NCIS: Origins (2024) s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
1
(WIND WHISTLING)
♪
OLDER GIBBS: My dad used to say,
"Wherever you go, there you are."
I guess he was right.
No matter how hard you try
or in my case,
how far you go
you can't ever
leave it all behind.
(BLOWS SOFTLY)
There is no such thing
as a clean slate.
They're always there.
They're always with you.
The stories you've told.
Hell, even worse
the ones you never could.
This is a story I don't tell.
("PORCH" BY PEARL JAM PLAYING)
(LAUGHTER)
All the bills go by
and initiatives are taken up ♪
By the middle ♪
There ain't gonna be
any middle anymore ♪
And the cross I'm bearing home
ain't indicative of my place ♪
Left the porch, left the porch ♪
Oh, oh, oh ♪
Oh ♪
Hear my name, take a good look ♪
This could be the day ♪
Hold my hand ♪
Gibbs.
Heard you had another
rough night at Daly's.
They call you in to press charges?
No.
Reporting to work.
What the hell, man?
Okay.
(SONG FADES)
(SOLDIERS CHANTING CADENCE INDISTINCTLY)
(BIRDS SQUAWKING)
There he is,
the newly minted Special Agent Gibbs.
I'm on your squad. I'm Bernard Randolf,
but folks call me Randy.
Good to meet you, Randy.
I'm trying to quit.
You ready to catch some bad guys?
Hey, Saint Peter,
give me cloud number nine ♪
And tell my daddy
that Junior's on the line ♪
Oh, sweet Lord, someday
I'll be talking to you ♪
Yeah, I wanna speak man-to-man ♪
With the man
that used to moan the blues ♪
(PAGER BEEPING)
MAN (CHUCKLING): I miss you, too.
(BANGING)
- Mind if I cut in, fella?
- Huh?
I got me an urgent call to make.
Promise it won't take but a minute.
Sorry, baby. Some jagoff's
breathing down my neck.
(SCOFFS)
What, are you gonna
fight me over a pay phone?
No, I'm gonna fight you
'cause I don't like you.
Phone's a bonus.
You some kind of cop?
Pretend you didn't see that.
Hey, baby, I got to call you back, okay?
Thank you kindly, pal.
(TIRES SQUEALING, VEHICLE DEPARTING)
Yeah, it's Franks.
Here we are.
That's JJ. That's Roger, Artie, Carl.
- Leroy Gibbs.
- How you doing?
- Good.
- Hey, you guys still think
I'm the number-one looker
around here, right?
(LAUGHTER) They like you already.
Evidence locker is down and to the left.
Custodian is Kowalski.
- Hey, how'd you like FLETC?
- Better than boot camp.
- And how long did you?
- Darn it.
Here's the kitchen.
They spray for roaches.
Eat at your own risk.
You see them Nets last night?
Coleman he's a beast, man.
How long you put in?
- Huh?
- Marines.
Uh, in at 18, out right before this.
- Scout sniper?
- Mm.
Wow. Remind me not to piss you off.
Um, locker room's downstairs.
Oh, we have a gym down there.
Well, by gym, I mean a bench press
and a VCR with a couple
of those Jane Fonda tapes.
I think those are your tapes,
aren't they, Agent Strickland?
- Oh, bite me, Randy.
- Love you, too, Vera.
Rec room.
Looking like Pelé over here. (LAUGHTER)
And here we have
the infamous Mary Jo Hayes.
If you want to know where
the bodies are buried
around here, she's the gal to ask.
Head secretary in charge.
Welcome to the nuthouse, sweetie.
SAC's office it's
right up there. Wheeler.
He's top dog around here.
Honestly, he's fine
as long as you don't
have to talk to him.
And here we are.
This is home sweet home.
This is you right here.
That bad boy just arrived last week.
IBM PC 3340,
12-inch color display.
(WHISTLES)
Hey, I basically
peed myself my first day.
Not even basically.
There was just a little bit
running down my leg.
(LAUGHS)
So, if you need anything, I'm here.
You want me to get you
a copy of the manual?
I'm sure it's easy enough.
I'll figure it out.
Damn thing will probably be
in the trash in a month.
At ease, Marine.
You ain't in the muck no more.
I ain't your commanding officer.
I'm just your boss.
Yes, sir boss.
I didn't say "sit."
Got a burned-up body
out in Fallbrook waiting for us.
Dominguez ain't in? Where is she?
RANDY: Where she always is, I guessing.
- Already at the scene.
- I just got the call
15 minutes ago,
so who the hell's calling her?
Gear up, damn it!
Uh
Where's my gear?
Sir? Boss?
♪
Damn, Pete,
you bring the whole county?
DEPUTY SHERIFF JONES:
Minute we I.D.'d the girl
as military spouse,
I pulled my guys out.
FRANKS: Nice it didn't have
to come to blows this time.
JONES: Couple of hikers
saw the smoke a little
after 7:00 this morning, called it in.
FRANKS: You figure what started it?
JONES: Your Agent Dominguez
located the ignition point
ten minutes after she got here.
Girl got herself a drive, doesn't she?
And when exactly did she get here?
The hell did she do now?
It's not her.
Look,
what's in that house
it ain't godly.
(WATER DRIPPING, BONES CLINKING)
WOMAN: Reminds me of when I was little.
There was this garter snake
in the ditch by our house.
Our mom said, "Snakes are cursed."
She said, "Stay away from it."
Of course, then I was adamant
I was gonna catch the thing.
I would try grabbing it,
but it would slip
through my hands every time.
Then one day, I go out,
and it's lying there dead.
Coyote just ripped the skin clean off.
And the bones.
They were smiling at me
like a row of teeth.
All I could think was
that snake wasn't cursed.
It was just a pile of bones
trying to get by like the rest of us.
You got any thoughts on that?
The snake?
These bones?
What the hell they're doing here?
Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Lala.
So, you're on my squad, then?
Nope. You're on mine.
Just watch your step, Marine.
Scene's already
been contaminated enough.
♪
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
RANDY: Melanie Hewitt, 33.
Husband was Sergeant Lance Hewitt,
KIA in Kuwait nine months ago.
LALA: Fire started in the stove.
FRANKS: You don't say?
You know, good thing
you got here so early
to figure that out.
It wasn't an accident.
