I do not own The Mentalist, or its characters. No copyright infringement is intended. No money made. Yada yada.

Here are the next two episodes' sneak peeks. Gray Matter got a little long for a sneak peek, but hey. (shrugs) I hope you enjoy them.

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6.05 Agent Orange

The team investigates a network that is illegally importing dangerous chemicals into the US, and a klutzy new agent, Joe Clementine, is temporarily assigned to fill in for Lisbon while she's on maternity leave.

INT: DALLAS OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY – DAY

A dozen agents sit in a briefing room, including Cho, Wylie, Ramos, and Branch. An authoritative man in a sharp grey suit stands at the front of the room, addessing the group. His name badge says SUPERVISORY AGENT JEFF EWING, HOMELAND SECURITY - DALLAS.

EWING: (address in progress) As I mentioned earlier, we're already behind on this case. At least one group of the shipments already passed through Galveston two weeks ago – on the 12th. We have a list of known cargo, but that's it. We've divided the materials shipped into three categories. Homeland here in Dallas will investigate the whereabouts of all listed chemicals that might pertain to bomb making or other terrorist scenarios.

Ewing nods to one of the agents in the front row.

EWING: (CONT'D) Barnes, your DEA team will take the potential recreational drug related cargos.

Barnes nods back, accepting.

EWING: (CONT'D) Cho, your FBI team is assigned to chase the other chemicals. We don't know their intended purpose – one of them isn't even illegal. (shrugs) But we're assuming if it was smuggled in, someone's up to no good with it.

Cho nods his understanding.

EWING: Agent Bartles (he motions to a man standing to his side) will bring your teams up to speed on the assignments.

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INT: AUSTIN FBI HQ – DAY

Ramos, Branch, and Wylie sit in the fishbowl conference room. Another agent, JOE CLEMENTINE, opens the door to enter, holding a Styrofoam cup of coffee. As he passes through the door, his suit coat catches on the door handle and stops him, causes a little rip in the pocket.

CLEMENTINE: Damn, this is a new coat.

Clementine takes a seat by Wylie, sitting his coffee down on the table near a stack of files.

Momentarily, Cho and Jane meet outside the fishbowl door.

CHO: Hey, Jane. Thanks for coming in on this one.

JANE: Nice to see you, Kimball, but let's be clear. I work this case and Teresa gets an additional week of maternity leave, correct?

CHO: Yes. It's a done deal. Somebody in Homeland wanted you on the case badly. Kirkland must have mentioned you a lot back a few years ago.

Jane rolls his eyes.

CHO: The deal is official. You help on this and Lisbon gets her extra week.

JANE: Splendid.

Jane nods and they enter the fishbowl to join everyone else at the table.

WYLIE, RAMOS, BRANCH: (simultaneously) Jane!

JANE: Hi, folks.

He wiggles a hand, waving his acknowledgement.

CHO: Jane, this is Joe Clementine. He's been assigned to help out while Lisbon's on leave.

Clementine eagerly reaches to shake hands with Jane, knocking over his coffee cup in the process, sending coffee perilously near the files. Ramos reacts quickly, lifting the files away from the liquid spill.

TANGERINE: Oh, sorry. I'll go get some towels.

He hurries out toward the restroom, and as soon as he is out of earshot…

RAMOS: My God. That's the clumsiest human being I've ever seen.

BRANCH: If he ever draws his weapon, I'm hittin' the floor.

Cho desperately tries not to smile.

JANE: (To Wylie) That bad?

Wylie's terrified face answers his question.

JANE: Good to know.

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INT: FBI BREAKROOM – DAY

Jane sits his newly made tea (in turquoise cup) on the island, waiting a moment for it to cool. Wylie enters, heads to get coffee.

WYLIE: Hey, got any new pictures?

Jane beams, wasting no time pulling out his phone. Wylie looks.

WYLIE: Super cute! He's smiling already?

Clementine walks in and pours himself a cup of coffee. Then he moves beside Wylie, crowding his elbow onto the island as he attempts to see Jane's pictures, and accidently pushes Jane's cup to teeter at the edge of the surface in the process. Wylie lurches to make a major league save, catching the cup as it falls.

WYLIE: Whew!

Wylie sits the cup on the other side of the island and slings tea off of his hands.

JANE: (relieved) Nice save. Thank you.

CLEMENTINE: (oblivious) Cute kid. Boy or girl?

JANE: Boy.

Clementine exits with his coffee. Wylie's looks says" I told you so" and Jane's says "Now I believe you."

JANE: (empties the remaining tea from the cup and holds is possessively) I'm taking this home tonight.

