14x09 – Pay to Play
Navy base
Peter Alden: Duck hunting on a Navy base. That's a first for me.
Jenna Flemming: Tom's a retired admiral. No one's said no to him since... 1998?
Thomas Garscott: Only you, Jenna.
Jenna Flemming: True, but... I never say no to a hunt. Or a chance to beg for Mr. Alden's money.
Peter Alden: You don't mince words.
Jenna Flemming: Things get done faster if I say what I mean. I work hard for my constituents and their businesses.
Peter Alden: You were just reelected last month.
Jenna Flemming: So, I have less than 730 days to fund-raise.
Peter Alden: I don't usually write checks on the first hunt.
Thomas Garscott: Enough shop talk. Let's be in nature. Enjoy the peace and quiet.
Max Sanders: Oh, sorry, Congresswoman. You have that 10:00 in Georgetown.
Thomas Garscott: The modern world always finds us.
Max Sanders: Would you mind, just... Hold that for me? Thank you so much.
Thomas Garscott: Lord help me. I'm being assimilated.
Max Sanders: This app tracks everything I eat by scanning the product bar code. There we go. It's a mile hike back to the cars, and I need protein. Thank you.
Thomas Garscott: I prefer to get my protein the old-fashioned way.
Max Sanders: By the looks of your duck retriever, you're gonna starve.
Jenna Flemming: We are not going home empty-handed if I have anything to say about it.
Peter Alden: You serious?
Jenna Flemming: I didn't come here just to beg.
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Peter Alden: Who do I make that check out to?
Jenna Flemming:"Jenna Flemming for Congress"
Peter Alden: Hmm.
Jenna Flemming: We'll be in touch, boys.
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Max Sanders: There has got to be a more humane way to get donors.
Jenna Flemming: In D.C., three dead bodies is nothing. Elections aren't cheap.
Max Sanders: Congresswoman, can you enjoy the election we just won?
Jenna Flemming: Apparently not... Max!
Max Sanders: What? Oh, my God.
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NCIS: Squad room
Eleanor Bishop: Cheese, the bacon, the milk, the kale. Oh, actually, don't even get me started on the greens, because I had to throw them all away. Broken refrigerators are the worst.
Alexandra Quinn: Almost as bad as conversations about broken refrigerators.
Eleanor Bishop: I'm so starved.
Nicholas Torres: I'm so bored.
Alexandra Quinn: Bishop, what about your junk food? It should last, like, what? Ten or 30 years?
Eleanor Bishop: Quinn, I-I only have that at work.
Timothy McGee: Good morning.
Eleanor Bishop: Hey.
Timothy McGee: So, uh, Bishop, talk to me about the refrigerator situation. Lose any food or...
Alexandra Quinn: McGee, no!
Nicholas Torres: Come on!
Timothy McGee: What? Ellie? You okay?
Eleanor Bishop: I smell ketchup... And prawns.
Alexandra Quinn: Yeah?
Nicholas Torres: She's having a stroke.
Eleanor Bishop: It is a specific flavor of potato chip.
Clayton Reeves: Crisps! “Chips” are what Americans call French fries, which were actually invented in Belgium.
Eleanor Bishop: Clayton, when did you get here?
Timothy McGee: I thought you weren't coming till next week.
Eleanor Bishop: What, you knew about this?
Timothy McGee: Yeah, Gibbs told me. MI6 Intel Officer Reeves here, has been assigned to NCIS international desk.
Clayton Reeves: Great to see you all again.
Nicholas Torres: Wow. You're taller in person.
Clayton Reeves: Thank you.
Nicholas Torres: Yeah, on the MTAC screen, you're, like... That's a nice suit. You've been on a plane for nine hours?
Clayton Reeves: I pressed it at the hotel before I came into the office. Yes.
Eleanor Bishop: Ketchup-prawn are my favorite.
Clayton Reeves: Which is why I got you... Your own entire case, Ellie.
Eleanor Bishop: Oh, be still, my sodium-starved heart.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Eat 'em in the car. We got a death threat in Dahlgren.
Eleanor Bishop: Well, if Reeves is with us, should we take a third vehicle?
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: No, not today.
Leon Vance: Agent Reeves is here to assist your team as needed. But right now, he and I need to discuss a few things regarding the transition.
Clayton Reeves: Am I in trouble already?
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Welcome to NCIS.
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Navy base
Nicholas Torres: And they say “write your congressman.”
Eleanor Bishop: Flemming's district is in Maryland farm country, but I've heard of her. Filibustered last year for veterans' health care and is on a military appropriations committee.
Nicholas Torres:She pays our salary?
Eleanor Bishop: Well, not exactly, but from what I understand, she's one of the good ones. Everybody likes her.
Nicholas Torres: Not everybody.
Alexandra Quinn: Well, the prints on the door handle are totally unusable.
Timothy McGee: Base security says that there is no cameras or checkpoints out here. So it could've been anyone with access to the base.
Nicholas Torres: Our jurisdiction. It's a shame we can't do more to catch this guy.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: We can and we will.
