking for three men traveling together. Kensi, Deeks, Homeland Security. Let's find out what they know.
KENSI: Copy that.
[Kensi and Deeks walk out]
SAM: How many injured, Eric?
ERIC: Last count, 29. Seven of them children.
[Sam and G look at each other…]
[Hetty is watching the car-bombing on a monitor downstairs]
GRANGER: Job's never done.
HETTY: Will it ever be, Owen?
GRANGER: They'll keep popping up, and we'll keep knocking them down.
HETTY: This was different.
GRANGER: How do you figure?
HETTY: We missed it.
GRANGER: Well...it's not the first time.
HETTY: No… Do you still flinch when you hear jets flying over the city?
GRANGER: Yeah. Don't you?
HETTY: Mm.
GRANGER: Unfortunately, we can't choose the place where they attack us.
HETTY: No, we can't. Are you ready for another round?
GRANGER: I will fight from beyond the grave.
HETTY: One thing's for certain. Foreign, domestic--they picked the wrong city to mess with.
[Car-bombing place in Venice. Firemen, FBI agents are working. Sam and G check the place]
SAM: My daughter didn't have a recital in the Valley, I'd have been right here with my family.
[He picks up a small pink shoe]
SAM: This could have been my little girl's.
[They exchange a look]
SAM: Detonation velocity was near top of the scale. I'm thinking military-grade explosives. HMX maybe. Ten, 15 pounds.
CALLEN: It's not exactly the kind of thing you just pick up at Home Depot.
SAM: Definitely not.
[G grabs his phone and dials]
CALLEN: Eric.
ERIC: [Over phone] Callen.
CALLEN: Any updates?
ERIC: [Over phone] We're still checking. Nothing yet.
CALLEN: Okay. Hey.
ERIC: [Over phone] Yeah.
CALLEN: Run down any leads on missing HMX explosives.
ERIC: [Over phone] That's military-grade.
CALLEN: Right.
ERIC: [Over phone] You got it.
[Callen looks at Sam]
CALLEN: Hey, they had to slip up at some point.
SAM: We just need to find out where.
[Boatshed. Kensi and Deeks are with a Homeland Security agent]
KENSI: Tell us about the JLF. Also known as Jihadist Liberation Front.
AGENT: More an army than a front. We estimate they number almost 100,000. [He takes his tablet] They are known for suicide bombings, kidnappings and targeted assassinations.
[A file pops up onto the monitor]
AGENT: We've been on this L.A. cell for the last year. Wiretaps, hidden cameras, laser mics, you name it.
DEEKS: So you got a full workup going on these guys.
AGENT: They blink, we log it.
DEEKS: Anything related to the attack today?
AGENT: Other than pizza and porn, these guys have been dormant for the last year. I'm talking zero activity.
KENSI: ZNN is reporting otherwise.
AGENT: We're deep in their network. I wish I could tell you different, but these guys didn't do it.
[Deeks looks at Kensi and sighs…]
------------------ ZAPPING -----------------
[Venice Beach. G is talking to a FBI guy]
CALLEN: Thanks.
MAN: Yes, sir.
[Callen joins Sam]
CALLEN: FBI recovered part of the detonator. Looks like the bomb was remotely activated.
SAM: Probably by cell phone.
CALLEN: They're also gathering any photos and videos they can from tourists.
SAM: Maybe we can put together a timeline.
[G’s phone rings]
[Boatshed.]
CALLEN: [over phone] Yeah, Kens.
KENSI: Homeland says JLF is not responsible for the attack.
[Venice Beach]
SAM: They on point?
[Boatshed.]
DEEKS: Intel looks solid.
KENSI: But there's more. Reports are starting to roll in.
DEEKS: Every small group trying to make a name for itself is now claiming responsibility for the bombing.
[Venice Beach]
CALLEN: All right, thanks, guys. It's getting out of control.
[Sam is watching journalists working nearby]
SAM: Time to talk to the media.
[Dana Steele is speaking in her mic with the chaos scene in background]
DANA: Venice Beach, residential paradise, tourist destination. And now terrorist target. This is Dana Steele reporting.
[She lowers the mic]
DANA: How was that, Bobby?
SAM: Dana Steele?
DANA: Uh, that's me. And you are?
