NCIS: Hawai'i (2021) s03e06 Episode Script
Operation Red Rabbit
1
♪
(BOTH GASP, LAUGH)
MAN: Here we are.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
- (LAUGHS)
To my
fiancée. Mm
The most beautiful,
brilliant
and kick-ass entrepreneur
O'ahu has ever seen.
(LAUGHS) I only just signed the lease.
4,000 square feet
of prime Honolulu real
estate that you will turn
into the most successful
spa on this island.
I am in awe of your talent.
I couldn't have done it without you.
What is it, baby?
Don't turn around.
We're being watched.
I'm gonna get us to safety.
But I need you to do exactly what I say.
(EXHALES)
- Okay, but Jack
- It'll be fine.
Let's go.
Who's following us, Jack?
No time for questions. You
remember the plan, right?
Yes. Don't talk to anyone,
wait for you to reach out.
- And the go bag, have it ready.
- Right, of course.
But I-I don't understand.
- What does this mean?
- It means I'm not safe.
And if you're with me, neither are you.
But, Jack
Everything is gonna be all right.
I'll do everything in
my power to protect you.
Have the bag ready, wait for my call.
Jack, wait.
(GRUNTING)
Jack! Jack!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER)
Jack!
♪
♪
Darn it!
Four points, Juicy Lucy.
Two points, Boomtown Boone.
No. See, I alternate weight training
and boxing with zone two cardio,
depending on the day of the week.
- Know what I'm saying?
- Okay.
Hey.
- Morning.
- Morning. How was the run?
Oh, it was fantastic.
10K in just under 42 minutes.
(WHISTLES)
You two really missed
out. Right, Holman?
(GASPING): Yeah. Yeah,
you really missed out.
Sorry we couldn't make
it. Been a busy morning.
Yeah, looks like it.
Hey, you, uh, doing okay there, buddy?
KAI: Yeah, yeah. I'm okay.
Just letting the oxygen
- run back into my lungs.
- SAM: You know what?
I'm gonna make you a juice.
You got to up your nutrition game,
- VO2 max for the Devil Dash.
- Yeah.
What? "Devil Dash"?
It's an Ironman triathlon
on the island, and, uh,
when Sam mentioned
it, I said it sounds
sounds cool, so
Hey, you-you don't think
that he thinks that
That you're going to do it with him?
SAM: Hey.
You aren't allergic to fungi, right?
Mm, he definitely thinks that.
What the hell kind of
juice is he making you?
(PANTING)
You guys played Trashball without me?
Yep.
Damn it.
Hi, can I, can I help you?
Hi. I-I need to speak to someone
with top-secret security clearance.
Oh, actually, we all have
top-secret security clearances.
What is this regarding?
My fiancé.
Uh, he works in Navy intelligence.
What's his name and rank?
It's Commander Jack Spence. (STAMMERS)
I have classified information.
I need to speak to the top boss.
I-I hear you, ma'am.
I-I just, I'll need a
little more context
My fiancé is imminent danger.
He's involved in Operation Red Rabbit.
I can't say more here.
Okay.
Okay, uh, well, if you
just want to take a seat,
and we'll be right with you.
JESSE: What's that about?
Operation Red Rabbit.
- What's that?
- No idea.
I can't tell you how much I
have hesitated coming here.
I-I know the importance of
secrecy for his missions.
I mean, most of the Navy isn't
even aware of their existence.
Did you get a look at the
guy who was following you?
Um, not a good one. I mean, he's
balding, mid-40s, tall.
We lost him once we
were in the stairwell.
TENNANT: It sounds
like a scary experience.
Has anything like this happened before?
Jack disappearing?
No.
I mean, he goes off the grid sometimes.
Travels to God knows where.
It's part of the job, but
this was different.
I mean, someone was after
him here, where we live.
This elite task force that he's in.
Do you know the name of his CO?
- Or other members of his unit?
- No.
Jack-Jack would never give
up classified information.
Even to me.
TENNANT: But he gave up
- Operation Red Rabbit?
- Yes.
But only the name.
And I overheard him say
it once on the phone.
- To who?
- I have no idea.
Look, I-I wouldn't have come
here unless I feared the worst.
Okay, that he has been compromised
Or killed.
By enemy agents.
Look.
You did the right thing
by coming to us, okay?
And we will do everything
that we can to find him.
But the more information that we have,
the better.
Is there anything else you can tell us
that may help us find him?
Um
You can look in, um,
his office at our house.
It's locked.
I'm not supposed to go in.
We'll look into it.
(QUIETLY): Thank you.
An elite Navy intelligence task force?
Why haven't we heard of it?
Doesn't mean they don't exist.
Ever heard of Task Force 157?
- No.
- TENNANT: Task Force 157
is a secret Navy intel group.
Ran ops for over a decade.
Including overthrowing
the Chilean government.
SAM: Supposedly did jobs
that were too sensitive
or too dirty for the CIA.
Supposedly.
Disbanded in '77,
existence officially denied.
JESSE: Wow, so we thinking Jack Spence
- might be a real Navy secret agent?
- Yes, we do.
My source at ONI could
confirm the existence
of Operation Red Rabbit
and of Lieutenant Commander Jack Spence.
But that's as far as I can get.
Everything else remains classified.
A Navy intelligence officer
is pulled off the streets of Hawai'i?
TENNANT: We don't know
if he was pulled off yet.
Maybe he's in hiding.
Either way, you'd think ONI
would want to know what
happened to their guy.
Unless they already do.
I'll put in a call to PACOM,
see if we can't get read in.
Great.
- Ernie, will you
- Go through CCTV footage
of the restaurant? It's
downloading as we speak.
Jesse, grab Kai. Head over
to Talia and Spence's house.
Good. I was hoping to
get the secret spy room.
Look, if Commander Spence is in trouble,
we need to find him fast.
(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
Okay. Uh
(PHONE CHIMING)
(SIGHS)
Sorry.
(SIGHS) Sorry.
What's that about?
Oh, Sam's got me signed
up on this wellness app.
- It rates the quality of my steps.
- (CHUCKLES)
Special apps, Ironman triathlon?
You're in deep, my friend.
Nah, it's cool. He's just, like,
really, really into fitness.
And you're really into him.
I'm just trying to
make new friends, Jesse.
Well, mission accomplished.
Wow. It's a nice house.
Yeah.
Clearly no kids.
Mm-hmm. Sure.
You notice something else?
There is hardly any sign of Jack Spence.
Yeah. No personal items, mementos.
Not even a picture of him and Talia.
Yeah, maybe it's a security risk.
Maybe.
Think we found it.
- I'll grab the shim from the car.
- No need.
This is just a standard-issue
three-wheel combination lock.
And that means ?
Just got to listen for the clicks.
And have had
some really odd hobbies in high school.
Wow.
Whoa.
Hey.
Any chance you encountered
security lasers in high school?
Gettin' some serious Jason Bourne vibes.
Looks like fake passports.
Listening devices.
Why would a Navy intelligence
officer keep all this at home?
Maybe because he's not
supposed to have it.
Take a look.
Whoa.
Looks like hieroglyphics or a
cipher.
You know what it means?
Spence has got a lot more
going on than even Talia thinks.
(SIGHS)
ERNIE: You see there? That's the
man Talia identified at the bar.
The one who was watching them.
He's throwing some
serious shade their way.
Yeah. Or he's waiting for them
to be done with their table.
When Spence and Talia leave,
he doesn't follow them.
He stays put.
Maybe she has the wrong guy.
Well, no one else from the restaurant
are following them, either.
However, outside is a different story.
I don't know where he ended
up, but watch the unmarked SUV.
It peeled off right after him.
Same SUV pulled up behind them
when they arrived at the restaurant.
Okay, so he was being followed.
- (COMPUTER BEEPS)
- (PHONE BUZZES)
Oh, it's Kai, with pics
from inside Spence's house.
ERNIE: "La."
I think they think it's
some sort of cipher.
Maybe the dots and the
dashes are Morse code?
ERNIE: "La."
LUCY: Or here. See?
The birds and the waves.
Looks like some ancient
Egyptian cave dwellings. (GASPS)
Kate knows a guy at U.H. who can help
La. La. See the kahako?
- Mm-hmm.
- That's Hawaiian for "sun."
