NCIS s21e02 Episode Script
The Stories We Leave Behind
1
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(BELLS CHIMING IN DISTANCE)
(CHILDREN CHATTER NEARBY)
(ORCHESTRAL SYMPHONY MUSIC PLAYING)
Good morning, Dr. Mallard. Just me.
- (BARKS)
- Hey, Solo, good morning.
(CHUCKLES) Did you two
sleep in again, huh?
What is that? Is that Bach?
Book tours always bring him
back to Bach, don't they?
(CHUCKLES)
"Art is how we decorate space.
Music is how we decorate time."
Now, who was it who said that,
Dr. Mallard?
Was that, uh
Was that Basquiat?
Or was that you?
Dr. Mallard.
Ducky?
(SHAKY BREATH)
(SNIFFLES)
♪
McGee?
You okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay.
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
It's so hard to believe, man.
Yeah.
Well, dying quietly in your
sleep isn't the worst way to go.
I think even after all these years,
most of us just assumed
he would live forever.
PARKER: Uh, yes, Ambassador,
donations to the Marine Corps
Scholarship Foundation
and, again, that's
in lieu of flowers, okay?
Please.
Right, um
Yep, thank you very much.
Bye.
(SIGHS)
Talking the Scottish Parliament
into not sending an entire
mountain of thistles,
that's-that's harder than you think.
Yeah, flowers we have plenty of.
Magnolias from the New Orleans office,
roses from L.A.
Cherry blossoms
from the Far East office,
golden wattles from Sydney.
KASIE: And now these beautiful plumerias
from our friends in Hawai'i.
Those are beautiful.
Uh, they're kind of small, though.
Oh, no, these reeds are just for us.
They will be 20 more of these
at the funeral this weekend.
Garden keeps growing, I see.
From all corners of the world.
As well-intentioned as they are,
they don't seem to help, do they?
Well, Director, you would
know better than most.
Well
none of us are strangers
to loss, Agent McGee.
Dr. Mallard would be
the first to remind us
that he lived a very long,
very rewarding life.
Which he'd want us to celebrate,
more than anything.
Any suggestions as to how to do that?
That's a good question, Ms. Hines.
You know, I often go back to, um
something Dr. Mallard wrote to me
after my wife died.
He said
we all die twice.
Once when our bodies give out,
and again
when our stories stop being told.
I suggest
we keep the good doctor with us
by sharing his stories.
I think Jimmy needs to hear that.
Is he still in Ducky's office?
Still feeling guilty
about not being there
the night Ducky died.
Well, he couldn't have known.
I mean, the man was strong as an ox,
he just finished another book tour.
Yeah, but apparently Ducky
called Jimmy earlier that night
wanting to discuss some old case.
Jimmy said that he would
be by in the morning
and that's when he found him.
Jimmy is going through his office now,
trying to figure out what he
wanted to talk to him about.
Plenty to look through down there.
VANCE: Indeed.
But that was hardly the case
not too long ago.
"Dr. Donald Mallard, MD.
NCIS Historian"?
Your office still needs work.
(CHUCKLES)
Yes, it does.
DUCKY: Never forget, Mr. Palmer,
experience is the ultimate teacher.
JIMMY: I think we're
running out of room.
DUCKY: Yes, it will be
lonely in the Mallardian tonight.
Until I am buried,
there will be stories to tell.
And I look forward to telling them.
(ATV ENGINE REVVING)
DUCKY: You're awfully
close to that body, Timothy.
You have a long ride
coming up here, Palmer?
He wouldn't let me drive.
I begged and begged.
SERENA: Dr. Mallard.
- AGENT: Ma'am, excuse me
- Dr. Mallard!
You've been ignoring my calls.
I'm sorry, wh
Yeah, you're sorry.
What kind of person are you, anyway?
- Hey, first of all
- First of all,
you promised me you'd help
clear my family's name.
And now what? You just ghost me?
Jimmy, hey, how you doing?
- Find what you were looking for?
- No.
But I think it found me.
Everyone, this is Serena.
SERENA: Again, I'm-I'm so sorry.
I had no idea that Dr. Mallard passed
so soon after I spoke to him.
Spoke to him about what?
Uh, it was a few days ago.
He promised to help clear my dad's name.
That was Marine Sargeant
Daniel Zawadski,
he was killed in Afghanistan, May 2013.
I was only seven, so
all this time, I thought
my dad died in combat.
You know, a war hero.
Until Go ahead.
Until that jerk councilman
started spreading lies about him.
Wait, wait, wait. What lies?
What councilman?
Berger.
Allan Berger?
BergTel Technology?
That guy's loaded.
Yeah, that's the one.
Now he's running for Senate.
In Kabul, I worked with
some great Marines.
But I'm here to tell you our
military is rotting from within.
We have drug-addled deserters
in our ranks,
like Dan Zawadski,
who I told you about earlier.
Well, as senator,
I will rid our military
of every bad apple just like him.
All right, he goes on
like that for a while.
SERENA: Yeah, and then it went viral.
So now every college I apply to
thinks that I lied on my essay.
So, I asked my mom to tell me
what really happened and
Turns out she'd been sparing me
the truth all these years.
Official record has Zawadski
listed as UA
before being found
shot to death in a, uh
An Afghan brothel.
With heroin in his system.
Or so my mom was told.
Uh, granted, it was a low blow
to call out your father by name, but
What makes you think
the councilman lied?
Your Dr. Mallard.
JIMMY: She emailed him,
hoping to find
her father's autopsy report.
Now, naturally, Dr. Mallard
remembered his case
and he called her right back.
And he was pretty sure there
were no drugs in my dad's system.
But he did want to double-check
the autopsy report.
That sounds easy enough, Jimmy.
How long would it take you
to dig up the original autopsy?
I already asked Kasie to find it.
And I found part of it.
Cause of death
was a .44 caliber bullet,
but other than Ducky's signature,
everything else is redacted.
- What?
- Redacted by who?
And why? What is going on?
We're going to find out, Serena,
I promise you.
Well, if it was Ducky's last mission
to clear Serena's dad's name
You can bet your ass we're gonna
complete it. McGee.
I'll pull Zawadski's record.
I'll find the incident report.
Dr. Mallard started keeping
detailed case journals at his house.
I could try to find them.
Take Knight with you.
I'll see if the director can
help us with this councilman.
Yeah, Victoria's so excited
we adopted Solo.
Oh, there's a little bit of
a woman's touch in this place.
Was Ducky ever married? He wasn't.
Some of this stuff actually comes from
the original Victoria.
Right there.
His late mother.
Hmm.
And she was into motorcycles?
Actually, that was Dr. Mallard.
He had a need for speed all his own.
ATVs, motorcycles, you name it.
Trains?
No, I Wait.
(CHUCKLES)
I haven't seen that in years.
It's actually a family heirloom.
We used to have it up in our lab.
Behold the model of
my namesake, the Mallard.
Magnificent locomotive.
Set the world's speed record
for a steam engine back in 1938.
You really knew the man
like no one else, Jimmy.
I mean, to think of all
the things the two of you
have been through together.
Yeah.
Remember the time we were chased
through the woods together?
You mean our first date?
How could I forget?
Hate to say it, Jess, but
you weren't my first.
What's the plan?
Well, we-we sit here
and wait for them to find us.
We don't have time to
strategize any more than that.
