7.18: 1:00am - 2:00am - Blind Faith?

7.18: 1:00a.m. -2:00a.m.

~ Blind Faith? ~
2009.04.13

1:00

Tony is still on the Starkwood complex. He stops near what looks like a gas station and peeks around the corner. There is a large tanker truck pulling up and Tony puts his gun away and trades it for his binoculars. Stokes gets out of his vehicle with another man. Jack calls to Tony who asks where the F-18’s are. Jack quickly tells Tony that Tim Woods calls from the White House and they have cancelled the air strike because their evidence wasn’t strong enough to justify the military action. Tony is frustrated. He asks if the President is out of her mind, Tony saw them with his own eyes and so did Jack. They aren’t going to get any better intelligence than that. Tony says that makes no sense. They give Tony the orders to pull out and meet up with the perimeter teams. Renee wants to pull them out but Tony has to get out before they can go. Tony doesn’t really respond and Renee calls Tony’s name. He tells her to hold on and angles for a better look at the truck. Jack wants to know what’s going on and Tony might know why the strike was called off. He confirms that Starkwood must have surface to surface missiles that they can use to deploy the bio-weapon. Tony explains a fuel truck just pulled up and it’s pumping RP-7 into the underground facility. Renee doesn’t know what that is and Jack says that it’s only use is for surface to surface missiles. Tony confirms he is looking right at a truckload of it. Jack wants to know if Tony has any C-4 on him. Tony has 3 sticks and a detonator. Jack asks if he has access to the facility. Tony might have a play but he has to move before the truck pulls away. Jack is going to call the President. He and Renee at FBI get up and hurry away.

Tim comes into Taylor’s office and she asks what it is. She is stressed out. He tells her the joint chiefs are starting to question her decision to call off the air strike against Starkwood. They think the intel is sufficient and that she may be missing an opportunity. Taylor gave her orders; there will be no air strike, no military action of any kind against Starkwood. She has asked Tim to handle the Joint Chiefs and she wants him to do it. Tim will do his best, he asks what the next move is. Taylor tells him that Jonas Hodges is coming to the White House and he wants to speak with her alone. Tim asks why but she doesn’t know. He starts to ask her questions but she snaps at him to stop, if he wants to help he needs to make sure as few people as possible know that Hodges is coming there. She wants him to bring Hodges in through the south east service entrance. Her phone beeps and the voice says Jack Bauer and Renee Walker are on the line from the FBI. Taylor asks Tim if he spoke to the FBI and he confirms he did giving them the reason why they stopped the attack. Tim warns that they were sceptical as well. Taylor dismisses Tim by telling him to be ready for Hodges. He nods and leaves. She answers the phone and calls them, “Mr. Bauer and Agent Walker.” Jack is leaning over the phone and says that they need to talk. Taylor puts her foot down, they don’t. He needs to listen. She tells him she appreciates everything he has done in gathering this intel but she needs more before she can authorize an air strike. Jack looks to Renee and says, ‘Madam President, with all due respect, I don’t think you’re being truthful with us.’ Taylor leans away from the phone and says, “Excuse me?” Jack accurately guesses that she called off the air strike because of Hodges and his missiles and his threat. Taylor leans on her hand and Jack tells her about the RP-7 rocket fuel and its purpose. She says nothing and Jack begs her to tell them the truth. She has her eyes closed and confirms that Hodges has 13 python missiles armed with the bio-weapon and 3 of them are aimed at American cities. He demanded she recall the plane or he would launch. Renee asks what Hodges wants but she doesn’t know. Taylor tells them about the meeting. Jack says the only reason he wants a face to face meeting is to lay out his demands and she can’t negotiate with him. Taylor isn’t planning on it, she thinks she can make him realize the futility of what he is trying to do. Jack argues that Hodges is a traitor and a terrorist. He asks her, ‘After everything that happened today are you really naïve enough to believe that you can simply talk to him and change his mind?’ She points out, ‘I’m not new at this, Jack. She doesn’t have another option.’ Jack tells her that Tony is still inside Starkwood, even though she ordered him out. Jack thinks he can gain access to the depot and lay explosives to take the missiles out. The RP-7 burns at 5,000 degrees, there won’t be anything left of the bio-weapons. Renee says that Moss can then move in. Jack rubs his side and Taylor says that Hodges gave standing orders to launch at the first detection of government interference. If Almeida is detected thousands of Americans will die. Jack knows the risk but he wouldn’t be asking her to do this if he didn’t think it would work. She thinks and Jack continues, “Please, I am begging you. Trust me.” Taylor looks up and is quiet. She asks, “How long did the doctors give you to live?” Jack checks on Renee and answers, “They’re not sure, but the pathogen has started to take effect.” Renee eyes Jack and Taylor looks sad. “Then there’s not much I can threaten you with, is there?” Jack is piecing it together and she finishes, “I expect you’ll do what you think is right.” Jack looks down at the table and Taylor is silent before she hangs up.