And this one is Sanskrit for "sun."
They all mean "sun."
So, we thinking it's
a a highly-coded map,
like directions in relation
to the sun kind of thing?
No, we're thinking it
isn't a cipher at all.
It's a logo.
Sunstreak Café in Waimanalo?
What does Secret Agent Jack Spence
have to do with a bakery?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(HAWAIIAN MUSIC PLAYING)
- Oh. Smells good.
- Yeah, refined sugar.
The enemy of discipline and promise.
Right. Yeah, of course.
I was just, like
You're training for the Devil Dash.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
Copy. Excuse me.
What can I get you?
Putting out a fresh tray
of pistachio malasadas.
Flavor of the week.
Yeah, and they look amazing.
But actually, we're
federal agents with NCIS.
Yeah, we were wondering if we could
ask the owner a few questions?
I'm the owner. Jill Lee.
- SAM: Okay.
- What's this regarding?
(PHONE KEYBOARD TAPPING)
Do you know this man?
I've never seen him before.
Excuse me.
Are you sure?
'Cause we have reason to
believe he's spent time in here.
Look, I don't know
everyone that comes in.
Well, maybe we can ask
some of your employees?
I can connect you with a few.
Let me just grab another
tray from the oven.
I'll be right back.
Think she's lying?
About everything but the malasadas.
Jack, it's happening.
They're here and they're in the front
and I don't know what to do
You mind if I keep this?
Where is Jack Spence?
I have no idea.
He gave me that phone for emergencies.
Okay, let's start this again.
But this time, with the truth.
How do you know Jack Spence?
He's my fiancé.
And if you're here, then that
means he must be in trouble.
(DOOR OPENS)
Have you located Jack?
We're still putting the
pieces of the puzzle together.
Thank you for your patience.
So how did you and Jack meet?
Uh, we met online seven months ago.
Seven months? Short courtship.
Well, when we finally met in person,
things moved quickly.
And when you know, you know, right?
I would definitely call it whirlwind.
We met on a dating app a year ago.
Jack swooped into my life.
I had practically given up on dating,
I was so focused on work.
At what point did he tell you
that he worked with Navy intelligence?
It must have been a couple months in.
He'd be away for stretches at a time.
He'd be unreachable.
He felt that he had to explain why.
JILL: Even though I worry
about him when he's gone,
in a way, it's good for me.
I can really focus on the café.
That's been a huge
part of our connection.
The café.
- How so?
- Well, Sunstreak, you know,
was just a little coffee cart
when we started dating.
Jack really encouraged me to
turn it into a full-blown restaurant.
He even designed the logo.
TALIA: He's been so supportive.
Expanding the salon, that was his idea.
He helped secure the loan.
JILL: He's been there for
me every step of the way.
(EXHALES) I've had to take
out lines of credit recently.
I didn't know that was possible.
Business been slow?
TENNANT: Did Jack
ever ask you for money?
Sure. Yeah.
Uh, I helped him buy a car.
It's too risky to use his own name.
The Navy can be slow to
reimburse mission expenses.
I've had to help Jack out of
a couple sticky situations,
financially speaking.
And then, of course, uh, the go bag.
Go bag?
Yeah, part of his bug-out plan.
$50,000 in cash for if he calls.
Emergency use only.
I guess love really is blind.
KAI: $250,000.
That is how much Spence "borrowed"
from Talia and Jill combined.
LUCY: Safe to say none of it
was for actual official business.
No, and his secret spy
room is a complete fake.
The passports are knockoffs
and the security lasers
connect to nothing.
Man, is this guy even in the Navy?
Why are you on an exercise ball?
SAM: To strengthen his core.
(WHISPERS): I think he hid my chair.
SAM: So,
I found Jack Spence.
Oh, that's great.
There's only one problem.
He's been stationed in
Bahrain for the past year.
So definitely not the same guy
Talia and Jill are engaged to.
Sounds like our Jack
Spence is 100% con man.
KAI: Yeah, but how'd he know
about Operation Red Rabbit?
Guess I'll have to talk to the
real Jack Spence and find out.
Uh, boss,
what do you want to do
about the you know.
Offer them some coffee?
TENNANT: Thank you for speaking
to us, Lieutenant Commander Spence.
I understand you want to talk to me
about Operation Red Rabbit?
Well
that's the thing
I need to make it clear that
I'm not at liberty to discuss
any of the compartmented
details of the mission.
Which is all the details.
We understand, Commander.
We actually need you to
identify the man in this photo.
That's Tyler Bingham.
What's he in, some kind of trouble?
Who is he to you?
Well, Mr. Bingham is a headhunter
for a private security firm.
One of the biggest
in the country, ma'am.
How'd you guys meet?
At a foreign affairs lecture
in D.C. about three years ago.
(CHUCKLES)
Did he say he was recruiting me?
Because I told him I wouldn't leave
until the mission is complete.
So Mr. Bingham is recruiting you.
Yes, ma'am. Aggressively.
For a role in the high six figures.
Have you and Mr. Bingham ever
discussed the details of your work?
I would never divulge
sensitive information.
We spoke of my upbringing, my training.
Typical recruiting stuff.
I'm sorry, am I missing something here?
We have reason to believe that
this man has stolen your identity.
Are you saying I'm compromised?
TENNANT: Yes, but not in
the way that you think.
He's using your identity
to extort money from women.
Here in Hawai'i.
I don't understand.
So, he's just a con man
scamming lonely women?
Who also fooled a highly-trained
Navy intelligence operative.
(LOCK BEEPS)
ERNIE: Scrappy, insightful,
and adventuresome.
What now?
The three words I'd use to describe you
on an online dating profile.
- Thanks.
- I'm knee-deep in dating apps.
I found the one Spence
used to woo Talia and Jill.
Oh, rock climbing.
Yeah, he's got it all.
Scuba diving, riding a camel
LUCY: Oh, a French Bulldog.
- To show his soft side.
- Mm-hmm.
This is the work of
an expert con artist.
Presents himself as a
globetrotting adventurer
to bolster the spy story
he tells his victims later.
He's a genius.
Sounds like you have profile envy.
(SCOFFS) Let me see yours.
Excuse me?
Your dating profile.
I don't have one, never will.
But tech is kind of your thing.
I prefer the classic approach to dating.
Oh.
Putting myself in physical environments
in which I may meet a prospective date
over the period of weeks
or months and then
Googling her.
How's that been working out for you?
Anyway,
I've been looking into common
points of Talia and Jill's story.
Hardworking entrepreneurs,
unlucky in love
Trying to zero in on other victims.
- Did you find one?
- Nope.
Fourteen.
Wow, he's made quite the mark.
ERNIE: This is an online forum of women
scammed by our Jack Spence.
Started by a woman named Sharon
Waters in Texas. Victim zero.
S. Waters. Is that her?
ERNIE: "Sorry friends, will be MIA.
Following up a lead on Mr. X's location.
Packing sunscreen."
That was four days ago.
Do you think Sharon
Waters is here on O'ahu?
If she is, I'll find out where.
LUCY: Handsome.
- Soulful.
- (CHUCKLES)
Swimmy?
- KAI: Swimmy? What?
- Yeah, you know, like swim Aquatic.
The three words that would
best describe you on a dating profile
Oh. if you didn't have
a girlfriend in Canada.
Yeah, let's-let's
just focus on the case.
Room 112.
Here we go.
Sharon Waters?
Special Agents Tara and Holman.
- Cops?
- Uh, no. NCIS.
You mind if we ask you a few questions?
Come in, I guess.
You're here about George Malone,
or whatever name he's currently using
- to manipulate and defraud women?
- Yeah.
Yeah, we found your forum online.
I'm sure you were
surprised how many women
could fall for his story.
It's easier than you think.
You ever heard of love bombing?
KAI: Oh, yeah.
Uh, it's an explosion
of affection, protection
and admiration as a
form of manipulation.
I've seen some things.
And, if unleashed on the right person,
one who's eager for connection,
it can result in undying loyalty.
Like giving away all
your money to a con man?
Bingo.
I got an anonymous tip
that George might be here.
- (PHONE CHIMING)
- Oh. Excuse me.
Hey, why didn't you alert
the police about the tip?
'Cause they've been
useless for ten years.
No offense.