[G shows his badge]
CALLEN: NCIS. Agent Callen, Agent Hanna.
[Bobby is filming the agents]
SAM: Turn the camera off, rewind and delete.
[Bobby looks at Dana; she nods; he obeys]
DANA: Little busy fellas. Got a job to do.
SAM: So do we.
CALLEN: You reported JLF was responsible for the bombing. What's your proof?
DANA: My sources.
CALLEN: Yeah? We're going to need names.
DANA: Not possible. I give up a source, I lose them forever. My rights are protected under the First Amendment.
SAM: You're protected by the Marines who were killed and injured here today. You'd rather protect a terrorist who took American lives?
DANA: To get to the truth, you sometimes have to dance with the Devil.
CALLEN: Sounds like a pretty good way to get burned, huh?
DANA: Only if you're afraid of the heat.
SAM: Anything for a story, right? Including selling your soul.
DANA: I have a right to protect my sources.
SAM: You also have the right to remain silent.
DANA: The California Shield Law protects journalists who want to keep their sources confidential.
CALLEN: And the Patriot Act doesn't.
SAM: Now you can come with us and willingly answer some questions, or we can go through the proper channels.
CALLEN: While you wait in a holding cell and every one of these other reporters gets ahead on the story.
[Dana sighs]
DANA: Fine. Bobby, call the office.
[She hands him her mic]
BOBBY: Yeah.
SAM: This way.
[Boatshed. Interrogation room.]
DANA: I have credible sources all over the world that have never let me down.
CALLEN: Well, our sources say that it's not the JLF.
DANA: Who? Couple of sleep-deprived cops on a wiretap?
SAM: Just so you understand, this is a matter of national security.
CALLEN: You willing to go to prison over this?
DANA: I wouldn't be the first.
SAM: Okay. I understand your journalistic code of ethics. But don't let it stop them from getting their justice.
[He puts photos on the table]
CALLEN: Who's your contact?
DANA: There's a guy I've used for years. Used to run relief through Somalia. He knows someone. I trust him.
SAM: Need a name, Dana.
[She hesitates]
DANA: Merle Jarvis. But you don't find him. He finds you.
SAM: Let us worry about that.
[The agents leave the interrogation room.]
[Observation room.]
CALLEN: We'll see who can't find who.
[He “calls” Eric]
CALLEN: Eric.
[OPS center.]
ERIC: What's up, Callen?
[Nell is coming back]
CALLEN: [Over com] Run the name Merle Jarvis for me. Look for any connections to Dana Steele.
NELL: Okay. I'll get it.
ERIC: Hey, guys, I got a lead on the meter maid car from the bombing.It wasn't easy.
[In the Observation room, Sam and G exchange a look)
ERIC: It's a salvage vehicle that shouldn't have even been on the road. Its chain of ownership leads to a mom-and-pop shop. Quick Step Car Rental.
[Observation room.]
SAM: All right, thanks, Eric. Send us the address.
ERIC: [Over com] Just did.
[OPS center.]
NELL: Okay, Merle Jarvis. He used to run Global Salvation Solutions, provides international relief in the Middle East. Interesting.
[Eric is staring at the large screen, lost in his thoughts]
NELL: There's no indication why he left the company. He's been off the grid since 2008. His last known address is in Arizona. So I guess we're gonna have to try a different route.
[Eric is watching the bombing – he’s hurt]
NELL: Hey. What's up? Are you okay?
[Eric stops the video and sighs]
ERIC: When those people woke up, they didn't know this was the last morning they'd see.
NELL: Yeah, I know. It's been getting to me, too.
ERIC: If you don't tell someone how you feel about them, you may never get the chance.
NELL: You're right. People should just...put it out there while they can.
[Eric grabs an apple green pad and starts writing]
NELL: What you doing over there?
ERIC: Putting it out there while I can.
NELL: Okay. I'm game.
[She takes another apple green pad. He looks at her, writing. When she’s done, they face each other. Eric is very serious]
ERIC: We don't talk about this. Agreed?
NELL: Agreed.
ERIC: Ready?
NELL: Go.
[They exchange their papers and read. Both look very surprised, especially Eric. He exhales loudly, staring at Nell with wide-open eyes. Granger interrupts them and at the same moment Nell’s tablet beeps]
NELL: Oh, got a hit.
