Original air date: September 28, 1996

Written by: Steven Long Mitchell & Craig W. Van Sickle

Directed by: Michael Zinberg

Jarod poses as Lt Campbell of the Coast Guard in order to figure out why a man died at sea waiting for a rescue that never came.

Jarod’s Discoveries: Fake Dog Poop, Oreo Cookies and how to eat them ‘properly’

Jarod’s Occupations: Coast Guard Lt., Atomic Engineer, Race Car Driver

Jarod’s Aliases: Lt. Jarod Spitz, Jarod Campbell

Behind the scenes insights and the Creator’s Take

Official Synopsis

Jarod assumes the identity of a member of the Coast Guard in his attempt to uncover the truth behind a drowning at sea.

Miss Parker and Sydney arrive at a YMCA, where they question a resident about Jarod, who left a few days earlier.  The man tells them that Jarod took extensive swimming lessons for reasons unknown.  Later, a Coast Guard helicopter, piloted by Martha Poole, spots a boat fire at sea.  Upon seeing someone dive off the craft, Jarod, who has assumed the name Lieutenant Campbell, jumps out of the helicopter and stages a rescue.  Moments later, the boat explodes.

Back at the Centre, Miss Parker informs Sydney that  Broots is using a high tech phone tap to locate Jarod’s whereabouts.  She believes that, eventually, Jarod will slip up, as “it’s the smart ones who always do something stupid.”

At the coast guard base, Jarod notices that Poole looks ill, but Poole dismisses her discomfort on bad sushi.  A short time later, Jarod is introduced to Lieutenant Commander Paul Bilson.  Meanwhile, Poole approaches Commander Powell regarding her rank review.  Powell reminds her that all such requests go to Bilson.  Bilson promises he will give it his full attention as soon as possible.  While cruising the ocean with Bilson and fellow Coast Guard member Javi Padilla, Jarod encounters an apparently abandoned boat listing some three degrees.  Jarod steps onto the vessel in hopes of locating anyone who may be aboard.  He encounters Roy Abbott, an ornery man who demands that the Coast Guard members vacate his boat despite its questionable seaworthiness.  Bilson gives Abbott one week to make repairs on his own or risk being forced to return to shore.

While painting at an easel, Jarod telephones Sydney and tells him that he cannot see the faces of his subjects…but he can see their eyes, which never stop staring at him.  Jarod believes the people in his paintings were killed because the Centre’s exploitation of his gifts.  Sydney informs Jarod that the DSAs in his possession contain his work.  But Jarod counters that they contain his life.  After Jarod hangs up, Miss Parker informs Sydney that Broots’ phone tap was successful.  But when she and Sydney arrive at the YMCA and enter Jarod’s old room, they encounter a man named Yago, who informs them that Jarod gave him six months free rent in exchange for transferring his telephone calls.

Jarod returns to Abbott’s boat.  He notices a framed photograph of a woman on display…and asks about Magdalene (which is also the name of Abbot’s vessel).  Jarod correctly surmises that Magdalene is Abbott’s lost love.  Abbott changes the subject and again insists he is not moving his boat.  Jarod trades some supplies for a hand-carved wooden chest.  He then moves on.

On an ocean front boardwalk, Jarod takes great interest in novelty items such as “fake dog poop.”

Poole reacts with anger when she learns that Jarod is receiving a rank review even though he has only been with the Coast Guard division for three days.  Jarod asks Poole when she is due…referring to her pregnancy, not her review.  Poole reacts with surprise, for her husband isn’t aware of her condition.  Jarod tells her he was once a midwife and can spot the signs very quickly.  He promises Poole her secret is safe with him.  Later, Jarod asks Poole about the King case, a well-publicized incident that occurred while Bilson was on night patrol.  Though an investigation was launched, it was never determined how King’s boat sank, though a coroner believed that King treaded water for a day before he drowned.  Jarod points out that, according to a report, water current information was provided by directional buoys.  Poole reacts with surprise when Jarod tells her that the report indicates the current was moving southwest.

Jarod approaches King’s orphaned daughter, Kimberly.  She shows him the best way to eat an Oreo cookie.  Kimberly tells him that the thing she misses the most since her father died is her mother’s smile.

In flashback, Young Sydney pressures Young Jarod to solve a crisis aboard a moon mission.  As Jarod watches the DSA, he realizes the Coast Guard wanted Tom King to die.  Later, Jarod mentions the King case to Bilson.  He claims his men did everything they could to save him.

Jarod approaches Javi looking for the answer as to why Kimberly will never see her father again.  Javi states that he and Bilson searched for King for two days.  But Jarod is aware that the search took place in an area where the pair knew King couldn’t be found.  He is also aware that Javi and Bilson were involved with a contraband operation.  He tells Javi that paint from the hull of King’s cruiser will match some paint on a rescue cruiser that he and Bilson were using on the night the boat sank.  Shortly thereafter, Javi admits that he and Bilson were involved in a lucrative drug smuggling operation.  While they were transporting the contraband one foggy evening, they accidentally collided with King’s boat, sinking it.  Javi claims that Bilson placed a gun to his head and prevented him from rescuing King.

While Bilson is on patrol, he receives a short wave radio communication from (what he thinks is) his drug contacts.  Bilson confirms that he will rendezvous with the party.  Later, while on patrol, Bilson’s boat is deliberately rammed by Jarod’s cruiser.  Bilson falls into the sea, but Jarod refuses to attempt a rescue.  He turns his  boat around and leaves him treading water.  Later, Jarod radios the coast guard and reports “some floating debris” that needs attention.  Shortly thereafter, Sydney and Miss Parker spot Jarod’s boat and a high speed chase ensues.  But when the pair catch up, they realize the craft is empty.  Later, Jarod assumes the role of a race car driver at the Indianapolis motor speedway.