(TEXT WHOOSHES)
He's ruined the lives
of at least 14 women,
and all the cops do is file a report.
Okay.
Do you have any idea
where he might be now?
Nope, another dead end.
I'm headed home, so
LUCY: If you, uh, if you didn't
want to work with the police,
what exactly were you hoping to do here?
The only thing I can do at this point:
Look him in the eye, let
him know that one day,
his number will be up
and I'll be waiting.
- (CELL PHONE RINGING)
- Ugh. Now, if you will excuse me
Uh
(PHONE BEEPS)
Yeah, go ahead.
I wouldn't say she was our biggest fan.
Still, she shouldn't have lied
to us about Spence's location.
- You think she knows?
- I know she does.
Those texts she was getting?
I read them upside down.
From an unknown sender.
Address in Kailua.
One of, uh, "Mr. X."
Spence could be there now.
POTTS: He's a famous author, you know.
- Spence?
- Spy thrillers.
Uses a pseudonym. They're
gonna make one into a movie.
Hoping he won't leave my back house
when Hollywood comes
calling. Wonderful tenant.
Uh-huh. And you're
sure he's in there now?
POTTS: Saw him an hour ago.
He brought me chocolates.
Always brings little
gifts when he travels.
Okay. Well, Mrs. Potts, I
think it's best you stay back.
I hope you won't disturb
him while he's writing.
Do our best.
(GRUNTS)
Hey, Doc, we, uh
Wow. That's-that's-that's
one really burnt body.
I didn't know you
were squeamish, Holman.
I'm not squeamish.
(SAM CHUCKLES)
I, um
I take it this is what's left of Spence.
CHASE: Eh, allegedly Spence.
I need one last dental X-ray
to confirm the identity,
as the deceased's
fingerprints are, well,
with his fingers, elsewhere. Right.
Could use a hand.
I got it.
- (GROANS)
- Okay.
Please hold the head in the
A-position while I take the X-rays.
So come here often?
It's a
nice place you got here.
Ganesh.
The Hindu god of new beginnings.
That's an unusual choice for a-a morgue.
Oh, what can I say? I'm a bliss junky
who surrounds herself
with decaying corpses.
I contain multitudes.
Only by learning to live in
harmony with your contradictions
can you keep afloat.
No doubt you are a man filled
with contradictions, Agent Hanna.
Like the mellifluous
layers of a cipollini onion.
I've been called a lot worse.
KAI: Guys.
I'm still holding the head.
Apologies.
- (MACHINE BEEPING)
- All done.
Thank you.
So, how long till we get a
match on his dental records?
Ah, could be hours, could be days.
Oh, but
- that's interesting.
- What's interesting?
At first glance, John Doe
appears to have been killed
by a primary blast injury.
His arms are missing. But look at this.
He suffered an intracranial
hematoma in the back of his skull.
The result of blunt force trauma.
You're saying he was
murdered before the explosion?
Then positioned postmortem so his body
was facing the gas stove.
To make it look like an accident.
There was a lot of people
who might want Spence dead.
Yeah, but one really sticks out.
You bring me in for questioning
while Spence is still out there?
(LAUGHS) Y'all are no better
than the cops in Houston.
Look, I understand your frustration.
Jack Spence doesn't deserve
to walk free after what he did to you.
Thank you.
TENNANT: And it's understandable
why you'd want to take
matters into your own hands.
Track him down in Hawai'i.
Confront him. Make him pay.
Oh, I haven't confronted him, yet.
And you may not get the chance.
Why? He skip town again?
He's dead.
I don't believe it. How?
Blunt force trauma
followed by a gas explosion.
(LAUGHING) That's so Oh.
Well, I-I guess karma
really is a bitch, huh?
(LAUGHS)
Oh. Oh, oh, oh.
Oh, you two think I did it.
Well, you certainly had the motive.
Yeah, like, me and 13 other women.
But you're here and knew where he was.
Someone gave you his address.
You need to talk to David Bell.
Who's David Bell?
SHARON: A PI I hired to locate Spence.
He's been tracking him for months.
Bell texted you the address?
SHARON: Yes, but I hired him
to find Spence, not kill him.
(SCOFFS) Look,
I'm not gonna shed a tear
over this man's death,
but question me all you
want, I didn't do it.
(LOCK CHIMES)
Emily Garcia.
Teacher. Bubbly, bantery,
boba-licious. Dude,
she's perfect for you.
Swipe right. It's not for me.
It's for the case.
All right, see this?
One of Spence's dating
profiles is currently active.
He's viewed several local
women in the last 24 hours.
Which means someone hacked it, or
Spence is still alive.
And still on the prowl.
Looking for another mark.
Late 30s, early 40s,
small business owners.
All right, nice work. Keep
watching, see what he does.
You know,
nowadays, finding love online
isn't all that different
from meeting someone at a bar.
That's not true.
When you meet someone at a bar,
they get to know you as a
three-dimensional human being.
Dating apps distill your entire
personality into bullet points.
- That's a bad thing?
- It is if your bullet points
are: divorced, can't talk about work,
and not, you know, classically handsome.
I mean, who is?
Seriously?
I'm just saying my best qualities
can't be captured in a profile.
Yeah, but you're never
gonna know unless you try.
Maybe hot teacher loves
un-classically handsome.
(PHONE BUZZES)
I got a hit on the dental X-rays.
It's a match for David
Bell, Sharon Waters' PI.
So, our con man is still alive.
Yep, except now he's a murderer.
KAI: Bell's phone pinged outside
Spence's hideout several times
over the last 48 hours.
Spence likely realized
he was being followed,
so he killed Bell.
And rigged his house to
explode to cover his tracks.
Yeah, look, he's probably halfway to
to Tahiti by now. Sorry.
But not without his go
bag filled with money.
He's gonna need resources
to get off the island.
Which means he's desperate and
even more dangerous than before.
Okay, so how do we find him?
By offering him exactly what he wants.
I know this man inside and out.
He is not capable of murder.
I understand you think that,
but a con man like Jack Spence
is an expert manipulator.
Look, I know from personal experience.
(SIGHS)
You-you've been conned?
I did the conning.
My previous career required me
to get people to do all sorts of things
that were not in their best interest.
- (STAMMERS) You expect me to believe you now?
- No.
I don't expect you to.
I'm asking.
Help us find Spence.
Look, if you're right, and all
of this is a misunderstanding,
then he can tell us himself.
What do you want me to do?
You have his go bag
of cash still, right?
You're gonna give it to him.
TALIA: But I can't reach him.
He's not responding to
my calls or my texts.
TENNANT: What about TheOneSpark.com?
TALIA: I mean, he deactivated
the account after we met.
It appears as though
he's reactivated it.
Message him there.
Say you want to stay
with family for a while,
but you want to get him his money first.
We'll do the rest.
Smart move to do this on game day.
Big crowd.
Easy for Spence to get
lost if he spots trouble.
You think he'll know it's a trap?
Not if we do our job right.
Okay.
I know this seems intense,
but you'll be great.
All you have to do is meet Spence,
and give him the go bag.
We'll take it from there.
- You're not gonna hurt him, right?
- Of course not.
ERNIE: 1:45, guys. Now or never.
You okay?
Yes. I just I want
to get this over with.
Okay.
(EXCITED CHATTER)
ANNOUNCER (OVER SPEAKERS):
Attention, tickets are available
at the box office, located
outside the main gate.
KAI: Oh, that looks so good.
- Go get one.
- Oh.
Sam says we're only
doing whole grain carbs
and lean proteins until the Devil Dash.
Sam's not here.
Yeah, but he's watching.
He's always watching.
There's Talia.
Did Talia just get a
message from Spence?
Nothing on the chat.
LUCY: He must've just texted her.
Why would you say that?
'Cause she just bolted.
She's headed into the stadium.
- Jack.
- Hey!
I got a visual.
Talia's with Spence. Section CC.
This won't be much longer, my love.
What is it? What's wrong?
Excuse me. Sorry.
Run.
Hey!
- I don't think so.
- (GASPS)
Sorry. Excuse me.
SAM: Spence?
We lost him in the crowd.
Yeah, along with the money.
What the hell happened, Talia?
What happened is we've
been swindled this time.
Jack Spence lied to
Talia about everything,
and yet she still believes in him?
So much so she gave him $50,000
of her own cash to help him escape.