(GROANS IN PAIN)
- Give me the gun.
- Fine by me.
Wait. Why?
Because I have military
firearms training.
With a musket.
Doctor, that was 50 years ago.
It's better than your none.
I will have you know,
I have prestiged six times
in Black Ops II.
Do I even want to know?
(STAMMERS) It's not like
I want the gun, okay?
It's just that it's very dark out and
Frankly, your eyesight is
not what it used to be.
I beg your pardon?
I know that was not going to end well.
You keep that up,
I may have to ask you to leave again.
Wait. What happened?
Oh, you know, lots of fighting
and shooting,
our team saving the day.
So now you decide to get humble.
Well, at least Ducky didn't have to
pull a bullet out of your ass.
Oh, hey, look at this. His journal.
Oh, just one?
Yes, but, uh
I think it only covers about
the last three years or so.
Well, look, there's six more of them.
So, say, three years each?
Wow. Ducky's handwriting.
Not that great.
Yeah, well, he's a doctor.
But look at the way that
it's all laid out here, huh?
I swear, he is
the most organized man I know.
Knew.
Forgive the informality, gentlemen.
Um, campaign trail's got me hopping.
What can I do for NCIS?
It's about a deceased Marine
you've been mentioning
in your speeches, Councilman.
Sargeant Daniel Zawadski.
Oh, yeah.
An unfortunate case, that one.
Actually, we're reaching out
on behalf of his daughter.
He had a daughter?
He does.
A teenager who knew a much
different version of her dad
before you publicly
disparaged him, so, um
unnecessarily.
I wouldn't say there's anything
unnecessary about the truth.
Fair enough.
But we were wondering if, in the future,
when you're making your point,
you would not call out
the sergeant by name.
Oh, of course.
See, this is why I hate politics.
It's the only reason I said anything.
My opponent's been trying
to make my proximity
to some dead Marine sound nefarious.
And by proximity you mean?
My family's company, BergTel,
was hired to rebuild Kabul's power grid.
The Marines assigned Zawadski
to be my bodyguard
and-and he seemed okay at first.
Until I realized he was doped up
half the time.
And before I could have him
replaced, he turned up dead.
It would sure help if the autopsy
report supported that claim.
According to the State Department,
it was redacted because Zawadski
was killed while UA.
Even I don't have access to it.
But our ME recalled something
odd about his body.
So we were wondering
what else you might remember.
Me?
Why not ask your ME?
Unfortunately, our Dr. Mallard
just passed away.
Well, my condolences.
But I just told you all I know.
I feel terrible about the kid,
but I stand by my message.
And given Zawadski's bad habits,
his death likely saved my life
and countless others.
And no one's saying
otherwise, Councilman.
We're just trying to get some answers.
Along with getting you to stop
bashing the kid's father.
Message received, Agent Parker.
But we're on the same
team here, gentlemen.
So, a little mutual respect
would be appreciated.
And we will all do our best.
Absolutely.
I'll certainly lay off Zawadski
and wish you both good luck
getting your answers.
Thank you, Councilman, I
Guess he's in a hurry.
You just can't help
poking the bear, can you?
Not when that bear
practically spit-takes
at the mention of Ducky's autopsy, no.
No, I think he knows something, Leon.
Yeah, but without Ducky, we don't.
Damn, every single case
is exactly four pages.
This man was organized.
That's what Jimmy said.
You know Ducky didn't even have
a junk drawer in his house?
Who doesn't have a junk drawer?
Well, DA confirms it.
Zawadski was dishonorably discharged
after his death in 2013
for desertion.
So my councilman buddy has
that part right, at least.
Yeah, and as far as the junkie part,
that's not a big stretch,
considering
where Zawadski's body was found.
So all we have to go on
is, uh, Ducky's
teeny tiny words.
Yeah, and I'm not finding a single word
about the Zawadski case.
That's because it wasn't
our team's case.
It took me a while to realize it, but
these are all of Dr. Mallard's
greatest hits from our team,
so only our stories are included.
Yeah, I'm not so sure
about greatest hits, Jimmy.
I'm looking at Ducky's last entry,
right before he died, here, and
just scribbled a note to himself.
"Palmer will be here in the a.m.
"Our answer lies with the team,
however cluttered it might be."
So he's saying that we have the answer?
But what did he mean by "cluttered"?
Yeah, it's an odd choice of words.
Yeah, you can call
our team a lot of things,
but cluttered is not one of them.
Well, he did write it in his last hours.
Did we ever get a hold
of Zawadski's old platoonmates?
Yeah, Torres and I talked
to a few of them.
They said he was a great man
and even better Marine.
And not one of them recall him
having a drug problem.
Some addicts are real good at hiding it,
but I don't know, how did he keep it
from his closest friends?
Yeah, it doesn't seem likely.
Neither does this.
You got something?
Well, how was Ducky friends
with Gibbs for 20 years,
and yet he didn't know about his family?
Ducky wrote about that?
The night you retired,
you asked me to drive you home.
You didn't say a single word
the entire trip.
No explanation.
Not even a goodbye.
And Kelly and Shannon.
All those years of friendship together,
and somehow you failed to
mention that you have a family.
I had.
Had a family.
You know how I feel
about apologies, right?
Yeah, they're a sign of weakness.
Not between friends.
I am sorry, Ducky.
I should've told you.
That's it. That's what we need.
- What do we need?
- Zawadski's best friend.
We need to find his Ducky
to get some answers.
- (PHONE RINGING)
- Hmm.
Agent McGee.
Uh, yeah, send her up.
Serena. She's asking for us.
Kid's tenacious, I'll give her that.
I just wish we had more to tell her.
That's okay, that's not why I'm here.
I have something for you.
Not another campaign video?
Not this time. It's a voicemail
I got about an hour ago.
MAN (ON VOICEMAIL):
Don't believe Berger, kid.
He's got your dad all wrong.
Semper Fi.
And that's it?
No no name, no caller ID?
Nothing.
But I know who it is.
Who?
Well, I don't know him,
but it has to be the same guy
who sends me a few bucks
every Christmas.
And he never signs the card, either.
No name, just "Semper Fi."
Serena, I'm gonna need your
phone to trace that call.
Here you go.
MCGEE: Thanks.
(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
So we're looking for a payphone.
Actually like a,
like an existing payphone?
Yep, there are exactly eight
still operational in D.C.
And this is the one where
Serena's voicemail came from.
Mm, hey, hey, hey, before we go,
can you explain this
mysterious entry from Ducky?
Mysterious how?
"McGee plus
"poison ivy, equals
unforgettable." End quote.
Please tell me he didn't write that.
Let's see what we're
dealing with here, Timothy.
Ah, the dreaded Toxicodendron radicans.
The poison ivy plant.
What I don't understand is how
did I get it all over my face?
It's the urushiol oil in the plant.
Yes, once it gets on your hands,
it spreads by contact.
Um, then I have a major problem, Ducky.
When I was out there,
I, um, I had to
- you know.
- No, I don't.
Relieve myself.
Oh.
Oh.
Well, uh
let's take a look, then.
Good lord.
What? What, is it bad?
No, no. It's fine, fine.
(CHUCKLES) Uh, nothing to worry about.
I didn't
expect to s to see quite
so much swelling.
If Tony finds out about this,
I'm gonna have to quit.
Well, your secret is safe with me.
