Without a Trace Things and Stuff

Summary

Patrick Kent misses a flight home to NY from San Diego, and it turns out that he has two families, a wife in NY and a wife and stepson in California. Things in NY are unpleasant and he plans to bail and move to California to be with his newer family, but things went wrong and he was (supposedly) killed when he went off a bridge and into water.

Rating

This is one of my favorite episodes. It’s a good story, and I fell in love with all our main characters in this episode. Especially Danny.

Discussion

The scene when the SUV is being pulled out of the water, just after Danny and Martin have the brief conversation about whether the boy needs to know about the dual life of his stepdad, where Danny puts on his sunglasses and turns around to look at the SUV… that putting on of the glasses and turning is amazingly hot. Seriously, I’m in love.

Notes

I suspect this was written (and filmed?) as episode 3 or possibly 4. Danny and Martin seem at odds at the beginning despite working together okay. There is even a reference to sending a referee for the two of them, and then Danny declares Martin a good guy by the end. However, for the previous two episodes Danny and Martin have been absolutely fine together, even friends. Their dynamic in this episode makes sense if this is episode 3 instead of 6. It also explains how they are suddenly friendly in episode 4. [edit: I'm watching reruns on TNT and this episode is listed as episode 4; however, they play it between episodes 5 and 7. According to tv.com, it was originally aired as the 6th episode, and the DVD lists it as episode 6.]

When the case is opened, why are Jack and Danny in California? It would make sense for FBI agents in California to work on the case there in California, maybe have a NY agent support, but nothing more. And then Jack’s back in NY (that’s a good 5-hour flight) and then Martin goes out to Cali. Jack mentions that Danny and Martin are coordinating with the FBI office there, but they seem to be doing all the work, so it still doesn’t make sense.

Thomas Shannon, the guy following Patrick Kent, was retired secret service. The actor playing Thomas Shannon also played a secret service guy on The West Wing.

Quotes

Samantha: So why are we even on this case? I mean, adult male, free to come and go as he pleases. Other than a couple empty suitcases there’s no sign of foul play.
Jack: Like I said, we have the missing son-in-law of a wealthy New York financier. When Noah Ritter calls, we mere mortals jump.

Jack: Martin, you’re on your way to California to liase with Danny.
Vivian: Don’t forget your surf gear. [to Jack] Should we send a referee?
Jack: Nah. Let ‘em duke it out.

Danny: Fitzy, let me get that for you. How was your flight? Look Jack says I have to nicer to you, all right?
Martin: You guys sure go out of your way to make me feel welcome.
Danny: That’s because we know our department’s small potatoes for a guy like you. You are off to bigger and better.
Martin: Ah, I see you got the memo.
Danny: Look, are we gonna work together or not?
Martin: I don’t know. Are we?
Danny: Let’s start at the bar.

Danny: Imagine that, keeping two wives in the dark for that long.
Martin: I know. I can’t date two women for a month without blowing my cover.
Danny: I know some women that can. Women are better liars than men. I mean, it’s proven.

Vivian: What are you doing?
Samantha: Trying to figure out who was following our Prince Charming.
Vivian: Don’t judge the guy. Sounds like he was really trapped.
Samantha: It’s called divorce. What is with you people.
Vivian: You’re taking it a little personally.
Samantha: You go to a lawyer, he draws up the papers, you sign them, you swallow your regret, and you move on.
Vivian: Of course you’re speaking from experience.
Samantha: Yeah. I was married once. When I was 18.
Vivian: Really.
Samantha: Yeah, it was red hot the first two weeks and ice-cold the last four months.
Vivian: Well at least you understand commitment.

Danny: It’s simple. A plane is not supposed to be in the sky. It’s not natural.
Martin: Yeah, neither was that flight attendant, but you weren’t afraid of her.

Jack: So. Did the divers find the body?
Danny: Nope. The locals think the current carried it away.
Jack: Pretty smart guy, Patrick Kent. You know, to be able to pull off this whole double life business and not get caught. Seems to me like he’d have an escape plan, in case something went wrong.
Danny: It does, doesn’t it?
Jack: What’s the, uh, what’s the name of the witness who saw Patrick drive off the bridge?
Danny: Tompkins. Arlin Tompkins.
Jack: Tompkins. Right. Patrick was the one person who was helping him. Tompkins might feel like he owed him a favor.
Danny: And taking the hit for leaving the scene of an accident isn’t the hardest way to pay someone back.
Jack: That’s pretty smart. If– if– if that’s what happened.
Danny: So you wouldn’t be shocked if Amalia and Robert moved in 6 months?
Jack: No. No. But then again, it was probably just the current.
Danny: Probably.