Yeah, and screwed us
over in the process.
Love is a powerful emotion.
Works like a drug on your brain.
So how do we sober Talia up?
ERNIE: By showing her exactly
who she fell in love with.
I've been digging into George Malone,
the alias Spence used to
scam Sharon a decade ago.
Turns out, the real George
Malone was born in 1928.
Spent his whole life in
Providence, Rhode Island,
until he disappeared 12 years ago.
Malone's home caregiver
was a person of interest
in his disappearance.
That's Spence.
His real name is Arnold Russo?
ERNIE: Yes, and he had a reputation.
Several of his elderly patients
accused him of stealing.
JESSE: Let me guess, he
disappeared along with Malone.
ERNIE: Only to resurface in
Houston a few months later.
So Spence kills Malone,
and he steals his identity.
ERNIE: Then moves
thousands of miles away,
where he starts a
more profitable racket:
conning young women.
This gonna be enough to convince Talia?
Maybe.
But I think it's time
we bring in the big guns.
TALIA: If I'm not going to jail,
then let me go home.
I'm done helping you.
We will, but first,
there was some information
we held from you
because it was need-to-know.
But now, you need to know.
(SIGHS)
Have a seat.
I'm Sharon Waters.
Jack's first fiancée.
(SCOFFS)
Jack has never been engaged before.
SHARON: Actually, he has.
Sixteen times.
(LAUGHS)
That's impossible.
JILL: I'm Jill.
Jack and I have been engaged
for the last four months.
TENNANT: Jack told them both
the same spy story he told you
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
before robbing them blind.
TALIA: Uh, that's absurd.
JILL: Yeah, it's absurd but it's true,
because Jack had me
take out lines of credit,
and then he asked me for the
money to help him lie low.
I think "lie low" actually meant
he was spending time with you.
(SCOFFS) Well, I mean, Jack wanted me
to expand my business, too,
but it's-it's still my business.
He's barely involved.
And Jack doesn't even care
about money. He always says
BOTH: "Money often costs too much."
Every line that he's used on you,
he has used on us, too.
Oh, my God, I'm such an idiot.
SHARON: You're in good company.
TENNANT: Hey.
You just have an open heart
that a con man took advantage of.
He's not just a con
man, he's a murderer.
And I let him get away.
But he doesn't have to get far.
Think hard.
Is there anything you may know
that could lead us to Jack?
The Cayman Islands.
TENNANT: Talia found several calls
on her salon phone bill to the Caymans.
Turns out, they track to a bank.
If he's trying to get
to the Cayman Islands,
how's he gonna do it?
Can't board any commercial flights,
all his IDs are burned.
SAM: Well, 50 grand is
more than enough to charter
a plane or a boat off island.
TENNANT: He's gonna
need a lot more than that
to start from scratch overseas.
Think he's gonna try to find a new mark?
I bet he's already got one.
Sam's right.
I found another one of
Spence's dating profiles,
and it's active as we speak.
Meet his latest target,
Molly Berry, a Waikiki
entrepreneur who owns
a yacht charter company.
She's taking Spence for a spin
on her boat this afternoon.
We got to get Spence before
Molly takes him off the island.
I'll grab Kai and Lucy.
(DEVICE BEEPS)
Wait a sec.
This makes no sense.
What?
Molly's IP address, it
tracks to this building.
You're saying she's here?
As of an hour ago.
It's Talia.
She's playing us again,
right under our noses.
I'm on it, boss.
JESSE: Talia?
Where's Sharon?
TALIA: Um, she left a little while ago.
I-I thought she was with you guys.
(EXHALES)
Ahoy! Captain Berry!
Molly, my sweet!
I finally made it.
Hello, George.
105, 107, 109.
Molly said her yacht is in slip.
- 111
- I think you mean Sharon.
(SCOFFS) Whoever it is, we're too late.
I'll call Sam.
(ENGINE APPROACHES)
What are you two standing around for?
(LAUGHS) What'd I say?
He's always watching.
This is definitely not your houseboat.
Borrowed it from one of my neighbors.
KAI: Let's go get 'em.
You look good, Sharon. Powerful.
That's the gun pointed
at your head, jackass.
Let's go.
You know, if you wanted to see me,
you could've just reached out.
I'm surprised you even remember me.
I could never forget you, Sharon.
Right there. There, 11 o'clock.
LUCY: Yeah, I see Sharon and Spence.
What's happening?
Actually, she's got a gun on him.
Not a day goes by that
I don't think about you.
- Shut up, George.
- Remember when your car broke down
on Galveston Island?
We spent all night with the top down,
gazing at the stars.
(YELPS)
Yep, nope, definitely not just talking.
We don't have much time.
We don't need much time.
I said shut up.
Okay! Okay What do you want?
Money? I-I got a whole bag of it.
And bank accounts, too.
I stopped caring about
the money a long time ago.
SPENCE: What do you want me to say?
That I lied to you? Cheated you?
That's a start.
Don't pretend that you've
got no part in this.
You were perfectly happy
living the romance novel tragedy
you always dreamed of.
SHARON: So now you blame your victims?
SAM: NCIS! We're boarding your vessel!
Those are the cops, Sharon.
How do you think you look
with a gun pointed at my head?
KAI: Federal agents.
I'll tell you how. You look crazy.
Don't call me crazy.
He's not worth it, Sharon.
This woman's trying to kill me.
Shut up, George.
Come on, Sharon. Let
us take it from here.
(GRUNTING) Drop the weapon!
SPENCE: Listen.
George isn't my real name.
I'm actually OSP on
a deep-cover mission.
I can't say more.
Really? 'Cause I'm all ears.
SHARON: Screw you, George!
SPENCE: Wait. What are you doing?
No. No, no, no!
(GRUNTING, SPUTTERING)
Didn't anybody ever tell you
that money often costs too much?
Please tell us that you got him.
Jack Spence has been arrested.
He's being charged
with murder and fraud.
He won't hurt anyone ever again.
And what about Sharon?
Is she okay?
TENNANT: She's in custody, too.
My guess, the prosecutor
will go easy on her,
given the circumstances.
Can NCIS get our money back?
Well, some of it is
evidence, and very wet.
We're working on the
Cayman account, but
there's not enough there
to make anyone whole again.
So, what do I do now?
You allow yourself to grieve.
Then you focus on getting
your businesses back on track.
It's not gonna be easy,
but you have each other.
And that is your best new asset.
(EXHALES)
We're gonna be okay.
♪
When I'm lying at night ♪
Going out of my mind ♪
Meet up at the pools bright and early?
Get some laps in before sunrise?
Yeah, uh Hey, about that.
Um
(EXHALES)
Look, you're the best gym buddy ever,
but the truth is, I
You don't want to do the Devil Dash?
(EXHALES) Yeah.
Good. 'Cause I don't want to, either.
Really?
But it was your idea.
Only because you said you missed
those 5:00 a.m. runs at boot camp.
Yeah, I was lying to impress you.
I know. Nobody misses those runs.
I was just waiting to see
how long till you cracked.
So you were gonna keep
running and swimming
and biking with me until I gave up?
Pretty much.
Wow, that is
diabolical.
I know.
Yeah. And the ball chair?
Oh, that was just plain hilarious.
Oh. Not for me.
I don't just keep fit, you know.
Drink a little beer,
listen to some music.
Okay. Is that an invitation? Huh?
- Mm
- Huh? Yeah? No? Okay.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
So, uh
what kind of music you like?
I'll send you a playlist.
I'm lucky I've got ♪
Good people ♪
Helping me out, yeah, I've got ♪
What the
-
- There when I'm down ♪
Yeah, I've got good
people lifting me up ♪
"Ernie Malik is whip-smart,
Sriracha-hot and moves
like Jagger. Lucy."
Good people ♪
All right, guys, you can come out.
- Ugh, finally.
- (CLEARS THROAT)
It's really dusty back there.
You could've just waited at the desk.
That's what I said.
Not as fun.
We couldn't agree on three adjectives
that capture your essence,
so we settled on 60.
Fine.
Since you went through all that trouble,
I suppose I can do a
one-month free trial.
LUCY: Oh, thank God,
because I don't think the headshot
photographer I booked is refundable.
She's kidding. Please
tell me she's kidding.
