14x15 – Pandora's Box (part 1)
Arena: maintenance room
Officer: Freeze! Metro police... Oh, my God. Get the bomb squad down here.
Security guard: Yes, sir. Dispatch, this is Metro...
Officer: Release the balloon... Turn around, terrorist bastard.
Abigael Scuito: Aristotle banana split.
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NCIS: Abby's lab - past
Abigael Scuito: I would never release a deadly gas into a crowded arena.
Earl Goddard: Actually, it's just the VIP suite.
Abigael Scuito: What?
Earl Goddard: You would be planning and executing a sarin gas attack on the VIP suites. That's the game.
Abigael Scuito: You're not helping yourself here, Earl.
Earl Goddard: I-It's a simulation. A-A test of security. Intelligence chatter mentioned something about terror groups with sarin. So I hire thinkers to brainstorm and carry out plans to identify our weaknesses. You'll be providing a great service to the Department of Homeland Security.
Abigael Scuito: Earl, how many think tank operations have you executed in the past few years?
Earl Goddard: 20-ish.
Abigael Scuito: And I've turned you down 20-ish times.
Earl Goddard: You're one of the best minds in criminology. You're perfect.
Abigael Scuito: And I never get tired of hearing that. I'll see you... At church.
Earl Goddard: Oh... Abby, please. My first two thinkers have confirmed, but my third... She called me this morning and-and canceled. She got stuck in the Himalayas researching superhuman monks... Really. She's a Harvard divinity professor. Brilliant. But she's nothing compared to you... See, you have fought terror. Who better to create it?
Abigael Scuito: You're gonna have to find someone else.
Earl Goddard: It's too late.
Abigael Scuito: Why?
Earl Goddard: The concert's in two days and we've hit a dead end... Without you... I'm gonna have to scrap the whole thing.
Abigael Scuito: Earl, I can't be a bad guy. Even if it's just pretend. Sorry.
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NCIS: Squad room - past
Eleanor Bishop: That's Earl Goddard.
Alexandra Quinn: Friend of yours?
Eleanor Bishop: No, I wish. I... I've written him, like, a dozen essays trying to get his attention.
Alexandra Quinn: We really should have a talk.
Eleanor Bishop: He's with Homeland Investigations. Runs their think tank operations. They get the best good guys to figure out what the best bad guys would do. It's like the ultimate chess game. I-I'd kill to join.
Timothy McGee: You know, Abby gets recruited for those all the time.
Eleanor Bishop: She what?
Timothy McGee: Yep.
Eleanor Bishop: I mean, yeah, no, that makes, that makes perfect sense.
Abigael Scuito: Don't worry, I-I always turn him down.
Eleanor Bishop: You what?
Abigael Scuito: I could put a good word in for you...
Eleanor Bishop: Really?
Abigael Scuito: Mmm.
Eleanor Bishop: Thanks. Wait, why would you turn him down? I mean, wouldn't you want to help save the world?
Nicholas Torres: Abby, don't give in. Living on the dark side's not for everybody. It can get to you.
Clayton Reeves: Especially when you realize how easy it is to be bad.
Nicholas Torres: Oh, man, it's depressing.
Clayton Reeves: Exhausting. But wickedly exciting.
Nicholas Torres: I miss it so much.
Abigael Scuito: And therein lies the problem. What if I enjoyed it?
Eleanor Bishop: Well, you should. I mean, what's more exciting than a terror attack?
Alexandra Quinn: We really should have a talk.
Eleanor Bishop: A fake terror attack.
Abigael Scuito: I would still feel guilty.
Eleanor Bishop: But the danger's not real.
Nicholas Torres: It is. To Abby.
Clayton Reeves: Right. A jumpy security guard sees Abby with a bomb, she might not have time to explain that it's fake.
Eleanor Bishop: Yeah, but they use safety protocols.
Nicholas Torres: Look, it takes a certain twisted personality to think like a killer. Abby doesn't have it.
Abigael Scuito: Excuse me?
Nicholas Torres: No, I mean it as a compliment. Unless... Evil Abby really exists?
Abigael Scuito: I would rather not find out.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Good work requires good people.
Leon Vance: Yeah, that's what Homeland said.
Abigael Scuito: Director. They called you?
Leon Vance: Begged is more like it.
Abigael Scuito: My NCIS caseload is...
Leon Vance: Is now empty. These operations are very important to the higher-ups. Including me.
Abigael Scuito: Wait, wait. Is that an order?
Leon Vance: Yes. Go be a bad guy.
Eleanor Bishop: Lucky.
----------
Arena: hallway
Abigael Scuito: Aristotle banana split.
Officer: Stop saying that.
Abigael Scuito: Gibbs. NCIS.
Officer: Listen, the only reason you and I are still talking is because the bomb squad said that your little bomb was clock timers stuck in modeling clay. So you want to tell me what the hell's going on?
Abigael Scuito: Aristotle banana split.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Hey, Abbs... Gibbs. NCIS.
Officer: See, now those are the only two words that this woman has said that make any sense. So I called you here to explain.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Okay... Why hasn't she?
Abigael Scuito: Because in the event that I got caught, I'm only supposed to use the safety phrase, "Aristotle banana split."