Doctor, I've got the new
inspection forms you req
I'll come back.
Him I'm not so sure about.
That may seem hilarious now,
but, believe me, it was not at the time.
Though you don't seem to be laughing.
Oh, believe me,
I'm cracking up on the inside.
I am wondering why
Jimmy never told me about it.
Well, 'cause Jimmy's discreet.
Much like my boy Nick, right?
- Of course, bro code will be honored.
- Thanks.
MCGEE: There's our payphone.
Yeah, like an ancient artifact.
Except they need it more
than the Smithsonian.
TORRES: Hello.
NCIS.
Uh-oh. Everything okay?
TORRES: So far. You know
where we can find any, uh,
Marine veterans around here?
Specifically a male veteran
who may have used this payphone.
Would've served in Kabul around 2011.
That might be Jonesy.
He helps us out quite a bit.
I've heard him talk about Kabul.
You know where we could Jonesy?
His encampment's
right around the corner.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
One of these tents is
not like the others.
Clean, tightly made.
Yeah, that's a Marine bunk.
Hey! What the hell are you doing?
Get away from my stuff.
Are you Jonesy?
Who wants to know?
NCIS.
Whoa. Hey, hold on! Hold on!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
We just want to talk.
(PANTING) Wait, hold on.
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Just calm down, take a deep breath.
What are you sorry for?
Berger sent you, didn't he?
The councilman?
KNIGHT: You were honorably discharged
in 2014 and
it's been a pretty
rough road ever since.
You could say that.
What makes you think
that Councilman Berger
sent people after you?
I misspoke, sir. I was confused.
Sometimes my brain doesn't make sense.
Uh, certain things
I did in Afghanistan
stuck with me.
And that's why you ran?
I've also
done things here I'm not proud of.
Just surviving, you know?
You know who this girl is?
Is that Danny's girl?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
My God.
She's all grown up.
You called her today.
(PUTS PHONE DOWN)
Yes, sir. I served with her dad.
When Berger said what he said,
I wanted to set
the record straight for her.
Which maybe made you a little paranoid
about Berger sending people after you?
Yeah, maybe.
Why set the record straight?
You think the councilman
was lying about her dad?
Danny Zawadski was a good man.
And he would never desert.
Never get mixed up in anything bad.
He was your friend.
Absolutely, he was.
KNIGHT: Was there any
bad blood between Zawadski
and the councilman back then?
I just don't want to get involved.
Please.
When was the last time you ate, man?
Can we get you anything?
I wouldn't mind a sandwich.
Come with us.
I hate to see our men in uniform
struggle like that.
Fear, paranoia, depression.
Checks all the boxes
for post-traumatic stress.
And to top it off
that Marine lost one of the only people
who was always there for him.
You okay, Leon?
I'm fine.
Let's just say I can relate.
I can relate all too well.
What's the word, Doctor?
Owens went down fighting.
VANCE: I would hope so.
My condolences, Director.
I understand this man was
a-an acquaintance of yours.
I hadn't seen him in some time.
But once, you were quite close.
Gibbs was here.
What's his issue?
There is a lack of recorded evidence
that Owens was ever a Marine.
You can't believe everything
you read on a piece of paper.
Ducky helped you set things right.
Not just Dr. Mallard.
Whole team.
Like it's always been around here.
Dr. Mallard's role was
well
I suppose
he provided a little glue
to keep us all together.
KASIE: Don't go falling apart on me,
bud.
Falling apart?
Kasie, I'm fine.
I just wish I had more to do, you know?
But since this case doesn't have any
forensic evidence or a body
to examine, I figured
we use this extra time,
maybe get a little spring cleaning done.
Though it is not spring.
Well, you know what they say,
early bird gets the
(STAMMERS) clean countertops.
Would you mind moving this over there?
Bet you can guess who it's from.
Yep, mm-hmm.
DUCKY: Forgive me, Mr. Palmer.
But I can't resist the urge
to give you one of my all-time
favorite pieces of advice.
If you're going through hell,
keep going.
It's clean.
I just don't want to be down in
Autopsy, Kase, not right now.
I know.
We had so much time.
I mean, how many stories
of his did I listen to?
How many hours did we spend in that van
after I got us lost? (CHUCKLES)
And all that time, I am not sure
I ever told him
how I really felt about him.
Jimmy.
(CHUCKLES)
Why do we do that?
Why do we hold back
on telling people every day
how much they mean to us?
You two told each other constantly.
Of course he knew.
In fact, I know
he felt the same way.
What's going on?
I am properly displaying your artwork.
All these should be shown and admired.
I can't believe that you did this.
I am touched.
Well, consider it a parting gift.
Parting gift? You going somewhere?
Indeed I am.
You can call it
a globetrotting adventure.
But you just got back.
(CHUCKLES)
You have proven yourself
more than capable
in the last year, Dr. Palmer.
I have no doubt that you'll continue
to hold the fort while I'm gone.
Sure, but (STAMMERS)
you will be back, right?
Of course.
And when I return in the new year,
I shall have
many more stories to relate.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
You are one in a million, Doctor.
True.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
We tell our friends we love them
through our actions.
And you two acted it all the time.
You're pretty great at advice,
you know that?
Yeah, well
learned it from the best.
And, Jimmy
I love you.
Now
let's get these out of here.
I keep my lab very clean.
I was almost insulted.
Still looking
for something to do, Jimmy?
Uh (CLEARS THROAT)
Jonesy,
Jimmy. Jimmy, Jonesy.
How was the sandwich?
Really hit the spot. Thank you.
I'm feeling a lot better now.
So, uh,
Agent Knight tells me that, uh,
you don't want to talk
about Afghanistan?
I'd rather not, sir.
I understand.
D-Do you ever think about
your friend, Zawadski?
Every day.
What do you think he'd say
about the situation?
I can't ask a dead man what
he thinks about my problems.
We know how hard this is.
That's why I brought Jimmy here.
He just lost
someone important to him, too.
Sorry to hear it.
Thank you.
You know, it was
actually my friend's job
to speak to the dead.
Seriously?
Yeah. I watched him do it.
All the time.
And
more often than not,
they gave him the answers he needed.
DUCKY: This case should be known
as a simple lesson
in forensic pathology.
Know who is on your table
and talk to them.
While they're on the slab, Doctor?
Oh, that's where they reveal
their secrets.
You are
part of a proud and noble
tradition, Sergeant LeMere.
It will be my honor
to provide your widow with
any measure of peace that I can.
If you listen,
the dead will speak.
That happened.
The dead spoke.
If Zawadski could speak
what would he say to you right now?
JONES: He'd tell me
to stop being so scared.
He'd want me to do what's right
and tell you everything.
So tell us.
We're here to help you.
I don't know if you can, but
That Councilman Berger
is as crooked as they come.
Crooked how?
When he was a contractor in Kabul,
he was taking money
from a local heroin operation.
(STAMMERS) Taking money for what?
For cover, to make sure we never saw it.
But Danny worked protection
for Berger and found out, so
of course
he went off base one night, and
tried to find some evidence.
At the brothel?
Hell no, ma'am.
He went where the heroin was being made.
Bet that's where he was killed, too.
Everything else was just a smokescreen.
To discredit your friend?
That's right.
Jonesy, are you sure about all this?
I was on the desk that night,
and I'm the one who signed Zawadski out.