How else are we gonna capture
those classic good looks?
Good people. ♪
♪
(BOTH GASP, LAUGH)
MAN: Here we are.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
- (LAUGHS)
To my
fiancée. Mm
The most beautiful,
brilliant
and kick-ass entrepreneur
O'ahu has ever seen.
(LAUGHS) I only just signed the lease.
4,000 square feet
of prime Honolulu real
estate that you will turn
into the most successful
spa on this island.
I am in awe of your talent.
I couldn't have done it without you.
What is it, baby?
Don't turn around.
We're being watched.
I'm gonna get us to safety.
But I need you to do exactly what I say.
(EXHALES)
- Okay, but Jack
- It'll be fine.
Let's go.
Who's following us, Jack?
No time for questions. You
remember the plan, right?
Yes. Don't talk to anyone,
wait for you to reach out.
- And the go bag, have it ready.
- Right, of course.
But I-I don't understand.
- What does this mean?
- It means I'm not safe.
And if you're with me, neither are you.
But, Jack
Everything is gonna be all right.
I'll do everything in
my power to protect you.
Have the bag ready, wait for my call.
Jack, wait.
(GRUNTING)
Jack! Jack!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER)
Jack!
♪
♪
Darn it!
Four points, Juicy Lucy.
Two points, Boomtown Boone.
No. See, I alternate weight training
and boxing with zone two cardio,
depending on the day of the week.
- Know what I'm saying?
- Okay.
Hey.
- Morning.
- Morning. How was the run?
Oh, it was fantastic.
10K in just under 42 minutes.
(WHISTLES)
You two really missed
out. Right, Holman?
(GASPING): Yeah. Yeah,
you really missed out.
Sorry we couldn't make
it. Been a busy morning.
Yeah, looks like it.
Hey, you, uh, doing okay there, buddy?
KAI: Yeah, yeah. I'm okay.
Just letting the oxygen
- run back into my lungs.
- SAM: You know what?
I'm gonna make you a juice.
You got to up your nutrition game,
- VO2 max for the Devil Dash.
- Yeah.
What? "Devil Dash"?
It's an Ironman triathlon
on the island, and, uh,
when Sam mentioned
it, I said it sounds
sounds cool, so
Hey, you-you don't think
that he thinks that
That you're going to do it with him?
SAM: Hey.
You aren't allergic to fungi, right?
Mm, he definitely thinks that.
What the hell kind of
juice is he making you?
(PANTING)
You guys played Trashball without me?
Yep.
Damn it.
Hi, can I, can I help you?
Hi. I-I need to speak to someone
with top-secret security clearance.
Oh, actually, we all have
top-secret security clearances.
What is this regarding?
My fiancé.
Uh, he works in Navy intelligence.
What's his name and rank?
It's Commander Jack Spence. (STAMMERS)
I have classified information.
I need to speak to the top boss.
I-I hear you, ma'am.
I-I just, I'll need a
little more context
My fiancé is imminent danger.
He's involved in Operation Red Rabbit.
I can't say more here.
Okay.
Okay, uh, well, if you
just want to take a seat,
and we'll be right with you.
JESSE: What's that about?
Operation Red Rabbit.
- What's that?
- No idea.
I can't tell you how much I
have hesitated coming here.
I-I know the importance of
secrecy for his missions.
I mean, most of the Navy isn't
even aware of their existence.
Did you get a look at the
guy who was following you?
Um, not a good one. I mean, he's
balding, mid-40s, tall.
We lost him once we
were in the stairwell.
TENNANT: It sounds
like a scary experience.
Has anything like this happened before?
Jack disappearing?
No.
I mean, he goes off the grid sometimes.
Travels to God knows where.
It's part of the job, but
this was different.
I mean, someone was after
him here, where we live.
This elite task force that he's in.
Do you know the name of his CO?
- Or other members of his unit?
- No.
Jack-Jack would never give
up classified information.
Even to me.
TENNANT: But he gave up
- Operation Red Rabbit?
- Yes.
But only the name.
And I overheard him say
it once on the phone.
- To who?
- I have no idea.
Look, I-I wouldn't have come
here unless I feared the worst.
Okay, that he has been compromised
Or killed.
By enemy agents.
Look.
You did the right thing
by coming to us, okay?
And we will do everything
that we can to find him.
But the more information that we have,
the better.
Is there anything else you can tell us
that may help us find him?
Um
You can look in, um,
his office at our house.
It's locked.
I'm not supposed to go in.
We'll look into it.
(QUIETLY): Thank you.
An elite Navy intelligence task force?
Why haven't we heard of it?
Doesn't mean they don't exist.
Ever heard of Task Force 157?
- No.
- TENNANT: Task Force 157
is a secret Navy intel group.
Ran ops for over a decade.
Including overthrowing
the Chilean government.
SAM: Supposedly did jobs
that were too sensitive
or too dirty for the CIA.
Supposedly.
Disbanded in '77,
existence officially denied.
JESSE: Wow, so we thinking Jack Spence
- might be a real Navy secret agent?
- Yes, we do.
My source at ONI could
confirm the existence
of Operation Red Rabbit
and of Lieutenant Commander Jack Spence.
But that's as far as I can get.
Everything else remains classified.
A Navy intelligence officer
is pulled off the streets of Hawai'i?
TENNANT: We don't know
if he was pulled off yet.
Maybe he's in hiding.
Either way, you'd think ONI
would want to know what
happened to their guy.
Unless they already do.
I'll put in a call to PACOM,
see if we can't get read in.
Great.
- Ernie, will you
- Go through CCTV footage
of the restaurant? It's
downloading as we speak.
Jesse, grab Kai. Head over
to Talia and Spence's house.
Good. I was hoping to
get the secret spy room.
Look, if Commander Spence is in trouble,
we need to find him fast.
(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
Okay. Uh
(PHONE CHIMING)
(SIGHS)
Sorry.
(SIGHS) Sorry.
What's that about?
Oh, Sam's got me signed
up on this wellness app.
- It rates the quality of my steps.
- (CHUCKLES)
Special apps, Ironman triathlon?
You're in deep, my friend.
Nah, it's cool. He's just, like,
really, really into fitness.
And you're really into him.
I'm just trying to
make new friends, Jesse.
Well, mission accomplished.
Wow. It's a nice house.
Yeah.
Clearly no kids.
Mm-hmm. Sure.
You notice something else?
There is hardly any sign of Jack Spence.
Yeah. No personal items, mementos.
Not even a picture of him and Talia.
Yeah, maybe it's a security risk.
Maybe.
Think we found it.
- I'll grab the shim from the car.
- No need.
This is just a standard-issue
three-wheel combination lock.
And that means ?
Just got to listen for the clicks.
And have had
some really odd hobbies in high school.
Wow.
Whoa.
Hey.
Any chance you encountered
security lasers in high school?
Gettin' some serious Jason Bourne vibes.
Looks like fake passports.
Listening devices.
Why would a Navy intelligence
officer keep all this at home?
Maybe because he's not
supposed to have it.
Take a look.
Whoa.
Looks like hieroglyphics or a
cipher.
You know what it means?
Spence has got a lot more
going on than even Talia thinks.
(SIGHS)
ERNIE: You see there? That's the
man Talia identified at the bar.
The one who was watching them.
He's throwing some
serious shade their way.
Yeah. Or he's waiting for them
to be done with their table.
When Spence and Talia leave,
he doesn't follow them.
He stays put.
Maybe she has the wrong guy.
Well, no one else from the restaurant
are following them, either.
However, outside is a different story.
I don't know where he ended
up, but watch the unmarked SUV.
It peeled off right after him.
Same SUV pulled up behind them
when they arrived at the restaurant.
Okay, so he was being followed.
- (COMPUTER BEEPS)
- (PHONE BUZZES)
Oh, it's Kai, with pics
from inside Spence's house.
ERNIE: "La."
I think they think it's
some sort of cipher.
Maybe the dots and the
dashes are Morse code?
ERNIE: "La."
LUCY: Or here. See?
The birds and the waves.
Looks like some ancient
Egyptian cave dwellings. (GASPS)
Kate knows a guy at U.H. who can help
La. La. See the kahako?
- Mm-hmm.
- That's Hawaiian for "sun."
And this one is Sanskrit for "sun."
They all mean "sun."