I thought I caught a whiff of acetone,
so I did a little digging,
and I found this.
It's from a big-ass bottle
of nail polish remover.
Must have made for quite the accelerant.
Doc Tango wants us to get her clear.
Rando.
RANDY: Okay.
FRANKS: On three. One, two, three.
(STRAINING)
(GRUNTING, PANTING)
(GASPING BREATHS)
You okay, man?
Good start.
(CAMERA WHIRRING)
(SIGHS)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
Seeing a body like that,
don't matter what you saw in war.
That's war.
I don't know why, but it's
different seeing it at home.
(EXHALES SHARPLY)
You're doing fine, probie.
What is this?
Hell if I know.
Must have been dozens of them
things in her house,
all shapes and sizes.
WHEELER: Any idea what this,
uh, Melanie Hewitt was into?
I think it's safe to say
it wasn't church on Sundays.
You're thinking satanic?
I'm thinking somebody wanted her dead.
Hell, maybe the devil
told 'em to go buy a boatload
of accelerant to burn her up.
That's your theory?
(CHUCKLES) That's what we got
till we got more.
Not so fast, Mike.
How'd your boy do out there?
Who, Gibbs?
Did great. Duck on a pond.
He and Randy are headed to talk
to the vic's grandma right now.
If he is not up to snuff,
I want your word
you're gonna cut him loose.
Sure thing. But you ain't
got to worry about Gibbs.
- He's capable.
- He's crazy.
Oh, stop. He ain't
He failed his psych eval.
That is the definition of crazy.
And if my wife and daughter
were murdered,
I would be crazy, too.
We've been over this, Cliff.
The new version of that test is
about as dependable
as a two-dollar watch.
Standards were raised for a reason.
Benny was licking the damn bodies.
(LAUGHS)
Mike, you've got us both
out on a limb here.
And for what?
Why'd you make it your business
to bring this guy in?
If Agent Gibbs tongue-bathes
even one corpse,
we'll give him his walking papers.
You got my word.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
♪
Whole family's got a dark side, huh?
Pentagram.
That ain't no pentagram out there.
And I ain't no devil worshipper.
And neither was my granddaughter.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
I misspoke.
Truth is, when I saw
those things for the first time,
I thought about splashing them
with holy water myself.
What exactly are they?
Art, stupid.
Might not be your cup of tea,
but that was my baby's passion, and
(SIGHS)
I was so proud of her.
She read a book on some ancient Asians
that built those totems for protection.
And she brought a few here to me.
She said, "Grandma,
they'll keep you safe."
Lot of good they did her.
What'd you do?
Get into a fight?
Should take off that ring.
The swelling, it'll
cut off your circulation.
It's fine. I'm okay.
MARIA: I used to be an RN.
Trust me, take it off
while you still can.
Your wife, she'll understand.
Those are all of M-Melanie?
MARIA: Yeah. My Mellie.
She loved working with her hands.
I raised her since she was a baby.
Yeah.
That was Mother's Day.
I still remember her
bursting through that door
to give it to me.
MARIA: After her husband died,
she lost her way.
KELLY: Smiley face.
No, Kelly, don't you do it.
Don't you dare.
Then some lowlife got her hooked
into that, uh, methamphetamine.
You want to know who
burned down my baby's house?
You find that son of a bitch.
Can you give us his name?
I heard folks call him Bugs.
(MARIA WHIMPERS SOFTLY)
All right, boys, look alive.
Jamison "Bugs" Boyd.
Narcotics distribution, '88.
B and E, resisting, '89.
Since then, he's been
on the milk carton.
Probably off doing
charity work somewhere.
Make-A-Wish or something.
Grandma said he got Melanie
hooked on meth.
Maybe she OD'd,
dummy panicked and lit up the place.
Last known address?
His mom's house, '82.
What about our CIs?
If we're gonna catch this prick,
we're gonna need
some other pricks to help.
Yes.
Already started working our phone log
I wasn't asking you.
He a mute at the grandma's house, too?
Probie! You know, this job
sometimes involves talking.
- I know, boss.
- FRANKS: Good.
Informants. Talk.
Well, these guys put out feelers
to all of them.
A couple said that Bugs is
still in the area.
One guy, Kenny, thinks
he can get us a location.
- White Kenny or Black Kenny?
- Black Kenny.
White Kenny is dead.
He took a header off Coronado Bridge
- last Christmas.
- (GROANS)
I'll try digging up
more info on this Bugs guy,
see if I can't find out
where he's staying.
That's not the move tonight, probie.
We best do some percolating.
(WHOOPS)
(LAUGHTER)
FRANKS: Giddyap.
♪
So, we're done?
FRANKS: Oh!
Hey! (OTHERS EXCLAIMING)
Oh, my God!
(LAUGHS)
RANDY: Double or nothing.
Double or nothing.
Again? How drunk are you?
- (RANDY LAUGHS)
- SMITTY: Hey, Randy.
Your wife is on the phone.
Smitty, tell Junie to come get his ass
before he loses the rest
of Junior's college fund.
Uh-uh. You tell her. She scares me.
Oh, hell no.
(LAUGHTER)
(LIVELY CHATTER)
MAN: Come on. Take one shot with us.
Semper fi, bitches.
Excuse me.
You lost?
Boys club's over there.
I thought "percolating" meant
talking about the case.
You can't do this job
without taking the edge off.
One thing Franks and I
actually agree on.
Bourbon. You like?
- Never had it.
- Hmm.
To percolating.
It's an acquired taste.
- Ooh.
- (LAUGHS)
So, uh
why'd you go all "Iron Mike"
on that bouncer last night?
According to the 2B, you just lost it,
started swinging, for no reason,
but I bet you had a reason.
You read my incident report,
you know more than I do.
You were that wasted?
Well, no wonder Franks
loves you so much.
You two are cut from the same cloth.
Well, that and you've been
bear-hugging his leg
like a stripper on a pole
since you got here, so
I respect authority.
Means a lot where I come from.
You mean the Corps?
Four years active, current reservist.
You want to explain it to me
some more, gunny?
Why'd you give that guy a beatdown?
Why does it matter?
Something you want to say to me?
(CHEERING NEARBY)
Bottoms up.
LALA: Shots on me, boys.