So, when he didn't come back,
I knew something went really wrong.
And you thought Berger was involved?
The next day, I did.
Before the whole base found out,
he had me give him the logbook,
and he tore that page out of it,
told me that Danny had gone UA.
Well-well, then,
why didn't you tell your CO?
Berger's got his whole
powerful family behind him.
So Berger threatened you?
Said he was glad I knew my place,
that I could get hurt out there.
(INHALES SHARPLY)
Like I said, I did things
over there I'm not proud of.
You can reverse that.
If you're willing
to say all of this in court,
we can put him away.
(SCOFFS) You think so?
Who's the jury gonna trust?
Hell, I wouldn't trust me.
A homeless guy's word
against some rich politician?
He got away.
Not if you stop him.
These files are organized perfectly,
but no autopsy report.
Yeah, same here.
Very tidy, but no reports.
We have to find something fast.
The councilman will be here
in 45 minutes,
and he is none too pleased
about coming in.
Well, if he had any part of that
Marine's death, I say, too bad.
Yeah, if we don't have some solid proof,
this guy is not above playing dirty.
He'll smear Jones and
discredit us while he's at it.
He'll definitely scare Jones
away from testifying.
So we need something.
All right, Ducky said
that the answer lies with the team.
(SIGHS) You were on the team
ten years ago, McGee,
so you may have the answer
and not even know it.
(SIGHS)
Wait a minute.
The team.
Like I said,
everybody's got a junk drawer.
However cluttered it may be.
How long before Berger gets here?
42 minutes. I'm calling for backup now.
We just need a few more minutes.
I know Jonesy was telling the truth.
We're gonna find it.
Kase, I have a few more discs for you.
Okay, thank you.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Uh, Vance can't stall
the councilman any longer.
Just keep looking
till you find Ducky's answer.
First, you make me wait half an hour.
Then, you start asking if there
was sorry, how'd you put it
uh, bad blood between me and Zawadski?
Well, was there?
What the hell kind of outfit
are you running here?
You know, I-I I think
NCIS might have
too much time on their hands,
and-and, also, maybe too much funding.
Message received,
but it's not gonna stop us
from doing our job.
Your job harassing public figures?
Our job is providing peace
for families of fallen service members.
(DOOR OPENS)
Hey, Councilman. Sorry to interrupt.
Just, uh, dropping something off
here. Don't mind me.
(WHISPERING)
Sounds like my cue to leave.
Councilman?
Have a seat.
(SIGHS) There's no need to defend myself
against some homeless guy's
ridiculous story.
Well, I have a story here, too.
Nothing, uh, ridiculous about it.
It's about a, uh,
Marine who was assigned
to protect a private contractor.
A contractor who was accepting bribes
for an Afghan heroin operation.
(CHUCKLES) You just throw made-up crap
against the wall and hope it sticks?
PARKER: I'm not making up a thing,
Berger. Our Dr. Mallard
performed the autopsy on Zawadski,
and he made thorough notes.
"Photos show the sergeant had
"postmortem lividity on his chest,
"yet was found face-up.
"This indicates his body was moved
"at least four hours after death.
"Tox results show
no illicit drugs in his system.
"However, on his clothing were traces
"of acetic anhydride,
"a chemical used in perfume-making,
"as well as playing a critical role
in heroin production."
Thank you, Dr. Mallard.
You started the lie
about Zawadski's drug problem.
He only had the chemical on him
by investigating your heroin op.
Oh, so, it's my heroin op?
You killed him and you moved his body
and you used your family's
power and influence
to have his autopsy redacted.
Look, this man he was a deserter.
Not according to the Marine
whose logbook you ripped a page out of.
What Marine?
You.
Me.
And so, it is with deep regret
that I hereby suspend
my campaign for the Senate.
I will not be taking
any questions at this time.
Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
- (LAUGHS)
I can't thank you all enough.
Your father served his country
honorably.
It's only fitting
that his dishonorable discharge
be reversed.
It'll make college
a lot easier this fall,
not having my last name in the papers.
Speaking of which,
Dr. Mallard made a call
to the Marine Corps Scholarship
Foundation just before his death,
and he recommended you
for tuition assistance.
I am happy to report
you will be receiving a call
and a scholarship.
Congratulations.
(LAUGHING): Thank you so much.
- (LAUGHING) Oh, my gosh.
- (LAUGHING)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
VANCE: I think Dr. Mallard
would have loved to have
watched us solve this case.
- KNIGHT: Mm-hmm.
- Oh, he would have loved to be the one
to catch the bad guy.
- (LAUGHTER) Absolutely.
- VANCE: Yeah.
How about you, Jimmy? You okay?
Yeah, have you got your eulogy ready?
Uh, yeah.
Actually came to me surprisingly easily.
Is everything all right?
Is everything?
No. No, it's not.
It's-it's not at all. I
I had just about enough
of people leaving this year,
just one after another.
Breena.
And then Bishop, and now Gibbs.
Jimmy
yesterday is over,
sad as that may seem, but
change is the essence of life.
I know that, Doctor, but
this feels like a death.
I miss him, too,
but Jethro isn't dead.
From what I hear,
it sounds as if he's starting
to live life again.
Possibly
for the first time
since losing his family.
If that is the case,
I don't mourn his departure.
I'm grateful for it.
Our pain
is a small price to pay for his peace.
Ducky always had the right words.
Certainly knew how to talk.
Yeah, a lot.
(LAUGHTER)
We'll be upstairs, Jimmy.
- Okay?
- Yeah.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
I'll give you a moment.
Thanks.
(SIGHS)
(QUIETLY): Here we go. Yes.
(SIGHS)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
Ah. Autopsy gremlin.
Tony.
Are we here to celebrate
a great man, or what?
And I figured,
Duckman would want a little
DiNozzo magic at his party.
Of course he would.
And as I'm only passing through,
I thought I'd bring you
a little something.
Duty-free, Heathrow.
I had a connecting flight,
and after a couple glasses of champagne,
I thought, "This would look
very good on Mr. Palmer."
All right, well,
you're gonna have to help me.
Okay? 'Cause I have absolutely no idea
how to tie one of those.
Well, fortunate for you,
I am the son of Anthony DiNozzo, Sr.,
so, had a little bit of practice.
(IMITATING DUCKY'S ACCENT):
Reminds me of time I was in Borneo.
- Sarawak, Dr. Palmer.
- (LAUGHS)
Sarawak.
Yes. I was an officiant at a wedding,
for a young boy
and his rather vulnerable
arranged bride.
He was frightened to death,
sick to his stomach.
He vomited all over her.
- (LAUGHS)
- And the altar, and the priest.
I always feared I perhaps had
secured his bowtie a bit too tight.
I'm really glad you're here, Tony.
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
Been telling stories all week
about Dr. Mallard.
You know. The whole team.
Yeah.
A lot of stories.
I guess that's
that's all we have in the end, right?
Is just just the stories
we leave behind.
Hmm. I wouldn't say only that, Jimbo.
We also have the lives we touch
while we are here.
The people we leave behind.
(SIGHS)
He had a good friend in you.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
Hey, guys, we're gonna be late.
We got to get going.
Tick, tick, boom. McHurry, what
is it with you and the clock?
By the way, I want to talk to you
about the movie selection last night.
Which one do you like better?
And I mean, not to pick favorites,
but instant classics, both of them.