WYLIE: Good call.

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BLACK SCREEN – THREE DAYS LATER

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INT: AUSTIN FBI HQ – DAY

Wylie, Branch, Ramos, and Clementine sit at their desks in the bullpen, busily working. Jane naps on the couch. Cho enters the bullpen from his office. Everyone but Jane looks up at him.

CHO: The Hartford shipment is done and dusted. Good work, people. Only two more shipments to chase, and one of them isn't even illegal goods.

Just then the elevator door opens. In walks Lisbon, looking glowing and happy, toting a baby carrier. All their faces light up.

CHO: (cracks a smile) Lisbon!

WYLIE: You look great!

BRANCH: What do you have there?

RAMOS: Wow, and you had a kid six weeks ago?

Jane awakens instantly and hops up to greet her. He takes the carrier, sits it on Lisbon's desk, and reaches in to pick the baby up, making silly exaggerated faces as only a father can do.

JANE: (in sing song voice) And who do we have here?

The baby smiles at him, and Lisbon melts at their exchange.

Jane carries the baby around and shows him off while Lisbon chats with the other agents. Jane approaches Cho, who makes a face at the baby, making him smile again.

CHO: (deadpan) This is still a little hard for me to believe.

Jane grins, takes the baby over to Wylie's desk. Wylie looks at the baby with wonder and enchantment.

WYLIE: He's gorgeous.

He seems drawn to the child.

JANE: Would you like to hold him?

WYLIE: (with disbelief) Me?

JANE: Yes. I can see you want to.

WYLIE: (blushing a little) Well. Yes. If it's okay. What does it feel like?

Jane carefully transfers the child into Wylie's arms, showing him the proper way to hold him. Wylie snuggles the baby in like a pro and is totally mesmerized, instinctively rocking the child gently.

JANE: You're a natural, Jason.

WYLIE: (a little choked up) This is…amazing.

Clementine walks over to Wylie's desk.

CLEMENTINE: (a little too loud, spoiling the moment) I love kids. Can I hold him, too?

JANE: (thinking quickly) Sure, in a minute, but I think he's a little stinky right now.

LISBON: (overhearing Jane's words) But I just…

WYLIE: (catching Jane's drift, interrupts) Yup. (crinkles his nose) Definitely needs a change.

Jane grabs a diaper from the diaper bag and takes the baby from a conspiring Wylie.

JANE: Back in a few.

Branch, understanding the play, "answers" her phone.

BRANCH: (into the phone) Will do, right away.

She appears to complete the call and turns to Clementine.

BRANCH: (CONT'D) Hey, Joe, that was Jerry down in records. Seems we both need to sign some R82's ASAP.

CLEMENTINE: But…

BRANCH: C'mon, let's get it over with.

As Branch and Clementine disappear into the elevator, Ramos, Cho, and Wylie all look relieved.

LISBON: So he's the one?

They all nod vigorously. Jane's head appears around the corner down the hall, as he peers in to see if Clementine is gone.

WYLIE: All clear.

Jane returns to the bullpen with the baby as the remaining members of the team laugh and talk.

FADE OUT

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6.06 Gray Matter

A sleep deprived Jane matches wits with a brilliant neurosurgeon who resorted to eco terrorism to stop a controversial mining operation.

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INT: FBI BULLPEN – DAY

Lisbon sits at her desk typing. Wylie, Ramos and Branch are busy working as well. Jane is asleep on his couch. The elevator door swooshes and Wylie looks up.

WYLIE: Abbott!

Lisbon looks up and smiles broadly.

LISBON: Well, hello!

Abbott strolls into the bullpen, talking.

ABBOTT: Hi guys, I'm in town for a conference and had a spare hour. Thought I'd drop in and say hi. (stops in front of Lisbon's desk) How are you doing, Teresa?

LISBON: I'm great.

Abbott turns to look at Jane, who hasn't stirred at all.

LISBON: (CONT'D) Jane, on the other hand, is a bit worse for wear. Since I got back to work ten days ago, he's insisted on being the one to get up every night with the baby. Says if I'm going to be shooting at people I should be awake. (chuckles)

ABBOTT: So he's decided to stay on with the team?

LISBON: Part time only. We've hired a part time nanny, and Jane will consult on select cases only. He's going to be the (makes quotes with her fingers) "primary caregiver." Stay at home dad. Whatever you want to call it. He's here now because we're on the downside of a case that he offered to work to get me an extra week of maternity leave.

Lisbon rolls her chair over to the couch and gently shakes Jane's arm.

LISBON: Wake up. Dennis Abbott's here.

JANE: Mmmm.

