NCIS: Hawai'i (2021) s02e19 Episode Script

Base, this is Uchida.
Approximately 300 meters out.
Collecting samples, and then I'm RTB.
WATKINS: Copy. Make 'em good this time.
Negative, Habitat.
I'm gonna make sure they're the
best samples you've ever seen.
(STATIC)
Can't even get a "copy"
on the attempt at a joke.
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
WATKINS: Graham? Graham, what's wrong?
Uchida, there's an urgent situation.
Return to base now!
(PANTING)
GRAHAM: You're not listening.
Graham, just talk to me.
(PANTING): We
We need to get out of here.
And go where?
Home.
You know we can't do that.
(DOOR OPENS, AIR HISSES)
Graham, what's wrong?
We're all going to die in here.
Graham!
Oh, my God. We need to call for help!
He's not breathing. Starting CPR.
Habitat to Mission Control.
It appears Commander Graham
is in cardiac arrest.
How should we proceed?
Tell 'em to call 911!
UCHIDA: Come on, Graham! Come on!
Stay with us.
Come on, Graham. Graham.
Did I hear you right on the phone
that there was a death on Mars,
or is that a product
of my lack of caffeine?
Thank you. NASA's Mars simulation
on Navy land here on Oahu.
I mean, it's like we're
living in science fiction.
Except no Matt Damon.
Just, uh, Lieutenant Commander
Darren Graham.
All the right stuff. Flew Super Hornets
before transitioning to space shuttles.
Well, do we know how he died?
Officials involved in the simulation
are calling it "an acute"
- "medical event."
- JESSE: I'm just gonna say it.
"Government coverup" is the last square
on the sci-fi bingo card.
They still may be trying
to find out what happened.
Now, why are they out there
playing pretend Mars anyway?
ERNIE: The volcanoes on Hawai'i have
the same basaltic composition
as those on Mars, making it
a great testing site for NASA
to understand and counter
the physical and mental challenges
the astronauts will
face on the Red Planet.
KAI: Wow. I was gonna
say, 'cause certain parts just
they look like Mars, but your
answer is, like, way more informed.
Well, going to Mars has sort of
been a dream of mine.
Actually, advancing humanity
is the dream.
Space exploration felt
like a good way to do it.
Oh. That's so much more mature
than my childhood dream.
JESSE: Oh, yeah?
What was that?
To own the Dallas Cowboys.
(QUIET LAUGHTER) That's cool.
Well, it was Graham's dream
to go on this mission,
and he wound up dead.
So we need to figure out why.
Simulations like this are planned down
to every second, every bolt.
Every dead body?
Yes, actually.
I mean, point is,
access is going
to be a problem, even for you.
Guess we'll have to ask nicely, then.
(INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION)
This area is restricted.
Special Agent in Charge Tennant.
This is Special Agent Holman. NCIS.
Colonel Tannon McCarthy, Space Force.
I'm overseeing NASA's joint operations
here on island. Is there a problem?
I'm sorry.
I I've never seen a Space Force
uniform in in person before.
I like the buttons.
TENNANT: The problem
is, we need to get in
to process the scene.
This is a highly-sensitive mission.
I've already left word
with Director Vance.
Went straight to the top.
The only people who can go up
there are those with clearances.
Oh, we-we have clearances.
And who have been read in
to our special access programs.
Past this gate is a $50 million
mission-in-progress
with state-of-the-art tech
that only a couple of dozen people
on Earth have seen in person.
I think a dead Navy pilot
trumps your sunk costs.
This mission only works if we exist
as if those astronauts
on that hill are really on Mars.
Are you saying we can't even go up there
and extract Commander Graham's body?
We're handling the body and
the situation per guidelines,
as if they were really on Mars.
How did Commander Graham die?
We think maybe by natural causes.
So you're saying it's illness?
It's too early to say definitively.
In which case, it could be accidental,
maybe even the result of foul play.
- Foul play?
- Look, if you don't know
his cause of death
and can't rule those out,
then that scene and that evidence
need to be preserved
for proper investigation.
Is there anyone on your team
capable of processing the crime scene
per guidelines, as though
we were really on Earth?
What kind of procedures?
I think that's a no.
Come with me.
This way.
This is all I can
authorize at this time.
We record all transmissions,
we have monitors set up
for observations.
We keep detailed records
of all health indicators.