Behind Jack, Renee asks, “What the hell does that mean?” Jack is smiling and tells Renee that she wants them to go in. Thickly, Renee says she didn’t authorize it. Jack stands now and says that she can’t. She needs this to be a covert operation in case something goes wrong and the missiles are launched. She needs to be able to swear under oath that they were working on their own. She wants them to go in. Jack tells Renee to notify Larry, they need to move fast. Renee gets her phone out and Jack leaves the room.

Hodges and Greg come through the halls of the White House. Hodges muses that he told Greg he would get him to the White House, he just didn’t think it would be under these conditions. Greg has no response and Jonas says his idea to make Almeida believe Greg was betraying him was brilliant. Hodges says that Greg put himself in harms way and he won’t forget it. Hodges can’t believe he is feeling nervous and Greg supports him that he will be fine. Tim waves them over.

Moss has been told what’s going on and says it doesn’t sound like the President authorized this. Renee explains it to him, technically no but it was an indirect order. She wants this to happen. She is going to meet with Hodges and they are going to blow the fuel tanks. Renee asks if Moss has a problem with this. Moss says as a matter of fact, no, he has no problem whatsoever. Those Starkwood bastards drew on his men and he is looking forward to getting back in there. Renee tells him to hold, he will know when it happens. Moss agrees.

Janice works at the table and Renee leads back over with Jack jogging a couple of steps to catch up. He picks up his comm. and tells Tony he was right about the missiles, the President confirmed it. They are going to carry this out as a covert operation. Larry is standing by lockdown Starkwood as soon as the missiles have been destroyed. Jack needs to know that Tony will not be detected; Hodges left standing orders to launch if there is a breach of any kind. Tony can do this and Jack wishes him luck. Tony stand sand heads off the opposite way.

They are unhooking the gas line from the tank and a man named Galvez comes to Stokes. He is going to run a perimeter check but Stokes says he just ran one. Galvez knows, he can’t be too careful right now. He leaves. Stokes gets on the phone and calls Tom the chemist. He is finished with the weapons and it’s fuelled up. Stokes will be down in a few minutes. Tony brings out the truck driver at gunpoint and demands to see Stokes’ hands. Stokes turns and identifies Tony. Stokes is ordered to put his gun on the ground slowly. He complies and Tony orders him to kick it. Tony knocks the driver out with a hit to the back of the head and he wants Stokes to drag him under the truck. He does this and Tony wants his hands up. Tony wants Stokes to take him down to the fuel tanks. Stokes goes for something in his pocket and Tony makes a warning noise until he sees its Stokes’ key card. Stokes opens up the large doors in the ground and goes first down the stairs.

1:13

1:17

Tony is setting charges on the bombs.