Officer: Except nobody in the arena, or human history, has ever heard that before.
Abigael Scuito: It's supposed to prove that I'm working with Homeland to test the arena security. This is a simulation.
Officer: Is that true?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Mm-hmm.
Officer: Well, somebody screwed up. This is the first I'm hearing of this. We had to evacuate the whole damn building.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: How'd you get caught?
Officer: She tripped a motion sensor.
Abigael Scuito: No way. I studied the blueprints. I didn't fail.
Officer: Well, I think you're missing the bigger problem here. What exactly was this, uh, simulated plan?
Abigael Scuito: Detonate balloons that are supposedly full of deadly gas into the air vents. But it was all fake.
Officer: And pretty damn evil.
Abigael Scuito: I was ordered to do it.
Officer: I need to make a phone call.
Abigael Scuito: Can you take off my handcuffs?
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Minesweeper 1: Live ordinates coming through!
Minesweeper 2: Open buffer...
Minesweeper 1: Lock it down! Move! Pressurizing!
Minesweeper 2: All clear!
Officer: What the hell? Your fake bomb just made a real explosion.
----------
Abigael Scuito: I'm not a terrorist. I don't think.
Timothy McGee: Abby.
Abigael Scuito: McGee, finally. What is happening? They won't tell me anything.
Timothy McGee: It's not good.
Abigael Scuito: This is my nightmare. The only thing missing is Vance riding in on demon wings to fire me.
Nicholas Torres: Well, that makes sense.
Abigael Scuito: I usually wake up when his moustache turns into a snake.
Nicholas Torres: Well, this ain't a dream.
Timothy McGee: When the bomb squad removed the third explosive, they found C-4 hidden inside.
Abigael Scuito: What about the balloons?
Timothy McGee: They all contained several drops of liquid sarin. Hardly noticeable.
Abigael Scuito: But enough to kill hundreds of people if it was exposed to air.
Timothy McGee: Hence the biohazard team.
Abigael Scuito: We've been double-crossed. Someone used the think tank.
Leon Vance: And I plan to find out who.
Timothy McGee: Director, is this our case?
Leon Vance: It is now. We'll coordinate with Homeland. I just fought with Metro for custody of Miss Sciuto.
Abigael Scuito: Custody, like... Guantanamo?
Leon Vance: No, Hardly. I'm the one that told you to do this in the first place. Could we please remove these handcuffs?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Where the hell is Earl Goddard?
Abigael Scuito: I have no idea.
Nicholas Torres: Still hasn't answered our calls. We were gonna search the arena.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Go.
Abigael Scuito: Wait, what time is it? The team was supposed to meet Earl back at his hotel room to debrief after the operation.
----------
Hotel: Elevator
Eleanor Bishop: Your team stayed here?
Abigael Scuito: No, we all had own rooms, but Earl's room was like our base of operations.
Alexandra Quinn: While you planned the attack?
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Hotel: Hallway
Abigael Scuito: We had no idea someone was gonna try to make it real.
Alexandra Quinn: Think that was the point?
Eleanor Bishop: Take back my excitement.
Abigael Scuito: We trusted each other.
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Hotel: Earl's room - past
Greta Fensternacht: Sarin is so unrealistic.
John Jame Axiom: Will you stop pacing and enjoy the food?
Phil Kurjak: Our records don't show you as a vegetarian, Mr. Axiom.
John Jame Axiom: Well, I just started this morning. I woke up with a vision and gas.
Earl Goddard: That's why I picked you.
John Jame Axiom: 'Cause I have acid reflux?
Earl Goddard: No, you're the wild card. Abby? Meet John James Axiom, film director. We met when he was researching a spy thriller. He's really good with story, sees the whole picture.
Greta Fensternacht: Even if no one goes to see his. How much did your last movie make?
Earl Goddard: Greta Fensternackt.
Greta Fensternacht: Fensternacht.
Earl Goddard: She's a researcher with the CDC. If there's any fault in our plan, she will find it.
Greta Fensternacht: Like bringing in a new recruit in the middle of an operation?
Phil Kurjak: And without the proper paperwork. Earl, I'm assuming she signed our non-disclosure agreement.
Earl Goddard: Homeland Logistics Manager, Phil Kurjak. My right hand. He's in charge of, uh, anything the three of you may need.
Phil Kurjak: Within a government budget. This isn't Pacific Clash 2.
John Jame Axiom: Inflated budget is the only reason that movie didn't make money.
Greta Fensternacht: It exploited gender stereotypes.
John Jame Axiom: The lead female killed the bad guy!
Greta Fensternacht: With a lap dance.
Earl Goddard: Enough! I'd like for you all to meet NCIS Forensic Scientist Abby Sciuto. Crime-fighter and positive thinker extraordinaire.
Greta Fensternacht: Terrific.
Earl Goddard: Well, this group could use some positive energy. Unless, while I was gone, you found a way to release sarin into that arena without getting caught.
Greta Fensternacht: It's impossible. I've done enough of your think tank ops to know. Security measures are too tight.
John Jame Axiom: Especially on the VIP suite level.