You want answers, they're here.
All right, take statements
and head back to Pearl.
Check in with the rest of the team.
What about forensics?
Working on it.
Right.
Were you recording Commander Graham's
vitals at the time of his death?
We know he had a massive cardiac event.
His heart rate spiked
to over 200 beats per minute.
Any prior medical history?
Commander Graham had
a clean bill of health
during his evaluation,
as did all of the astronauts.
So, in other words,
a perfectly healthy Navy pilot
had a cardiac event
and died for no reason.
Do you have video footage of the event?
Go ahead.
Hey, hey, Graham, what's wrong?
(PANTING)
- He was trying to get out.
- We're all gonna die in here.
The rest of the crew wouldn't let him.
It sounds like he's suffering
from extreme anxiety.
Cabin fever? No way.
These astronauts go through
serious psych evaluation.
Okay, well, something anomalous happened
that your background checks
didn't predict.
The longer we wait, the less time
we have to find out what it was.
Better to figure out
what happened in Hawai'i
than hope it doesn't
happen again on Mars.
Right?
UCHIDA: Come on, stay with us.
LUCY: You got to be kidding me.
Every one of these astronauts
is an immigrant parent's dream.
Seriously, my parents
would love this guy:
dual master's degree
in economics and electrical engineering.
If it says he plays the piano
Yup, there you go. Concert pianist.
They are exceptional.
- Surprised you didn't apply.
- Please.
Each of these astronauts have
made an incredible contribution
to science and mankind,
including Commander Graham.
Defies logic, doesn't it?
Completely healthy guy,
living his best life,
panics and drops dead.
I'm not a conspiracy theorist
But here comes one anyway.
Would another country try
to sabotage the simulation?
- Oh, totally.
- So it's not far-fetched?
No, it is.
These projects are
heavily guarded against espionage.
You know that from your NSA days?
We had counterintelligence ops
running at holiday picnics.
(DOOR OPENS)
I have some good news.
How did the FBI get roped into this?
We didn't. Lucy asked
if I know anybody at NASA,
and well, I do.
That's my girlfriend.
ERNIE: I think what
heart-eyes over here meant
to say is, "Any breakthroughs?"
Not a breakthrough, per se, but
a break in red tape. I think I found
a loophole that would
let an investigator inside.
- That's amazing. How?
- Well, turns out,
one of us applied
to the Mission to Mars program
years ago and is eligible to be read in
and admitted into the habitat.
One of us?
You did apply.
But I didn't get in.
I didn't think it mattered.
Well, here's your chance
to be an astronaut.
MCCARTHY: Absolutely not.
You said only authorized personnel
with proper credentials
could set foot inside.
This is highly unusual.
But not unplanned for.
A part of the simulation will
involve direct handovers, won't it?
- There you go direct handovers.
- You don't know what that is.
I don't have to. He does.
ERNIE: New personnel replace old ones.
Me showing up to the habitat
isn't much different.
Except it's not part of the plan.
One of your crew members
dying wasn't either.
If you were meant to be in the habitat,
you'd already be in there.
I know I didn't make the cut,
but the last thing I want to do
is interfere with something
I would have killed to be a part of.
Sorry. Bad choice of word.
They're actually letting you in!
Well, "actually" is doing
a lot of heavy lifting.
(BEEPING)
Sorry. I
I mean it in a good way.
We need someone inside,
and who better than the guy
who can do anything?
Thanks, Luce. Hey, do me a favor?
- What's this?
- My mom got it for me when I was a kid.
They won't let me bring it,
so maybe you can hold onto it for me?
You're taking the rules very seriously.
It's a serious operation up there.
But I think I'm ready.
IPad for capturing data.
Portable oxygen.
Hopefully won't need that.
Pencils?
All else fails, old tech is still tech.
Good to know you're prepared for Mars.
Doing okay, though?
Yeah, why not? I'm finally
going to this place
I've only ever been able
to imagine myself in.
But to investigate a mysterious death,
not exactly how you pictured it?
- You got any pointers?
- Oh, yeah, sure. Let's see.
Uh, step one is the arrival, assessment,
prioritization of effort.
You want to minimize contamination while
protecting the scene, and then
there are subordinate steps
on how to do that,
depending on what kind
of evidence you find
I'm sorry. How-how many steps
Subordinate or otherwise Are there?
A lot, but, you know,
forget all that.