Without opening his eyes, he repositions himself and goes back to sleep.

LISBON: See?

ABBOTT: Let him sleep. (with a twinkle in his eye) But I will need to see some pictures.

LISBON: If you insist.

She eagerly pulls out her phone.

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INT: FBI BULLPEN – DAY

Cho addresses the team, which consists of Lisbon, Wylie, Ramos, Branch, and Jane (asleep on his couch).

CHO: We've got two crates of chemicals left to chase. Let's concentrate on the illegal one first.

COLLAGE of CHO briefing team, team asking questions, shots of Jane always asleep on couch.

INT: FBI BULLPEN – DAY – CONTINUOUS

CHO: Okay, everyone has a direction. Let's close this one quickly.

Jane opens his eyes, sits up, and lifts a finger into the air.

JANE: I'll work on the other crate. The one that's not illegal.

CHO: The chemical imported is completely legal, and the only crime we could charge whoever ordered it with is tax evasion.

WYLIE: Which would amount to (types)…about two hundred dollars.

CHO: Not worth our time. Why would someone go to this much trouble to save two hundred dollars?

JANE: Exactly! And that's what makes it interesting.

CHO: Okay. But I need everyone else on the other cargo.

JANE: Very well. Except I may borrow Wylie from time to time.

Cho glares at Jane.

JANE: Uh…not for long.

Cho is reluctant. Wylie looks back and forth between both men expectantly. Lisbon stifles a smile.

CHO: (realizes Jane is going to do it anyway) Okay.

Wylie grins. He loves helping Jane.

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INT: FBI BULLPEN – DAY

JANE: Wylie, are you busy?

WYLIE: Not that busy.

Wylie looks up, fairly wiggling in anticipation of helping Jane instead of doing what he is doing.

JANE: A couple of weeks ago wasn't some mining company out west of here indicted for a nasty chemical spill?

Wylie types furiously.

WYLIE: Here it is. (reads) "Gallatia Mining Corp indicted for toxic chemical spill. Says the misconduct may have been going on for up to ten years. Blah blah. Gelatinous mats of toxins discovered along interior roadways on their property. It's a weird story.

JANE: Why would a company dump something so toxic on their own roadways, in a place so easily discovered?

WYLIE: Maybe they didn't mean to.

JANE: Does the chemical found at the mining company have any relation to the crate of legal chemicals that was imported?

WYLIE: I don't know. Give me a minute.

Wylie types purposefully for a few minutes. Stops, looks confused. Types some more. Suddenly a shocked look appears on his face.

WYLIE: Wow.

JANE: (impatiently) Would you like to share?

WYLIE: The gelatinous chemical found on their property is a combination of the imported chemical and a different, highly toxic chemical – some sort of solvent used in their mining extraction process.

Wylie looks confused again.

WYLIE: (CONT'D) But why would they combine it with something that would make it so easy to see and hard to clean… (the light dawns on him)

JANE: Bingo! (rubs his fingers together in excitement) Has there been opposition to the mining company in the past?

WYLIE: (typing) There was a citizens group that made allegations that toxic chemicals were being released illegally by the company – that was a couple of years back though. Nothing was ever proven. The suit was…(looks down the screen)…dropped. Nothing recent.

JANE: I need the names of the people in that group.

WYLIE: Okay. Give me a sec. (beat) Looks like the leaders were a local cattle farmer and a neurosurgeon. The cattle farmer is still in town. The neurosurgeon moved to Dallas over a year ago.

Jane lies back on the couch, thinking, while Wylie runs down the information.

WYLIE: Got the list. I'm sending it to the printer.

JANE: (up instantly) You are a scholar and a gentleman. Thank you. Back to the salt mines with you, so Cho doesn't get testy with me.

Jane walks over and pulls the list from the printer as soon as it falls. Wylie looks pleased with himself.

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INT: FBI BULLPEN – DAY

The wall clock reads 12:56. Lisbon returns to her desk carrying leftovers from lunch in a bag. Jane sits on his couch, hunched over a laptop, two finger typing. He is immersed, and hardly notices her.

LISBON: What's so interesting?

JANE: Not sure yet.

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INT: FBI BULLPEN – DAY

The wall clock reads 3:25. Jane sits on his couch staring at the laptop. He frowns, hits the return, and then a look of pure enlightenment passes over his face. He puzzles for a moment, then snaps the laptop shut. The popping sound causes Lisbon to turn from her work and look at him.

JANE: Teresa, I need to take a short trip.

Lisbon frowns, tilts her head.

LISBON: Where? Right now?

JANE: Yes.

LISBON: Are you going to tell me what this is about?