Hodges and Greg are led in to see Taylor. She has her back to the door initially and looks worried but when Hodges arrives she doesn’t show it. Hodges introduces Greg as a remarkable man who doesn’t look remarkable. Taylor knows him and she then dismisses her people. They take off and Hodges looks around. He says that it never gets old, stepping into the Oval Office, it smells of history. He asks if he can sit and she says yes. This is the first time Hodges has been there since she was elected. Taylor is aware of that and Hodges says he used to stop by every couple of months and brief president Daniels about what was really going on in the world. Taylor concludes that he’s been excluded. That’s now why he is here; he wants her to allow Starkwood to fulfill its purpose, to protect the country. Taylor says that Hodges is attacking the country. He helped General Juma kill hundreds of innocent people including her son. Hodges stands and says he is sorry for her loss and he claims his heart breaks for all the lives lost today but he is shocked that she would think he had anything to do with this. She accrues him of working with Juma. Hodges says that her intelligence agencies have failed her. He claims that if he knew what was going on he would have done everything to stop it. He asks that she push aside the baseless accusations so the can do some business. Taylor is listening. Hodges knows that she is a student of history and she is well aware that the nation’s independence was won with the use of private armies, they can’t survive without them. Hodges asks her to look how easy it was to get a bio-weapon in the country. The military is on the verge of collapse. Taylor asks what he is suggesting. Hodges wants a seat at the table. He wants a partnership so Starkwood can act like the 5 th branch of the military. Greg hands out booklets with an official looking Starkwood seal on the front of them. Hodges explains that this is the basis of their agreement. Taylor drops it on the desk. She agreed to meet with Jonas because she wanted to hear what he had to say. What he is proposing is blackmail. Hodges coolly answers that she would put it in the worst possible light. She reminds him he is threatening to kill thousands of people. Hodges is not proud of this chapter and he will be the first to admit that it’s time to turn the page. The country has seen enough bloodshed today and for the sake of the American people he implores her to work with him and move past this. Greg waits and Hodges says icily, “Pick up the document, Madam President.” She complies but is not happy about it.

Tony works on setting the charges and Stokes watches. He is handcuffed to a pipe. Tony drops his bag and then goes to Stokes. He uncuffs him and tells him to go. He wants him to lead upstairs now or he will leave him there and he doesn’t want that. They go up to the top. Stokes closes the big doors and they go back to the truck. The driver still appears unconscious and Tony moves to the back of the truck with Stokes. The driver comes out and hits Tony in the back knocking him over and he drops the detonator down a grate. Tony stands and fights the man, he kicks him in the stomach and then the leg and he goes down. The sound of breaking glass attracts his attention; Stokes is punching in numbers on the emergency panel. Tony goes to him and Stokes turns. Tony gets two hits in.

Downstairs, they have received the code, 363, government breach. They’re supposed to launch. Tom is all for it, they have standing orders but the other tech is a little more nervous. Tom starts the sequence Topside, Tony is in mid punch of Stokes, over top of him when the doors open from the ground. Stokes has a bloody nose and smiles, ‘You’re too late.’ Tony knocks him out with another punch and then gets up and jumps over to the grates. He leans over and sees the detonator. Tony shoves his arm down to try and get a hold of it. Downstairs, they have locked on the target: Clarksville. Tom wants him to enter the firing codes but the other tech doesn’t want to until they talk to someone. They are about to kill ten thousand people, they should get someone on the phone. Tom comes over and tells him to do it, but he can’t so Tom does it himself.

Tony is still trying to reach the detonator.

Downstairs, the missiles fire up.

Tony manages to roll it to a wall and get a hold of it. He stands and pushes the button. Things work, the bombs blow causing a huge fireball. Tony runs and jumps over something to take cover.

Moss sees it with wide eyes from his post. He tells the others that this is them, they can go. They load up the vehicles.

Renee and Jack see the explosion and Jack takes out his comm. Jack says that it’s done and Renee tries to raise Tony. She just gets static and Jack explains that an explosion of that magnitude would have shorted out his comm.; they will have to wait for Larry and his men. Janice looks sad.

