Without a Trace:

Without a Trace: Win Today

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Jack and the team investigate the disappearance of Alex Stark after his girlfriend reports him missing, and soon learn that Alex didn't own a cleaning business like he said he did but was actually involved in an illegal gambling operation. Jack goes undercover at a club that Alex would gamble at to find out what happened to him, and ends up being taken hostage by an associate of Alex's who becomes convinced that Jack is actually there to kill her. Unfortunately for Jack, his team believes that he has changed his cover story and has no idea that he's actually been kidnapped. Add a recap »

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Writers:: David H. Goodman

Director:: Jeannot Szwarc

Stars:: Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Vivian Johnson); Roselyn Sanchez (Elena Delgado (Seasons 4-)); Poppy Montgomery (Samantha Spade); Eric Close (Martin Fitzgerald); Anthony LaPaglia (Jack Malone); Enrique Murciano (Danny Taylor)

Recurring Role:: Adriana DeMeo (Lucy)

Guest Star:: Matt Borlenghi (Guard); Tasha Tae (Dealer); Kristin Somo (Cocktail Waitress); Susanna Thompson (Cynthia Neuwirth); Brian Hallisay (Alex Stark); Marisa Ramirez (Sara); Louis Giambalvo (Gary); Zachary Knower (Justin Ferrara)

The previous passwords for the poker club- I'm exciting, energetic, etc.- are shown on a dating website as can briefly be seen when Martin and Vivian are looking at it. The password Jack uses to infiltrate the club is "I'm compassionate." edit »
Promotional spots for this episode included a missing person's alert for Jack Malone that gave his date of birth as January 14, 1959, his missing date as November 12, 2006, age as 47, height as 6'0", weight as 190 lbs, hair and eyes and brown, and 'last seen' location as New York, New York. edit »
When the team were betting on how Jack would do, Danny, Elena, Vivian and Martin all bet that he would lose everything. No one bet that he would lose half, and Samantha gave him the benefit of the doubt by betting that he would break even. edit »
Jack had his appendix taken out when he was 32. He tells Cynthia it was removed at St. Vincent's, but it isn't clear if that was part of his cover. edit »

This episode contained a missing person's alert for Tariq Elsafi, who was kidnapped in 2003 by his father, Ahmed Elsafi. Elsafi shared joint custody of Tariq and his sister Sarah with their mother, and did not return the children after a scheduled two-day visit. It is believed that Elsafi may have left the country with his son and daughter. edit »
This episode included the following information at the beginning:

ADVISORY: DUE TO VIOLENT CONTENT, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED edit »

Jack Malone: Heard you took the long odds on me.
Samantha Spade: I'm glad I was right.
Jack Malone: Me too. edit »
(Sam threatens the guard at the club for Jack's whereabouts.)
Guard: I got nothing to say.
Samantha Spade: I'm going to ask you one more time have you seen him?
Guard (looks at her gun): You won't do it.
Samantha Spade (quietly): You have no idea what I will do. edit »
(Cynthia believes Jack was sent to kill her, and tells him to contact the people who sent him.)
Jack Malone: What if they tell me to put a bullet in you?
Cynthia: Then that's what I do with you. edit »
Martin Fitzgerald: I'd be more than happy to go in. (Silence from Jack and Vivian.) What?
Jack Malone: Do you remember the last time you played poker? You went all in with a 7, 2.
Martin Fitzgerald: Sometimes it hits.
Jack Malone: Yeah? When?
Vivian Johnson: Then who, she asks, already knowing the answer.
Jack Malone: Hey, the next time we investigate an illegal chess operation it will be your turn, okay? edit »
Samantha Spade: Wow. Jack can't seem to catch a break, huh?
Elena Delgado: You're the only one who's backing him. Do you really think he's that good?
Samantha Spade: Honestly, I just figured I'd go for the long shot. edit »

Jack Malone: Lady, I'll put the lotion in the basket, whatever you want.

This line, coming soon after Cynthia kidnapped him, is a sarcastic reference to the 1991 movie thriller The Silence of the Lambs based on a novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. In it, a maniac named Buffalo Bill keeps a young woman prisoner in a pit, demanding that she rub herself with skin lotion that he would lower down in a basket. edit »
Cynthia Neuwirth: You know what Joe Torre says.
Jack Malone: Oh, I don't know, what? Go Yankees?
Cynthia Neuwirth: Win today. And all he's got is George Steinbrenner to worry about.

As of this episode, Joe Torre was the manager of the New York Yankees, and George Steinbrenner the owner. 'We play today, we win today' is being attributed to Torre in this episode, but it is actually a term coined by player Mariano Duncan. edit »

8.1
00
vintage880
member since: Jun 18, 2005
Win Today
The Bottom Line: "Well written"
A scary look into just how dangerous it can be for an FBI agent... ...Continue »
12/04/06 04:01am | report abuse
8.5
00
Latoyab
member since: Nov 4, 2006
Win Today
The Bottom Line: "Painful to watch"
Jack gets the bejezus kicked out of him. ...Continue »
11/14/06 09:34am | report abuse
8.4
00
meathead704
member since: Jun 15, 2005
Win Today
The Bottom Line: "Painful to watch"
Jack goes undercover at an illegal gambling operation in an attempt to track down a man who had a hand in the operation. However things take an unforseen turn and Jack finds himself taken hostage and submitted to a horrifying interrogation. ...Continue »
11/13/06 06:45pm | report abuse
6.8
00
JPPT1974
member since: Nov 2, 2005
Win Today
The Bottom Line: "Unoriginal"
Acting and writing saves this really grossed out show. ...Continue »
11/13/06 03:56pm | report abuse
5.4
10
HunterJ8
member since: Jan 17, 2006
Win Today
The Bottom Line: "Painful to watch"
Normally I don't mind a bit of gore, but this episode I couldn't watch! ...Continue »
11/13/06 07:06am | report abuse