So, we thinking it's
a a highly-coded map,
like directions in relation
to the sun kind of thing?
No, we're thinking it
isn't a cipher at all.
It's a logo.
Sunstreak Café in Waimanalo?
What does Secret Agent Jack Spence
have to do with a bakery?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(HAWAIIAN MUSIC PLAYING)
- Oh. Smells good.
- Yeah, refined sugar.
The enemy of discipline and promise.
Right. Yeah, of course.
I was just, like
You're training for the Devil Dash.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
Copy. Excuse me.
What can I get you?
Putting out a fresh tray
of pistachio malasadas.
Flavor of the week.
Yeah, and they look amazing.
But actually, we're
federal agents with NCIS.
Yeah, we were wondering if we could
ask the owner a few questions?
I'm the owner. Jill Lee.
- SAM: Okay.
- What's this regarding?
(PHONE KEYBOARD TAPPING)
Do you know this man?
I've never seen him before.
Excuse me.
Are you sure?
'Cause we have reason to
believe he's spent time in here.
Look, I don't know
everyone that comes in.
Well, maybe we can ask
some of your employees?
I can connect you with a few.
Let me just grab another
tray from the oven.
I'll be right back.
Think she's lying?
About everything but the malasadas.
Jack, it's happening.
They're here and they're in the front
and I don't know what to do
You mind if I keep this?
Where is Jack Spence?
I have no idea.
He gave me that phone for emergencies.
Okay, let's start this again.
But this time, with the truth.
How do you know Jack Spence?
He's my fiancé.
And if you're here, then that
means he must be in trouble.
(DOOR OPENS)
Have you located Jack?
We're still putting the
pieces of the puzzle together.
Thank you for your patience.
So how did you and Jack meet?
Uh, we met online seven months ago.
Seven months? Short courtship.
Well, when we finally met in person,
things moved quickly.
And when you know, you know, right?
I would definitely call it whirlwind.
We met on a dating app a year ago.
Jack swooped into my life.
I had practically given up on dating,
I was so focused on work.
At what point did he tell you
that he worked with Navy intelligence?
It must have been a couple months in.
He'd be away for stretches at a time.
He'd be unreachable.
He felt that he had to explain why.
JILL: Even though I worry
about him when he's gone,
in a way, it's good for me.
I can really focus on the café.
That's been a huge
part of our connection.
The café.
- How so?
- Well, Sunstreak, you know,
was just a little coffee cart
when we started dating.
Jack really encouraged me to
turn it into a full-blown restaurant.
He even designed the logo.
TALIA: He's been so supportive.
Expanding the salon, that was his idea.
He helped secure the loan.
JILL: He's been there for
me every step of the way.
(EXHALES) I've had to take
out lines of credit recently.
I didn't know that was possible.
Business been slow?
TENNANT: Did Jack
ever ask you for money?
Sure. Yeah.
Uh, I helped him buy a car.
It's too risky to use his own name.
The Navy can be slow to
reimburse mission expenses.
I've had to help Jack out of
a couple sticky situations,
financially speaking.
And then, of course, uh, the go bag.
Go bag?
Yeah, part of his bug-out plan.
$50,000 in cash for if he calls.
Emergency use only.
I guess love really is blind.
KAI: $250,000.
That is how much Spence "borrowed"
from Talia and Jill combined.
LUCY: Safe to say none of it
was for actual official business.
No, and his secret spy
room is a complete fake.
The passports are knockoffs
and the security lasers
connect to nothing.
Man, is this guy even in the Navy?
Why are you on an exercise ball?
SAM: To strengthen his core.
(WHISPERS): I think he hid my chair.
SAM: So,
I found Jack Spence.
Oh, that's great.
There's only one problem.
He's been stationed in
Bahrain for the past year.
So definitely not the same guy
Talia and Jill are engaged to.
Sounds like our Jack
Spence is 100% con man.
KAI: Yeah, but how'd he know
about Operation Red Rabbit?
Guess I'll have to talk to the
real Jack Spence and find out.
Uh, boss,
what do you want to do
about the you know.
Offer them some coffee?
TENNANT: Thank you for speaking
to us, Lieutenant Commander Spence.
I understand you want to talk to me
about Operation Red Rabbit?
Well
that's the thing
I need to make it clear that
I'm not at liberty to discuss
any of the compartmented
details of the mission.
Which is all the details.
We understand, Commander.
We actually need you to
identify the man in this photo.
That's Tyler Bingham.
What's he in, some kind of trouble?
Who is he to you?
Well, Mr. Bingham is a headhunter
for a private security firm.
One of the biggest
in the country, ma'am.
How'd you guys meet?
At a foreign affairs lecture
in D.C. about three years ago.
(CHUCKLES)
Did he say he was recruiting me?
Because I told him I wouldn't leave
until the mission is complete.
So Mr. Bingham is recruiting you.
Yes, ma'am. Aggressively.
For a role in the high six figures.
Have you and Mr. Bingham ever
discussed the details of your work?
I would never divulge
sensitive information.
We spoke of my upbringing, my training.
Typical recruiting stuff.
I'm sorry, am I missing something here?
We have reason to believe that
this man has stolen your identity.
Are you saying I'm compromised?
TENNANT: Yes, but not in
the way that you think.
He's using your identity
to extort money from women.
Here in Hawai'i.
I don't understand.
So, he's just a con man
scamming lonely women?
Who also fooled a highly-trained
Navy intelligence operative.
(LOCK BEEPS)
ERNIE: Scrappy, insightful,
and adventuresome.
What now?
The three words I'd use to describe you
on an online dating profile.
- Thanks.
- I'm knee-deep in dating apps.
I found the one Spence
used to woo Talia and Jill.
Oh, rock climbing.
Yeah, he's got it all.
Scuba diving, riding a camel
LUCY: Oh, a French Bulldog.
- To show his soft side.
- Mm-hmm.
This is the work of
an expert con artist.
Presents himself as a
globetrotting adventurer
to bolster the spy story
he tells his victims later.
He's a genius.
Sounds like you have profile envy.
(SCOFFS) Let me see yours.
Excuse me?
Your dating profile.
I don't have one, never will.
But tech is kind of your thing.
I prefer the classic approach to dating.
Oh.
Putting myself in physical environments
in which I may meet a prospective date
over the period of weeks
or months and then
Googling her.
How's that been working out for you?
Anyway,
I've been looking into common
points of Talia and Jill's story.
Hardworking entrepreneurs,
unlucky in love
Trying to zero in on other victims.
- Did you find one?
- Nope.
Fourteen.
Wow, he's made quite the mark.
ERNIE: This is an online forum of women
scammed by our Jack Spence.
Started by a woman named Sharon
Waters in Texas. Victim zero.
S. Waters. Is that her?
ERNIE: "Sorry friends, will be MIA.
Following up a lead on Mr. X's location.
Packing sunscreen."
That was four days ago.
Do you think Sharon
Waters is here on O'ahu?
If she is, I'll find out where.
LUCY: Handsome.
- Soulful.
- (CHUCKLES)
Swimmy?
- KAI: Swimmy? What?
- Yeah, you know, like swim Aquatic.
The three words that would
best describe you on a dating profile
Oh. if you didn't have
a girlfriend in Canada.
Yeah, let's-let's
just focus on the case.
Room 112.
Here we go.
Sharon Waters?
Special Agents Tara and Holman.
- Cops?
- Uh, no. NCIS.
You mind if we ask you a few questions?
Come in, I guess.
You're here about George Malone,
or whatever name he's currently using
- to manipulate and defraud women?
- Yeah.
Yeah, we found your forum online.
I'm sure you were
surprised how many women
could fall for his story.
It's easier than you think.
You ever heard of love bombing?
KAI: Oh, yeah.
Uh, it's an explosion
of affection, protection
and admiration as a
form of manipulation.
I've seen some things.
And, if unleashed on the right person,
one who's eager for connection,
it can result in undying loyalty.
Like giving away all
your money to a con man?
Bingo.
I got an anonymous tip
that George might be here.
- (PHONE CHIMING)
- Oh. Excuse me.
Hey, why didn't you alert
the police about the tip?
'Cause they've been
useless for ten years.
No offense.
(TEXT WHOOSHES)
He's ruined the lives
of at least 14 women,
and all the cops do is file a report.