Nicholas Torres: It's not like we're gonna autopsy a rat... No.
Timothy McGee: NCIS has to take the threat seriously. If we don't...
Alexandra Quinn: They turn into actions.
Eleanor Bishop: They turn into actions.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Damn right.
Nicholas Torres: I'm sure that's one of your rules, Gibbs, but the congresswoman is not taking this seriously. She's not even here to talk.
Max Sanders: Uh, she had a 10:00 a.m. Meeting in Georgetown. Max Sanders, Congresswoman Flemming's personal aide.
Nicholas Torres: My point exactly.
Max Sanders: Actually, it might be better that she's not here. I can finally tell someone the truth. Miss Flemming wouldn't let me go to the FBI.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Go to the FBI? What for?
Max Sanders: These threats.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: It wasn't the first one?
Max Sanders: First dead body, so to speak. They started as social media threats, then phone calls, letters. Then you start seeing the same angry faces at campaign events.
Timothy McGee: It's escalating.
Max Sanders: Enough to keep records.
Timothy McGee: There's got to be 50 names here, at least.
Max Sanders: And those are just the repeat offenders. But look, you did not get that from me. If my boss finds out...
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NCIS: Director's office
Jenna Flemming: Where does NCIS get off? Ten years on the Hill... I think I know how to handle myself and my safety. If I blow the whistle on a rat, I look weak. "Poor scared woman can't handle the pressure." Perceptions cost elections.
Frank: Now you see what you're in for, huh?
Leon Vance: Thanks, Frank. NCIS will be glad to take the lead. It will be a pleasure to work with the congresswoman. Representative Flemming, nice to see you again.
Jenna Flemming: Director Vance, was that the FBI?
Leon Vance: Yes.
Jenna Flemming: I assume your overzealous involvement has nothing to do with the appropriations bill you and the Navy want me to vote for next month. Your concern for my welfare is touching, but I can't be bought.
Leon Vance: You've made that clear the last three years that I've presented reports to your committee.
Jenna Flemming: Jenna Flemming. U.S. Congress.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Special Agent Gibbs.
Jenna Flemming: Agent Gibbs, I know you are just trying to do your job, but my aide overstepped his bounds, reads too much Internet.
Leon Vance: These threats are violent. With regard to everything from gun control to minimum wage, you've made enemies on both sides.
Jenna Flemming: Well, if you don't, you aren't working hard enough.
Leon Vance: But someone got close this time. They knew where you were. They got on base.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: It took planning and it took commitment.
Jenna Flemming: I just don't want this to become a federal case.
Leon Vance: It already has.
Jenna Flemming: Director, it's my life.
Leon Vance: And we're gonna protect it... You're welcome.
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NCIS: Squad room
Eleanor Bishop: Representative Jenna Flemming of Maryland's ninth district. Started in local politics when she ran for school board president. Was elected to the state senate three times before setting her sights on the U.S. House of Representatives.
Alexandra Quinn: Oh, she can't sit still, can't shut up. Gets things done.
Eleanor Bishop: Yeah, why would anyone want to kill her?
Timothy McGee: Can't imagine. We only offered to walk her to her car, she practically tore our heads off.
Alexandra Quinn: I'm liking this woman.
Eleanor Bishop: Well, she once voted in favor of a gun control law wearing full hunting gear on the House floor.
Timothy McGee: In order to?
Eleanor Bishop: To show that the Second Amendment and reason are not mutually exclusive.
Nicholas Torres: Sounds like a political stunt to me.
Alexandra Quinn: Or it shows character.
Timothy McGee: Let's leave politics out of the office.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Unless it gives us answers. Who wants our politician dead?
Eleanor Bishop: Been narrowing the list of repeat offenders. Two names stand out.
Alexandra Quinn: First one is Simon Lee. Creator of an online message board dedicated to "exposing the true heritage and ancestry of elected leaders."
Eleanor Bishop: Claims Congresswoman Flemming is a descendent of Attila the Hun, which she actually is.
Nicholas Torres: Ruthless nationalism should be a plus to this guy.
Alexandra Quinn: Yeah, but he uses it as an excuse to get angry and form protests, some of which have gotten really violent.
Timothy McGee: Except Lee's not our rat killer. He was arrested for stalking a judge... Still in jail.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Next name.
Alexandra Quinn: All right, uh, BurnTheWitches1692.
Eleanor Bishop: Anonymous username on the same message board. Seems to be Lee's right hand and mouthpiece.
Alexandra Quinn: And he wrote a post last week calling Flemming a “gutless ra”" for not publicly denouncing the Huns.
Nicholas Torres: The real security threat.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: That's it?
Eleanor Bishop: Uh, Quinn and I have about ten more names to dig into.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Then go. Do it. McGee, track the witches.
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Nicholas Torres: Hey.
Alexandra Quinn: Oh, must be working on something big... That was fast.
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NCIS: Autopsy room
Donald Mallard: A skull, a cloaked figure wielding a scythe... All symbols of impending death.