GRANGER: Whatever you got better be good.
NELL: I got an address for Merle Jarvis. Um, Dana Steele's source.
[Granger glares at Eric who smiles, his head still in clouds…]
NELL: So, it looks like Global Salvation Solutions still covers his medical insurance. There's a bungalow in Mid-Wilshire belonging to one Missy Cambell--maiden name Jarvis.
GRANGER: All right. Give it to Kensi and Deeks.
NELL: Yep. Will do.
[Granger is still glaring suspiciously. Nell clears her throat]
GRANGER: Is there something going on that I should know about?
ERIC: No. Nothing to know about. That you need to know about.
GRANGER: Nell?
NELL: No.
GRANGER: Okay…
NELL: Okay.
[Granger slowly walks out, unconvinced!]
[Kensi stops the car in front of a house. Deeks looks at its walls]
DEEKS: Teal?! That's a bold choice, huh? What's going on with you? You've been sulking since Sunset Boulevard.
KENSI: I was a Marine brat. I used to go to events like that all the time. Just close to home, that's all.
DEEKS: Kensi, we're gonna get these guys.
KENSI: Damn right.
[They spot a surveillance camera; there are also satellite dishes. The door opens before they knock]
JARVIS: Can I help you?
DEEKS: Uh, yeah, I'm Detective Marty Deeks, LAPD. This is Special Agent Kensi Blye, NCIS.
[They show their badges]
JARVIS: You're here about the bombing! Come in. Come in.
KENSI: Thank you.
[Jarvis checks the street before closing the door]
DAVE LOPEZ: [over TV] Hold on, Pamela. Just getting this update right now. It is being reported that the Jihadist Liberation Front masterminded this morning's deadly attack. The group, also known as JLF...
JARVIS: This is a tragedy. I hope you can apprehend the responsible party.
DEEKS: Mr. Jarvis, how did you confirm the JLF's involvement?
JARVIS: My company moved medical aid through Somalia and Iran. To do so, we...we had to grease a lot of palms just to get a shipment through at times.
KENSI: Any of those contacts call you? Reach out to you? Someone who can confirm the claim?
JARVIS: We had to forge some toxic relationships with more than a few nefarious characters.
DEEKS: That's really interesting. But do you have any solid confirmation the JLF is responsible for this attack?
JARVIS: They see it all. We are like ants on an ant farm.
KENSI: "They" who?
[Jarvis points at the ceiling]
JARVIS: Them.
DEEKS: "Them" who?
KENSI: Are you pointing north?
JARVIS: Mm, yes.
DEEKS: What do you mean? Like-like north Valley or north... Canada?
JARVIS: [whispering] True north.
KENSI: How do you know Dana Steele?
JARVIS: Shh. She's one of them.
DEEKS: What do you mean? She's one of the Jihadist Liberation Front?
JARVIS: No. Them.
[He points again at the ceiling]
DEEKS: Are we talking about aliens?
JARVIS: Mm-hmm. They're everywhere.
KENSI: Thank you.
JARVIS: All right.
[They leave the house]
DEEKS: Wow, so that happened.
KENSI: Source my ass. Dana Steele screwed us.
DEEKS: Just wasted an hour of our day. So what's she hiding?
[They look at each other]
[Sam stops the Challenger in the parking lot of “Quick Step car rental” near the “International House of Music”. He shakes the head and scoffs]
SAM: Look at this. It should be illegal to mistreat cars this way. Salvaged or not, it's terrible.
CALLEN: Yep. It's bad car-ma. Huh?
[He chuckles]
SAM: That was as bad as these cars look. I mean, look at this piece of...
[He points at a headlight, a fender and a wing which have a bit suffered …]
WOMAN: Art, right? Well, if the color offends you, there's plenty more to choose from. Come on in.
[Inside]
WOMAN: How can I help you guys?
SAM: Federal agents.
[He shows his ID]
SAM: You can start by showing us your rental logs.
WOMAN: What's this about?
CALLEN: The bombing today in Venice.
WOMAN: Terrible. But why are you here?
CALLEN: We have reason to believe that one of your salvaged vehicles was involved.