Abigael Scuito: What about the ventilation system? It looks vulnerable.
Greta Fensternacht: We killed that idea two hours ago.
John Jame Axiom: It's too complicated.
Greta Fensternacht: We'll get caught.
Abigael Scuito: No... Not if we trust each other... I'm serious. I'm not gonna go into the arena with a fake bomb unless I know my team has my back.
John Jame Axiom: Who said anything about bombs?
Greta Fensternacht: A synchronized release?
Abigael Scuito: Small explosives. Just enough to propel the gas into the arena.
Greta Fensternacht: That's... Pretty evil... I like it... So how do we get past security?
Abigael Scuito: That... I don't know. Yet.
----------
Hotel: Earl's room
Abigael Scuito: Don't worry. I'm sure Earl will explain... Everything... Earl? Hello? Earl?
Eleanor Bishop: Empty. No suitcases.
Abigael Scuito: Did you check the-the bathroom or...?
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Hotel: entrance
Alexandra Quinn: Well, the hotel said Earl checked out.
Eleanor Bishop: All right, well, give me the names of your team, Abby. I'll get started on the BOLOs.
Abigael Scuito: That won't be necessary.
----------
Hotel: bar
Abigael Scuito: Hey, guys.
John Jame Axiom: Abby, what the hell happened?
Greta Fensternacht: We did our jobs and came back here to wait for you. It's been two hours.
Abigael Scuito: I got caught.
Greta Fensternacht: I knew this wouldn't work.
Alexandra Quinn: No, it did work. Too well.
Eleanor Bishop: Yeah, the sarin and one of your bombs was real.
Greta Fensternacht: What?
Phil Kurjak: That's impossible.
Abigael Scuito: We got played. Where is Earl?
John Jame Axiom: Nobody's seen him since the operation began.
Greta Fensternacht: When he went to the arena.
Eleanor Bishop: To do what?
Phil Kurjak: Let the head of security know the operation was happening tonight and give them the safe phrase.
Abigael Scuito: Well, that never happened.
Greta Fensternacht: He set us up.
Abigael Scuito: Earl would never do that.
Alexandra Quinn: Yeah, Gibbs... Yeah. Okay. Well, uh, we found Earl Goddard.
Abigael Scuito: Oh, good. What did Earl say?
----------
Arena: parking
Nicholas Torres: Arena security found the van and saw the body through the window. Are these suits really necessary?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yes.
Donald Mallard: Unless you want to risk instant death by exposure to sarin.
Nicholas Torres: Sarin? The suits are awesome.
----------
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: The vehicle and body have been cleared for active sarin.
Leon Vance: Well, until we can find the source, I will arrange a biohazard tent in the evidence garage. Why don't you go home, get a couple hours' sleep.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Got coffee, Leon. Who needs sleep?
Leon Vance: Well, here's somebody who's had a full night's rest.
Knox Ellicott: Director Vance. Good morning.
Leon Vance: Knox, I was expecting you sooner. I talked to your director last night.
Knox Ellicott: So was I. But he gave NCIS the lead, and I was told to stand down.
Leon Vance: Special Agent Gibbs, Knox Ellicott, Homeland Operations.
Knox Ellicott: This is crazy. Earl's been reporting to me for ten years without a problem.
Leon Vance: Now it's looking like he was the problem.
Knox Ellicott: Earl? Target an arena? No. No way. Somebody just piggybacked on our op to make a statement.
Leon Vance: Then Earl missed something. Namely real explosives and real sarin.
Knox Ellicott: It's easy to blame the dead.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Somebody put one of my people in danger.
Knox Ellicott: And Earl was one of my people... Look elsewhere. While he was always a good judge of talent, he could be a little too forgiving when it came to character.
Leon Vance: Gibbs, this coffee is a little too hot.
Knox Ellicott: Your agents should question his think tank team.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: We are.
----------
NCIS: Interview room
Alexandra Quinn: Logistics manager. What is that?
Phil Kurjak: I facilitate the team. Research, supplies, payment. But I don't go on the actual field exercise itself.
Alexandra Quinn: So where were you last night then?
Phil Kurjak: I stayed behind to pack up the hotel room.
Alexandra Quinn: Is that why it was empty?
Phil Kurjak: Earl and I both live locally. No need for another night.
Alexandra Quinn: Frugal.
Phil Kurjak: I'm good at my job.
Alexandra Quinn: MBA from Missouri. Average GPA. No prior career experience. Yet Earl recruited you. Why?
Phil Kurjak: We met at a job fair. He has a knack for people, and we clicked... My parents were killed in Bosnia in '93. I grew up in St. Louis with my grandmother. And I'm telling you this, because Earl was the closest thing I had to a father. He didn't do it.
Alexandra Quinn: Well, Earl was ultimately responsible for their safety. So let's start with the explosives.
Phil Kurjak: They only had to look real for the war game to be fair. Otherwise, we might as well be smuggling fruitcake. But Earl never had any real bomb parts at the hotel.
Alexandra Quinn: But he was in charge of making them, huh?
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Hotel: Earl's room - past
Abigael Scuito: Remember, the explosives should not be large.