James Palmer: And as if a dead rat with a large cut down its center wasn't clear enough, our culprit felt the need to literally spell this one out for us.
Donald Mallard: Well, the note was tied around the little fella's neck with a bosun's knot.
James Palmer: Another symbol?
Donald Mallard: Or the person who tied it has training in marlinspike seamanship.
James Palmer: Rope work?
Donald Mallard: Yep.
James Palmer: Navy training?
Donald Mallard: Well, perhaps. Or maybe just experience in and around boats.
James Palmer: The congresswoman does have strong Navy ties and votes on the appropriations committee. So... Navy knot?
Donald Mallard: Navy threat? Well, is our friend here ready for autopsy?
James Palmer: Well... He came ready.
Donald Mallard: Oh, the cut along the abdomen?
James Palmer: Yeah, I don't think it was the cause of death. Someone already did our job for us.
Donald Mallard: Oh. Missing all internal organs.
James Palmer: This is a literal gutless rat.
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McGee's Car
Nicholas Torres: You are a magician.
Timothy McGee: Well, uh, no magic needed. No, just... You know, most people use the same avatar on multiple Web sites, you know, so I just tracked BurnTheWitches1692 to another site with more personal details, and ran into a name: Amy Barrett.
Nicholas Torres: Internet is the devil, man. And, apparently, so is Miss Barrett.
Timothy McGee: Principal says she's taking an after-school driver's ed class.
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Car
Amy Barrett: Oh!
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McGee's Car
Nicholas Torres: Satan takes many forms, my friend.
Timothy McGee: Hey, listen, uh, I was gonna tell you about Reeves coming in to NCIS. Sorry if that was kind of a surprise.
Nicholas Torres: Okay.
Timothy McGee: I just, you know, I know what it's like. Two alpha men trying to prove their manhood, you know?
Nicholas Torres: You see right through me, Tim.
Timothy McGee: No, I understand. I mean, I went through the same thing with Tony, you know.
Nicholas Torres: Right.
Timothy McGee: Yeah.
Nicholas Torres: Oh, here comes our car.
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Car
Amy Barrett: Crap... Fuzz.
Big Ed: What?
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Parking
Amy Barrett: Hey, no fair! Take your foot off the brake!
Nicholas Torres: Take your foot off the pedal. You okay, sir?
Big Ed: I stare death in the face every day.
Timothy McGee: Amy, hands on the wheel. Ten and two, please.
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NCIS: Interrogation room
Alexandra Quinn: Okay, well, heard about the high-speed getaway. Uh, what was the next part of the plan, take Big Ed hostage?
Mary Barrett: My daughter's very sorry. She just wasn't thinking.
Alexandra Quinn: What about the threats to Congresswoman Flemming?
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Were you thinking then, Amy?
Mary Barrett: Wait, what threats? What did you do?
Amy Barrett: You were politically active when you were my age.
Mary Barrett: I peacefully protested animal cruelty in the meat industry.
Alexandra Quinn: Hmm.
Mary Barrett: Amy Lynn Barrett!
Amy Barrett: I-I didn't do that.
Mary Barrett: Oh...
Alexandra Quinn: "The country is going to hell in a handbasket. A basket carried by gutless rats fresh off the boat from some country, not America. Someone should sent Attila the Flemming a clear message."
Amy Barrett: It was an ethnogenesis joke. If these people knew anything about world history, they'd be the first ones to praise Attila for his ruthless nationalism.
Mary Barrett: You're not helping yourself, Ame.
Amy Barrett: You're the one who's yelling at the news every night, Mom. About how hateful morons live in the shadows, easily manipulated by rhetoric... I was just proving your point.
Alexandra Quinn: Well, your rhetoric may have inspired someone to act.
Amy Barrett: Then arrest them. I'm just shedding light in great darkness.
Mary Barrett: Well, so much for free-range parenting.
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NCIS: break room
Jenna Flemming: Why did you call me back in here? I was in the middle of a nice piece of halibut downtown.
Leon Vance: I strongly suggested you stay indoors, on government property, where security was present.
Jenna Flemming: I considered it, but abstained.
Leon Vance: You're not making my job easier.
Jenna Flemming: You're in an appointed position. Your job couldn't get easier. Do you have any idea how much work I would get done if I didn't have to win elections?
Leon Vance: To help us narrow the list, I'm gonna need your cell phone and your laptop.
Jenna Flemming: From my cold, dead hands.
Leon Vance: I'm trying to avoid that.
Jenna Flemming: My front door. You've been to my house?
Leon Vance: Not us. One of the people on the list. They posted the photo online. There are more, if you want.
Jenna Flemming: If I pay too much attention to the negative voices, it gives them power.
Leon Vance: You can't ignore them.
Jenna Flemming: Thank you. Really. But your services are not needed... Oh. Must be you this time.
Leon Vance: Yeah, Gibbs... Brighton, Maryland?
Jenna Flemming: That's in my district.
Leon Vance: We'll meet you there.