[He shows her a photo of the car on his phone]
WOMAN: Well, it's not against the law to rent a salvaged vehicle.
CALLEN: Well, actually, it is. But we're not here for you. We just want to take a look at your logs.
WOMAN: Well, you're gonna need a warrant.
[Callen looks at Sam]
CALLEN: You know, there's a theory that...had those cars been properly salvaged, this wouldn't have happened today-- placing the blame squarely on the owner.
SAM: Years of probing investigations.
[He speaks to the woman]
SAM: FBI will have a field day proving that theory. Not to mention...
WOMAN: Okay, I get it. What do you need?
CALLEN: Rental logs.
WOMAN: Only because you asked so nicely.
[She hands them a pad]
CALLEN: Seriously? Handwritten logs?
SAM: No photocopies? No I.D.s?
WOMAN: White Civic. Right there.
[Callen takes a pic]
WOMAN: Computers are expensive. Nothing wrong with good old pen and pad.
SAM: Let me guess, they paid cash.
[The woman looks embarrassed]
CALLEN: [On phone] Eric, I need you to run a DMV check on a license I just sent you for a Richard James.
[OPS center.]
ERIC: Running it.
[His computer beeps: “no match found”]
ERIC: Sorry, guys, but it's a fake.
[Quick Step office]
CALLEN: It's bogus.
SAM: Surprise.
WOMAN: That mean I'm not gonna get my cars back?
[They stare at her]
CALLEN: What do you mean, "cars"?
WOMAN: Those guys. They rented three cars. A white Civic, a copper Hyundai and a gray Subaru.
CALLEN: Three cars…
SAM: Two more attacks…
------------------ ZAPPING -----------------
[NCIS office. Nell is speaking with Granger in the entrance]
GRANGER: Three cars. One at Venice, two unaccounted for.
[Sam and G hurry in]
NELL: We're running a Kaleidoscope search now. Cross-referencing FBI, CIA and Homeland databases to make sure we haven't missed anything.
GRANGER: All right.
CALLEN: These guys hit a military charity event.
SAM: The car was in place hours before it started.
CALLEN: If they planned multiple attacks at similar events, those cars could already be in place.
GRANGER: Make sure all public military events are canceled.
NELL: On it immediately.
SAM: Granger, Kensi and Deeks?
GRANGER: Checking out a military contractor who reported missing HMX two weeks ago. ATF started an investigation, but they had nothing to go on until this morning happened.
CALLEN: What about Dana Steele?
GRANGER: ZNN is standing behind her. They're just saving face.
SAM: Doesn't change the fact that she sent us to talk to a whack job. But why?
CALLEN: 'Cause you can't put the genie back in the bottle.
SAM: Everyone thinks JLF is responsible.
GRANGER: And she takes the credit. Let's get her back in here. Ping her phone if you have to.
CALLEN: We already tagged her at the boatshed.
SAM: Nell's been tracking her. So far, she's only been interviewing families of the blast victims.
GRANGER: Even better. Have at it.
[Military contractor secured warehouse]
MAN: They disabled the alarm before they forced their way in. And took off with the HMX before anyone could respond.
KENSI: So they knew what they were doing.
DEEKS: And exactly what they were looking for. Anything like this ever happen before?
MAN: Never. And I've been working here since 2007.
KENSI: Who had access to the delivery invoices and who else knew that you were storing HMX?
MAN: Nobody but me. Never know who you can trust--especially with something as dangerous as HMX.
DEEKS: So they disabled the alarms; what about security cameras?
MAN: Thought you might want to see this.
[The man turns a monitor on and they see footage of 3 men putting tubes of HMX into bags]
KENSI: Looks like the three guys from the Venice bombing.
MAN: It's crazy. We got millions of dollars worth of inventory in here. And all they took is five tubes of HMX.
DEEKS: How much is in each tube?
MAN: About 20 pounds.
DEEKS: Bomb squad thinks the Venice blast only took 15 pounds.
KENSI: Which means they have about four tubes left. Enough to take down a building.
MAN: A building? Hell, that's enough to take out a city block.
KENSI: I'll call Hetty.
DEEKS: Yeah.
[Off to…]
[…The streets. Sam and G are walking]
CALLEN: Where's Dana Steele, Eric?