JANE: (standing) I'll explain it when I get home tonight. I promise. Will you be okay with the baby alone tonight? I may be late.

LISBON: (in her boss voice) We'll be fine, but why don't you just tell me now what's going on?

Lisbon looks worried, however, which gets his attention.

JANE: I'm only 85% sure. I assure you Teresa, this is nothing dangerous.

Jane moves close to her to look her straight in the eye.

JANE: I won't go if you say "no," but I'm asking you to trust me on this. I'll explain tonight when I get home – or in the morning if it's too late.

LISBON: (takes a deep breath, makes decision) Okay.

JANE: (smiles gently) Thank you.

Jane kisses her on the cheek.

JANE: I may be late.

LISBON: We'll be there.

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EXT: MEDICAL CLINIC PARKING LOT – EARLY EVENING

The words "SAINT PATRICK'S CLINIC" sit high on the side of the three story building adjacent to the parking lot. A neatly dressed man with a graying beard approaches an Audi parked in a space labeled "DOCTOR'S PARKING ONLY." He sighs wearily and starts to open his door, when he sees an envelope tucked under his windshield wiper.

He frowns, picks up the envelope. It is addressed to DR. WILLIAM BRAZETIS. He looks around and sees no one who might have left it. Intrigued, he opens it, finding a note and Jane's FBI ID badge.

The note reads:

"Dr. Brazetis,

I know about the mining company incident and I want to help you. Please meet me at Cindy's Diner on W. Oak so we can talk unobserved.

Patrick Jane

FBI consultant"

Brazetis looks around the parking lot again and sees no one. He frowns. He sits down in his Audi and pulls out his iPad.

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INT: CINDY'S DINER – NIGHT

Dr. Brazetis steps inside the door of the diner. He is holding Jane's badge, and looks carefully around the room. Jane is sitting in a back booth and catches his eye. Brazetis cautiously joins him at the booth.

BRAZETIS: What's this about?

JANE: I'm with the FBI. I know what you did – well, not exactly how, but close enough. You imported a big batch of a chemicals on the down low and somehow got them combined with the toxic chemical Gallatia Mining was putting out, so that they'd get busted.

BRAZETIS: I don't know what you're talking about.

Jane peers at him intently, finding confirmation of what he suspected.

JANE: (confidently) Yes, you do. But what you don't understand is that I'm here to help you, if I can.

Brazetis looks skeptical.

JANE: You see, I'm not hardcore FBI. I'm a consultant. My background isn't in law enforcement. (tilts his head) And consequently, sometimes my notion of justice diverges wildly from the mainstream, shall we say.

BRAZETIS: (suspiciously) Are you wearing a wire?

Jane takes off his coat, pats his chest, holds his hands up.

JANE: No wire. I understand why you did what you did. I applaud it, even. Though I will deny saying that if my colleagues ask.

BRAZETIS: (takes measure of Jane) I googled you.

JANE: So. You know where I'm coming from. You see why I might understand. I know about your family.

Brazetis nods reluctantly, letting down his guard.

BRAZETIS: We lived near that mine for eight years before she got sick. My wife would complain about the smell, but I could never smell it – not that I was home very much. I was always working. (anguish creeps into his voice) She died of acute leukemia three years ago. Our little girl died six months later – of acute leukemia. Annie was two years old.

The doctor's eyes are misty now.

BRAZETIS: They looked for a genetic cause, but never found a chromosomal abnormality. ALL is a type of cancer that can be caused by the solvents they use at the mine.

JANE: You thought the exposure might have caused their illnesses.

BRAZETIS: I can't prove a causal relationship, of course. But I began to spy on them. I spent hours observing, sneaking into their compound, trying to figure out how they were releasing that stuff. And finally I figured it out. There are a lot of gravel roads on their premises. In the hot afternoons, water trucks would travel those roads, spraying them with water to keep down the dust. (lifts finger) Only sometimes, it wasn't water. It was that volatile solvent in their trucks. They would spray the liquid solvent onto the hot gravel roads, and it would vaporize into the air.

He throws his hands up.

BRAZETIS: Poof. Magic. The chemicals disappeared. No evidence. No money spent on discarding those solvents in a safe manner. When I figured it out, I teamed up with a local rancher next door and we formed a citizens' group. Filed a lawsuit. The place was inspected, but they never found any evidence of wrongdoing. They must have stopped the practice temporarily, or they were tipped off. The mine provides a lot of local jobs.

JANE: No doubt.

BRAZETIS: Eventually when no evidence turned up, our group ran out of steam, and people brushed us off as crackpots. But I knew. And I figured out a way to catch them. The solvent can be combined with other chemicals to keep it from evaporating. Easy to make but hard to contain. So I had to be smart.