Greta Fensternacht: Right. If a terrorist is smart enough to get their hands on sarin... Which is very unrealistic...
Phil Kurjak: Tell that to our security analysts.
Greta Fensternacht: Then they're smart enough not to destroy it in the explosion.
Earl Goddard: I'll worry about the props. You just worry about getting past security.
John Jame Axiom: In order to minimize our individual exposure, I think we should each be responsible for one task. It's clean, easy to follow.
Greta Fensternacht: Unlike the plot of Alien Carnival.
John Jame Axiom: Watch the director's cut.
Abigael Scuito: JJ is right, okay? And I've been working on a plan... An Evil Abby plan... Ta-da! It requires balloons and makeup and Caf-POW! Lots and lots and lots of Caf-POW!
Greta Fensternacht: What kind of terrorist are you?
Abigael Scuito: The kind that doesn't get caught.
Timothy McGee: So this whole thing was Abby's idea?
----------
NCIS: Interview room
Timothy McGee: No. We should all get credit.
John Jame Axiom: And can we wrap this up? I have a meeting in L.A. Tomorrow. I'd rather not cancel on Johnny... Depp. He starred in my first film.
Timothy McGee: Yes. The only one that saw critical and financial success. But what was that, ten years ago? Look, you write great concepts, okay? I mean, that's why Earl recruited you in the first place. But... Your films fail to connect with audiences.
John Jame Axiom: Okay, Siskel, so what's your point?
Timothy McGee: Do you have money troubles? Someone pay you to sabotage the think tank operation?
John Jame Axiom: And people say my plots are dense.
Timothy McGee: All right, look, everyone was given a task the night of the attack. What was yours?
John Jame Axiom: To get the explosives into the arena after the concert started.
Timothy McGee: Who gave 'em to you?
John Jame Axiom: Earl. Sure, it was Abby's idea to use the Caf-POW!, but the plan only worked because my performance was Oscar-worthy... Or at least a Golden Globe.
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Arena: loading dock - past
John Jame Axiom: Hey, mate.
Security guard: Can I help you?
John Jame Axiom: Yeah. I messed up. Bad. I made a delivery this morning and I shorted you three cases.
Security guard: And you want me to call who?
John Jame Axiom: Oh, no, I just need to get this stuff inside. See, your concessions manager is gonna do a count at the end of the night. Every one of these bottles not in that arena is a bottle they can't sell. And they're gonna charge me. I mean, eight bucks a pop times three cases. That's enough to keep my daughter in preschool for a month... You like this stuff? Here, take a few. My treat.
Security guard: Trying to bribe your way into a free concert?
John Jame Axiom: Come on, mate. I'll be in and out in two minutes. I promise. Please, for me daughter.
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Arena: Hallway - past
Greta Fensternacht: Hey. Took you long enough.
John Jame Axiom: Greta? Oh, you look amazing.
Greta Fensternacht: I feel stupid.
John Jame Axiom: I got to get back to the loading dock.
Greta Fensternacht: Okay.
John Jame Axiom: See you at the hotel.
Greta Fensternacht: All right.
----------
NCIS: Interview room
Greta Fensternacht: That outfit was hideous.
Nicholas Torres: But that was part of Abby's plan.
Greta Fensternacht: Whoa. Our plan. My job was to plant the bomb. Abby just came up with the idea of making me a lost groupie. But that wasn't good enough. So I went on eBay and found a backstage pass. It only worked because of me.
Nicholas Torres: You? Wearing Abby's boots?
Greta Fensternacht: I prefer comfort over style.
Nicholas Torres: And why not? We're all gonna die anyway.
Greta Fensternacht: Exactly... Wait, what?
Nicholas Torres: Your words. I read some of your, uh, research papers. Dark stuff.
Greta Fensternacht: Working with the world's most heinous diseases has shown me the futility of life's struggles.
Nicholas Torres: So maybe you wanted to end it all. Take a few hundred people with you.
Greta Fensternacht: I didn't make the attack real. I'm pessimistic, not homicidal.
Nicholas Torres: Well, you say "tomato," I say "terrorist." Your work gives you access to sarin.
Greta Fensternacht: Yes... But Homeland oversees a dozen lab facilities. Earl had access. And what about Abby?
Nicholas Torres: Evil Abby?
Greta Fensternacht: Her security clearance is high enough. She's the one who labeled the bombs. I was just following her instructions. You know, if she's gonna take the credit, she should take the blame... FYI, I think her whole Goth thing is really just a cry for help.
Abigael Scuito: Greta said what?
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NCIS: Interview room
Abigael Scuito: I'm... I'm not a Goth. I am feeling a little bit naked without my choker on. Can I go home and change after this?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Are you sure you don't want to do this in the conference room?
Abigael Scuito: No. No! No special treatment. I am just as guilty. No.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: So this whole thing was your idea?
Abigael Scuito: Evil Abby was smart, Gibbs. I'm not proud of it.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Someone used you.
Abigael Scuito: It was not Earl.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: He gave you the balloons.
Abigael Scuito: Yes. He left them for me in the hotel room.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: That was your task?