Taylor works her way though Hodges’ document. She highlights some of the more ludicrous aspects of it including Hodges wanting access to level 6 classified materials. Not even the vice president has that kind of clearance. Hodges says that the terms are non negotiable. Tim enters and asks for Taylor. She wants to know if it can wait but it can’t. Taylor asks to be excused and Hodges and Greg get up. Greg tells Taylor that they have detected a massive explosion in the Starkwood compound. She puts her hand on Tim’s arm and asks if he is sure. Tim is and it looks like none of the gas would have survived the explosion. Taylor wants to talk to the FBI and Tim confirms they are moving in. When this is over, Taylor wants to speak with Jack Bauer. Tim says yes.

Inside the office, Hodges is not sure he is reaching the President. Greg thinks Hodges handed it perfectly. Hodges will see.

Taylor re-enters with muscle this time. The secret service comes in from all the doors and Taylor pronounces Hodges under arrest and she wants the document admitted to evidence. Hodges thinks Taylor has lost her mind but Taylor explains that they have destroyed the missiles. Jonas says that’s impossible but Taylor confirms it’s the truth. Taylor says he is under arrest for being a terrorist and a murderer and she will do everything in her power to make sure that he pays dearly for his crimes. This gets Hodges angry and he takes a step toward her. The agents grab him and he tells her, ‘My only concern is that I am trying to protect my country.” He is led out but asks her, “You think this ends with me? I’m just a small cog in a very big machine.” Taylor stops them and approaches Hodges. He is calmer and threatens, “You can’t even begin to imagine what you’re up against.” She asks what he is talking about but the only answer he gives her is a menacing, “You’ll find out.” Taylor wants Hodges out of there and they take him away.

1:27

1:31

Renee walks up to Jack who is working on a computer terminal. She says that there has been no trace of the bio-weapon on the site. Jack says good and asks if there’s any word on Tony. She says not yet. Jack is called from another station and the woman says that the President is on the line for him. He looks around and says he’ll take it in the conference room. He tells Renee he’ll l be right back. He is struggling it seems and stops at the table. He leans over the table and then looks back at the woman from the desk. The phone rings and he answers it. He says into the speaker, “Madame President.” His voice falters slightly but Taylor doesn’t notice. She comes to the phone and says that Jonas Hodges is under arrest. Jack smiles and says that’s good news. Taylor says that Jack and his team provided her with an option and for that she is deeply grateful, “and so are the American people.” Jack clarifies, “It was Tony Almeida who risked his life to destroy those missiles and as you know, he’s facing arrest for things he did leading up to today and I was hoping that maybe you could…” Jack stops talking and gets a puzzled look on his face. He stops completely and she calls him, “Mr. Bauer?” Jack stumbles down to a chair and drops in heavily. Taylor calls him Jack now and he shakes his head, “I’m sorry, I completely forgot what I was saying.” He appears to be searching his thoughts and Taylor says that he was talking about Mr. Almeida and yes, she will take his actions into account. Jack’s voice has changed now, it’s less dominant and he thanks the President. She asks him carefully, “What’s happening?” Jack is looking around and stutters, “I’m not exactly sure.” His hands sit on top of the table and Taylor says she is so sorry he is going thorough this, ‘I wish there was something I could do.’ Jack appreciates this phone call and apologizes but he has to go. Taylor says of course and Jack works across the table and shuts of the phone. He stands up and looks around and then goes out of the conference room. Jack tells Renee what Hodges has been arrested. He wants her to tell him as soon as she has Tony. Renee nods. Jack needs to go see Dr. Macer. Jack walks away.

A split screen opens up and Taylor makes a call. She wants her secretary to call Ben Landry at CDC; she wants real time updates on Jack Bauer.

Jack, meanwhile, jogs down to medical and lets himself in.