[OPS center. Eric is watching 3 spots – the agents and Dana]
ERIC: You're close. According to the tracker, she's right inside the Grand Central Market.
SAM: Yeah? Well, we're looking right inside the Grand Central Market--it's like trying to find Waldo.
[Callen stops]
CALLEN: Who's Waldo?
SAM: Where's Waldo. The kids book. He's like a... goofy kid with a red and white striped shirt. You don't know Waldo?
CALLEN: Sounds very patriotic. Look, this story is a big break for Dana. She may be able to parlay this into an anchor desk.
SAM: Yeah, thanks to a terrorist attack on American soil.
CALLEN: Every journalist owes tribute to the evil one.
SAM: What's that, one of Hetty's quotes?
CALLEN: Jean de La Fontaine. 17th century French poet.
[Sam chuckles]
SAM: You know 17th century French poets, but you don't know Waldo?
CALLEN: Back to my point-- this is the biggest story of her life.
[They keep heading forwards, watching around]
SAM: Hey. So why is she here without her crew?
[Dana is speaking with a man at a café table]
SAM: Meeting in a crowded public place.
CALLEN: Maybe he's her real source.
[The man stands up; he’s angry, they’re arguing]
MAN: No, no, you must. You have to.
DANA: Stop. Let it go. It's too late, I'm not doing it.
[She stands up too and suddenly yells in pain]
SAM: Federal agents!
CALLEN: He's got a knife!
[The man briefly looks at them, his bloody knife in the hand; and runs. Sam chases him, G kneels down near Dana. He takes her pulse. Sam catches up with the guy and cuffs him. G joins them]
SAM: She gonna make it?
CALLEN: She's gone.
[The guy groans…]
------------------ ZAPPING -----------------
[Boatshed. Interrogation room. The murderer is waiting. Callen and Sam come in]
CALLEN: Why'd you kill Dana Steele?
DENG: My name is Bakri Deng. I'm from South Sudan. I detonated the bomb.
SAM: Where are the other two cars?
DENG: My name is Bakri Deng. I'm from South Sudan. I detonated the bomb.
CALLEN: Where are the rest of the explosives?
DENG:…
SAM: You were asked you a question.
DENG: My name is Bakri Deng. I'm from South Sudan. I detonated the bomb.
CALLEN: Let's go from the top.
[Hetty is in the Observation room]
CALLEN: [Over video] Why'd you kill Dana Steele?
SAM: [Over video] Why’d you kill Dana Steele?
DENG: [Over video] My name is Bakri Deng. I'm from South Sudan. I detonated the bomb.
[Granger appears. Hetty cuts off the sound]
HETTY: As he is apt to say, the man's name is Bakri Deng. He came here from South Sudan four years ago.
GRANGER: Legally?
HETTY: He's paid taxes ever since.
GRANGER: Do we know what he's doing here?
HETTY: He was a...chemistry professor at the University of Khartoum.
GRANGER: And now?
HETTY: He's washing dishes, apparently. At the W Hotel. Martini glasses, collins glasses, rocks glasses. Everyone's drinking old-fashioneds again. Like bleating sheep.
GRANGER: The more things change.
HETTY: The more work we have ahead of us.
[G and Sam join them]
GRANGER: So I guess the man came prepared.
CALLEN: Well, we're not giving up. We just need another angle. Anything from Kensi and Deeks?
HETTY: They're on their way to his apartment, warrant in hand.
SAM: He can't just be stalling us. What's this guy's play?
HETTY: To that point, Mr. Hanna, why has this man done any of the things he's done today?...
[Deng’s apartment. Kensi stops in front of a big house]
KENSI: Doesn't exactly scream "terrorist den." Maybe I should get an apartment here.
DEEKS: You'll never move. You'd have to pack up all your hoarding things.
KENSI: Ooh, that would take an entire week.
DEEKS: Weeks, plural. Plus moving takes lots of boxes.
KENSI: Ooh, poor trees.
DEEKS: Mm-hmm. We both know that you kill every tree, plant and flower that you touch.
KENSI: Okay, I meant in theory. Plus, I've stopped buying them, okay? After I kill the next orchid, I'll stop buying them. I'm gonna die alone in my apartment.
[She kicks the door open]
DEEKS: You're such a lady.
