24

Episode 2X15: 10:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M.
Original Air Date: 03/04/2002

TM & © 2002-2003 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
Transcript by Nina Meyers - Posted on TWIZ TV.COM



Previously on 24:

George Mason: Tony, you got a second?

Tony Almeida: What is it?

George Mason: I think it's time I stepped down. Here you go.

Tony Almeida: What's this?

George Mason: Access codes to CTU and Division. You're the new CTU director, Tony.

------------------------

Kim Bauer: You’re gonna let me out of here right now. I know the bomb didn't go off.

Lonnie McRae: I just wanted some company. That’s all.

Kim Bauer: Then what are you doing out here?

Lonnie McRae: This is where I belong.

Kim Bauer: I don't.

Lonnie McRae: Here. Take it. There's cougars out there. If you see one, fire a shot in the air and it'll take off.

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David Palmer: I just spoke with Roger Stanton. He confesses that he's known about the bomb for weeks.

Sherry Palmer: You have to trust me, David. Your presidency is in jeopardy. Let me help you.

David Palmer: No. You'll leave now. If you resist in any way, I'll have no choice but to place you under arrest.

------------------------

Marie Warner: You gotta give me your badge, Kate.

Kate Warner: No. I don't believe you'd shoot me.

Jack Bauer: Where's the bomb, Marie? The real bomb?

Marie Warner: You can go to hell, you bastard. I'm not telling you anything.

Jack Bauer: Why do you want me and my team to leave here so fast? The bomb's still here, isn't it, Marie? Teams A and B I want you to initiate a grid search on every outbuilding at the airport, starting at the north end, headed south. The bomb is on site. I repeat: the bomb is on site.

NEST tech #1: It's armed.

Jack Bauer: How much time have we got?

NEST tech #1: I can't tell. It could be any second.

------------------------

The following takes place between 10:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M.

Jack Bauer: Let everyone know we'll be working on the bomb in hangar 12.

Tom Baker: We're on standby here. Anything you need, Agent Bauer.

Jack Bauer: Copy that.

NEST tech #1: All right, guys. Right here should be fine. OK, I need a relay here.

NEST tech #2: Let me get a look at the circuit panel. They redirected the circuit. Bypass ready. Easy, easy.

NEST tech #1: I got it, I got it. Go ahead. Let's check out that timer switch. Hang on. Adjust the flash cap. It's a little tight. Almost there. I Got it. How's that?

NEST tech #2: Wait. Cap it off.

NEST tech #1: I need the bypass. It worked. We're in good shape.

Jack Bauer: Good.

[Mason arrives at Norton Airfield alone.]

Jack Bauer: George? What are you doing here?

George Mason: This is the thing that killed me, Jack. I kinda like to be here when they lay it to rest. You got it diffused yet?

Jack Bauer: No, not yet. They're looking at about ten minutes.

George Mason: Is there a timer?

Jack Bauer: It’s internal. They haven't been able to read it.

George Mason: So theoretically, it could detonate at any minute?

Jack Bauer: George, they've got it under control. Come on, there's gotta be somewhere else you'd rather be.

George Mason: I promised myself I was gonna see this through to the end. That's what I'm gonna do.

[Mason coughs.]

Jack Bauer: Are you all right?

George Mason: Yeah. I'll just take something.

NEST tech #1: Dammit.

Jack Bauer: Just give me a minute, OK? Is there a problem?

NEST tech #1: The trigger's tamper-proofed. I should have seen it, but it was disguised. If it's dismantled or disconnected from the main casing, it'll detonate.

Jack Bauer: Are you telling me that there is no way to disarm this bomb?

NEST tech #1: That's what I'm telling you.

Jack Bauer: Goodrich. They’re not gonna be able to diffuse this bomb. We're gonna have to fly it out of here. Now, I know this airport doesn't accommodate jets, so I need you to find me the fastest plane you can, but it’s gotta be reliable.

Steve Goodrich: All right. There's a Cessna Caravan in front of hangar three. She's rock solid, cruises at 210.

Jack Bauer: Get it.

Steve Goodrich: All right.

[Jack calls the O.C. to notify the President.]

Woman: Northwest Regional.

Jack Bauer: This is Jack Bauer. I need to speak with the president. It's urgent. Yes. Thank you. Did you get a look at the timer?

NEST tech #2: Yeah.

Jack Bauer: How much time have we got?

NEST tech #2: 55 minutes.

------------------------

[Kim walks along a deserted road, and flags down an oncoming car.]

Driver: Need a ride?

Kim Bauer: Where are you going?

Driver: Where are you trying to get to?