Okay.
Do you have any idea
where he might be now?
Nope, another dead end.
I'm headed home, so
LUCY: If you, uh, if you didn't
want to work with the police,
what exactly were you hoping to do here?
The only thing I can do at this point:
Look him in the eye, let
him know that one day,
his number will be up
and I'll be waiting.
- (CELL PHONE RINGING)
- Ugh. Now, if you will excuse me
Uh
(PHONE BEEPS)
Yeah, go ahead.
I wouldn't say she was our biggest fan.
Still, she shouldn't have lied
to us about Spence's location.
- You think she knows?
- I know she does.
Those texts she was getting?
I read them upside down.
From an unknown sender.
Address in Kailua.
One of, uh, "Mr. X."
Spence could be there now.
POTTS: He's a famous author, you know.
- Spence?
- Spy thrillers.
Uses a pseudonym. They're
gonna make one into a movie.
Hoping he won't leave my back house
when Hollywood comes
calling. Wonderful tenant.
Uh-huh. And you're
sure he's in there now?
POTTS: Saw him an hour ago.
He brought me chocolates.
Always brings little
gifts when he travels.
Okay. Well, Mrs. Potts, I
think it's best you stay back.
I hope you won't disturb
him while he's writing.
Do our best.
(GRUNTS)
Hey, Doc, we, uh
Wow. That's-that's-that's
one really burnt body.
I didn't know you
were squeamish, Holman.
I'm not squeamish.
(SAM CHUCKLES)
I, um
I take it this is what's left of Spence.
CHASE: Eh, allegedly Spence.
I need one last dental X-ray
to confirm the identity,
as the deceased's
fingerprints are, well,
with his fingers, elsewhere. Right.
Could use a hand.
I got it.
- (GROANS)
- Okay.
Please hold the head in the
A-position while I take the X-rays.
So come here often?
It's a
nice place you got here.
Ganesh.
The Hindu god of new beginnings.
That's an unusual choice for a-a morgue.
Oh, what can I say? I'm a bliss junky
who surrounds herself
with decaying corpses.
I contain multitudes.
Only by learning to live in
harmony with your contradictions
can you keep afloat.
No doubt you are a man filled
with contradictions, Agent Hanna.
Like the mellifluous
layers of a cipollini onion.
I've been called a lot worse.
KAI: Guys.
I'm still holding the head.
Apologies.
- (MACHINE BEEPING)
- All done.
Thank you.
So, how long till we get a
match on his dental records?
Ah, could be hours, could be days.
Oh, but
- that's interesting.
- What's interesting?
At first glance, John Doe
appears to have been killed
by a primary blast injury.
His arms are missing. But look at this.
He suffered an intracranial
hematoma in the back of his skull.
The result of blunt force trauma.
You're saying he was
murdered before the explosion?
Then positioned postmortem so his body
was facing the gas stove.
To make it look like an accident.
There was a lot of people
who might want Spence dead.
Yeah, but one really sticks out.
You bring me in for questioning
while Spence is still out there?
(LAUGHS) Y'all are no better
than the cops in Houston.
Look, I understand your frustration.
Jack Spence doesn't deserve
to walk free after what he did to you.
Thank you.
TENNANT: And it's understandable
why you'd want to take
matters into your own hands.
Track him down in Hawai'i.
Confront him. Make him pay.
Oh, I haven't confronted him, yet.
And you may not get the chance.
Why? He skip town again?
He's dead.
I don't believe it. How?
Blunt force trauma
followed by a gas explosion.
(LAUGHING) That's so Oh.
Well, I-I guess karma
really is a bitch, huh?
(LAUGHS)
Oh. Oh, oh, oh.
Oh, you two think I did it.
Well, you certainly had the motive.
Yeah, like, me and 13 other women.
But you're here and knew where he was.
Someone gave you his address.
You need to talk to David Bell.
Who's David Bell?
SHARON: A PI I hired to locate Spence.
He's been tracking him for months.
Bell texted you the address?
SHARON: Yes, but I hired him
to find Spence, not kill him.
(SCOFFS) Look,
I'm not gonna shed a tear
over this man's death,
but question me all you
want, I didn't do it.
(LOCK CHIMES)
Emily Garcia.
Teacher. Bubbly, bantery,
boba-licious. Dude,
she's perfect for you.
Swipe right. It's not for me.
It's for the case.
All right, see this?
One of Spence's dating
profiles is currently active.
He's viewed several local
women in the last 24 hours.
Which means someone hacked it, or
Spence is still alive.
And still on the prowl.
Looking for another mark.
Late 30s, early 40s,
small business owners.
All right, nice work. Keep
watching, see what he does.
You know,
nowadays, finding love online
isn't all that different
from meeting someone at a bar.
That's not true.
When you meet someone at a bar,
they get to know you as a
three-dimensional human being.
Dating apps distill your entire
personality into bullet points.
- That's a bad thing?
- It is if your bullet points
are: divorced, can't talk about work,
and not, you know, classically handsome.
I mean, who is?
Seriously?
I'm just saying my best qualities
can't be captured in a profile.
Yeah, but you're never
gonna know unless you try.
Maybe hot teacher loves
un-classically handsome.
(PHONE BUZZES)
I got a hit on the dental X-rays.
It's a match for David
Bell, Sharon Waters' PI.
So, our con man is still alive.
Yep, except now he's a murderer.
KAI: Bell's phone pinged outside
Spence's hideout several times
over the last 48 hours.
Spence likely realized
he was being followed,
so he killed Bell.
And rigged his house to
explode to cover his tracks.
Yeah, look, he's probably halfway to
to Tahiti by now. Sorry.
But not without his go
bag filled with money.
He's gonna need resources
to get off the island.
Which means he's desperate and
even more dangerous than before.
Okay, so how do we find him?
By offering him exactly what he wants.
I know this man inside and out.
He is not capable of murder.
I understand you think that,
but a con man like Jack Spence
is an expert manipulator.
Look, I know from personal experience.
(SIGHS)
You-you've been conned?
I did the conning.
My previous career required me
to get people to do all sorts of things
that were not in their best interest.
- (STAMMERS) You expect me to believe you now?
- No.
I don't expect you to.
I'm asking.
Help us find Spence.
Look, if you're right, and all
of this is a misunderstanding,
then he can tell us himself.
What do you want me to do?
You have his go bag
of cash still, right?
You're gonna give it to him.
TALIA: But I can't reach him.
He's not responding to
my calls or my texts.
TENNANT: What about TheOneSpark.com?
TALIA: I mean, he deactivated
the account after we met.
It appears as though
he's reactivated it.
Message him there.
Say you want to stay
with family for a while,
but you want to get him his money first.
We'll do the rest.
Smart move to do this on game day.
Big crowd.
Easy for Spence to get
lost if he spots trouble.
You think he'll know it's a trap?
Not if we do our job right.
Okay.
I know this seems intense,
but you'll be great.
All you have to do is meet Spence,
and give him the go bag.
We'll take it from there.
- You're not gonna hurt him, right?
- Of course not.
ERNIE: 1:45, guys. Now or never.
You okay?
Yes. I just I want
to get this over with.
Okay.
(EXCITED CHATTER)
ANNOUNCER (OVER SPEAKERS):
Attention, tickets are available
at the box office, located
outside the main gate.
KAI: Oh, that looks so good.
- Go get one.
- Oh.
Sam says we're only
doing whole grain carbs
and lean proteins until the Devil Dash.
Sam's not here.
Yeah, but he's watching.
He's always watching.
There's Talia.
Did Talia just get a
message from Spence?
Nothing on the chat.
LUCY: He must've just texted her.
Why would you say that?
'Cause she just bolted.
She's headed into the stadium.
- Jack.
- Hey!
I got a visual.
Talia's with Spence. Section CC.
This won't be much longer, my love.
What is it? What's wrong?
Excuse me. Sorry.
Run.
Hey!
- I don't think so.
- (GASPS)
Sorry. Excuse me.
SAM: Spence?
We lost him in the crowd.
Yeah, along with the money.
What the hell happened, Talia?
What happened is we've
been swindled this time.
Jack Spence lied to
Talia about everything,
and yet she still believes in him?
So much so she gave him $50,000
of her own cash to help him escape.
Yeah, and screwed us
over in the process.