But such different leading,
uh, characters, you know?
♪
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(BELLS CHIMING IN DISTANCE)
(CHILDREN CHATTER NEARBY)
(ORCHESTRAL SYMPHONY MUSIC PLAYING)
Good morning, Dr. Mallard. Just me.
- (BARKS)
- Hey, Solo, good morning.
(CHUCKLES) Did you two
sleep in again, huh?
What is that? Is that Bach?
Book tours always bring him
back to Bach, don't they?
(CHUCKLES)
"Art is how we decorate space.
Music is how we decorate time."
Now, who was it who said that,
Dr. Mallard?
Was that, uh
Was that Basquiat?
Or was that you?
Dr. Mallard.
Ducky?
(SHAKY BREATH)
(SNIFFLES)
♪
McGee?
You okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay.
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
It's so hard to believe, man.
Yeah.
Well, dying quietly in your
sleep isn't the worst way to go.
I think even after all these years,
most of us just assumed
he would live forever.
PARKER: Uh, yes, Ambassador,
donations to the Marine Corps
Scholarship Foundation
and, again, that's
in lieu of flowers, okay?
Please.
Right, um
Yep, thank you very much.
Bye.
(SIGHS)
Talking the Scottish Parliament
into not sending an entire
mountain of thistles,
that's-that's harder than you think.
Yeah, flowers we have plenty of.
Magnolias from the New Orleans office,
roses from L.A.
Cherry blossoms
from the Far East office,
golden wattles from Sydney.
KASIE: And now these beautiful plumerias
from our friends in Hawai'i.
Those are beautiful.
Uh, they're kind of small, though.
Oh, no, these reeds are just for us.
They will be 20 more of these
at the funeral this weekend.
Garden keeps growing, I see.
From all corners of the world.
As well-intentioned as they are,
they don't seem to help, do they?
Well, Director, you would
know better than most.
Well
none of us are strangers
to loss, Agent McGee.
Dr. Mallard would be
the first to remind us
that he lived a very long,
very rewarding life.
Which he'd want us to celebrate,
more than anything.
Any suggestions as to how to do that?
That's a good question, Ms. Hines.
You know, I often go back to, um
something Dr. Mallard wrote to me
after my wife died.
He said
we all die twice.
Once when our bodies give out,
and again
when our stories stop being told.
I suggest
we keep the good doctor with us
by sharing his stories.
I think Jimmy needs to hear that.
Is he still in Ducky's office?
Still feeling guilty
about not being there
the night Ducky died.
Well, he couldn't have known.
I mean, the man was strong as an ox,
he just finished another book tour.
Yeah, but apparently Ducky
called Jimmy earlier that night
wanting to discuss some old case.
Jimmy said that he would
be by in the morning
and that's when he found him.
Jimmy is going through his office now,
trying to figure out what he
wanted to talk to him about.
Plenty to look through down there.
VANCE: Indeed.
But that was hardly the case
not too long ago.
"Dr. Donald Mallard, MD.
NCIS Historian"?
Your office still needs work.
(CHUCKLES)
Yes, it does.
DUCKY: Never forget, Mr. Palmer,
experience is the ultimate teacher.
JIMMY: I think we're
running out of room.
DUCKY: Yes, it will be
lonely in the Mallardian tonight.
Until I am buried,
there will be stories to tell.
And I look forward to telling them.
(ATV ENGINE REVVING)
DUCKY: You're awfully
close to that body, Timothy.
You have a long ride
coming up here, Palmer?
He wouldn't let me drive.
I begged and begged.
SERENA: Dr. Mallard.
- AGENT: Ma'am, excuse me
- Dr. Mallard!
You've been ignoring my calls.
I'm sorry, wh
Yeah, you're sorry.
What kind of person are you, anyway?
- Hey, first of all
- First of all,
you promised me you'd help
clear my family's name.
And now what? You just ghost me?
Jimmy, hey, how you doing?
- Find what you were looking for?
- No.
But I think it found me.
Everyone, this is Serena.
SERENA: Again, I'm-I'm so sorry.
I had no idea that Dr. Mallard passed
so soon after I spoke to him.
Spoke to him about what?
Uh, it was a few days ago.
He promised to help clear my dad's name.
That was Marine Sargeant
Daniel Zawadski,
he was killed in Afghanistan, May 2013.
I was only seven, so
all this time, I thought
my dad died in combat.
You know, a war hero.
Until Go ahead.
Until that jerk councilman
started spreading lies about him.
Wait, wait, wait. What lies?
What councilman?
Berger.
Allan Berger?
BergTel Technology?
That guy's loaded.
Yeah, that's the one.
Now he's running for Senate.
In Kabul, I worked with
some great Marines.
But I'm here to tell you our
military is rotting from within.
We have drug-addled deserters
in our ranks,
like Dan Zawadski,
who I told you about earlier.
Well, as senator,
I will rid our military
of every bad apple just like him.
All right, he goes on
like that for a while.
SERENA: Yeah, and then it went viral.
So now every college I apply to
thinks that I lied on my essay.
So, I asked my mom to tell me
what really happened and
Turns out she'd been sparing me
the truth all these years.
Official record has Zawadski
listed as UA
before being found
shot to death in a, uh
An Afghan brothel.
With heroin in his system.
Or so my mom was told.
Uh, granted, it was a low blow
to call out your father by name, but
What makes you think
the councilman lied?
Your Dr. Mallard.
JIMMY: She emailed him,
hoping to find
her father's autopsy report.
Now, naturally, Dr. Mallard
remembered his case
and he called her right back.
And he was pretty sure there
were no drugs in my dad's system.
But he did want to double-check
the autopsy report.
That sounds easy enough, Jimmy.
How long would it take you
to dig up the original autopsy?
I already asked Kasie to find it.
And I found part of it.
Cause of death
was a .44 caliber bullet,
but other than Ducky's signature,
everything else is redacted.
- What?
- Redacted by who?
And why? What is going on?
We're going to find out, Serena,
I promise you.
Well, if it was Ducky's last mission
to clear Serena's dad's name
You can bet your ass we're gonna
complete it. McGee.
I'll pull Zawadski's record.
I'll find the incident report.
Dr. Mallard started keeping
detailed case journals at his house.
I could try to find them.
Take Knight with you.
I'll see if the director can
help us with this councilman.
Yeah, Victoria's so excited
we adopted Solo.
Oh, there's a little bit of
a woman's touch in this place.
Was Ducky ever married? He wasn't.
Some of this stuff actually comes from
the original Victoria.
Right there.
His late mother.
Hmm.
And she was into motorcycles?
Actually, that was Dr. Mallard.
He had a need for speed all his own.
ATVs, motorcycles, you name it.
Trains?
No, I Wait.
(CHUCKLES)
I haven't seen that in years.
It's actually a family heirloom.
We used to have it up in our lab.
Behold the model of
my namesake, the Mallard.
Magnificent locomotive.
Set the world's speed record
for a steam engine back in 1938.
You really knew the man
like no one else, Jimmy.
I mean, to think of all
the things the two of you
have been through together.
Yeah.
Remember the time we were chased
through the woods together?
You mean our first date?
How could I forget?
Hate to say it, Jess, but
you weren't my first.
What's the plan?
Well, we-we sit here
and wait for them to find us.
We don't have time to
strategize any more than that.
(GROANS IN PAIN)
- Give me the gun.
