His two accomplices display the classic symptoms of opiate withdrawal. This is supported by Kerry’s suggestion to Bernadette that they acquire a bottle of codeine cough medicine at the hospital pharmacy (Federal Schedule V, requiring only an address and signature). Devon experienced symptoms more akin to a stimulant overdose (hypertension and tachycardia), possibly cocaine (as he flew in from South America) or amphetamine, though also does occur in acute opiate toxicity depending on the extent of respiratory distress syndrome.
DiNozzo and Benoit go to the morgue to accost the two who are attempting to extract the drugs surgically from Devon. While waiting outside the morgue Terry opens the door and points a gun at them, forcing them into the morgue and ordering Benoit to dissect Devon to extract the drugs while his sister looks on. As encouragement, Terry pistol whips DiNozzo. Benoit agrees, putting on a mask and telling Bernadette to turn around to reduce the possibility of being exposed to diseased material when Devon is opened. This causes Kerry to back up. Benoit makes the incision and extracts a portion of the intestines containing some of the balloons, dissecting them and liberating the drug into the incision site. An angered Kerry attacks Benoit over the table, where Benoit promptly plunges the scalpel into his shoulder causing him to drop the gun. DiNozzo retrieves the pistol and fires into the ceiling to discourage any more action from Kerry. That explanation dispatches this needless plot appendage.
Subplot 2: Le Grenouille
Director Shepard arrives home to find an open bottle of scotch and a half-filled tumbler. The scotch was her father’s, Colonel Jasper Shepard (Webster Williams), brand and the housekeeper Noemi Cruz (Roxana Brusso) denies anyone had been in the office in her absence. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) visits Shepard a short time later informing her that a 21-hour period she was unaccounted for in Europe is now causing her entire staff to be polygraphed, a fact revealed to Gibbs earlier when talking with FBI Agent T.C. Fornell (Joe Spano), who also alludes that it is the CIA requiring such measures.
Article comments
1 - CLS
As far as I can tell, the only reason the junkies were there was so that, at some point in the near future, Jeanne can think back and wonder how it was that her boyfriend, "Professor DiNardo" was so adept with a gun and so quick to handle a situation that would have been outside the skillset of most college profs. Maybe?
2 - matt
maybe tony was the one being sucked in by the dr.???
3 - C. Michael Bailey
Good thought on both points. The writers have at least left things mirky enough that we do not know who is getting dupted, Tony or Jeanne.