Abigael Scuito: Yes. A flower delivery to the band's dressing room. I had this-this logo made. And I'm friends with the Sterile Puppets' drummer, and he said that, that bands get gifts delivered from-from fans and local businesses all the time.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yes. Security scans packages.
Abigael Scuito: Yes, and then they, they swab them for anything that's illegal or dangerous, so I had to think outside the box, you know?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Balloons.
Abigael Scuito: They don't set off metal detectors. If someone were to X-ray them, then... The small amount of liquid would never show up. Security didn't suspect anything... Forgive me, Gibbs. I've sinned.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: It's not your fault.
Abigael Scuito: Yeah, but, you know, at the time, it was, like, fun, you know? I had fun... Maybe 'cause of that, I-I missed something... I could've killed so many people.
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NCIS: Autopsy room
Donald Mallard: The chemicals used to make liquid sarin are arguably more dangerous than the final product. Not to mention the considerable cost of manufacture. In 1995, in Japan, a cult spent millions on a facility.
Clayton Reeves: You mind if I join you, Dr. Ducky?
Donald Mallard: Oh, by all means, Agent Reeves. Yeah, I was just explaining to our friend here that despite the claims of certain foreign powers, liquid sarin cannot be made in the kitchen.
Clayton Reeves: Abby says mere drops can be deadly.
Donald Mallard: Yeah, the liquid evaporates when it's exposed to the air. Direct inhalation can cause a buildup of acetylcholine in the nervous system. The body can shut down, mm, in under a minute.
Clayton Reeves: Nasty business.
Donald Mallard: Yeah. Do you come from Brumarket? Uh, your accent. Did you grow up in Birmingham?
Clayton Reeves: That sounds like judgment.
Donald Mallard: No, no, no.
Clayton Reeves: I thought your last name was Mallard, not Higgins.
Donald Mallard: Shaw's Pygmalion.
Clayton Reeves: You know it? Practically my biography. Although I do prefer My Fair Lady.
Donald Mallard: Are you a fan of musicals?
Clayton Reeves: No, no. Audrey Hepburn.
Donald Mallard: Mm.
Clayton Reeves: Although I think we should stick to the case at hand.
Donald Mallard: Yes, let's. I can confirm the cause of death.
Clayton Reeves: Sarin poisoning.
Donald Mallard: Yes. But the only sarin residue is around his mouth.
Clayton Reeves: Did he drink it? Suicide?
Donald Mallard: We found fibers in his throat, and there are these bruises around his neck.
Clayton Reeves: Well, if the fibers are from a towel or rag, it could mean he was grabbed by the neck and sarin held in his mouth.
Donald Mallard: Well, final analysis will have to wait till Ms. Sciuto returns to her lab.
Clayton Reeves: But if this was murder, Earl could be innocent.
Donald Mallard: Or he wasn't working alone.
Clayton Reeves: Right... Ta-Ra, then, Doctor.
Donald Mallard: T.T.F.N.
Clayton Reeves: To the uninitiated, that means Ta-Ta For Now.
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NCIS: Garage
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Ellie. You called me.
Eleanor Bishop: Yeah. Uh, I finished with the van and found Earl's laptop. It's password-protected, but McGee can handle it.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Okay. What's the problem?
Eleanor Bishop: Well, it's what I didn't find. No more sarin.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: What, that's a bad thing?
Eleanor Bishop: Yes. Because of this. Looks like it was peeled off of a lab container. 15 cc's is like a bottle of nail polish, but... It's enough sarin to fill this room.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: How much was in the balloons?
Eleanor Bishop: Drops. And it wouldn't have taken much to kill Earl.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: That's a lot left over.
Eleanor Bishop: Enough to kill hundreds.
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NCIS: Squad room
Clayton Reeves: Update on our current case?
Eleanor Bishop: Right. Yes... A Homeland think tank was asked to execute a fake terror attack.
Clayton Reeves: To test security.
Eleanor Bishop: Except the attack wasn't so fake.
Clayton Reeves: Someone switched out a bomb, put real sarin in the balloons and killed Special Agent Earl Goddard.
Eleanor Bishop: Yeah, they used the think tank to do all the planning and the dirty work.
Clayton Reeves: Like cheating off the smart girl during a math exam.
Eleanor Bishop: But why?
Clayton Reeves: Because she's cute and I hate math.
Eleanor Bishop: No. I mean why a sarin attack? Who stood to gain?
Clayton Reeves: Well, whoever it is still has a vial of the stuff. I doubt they'll let it go to waste.
Eleanor Bishop: Been coordinating with the NSA and Homeland all day.
Timothy McGee: Uh, Bishop. Turns out you're on Earl's short list after all.
Eleanor Bishop: What?
Timothy McGee: Yep. I got into Earl's laptop... He's got files on potential recruits, including one Bishop, Eleanor Raye.
Eleanor Bishop: Well, a few days ago I would've been thrilled, but... Now that he's a suspected terrorist, not so much.
Clayton Reeves: Find anything else?
Timothy McGee: It turns out Earl used Homeland resources to tap into the arena security network. That gave him access to surveillance cameras.
Clayton Reeves: So he could observe the team as they carry out the attack.