Love is a powerful emotion.
Works like a drug on your brain.
So how do we sober Talia up?
ERNIE: By showing her exactly
who she fell in love with.
I've been digging into George Malone,
the alias Spence used to
scam Sharon a decade ago.
Turns out, the real George
Malone was born in 1928.
Spent his whole life in
Providence, Rhode Island,
until he disappeared 12 years ago.
Malone's home caregiver
was a person of interest
in his disappearance.
That's Spence.
His real name is Arnold Russo?
ERNIE: Yes, and he had a reputation.
Several of his elderly patients
accused him of stealing.
JESSE: Let me guess, he
disappeared along with Malone.
ERNIE: Only to resurface in
Houston a few months later.
So Spence kills Malone,
and he steals his identity.
ERNIE: Then moves
thousands of miles away,
where he starts a
more profitable racket:
conning young women.
This gonna be enough to convince Talia?
Maybe.
But I think it's time
we bring in the big guns.
TALIA: If I'm not going to jail,
then let me go home.
I'm done helping you.
We will, but first,
there was some information
we held from you
because it was need-to-know.
But now, you need to know.
(SIGHS)
Have a seat.
I'm Sharon Waters.
Jack's first fiancée.
(SCOFFS)
Jack has never been engaged before.
SHARON: Actually, he has.
Sixteen times.
(LAUGHS)
That's impossible.
JILL: I'm Jill.
Jack and I have been engaged
for the last four months.
TENNANT: Jack told them both
the same spy story he told you
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
before robbing them blind.
TALIA: Uh, that's absurd.
JILL: Yeah, it's absurd but it's true,
because Jack had me
take out lines of credit,
and then he asked me for the
money to help him lie low.
I think "lie low" actually meant
he was spending time with you.
(SCOFFS) Well, I mean, Jack wanted me
to expand my business, too,
but it's-it's still my business.
He's barely involved.
And Jack doesn't even care
about money. He always says
BOTH: "Money often costs too much."
Every line that he's used on you,
he has used on us, too.
Oh, my God, I'm such an idiot.
SHARON: You're in good company.
TENNANT: Hey.
You just have an open heart
that a con man took advantage of.
He's not just a con
man, he's a murderer.
And I let him get away.
But he doesn't have to get far.
Think hard.
Is there anything you may know
that could lead us to Jack?
The Cayman Islands.
TENNANT: Talia found several calls
on her salon phone bill to the Caymans.
Turns out, they track to a bank.
If he's trying to get
to the Cayman Islands,
how's he gonna do it?
Can't board any commercial flights,
all his IDs are burned.
SAM: Well, 50 grand is
more than enough to charter
a plane or a boat off island.
TENNANT: He's gonna
need a lot more than that
to start from scratch overseas.
Think he's gonna try to find a new mark?
I bet he's already got one.
Sam's right.
I found another one of
Spence's dating profiles,
and it's active as we speak.
Meet his latest target,
Molly Berry, a Waikiki
entrepreneur who owns
a yacht charter company.
She's taking Spence for a spin
on her boat this afternoon.
We got to get Spence before
Molly takes him off the island.
I'll grab Kai and Lucy.
(DEVICE BEEPS)
Wait a sec.
This makes no sense.
What?
Molly's IP address, it
tracks to this building.
You're saying she's here?
As of an hour ago.
It's Talia.
She's playing us again,
right under our noses.
I'm on it, boss.
JESSE: Talia?
Where's Sharon?
TALIA: Um, she left a little while ago.
I-I thought she was with you guys.
(EXHALES)
Ahoy! Captain Berry!
Molly, my sweet!
I finally made it.
Hello, George.
105, 107, 109.
Molly said her yacht is in slip.
- 111
- I think you mean Sharon.
(SCOFFS) Whoever it is, we're too late.
I'll call Sam.
(ENGINE APPROACHES)
What are you two standing around for?
(LAUGHS) What'd I say?
He's always watching.
This is definitely not your houseboat.
Borrowed it from one of my neighbors.
KAI: Let's go get 'em.
You look good, Sharon. Powerful.
That's the gun pointed
at your head, jackass.
Let's go.
You know, if you wanted to see me,
you could've just reached out.
I'm surprised you even remember me.
I could never forget you, Sharon.
Right there. There, 11 o'clock.
LUCY: Yeah, I see Sharon and Spence.
What's happening?
Actually, she's got a gun on him.
Not a day goes by that
I don't think about you.
- Shut up, George.
- Remember when your car broke down
on Galveston Island?
We spent all night with the top down,
gazing at the stars.
(YELPS)
Yep, nope, definitely not just talking.
We don't have much time.
We don't need much time.
I said shut up.
Okay! Okay What do you want?
Money? I-I got a whole bag of it.
And bank accounts, too.
I stopped caring about
the money a long time ago.
SPENCE: What do you want me to say?
That I lied to you? Cheated you?
That's a start.
Don't pretend that you've
got no part in this.
You were perfectly happy
living the romance novel tragedy
you always dreamed of.
SHARON: So now you blame your victims?
SAM: NCIS! We're boarding your vessel!
Those are the cops, Sharon.
How do you think you look
with a gun pointed at my head?
KAI: Federal agents.
I'll tell you how. You look crazy.
Don't call me crazy.
He's not worth it, Sharon.
This woman's trying to kill me.
Shut up, George.
Come on, Sharon. Let
us take it from here.
(GRUNTING) Drop the weapon!
SPENCE: Listen.
George isn't my real name.
I'm actually OSP on
a deep-cover mission.
I can't say more.
Really? 'Cause I'm all ears.
SHARON: Screw you, George!
SPENCE: Wait. What are you doing?
No. No, no, no!
(GRUNTING, SPUTTERING)
Didn't anybody ever tell you
that money often costs too much?
Please tell us that you got him.
Jack Spence has been arrested.
He's being charged
with murder and fraud.
He won't hurt anyone ever again.
And what about Sharon?
Is she okay?
TENNANT: She's in custody, too.
My guess, the prosecutor
will go easy on her,
given the circumstances.
Can NCIS get our money back?
Well, some of it is
evidence, and very wet.
We're working on the
Cayman account, but
there's not enough there
to make anyone whole again.
So, what do I do now?
You allow yourself to grieve.
Then you focus on getting
your businesses back on track.
It's not gonna be easy,
but you have each other.
And that is your best new asset.
(EXHALES)
We're gonna be okay.
♪
When I'm lying at night ♪
Going out of my mind ♪
Meet up at the pools bright and early?
Get some laps in before sunrise?
Yeah, uh Hey, about that.
Um
(EXHALES)
Look, you're the best gym buddy ever,
but the truth is, I
You don't want to do the Devil Dash?
(EXHALES) Yeah.
Good. 'Cause I don't want to, either.
Really?
But it was your idea.
Only because you said you missed
those 5:00 a.m. runs at boot camp.
Yeah, I was lying to impress you.
I know. Nobody misses those runs.
I was just waiting to see
how long till you cracked.
So you were gonna keep
running and swimming
and biking with me until I gave up?
Pretty much.
Wow, that is
diabolical.
I know.
Yeah. And the ball chair?
Oh, that was just plain hilarious.
Oh. Not for me.
I don't just keep fit, you know.
Drink a little beer,
listen to some music.
Okay. Is that an invitation? Huh?
- Mm
- Huh? Yeah? No? Okay.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
So, uh
what kind of music you like?
I'll send you a playlist.
I'm lucky I've got ♪
Good people ♪
Helping me out, yeah, I've got ♪
What the
-
- There when I'm down ♪
Yeah, I've got good
people lifting me up ♪
"Ernie Malik is whip-smart,
Sriracha-hot and moves
like Jagger. Lucy."
Good people ♪
All right, guys, you can come out.
- Ugh, finally.
- (CLEARS THROAT)
It's really dusty back there.
You could've just waited at the desk.
That's what I said.
Not as fun.
We couldn't agree on three adjectives
that capture your essence,
so we settled on 60.
Fine.
Since you went through all that trouble,
I suppose I can do a
one-month free trial.
LUCY: Oh, thank God,
because I don't think the headshot
photographer I booked is refundable.
She's kidding. Please
tell me she's kidding.
How else are we gonna capture
those classic good looks?
Good people. ♪