On the site of the explosion the FBI is cleaning up. The giant doors close and Tony is led back to Moss in cuffs. Moss is talking on the comm. to Renee that they have secured all entry points and command posts and they are sweeping the compound. There is no resistance; they are surrendering peacefully and cooperatively. Moss thinks that most of the men on the base had no idea what was going on. In a split screen we see Stokes getting patched up in cuffs. Renee asks about Tony and Moss seems hesitant. He says Almeida is there, he has some cuts and bruises but otherwise he’s in pretty good shape. Renee walks and says Jack will be glad to hear that. Moss becomes repentant with Renee and says that they have known each other a long time and so much has happened today, Renee knows they have a lot to talk about. The same woman from before comes to Renee and says her visitor has arrived. Renee tells Larry she has to go, Kim Bauer has arrived. Moss asks, ‘Jack’s daughter?’ Tony is listening to Moss and Renee explains she asked her to come. There’s an experimental treatment for Jack’s disease but he needs compatible stem cells. It’s a long shot but it’s the only hope he has. Moss says okay and asks her to let him know how it goes. She goes off comm.

Moss thinks for a second and leans his head back. He looks to Tony who asks if they said something about Kim Bauer. Moss confirms she’s at FBI. He’s vague as he explains it’s something to do with some kind of treatment for Jack. Tony asks, “So they think he’s gonna be alright?” Moss shakes his head, “Didn’t sound promising.” Tony looks down. Moss sounds regretful and says that this isn’t easy for him but he has orders to take Tony into federal custody. Tony knows and Moss says he did a brave thing there. He probably saved thousands of lives. For the record, Moss doesn’t think this is how Tony should be repaid. Tony appreciates that. He nods and sighs, “I’m ready to pay for what I’ve done.” Moss asks the agent to uncuff Tony and he complies. Moss walks by and says that they chopper’s on the way, they’re going to take him back to FBI.

Jack is in Macer’s office and he uses the back of his hand to rub his eyes. Macer explains that memory loss is consistent with the disease but she didn’t expect it to manifest this quickly. Jack tells her, “It’s not just memory loss.” He thinks, struggles to find the right words and then sits back. Jack doesn’t know exactly how to explain it, “I feel like I’m losing some part of myself.” Macer confirms that the disease profile includes personality changes and sometimes even hallucinations but they don’t know much about the weaponized pathogen. The military is still combing through the remains of the bio-weapon lab in Sangala. They should have more information soon. Jack looks very small as he asks, ‘You were able to give me something to control the shaking, is there anything that you can give me that would help me with this?’ Macer is sympathetic but she shakes her head no. She says she’s sorry. Jack nods and thanks her. He asks to be excused and gets up. She watches him leave the office.

Outside, Jack again dabs his face with his hand and Renee approaches. She asks if he is alright and he says he is but he rushes to say he’s going to need to go on record about everything that happened today and he needs to do it soon, ‘I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be able to give you the details.’ Renee says okay but first there’s something that he needs to know. He asks what. Renee says it’s about Kim, ‘She’s here, Jack.’ Jack stares at her and she continues, “I told her that you were sick and that she might be able to help with the treatment. Jack eyes bore into Renee, he is baffled. He starts, “You d-“ then stops. He looks away and back, “You did what?” He grabs her arm and tells her to come here. Jack has pain on his face as he leads Renee into a room nearby. He lets her go and closes the door quickly. He turns and asks in a near whisper, “Who the hell do you think you are?” She has no answer and Jack advances on her asking again, louder, “Who the hell do you think you are?” Renee is backed up against the wall and Jack asks, “You think this is easy?” His words are clipped with anger as he asks, “You think you understand what I’m going through? Because you don’t. I am dying. And I was okay with it, I could handle it.” His voice comes down but his proximity to her doesn’t as he continues, “And now you put in front of me the one thing.” His voice falters, “The one thing that’s going to make this unbearable.” Renee tries to get Jack to listen but he cuts her off, heating up with anger again, “I specifically told you, do not drag my daughter into this.” He backs off and goes for the door but Renee calls after him, angry herself, “No one dragged her into anything.” Jack turns as Renee says, “She’s been trying to see you all day.” His expression has changed and he blinks at Renee and then asks quietly, “What?” Renee whispers that she was at the senate hearing this morning. She flew out from LA to see Jack but they pulled him out before she could see him. She’s been leaving messages at Renee’s office all day but they didn’t get to her until now. Jack doesn’t look at Renee but nods. Renee moves closer and offers to tell her that Jack’s not there, that he can’t see her. Jack thinks for a second, shakes his head and says almost too quiet to hear, “Can’t do that.” He’s looking at the ground and then raises his head but still doesn’t look at Renee. He finds his voice and asks, “Where is she?” Renee says she’s down the hall. She has sympathy in her eyes and Jack looks at her. “Show me.”