[They enter]
KENSI: Federal agents!
[They check the kitchen and bedrooms]
KENSI: Clear.
DEEKS: Clear.
[Kensi comes up to a table covered with papers]
DEEKS: Look at you, making your bed before going out and killing innocent people. Hey, Kens.
KENSI: Yeah?
[He takes a photo of Deng with a woman and 2 kids]
DEEKS: I think Bakri left a family back in South Sudan.
KENSI: Hey, take a look at this.
DEEKS: What do you got?
[She shows him a letter]
DEEKS: Letter writing campaign.
KENSI: Mm-hmm. With Bakri's signature and two others. Probably his two roommates.
DEEKS: Those three guys in the video.
KENSI: Mm-hmm.
DEEKS: Who were they writing to?
KENSI: State Department, congressmen, celebrities...Red Cross, guys who started Google. Anybody who could help.
DEEKS: Help with what?
KENSI: Sending aid to South Sudan. Water, food, blankets for the displaced families.
DEEKS: Look at this. Looks like they've been at this for years. [At least 2011)
KENSI: Evidently. On a peaceful mission.
DEEKS: So what changed? And where are his roommates?
[His phone vibrates. He sighs]
DEEKS: Go ahead, Nell.
[OPS center.]
NELL: The photo you sent is of Bakri's wife, a graduate student at the University of Khartoum, and their two small children.
KENSI: [Over com] Are they also in the States?
NELL: No. They were denied their visas.
DEEKS: [Over com] So why did Bakri come without them?
NELL: Because in 2010, Sudan's president, Hassan al-Bashir, declared the war in Darfur over.
ERIC: But over it was not.
[Bakri’s place]
NELL: [Over phone] Bashir signed a cease-fire agreement with one South Sudanese rebel group, only to attack another one. The violence never stopped.
[OPS center.]
ERIC: After that, Bakri took action. He wrote a letter of resignation to the university.
[Bakri’s place]
DEEKS: Saying he was cong to America in search of aid.
[OPS center.]
ERIC: Yeah, how did you know that?
KENSI: [Over com] Because Bakri kept his word.
[Bakri’s place]
KENSI: He's been writing letters to raise awareness for the conflict and help his displaced countrymen ever since.
DEEKS: But we don't know why he stopped.
[OPS center.]
ERIC: Actually, I think we do.
NELL: A month ago, another surge of violence displaced 50,000 more South Sudanese from their homes.
ERIC: Students in Khartoum staged a peaceful protest that turned extremely non-peaceful when police opened fire on them.
[Bakri’s place]
KENSI: Bakri's wife and children were killed.
DEEKS: And that's when he put down the pen and picked up a sword.
KENSI: So if this is about Darfur, why attack Los Angeles? And why kill a news reporter?
DEEKS: That's a damn good question…
[Boatshed. Interrogation room. Sam and G come back in]
SAM: How you holding up, Bakri? Need some water?
DENG: My name is Bakri Deng...
CALLEN: Bakri Deng, you're from South Sudan, you detonated the bomb.
SAM: And we know why. Bakri, I also have a family. Beautiful wife. Beautiful daughter. I'd do anything to protect them.
DENG: My name is Bakri Deng...
CALLEN: We read your letters. You tried to get our attention a different way. But after they killed your family, you had to yell louder.
DENG: I needed to make you listen.
CALLEN: We're listening now.
DENG: My people need water, food, protection. But you Americans--do you ever think about how blessed you are to be born here, and not a place where the fear of death is a part of everyday life?
SAM: Is that why you did this? To show us what that feels like?
DENG: I did what is done.
CALLEN: Bakri, what happened with the reporter?
DENG: I never intended to kill her. But when I went to her with the truth, she was so stubborn, so concerned about how it would make her look.
CALLEN: You went to her with proof that you were responsible for the bombing, and she wouldn't change her story?
DENG: Definitive proof. She wanted me to say I supported some other cause.
SAM: The JLF?
DENG: Yes.
CALLEN: [To Sam] She didn't want to admit she got it wrong.
SAM: And America needs to know that you, Bakri Deng from South Sudan, set off that bomb this morning.
DENG: Exactly. Exactly. Now you see. Now America has to intervene.
