Code of Conduct is the fifth episode of NCIS Season 7 and the 143rd episode of the entire NCIS series.
Synopsis
As Washington D.C. celebrates Halloween, the NCIS team investigate when a Marine is found dead in a car in a supposed suicide although evidence later suggests that the suicide was staged and that it's actually murder, leading the team to find a killer in a case where the victim was disliked by nearly everyone while Ziva attempts to adjust to her new role as an NCIS Special Agent and also as the Probie of the team.
Prologue
The episode opens with three teenage boys in monkey masks having a night out on Halloween.
As two act up, making gibberish monkey noises, the third one films them via a camera.
Some time later, the group are busy throwing toilet paper rolls onto a tree in the front yard of a house with one even remarking that the male owner will be cleaning this up for days.
Suddenly, a light comes on in the upstairs window with See alerting his friends, Speak and Hear.
The three then retreat, hiding behind a truck.
Seconds later, Hear remarks that it looks like they're clear with See stating that he loves Halloween.
The three then remove their masks.
As they do, one stops upon hearing rock music playing with another stating, "Isn't that Korby's car?".
As they examine the car, Hear tells his friends that it sounds like Korby's rocking out even though it's late.
Hear also remarks that G.I. Jokester must be getting lit up in there with Speak and See laughing.
Hear then wonders if his friends are thinking what he's thinking.
"Oh, yeah", Speak and See say.
As they put their masks back on, one remarks, "Let's crash this party".
One throws a water balloon at the car but they don't get any response whatsoever, causing Hear to wonder if Korby's asleep.
Removing his mask, See remarks that Korby must be baked out of his mind.
Hear approaches the car and sees a line emerging from the back of the car, with Hear wondering what the line is. Hear quickly realizes Korby isn't smoking.
Speak and See soon join Hear and begin examining the scene.
It then cuts to the car where the reflection of a man can be seen.
Hear knocks out of the window, calling Korby's name but again, there's no reply.
With that, Hear opens the door.
It then cuts to show Marine Corporal James Korby sliding out of the driver's seat, dead, his lifeless eyes staring at nothing.
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Ducky and Gibbs in Autopsy after Gibbs has told Ducky that the whole squad wanted Marine Lance Corporal James Korby gone.
Act Four
Act Five
As McGee waits for something on the phone, Gibbs arrives in with Tony asking Gibbs if he has any more apple cider as Tony found it "deciderly" delicious.
Unsurprisingly, Gibbs just glares at Tony with Tony's smile eventually disappearing from his face as quickly as possible while McGee hangs before announcing that Barnes's alibi checks out: he was at the strip club until 2am and that they've got footage of him on security cameras.
Major Events
- Ziva begins her career as an NCIS Probationary Agent and it's also revealed that she has been an Agent for a week.
- It's shown that Ziva does not like being called Probie.
- It's also revealed that in some cases or if it involves a married couple, Tony usually believes that the wife is the one responsible for committing the crime.
- Ziva reveals that McGee has been at NCIS for six years while she has been there for four.
- Palmer gets his first ever headslap from Gibbs.
Cast
Series Regulars
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Leroy Jethro Gibbs | Mark Harmon | Special Agent in charge of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Anthony DiNozzo | Michael Weatherly | Senior Agent and second-in-command of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Ziva David | Cote de Pablo | Former Mossad Liaison Officer to NCIS who is now a NCIS Probationary Agent and also a member of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Timothy McGee | Sean Murray (actor) | Junior Special Agent of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Abigail Sciuto | Pauley Perrette | Chief Forensic Specialist of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Leon Vance | Rocky Carroll | Director of NCIS. Despite being credited, Carroll does not appear in this episode. |
| Donald Mallard | David McCallum | Chief Medical Examiner of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
Recurring Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| James Palmer | Brian Dietzen | Assistant Medical Examiner, NCIS. |
Guest Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sara Korby | Stefanie von Pfetten | Marine Lance Corporal James Korby's wife. |
| Rachael Sparks | Brooke Nevin | Korby and Sara's teenage stepdaughter. |
| Ross Barnes | McKinley Freeman | Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. |
| David Singer | Brian Patrick Wade | Private in the United States Marine Corps who was having an affair with Sara Korby. |
| Ted Rogers | Perry Anzilotti | Korby's neighbor. |
| Speak | Teo Olivares | A man who appears in the episode. |
| See | Daniel Lee Robertson III | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Hear | Patric Knutsson | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Ballerina One | Mona Patterson | Ballerina Two's sister. |
| Ballerina Two | Lu Patterson | Ballerina One's sister. |
| Medieval Queen | Chelsey Valentine | Uncredited role. |