John Jame Axiom: He was recording us. Oh, this just gets better and better. Thanks to you, I missed my meeting.
Timothy McGee: We need you to stay here in DC until the investigation's complete.
John Jame Axiom: Well, I'm not gonna leave the country. But Johnny rescheduled for tomorrow, and I've got to be at that meeting.
Eleanor Bishop: Can't you just talk over the phone?
John Jame Axiom: Actors need handholding, all right?
Timothy McGee: I'm sorry, but we need you here.
John Jame Axiom: Oh, this is turning into a movie plot. Recruited for a government operation, now a suspected criminal, and to top it off, when I called to complain, Homeland said they'd never heard of me.
Clayton Reeves: Don't they have Earl's records?
John Jame Axiom: No. I don't know if this is Alfred Hitchcock or Howard Hawks.
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NCIS: Abby's lab
Alexandra Quinn: It's been ten minutes. Safe to come in yet?
Abigael Scuito: I am... So...
Alexandra Quinn: Mad. Yeah, you mentioned that.
Abigael Scuito: Super mad. I am mad at the killer for killing my friend. And I'm mad at Director Vance for making me join a think tank. Mostly, I'm just, I'm mad at... Me.
Alexandra Quinn: For what, being too good?
Abigael Scuito: For being so good at being bad. And now I-I'm being punished by the whole universe.
Alexandra Quinn: I'll come back.
Abigael Scuito: Evil Abby was on fire! And now I'm back in my lab, and Good Abby has nothing... To-to solve Earl's murder or even prove that he's innocent.
Alexandra Quinn: We should talk later.
Abigael Scuito: No, I-I'm fine. What did you find?
Alexandra Quinn: The source of the sarin.
Abigael Scuito: Yes!
Alexandra Quinn: Earl stole it.
Abigael Scuito: No.
Alexandra Quinn: Homeland Security report.
Abigael Scuito: Earl used his key card to enter a chemical lab two days ago at 2:00 a.m.
Alexandra Quinn: Nobody noticed it was missing until I started asking questions.
Abigael Scuito: Okay, I get that this looks bad.
Alexandra Quinn: Abby, this is bad.
Abigael Scuito: Earl was used. And Good Abby is gonna prove that... I hope.
----------
NCIS: Hallway
Clayton Reeves: Gibbs? JJ Axiom wants me to do a screen test... Which is not important.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Tell me what is.
Clayton Reeves: Homeland performed a system wipe. It means everybody working in Earl's department had to erase their computers.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: On purpose?
Clayton Reeves: Yes. That's why there's no record of JJ. A data wipe is serious and I don't know why they did it.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Ask Homeland.
Clayton Reeves: I tried. But the wipe was ordered by Operations Director Knox Ellicott, but he's been dodging my calls.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: When did he order it?
Clayton Reeves: Last night.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: After the murder? Get him in here.
----------
NCIS: Conference room
Knox Ellicott: I'm sorry about the missed calls. I've been in meetings all day, as you can imagine.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yeah, you had an excuse last night, too.
Clayton Reeves: The boss told you to stay home?
Knox Ellicott: I wasn't gonna argue. It was Valentine's Day.
Clayton Reeves: A little nookie, then?
Knox Ellicott: A data wipe is a security precaution that I take every six months. It's standard procedure to rid the system of any bugs or viruses.
Clayton Reeves: So the fact you ordered the wipe the night of the murder was...
Knox Ellicott: A fluke.
Clayton Reeves: I'm thinking of another word.
Knox Ellicott: A happenstance.
Clayton Reeves: No.
Knox Ellicott: Coincidence?
Clayton Reeves: Yeah.
Knox Ellicott: And why is that important?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: 'Cause there's no such thing.
Clayton Reeves: You ordered the wipe to erase your connection. We spoke to your wife. She said you was at the office all night.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: No nookie.
Knox Ellicott: That's... Now, wait. I... I had nothing to do with any of this.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Why lie?
Knox Ellicott: Because I was hacked.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: When?
Knox Ellicott: Last night... I was using a personal computer at home, trying to do some work so that I could spend the evening with my wife. And I got an alert that someone was remotely accessing my hard drive.
Clayton Reeves: Using a personal computer for government business?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Even I know that's bad.
Knox Ellicott: That's why I went to the office last night and I ordered a data wipe. To stop the spread.
Clayton Reeves: And to cover your ass.
Knox Ellicott: I could get fired. Or indicted... But it had nothing to do with Earl's murder, I swear.
----------
NCIS: Squad room
Alexandra Quinn: Ellicott handed over his computer.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Where's McGee?
Alexandra Quinn: Already doing his thing.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yeah, good. Bomb squad report.
Alexandra Quinn: Well, they found prints from the entire think tank, no help.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Only one bomb was real. Why?
Alexandra Quinn: Deadly enough to make a statement, but less chance of getting caught.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Potential targets in the VIP suites?
Alexandra Quinn: The, uh, arena security records, they list a few wealthy concert-goers, but no names of interest and none that connect to the think tank.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: All right, keep digging.
Alexandra Quinn: Yeah. That's all it's been so far is guesswork.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Hey. What?