- Fine by me.
Wait. Why?
Because I have military
firearms training.
With a musket.
Doctor, that was 50 years ago.
It's better than your none.
I will have you know,
I have prestiged six times
in Black Ops II.
Do I even want to know?
(STAMMERS) It's not like
I want the gun, okay?
It's just that it's very dark out and
Frankly, your eyesight is
not what it used to be.
I beg your pardon?
I know that was not going to end well.
You keep that up,
I may have to ask you to leave again.
Wait. What happened?
Oh, you know, lots of fighting
and shooting,
our team saving the day.
So now you decide to get humble.
Well, at least Ducky didn't have to
pull a bullet out of your ass.
Oh, hey, look at this. His journal.
Oh, just one?
Yes, but, uh
I think it only covers about
the last three years or so.
Well, look, there's six more of them.
So, say, three years each?
Wow. Ducky's handwriting.
Not that great.
Yeah, well, he's a doctor.
But look at the way that
it's all laid out here, huh?
I swear, he is
the most organized man I know.
Knew.
Forgive the informality, gentlemen.
Um, campaign trail's got me hopping.
What can I do for NCIS?
It's about a deceased Marine
you've been mentioning
in your speeches, Councilman.
Sargeant Daniel Zawadski.
Oh, yeah.
An unfortunate case, that one.
Actually, we're reaching out
on behalf of his daughter.
He had a daughter?
He does.
A teenager who knew a much
different version of her dad
before you publicly
disparaged him, so, um
unnecessarily.
I wouldn't say there's anything
unnecessary about the truth.
Fair enough.
But we were wondering if, in the future,
when you're making your point,
you would not call out
the sergeant by name.
Oh, of course.
See, this is why I hate politics.
It's the only reason I said anything.
My opponent's been trying
to make my proximity
to some dead Marine sound nefarious.
And by proximity you mean?
My family's company, BergTel,
was hired to rebuild Kabul's power grid.
The Marines assigned Zawadski
to be my bodyguard
and-and he seemed okay at first.
Until I realized he was doped up
half the time.
And before I could have him
replaced, he turned up dead.
It would sure help if the autopsy
report supported that claim.
According to the State Department,
it was redacted because Zawadski
was killed while UA.
Even I don't have access to it.
But our ME recalled something
odd about his body.
So we were wondering
what else you might remember.
Me?
Why not ask your ME?
Unfortunately, our Dr. Mallard
just passed away.
Well, my condolences.
But I just told you all I know.
I feel terrible about the kid,
but I stand by my message.
And given Zawadski's bad habits,
his death likely saved my life
and countless others.
And no one's saying
otherwise, Councilman.
We're just trying to get some answers.
Along with getting you to stop
bashing the kid's father.
Message received, Agent Parker.
But we're on the same
team here, gentlemen.
So, a little mutual respect
would be appreciated.
And we will all do our best.
Absolutely.
I'll certainly lay off Zawadski
and wish you both good luck
getting your answers.
Thank you, Councilman, I
Guess he's in a hurry.
You just can't help
poking the bear, can you?
Not when that bear
practically spit-takes
at the mention of Ducky's autopsy, no.
No, I think he knows something, Leon.
Yeah, but without Ducky, we don't.
Damn, every single case
is exactly four pages.
This man was organized.
That's what Jimmy said.
You know Ducky didn't even have
a junk drawer in his house?
Who doesn't have a junk drawer?
Well, DA confirms it.
Zawadski was dishonorably discharged
after his death in 2013
for desertion.
So my councilman buddy has
that part right, at least.
Yeah, and as far as the junkie part,
that's not a big stretch,
considering
where Zawadski's body was found.
So all we have to go on
is, uh, Ducky's
teeny tiny words.
Yeah, and I'm not finding a single word
about the Zawadski case.
That's because it wasn't
our team's case.
It took me a while to realize it, but
these are all of Dr. Mallard's
greatest hits from our team,
so only our stories are included.
Yeah, I'm not so sure
about greatest hits, Jimmy.
I'm looking at Ducky's last entry,
right before he died, here, and
just scribbled a note to himself.
"Palmer will be here in the a.m.
"Our answer lies with the team,
however cluttered it might be."
So he's saying that we have the answer?
But what did he mean by "cluttered"?
Yeah, it's an odd choice of words.
Yeah, you can call
our team a lot of things,
but cluttered is not one of them.
Well, he did write it in his last hours.
Did we ever get a hold
of Zawadski's old platoonmates?
Yeah, Torres and I talked
to a few of them.
They said he was a great man
and even better Marine.
And not one of them recall him
having a drug problem.
Some addicts are real good at hiding it,
but I don't know, how did he keep it
from his closest friends?
Yeah, it doesn't seem likely.
Neither does this.
You got something?
Well, how was Ducky friends
with Gibbs for 20 years,
and yet he didn't know about his family?
Ducky wrote about that?
The night you retired,
you asked me to drive you home.
You didn't say a single word
the entire trip.
No explanation.
Not even a goodbye.
And Kelly and Shannon.
All those years of friendship together,
and somehow you failed to
mention that you have a family.
I had.
Had a family.
You know how I feel
about apologies, right?
Yeah, they're a sign of weakness.
Not between friends.
I am sorry, Ducky.
I should've told you.
That's it. That's what we need.
- What do we need?
- Zawadski's best friend.
We need to find his Ducky
to get some answers.
- (PHONE RINGING)
- Hmm.
Agent McGee.
Uh, yeah, send her up.
Serena. She's asking for us.
Kid's tenacious, I'll give her that.
I just wish we had more to tell her.
That's okay, that's not why I'm here.
I have something for you.
Not another campaign video?
Not this time. It's a voicemail
I got about an hour ago.
MAN (ON VOICEMAIL):
Don't believe Berger, kid.
He's got your dad all wrong.
Semper Fi.
And that's it?
No no name, no caller ID?
Nothing.
But I know who it is.
Who?
Well, I don't know him,
but it has to be the same guy
who sends me a few bucks
every Christmas.
And he never signs the card, either.
No name, just "Semper Fi."
Serena, I'm gonna need your
phone to trace that call.
Here you go.
MCGEE: Thanks.
(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
So we're looking for a payphone.
Actually like a,
like an existing payphone?
Yep, there are exactly eight
still operational in D.C.
And this is the one where
Serena's voicemail came from.
Mm, hey, hey, hey, before we go,
can you explain this
mysterious entry from Ducky?
Mysterious how?
"McGee plus
"poison ivy, equals
unforgettable." End quote.
Please tell me he didn't write that.
Let's see what we're
dealing with here, Timothy.
Ah, the dreaded Toxicodendron radicans.
The poison ivy plant.
What I don't understand is how
did I get it all over my face?
It's the urushiol oil in the plant.
Yes, once it gets on your hands,
it spreads by contact.
Um, then I have a major problem, Ducky.
When I was out there,
I, um, I had to
- you know.
- No, I don't.
Relieve myself.
Oh.
Oh.
Well, uh
let's take a look, then.
Good lord.
What? What, is it bad?
No, no. It's fine, fine.
(CHUCKLES) Uh, nothing to worry about.
I didn't
expect to s to see quite
so much swelling.
If Tony finds out about this,
I'm gonna have to quit.
Well, your secret is safe with me.
Doctor, I've got the new
inspection forms you req
I'll come back.