(MEN CHEERING)
FRANKS: We get inside,
some days smell worse than others.
You brace yourself, you'll be good.
Morning, Angie.
Yes, Dr. Téngalkat submitted
the autopsy report yesterday.
Where the hell's Geronimo?
Off getting drunk
at some bingo parlor somewhere?
I heard that.
- (LAUGHING): Hey.
- (LAUGHS)
Barn door's open, Ace.
- (ZIPPER ZIPS)
- TANGO: Melanie, uh, Hewitt.
Tox report just came in.
She had 100 milligrams of
methamphetamine in her system.
FRANKS: Her grandma said some bastard
got her hooked on crank.
We got eyes out there
looking for him now.
Okay, chief,
guess you're gonna make me ask,
where's the head?
(CHUCKLES)
Dr. Friedman spent the last 24 hours
completing the reconstruction.
(WHISTLES)
FRIEDMAN: Yes, yes, yes.
(CHUCKLES)
193 separate pieces.
That is why you get paid
the big bucks, Doc.
That's right.
Incredible.
You were right, Lenora.
Right about what?
Entry and exit wounds.
She was shot to death, Mike.
FRIEDMAN: Now,
the degree of damage makes
the details fuzzy, but I think
it's a small to medium caliber.
Most likely close range.
We swept her house, didn't find
any bullets or casings.
Killer must have policed his brass.
Shoots her in the head,
then torches the place to cover it up.
I'll be a son of a bitch.
RANDY: Boss, I got something new.
Got a call from a CI, said he
saw Bugs less than an hour ago.
Who? Black Kenny? No, Twitchy Tony.
- You think we can trust him?
- He sound sober?
Not at all.
Then we can trust him.
Where'd he bump into Bugs?
Give you two guesses.
- The tunnels?
- Mm-hmm.
Damn it, Randolf.
LALA: "Penetrated deeper
and deeper into the heart of darkness."
FRANKS: Can we cool
it on the Shakespeare?
Rando, you post up out here.
No one in or out.
- RANDY: Gotcha, boss.
- FRANKS: Women and children first.
I'm gonna clear the south access.
Then we meet at the chairs.
At the chairs, señorita.
LALA: Yeah, copy.
♪
♪
(GROANS)
LALA: Mike!
Lala, where are you?
LALA: The chairs.
(COUGHING)
Lala?
That him?
LALA: Nothing to worry about, Bugs.
It's like I said, I just want to talk.
Where's Mike?
Haven't seen him.
Oh, man. (GROANS, MUTTERS)
You got me, then?
I'm just gonna come and sit
with you, all right, Bugs?
- (MUTTERING)
- Just for a minute.
No, no.
LALA: Hi.
I need to touch you, okay?
Make sure you don't have anything on you
that could get you hurt.
(SIGHS, MUTTERS)
You got to hide me. I'm in the oven.
I know, but you're good.
You're good.
Listen. Bugs?
You know Melanie?
Melanie, she, uh
She's, uh, uh, I-I don't know.
I don't know.
You heard she's gone, huh?
(SOBS) She passed away?
(SNIFFLES)
Sorry, Bugs.
Hey. Let it out.
(BUGS SOBBING)
It's not just you, Bugs.
We all got a great sorrow inside.
All of us.
All of us.
- I'm in
- Get off.
the oven!
- GIBBS: Get your hands on your head.
- Gibbs, stand down.
- Get your hands on your head!
- Stand down.
Stand down!
Stop, stop. Hey.
You're just gonna let him go?
What are you gonna do? Bring him in?
Based on what?
We bring him in when we got
the evidence to hold him.
I could've got something
if you would've stood down.
You asked for cover.
That's what I gave you.
I had him.
He had his hands on you!
I said I had him.
- Hey, guy puts his hands on you,
- Gibbs did it by the book.
The book?
Mike, you never even read the book.
And you went past the chairs
when I told you to wait.
That's right, go take some pictures.
Find us some evidence.
I got to get those chairs back up
before all hell breaks loose down here.
(DOOR OPENS)
If this is an apology
It's not.
(SCOFFS)
You've got a problem with me.
I want to know why.
Could be Melanie was in the
tunnels with him at some point
if we can I.D. any of this junk as hers.
- I asked you a question.
- Hey. Hey.
Keep it down.
Those vents are a direct line
into Wheeler's office.
I'm not looking to disrespect you, Lala,
but I'm not some kid off the street.
You don't think I know that?
I was on your family's case.
Franks was your front man, yeah,
but I'm on his team,
and that was my case, too.
Your wife and daughter
I know what you've been through.
You don't know anything about me.
I know you failed your psych eval.
Franks didn't tell you?
You want to know my problem with you?
Your head's not ready for this job.
That's my problem.
What?
What?
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
♪
(WIND CHIME RATTLING)
♪
♪
(LAUGHTER)
(MOANING)
Stop going easy on me.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
(KNOCKING CONTINUES)
Whoever it is, they're not here for me.
(CHUCKLES)
(BOTH PANTING)
(URGENT KNOCKING)
What?
It's a sniper.
♪
♪
(GRUNTS)
(LAUGHING)
I'll be damned.
That's good work, probie.
Unbelievable. How the hell did you
Did I fail my eval?
What?
My psych eval. Did I fail it?
The hell told you that?
Damn her.
You vouched for me to Wheeler?
Why?
Saddle up.
We're moving out.
(ANIMAL GROWLING)
♪
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
("KICKSTART MY HEART"
BY MÖTLEY CRÜE PLAYING)
(SONG CONTINUES OVER CAR STEREO)
Impressive investigating.
Thanks.
Yeah ♪
When I get high, I get high on speed ♪
(VOLUME INCREASES)
Top fuel funny car's a drug for me ♪
My heart, my heart ♪
Kick-start my heart ♪
(VOLUME INCREASES)
Always got the cops ♪
Coming after me ♪
Custom-built bike doing 103 ♪
My heart, my heart ♪
Kick-start my heart ♪
Ooh, are you ready, girls? ♪
Ooh, are you ready now? ♪
Whoa, yeah ♪
Kick-start my heart,
hope it never stops ♪
Whoa, yeah ♪
Baby. ♪
(SONG ENDS)
LALA: Woody.
It's from the Hewitt case.
Bullet, along with the house fire?