Alexandra Quinn: I'm sorry, it's just... Nothing. It's just family stuff.
Leon Vance: Gibbs? MTAC. McGee's got something.
----------
NCIS: MTAC
Christopher LaSalle: You've never been to New Orleans? We got to get you down here.
Timothy McGee: Well, I'd rather it be for fun than, uh, work.
Christopher LaSalle: Oh, it's always fun. Especially since Mardi Gras is coming up. Hey, tell Gibbs you need a little vacation.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: We all do, Christopher. And what happened to Alabama?
Christopher LaSalle: Oh, man, why are you hitting me below the belt? That's a long conversation.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: I look forward to it.
Leon Vance: Agent Lasalle, it's good to see you.
Christopher LaSalle: Yes, sir, but I think you're gonna be taking that back.
Timothy McGee: I traced the hack on Ellicott. Came from an I.P. Address in the French Quarter.
Christopher LaSalle: Yeah, empty apartment above a voodoo shop. But this one's just a tourist trap.
Timothy McGee: As opposed to?
Christopher LaSalle: Well, that's a good point. We really got to get you down here, McGee.
Leon Vance: The apartment's last occupant?
Christopher LaSalle: Well, in jail going on two years. He was running a brothel out of the place, and it's been vacant ever since. It's a dead end.
Leon Vance: McGee, what did the hackers get away with?
Timothy McGee: Well, that's the problem, Director. It's why I called the NOLA offices right away. Lawrence, bring it up... Somebody downloaded the files on every Homeland think tank operation from the last two years. Dozens of simulated attack scenarios.
Leon Vance: Simulated but successful?
Timothy McGee: The team pointed out weaknesses from airports and train stations to government buildings.
Christopher LaSalle: Yeah, blueprints on how to attack us.
Timothy McGee: Yeah, the stolen files also detailed how Homeland would respond to such attacks.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Offense and defense.
Leon Vance: Someone has our entire terror playbook.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yeah.
----------
NCIS: Director's office
Leon Vance: I already spoke with SecDef. Someone is selling our entire terrorist playbook. We will follow up here while our agents in New Orleans are following up with their... I will keep you updated. National Security Advisor. He's looking to blame someone for the stolen playbook.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: He should be looking to get it back.
Leon Vance: Terror alert's been raised until we do. I was hoping maybe you had a plan.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: That's why I'm here, Leon.
Nicholas Torres: Oh. You were gonna run the idea by the director before I came in?
Leon Vance: Well, somebody start talking.
Nicholas Torres: Sir, I worked several undercover investigations, including stolen government Intel.
Leon Vance: We now have that in spades.
Nicholas Torres: Exactly. But something this big will cause ripples. I put my pole in the water, wait for nibbles, maybe a bite.
Leon Vance: I get the metaphor. One of your old contacts could be connected... It's a long shot.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: It's the only shot we got. It's the playbook.
Leon Vance: Phone calls only, Agent Torres. You are not undercover.
Nicholas Torres: Sir.
Leon Vance: Doesn't help our murder case, Gibbs, or find that missing sarin.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: I'm gonna go back to the beginning.
Leon Vance: Meaning?
----------
NCIS: Squad room
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: The war game. Why do it?
Timothy McGee: That's what we've been trying to figure out, boss. Who gains from the attack?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: No. Homeland. Why choose this operation? Why this arena?
Timothy McGee: Well, there'd been intelligence chatter about terror groups getting sarin.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: What groups?
Timothy McGee: Bishop's finding that out now. In order to fund a field exercise, Homeland had to submit detailed security reports.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: I want to see 'em.
Eleanor Bishop: No need, Gibbs. Thanks, Tommy. The chatter was fake. I got the intelligence file from Homeland and sent it to the NSA for verification. There are no terror groups with sarin.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Someone altered the report.
Timothy McGee: Tricking Earl into creating this whole operation. The question is why.
----------
NCIS: Abby's lab
Alexandra Quinn: Hey.
Abigael Scuito: Hey. So, the real bomb was planted in the duct that fed the VIP suites in the northwest corner.
Alexandra Quinn: Including Suite 11?
Abigael Scuito: Yeah... 11 through 20. Why?
Alexandra Quinn: Well, the arena record shows suite 11 had private bodyguards.
Abigael Scuito: Who were they protecting?
Alexandra Quinn: Uh, "Dexter Highland"?
Abigael Scuito: Never heard of him.
Alexandra Quinn: Well, that's why it didn't flag. But we found out it was a cover name.
Abigael Scuito: Somebody famous?
Alexandra Quinn: The security records don't say, but they do say the guards were armed.
Abigael Scuito: Which means I can pull conceal-and-carry permits, and find out who they were really working for.
----------
NCIS: Interview room
Alexandra Quinn: Jovan Dezic, Bosnian foreign affairs minister.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: He was at the concert with his 16-year-old son.
Alexandra Quinn: And you knew that because he had to register his travel plans with Homeland. That's, uh, standard procedure for diplomats. So are pseudonyms.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: But he wasn't always a respected politician.
Alexandra Quinn: No. Dezic was part of the Bosnian-Serb army during the genocide. Ever heard of "Sniper Alley," Gibbs?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Sarajevo... Civilians murdered in cold blood.