Him I'm not so sure about.
That may seem hilarious now,
but, believe me, it was not at the time.
Though you don't seem to be laughing.
Oh, believe me,
I'm cracking up on the inside.
I am wondering why
Jimmy never told me about it.
Well, 'cause Jimmy's discreet.
Much like my boy Nick, right?
- Of course, bro code will be honored.
- Thanks.
MCGEE: There's our payphone.
Yeah, like an ancient artifact.
Except they need it more
than the Smithsonian.
TORRES: Hello.
NCIS.
Uh-oh. Everything okay?
TORRES: So far. You know
where we can find any, uh,
Marine veterans around here?
Specifically a male veteran
who may have used this payphone.
Would've served in Kabul around 2011.
That might be Jonesy.
He helps us out quite a bit.
I've heard him talk about Kabul.
You know where we could Jonesy?
His encampment's
right around the corner.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
One of these tents is
not like the others.
Clean, tightly made.
Yeah, that's a Marine bunk.
Hey! What the hell are you doing?
Get away from my stuff.
Are you Jonesy?
Who wants to know?
NCIS.
Whoa. Hey, hold on! Hold on!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
We just want to talk.
(PANTING) Wait, hold on.
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Just calm down, take a deep breath.
What are you sorry for?
Berger sent you, didn't he?
The councilman?
KNIGHT: You were honorably discharged
in 2014 and
it's been a pretty
rough road ever since.
You could say that.
What makes you think
that Councilman Berger
sent people after you?
I misspoke, sir. I was confused.
Sometimes my brain doesn't make sense.
Uh, certain things
I did in Afghanistan
stuck with me.
And that's why you ran?
I've also
done things here I'm not proud of.
Just surviving, you know?
You know who this girl is?
Is that Danny's girl?
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
My God.
She's all grown up.
You called her today.
(PUTS PHONE DOWN)
Yes, sir. I served with her dad.
When Berger said what he said,
I wanted to set
the record straight for her.
Which maybe made you a little paranoid
about Berger sending people after you?
Yeah, maybe.
Why set the record straight?
You think the councilman
was lying about her dad?
Danny Zawadski was a good man.
And he would never desert.
Never get mixed up in anything bad.
He was your friend.
Absolutely, he was.
KNIGHT: Was there any
bad blood between Zawadski
and the councilman back then?
I just don't want to get involved.
Please.
When was the last time you ate, man?
Can we get you anything?
I wouldn't mind a sandwich.
Come with us.
I hate to see our men in uniform
struggle like that.
Fear, paranoia, depression.
Checks all the boxes
for post-traumatic stress.
And to top it off
that Marine lost one of the only people
who was always there for him.
You okay, Leon?
I'm fine.
Let's just say I can relate.
I can relate all too well.
What's the word, Doctor?
Owens went down fighting.
VANCE: I would hope so.
My condolences, Director.
I understand this man was
a-an acquaintance of yours.
I hadn't seen him in some time.
But once, you were quite close.
Gibbs was here.
What's his issue?
There is a lack of recorded evidence
that Owens was ever a Marine.
You can't believe everything
you read on a piece of paper.
Ducky helped you set things right.
Not just Dr. Mallard.
Whole team.
Like it's always been around here.
Dr. Mallard's role was
well
I suppose
he provided a little glue
to keep us all together.
KASIE: Don't go falling apart on me,
bud.
Falling apart?
Kasie, I'm fine.
I just wish I had more to do, you know?
But since this case doesn't have any
forensic evidence or a body
to examine, I figured
we use this extra time,
maybe get a little spring cleaning done.
Though it is not spring.
Well, you know what they say,
early bird gets the
(STAMMERS) clean countertops.
Would you mind moving this over there?
Bet you can guess who it's from.
Yep, mm-hmm.
DUCKY: Forgive me, Mr. Palmer.
But I can't resist the urge
to give you one of my all-time
favorite pieces of advice.
If you're going through hell,
keep going.
It's clean.
I just don't want to be down in
Autopsy, Kase, not right now.
I know.
We had so much time.
I mean, how many stories
of his did I listen to?
How many hours did we spend in that van
after I got us lost? (CHUCKLES)
And all that time, I am not sure
I ever told him
how I really felt about him.
Jimmy.
(CHUCKLES)
Why do we do that?
Why do we hold back
on telling people every day
how much they mean to us?
You two told each other constantly.
Of course he knew.
In fact, I know
he felt the same way.
What's going on?
I am properly displaying your artwork.
All these should be shown and admired.
I can't believe that you did this.
I am touched.
Well, consider it a parting gift.
Parting gift? You going somewhere?
Indeed I am.
You can call it
a globetrotting adventure.
But you just got back.
(CHUCKLES)
You have proven yourself
more than capable
in the last year, Dr. Palmer.
I have no doubt that you'll continue
to hold the fort while I'm gone.
Sure, but (STAMMERS)
you will be back, right?
Of course.
And when I return in the new year,
I shall have
many more stories to relate.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
You are one in a million, Doctor.
True.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
We tell our friends we love them
through our actions.
And you two acted it all the time.
You're pretty great at advice,
you know that?
Yeah, well
learned it from the best.
And, Jimmy
I love you.
Now
let's get these out of here.
I keep my lab very clean.
I was almost insulted.
Still looking
for something to do, Jimmy?
Uh (CLEARS THROAT)
Jonesy,
Jimmy. Jimmy, Jonesy.
How was the sandwich?
Really hit the spot. Thank you.
I'm feeling a lot better now.
So, uh,
Agent Knight tells me that, uh,
you don't want to talk
about Afghanistan?
I'd rather not, sir.
I understand.
D-Do you ever think about
your friend, Zawadski?
Every day.
What do you think he'd say
about the situation?
I can't ask a dead man what
he thinks about my problems.
We know how hard this is.
That's why I brought Jimmy here.
He just lost
someone important to him, too.
Sorry to hear it.
Thank you.
You know, it was
actually my friend's job
to speak to the dead.
Seriously?
Yeah. I watched him do it.
All the time.
And
more often than not,
they gave him the answers he needed.
DUCKY: This case should be known
as a simple lesson
in forensic pathology.
Know who is on your table
and talk to them.
While they're on the slab, Doctor?
Oh, that's where they reveal
their secrets.
You are
part of a proud and noble
tradition, Sergeant LeMere.
It will be my honor
to provide your widow with
any measure of peace that I can.
If you listen,
the dead will speak.
That happened.
The dead spoke.
If Zawadski could speak
what would he say to you right now?
JONES: He'd tell me
to stop being so scared.
He'd want me to do what's right
and tell you everything.
So tell us.
We're here to help you.
I don't know if you can, but
That Councilman Berger
is as crooked as they come.
Crooked how?
When he was a contractor in Kabul,
he was taking money
from a local heroin operation.
(STAMMERS) Taking money for what?
For cover, to make sure we never saw it.
But Danny worked protection
for Berger and found out, so
of course
he went off base one night, and
tried to find some evidence.
At the brothel?
Hell no, ma'am.
He went where the heroin was being made.
Bet that's where he was killed, too.
Everything else was just a smokescreen.
To discredit your friend?
That's right.
Jonesy, are you sure about all this?
I was on the desk that night,
and I'm the one who signed Zawadski out.
So, when he didn't come back,
I knew something went really wrong.