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Motel: pool
Eleanor Bishop: Thank you for this info. Hey. Uh, motel owner I.D.'d the body as one of the guests: Max Sanders. Congresswoman's aide.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: All right.
Jenna Flemming: Oh, my God.
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Timothy McGee: I got a wound on the head over here. Doubt it's from a swimming accident.
Eleanor Bishop: Yeah, in December?
Timothy McGee: Well, Max Sanders lives in Alexandria. What's he doing all the way out here in Brighton, Maryland, in a motel room? It's practically in the middle of nowhere.
Eleanor Bishop: Well, it's the congresswoman's district. She's pretty upset.
Timothy McGee: Well, guess it's getting pretty real now. Victim's got family in Wisconsin and a girlfriend coming in to NCIS.
Eleanor Bishop: Ugh!
Timothy McGee: You find something?
Eleanor Bishop: Yeah, a used condom and a dead bird.
Timothy McGee: Think they're related?
Eleanor Bishop: To each other?
Timothy McGee: To the case.
Eleanor Bishop: No, but this might be... Victim's cell phone.
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Motel: hallway
Nicholas Torres: Yeah, I talked to every guest who would answer the door. Nobody's willing to admit they saw or heard anything unusual. I have the registry, but...
Fern Robbins: Well, I heard something. I was just getting some ice, and I couldn't help but overhear.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: You have information, ma'am?
Fern Robbins: I heard shouting between two men. And I opened my hotel door, and I saw a car just take off out of the parking lot... Oh... I'll be right there, Rodney. Champagne still needs to chill... He's my accountant.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: You remember anything about the car?
Fern Robbins: Um, red Lincoln, or maybe a Caddy.
Nicholas Torres: You remember what time it was?
Fern Robbins: I wasn't paying much attention. I was in the middle of an audit.
Nicholas Torres: Mm-hmm.
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NCIS: Squad room
Clayton Reeves: May I help you?
Alexandra Quinn: Just passing through.
Clayton Reeves: I meant with the case. Director Vance was done with me, asked me to check in with "Team Gibbs."
Alexandra Quinn: Is he still with the congresswoman?
Clayton Reeves: The director's taking a personal interest.
Alexandra Quinn: Oh, well, Flemming votes on Navy funding, so...
Clayton Reeves: I'm getting a sense it's something else.
Alexandra Quinn: Mm.
Clayton Reeves: So, what do you know?
Alexandra Quinn: Max Sanders' motel room was clean. No blood, no murder weapon...
Clayton Reeves: No help.
Alexandra Quinn: Well, records show that the victim has been staying at the motel on and off for the past month.
Clayton Reeves: Job-related?
Alexandra Quinn: Good question.
Laurie Perkins: And I can answer it.
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NCIS: Conference room
Laurie Perkins: Yeah, Max and I had been dating for a few weeks, but there was something there. He was a great guy. Funny, if a little fastidious. His word, but I call it "picky." Food, clothing, hygiene. He was supposed to meet me for lunch, but he didn't show up. And he didn't return my texts. I was finishing up with an open house when I got the call from NCIS.
Alexandra Quinn: So you're a real estate agent?
Laurie Perkins: Yeah.
Alexandra Quinn: Did Max have any, uh, problems or talk about any enemies?
Laurie Perkins: Yeah... His boss.
Alexandra Quinn: You think the congresswoman had something to do with this?
Laurie Perkins: I-I don't know, but she had him working on a secret project... Do you think that's what got him killed?
Alexandra Quinn: Wh-What kind of secret project?
Laurie Perkins: I don't know. I don't know the details. But you'd have to ask Miss Flemming.
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NCIS: Director's office
Jenna Flemming: People get nervous when you talk about base closures.
Leon Vance: Closing a base disrupts a lot of lives, military and civilian.
Jenna Flemming: The relationship between a military base and the town it borders is significant. For the town, it's economic. For the Navy, it's morale. A tie to normal life, a place to call home. It's one of the hardest things I have to do.
Leon Vance: So you research.
Jenna Flemming: Yes. And then we research more.
Leon Vance: Hmm.
Jenna Flemming: That's what Max was working on.
Leon Vance: Brighton Naval Base. Closing it would make a lot of people angry.
Jenna Flemming: But the fact that it was even up for consideration was never made public.
Leon Vance: Which way was it leaning?
Jenna Flemming: It's become clear the base is less vital. Despite the fact that it's in my district, I have to advocate closure.
Leon Vance: Weighing facts over political fallout. You are the last of a rare breed.
Jenna Flemming: Yeah, the dodos.
Leon Vance: Someone apparently found out.
Jenna Flemming: Max knew not to say what he was really working on. He was always smarter than me. I didn't win those elections, we did... I never told him that.
Leon Vance: Jenna...
Jenna Flemming: I don't expect you to understand the battles we fight on a daily basis or the personal sacrifices.
Leon Vance: If Max was doing research, he would have had a source... Who's the last person he spoke with?
Jenna Flemming: Jed Hamilton. He owns a few businesses and knows everyone in Brighton. He's the de facto mayor.
Leon Vance: Thank you. And I am going to arrange for an overnight security detail.