Here's the one thing
that you need to know.
Just be you, 'cause you're enough.
TENNANT: How you feeling, Ernie?
Exhilarated and uncoordinated.
(AIR HISSES)
(GROANS)
(AIR HISSES)
Colonel Watkins, Commander of HI-MES.
Hey. Hi. Uh, uh,
can you help me with this?
Yeah, let me help you. Uh,
these things are tricky at first.
Thanks.
Welcome to the HI-MES Habitat.
(DOOR CLOSES)
WATKINS: Let me
introduce you to the team.
Lending you a hand Our bio researcher
and designated medical officer
Dr. Lara
Lara Uchida. I'm Ernie Malik.
I am a big fan. Sorry,
that must seem weird.
It's just that your work
culturing microbes have led researchers
to boldly grow
where no man has grown before.
Just like Dr. Hampton's micro-reactors
are paving the way
for renewables.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'll be out of here as soon as I can.
We're glad you're here.
- No, not all of us.
- WATKINS: Major Thomas Mullen.
You do realize, one mistake,
and you'll ruin the simulation?
You have a very intense way
of saying hello.
I'll take you to Commander Graham.
Okay.
Mixed reception.
You expected different?
I expected everyone to want to know
why one of their fellow
crew members is dead.
What would you do if your life's work
was coming apart at the seams?
Well, some value life over a calling.
And to some, a calling is their life.
ERNIE: I know this must be hard
for all of you, but I do need
to ask some questions.
Of course.
Did you notice anything
different about Graham lately?
Physically? Nothing except
a slightly-elevated
body temperature this morning.
Is that unusual?
We've all had
slightly-elevated temps of late
and have been fine.
(BEEP) Okay.
What about
I don't know, emotionally?
He hadn't exactly been himself
the last couple of days.
Talked about abandoning the mission,
wanting to leave.
Could he have been homesick?
We're all homesick,
but it's only three months.
But Graham still panicked.
Unlike anything I've ever seen before.
And minutes later, he was gone.
You weren't able
to identify cause of death?
I-I went to med school,
but I do research.
I never practiced.
You need your ankle wrapped,
I'm your person.
Autopsies, not so much.
Are you a medical examiner?
No. Computer specialist, actually.
But one of my best friends is.
(MOUTHING) (SIGHS)
I've gone through all
of Graham's psych evals.
- Mm-hmm.
- And cabin fever isn't tracking.
- I didn't think so.
- I mean,
cockpits are much more
claustrophobic than a dome.
So much sky,
such a tiny little compartment.
I-I got you a surfboard
for us to take out
together this weekend.
- Sounds fun.
- Lucy?
You just committed to
surfing with me this weekend.
I did?
(GASPS) I did.
(LAUGHING): What
what is going on with you?
I'm sorry. I'm-I'm just I'm
in the middle of reading about
neurohumoral stress response systems.
- Why?
- Because
Ernie is the lone NCIS investigator
in a self-contained habitat.
He could use some help.
Okay, but
maybe leave neurohumoral
stress response systems
to other people.
Well, I-I thought
my pronunciation was good.
I have no way to know.
Me either. (LAUGHS)
And, besides,
Ernie being in there It's like
you being an agent afloat on a carrier.
A smart person being forced
to figure things out
in a foreign environment.
Yeah.
Imagine if you could spend the day
in the front office at Cowboy Stadium.
Find a new wide receiver three
to help move the chains.
Oh, save the dirty talk
for home, will you?
(BOTH LAUGH)
Hey, what, um
what was your dream, anyway?
Ballerina? Princess?
No, a Fed, like I am now.
Most kids want something crazy,
like movie star or Olympian.
You wanted to solve crime
from a corner office?
Mm-hmm.
You know me the pragmatist.
(PHONE BUZZES)
Oh. Chase is about
to go live with Ernie.
You're not off the hook, though.
Hey, how is he?
Oh, we're centering him first.
Oh, like meditating
- to get in the zone?
- ERNIE: No.
Literally getting the camera adjusted.
All right.
Though I could probably use
the good vibes,
given I've never done
one of these alone.
But you're not alone.
Deep breath, Ernie, and on the exhale,
invoke Ganesha
to help remove the obstacles
within yourself. (INHALES)
(EXHALES)
Thanks, CC.
Okay, first
you need to inspect the body.
Look for visible wounds, bruises.