He started the fire,
we think, to cover his tracks.
- Sniper.
- WOODY: Sniper?
- No kidding? From where?
- LALA: Hide was on base.
You know where the bison are,
up in Echo area?
I-I heard about them being up there.
Are they a docile creature, or?
I probably wouldn't try petting them.
(SIGHS)
If you could, uh,
put a rush on ballistics
Wheeler's losing his mind.
Bad PR, no suspect, you know.
I thought you already had
a guy you liked for this.
We did, but it's not him.
Dude's a meth head.
The guy who did this made the shot clean
from 1,300 yards away.
He's got some serious skills.
Well, I'll tell you one thing:
an angry Wheeler is sure as crap
not a docile creature, am I right?
(LAUGHS)
I'll put a rush on ballistics.
Give you guys a buzz this week.
Anything on the other stuff?
The bones, VHS tapes
from the crime scene?
You mean the stuff she
dropped off two days ago?
He's new.
I'm getting that.
You find the right paperwork
and fill it out.
With a pen.
Thank you, Woody.
Thank you, Woody. Nice to meet you.
WOODY: Nice to meet you.
LALA: Probie, why don't you,
uh, fill this out.
♪
The heck were you?
We had a big party come in. (SCOFFS)
My agents turn into a bunch
of animals when they're hungry,
and you know that, Sam.
Where's the egg foo yong at?
(GRUNTS)
I swear to God,
this fool and his parties.
Soy sauce?
Food's here. Coming in hot.
- Mmm!
- (CLAPS)
They forgot the egg foo yong.
(SIGHS) Oh, come on, Mary Jo.
Mary Jo's name ain't on The
Bamboo Palace. Thank you.
I ain't got nothing to do with it.
Thank you, Mary Jo.
MARY JO: Mm-hmm.
So, what, I'm supposed
to fill up on rice?
(MARY JO SIGHS, SCOFFS)
Look at this.
Do we like any of these guys?
Mm, all scout snipers.
This Grayson's got the highest
skill level, but he's also a Boy Scout.
Other four, more write-ups, less talent.
Strap on your tighty-whities.
I think I got us a winner.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Maloney,
1st Battalion, 1st Marines.
Tip-top of his sniper class.
It's not him.
(SNIFFS) RANDY: What?
What did I miss?
Is he dead or something?
I served with him. He's not capable.
- Mm It says he's in base housing.
- Mm-hmm.
He's been drawing a lot
of ammunition lately.
- He's not our guy.
- LALA: Gibbs, he got
a parking ticket outside
of base maintenance
on Fallbrook Road two days ago.
It's uncannily close to our
sniper's hide, don't you think?
He's the best suspect we got.
We question him first.
We did two hitches together.
Yeah, I get it. Foxhole bros for life.
- I'm warning you
- You're warning me?
I'm telling you
I'm telling you, he's clean.
Damn it, what the hell
is the problem here?
Like a couple of bucktooth chinchillas
squawking each other to death.
(RANDY LAUGHS)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Sorry. Y-You made me picture it.
Randy, probie, hit up Maloney
first thing in the morning.
Now, get out of here. Go home,
'cause I will be damned
if I'm gonna fill up on rice.
Franks, let me talk to him alone first.
I owe him that much.
Probie, I don't care what kind
of IOUs you got floating where.
We go where the evidence
takes us. You hear me?
Do your damn job.
- Yes, sir.
- (DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER CAR STEREO)
I don't know you,
but I want to know you ♪
RANDY: When the suspect
is someone you know,
you got to think of it
like clearing the deck.
This one time, we had to question
my wife's lady-parts doctor.
(WHISTLES)
I tell you what,
we cleared the deck quick.
He delivered my boy,
only charged us half price.
Junior's a big kid, too.
And I'm only five-nine in boots.
Glad he had red hair.
Otherwise
I would've been second-guessing
my whole situation.
Floating in paradise ♪
I'll do the talking again, okay?
Let me be the bad guy.
Paradise ♪
(JET ENGINE WHOOSHING)
Hey. ♪
(SONG FADES)
Are you boys hungry?
I can put some sandwiches together.
Happy you stopped, gunny. Real happy.
Yeah, I meant to send
a card or something
about your family, but
- You know me. I just
- Where were you Monday?
I thought
Thought you were just
stopping to say hey.
We're investigating the
death of Melanie Hewitt.
That fire in Fallbrook?
I-I-I saw it on the news.
- KEVIN: What's that got to do with me?
- Where were you Monday?
Uh, last Monday?
Would've been
I was visiting my ma
down in Chula Vista.
Got a couple days leave,
left the night before.
You know, a sandwich actually
sounds great, Mrs. Maloney.
(STAMMERS SOFTLY)
You weren't visiting your mom on Monday.
You were on base.
- (SCOFFS)
- You got a parking ticket
outside base maintenance
on Fallbrook Road.
You want to try again, Staff Sergeant?
I took the motorcycle to see my ma.
Jess had my car.
Couple months ago, I caught her
with this douchebag.
He works at base maintenance.
- She said it was over.
- RANDY: Aw, man.
I'm sorry.
Why you been drawing so much ammo?
What? What do you
Last two months,
you've been drawing ammo,
signing in at the ranges,
running your shot.
Why?
Why? (HITS TABLE)
I was training for re-qual.
(SIGHS)
Gibbs.
KEVIN: She said it
was over with that dude.
She said it was done.
(CRYING)
Hey, babe.
Stopped on the way home.
Thought I'd save you the trip.
Tish?
(SHOWER RUNNING)
Tish?
(CRYING)
♪
OLDER GIBBS: It's hard not
to bring them home with you.
(DOOR OPENS)
It's hard not to bring them
everywhere with you.
The stories go where you go.
Stories that got cut short.
(PAGER BEEPING)
- (SIREN WAILING)
- (SNIFFLES SOFTLY)
OLDER GIBBS: It was
our job to tell those stories.
(CAMERA CLICKING)
No matter how much
they took from us.
Witnesses never saw a shooter.
Said the bullets came from nowhere.
Gibbs,
this is our sniper.
♪
♪
OLDER GIBBS: It was our job
to get to an end we could live with.
To tell an ending of justice,
no matter the cost.
But this one
wasn't like the others.
This is a story I don't tell.