Jenna Flemming: That's unfortunate.
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NCIS: hallway
Eleanor Bishop: Morning, Gibbs.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Ellie.
Eleanor Bishop: So I did some digging into the name Director Vance gave us.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Jed Hamilton.
Eleanor Bishop: Mm-hmm. Married. No kids. The town's mayor and biggest champion. Everything Flemming says checks out.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Except?
Eleanor Bishop: No exception. Just an addition. Jed Hamilton drives a red Cadillac. Could be the car seen at the motel.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Bring him in.
Eleanor Bishop: On it.
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NCIS: autopsy room
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Duck?
Donald Mallard: Jethro.
James Palmer: Jimmy.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: What do we got?
James Palmer: Max Sanders... Treated his body as a temple. He had regular meals, regular exercise... A man after my own heart. Lots of Self Love. That's a protein bar that was actually his last meal. Self Love Peanut Butter Blitz. Not my favorite. I actually much prefer... That-that you never look at me like that again.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Then tell me why's he dead.
Donald Mallard: It was not the blunt-force trauma to the head. While it was hardy enough to fracture the parietal bone, it was not fatal.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Hell of a headache.
Donald Mallard: Yeah, well, he would've suffered severe disorientation and confusion. As a result, he may not have realized the extent of the damage.
James Palmer: Maybe he tried to walk it off.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: And he walked into a pool?
James Palmer: His lungs were filled with water, so he was alive when he took the dive.
Donald Mallard: Already dizzy, he-he panicked. With every breath, he sucked in water instead of air and drowned.
James Palmer: So it was an accidental death... Kind of.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: You got a time?
Donald Mallard: Well, oddly enough, the blow to the head occurred one hour before death.
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Hamiltons's house: garage
Alexandra Quinn: Federal agents... Mr. Hamilton?
Eleanor Bishop: House is empty. Wife's in Martha's Vineyard with family.
Alexandra Quinn: It's BOLO time for Mr. Town Mayor and his, uh, red Cadillac.
Eleanor Bishop: Already on it.
Alexandra Quinn: Okay, now this is a kind of boat you can get out of a basement. Gibbs should take notes. Ooh. Gibbs should not take notes... Hmm.
Eleanor Bishop: I think I went to high school with that girl. Good for her.
Alexandra Quinn: Hmm.
Eleanor Bishop: Oh. McGee wants to know if there's anything else to add to the BOLO. How about this guy's fetish for boats and bikinis?
Alexandra Quinn: Oh! And rats.
Eleanor Bishop: Plural?
Alexandra Quinn: Where there's one...
Eleanor Bishop: Looks like one's missing.
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NCIS: Abby's lab
Abigael Scuito: So, the blood work shows that the rats from the freezer match the rat from Congresswoman Flemming's car.
Clayton Reeves: All courtesy of Jed Hamilton. Brighton town father.
Abigael Scuito: And who's still missing.
Clayton Reeves: His car was spotted fleeing the motel where the congresswoman's aide was murdered.
Nicholas Torres: Max Sanders... 32, only child, Madison, Wisconsin.
Clayton Reeves: Graduated from Northwestern Law, '07. Started working for Flemming in '09. I also read the case file.
Abigael Scuito: Um, so Clayton just stopped by to say hi, so I was giving him a rundown.
Nicholas Torres: Oh, I thought that's why you called me.
Clayton Reeves: I didn't mean to step on any toes, pal. Keep your shirt on. A shirt you clearly slept in.
Nicholas Torres: Oh, that's because it's so soft. Is that the same suit as yesterday?
Abigael Scuito: Okay, so, moving on. These rats should be covered in an American flag.
Nicholas Torres: Why?
Abigael Scuito: Because they're Navy rats.
Clayton Reeves: Officers or enlisted?
Abigael Scuito: All their internal organs are missing, but it appears they died of natural causes. Blood work shows very high levels of a protein called IL-33.
Clayton Reeves: What is that?
Abigael Scuito: It's a protein that's being lab tested in the treatment of Alzheimer's patients.
Nicholas Torres: At a Navy lab?
Abigael Scuito: The only lab recently engaging in such studies is the John G. Roeper Lab on Brighton Naval Base.
Nicholas Torres: Yeah, that's the base up for closure.
Clayton Reeves: Good work, Abby.
Nicholas Torres: Drink mine. Mine is 30 seconds fresher.
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John G. Roeper Lab: hallway
Nicholas Torres: NCIS. Abby said we're looking for Carlton Laymer. H-He runs the lab.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: There gonna be a problem between you and Reeves?
Nicholas Torres: D-Did Abby call you? Come on, man. I was just being funny and charming.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Hmm.
Nicholas Torres: You know. Funny.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Federal agents!
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John G. Roeper Lab: room
Nicholas Torres: This is exactly how a zombie movie starts. Where are the scientists? I don't like this.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: NCIS.
Carlton Laymer: I thought it was sanitation services messing with me.
Nicholas Torres: Where's everybody?
Carlton Laymer: Lunch?