1:38

1:43

Renee leads Jack to the room where Kim waits. He stares through the glass wall and sees her blonde head with her back to them sitting on a couch. He attempts to compose himself and uses his sleeve to wipe his face. He takes a few slow steps toward the room and Renee leaves. Sadness is etched all over his face as he opens the door. Inside, Kim hears it and turns to face her father. She quietly says, “Daddy.” And Jack stands still. They lock eyes and Kim asks how he’s feeling. Jack stutters, “I’m okay.” Kim asks, “You’re not in any pain?” Jack lies a solid ‘No.’ Kim moves her bag from the couch and tells him to come and sit down. She sits on one end of the couch and Jack slowly crosses to it and sits on the opposite end, keeping himself contained and away from her. She looks at him and he stares at the ground. She asks, “Did Agent Walker tell you that I was trying to find you?” Jack looks at her and nods quietly saying, “Yeah.” Kim is tearing up and confesses that she’s tried everything to find him. “State department, private investigators. Every time I got a phone number or an address you were already gone.” Not making eye contact, Jack gravels, “Sorry. I thought I was doing the best thing for you by staying away.” She looks at him and says, “Daddy, I’ve missed you so much.” Jack meets her eyes and is near tears saying, “I’ve missed you too.” Kim smiles and Jack continues, “You need to know how sorry I am for everything you’ve had to live through because of me.” Kim shakes her head and tells him not to do that, “Don’t put that on yourself.” Jack is looking away again and Kim says she’s the one that should apologize, “I pushed you away. And instead of taking responsibility for all the mistakes I’ve made in my life I blamed you.” This is not easy for Jack to hear and Kim ploughs on, “And it was stupid, and immature. And now all the time that we’ve lost.” Jack is sad and looks away. Kim slides closer to Jack and tells him that Agent Walker told her that there’s a chance, a small chance, that she can help him. She’s waiting for him to look at her and she finishes, “And you don’t want me to.” Jack looks up now and tells Kim that the treatment is experimental, and he doesn’t think it will work. Kim assumes that Jack doesn’t want to because he’s afraid to ask him. Jack denies it, no. He looks back to her, “There’s a risk to you.” Kim already knows, a small risk, worth taking. Jack cuts her off, “Not to me.” She is not happy with her father’s decision and shakes her head. He squares himself to her and tells her, “Kim, I’m dying.” Her eyes well up with the words and he continues, “And whatever small chance there is to stop that from happening, it is not worth the pain for me to let you sit there and watch me die.” Kim’s voice is cracking as she says, “Daddy, I don’t wanna lose you.” He grabs onto her and pulls her into a hug. She holds onto him and says she doesn’t. She cries on his shoulder and he assures her it’s going to be alright, rocking them back and forth. He holds her tightly and is near tears himself but suddenly pain grips him and he lets go of Kim. She is concerned and asks what it is. He backs off and puts his hand on his side, breathing hard. She watches and wants to know what is wrong. He’s controlled the pain and whispers to Kim, “Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but you need to go.” His voice is weak and there are tears in his eyes. She sighs and is reluctant. He urgently whispers, “Please, baby, please. I’m begging you.” She says to him, “I love you so much.” Jack loves her too and again says please. She reaches out to him and he says, “Thank you. Go.” She picks up her bag, leans over and kisses him on the cheek. His pain is still evident and she passes him and goes out the door crying and wiping tears. Jack is left in the room alone; he winces and then closes his eyes. His expression changes and he slowly breaks down into tears. He leans forward and covers his face with his hands.