This is the story
of her.
(WIND WHISTLING)
♪
OLDER GIBBS: My dad used to say,
"Wherever you go, there you are."
I guess he was right.
No matter how hard you try
or in my case,
how far you go
you can't ever
leave it all behind.
(BLOWS SOFTLY)
There is no such thing
as a clean slate.
They're always there.
They're always with you.
The stories you've told.
Hell, even worse
the ones you never could.
This is a story I don't tell.
("PORCH" BY PEARL JAM PLAYING)
(LAUGHTER)
All the bills go by
and initiatives are taken up ♪
By the middle ♪
There ain't gonna be
any middle anymore ♪
And the cross I'm bearing home
ain't indicative of my place ♪
Left the porch, left the porch ♪
Oh, oh, oh ♪
Oh ♪
Hear my name, take a good look ♪
This could be the day ♪
Hold my hand ♪
Gibbs.
Heard you had another
rough night at Daly's.
They call you in to press charges?
No.
Reporting to work.
What the hell, man?
Okay.
(SONG FADES)
(SOLDIERS CHANTING CADENCE INDISTINCTLY)
(BIRDS SQUAWKING)
There he is,
the newly minted Special Agent Gibbs.
I'm on your squad. I'm Bernard Randolf,
but folks call me Randy.
Good to meet you, Randy.
I'm trying to quit.
You ready to catch some bad guys?
Hey, Saint Peter,
give me cloud number nine ♪
And tell my daddy
that Junior's on the line ♪
Oh, sweet Lord, someday
I'll be talking to you ♪
Yeah, I wanna speak man-to-man ♪
With the man
that used to moan the blues ♪
(PAGER BEEPING)
MAN (CHUCKLING): I miss you, too.
(BANGING)
- Mind if I cut in, fella?
- Huh?
I got me an urgent call to make.
Promise it won't take but a minute.
Sorry, baby. Some jagoff's
breathing down my neck.
(SCOFFS)
What, are you gonna
fight me over a pay phone?
No, I'm gonna fight you
'cause I don't like you.
Phone's a bonus.
You some kind of cop?
Pretend you didn't see that.
Hey, baby, I got to call you back, okay?
Thank you kindly, pal.
(TIRES SQUEALING, VEHICLE DEPARTING)
Yeah, it's Franks.
Here we are.
That's JJ. That's Roger, Artie, Carl.
- Leroy Gibbs.
- How you doing?
- Good.
- Hey, you guys still think
I'm the number-one looker
around here, right?
(LAUGHTER) They like you already.
Evidence locker is down and to the left.
Custodian is Kowalski.
- Hey, how'd you like FLETC?
- Better than boot camp.
- And how long did you?
- Darn it.
Here's the kitchen.
They spray for roaches.
Eat at your own risk.
You see them Nets last night?
Coleman he's a beast, man.
How long you put in?
- Huh?
- Marines.
Uh, in at 18, out right before this.
- Scout sniper?
- Mm.
Wow. Remind me not to piss you off.
Um, locker room's downstairs.
Oh, we have a gym down there.
Well, by gym, I mean a bench press
and a VCR with a couple
of those Jane Fonda tapes.
I think those are your tapes,
aren't they, Agent Strickland?
- Oh, bite me, Randy.
- Love you, too, Vera.
Rec room.
Looking like Pelé over here. (LAUGHTER)
And here we have
the infamous Mary Jo Hayes.
If you want to know where
the bodies are buried
around here, she's the gal to ask.
Head secretary in charge.
Welcome to the nuthouse, sweetie.
SAC's office it's
right up there. Wheeler.
He's top dog around here.
Honestly, he's fine
as long as you don't
have to talk to him.
And here we are.
This is home sweet home.
This is you right here.
That bad boy just arrived last week.
IBM PC 3340,
12-inch color display.
(WHISTLES)
Hey, I basically
peed myself my first day.
Not even basically.
There was just a little bit
running down my leg.
(LAUGHS)
So, if you need anything, I'm here.
You want me to get you
a copy of the manual?
I'm sure it's easy enough.
I'll figure it out.
Damn thing will probably be
in the trash in a month.
At ease, Marine.
You ain't in the muck no more.
I ain't your commanding officer.
I'm just your boss.
Yes, sir boss.
I didn't say "sit."
Got a burned-up body
out in Fallbrook waiting for us.
Dominguez ain't in? Where is she?
RANDY: Where she always is, I guessing.
- Already at the scene.
- I just got the call
15 minutes ago,
so who the hell's calling her?
Gear up, damn it!
Uh
Where's my gear?
Sir? Boss?
♪
Damn, Pete,
you bring the whole county?
DEPUTY SHERIFF JONES:
Minute we I.D.'d the girl
as military spouse,
I pulled my guys out.
FRANKS: Nice it didn't have
to come to blows this time.
JONES: Couple of hikers
saw the smoke a little
after 7:00 this morning, called it in.
FRANKS: You figure what started it?
JONES: Your Agent Dominguez
located the ignition point
ten minutes after she got here.
Girl got herself a drive, doesn't she?
And when exactly did she get here?
The hell did she do now?
It's not her.
Look,
what's in that house
it ain't godly.
(WATER DRIPPING, BONES CLINKING)
WOMAN: Reminds me of when I was little.
There was this garter snake
in the ditch by our house.
Our mom said, "Snakes are cursed."
She said, "Stay away from it."
Of course, then I was adamant
I was gonna catch the thing.
I would try grabbing it,
but it would slip
through my hands every time.
Then one day, I go out,
and it's lying there dead.
Coyote just ripped the skin clean off.
And the bones.
They were smiling at me
like a row of teeth.
All I could think was
that snake wasn't cursed.
It was just a pile of bones
trying to get by like the rest of us.
You got any thoughts on that?
The snake?
These bones?
What the hell they're doing here?
Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Lala.
So, you're on my squad, then?
Nope. You're on mine.
Just watch your step, Marine.
Scene's already
been contaminated enough.
♪
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
RANDY: Melanie Hewitt, 33.
Husband was Sergeant Lance Hewitt,
KIA in Kuwait nine months ago.
LALA: Fire started in the stove.
FRANKS: You don't say?
You know, good thing
you got here so early
to figure that out.
It wasn't an accident.