SAM: You got a point. It's worked before. Al Qaeda bombed our Twin Towers, we couldn't send troops to Afghanistan fast enough.
CALLEN: You believe that U.S. troops on the ground in South Sudan will end the conflict?
SAM: But the plan doesn't work if a reporter is saying someone else set off the bomb.
DENG: Which is why I had to make her change her story.
CALLEN: And it definitely doesn't work if she's dead, and the news cycle is still focused on the JLF.
SAM: Right. So you stage another attack. Bigger, bolder.
DENG: We have no choice.
CALLEN: You always have a choice, Bakri. Where are the other two cars?
[Bakri sighs]
SAM: You don't want any more blood on your hands. Stay the man your wife and kids loved.
DENG: What does it matter? They are gone.
SAM: But you're here. And it's up to you to decide if you're any different from the men who killed your family.
[Bakri hesitates]
DENG: The cars are going downtown. My roommates are taking them there.
CALLEN: Where?
DENG: The high-rise on the corner of Wilshire and Whitland.
SAM: That's where the State Department's Los Angeles field office is located.
CALLEN: You've been sending letters there.
[Bakri nods]
SAM: When is this happening?
DENG: Now.
[The agents jump on their feet and heads to the ddor]
DENG: You'll help me...in exchange for my cooperation?
SAM: You're Bakri Deng. You detonated the bomb.
CALLEN: You'll get the credit you want, just like you deserve.
[Bakri gets it right…]
[Observation room. Granger and Hetty are still here. G calls the OPS]
ERIC: [Over com] Go.
CALLEN: Eric, cars and explosives are headed to a high-rise at Wilshire and Whitland.
SAM: And call building security and tell them to evacuate.
CALLEN: It's a good thing it's Saturday.
ERIC: [Over com] Will do.
[OPS center. Eric and Nell are both typing on the computers]
ERIC: I'm also sending I.D. photos of Bakri's two roommates to your phones.
[Observation room.]
GRANGER: Get those to the FBI, LAPD and Homeland Security while you're at it.
NELL: [Over com] I'll tell Kensi and Deeks to meet you at the high-rise.
[G and Sam are already leaving]
HETTY: Gentlemen? Come back in one piece.
------------------ ZAPPING -----------------
[Californian state office building. The 2 agents’cars stop at the same time. They hurry out, meet at the entrance]
CALLEN: Talk to me, Eric. What do we got?
[OPS center.]
ERIC: The building has a closed-circuit security system.
[Building. The agents are in]
CALLEN: So we're going in blind?
ERIC: [Over com] Unfortunately, yes.
SAM: This building would meet earthquake codes, which means it rests on shock absorbers filled with oil. Flammable oil.
KENSI: Really? 85 pounds of HMX wasn't enough?
DEEKS: It's totally overkill.
KENSI: Eric, have you cleared the building?
ERIC: I tried. Security's shut down for the weekend, but the building should be empty.
DEEKS: Yeah, or not.
[He points at a sign: “Happy retirement Rodger – please proceed to the rooftop desk”]
CALLEN: You guys head to the roof just to be safe. Make sure it's clear. We'll head to the basement. If they know this is sitting on oil...
SAM: Maybe they moved the bombs there.
CALLEN: Hey. Just come back in one piece, all right?
[Kensi looks puzzled]
SAM: Sounded better when Hetty said it!
[Deeks smiles]
[Sam and G are in the garage]
SAM: G, over there. Copper Hyundai, gray Subaru.
CALLEN: Bomb squad?
SAM: No time.
CALLEN: Guess we got to risk it.
[He looks inside the Subaru estate through the windows, then under it]
CALLEN: This car looks clean. I don't see any bomb.
[Sam is near the Hyundai]
SAM: Door's unlocked. Pop the trunk. Easy, easy.
[G opens very carefully the door; Sam has a hand on the trunk to prevent it opening widely; Callen presses the button; the trunk clicks quietly]
SAM: Okay. Okay.
[He checks the trunk sides; opens it very slowly]
SAM: No wires. No switches. No device.
[There are just empty tubes of HMX in the trunk]
CALLEN: HMX is gone.
[Sam spots the door close to the cars: “Basement access”]
SAM: They already moved the bomb into the basement.