Uh
nothing I can see.
Okay, check for Mees' lines:
white lines or bands on the fingernails.
Usually good indicators
of preexisting health complications.
Nope.
Now his eyes.
This seems wrong.
You're honoring him by finding
out how he left this world.
He won't mind.
All right.
His pupils are constricted.
I can barely see them.
LUCY: That's not normal, is it?
It's eye miosis.
And what could cause that?
Uh, Horner's syndrome,
uveitis, iritis maybe.
Sure, but that'd be weird
given his clean bill of health.
LUCY: So, if it wasn't natural causes
May mean he was poisoned.
It would explain
the increased body temperature.
- And the manic reaction?
- Oh.
Certainly, though we'll need samples
from his organs to be sure.
Oh.
Oh, y-you'll be fine.
I'll walk you through the process.
No, I-I think he's realized
that, if that's true, then
Graham's killer is still in the habitat.
There's no way.
That habitat is the most
secure place in Hawai'i.
Doesn't matter if the person
who killed Commander Graham is inside.
Why would someone do that?
You're telling me there's no
friction between crew members?
Friction is inevitable, murder
is something else entirely.
Were there any confrontations
between Commander Graham
and other crew members before today?
They wouldn't throw away
everything they've worked for
over a fight about laundry privileges.
And I'm not trying to throw away
everything you've worked for, either.
But the second
that I have reasonable suspicion
that there is a murder suspect
inside that habitat,
I'll be going in there myself.
Excuse me.
Yeah, Jesse.
Start pulling together profiles
on all the people
working on the program.
And expedite the warrant.
And search Graham's home.
See if you can find any clues
as to who would want him dead.
Thanks.
Geez.
Looks like my kid decorated the place.
Yeah, Jake wants
to be the next Neil Armstrong?
Something like that.
- Didn't get it from me.
- Oh.
What did little Jesse want to be?
No, no, I'm not playing
that game with you.
What game?
Where I answer the question,
and then you do that Kai thing
where you act all quiet and mysterious.
Come on, just try me, come on.
All right, we'll say it
at the exact same together.
On the count of three.
- All right.
- One.
- Two, three. Cellist.
- Wait. What age are we talking?
Come on, man.
Sorry. No, no, I'm
I was I was gonna
- Cellist?
- Yeah.
You've obviously never seen
Yo-Yo Ma perform live.
He was at the Waikiki Shell last week.
That's not right.
No, that's right.
I was there. I would know.
No, there's a cot here.
With personal effects.
Huh. Graham's the only one on the lease.
Well, he's got a roommate. Who?
Hey.
Check this out.
It's Major Mullen.
Oh, yeah.
They look like good pals, happy.
Like they just went to see Yo-Yo Ma.
Ha, ha.
Must be Mullen's iPad.
Yeah, there's a bunch of messages
from friends and family.
"Don't do anything you'll regret."
"They'll figure it out."
How did Mission Control
not know about these?
"Whatever you're thinking
of doing, don't."
Was that about hurting Commander
Graham, or something else?
I don't know, but I don't think
we should wait to find out.
Thank you.
- What do you have for me?
- Major Thomas Mullen's
whole life has been built
around going to space.
He even named his childhood dog
Buzz Aldrin.
Doesn't have his own place. No car.
Has his own bank account
that he doesn't use
because he's busy working
on the mission.
A mission that Commander
Graham's behavior was disrupting.
After all
he's put into this, you really think
he'd poison Graham just
to protect the mission?
WHISTLER: It's not
like murder's the best
plan if you want to keep it on rails.
Maybe it is if it looks
like a medical event.
This means we can move in, right?
We need to let Ernie know
first quietly.
Whistler, mind distracting
our Space Force friend?
Battle of bureaucracy.
My pleasure.
Let's go.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hey, guys.
How you doing, Ernie?
Ugh. Being a space cop is hard work.
Can you find somewhere private
without raising suspicion?
Yeah, one sec.
What-What's going on?
Well, we have reason
to suspect Major Mullen.
Is it weird I'm not surprised?
Where is he now?
I'm not sure.
Other than Uchida,
no one has come near the body.
Okay, well, get ready
'cause we're coming in.
I'll go downstairs, let the others know,
- so they're prepared.
- Ernie, behind you!
(BOTH GRUNT)
Why can't we see into the habitat?