I thought I caught a whiff of acetone,
so I did a little digging,
and I found this.
It's from a big-ass bottle
of nail polish remover.
Must have made for quite the accelerant.
Doc Tango wants us to get her clear.
Rando.
RANDY: Okay.
FRANKS: On three. One, two, three.
(STRAINING)
(GRUNTING, PANTING)
(GASPING BREATHS)
You okay, man?
Good start.
(CAMERA WHIRRING)
(SIGHS)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
Seeing a body like that,
don't matter what you saw in war.
That's war.
I don't know why, but it's
different seeing it at home.
(EXHALES SHARPLY)
You're doing fine, probie.
What is this?
Hell if I know.
Must have been dozens of them
things in her house,
all shapes and sizes.
WHEELER: Any idea what this,
uh, Melanie Hewitt was into?
I think it's safe to say
it wasn't church on Sundays.
You're thinking satanic?
I'm thinking somebody wanted her dead.
Hell, maybe the devil
told 'em to go buy a boatload
of accelerant to burn her up.
That's your theory?
(CHUCKLES) That's what we got
till we got more.
Not so fast, Mike.
How'd your boy do out there?
Who, Gibbs?
Did great. Duck on a pond.
He and Randy are headed to talk
to the vic's grandma right now.
If he is not up to snuff,
I want your word
you're gonna cut him loose.
Sure thing. But you ain't
got to worry about Gibbs.
- He's capable.
- He's crazy.
Oh, stop. He ain't
He failed his psych eval.
That is the definition of crazy.
And if my wife and daughter
were murdered,
I would be crazy, too.
We've been over this, Cliff.
The new version of that test is
about as dependable
as a two-dollar watch.
Standards were raised for a reason.
Benny was licking the damn bodies.
(LAUGHS)
Mike, you've got us both
out on a limb here.
And for what?
Why'd you make it your business
to bring this guy in?
If Agent Gibbs tongue-bathes
even one corpse,
we'll give him his walking papers.
You got my word.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
♪
Whole family's got a dark side, huh?
Pentagram.
That ain't no pentagram out there.
And I ain't no devil worshipper.
And neither was my granddaughter.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
I misspoke.
Truth is, when I saw
those things for the first time,
I thought about splashing them
with holy water myself.
What exactly are they?
Art, stupid.
Might not be your cup of tea,
but that was my baby's passion, and
(SIGHS)
I was so proud of her.
She read a book on some ancient Asians
that built those totems for protection.
And she brought a few here to me.
She said, "Grandma,
they'll keep you safe."
Lot of good they did her.
What'd you do?
Get into a fight?
Should take off that ring.
The swelling, it'll
cut off your circulation.
It's fine. I'm okay.
MARIA: I used to be an RN.
Trust me, take it off
while you still can.
Your wife, she'll understand.
Those are all of M-Melanie?
MARIA: Yeah. My Mellie.
She loved working with her hands.
I raised her since she was a baby.
Yeah.
That was Mother's Day.
I still remember her
bursting through that door
to give it to me.
MARIA: After her husband died,
she lost her way.
KELLY: Smiley face.
No, Kelly, don't you do it.
Don't you dare.
Then some lowlife got her hooked
into that, uh, methamphetamine.
You want to know who
burned down my baby's house?
You find that son of a bitch.
Can you give us his name?
I heard folks call him Bugs.
(MARIA WHIMPERS SOFTLY)
All right, boys, look alive.
Jamison "Bugs" Boyd.
Narcotics distribution, '88.
B and E, resisting, '89.
Since then, he's been
on the milk carton.
Probably off doing
charity work somewhere.
Make-A-Wish or something.
Grandma said he got Melanie
hooked on meth.
Maybe she OD'd,
dummy panicked and lit up the place.
Last known address?
His mom's house, '82.
What about our CIs?
If we're gonna catch this prick,
we're gonna need
some other pricks to help.
Yes.
Already started working our phone log
I wasn't asking you.
He a mute at the grandma's house, too?
Probie! You know, this job
sometimes involves talking.
- I know, boss.
- FRANKS: Good.
Informants. Talk.
Well, these guys put out feelers
to all of them.
A couple said that Bugs is
still in the area.
One guy, Kenny, thinks
he can get us a location.
- White Kenny or Black Kenny?
- Black Kenny.
White Kenny is dead.
He took a header off Coronado Bridge
- last Christmas.
- (GROANS)
I'll try digging up
more info on this Bugs guy,
see if I can't find out
where he's staying.
That's not the move tonight, probie.
We best do some percolating.
(WHOOPS)
(LAUGHTER)
FRANKS: Giddyap.
♪
So, we're done?
FRANKS: Oh!
Hey! (OTHERS EXCLAIMING)
Oh, my God!
(LAUGHS)
RANDY: Double or nothing.
Double or nothing.
Again? How drunk are you?
- (RANDY LAUGHS)
- SMITTY: Hey, Randy.
Your wife is on the phone.
Smitty, tell Junie to come get his ass
before he loses the rest
of Junior's college fund.
Uh-uh. You tell her. She scares me.
Oh, hell no.
(LAUGHTER)
(LIVELY CHATTER)
MAN: Come on. Take one shot with us.
Semper fi, bitches.
Excuse me.
You lost?
Boys club's over there.
I thought "percolating" meant
talking about the case.
You can't do this job
without taking the edge off.
One thing Franks and I
actually agree on.
Bourbon. You like?
- Never had it.
- Hmm.
To percolating.
It's an acquired taste.
- Ooh.
- (LAUGHS)
So, uh
why'd you go all "Iron Mike"
on that bouncer last night?
According to the 2B, you just lost it,
started swinging, for no reason,
but I bet you had a reason.
You read my incident report,
you know more than I do.
You were that wasted?
Well, no wonder Franks
loves you so much.
You two are cut from the same cloth.
Well, that and you've been
bear-hugging his leg
like a stripper on a pole
since you got here, so
I respect authority.
Means a lot where I come from.
You mean the Corps?
Four years active, current reservist.
You want to explain it to me
some more, gunny?
Why'd you give that guy a beatdown?
Why does it matter?
Something you want to say to me?
(CHEERING NEARBY)
Bottoms up.
LALA: Shots on me, boys.
(MEN CHEERING)
FRANKS: We get inside,
some days smell worse than others.