One of the FBI agents gets out of the car and has the perimeter clear. The guy from earlier, Galvez, comes up and kills the FBI agent. Another agent is there and comes out calling for him to freeze, show him his hands. Galvez complies and the agent communicates that they have an agent down and code red, suspect in custody. The agent orders Galvez to drop the bag and put his hands on the hood. Galvez complies with a push from the FBI agent. The agent frisks him and takes his gun and then opens the bag finding a small canister of the gas in it. The agent radios to speak to Moss, it’s urgent. Moss comes on and is told what the agent has found. He is sure it’s the agent, he’s looking at it. Galvez takes the agent out with a kick and then kills him with his gun. Moss calls to the agent but he doesn’t respond so Moss calls Renee and explains about the breach. They have identified a canister that is out. They alert the perimeter and police. Moss gets in the chopper while Tony watches him, already inside. Moss wants Renee to alert Homeland and tell them what’s going on. Renee asks if he thinks this is another attack. Moss says they have enough of the bio-weapon to take out a small city. Moss meets eyes with Tony sitting in the chopper.

1:49

1:54

Gavlez drives the stolen FBI SUV. Moss and Tony’s chopper is overhead. Moss asks about roadways and the pilot asks about directions. Tony listens to Moss and leans his head back. In the chopper. He appears to be thinking.

Renee hangs up the phone and asks if Janice activated the GPS from the vehicle. Janice asks about the attack she talked to Larry about and Renee says they got a bio-weapon out. Janice thought Tony Almeida destroyed all the bio-weapons, Renee says apparently not. Janice wants to know how he got past the perimeter and Renee says he shot and killed 2 of their agents. Janice has the location. Renee gives the info to all units.

Tony and Moss both look down. Moss will tighten his pursuit. Renee is sending a SWAT team.

Moss looks over at Tony. The pilot has a visual of the SUV.

Galvez sees that he’s being tracked. Moss wants to be lower, Galvez pulls off the road. Moss says to put them down now. Moss tells Renee that they are moving in now, they can’t wait for back up. Renee has the SWAT team a few minutes out. She tells him to be careful.

The chopper is landing and Moss reminds the pilot that the suspect has a canister, watch their shots. They want to take him alive. As soon as they are on the ground, Galvez shoots and hits the pilot through the glass. Moss opens the door and then closes it again. Moss tells Tony that they have to get out of there, he’ll lay down cover. Moss does exactly that and Tony runs out of the chopper behind a dumpster. Gavlez still fires and the bullets hit the metal dumpster. Moss makes sure Tony is down and retunes fire again from his covered position. He gets down and fires some more. Galvez moves to the back of the SUV and pulls out another gun. He continues out the other side of the vehicle and fires at Moss who is looking the other way. Moss is hit and spins around, Galvez shoots again. Larry fires back but Galvez takes off. Moss goes down on his back. He fires twice more and rolls in. Tony goes out to him and puts his hands on Moss’s chest. Moss is in pain and Tony tells him to relax. Moss grunts, “I’m okay.” Galvez appears from behind the SUV again with his gun drawn. Moss is in pain and Tony has moved one hand to Moss’s side. Moss is trying to move around and sees Galvez coming. Moss says Tony’s name, trying to warn him that he’s coming. He leans back and coughs Tony’s name more panicked. Galvez is closing in. Tony turns to face the operative and raises his hand to hold. Galvez lowers his gun. Tony looks back to Moss who is stunned. He asks ‘What?’ and then again, but realizing, “What?” Tony looks at Moss and says, “I’m sorry Larry.” He puts his hand over Moss’ nose and mouth. Larry grunts what sounds like ‘Oh, God.’ And then, ‘No.’ He uses his free hand to try and push Tony off. Moss grunts and struggles, managing to get a hand on Tony’s face, but he’s injured and not strong enough to push him off. Tony raises himself up for a better angle. His eyes betray him showing sadness and remorse while Larry’s eyes widen with fear.