Lockdown protocol's been
initiated. Habitat's gone dark.
Special Response
is approaching the exterior, Colonel.
MCCARTHY: This is Aaron
Patel, head of security.
- On your signal, we'll breach.
- Wait.
I thought you wanted to go in.
That was before
we had a hostage situation.
You can trust us to neutralize
the threat and secure your man,
along with everyone else in the habitat.
Do you have eyes inside?
- No, ma'am, but we have
- Then how will you know
that Major Mullen won't hurt
anyone as we breach, or worse?
Look, as much as going in was
the answer five minutes ago,
if we want to protect the people
inside, we can't.
- She's right.
- Colonel
Stand down, Aaron.
What do you need?
Finding out what's going on
in there is a good start.
It'd help if we had ears.
That's where we'll put our focus.
You're going to need someone
to do proper stitches.
What's happening?
Mullen shut off all connection
with the outside.
In other words, we're hostages.
Let's hope you're better
at network communication
than I am at wound closure.
Well, it'd be the easiest thing
I do all day.
Is it true that you applied
to be on the mission
but didn't make the cut?
Yeah. Packet was sent in years ago.
All I got back was
a "Thanks, but no thanks."
Never said why.
Seems like you would have
fit in just fine to me.
(DOOR BEEPS)
What are you doing, Tom? This is crazy.
Everyone stays in here
until I can get this mission
back on track.
They are trying, Tom.
But what happened to Commander
Graham is very serious.
I'm doing what I have to do.
Major Tom.
Sorry. Must hate it
when people call you that.
You don't get to talk.
You shouldn't even be here.
You're going to mess things up,
just like all the others.
Commander Graham wasn't
sabotaging anything.
He did not deserve to die.
Tom?
- Did you kill Commander Graham?
- No.
I t-tried to get him removed
from the program.
That's all. Uh
What are you doing?! (GRUNTS)
Don't make me do something I'll regret.
Little too late for that.
That's the quarantine seal.
We're not getting out.
LUCY: How's Ernie?
Still trying to get eyes
and ears inside.
- What do you have?
- LUCY: We've been
looking into people with clearances
tied to the project.
And it turns out, the person behind this
may not be Thomas Mullen.
LUCY: Paolo Castile.
WHISTLER: Highly regarded member
of the space exploration community
until he was fired less than a week ago
and had his clearance revoked.
Apparently, he was involved
in a lot of the habitat design.
Okay, well, if he was
so important, why was he fired?
HR complaints cite
"ideological differences."
And how did he take it?
He had to be carried out by security.
LUCY: You think he's
trying to bring down
the whole simulation as retaliation?
Worth finding out.
You have a current address?
JESSE: Getting fired is
pretty good motive for trying
to sabotage the mission.
How'd he poison Commander Graham
from outside the habitat, though?
I mean, the guy's
literally a rocket scientist.
Sneaking some poison is,
like, number 10,000
on the most complicated list
of things he has to figure out.
Well, guess it's a good thing
more geniuses aren't murderers.
JESSE: NCIS! (GASPS)
Paolo Castile, you need to come with us.
I'm not going anywhere.
Hey.
Okay.
Here's what's going to happen.
You're going to step outside,
and we're just going to talk.
- You're with them, aren't you?
- We're with NCIS.
No, you're with the ones who
are watching me. I know this!
JESSE: Looks like
you've been doing a fair bit
of people-watching yourself.
KAI: And no one needs
to get hurt here, okay?
You're lying! No!
(YELLING)
(GASPING)
Okay. Why'd you try to jump?
It's better than rotting
in the hands of big government.
Because you're guilty?
Of what?
Well, aside from trying
to blast us with buckshot?
KAI: Poisoning Commander Darren Graham
and trying to sabotage
a multimillion dollar program.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn't poison him.
You say that like you know who did.
Of course I do.
- Who?
- The cabal
who wants to blow up Mars.
JESSE: Okay. Great.
He took the red pill.
You know, I used to be like you.
Just stuck in a myopic view
of the world,
- but things changed.
- KAI: Yeah?
Okay. Educate us.
I switched roles, okay?
I got my head out of the monitors,
and it all became clearer.
You switched roles to what?
HVAC.
I saw things for what they were.
You got a capitalist mission
sucking the air out of life
as we know it.
Okay, these aren't, uh,
ideological differences.
This guy's crazy.
Maybe it's going around these days.