You brace yourself, you'll be good.
Morning, Angie.
Yes, Dr. Téngalkat submitted
the autopsy report yesterday.
Where the hell's Geronimo?
Off getting drunk
at some bingo parlor somewhere?
I heard that.
- (LAUGHING): Hey.
- (LAUGHS)
Barn door's open, Ace.
- (ZIPPER ZIPS)
- TANGO: Melanie, uh, Hewitt.
Tox report just came in.
She had 100 milligrams of
methamphetamine in her system.
FRANKS: Her grandma said some bastard
got her hooked on crank.
We got eyes out there
looking for him now.
Okay, chief,
guess you're gonna make me ask,
where's the head?
(CHUCKLES)
Dr. Friedman spent the last 24 hours
completing the reconstruction.
(WHISTLES)
FRIEDMAN: Yes, yes, yes.
(CHUCKLES)
193 separate pieces.
That is why you get paid
the big bucks, Doc.
That's right.
Incredible.
You were right, Lenora.
Right about what?
Entry and exit wounds.
She was shot to death, Mike.
FRIEDMAN: Now,
the degree of damage makes
the details fuzzy, but I think
it's a small to medium caliber.
Most likely close range.
We swept her house, didn't find
any bullets or casings.
Killer must have policed his brass.
Shoots her in the head,
then torches the place to cover it up.
I'll be a son of a bitch.
RANDY: Boss, I got something new.
Got a call from a CI, said he
saw Bugs less than an hour ago.
Who? Black Kenny? No, Twitchy Tony.
- You think we can trust him?
- He sound sober?
Not at all.
Then we can trust him.
Where'd he bump into Bugs?
Give you two guesses.
- The tunnels?
- Mm-hmm.
Damn it, Randolf.
LALA: "Penetrated deeper
and deeper into the heart of darkness."
FRANKS: Can we cool
it on the Shakespeare?
Rando, you post up out here.
No one in or out.
- RANDY: Gotcha, boss.
- FRANKS: Women and children first.
I'm gonna clear the south access.
Then we meet at the chairs.
At the chairs, señorita.
LALA: Yeah, copy.
♪
♪
(GROANS)
LALA: Mike!
Lala, where are you?
LALA: The chairs.
(COUGHING)
Lala?
That him?
LALA: Nothing to worry about, Bugs.
It's like I said, I just want to talk.
Where's Mike?
Haven't seen him.
Oh, man. (GROANS, MUTTERS)
You got me, then?
I'm just gonna come and sit
with you, all right, Bugs?
- (MUTTERING)
- Just for a minute.
No, no.
LALA: Hi.
I need to touch you, okay?
Make sure you don't have anything on you
that could get you hurt.
(SIGHS, MUTTERS)
You got to hide me. I'm in the oven.
I know, but you're good.
You're good.
Listen. Bugs?
You know Melanie?
Melanie, she, uh
She's, uh, uh, I-I don't know.
I don't know.
You heard she's gone, huh?
(SOBS) She passed away?
(SNIFFLES)
Sorry, Bugs.
Hey. Let it out.
(BUGS SOBBING)
It's not just you, Bugs.
We all got a great sorrow inside.
All of us.
All of us.
- I'm in
- Get off.
the oven!
- GIBBS: Get your hands on your head.
- Gibbs, stand down.
- Get your hands on your head!
- Stand down.
Stand down!
Stop, stop. Hey.
You're just gonna let him go?
What are you gonna do? Bring him in?
Based on what?
We bring him in when we got
the evidence to hold him.
I could've got something
if you would've stood down.
You asked for cover.
That's what I gave you.
I had him.
He had his hands on you!
I said I had him.
- Hey, guy puts his hands on you,
- Gibbs did it by the book.
The book?
Mike, you never even read the book.
And you went past the chairs
when I told you to wait.
That's right, go take some pictures.
Find us some evidence.
I got to get those chairs back up
before all hell breaks loose down here.
(DOOR OPENS)
If this is an apology
It's not.
(SCOFFS)
You've got a problem with me.
I want to know why.
Could be Melanie was in the
tunnels with him at some point
if we can I.D. any of this junk as hers.
- I asked you a question.
- Hey. Hey.
Keep it down.
Those vents are a direct line
into Wheeler's office.
I'm not looking to disrespect you, Lala,
but I'm not some kid off the street.
You don't think I know that?
I was on your family's case.
Franks was your front man, yeah,
but I'm on his team,
and that was my case, too.
Your wife and daughter
I know what you've been through.
You don't know anything about me.
I know you failed your psych eval.
Franks didn't tell you?
You want to know my problem with you?
Your head's not ready for this job.
That's my problem.
What?
What?
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
♪
(WIND CHIME RATTLING)
♪
♪
(LAUGHTER)
(MOANING)
Stop going easy on me.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
(KNOCKING CONTINUES)
Whoever it is, they're not here for me.
(CHUCKLES)
(BOTH PANTING)
(URGENT KNOCKING)
What?
It's a sniper.
♪
♪
(GRUNTS)
(LAUGHING)
I'll be damned.
That's good work, probie.
Unbelievable. How the hell did you
Did I fail my eval?
What?
My psych eval. Did I fail it?
The hell told you that?
Damn her.
You vouched for me to Wheeler?
Why?
Saddle up.
We're moving out.
(ANIMAL GROWLING)
♪
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
("KICKSTART MY HEART"
BY MÖTLEY CRÜE PLAYING)
(SONG CONTINUES OVER CAR STEREO)
Impressive investigating.
Thanks.
Yeah ♪
When I get high, I get high on speed ♪
(VOLUME INCREASES)
Top fuel funny car's a drug for me ♪
My heart, my heart ♪
Kick-start my heart ♪
(VOLUME INCREASES)
Always got the cops ♪
Coming after me ♪
Custom-built bike doing 103 ♪
My heart, my heart ♪
Kick-start my heart ♪
Ooh, are you ready, girls? ♪
Ooh, are you ready now? ♪
Whoa, yeah ♪
Kick-start my heart,
hope it never stops ♪
Whoa, yeah ♪
Baby. ♪
(SONG ENDS)
LALA: Woody.
It's from the Hewitt case.
Bullet, along with the house fire?
He started the fire,
we think, to cover his tracks.