Alexandra Quinn: Including your parents... Dezic was suspected of being there, though it was never proven.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: This was revenge.
Alexandra Quinn: You altered the report before you gave it to Earl. And you took his security clearance to steal the sarin. And it was you who switched the bomb and the balloons. Did I miss anything?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yeah, he was with Earl that night.
Alexandra Quinn: Right, you were with Earl when he watched on the security cameras, and those balloons were not the balloons that Earl filled.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Nope. These were.
Alexandra Quinn: They had lettering on them.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Found 'em in the hotel Dumpster. Your fingerprints on 'em.
Alexandra Quinn: Earl suspected something was going on. He wanted to abort the mission.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: You couldn't let that happen, could you?
Alexandra Quinn: You sat here and told me that Earl was like your father. But you killed him.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: In avenging your parents, you lost another one.
Phil Kurjak: Dezic deserves to die. For what he did to my country, uh, what he did to me.
Alexandra Quinn: Except you failed.
----------
NCIS: Squad room
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: McGee. Dezic, where is he?
Timothy McGee: Just spoke with his security detail.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Where is he?
Timothy McGee: He is recovering from heart surgery at Washington General... It's why he was here in the U.S. What, do you think he's still in danger?
----------
NCIS: Squad room / Phil Kurjak's apartment: living room
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yeah, Reeves, go.
Clayton Reeves: We've tossed Phil's flat, and we found the missing sarin bottle.
Eleanor Bishop: The problem is he's been using it; we're thinking he might have something else planned.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: We're already on it.
----------
NCIS: Squad room
Timothy McGee: Another ventilation attack at the hospital?
Abigael Scuito: No way. He doesn't have a team doing his dirty work. This is plan B. Last ditch... He is desperate.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: He's got no balloons. He knows we're looking for him.
Abigael Scuito: Balloons were just one of a dozen ideas I pitched the team.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Abby.
Abigael Scuito: I was told to be evil.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: And be good now. How does Phil get sarin into the hospital room?
----------
Hospital: Dezic's room
Bodyguard: Upravo smo to isporučili.
Bodyguard: Kako bi se provjerilo da nije riječ o zabranjenoj robi. Sve je u redu.
Son: A fruit bowl... Wow... Your diplomat friends are too classy, Dad... Why can't they just send pizza?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Stop. Federal agents. Don't pop that.
Son: Okay.
Abigael Scuito: This one has sarin.
Son: What's going on?
Abigael Scuito: Good just triumphed over evil. I mean, who can resist popping?
----------
NCIS: Abby's lab
Abigael Scuito: You got me a gift. Tickets to The Sterile Puppets.
Timothy McGee: We all chipped in. Figured after all you'd been through, you deserve a break.
Abigael Scuito: Well, now we can all go... Director Vance got me tickets as a peace offering, and the band lets me in for free, so...
Timothy McGee: So everything's good.
Abigael Scuito: Yeah... Almost. There's still something really bothering me.
Timothy McGee: How you got caught in the first place.
Abigael Scuito: Yeah. How'd you know?
Timothy McGee: Well, I figured that Evil Abby was also a perfectionist, so I kept digging into Earl's laptop.
Abigael Scuito: And?
Timothy McGee: When Earl was killed, his computer was connected to the arena network.
Abigael Scuito: Right.
Timothy McGee: Abby, you didn't trigger anything. He did. When Phil poisoned him and left him for dead, Earl set off a silent alarm.
Abigael Scuito: That is good over evil.
Timothy McGee: Let's hope that trend continues. The playbook's still out there... Yeah, boss? Yeah, on my way.
----------
NCIS: MTAC
Dwayne Pride: Ferdinand Pisco. Doesn't ring a bell, Gibbs.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: He'd like to keep it that way.
Nicholas Torres: He deals with stolen information, and keeps his own hidden, moves in the shadow, which is where I live.
Leon Vance: What Agent Torres means is he used to live in shadow. Undercover.
Dwayne Pride: Working for Pisco. Got it.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: You recall Special Agent Jones, Wichita?
Dwayne Pride: Yeah. Eager. Reckless.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Effective.
Nicholas Torres: Are you guys judging me?
Dwayne Pride: How's Pisco connected to the missing terror playbook?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: It was hacked from New Orleans.
Nicholas Torres: He's headed your way. I shook a few trees and found out that he booked a last-minute trip from Venezuela. He's coming to buy the playbook.
Leon Vance: We don't know who stole it, so at this point it's all conjecture.
Nicholas Torres: Sir, with all due respect, this guy doesn't travel unless it's something big. It's the playbook. If I make contact, I can prove it. Director... Send me undercover... Gibbs, I'm ready.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Pack your bag.
Leon Vance: You will report to Agent Pride the second you arrive.
Nicholas Torres: Roger that.
Dwayne Pride: I'll be waiting for his call, Director. Gibbs, be in touch.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yeah, count on that.
Timothy McGee: Torres is going to NOLA?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Yeah. So are you. Don't let him out of your sight. You understand?
Timothy McGee: You got it. When do we leave?
Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Now. Go.