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Carlton Laymer: Our study ended last month. Navy personnel were transferred. Civilians were let go.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Except you.
Carlton Laymer: Someone has to finish with the reports. And the subjects.
Nicholas Torres: The rats?
Carlton Laymer: As they pass away from natural causes, I remove and catalog the organs for future study. We applied for a continuation, but the funds were denied. Truth be told, there are bigger labs that are better equipped.
Nicholas Torres: You don't sound upset.
Carlton Laymer: Part of the job. Why?
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Well, someone didn't take it so well. They came from this lab.
Nicholas Torres: And there aren't many other people here to, uh, blame for a murder.
Carlton Laymer: No, no, no. This wasn't me... And it wasn't Jed.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Jed Hamilton?
Carlton Laymer: Small base, small town. We go bowling every now and then. He owns the bar next door. I had mentioned to him that our continuation funds had been denied.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: And he took that as a bad sign?
Carlton Laymer: Yeah. Especially since some congressional aide had been asking him questions. He put two and two together... Jed was angry. H-He said he wanted to send a message.
Nicholas Torres: So you gave him dead rats?
Carlton Laymer: One bag. When the mayor asks for rats, you give him rats. I didn't think he'd actually do it.
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NCIS: Squad room
Alexandra Quinn: Still no sign of Jed Hamilton. BOLO's out on all transportation hubs. If he's running, we'll know.
Timothy McGee: Abby's trying to revive Max Sanders' watery cell phone, but we found his laptop in the motel room.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Files?
Timothy McGee: Intact, including all of Max's research on the town and base. Look at this, boss. Beltway Burgers just opened a franchise in Brighton. Also, a new fitness center is going in.
Alexandra Quinn: Everything was looking up. For both the town and Mr. Hamilton.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Keep digging.
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NCIS: hallway
Alexandra Quinn: Um... Question.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Why, do you got something to add?
Alexandra Quinn: Uh, not about the case. Is, uh, Reeves here to work on Operation Willoughby? Operation got delayed six months ago because the Navy came to FLETC looking for recruits... But no one was willing to sign up.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Yeah. Until now.
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NCIS: hallway
Jenna Flemming: I finally connected with Max's parents. I said before that your job was easier, but... I never stopped to consider that you make those kind of calls on a regular basis.
Leon Vance: Well, it comes with the chair.
Jenna Flemming: I also said you don't understand personal sacrifice... I wasn't thinking about your wife.
Leon Vance: Well, it's been a few years ago now.
Jenna Flemming: I'm sorry... I made a mistake... You want to know a little Beltway secret?
Leon Vance: Hmm?
Jenna Flemming: You're well liked on the Hill. In your addresses to the committee, you say what you mean.
Leon Vance: Am I being sweet-talked?
Jenna Flemming: About my security detail...
Leon Vance: It stays.
Jenna Flemming: Uh, I'd hope so. But would you please give me people I can talk to?
Leon Vance: You didn't like Agents Prescott and Friedkin?
Jenna Flemming: Is "mouth-breather" too harsh?
----------
NCIS: break room
Clayton Reeves: Damn euros.
Nicholas Torres: Here, let me get that for you, man.
Clayton Reeves: Cheers.
Nicholas Torres: Hey, uh, we have been just messing with each other, right?
Clayton Reeves: Part of our charming repartee, yeah.
Nicholas Torres: Right. Right, so why does everybody think we're gonna fight or something? Can't two physical specimens be in the same room?
Clayton Reeves: I know.
Nicholas Torres: Yeah.
Clayton Reeves: It's ridiculous.
Nicholas Torres: It's ridiculous.
Clayton Reeves: But we are gonna fight one day.
Nicholas Torres: We have to. I mean, to see who's better.
Clayton Reeves: Of course. Right.
Nicholas Torres: Of course.
Leon Vance: Agents Torres and Reeves. When you two physical specimens are done, I have a job for you.
----------
Car
Clayton Reeves: Airline said my luggage was rerouted to Amsterdam, but should be here in a few days.
Nicholas Torres: So that is the suit from yesterday?
Clayton Reeves: You're the only one who noticed.
Nicholas Torres: It's all good, man. It's all good. I totally understand. And, uh, if you need anything, like clothes or anything like that, I got your back. Hey, uh, how much you bench, man?
Jenna Flemming: Gentlemen... Can I go home now?
----------
Street
Clayton Reeves: Hold up, Nick. Mayor's red Cadillac.
Jed Hamilton: It's Jed Hamilton.
Clayton Reeves: Are you expecting visitors?
Jed Hamilton: We got to talk!
Jenna Flemming: No.
Jed Hamilton: Hey!
Nicholas Torres: Get back in the car.
Jed Hamilton: You hear me? Open up!
----------
Jenna Flemming's house: porch
Jed Hamilton: Open up!
Clayton Reeves: Hi... How can I help you? NCIS. You been drinking a little bit tonight, Mr. Hamilton?
Jed Hamilton: Drinking a lot. And... I'm thinking, too.