Just think about it.
Commander Darren Graham he
he was desperate to escape.
Major Mullen takes everyone hostage.
Okay, you're doing it.
You're opening your mind
to what's really happening.
What are you what are you thinking
That it's affecting all of them,
and not just Graham?
The system is poisoning all of you.
But to prove that,
we're going to need a blood sample.
Oh, no way.
This guy wants to clone me.
No.
One of you is, uh, more than enough.
All right, hey, man,
how else are you gonna know
if you haven't already been bio-hacked?
(QUIETLY): Do you think I have?
(DOOR OPENING)
Special Agent Whistler.
I sensed a new energy coming in.
You sensed me?
LUCY: Ooh, and did you, uh, get
a hint of strength
with a side of stern authority?
Sincerity, actually.
- Aw.
- And you arrived just in time.
The results from Paolo Castile's
blood test are in.
He has organophosphates in his blood.
- Organophos-what?
- Nerve agents.
CHASE: Sometimes used in insecticides.
- Well, that's bad.
- Sometimes in sarin and VX gas.
Much worse.
At lower exposure,
organophosphates can cause
confusion, anxiety, loss of memory,
disorientation, depression,
personality changes.
And at greater exposure
Let me guess death?
Records show that
just before Paolo was fired,
he inspected several HVAC components
that were delivered to the
habitat, and Commander Graham
and Major Mullen installed
those new components.
Everyone who's come into contact
with those HVAC components
has been showing signs
of being poisoned.
But only Graham has died from it.
Best guess is, Graham absorbed
some of the agent through his skin,
while the others merely inhaled it.
But if the organophosphates
are still in the HVAC system,
it means that everyone
in the habitat could
still be breathing it in.
Including Ernie.
ERNIE: Hey.
I have an idea.
It's crazy, but then again,
this isn't the first time
I'm being held hostage.
Okay, next time
Major Mullen comes back in here,
we can overtake him
and lock him in here.
Hey, not that bad of an idea.
Dr. Uchida?
Your pupils.
This isn't good.
Paolo Castile's in custody, swearing
he didn't tamper with the HVAC systems.
Who else had access to them?
We're looking into it.
Hey.
You and I have a new mission now
Get everyone out safely
and find out who did this.
Let's bring them home.
My team is ready.
Hey, we still don't have eyes inside.
We don't know if it's safe to go in.
It's your call, boss.
Colonel McCarthy, I need a favor.
Dr. Uchida, whatever killed
Commander Graham,
I think we're all being exposed to it.
- We have to get out of here.
- No.
I mean, yes, but we have
to be smart about it.
We're all going to die
if we stay in here, aren't we?
How do I answer that
without you freaking out?
Well, not that, apparently.
It's okay. It's okay.
I'll think of something.
I'll think of something.
Hey, does that machine normally blink?
Never.
It's a sign. We're going to die.
You're right. It's a sign.
Uh, not the dying part.
It's Morse code.
B.
R. E.
A. C.
Breach.
Oh, crap.
They're coming in. They're coming in.
(BOTH GRUNTING)
Run, now. Keep clear
of breaching points.
(PANTING)
Hey, go, go. Go. Go.
Listen. (YELLING)
(EXPLOSIONS)
Ernie?
Kai, secure everyone here.
Jesse, with me.
(GRUNTING)
(BOTH GRUNTING)
Stay down!
You all right?
Remind me never to go to Mars.
The crew is out and safe.
Thank you for the assist.
Well, you can thank me when
we figure out who's behind this.
PATEL: It's a deal.
Well, at least
one mission was a success.
We have a bigger problem,
Special Agent Tennant.
Everything okay?
- What's that?
- It's where
the micro-nuclear reactor was housed.
You mean, the tech that is so secret,
only a handful of people
in the world have seen it?
Was it damaged in the breach?
No. It's been stolen.
So, they weren't sabotaging the habitat.
They were creating a diversion
to steal from it.
High risk pulling off
a heist in that habitat.
It's high reward.
A micro-nuclear reactor stands
to make millions on the black market.
Whoever it was had to be well-versed
in the evacuation protocols
and be in the habitat during the breach.
In other words someone
from the Special Response Team.
Whoa. Ernie, shouldn't you be resting?
My recovery can wait.
The future of humanity cannot.
- Dude, that seems a little
- Aaron Patel.
Head of the Special Response Team.