[They hurry there]
[Rooftop. A lot of people are at the on-going party…]
DEEKS: Oh, damn it. Why did Rodger have to be so popular?
KENSI: Callen, Sam, we have a situation. Party full of people that didn't get the memo.
CALLEN: [Over com] Copy.
DEEKS: Any sign of the roommates?
KENSI: No, I don't see them. Let's get these people out of here. Excuse me, you have to leave the building.
[Sam and G get the bottom of the stairs; a door has a sign “Seismic control room East”.]
SAM: That's got to be it.
[They go through 2 doors and sees a man]
CALLEN: Federal agents! Put your hands in the air! Back away from the device!
[The guy doesn’t move; he stares at them]
CALLEN: Bakri told us where to find you.
MAN: I don't believe you.
SAM: He sent us here to talk to you, to convince you not to go through with this.
MAN: Lies. It was Bakri who persuaded us that this is the only way.
CALLEN: But it's not.
SAM: Your people in your country need help, but bloodshed and terror aren't the answer. Don't stoop to their level, man.
CALLEN: Back away from the device.
SAM: It's time to walk away.
MAN: If I don't go through with this, it will all have been for nothing.
CALLEN: No. If you don't go through with this, it means you haven't turned into one of them.
[The man hesitates]
CALLEN: It's okay.
SAM: Put it down. Put it down. Slowly. Put it down.
[The guy puts it down and puts his hands up]
CALLEN: Come on. Come on.
SAM: Come on, buddy.
CALLEN: Right here. It's all good. Turn around. Put your hands behind your back.
[He cuffs him around a pole while Sam is watching the device]
CALLEN: Where's your roommate?
MAN: Other side of the building.
CALLEN: Get down. Down. Sam?
SAM: I got this.
[He’s working on defusing the bomb]
[Callen runs to the West room.]
CALLEN: Federal agent!
[The bomb is already ready; the guy is a litte further, setting the phone; he looks at the trigger]
CALLEN: Don't do it.
[The guy dives – G shoots before he could reach the trigger…Sam appears]
CALLEN: Guys, we're all secure.
KENSI: [Over com] Okay, copy that.
CALLEN: Hell of a day…
SAM: Yeah. Hell of a day...
[[NCIS office. By night. Callen finds an apple green paper and reads it]
CALLEN: Huh.
SAM: What is it?
CALLEN: Someone just left me a...love note.
SAM: Let me see that.
CALLEN: No, no, no, no, no.
SAM: Let me see it.
CALLEN: This is between me and my Juliet.
[Sam laughs; Deeks has also a green apple paper]
DEEKS: Not so fast, fair Romeo. Turns out, somebody, uh... somebody loves themselves some Deeks, too.
CALLEN: Yeah?
DEEKS: No!
[Deeks hides it- Kensi finds hers]
KENSI: And has a thing for intelligent brunettes.
[Sam hastily searches – and finds one paper too]
SAM: And really loves tall, dark, handsome men with razor-sharp wit.
DEEKS: Oh, you must have gotten mine.
SAM: No. It says, tall, dark and handsome.
DEEKS: Oh.
[Deeks chuckles; Eric and Nell are in the stairs, about to leave the bullpen]
NELL: Well, uh, good night, guys.
CALLEN: Night's not over yet, you two.
ERIC: It's not?
[Deeks shows his love-note]
DEEKS: Uh-huh.
CALLEN: When everything's on the line, like it was today, there's nobody I'd rather have by my side.
SAM: Amen.
CALLEN: Let's get a drink, huh?
SAM: Let's do it.
DEEKS: I could go for a beer.
KENSI: I could go for several.
NELL: Me, too.
DEEKS: Several? Such a lady.
KENSI: Lady is thirsty.
DEEKS: I was thinking you're more of like a...
[They leave, still chatting…Nell and Eric are waving their hands…]
GRANGER: They're quite a team, Henrietta.
[Granger and Hetty are in the mezzanine, looking at them]
HETTY: They're my '27 Yankees.
[The door closes]
GRANGER: Doesn't get any easier, does it? Sending them out each time, never knowing if they'll come back.
HETTY: They always come back, Owen.
[Dark screen]
HETTY: Until… one day they don't.
------------------- THE END ----------------------
