May 1, 2007: "In the Dark"
Since this particular episode was shot this month, that makes it easier to remember. One thing I must say about "In the Dark" - and I am sure the rest of the
NCIS family would agree - is that we got to work with some tremendously talented guest actors. John Billingsley was a joy to watch and work with; he played the coolest blind man I have ever seen on TV.
Another thing that sticks out in my memory, aside from the fact that we all worked with John, was a scene that I had with
Michael Weatherly. Every once in a while you get these scenes - these meaty, beefy scenes - that are filled with little moments of truth where you get an inside look at the character's heart. It's a long scene that takes place after Ziva overhears a "personal" conversation Tony is having with his girlfriend, played by the oh-so-cool Scottie Thompson. This season has been weird for Ziva regarding her "feelings" for Tony. I don't even know what she feels exactly, but I know that she's confused, for lack of a better word. I think that whatever she feels, she fights, and it comes out in many different and (at times) funny ways. But this moment was not particularly funny. Ziva basically tells Tony that he needs to defeat his fears and fight for what he loves. I think this is hard for her to do. But so be it. It needs to be done 'cause DiNozzo needs to hear it from someone who can see right through him. This, I believe, is the No. 1 thing between these two people: Under all of it, under all the jokes and the work, there is a mutual, unspoken understanding and genuine respect. With all of this, it was a hard scene to shoot.
You should all know that Michael loves to laugh. You should also know that Michael laughs a lot when he is uncomfortable. It becomes his personal struggle to keep it together, but the laughter creeps up and you see him fight it. And it is definitely a fight. It is one of the most incredible things to watch when you see him fight it. I, for one, have never seen someone sweat or get as red as Michael does when he is about to break, and the truth is that when this is happening, you simply can't help yourself. The laughter defeats you and you succumb to his weakness - a weakness we all love and adore. Watching Michael laugh is actually one of my favorite things. I once made him laugh so hard that he started choking on a grapefruit - and watching him go through the struggle of breathing made me laugh even harder.
Because this scene was so delicate and so sincere, it was hard for both of us to really keep the throughline. I think we succeeded in the end and did our job. We told the story. I watched the scene not long ago. I specifically asked to see that scene. They cut a lot of it, including my favorite moment - when Ziva says to Tony that "life is not safe," which comes from a very real place for her. I think it is all still there - the love, the concern and, above all, the friendship.
Get more
NCIS on the show's official
site.