He once applied
to the Mission to Mars program,
and, like me, was rejected.
Unlike me, he concocted
some way to ruin it for everybody else.
And if anybody knows about
the high tech that's in here,
and how to sneak it out
during an emergency evacuation,
it's him.
And he could be resentful
from being rejected.
JESSE: Watching other people
live out your dream every day
That's got to be grating.
TENNANT: Which means he had access,
motive and opportunity.
Any idea where he is now?
No, but now I have a headache.
Okay, guys, let's find him.
Except for you, Ernie. Get patched up.
Hey. What'd you find?
LUCY: Well, Patel signed off
on the HVAC components delivery
before they were sent off
to the habitat.
Meaning he had a chance to
deploy the nerve agent on them.
LUCY: And he was the only
member of Mission Control
who hasn't swiped back in
since the evacuation.
(COMPUTER CHIRPS)
Hey, guys, we got something.
You know a phone call
would have done just fine.
Look, unless you have something
vitally important to say
I gave him permission to call.
- You found him.
- ERNIE: Aaron Patel
recently booked a small plane
from the Dillingham Airfield
to the Big Island. We have
a chance to beat him there.
I would have done that thing where
I run in and tell you, except
I told him he couldn't.
Good job, Ernie.
Even better job, Commander Chase.
(CLEARS THROAT) Bye, Ernie. Love you.
- You good?
- Hmm.
You know what I didn't
dream of being as a child?
A doctor. Ugh!
(PLANE ENGINE WHIRRING)
(SIREN BLARING)
- Shoot.
- I'm on foot.
(TIRES SQUEAL)
(SIREN BLARING)
Hey, NCIS!
He's running.
Split up.
(SHOUTS)
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
(GRUNTING)
Don't move.
(GROANS, PANTS)
Got those cellist reflexes.
You're welcome.
Have you considered playing
free safety for the Cowboys?
(HANDCUFFS CLICKING)
- Aaron Patel confessed.
- Uh,
what Tennant meant
to say was she broke him.
She got him to share
all the intel he has
on the black marketeers
he was dealing with
and question his life choices.
JESSE: All this because he missed out
on his dream of going to Mars, huh?
Wait. Speaking of dreams.
Kate. What is yours, really?
KAI: Let me guess. I got it.
CPA.
JESSE: This from the guy
who refuses to say what he wanted to be.
The next Iron Chef.
I like that.
JESSE: Yeah, chef, just like your dad.
Do we need to unpack that?
That's why I don't share things.
(LAUGHTER)
- Okay, Kate, you're up.
- Yeah.
Come on, tell us. What's the big deal?
(WHISPERING)
Oh. Tell them!
(SIGHS)
Miss America.
Kate would have been
a great Miss America.
Well, I mostly liked the wave.
(LAUGHTER)
Excuse me, guys.
Colonel McCarthy.
I wanted to come by
and express my gratitude.
If NASA ever needs
an investigative service
on Mars, I know who I'll be calling.
NCIS: Mars. (LAUGHS)
Has a nice ring to it. (CHUCKLES)
Look, I'm really sorry
about your mission.
I appreciate that, but I'm not
here for condolences. I
Well, you convinced me
of what really matters.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER)
You know, your team is lucky
to have you.
Also, I did want to give you this.
(DOOR OPENS)
Hey, boss. (DOOR CLOSES)
Hey.
This is the official review
for my application for the Mars Program.
If you want to know
why they passed on you,
it's in here.
For the longest time,
I tried to figure out
what being rejected meant.
Was I not smart enough?
Was I not fit enough?
Did I not have the right stuff?
Then I finally
got to the core
of what was really going on,
why I cared so much.
Daddy issues.
I get that.
Mommy issues.
So are you really okay
not going all the way to Mars?
Yeah.
You know, you saved the lives
of almost half a dozen people today.
You said you wanted to make
a difference in the world?
I'd say you are.
So dreams really do come true.
I'm glad, because the toilets
in the habitat are not private at all.
So Mars isn't all it's cracked up to be?
Oof. (LAUGHS SOFTLY)
Well, next time, we can live out
your childhood dream.
Okay, fine.
Let's see.
When I was five, I wanted to be a
unicorn wrangler.
(LAUGHS) And when I was seven,
I wanted to be a cross between
Wonder Woman and Aquaman.
(LAUGHING)