The waitress sits a glass of water on his table and leaves. Brazetis takes a drink.

BRAZETIS: I moved away, took this new position here in Dallas. And I waited. I went back on my days off. Told no one. Sure enough, once they felt safe, they started with the trucks again. I got the necessary chemicals through the black market, and then I snuck in and sprinkled them all over several of the roads. The next time they sprayed the solvent, instead of vaporizing, it combined with the chemicals to leave a bright orange, highly toxic gel. Yes, I "created" a nasty spill. But it got them caught. And now they're being investigated, and they can't deny anything.

JANE: Brilliant.

BRAZETIS: It's the least I could do for Carla and Annie. Though it won't help them.

JANE: You probably saved others' lives.

The doctor shrugs.

BRAZETIS: Maybe. You lost your family, too.

JANE: (soberly) Yes. I was a conman. I shot off my mouth on TV about a serial killer and he killed them.

BRAZETIS: I'm sorry.

JANE: Thanks. So am I.

BRAZETIS: You got him, though.

JANE: Yes, but it took years.

Brazetis nods. They share a moment.

JANE: (CONT'D) Here's the thing. If I connected the shipment of chemicals to you, I'm sure my colleagues eventually will as well. You need to destroy anything and everything linking you to that purchase. And any other evidence that might put you at the scene. I'm thinking you have forty eight to seventy two hours tops before they come looking.

Brazetis nods again.

BRAZETIS: I will do as you say. But even if I go to jail, it will have been worth it.

JANE: I get that too, but you do good work, right? Help people? With your (flails his hand in the air) doctoring stuff.

BRAZETIS: I'd like to think so.

JANE: What you did what illegal, but it was right. You've fixed what can be fixed. Now you need to move on.

BRAZETIS: I don't deserve…

JANE: Please. Take it from someone who wasted years with that. Your wife and child would want you to be happy.

BRAZETIS: You've moved on? How?

JANE: Yes. Finally. I'm happy again. I love someone. She loves me. And we have a new baby.

Brazetis smiles for the first time.

JANE: (CONT'D) You're a good man. I can see that. Don't waste the life you have left.

BRAZETIS: I failed them.

JANE: So do better next time.

BRAZETIS: (nods, slowly warming to Jane's ideas) Maybe. I'll try.

JANE: And if anybody asks, we've never talked. We've never met.

Jane rises to leave and puts a hand on Brazetis' shoulder.

BRAZETIS: Mr. Jane?

JANE: Patrick.

BRAZETIS: Thank you. And here's your badge.

JANE: (chuckling) Ah, yes.

BRAZETIS: Do you have a picture? Of your new family?

JANE: (smiles) Sure.

He pulls out his phone and shows the doctor a picture of Teresa holding their son. She is beaming. Brazetis smiles.

BARZETIS: They're beautiful.

JANE: Yes, they are. Take care, William.

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INT: JANES' HOUSE – NIGHT

The front door lock turns quietly and Jane slips into the dark house, moving carefully so as not to disturb. In the living room, Jane spies Lisbon sound asleep, sprawled in the recliner. Her right arm cradles the baby, who is asleep on her belly. Her left hand hangs off the edge of the arm of the chair.

A look of wonder and gratitude spreads over his face as he walks toward the chair, never taking his eyes off of them. He kneels by the chair and gently takes her hand, noting the ring he gave to her. He lifts her hand to his lips, kissing it reverently. She stirs and blinks.

LISBON: (whispering) Oh. Hey.

She takes stock of her position and how she went to sleep, and smiles at herself. Jane points to the baby and to himself, motioning that he will take the baby to bed. She nods. He picks up the sleeping child without awakening him and carries him into the other room.

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INT: JANES' BEDROOM – NIGHT

In bed, a sleepy Lisbon snuggles her back into Jane's chest, spooning. He cuddles against her contentedly.

LISBON: (closing eyes) So?

Jane runs his fingers down her exposed arm.

JANE: You want to know the whole story?

LISBON: Mmm. Nah. Too tired. Give me the short version for now. (yawns)

Jane is silent for a moment. Wondering exactly what he should say.

JANE: (thoughtfully) I attempted to give a good man a second chance.

Lisbon's eyes blink open. She frowns, then wiggles around to look him in the eye. His expression tells her how grateful he is for his own second chance.

LISBON: Oh, Patrick.

She puts her palm against his cheek, and kisses him tenderly. Then she rolls back over and again snuggles her back into his chest. He draws her tight to him and closes his eyes, smiling.

FADE OUT