And you thought Berger was involved?
The next day, I did.
Before the whole base found out,
he had me give him the logbook,
and he tore that page out of it,
told me that Danny had gone UA.
Well-well, then,
why didn't you tell your CO?
Berger's got his whole
powerful family behind him.
So Berger threatened you?
Said he was glad I knew my place,
that I could get hurt out there.
(INHALES SHARPLY)
Like I said, I did things
over there I'm not proud of.
You can reverse that.
If you're willing
to say all of this in court,
we can put him away.
(SCOFFS) You think so?
Who's the jury gonna trust?
Hell, I wouldn't trust me.
A homeless guy's word
against some rich politician?
He got away.
Not if you stop him.
These files are organized perfectly,
but no autopsy report.
Yeah, same here.
Very tidy, but no reports.
We have to find something fast.
The councilman will be here
in 45 minutes,
and he is none too pleased
about coming in.
Well, if he had any part of that
Marine's death, I say, too bad.
Yeah, if we don't have some solid proof,
this guy is not above playing dirty.
He'll smear Jones and
discredit us while he's at it.
He'll definitely scare Jones
away from testifying.
So we need something.
All right, Ducky said
that the answer lies with the team.
(SIGHS) You were on the team
ten years ago, McGee,
so you may have the answer
and not even know it.
(SIGHS)
Wait a minute.
The team.
Like I said,
everybody's got a junk drawer.
However cluttered it may be.
How long before Berger gets here?
42 minutes. I'm calling for backup now.
We just need a few more minutes.
I know Jonesy was telling the truth.
We're gonna find it.
Kase, I have a few more discs for you.
Okay, thank you.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Uh, Vance can't stall
the councilman any longer.
Just keep looking
till you find Ducky's answer.
First, you make me wait half an hour.
Then, you start asking if there
was sorry, how'd you put it
uh, bad blood between me and Zawadski?
Well, was there?
What the hell kind of outfit
are you running here?
You know, I-I I think
NCIS might have
too much time on their hands,
and-and, also, maybe too much funding.
Message received,
but it's not gonna stop us
from doing our job.
Your job harassing public figures?
Our job is providing peace
for families of fallen service members.
(DOOR OPENS)
Hey, Councilman. Sorry to interrupt.
Just, uh, dropping something off
here. Don't mind me.
(WHISPERING)
Sounds like my cue to leave.
Councilman?
Have a seat.
(SIGHS) There's no need to defend myself
against some homeless guy's
ridiculous story.
Well, I have a story here, too.
Nothing, uh, ridiculous about it.
It's about a, uh,
Marine who was assigned
to protect a private contractor.
A contractor who was accepting bribes
for an Afghan heroin operation.
(CHUCKLES) You just throw made-up crap
against the wall and hope it sticks?
PARKER: I'm not making up a thing,
Berger. Our Dr. Mallard
performed the autopsy on Zawadski,
and he made thorough notes.
"Photos show the sergeant had
"postmortem lividity on his chest,
"yet was found face-up.
"This indicates his body was moved
"at least four hours after death.
"Tox results show
no illicit drugs in his system.
"However, on his clothing were traces
"of acetic anhydride,
"a chemical used in perfume-making,
"as well as playing a critical role
in heroin production."
Thank you, Dr. Mallard.
You started the lie
about Zawadski's drug problem.
He only had the chemical on him
by investigating your heroin op.
Oh, so, it's my heroin op?
You killed him and you moved his body
and you used your family's
power and influence
to have his autopsy redacted.
Look, this man he was a deserter.
Not according to the Marine
whose logbook you ripped a page out of.
What Marine?
You.
Me.
And so, it is with deep regret
that I hereby suspend
my campaign for the Senate.
I will not be taking
any questions at this time.
Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
- (LAUGHS)
I can't thank you all enough.
Your father served his country
honorably.
It's only fitting
that his dishonorable discharge
be reversed.
It'll make college
a lot easier this fall,
not having my last name in the papers.
Speaking of which,
Dr. Mallard made a call
to the Marine Corps Scholarship
Foundation just before his death,
and he recommended you
for tuition assistance.
I am happy to report
you will be receiving a call
and a scholarship.
Congratulations.
(LAUGHING): Thank you so much.
- (LAUGHING) Oh, my gosh.
- (LAUGHING)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
VANCE: I think Dr. Mallard
would have loved to have
watched us solve this case.
- KNIGHT: Mm-hmm.
- Oh, he would have loved to be the one
to catch the bad guy.
- (LAUGHTER) Absolutely.
- VANCE: Yeah.
How about you, Jimmy? You okay?
Yeah, have you got your eulogy ready?
Uh, yeah.
Actually came to me surprisingly easily.
Is everything all right?
Is everything?
No. No, it's not.
It's-it's not at all. I
I had just about enough
of people leaving this year,
just one after another.
Breena.
And then Bishop, and now Gibbs.
Jimmy
yesterday is over,
sad as that may seem, but
change is the essence of life.
I know that, Doctor, but
this feels like a death.
I miss him, too,
but Jethro isn't dead.
From what I hear,
it sounds as if he's starting
to live life again.
Possibly
for the first time
since losing his family.
If that is the case,
I don't mourn his departure.
I'm grateful for it.
Our pain
is a small price to pay for his peace.
Ducky always had the right words.
Certainly knew how to talk.
Yeah, a lot.
(LAUGHTER)
We'll be upstairs, Jimmy.
- Okay?
- Yeah.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
I'll give you a moment.
Thanks.
(SIGHS)
(QUIETLY): Here we go. Yes.
(SIGHS)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
Ah. Autopsy gremlin.
Tony.
Are we here to celebrate
a great man, or what?
And I figured,
Duckman would want a little
DiNozzo magic at his party.
Of course he would.
And as I'm only passing through,
I thought I'd bring you
a little something.
Duty-free, Heathrow.
I had a connecting flight,
and after a couple glasses of champagne,
I thought, "This would look
very good on Mr. Palmer."
All right, well,
you're gonna have to help me.
Okay? 'Cause I have absolutely no idea
how to tie one of those.
Well, fortunate for you,
I am the son of Anthony DiNozzo, Sr.,
so, had a little bit of practice.
(IMITATING DUCKY'S ACCENT):
Reminds me of time I was in Borneo.
- Sarawak, Dr. Palmer.
- (LAUGHS)
Sarawak.
Yes. I was an officiant at a wedding,
for a young boy
and his rather vulnerable
arranged bride.
He was frightened to death,
sick to his stomach.
He vomited all over her.
- (LAUGHS)
- And the altar, and the priest.
I always feared I perhaps had
secured his bowtie a bit too tight.
I'm really glad you're here, Tony.
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
Been telling stories all week
about Dr. Mallard.
You know. The whole team.
Yeah.
A lot of stories.
I guess that's
that's all we have in the end, right?
Is just just the stories
we leave behind.
Hmm. I wouldn't say only that, Jimbo.
We also have the lives we touch
while we are here.
The people we leave behind.
(SIGHS)
He had a good friend in you.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
Hey, guys, we're gonna be late.
We got to get going.
Tick, tick, boom. McHurry, what
is it with you and the clock?
By the way, I want to talk to you
about the movie selection last night.
Which one do you like better?
And I mean, not to pick favorites,
but instant classics, both of them.
But such different leading,
uh, characters, you know?
♪