Kim Bauer: San Jose.

Driver: No kidding. That's right where I'm headed. Santa Clara, actually. It's just a few minutes past San Jose.

[Kim becomes suspicious, and refuses the ride.]

Kim Bauer: You know what? That's OK. I'm fine, thanks.

Driver: Don't be scared.

Kim Bauer: I'm not.

Driver: Then get in. There’s no point wandering around here in the middle of the night.

Kim Bauer: I'll be fine.

Driver: One second you need to get a ride to San Jose, the next you don't.

Kim Bauer: I'm sorry. It's really nice that you pulled over. It's just that I…

[When the driver gets out of the car to persuade her to get in, Kim draws her gun on him.]

Kim Bauer: Get back in the car now.

Driver: You don't know how to use that thing.

[Kim fires at his car as a warning.]

Kim Bauer: Get back in the car and keep driving.

[The guy drives off.]

Driver: Bitch!

[Kim continues walking down the highway.]

------------------------

[Jack and Palmer discuss two different locations to take the bomb -- the ocean and the desert.]

Jack Bauer: Sir, when will you have a decision?

David Palmer: We’re analyzing now. When will the plane be ready?

Jack Bauer: Ten minutes, Mr. President.

David Palmer: All right. I'll get back to you before then. In the meantime, prepare for the two possibilities we discussed, and coordinate with the FAA.

Jack Bauer: Yes, sir. I want maps and charts for both scenarios. Pacific Ocean here, desert here.

Guy: All right.

David Palmer: All right, Jack, we're ready to assemble. I'll get back to you in a couple of minutes, when we have a final decision.

Jack Bauer: Yes, sir.

Mike Novick: I wish I could say had more faith in the reliability of these recommendations but…

David Palmer: The best you can, Mike.

Mike Novick: Yes, sir. I'll discuss consequences of a ten kill time detonation in the Pacific Ocean. Lynne will do the same for the Mojave Desert. In the time available, the plane can get roughly 80 miles offshore. If it splashes down a few minutes before detonation, the bomb will go off underwater. The ocean will absorb a large portion of the radiation. However, prevailing winds would blow a moderate level of fallout back over the city of Los Angeles. Over time, there would be a high incidence of cancer and other radiation-related diseases.

David Palmer: But at least there'll be no immediate casualty.

Mike Novick: We can't be certain, Mr. President. The shipping lanes into the port of Los Angeles are extremely busy. In the 80 square miles off the coast of LA, the Coast Guard counts some two dozen freighters flying flags from around the world, plus an unknown number of unregistered fishing or pleasure vessels. It's likely that one or more of them would be sunk or capsized by the affect of the blast.

David Palmer: What's the impact on the environment?

Mike Novick: The blast will wipe out a substantial pocket of biodiversity. Keystone species would be exterminated, the food chain would be contaminated, and the regional ecological infrastructure would collapse. Marine resources such as offshore drilling, commercial fishing, even recreational beach usage would become hazardous or impossible for many years. The ecological and economic effects, Mr. President, would be devastating.

David Palmer: What about the desert?

Lynne Kresge: We can designate a ground zero in the Mojave. It's sufficiently isolated, so that inhabited areas won't be immediately affected. Local towns could be evacuated within hours of the blast without any serious long-term effects for the inhabitants. However, we can't rule out the possibility of isolated campers and hikers, who would be killed or contaminated by the blast. Now, if the wind shifts substantially during the next few hours, it could blow fallout over Las Vegas, but the best meteorological projections indicate that that is a very, very slight possibility.

David Palmer: Long-term effects?

Lynne Kresge: An area of a few square miles around ground zero would be highly radioactive for decades, but the truth for that matter is we don't get food or any significant resources from the desert anyway. So the overall health risk is relatively small.

David Palmer: Sounds like the desert's our best option.

Lynne Kresge: Yes, sir, we do agree with that. But there is one more thing. In the desert, ground zero has to be a precise location. A depression, below sea level and surrounded by mountains, so it could hopefully contain the fallout. Potential target sites are being researched as we speak.

David Palmer: All right.

Mike Novick: The point is, Mr. President, the airplane isn't a military craft. It doesn't have any of the equipment needed to deliver a payload accurately. To ensure the necessary level of precision, a pilot will have to go down with the plane. It's a suicide mission.

David Palmer: Why can't we just push the bomb out the side door plane?

Lynne Kresge: It's too imprecise, sir. If the pilot is flying low enough to ensure accuracy, he would just be killed by the blast anyway.

Mike Novick: One man dies, Mr. President, to ensure the safety of millions.

[Palmer calls Jack with the news.]

