The Artful Dodger is the seventeenth episode of NCIS Season 12 and also the 275th episode of the entire NCIS series.
Synopsis
The NCIS team investigate the murder of a Navy Lieutenant while also attempting to discover the truth behind the theft of a painting which is later revealed to be a fake while DiNozzo Senior returns, ultimately assisting the team with the case.
Prologue
In an officer, a janitor tells his son to pay attention.
The janitor's son tells his father that he's watching.
As it pans to the center, revealing two African-American men, one young, one middle-aged, and both of whom are standing in a hallway, the janitor tells his son that it's elbows and mop close to his body.
He asks his son if he's seeing it with the son stating that he is seeing it and that it's pretty impressive guns for an old guy.
The janitor chuckles, stating yes they are and that effort comes from the arms or otherwise, ten floors later, the back is aching like there's no tomorrow.
The janitor then turns his son that it's his turn.
"Dad, I'm only doing this till I get through school", the son replies.
The janitor says that people call this blue-collar and that he doesn't care what color his son's shirt is: he brings pride to the job, people notice and even if they don't, you notice.
"Yes, sir", the son states, taking the mop.
As he begins mopping the floor, the janitor goes on about the elbows with the son remarking that he sees where the guns come from.
Suddenly, both men stop upon hearing the sound of glass grunting and an unknown man grunting.
Turning to his son, the janitor tells him to go to the back office, lock the door and call security.
The son hesitates with the janitor snapping at his son to do it.
Dropping the mop, the son runs off.
The janitor then heads into the office.
As soon as he reaches the office, he calls out for Lieutenant Pine, the janitor wondering if Pine's okay.
But there's no reply from Pine whatsoever.
The janitor heads inside and goes "Oh my God".
On the floor, Pine lies there, blood visible from his head wound with shattered glass spread all around him.
"Lieutenant Pine?", the janitor says.
It then cuts to Pine who lies there, dead, his eyes open yet staring at nothing.
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Act Four
DiNozzo and McGee after learning that DiNozzo Senior has disappeared.
Act Five
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 Junior | Michael Weatherly | Senior Special Agent and second-in-command of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Timothy McGee | Sean Murray (actor) | Special Agent of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Abigail Sciuto | Pauley Perrette | Chief Forensic Specialist for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| James Palmer | Brian Dietzen | Assistant Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
| Eleanor Bishop | Emily Wickersham | NCIS Probationary Agent. |
| Leon Vance | Rocky Carroll | Director of NCIS. Despite being credited, Carroll does not appear in this episode. |
| Donald Mallard | David McCallum | Chief Medical Examiner for the NCIS Major Case Response Team. |
Recurring Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony DiNozzo Senior | Robert Wagner | Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo's father. |
Other Cast
| Name | Portrayed by | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Gloria Hernandez | Patricia de Leon (actress) | Lt. Dominic Pine's girlfriend and also an art forger who is responsible for killing him. |
| Dale Harris | Christopher B. Duncan | CIA Officer Brian Khosa's supervisor. |
| Janet Kleibor | Beverly Leech | An Admiral in the United States Navy. |
| Perry Swan | John Kassir | Art forger. |
| Amir Aziz | Sunkrish Bala | Member of Al Zalim. |
| Janitor (The Artful Dodger) | Ben Cain | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Janitor's Son | BJ Mitchell | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Man In Blue Suit | Erik Audé | A man who appears in the episode. |
| Server | Lee Anne Ford | A woman who appears in the episode. Uncredited role. |
| Park Goer (The Artful Dodger) | Bob Brauer | Uncredited role. |