Rock and a Hard Place (episode)

Rock and a Hard Place is the seventeenth episode of NCIS Season 11 and the 251st episode of the entire NCIS series.
==Synopsis==
After a bomb detonates in the dressing room at a military charity concert, killing two personnel including a Navy Petty Officer, the NCIS team investigate and need to determine if the target was a washed-up rocker who was successful in the 1980s or if the bomb was part of a much larger scheme while Jimmy Palmer prepares for fatherhood.
==Prologue==
In a small dressing room, as Navy Petty Officer First Class Damien Hunter wheels in something, Earl Grieve tells Hunter that they should have some extra space right back here before asking Hunter if it's good.
Petty Officer Hunter remarks that it's perfect and that Hero Comfort Foundation is supposed to give away a thousand t-shirts after the concert and that they need...
"A place where you can get to them fast?", Earl interrupts while also finishing Petty Officer Hunter's sentence.
"Yeah", Hunter agrees.
Earl remarks that he knows the drill before revealing that's not why he picked this particular boudoir. He then goes into the corner and searches for something before returning to Petty Officer Hunter.
It's revealed that the item Earl is holding is none other than a guitar or rather, a Vintage '62 which has Petty Officer Hunter stunned.
Earl reveals that he overheard one of the musicians during the rehearsal and that it was given to the musician by Merle Haggard which leaves Petty Officer Hunter stunned and also in awe.
Earl then plugs the connection into the guitar while also telling Petty Officer Hunter that he should give the guitar a whirl.
Petty Officer Hunter remarks that he doesn't think that's a good idea.
"What's the worst that could happen?", Earl states and as he heads to turn over the amp, Earl also remarks that he keeps hearing from Petty Officer Hunter himself about how Hunter is a badass.
Earl then tells Petty Officer Hunter it's time to put up or shut up.
Petty Officer Hunter just smiles and remarks, "All right".
However, as soon as he plucks a cord on the guitar, a huge explosion rips through the room, the waves of flames consuming the entire room and killing both men instantly.
==Act One==
==Act Two==
==Act Three==
==Act Four==
==Act Five==
In the Bullpen, McGee reveals to Gibbs that Mustard's alibi checks out and that Mustard didn't plant the bomb.
==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.
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	His voice is heard in a phone call with Anthony DiNozzo at the start of the episode.
===Guest Cast===
Name 	Portrayed by 	Role
Manheim Gold 	Keith Carradine 	A former rock star who was big in the 1980s.
Bobby Quinn 	David Shatraw 	Manheim Gold's Agent.
Denny Johnson 	Hank Harris 	Nerdy Man and the illegitimate son of Manheim Gold.
Ronnie Mustard 	Joel Brooks 	Manheim Gold's Agent in the 80's.
Damien Hunter 	Linc Hand 	Petty Officer First Class in the United States Navy and the first murder victim.
Earl Grieve 	Javi Mulero 	Head Janitor and the second murder victim.
Luke Pischedda 	John Sloan 	A man who appears in the episode.
Holgate 	Justin Alston 	An NCIS Special Agent assigned to guard Manheim Gold.
Vivian Sutton 	Sue Cremin 	A woman who appears in the episode.
Keyboardist 	Tracey McCall 	A woman who appears in the episode. Uncredited role.
Female Auditionee	Tara Kuhnert Hotchkis	Uncredited role.
Old Stage Manager	Knut Lingmann 	AKA "Mullet". Uncredited role.
  v—[ e]—dNCIS Season 11
♦ Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (episode) ♦ Past, Present, and Future (episode) ♦ Under the Radar (episode) ♦ Anonymous was a Woman (episode) ♦ Once a Crook (episode) ♦ Oil and Water (episode) ♦ Better Angels (episode) ♦ Alibi (episode) ♦ Gut Check (episode) ♦ Devil's Triad (episode) ♦ Homesick (episode) ♦ Kill Chain (episode) ♦ Double Back (episode) ♦ Monsters and Men (episode) ♦ Bulletproof (episode) ♦ Dressed to Kill (episode) ♦ Rock and a Hard Place (episode) ♦ Crescent City (Part 1) (episode) ♦ Crescent City (Part 2) (episode) ♦ Page Not Found (episode) ♦ Alleged (episode) ♦ Shooter (episode) ♦ The Admiral's Daughter (episode) ♦ Honor Thy Father (episode)
Category:NCIS Episodes
Category:NCIS Season 11 Episodes
Category:NCIS Episodes written by Steven D. Binder
Category:NCIS Episodes directed by Arvin Brown