See Also: 'Grave Danger' Episode Guide

CSI Files sources today provided the first plot information for "Grave Danger," the Quentin Tarantino-directed CSI season finale.

The episode begins just like any regular episode, with Nick being called to a very unimportant crime scene. Besides Nick, it warrants only a single cop, young officer Kent, who quickly leaves the alley again to throw up. Nick doesn't mind - the forensic routine takes less time anyway, without some kid hovering over him. Then something yellow around the corner catches his eye. Nick leans over to study it, but can't quite make out what it is. Leans in closer... And doesn't notice the dark figure behind him until just before he's knocked unconscious.

A short while later, the once low-priority crime scene has transformed into the center of the LVPD's world. Everyone's there: Captain Brass, giving hell poor to poor officer Kent, Catherine and Grissom, disturbed to find Nick's CSI vest and cell phone discarded on the ground, and Conrad Ecklie, who promises the full cooperation of the entire police department.

Warrick brings out scent hounds, but they lose Nick's track as soon as they get to the road. Traffic surveillance footage does reveal the SUV that must have been used to transport Nick, but not where it went. The most disturbing discovery comes when they take a closer look at the alley, and discover most of the stuff there is fake - someone planted a crime scene in order to trap Nick. But why? And is Nick still alive?

Nick is, although when he wakes up, he's got no idea where he is. When he tries to sit up, he bumps his head. When he reaches around, he bumps against a wall, very close, on each side. At least he can see a little - there are a few glosticks by his feet... lying right next to his handgun! Breathing heavily, Nick begins to explore every inch of his surroundings. There's no way out: he's in a coffin of some sort. Then he finds a tape recorder. Switches it on. And hears a voice congratulating him for following the evidence to here - he's proven himself a real CSI. Now he can use his gun to kill himself, or try to conserve his breath. Whatever he does, it won't matter: he's going to die here.

Back in the crime lab, the CSIs discover Nick's horrible situation, when a courier delivers a small USB flash drive. Plugged in, it provides access to an online webcam, and to their horror it shows Nick, blinking against a light in the coffin that just went on. Brass can't stand it - he manhandles the courier until he gives up the sender, but it turns out to be a fake address. More bad news comes from the mayor, who says the city won't finance a ransom. Nick's parents show up: judge Bill Stokes and his wife Jillian. They offer to sell their farm to raise cash, but without someone to send it to, that's not much use either. All they're able to do is watch the webcam, and look on as their son slowly suffocates...

In desperation, the CSIs try to hack into the webcam feed. But as soon as they start, the webcam is replaced with a countdown timer. It tells the CSIs to bring the ransom to a certain address within twenty minutes, or Nick will die. Brass and Grissom rush over to the abandoned warehouse located at the address, where, despite Brass's objections, Grissom decides to go in alone. He walks up to the second floor, where he's awaited by a man named Walter. Is this calm, composed man Nick's kidnapper?

But Walter's madness quickly shows through. Grissom hands over the money, but instead of giving up Nick's location, the man begins to speak, asking whether Nick is Grissom's friend, and how Grissom feels knowing Nick is dying. While he's speaking, Grissom notices explosives strapped to the walls. And a remote detonator in the man's hand. Grissom looks Walter in the eye - then bolts. As he dives down the stairs - BOOM! - the building explodes all around him. Grissom runs from the warehouse just as it turns into a blaze of fire.

We're only half an hour into the episode, and already the situation seems desperate for Grissom. As burning hundred dollar bills rain down around him, he watches the warehouse go down in flames, consuming the body of the only man who knew where Nick is buried. Will Grissom be able to find his fellow CSI in time, or will he be forced to watch his friend exhale his last breath via a cold computer screen?

Please note that the above plot details have not been confirmed by CBS, Alliance Atlantis or Bruckheimer Films, and until such time you should treat this information as you would any other rumour. The above information comes from early script drafts and the details of the episodes are liable to change before the episodes are shown.

"Grave Danger" was written by CSI showrunner Carol Mendelsohn, CSI creator Anthony Zuiker, and executive producer Naren Shankar, based on a story by Quentin Tarantino. The episode is scheduled to air on Thursday the 19th of May.

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