Clayton Reeves: Dangerous combination. Please, put your hands up.
Jed Hamilton: Wait, wait, wait... Hey!
Clayton Reeves: Come here... Just a note... Nice move, mate.
Nicholas Torres: Can't do that in a suit.
----------
NCIS: Interrogation room
Jed Hamilton: I am... I'm so sorry.
Alexandra Quinn: Yep, you say that in your note. Uh, I think. It's kind of sloppy.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Come to finish what you started?
Jed Hamilton: No, I-I just... Just like the note says, I went to apologize for the rat.
Alexandra Quinn: And for killing Max Sanders?
Jed Hamilton: No. Wait, is this about the motel? Look, I-I only went to talk to him. I mean, the bastard lied about what he was doing in my town! I just wanted to hear the truth.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: So do we.
Jed Hamilton: The base is on the chopping block. You have any idea what a base closure can do to a small town like Brighton? It-it's a... It's a symbiotic relationship. When one dies, so does the other.
Alexandra Quinn: Ever black out when you drink, Mr. Hamilton? Lose track of time or what you've done?
Jed Hamilton: No. Look, I may have been drunk, but I'm sure he was alive when I left.
Alexandra Quinn: But you did hit him.
----------
NCIS: hallway
Alexandra Quinn: Nice way around the rules.
Eleanor Bishop: You remember the posters in Jed's garage? Turns out he likes the real thing, too. Left his driver's license at a strip club called Below Deck, just outside the Navy base.
Alexandra Quinn: Symbiotic relationship.
Eleanor Bishop: Dancer found it between the cushions in the VIP lounge. She confirmed Jed was there during the time of the attack.
Alexandra Quinn: So he's a pervy?
Eleanor Bishop: Yes. And a drunk, but not our killer.
----------
NCIS: Squad room
Eleanor Bishop: FBI is downstairs to arrest Jed Hamilton, pending criminal-threat charges.
Alexandra Quinn: That solves the rat, but not the murder. It's way too early to be back at square one.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Couldn't agree more.
Timothy McGee: Boss, we kept digging into those who specifically stood to lose the most if the base closes.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Other than Jed Hamilton?
Timothy McGee: The biggest deal on the books is Drax Commercial Properties.
Eleanor Bishop: They build apartments and housing developments.
Timothy McGee: Including a $40 million subdivision that's supposed to go up in Brighton.
Eleanor Bishop: These are escrow statements.
Timothy McGee: Deal hasn't closed yet.
Eleanor Bishop: Meaning Drax can get the money back. No houses have been built, so there's no loss.
Timothy McGee: A deal that big, somebody had to lose something.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Who's selling the land?
Timothy McGee: Nobody, boss. Looked into that. Owned by the city.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: I'm talking about the sales agent.
Alexandra Quinn: Well, the real estate agent who brokered the deal stands to lose a hefty commission.
Timothy McGee: It wasn't just commission on the land. Local real estate company negotiated exclusive rights to all the new housing sales.
Alexandra Quinn: I mean, it's two and a half percent of $40 million.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: A lot of motive.
Timothy McGee: Boss, company is owned by Laurie Perkins.
Alexandra Quinn: The girlfriend. But we don't have anything tying her to the murder.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Where is she now?
----------
House
Nicholas Torres: I like your other place better. Why are we here?
Jenna Flemming: I just want to pay my condolences.
Nicholas Torres: All right, five minutes. Or you can take as long as you like.
Laurie Perkins: Well, Congresswoman Flemming. I had no idea you were coming.
Jenna Flemming: A last-minute stop, Miss Perkins. Can we have a moment?
Nicholas Torres: Uh, sure. Only because I smell fresh cookies.
Laurie Perkins: Oh, freshly baked in a newly renovated kitchen.
Nicholas Torres: Boom.
Laurie Perkins: Mm-hmm... Well, after everything that's happened, it is so nice to see a friendly face.
Jenna Flemming: Mm, of course. But I'm not going to be one... Max and I were good friends. We talked a lot. He told me he'd been seeing someone that he met during his research at Brighton.
Laurie Perkins: Miss Flemming, that was...
Jenna Flemming: I didn't make anything of it until I checked my schedule for next week. Max had me attending a ground-breaking at that new housing development. I checked. That's your baby.
Laurie Perkins: Yeah. So what are you saying?
Jenna Flemming: I always say what I mean... Did you kill Max?
Laurie Perkins: I think you should leave right now.
Jenna Flemming: You didn't answer the question.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: NCIS.
Jenna Flemming: Agent Gibbs. What a surprise.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Yes. Likewise.
Jenna Flemming: Since you're here, why don't you arrest this woman.
Laurie Perkins: Wait, what the hell is going on right now?
Nicholas Torres: Yeah, good question.
----------
NCIS: Observation room
Leon Vance: What the hell were you thinking?
Jenna Flemming: That Laurie Perkins killed Max.
Leon Vance: So you confronted her yourself?
Jenna Flemming: I was tired of sitting in orange rooms.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Let us do our job.
