"Daughters" is the 24th episode of the sixteenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 378th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on May 21, 2019. The episode is written by Steven D. Binder and directed by Tony Wharmby, and was seen by 12.10 million viewers.^[1]

Plot

NCIS Director Leon Vance tells Gibbs that Fornell is at the hospital, and to get there fast. One hour earlier: Spencer Cox speeds his SUV through traffic, while Alexis comforts and assures Emily Fornell that she will be OK. Arriving at the hospital, a paramedic takes charge.

Presently: The doctor stabilizes Emily, but she is still in critical condition, having overdosed on opioids, which her father Tobias cannot believe. Agents Bishop and Torres initially hear that Emily's drink was spiked at college. The ghost of Gibbs' and Fornell's ex-wife, Diane Sterling, manifests, urging Gibbs for vigilante justice, much like he had done in the past with Mike Franks. She asks if Gibbs will do for her daughter, what he had done for his own daughter (when he killed Mexican drug lord Pedro Hernandez). Vance initially forbids Gibbs to investigate because he is too personally invested. However, Ducky finagles jurisdiction after finding a loophole involving a Navy contractor who worked on campus. Emily recovers, but Tobias wants vengeance, even if it means putting a bullet into whoever is responsible for drugging his little girl.

Kasie analyzes a pill Alexis provided, claiming someone at their campus party dropped it. Kasie discovers it is not pharmaceutical grade, but rather a "bootleg" counterfeit. Overhearing Gibbs talking to himself, Tobias recognizes his "Diane tone," and laughs. A local LEO arrests Joseph Taylor, who had overdosed on the same pills. Taylor tells Gibbs he bought them from "Professor Ralphie," a former pharmaceutical representative, whose real name they learn is Ralph Yorning. Gibbs goes on campus to apprehend Ralph, but finds him already dead from heroin in his dorm room, while Emily is obliviously high in Ralph's bathtub. She and Tobias argue. Agent McGee and M.E. Dr. Palmer find clues that rule Ralph's death a murder, staged to look like an overdose. Spencer reveals he and Ralph are dorm-mates, leading to an NCIS interrogation to discover Ralph's supplier. Spencer mentions a "pill-happy doctor" which Emily had introduced to Ralph, leading to the podiatrist Tobias had taken Emily to for an appointment. But Dr. Berman denies supplying pills to dealers, and even allows NCIS to audit his supplies, clearing him of involvement.

To help Emily, Tobias asks Gibbs to channel Diane for advice, "Just be her father." Kasie learns Ralph had been prescribing pills to himself by use of stolen script pads, and prescriptions were filled by a corrupt pharmacist at the hospital. Confronted with forensic evidence during interrogation, the pharmacist claims killing Ralph was an accident. But Gibbs pressures him further for his "gray-market" distributor who smuggles drugs from Canada (while reviewing his case notes about Kendra Allston and fatal "tri-shots" as seen in "Crossing the Line"). The pharmacist resists disclosure, saying if he tells NCIS, he will be killed. Gibbs replies, "You are already dead."

Confronted at home as Emily prepares to leave, she finally admits to her father, "I need help." In Gibbs' basement, Diane manifests again with parting advice before leaving. Hearing someone moving and thinking it is Diane returning, Gibbs asks, "What now?" He is surprised to see Ziva David arriving, wondering if he is seeing another ghost (after her family home in Israel was destroyed by mortar fire, as seen in "Dead Letter"). Ziva says, "Hello, Gibbs," and warns him, "you're in danger."

Production

"Daughters" was written by Steven D. Binder and directed by Tony Wharmby. This episode marked the return of a former series regular Cote de Pablo (Ziva David).

References