In the split screen we see Moss fighting for a breath and Tony continuing to hold him down while looking unhappy. Hodges, Jack and another agent and Greg. Jack sits for a briefing.

Moss stops struggling and Tony’s head is moving up and down. Galvez takes a couple of steps in and Tony, still with his hands on Moss, says, ‘Let me see it.’ Galvez goes to the truck and gets he backpack. Tony stands and takes it, checking the canister. He looks at the canister and then at Moss. Galvez asks, “How the hell do we get out of here?” Tony puts it back in the bag and tells him to take it and find a place to hide. Wait for his call. Galvez asks about Tony who says he will wait on the FBI and figure out a way to get Galvez out of there. Tony checks back to Moss and tells Galvez to go. He takes off running. Tony wipes his forehead and looks unhappily around.

2:00

Miscellaneous Thoughts:

-I know that I’m not going to get the bulk of the comments done on this episode before Monday, but I want to get out the highlights abut the Tony issue. Yes, that’s right, the Tony issue.

-First, I want to say that for the first time ever I feel like a twist in this show is wrong. I have seen stuff I don’t like and pointed it out, of course. But this is simply wrong. It’s contrary to everything we’ve spent the year this far building, as well as the years prior to this one. When this show was over, I was so angry with 24 that I couldn’t watch it again right away. I usually watch time shift and then regular time, but not this one. I rather wouldn’t have known, by some miracle skipped the last 3 minutes of what, otherwise, was a superb episode.

-Tony can not be bad. The first thing that comes to mind is the senselessness of blowing up all the tanks at Starkwood with the bioweapon, but then having some left to release and kill people with anyway. It makes very little sense. I guess he has is own agenda.

-The guy working with Tony, Galvez, was in the beginning of the episode with Stokes. He wasn’t wearing a Starkwood uniform. Is Stokes somehow involved in this? Is that who Tony works for still? If that’s true, then why did Hodges and Stokes beat the hell out of him not 2 hours ago?

-Is Tony part of this ‘bigger plan’ that Hodges was threatening Taylor with? How?

-If Tony has been with the bad guys, why would be bring the White House raid to Jack’s attention? That was orchestrated by Hodges through Juma who also employed Dubaku. Tony has been working against all of them for the last 18 hours.

-Did he bring Bill and Chloe in on a ruse? Would he really be cold enough to risk Bill’s life (and Chloe’s) to accomplish some sort of evil mission? That’s not the Tony that we knew before. He was always very concerned with the loss of life and danger to those around him.

-If they weren’t in and we know they weren’t bad, what is going on now?

-Why would Tony go through all the effort of bringing Jack in if he’s still evil? Jack would be the last person involved.

-Tony killed Emerson, his crew leader, the person ‘responsible’ for turning him. They were “like brothers”. If he’s really bad, why would he kill him?

-The entire ‘extra deep cover’ scenario is ruled out when Tony killed a federal agent, and Galvez killed 2 of his own.

-Yes, there was remorse on Tony’s face when he is killing Moss, but the bottom line was, he did it, and in a very personal way. He could have just have Galvez shoot him. The Tony we know wouldn’t choose the brutal way to kill someone that has worked with him for the last day and a public servant.

-Some people said the closed captioning said Tony called Moss ‘sir’ and used the word ‘swallow.’ I don’t think that’s really what was going on, I’m pretty sure Moss is dead.

-Interviews with Carlos Bernard confirm that Tony is bad. And it’s wrong and has gone too far.

-At the same time, I have personal confirmation from Jon Cassar (director and executive producer of the show) that this twist makes sense and it was well thought out. Around this time they took a break in filming to iron out some kinks. I’m assuming it’s around this storyline. Cassar tells me that he would like to hear what I have to say about it after episode 24. So I think we might have a lot of waiting to find out what’s really going on here. It’s hard to trust on blind faith for something as potentially season-ruining as this but they have brought us this far... Blind Faith all the way.

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