Jenna Flemming: I was trying to get her to talk. And then she went for her bag. What was inside?
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: There was no weapon. There was a phone.
Leon Vance: We have nothing to tie this woman to the murder. Nothing at all except motive. And normally we would use that as leverage to blindside her in interrogation.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Now we can't.
Leon Vance: You have played our only card!
----------
NCIS: Abby's lab
Timothy McGee: Abby...
Abigael Scuito: Don't ask!
Timothy McGee: Do you have anything to tie Laurie Perkins in to the murder?
Abigael Scuito: No, and I'm running out of places to look. There's nothing from the motel room, there's nothing from the pool, except for the victim's phone.
Timothy McGee: You get it working?
Abigael Scuito: Yes, but there's no texts, no e-mails, nothing that'll help.
Timothy McGee: Okay, what about GPS or biometrics?
Abigael Scuito: Wait.
Timothy McGee: What?
Abigael Scuito: What's "Self Love?"
----------
NCIS: Observation room
Laurie Perkins: I told you, I was at lunch waiting for Max.
Alexandra Quinn: And what time was that again?
----------
NCIS: Interrogation room
Laurie Perkins: I don't remember. Is that a crime?
----------
NCIS: Observation room
Jenna Flemming: I'm sorry, Director... Agent Gibbs...
Abigael Scuito: 210 calories, 20 grams of protein and nine carbs.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: What, Abbs?
Abigael Scuito: It's the nutritional data for a Self Love protein bar. I got the information off Kalorie Kapture.
Leon Vance: Okay, you're gonna have to explain that.
Abigael Scuito: It's an app where you take pictures of your food to keep track of your diet. By taking a picture of his last meal, our victim solved his own murder... Look closer.
----------
NCIS: Interrogation room
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Those are your fingers.
Alexandra Quinn: Nice nail color. What is that, Sassy Clown or Blushing Rooster?
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Check the time stamp.
Alexandra Quinn: It's 1:05 p.m.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: That's his lunch. You held it up for him.
Alexandra Quinn: You were at the motel at the time of the attack.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: You overheard the mayor arguing with Max about the base closing. It's the first you ever heard about it.
Alexandra Quinn: So, you confronted him and you tried to get Max to change his mind.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: Max wouldn't do that, would he?
Laurie Perkins: It was an accident. Okay? I hit him, but-but he was okay. He walked away... I want a lawyer. Now.
----------
NCIS: Squad room
Eleanor Bishop: Mmm. These chips are the greatest.
Clayton Reeves: They're called crisps, Ellie. Crisps.
Timothy McGee: What are we looking at?
Clayton Reeves: Uh... I had to borrow some of Nick's clothes.
Eleanor Bishop: Hmm.
Nicholas Torres: What? He needed clothes. Hey, we're going to the gym if you guys want to join.
Timothy McGee: Yeah, I'm okay. I do yoga at home.
Eleanor Bishop: Do I smell a... A budding bromance?
Clayton Reeves: What?
Nicholas Torres: You call it bromance, I call it trouble.
Eleanor Bishop: Oh.
Clayton Reeves: I'm just gonna get my phone.
Nicholas Torres: All right.
Clayton Reeves: I'll meet you down there, mate.
----------
Alexandra Quinn: Hey.
Clayton Reeves: Hey.
Alexandra Quinn: It's, uh, nice to see you getting settled in here.
Clayton Reeves: Hardly.
Alexandra Quinn: Can I ask you, did you, um, volunteer for a Navy operation called Willoughby? I mean, they were only looking for recruits that were willing to take risks, you know? It's like a... Suicide mission.
Clayton Reeves: I know what I signed up for. I have my reasons.
Leroy Jehtro Gibbs: So... You want to talk?
----------
NCIS: Director's office
Jenna Flemming: There are a few manufacturing firms looking to lay down roots in the area. If Brighton closes, it might be a good fit.
Leon Vance: You ever stop working?
Jenna Flemming: I'll stop when you stop.
Leon Vance: I'm pouring drinks. I'm done.
Jenna Flemming: No, you're not... You never answered why you took such a personal interest in me.
Leon Vance: Well, it has... Nothing to do with your appropriations vote.
Jenna Flemming: No. It was because of your wife... Jackie Vance started a nonprofit organization six years ago, a domestic violence shelter. It's been without a chairperson since her passing.
Leon Vance: You do your research.
Jenna Flemming: So do you... I can't take the position. I made a deal with the good people of the ninth district to focus 100% of my efforts on them. But I do have some friends.
Leon Vance: Well, I would love to hear about them.
Jenna Flemming: Over... Drinks in your musty office?
Leon Vance: Okay... How about a quiet dinner?
Jenna Flemming: Took you long enough to ask, Leon.
Leon Vance: Yeah, it's politics.
Jenna Flemming: Mm-hmm.
Leon Vance: Give or take. Sushi or Italian?
Jenna Flemming: I hate sushi.
Leon Vance: Italian it is.
Jenna Flemming: Done. But I'm paying.
Leon Vance: Mm.
