Directed by Eriq La Salle
Written by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn & Trey Calloway
"Pot of Gold" is the 17th episode of Season 6 and the 134th overall. It originally aired March 10, 2010.
Two men are found dead in a warehouse a week before St. Patrick's Day. The investigators discover a link to a gold bullion company. Mac cautiously begins a flirtatious relationship with a woman he meets at his favorite deli.
Tropes for the episode:
- Audit Threat: At the end of the episode, Mac threatens a suspect and follows through...he and Stella walk away grinning as a Treasury agent enters the interrogation room and immediately laundry-lists the federal charges being filed against the man.
- The Bus Came Back: After an absence of almost two years, Mac's stepson, Reed, returns for this episode only.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: At the end of the episode, Reed invites Mac to "go grab a green beer or something." Mac takes a rain check and Reed is never seen, heard from, or referred to again.
- Clothing-Concealed Injury: Throughout the episode, Reed wears a scarf to hide a scar on his neck.
- Continuity Nod: Reed's scar was inflicted by the Cabbie Killer back in episode 4.20, "Taxi."
- Justice by Other Legal Means: When the main perp denies having any connection to the murders, Mac calls in a Treasury Agent who informs the man of the laundry list of charges against him. Mac and Stella walk away, smiling.
- Money to Throw Away: A bartender who is a suspect throws the bills from his tip basket into the crowd to buy time to get away from Flack and Stella.
- Officer O'Hara: Alluded to and averted by Flack. He's calm, cool and collected while interrogating the bartender, but tells him the other officers, who'd been yanked out of a St. Patrick's Day parade to help chase him down and are now doing paperwork instead of enjoying some green beer, are extremely perturbed.
- Person with the Clothing: A mild example. After Mac and Aubrey have a Meet Cute in the deli, she leaves a note with the owner to pass on to him. Knowing where she'll be later, but still not having a clue as to her name, he addresses one back to "The Beautiful Brunette Woman in the Green Coat." The woman he leaves it with addresses Aubrey as such when she arrives.
- Scars Are Forever: Reed had received the scar on his neck near the end of Season 4.
- Shout-Out: To Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Sheldon and Adam are looking for a particular gold bar. When he finds the right one, Adam exclaims, "I've got a golden ticket!"note