- Sniper.
- WOODY: Sniper?
- No kidding? From where?
- LALA: Hide was on base.
You know where the bison are,
up in Echo area?
I-I heard about them being up there.
Are they a docile creature, or?
I probably wouldn't try petting them.
(SIGHS)
If you could, uh,
put a rush on ballistics
Wheeler's losing his mind.
Bad PR, no suspect, you know.
I thought you already had
a guy you liked for this.
We did, but it's not him.
Dude's a meth head.
The guy who did this made the shot clean
from 1,300 yards away.
He's got some serious skills.
Well, I'll tell you one thing:
an angry Wheeler is sure as crap
not a docile creature, am I right?
(LAUGHS)
I'll put a rush on ballistics.
Give you guys a buzz this week.
Anything on the other stuff?
The bones, VHS tapes
from the crime scene?
You mean the stuff she
dropped off two days ago?
He's new.
I'm getting that.
You find the right paperwork
and fill it out.
With a pen.
Thank you, Woody.
Thank you, Woody. Nice to meet you.
WOODY: Nice to meet you.
LALA: Probie, why don't you,
uh, fill this out.
♪
The heck were you?
We had a big party come in. (SCOFFS)
My agents turn into a bunch
of animals when they're hungry,
and you know that, Sam.
Where's the egg foo yong at?
(GRUNTS)
I swear to God,
this fool and his parties.
Soy sauce?
Food's here. Coming in hot.
- Mmm!
- (CLAPS)
They forgot the egg foo yong.
(SIGHS) Oh, come on, Mary Jo.
Mary Jo's name ain't on The
Bamboo Palace. Thank you.
I ain't got nothing to do with it.
Thank you, Mary Jo.
MARY JO: Mm-hmm.
So, what, I'm supposed
to fill up on rice?
(MARY JO SIGHS, SCOFFS)
Look at this.
Do we like any of these guys?
Mm, all scout snipers.
This Grayson's got the highest
skill level, but he's also a Boy Scout.
Other four, more write-ups, less talent.
Strap on your tighty-whities.
I think I got us a winner.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Maloney,
1st Battalion, 1st Marines.
Tip-top of his sniper class.
It's not him.
(SNIFFS) RANDY: What?
What did I miss?
Is he dead or something?
I served with him. He's not capable.
- Mm It says he's in base housing.
- Mm-hmm.
He's been drawing a lot
of ammunition lately.
- He's not our guy.
- LALA: Gibbs, he got
a parking ticket outside
of base maintenance
on Fallbrook Road two days ago.
It's uncannily close to our
sniper's hide, don't you think?
He's the best suspect we got.
We question him first.
We did two hitches together.
Yeah, I get it. Foxhole bros for life.
- I'm warning you
- You're warning me?
I'm telling you
I'm telling you, he's clean.
Damn it, what the hell
is the problem here?
Like a couple of bucktooth chinchillas
squawking each other to death.
(RANDY LAUGHS)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Sorry. Y-You made me picture it.
Randy, probie, hit up Maloney
first thing in the morning.
Now, get out of here. Go home,
'cause I will be damned
if I'm gonna fill up on rice.
Franks, let me talk to him alone first.
I owe him that much.
Probie, I don't care what kind
of IOUs you got floating where.
We go where the evidence
takes us. You hear me?
Do your damn job.
- Yes, sir.
- (DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER CAR STEREO)
I don't know you,
but I want to know you ♪
RANDY: When the suspect
is someone you know,
you got to think of it
like clearing the deck.
This one time, we had to question
my wife's lady-parts doctor.
(WHISTLES)
I tell you what,
we cleared the deck quick.
He delivered my boy,
only charged us half price.
Junior's a big kid, too.
And I'm only five-nine in boots.
Glad he had red hair.
Otherwise
I would've been second-guessing
my whole situation.
Floating in paradise ♪
I'll do the talking again, okay?
Let me be the bad guy.
Paradise ♪
(JET ENGINE WHOOSHING)
Hey. ♪
(SONG FADES)
Are you boys hungry?
I can put some sandwiches together.
Happy you stopped, gunny. Real happy.
Yeah, I meant to send
a card or something
about your family, but
- You know me. I just
- Where were you Monday?
I thought
Thought you were just
stopping to say hey.
We're investigating the
death of Melanie Hewitt.
That fire in Fallbrook?
I-I-I saw it on the news.
- KEVIN: What's that got to do with me?
- Where were you Monday?
Uh, last Monday?
Would've been
I was visiting my ma
down in Chula Vista.
Got a couple days leave,
left the night before.
You know, a sandwich actually
sounds great, Mrs. Maloney.
(STAMMERS SOFTLY)
You weren't visiting your mom on Monday.
You were on base.
- (SCOFFS)
- You got a parking ticket
outside base maintenance
on Fallbrook Road.
You want to try again, Staff Sergeant?
I took the motorcycle to see my ma.
Jess had my car.
Couple months ago, I caught her
with this douchebag.
He works at base maintenance.
- She said it was over.
- RANDY: Aw, man.
I'm sorry.
Why you been drawing so much ammo?
What? What do you
Last two months,
you've been drawing ammo,
signing in at the ranges,
running your shot.
Why?
Why? (HITS TABLE)
I was training for re-qual.
(SIGHS)
Gibbs.
KEVIN: She said it
was over with that dude.
She said it was done.
(CRYING)
Hey, babe.
Stopped on the way home.
Thought I'd save you the trip.
Tish?
(SHOWER RUNNING)
Tish?
(CRYING)
♪
OLDER GIBBS: It's hard not
to bring them home with you.
(DOOR OPENS)
It's hard not to bring them
everywhere with you.
The stories go where you go.
Stories that got cut short.
(PAGER BEEPING)
- (SIREN WAILING)
- (SNIFFLES SOFTLY)
OLDER GIBBS: It was
our job to tell those stories.
(CAMERA CLICKING)
No matter how much
they took from us.
Witnesses never saw a shooter.
Said the bullets came from nowhere.
Gibbs,
this is our sniper.
♪
♪
OLDER GIBBS: It was our job
to get to an end we could live with.
To tell an ending of justice,
no matter the cost.
But this one
wasn't like the others.
This is a story I don't tell.
This is the story
of her.