David Palmer: Jack?

Jack Bauer: Mr. President?

David Palmer: The desert.

Jack Bauer: Yes, sir.

David Palmer: Jack, my people tell me that the pilot has to die.

Jack Bauer: CTU came to the same conclusion, sir. The bomb has to be put down on very specific coordinates. I'm sorry, Mr. President, but there isn't another way.

David Palmer: Do we know who the pilot will be?

Jack Bauer: We have a few volunteers, sir. All of them good men.

David Palmer: Whoever it is, tell him he has the undying gratitude of every citizen of this country. And tell him we will take care of whatever family he leaves behind.

Jack Bauer: Yes, sir. I will.

David Palmer: I'll be standing by, Jack. Call me back when the plane's in the air.

Jack Bauer: Yes, Mr. President.

[Mason, who overheard the conversation with the President, approaches Jack. He knows that there are no volunteers for the mission because Jack wants to do it alone.]

George Mason: Funny, I don't see any volunteers. When was the last time you flew a plane?

Jack Bauer: I can get it in the air and put it down where it needs to go, George.

George Mason: So can I. I'm current, I'm instrument-rated, and I'm gonna be dead by the end of the day anyway.

Jack Bauer: George, the problem is, you could be dead any minute.

George Mason: I can hang on for another half-hour. That’s all we need, right?

Jack Bauer: George, if you blacked out and the plane went down before it got to the desert, a lot of people will die, and I know you don’t want that.

George Mason: Come on, Jack.

Jack Bauer: I know what you're trying to do. But I gotta say no. Agent Goodrich, this is Bauer. They chose the desert. I want you to clear air space and start immediate evacuation now. Gentlemen! Load this bomb. We are a go!

------------------------

[Two CTU agents bring a suitcase full of Syed Ali’s personal effects from the safe house to Tony. Among the items was a hard drive that has been encrypted. The agents also have with them Yusuf Auda, a visiting intelligence liaison from the Arab country suspected of harboring the Second Wave terrorists.]

Woman: It's not rated as a priority.

Tony Almeida: Yeah, well, I don't care what Division’s priority is. Just do it, all right?

Woman: Yes, sir.

Tony Almeida: Thank you.

Agent Graves: All right, Mr. Auda. Wait here a second. We'll be right with you.

Tony Almeida: Agent Graves. Tony Almeida. We've been expecting you.

Agent Graves: They told you what's in the case?

Tony Almeida: Personal affairs from Ali's safe house?

[Tony sees Yusuf Auda.]

Tony Almeida: Who's he?

Agent Graves: His name is Yusuf Auda. His government has assigned him as an intelligence liaison. They’re the ones that gave us information that got us into the safe house. We couldn't very well refuse to bring him along.

Tony Almeida: Do you trust him?

Agent Graves: Right now? I don't trust anyone.

Tony Almeida: Yeah. Look, uh… take the case and bring it into that conference room around the corner here.

Agent Graves: OK.

Tony Almeida: Thank you.

[Tony approaches Yusuf Auda and welcomes him.]

Tony Almeida: Mr. Auda. Tony Almeida, Director of CTU. Welcome.

Yusuf Auda: Thank you.

Tony Almeida: You must have had some trip. What were you, 10,000 miles away this morning?

Yusuf Auda: I'm ready to get back to work. I understand there’s still some analysis needs to be done on things seized from Syed Ali's apartment.

Tony Almeida: Yeah. Our lab needs to do some preliminary work first. Why don’t you sit down here? I'll have somebody get you some coffee. I'll be with you in a moment, OK? Thank you.

[Tony goes over to Michelle at her workstation.]

Michelle Dessler: I checked with the lab. They’re ready for decryption.

Tony Almeida: Good. Look, uh… I might need somebody to do a little handholding here. That gentleman's name over there is Yusuf Auda. Officially, he's a visiting intelligence agent entitled to full cooperation. Unofficially, I don't want him to see anything he doesn't need to see. So make sure anybody you assign to this understands that.

Michelle Dessler: Sure.

Tony Almeida: OK.

[Tony leaves and Michelle turns to Carrie.]

Michelle Dessler: I'm gonna deal with this Mr. Auda myself. If you need any help, call Jacobs. He’ll give you a hand.

Carrie Turner: Tony told you to assign someone to Auda.

Michelle Dessler: Well, I'm assigning myself.

Carrie Turner: You're still not comfortable working with me, are you?

Michelle Dessler: Just do your job, Carrie.

[Tony goes into the conference room.]

Tony Almeida: So, what have we got?

Agent Graves: Most of it's pretty innocuous, but there is one thing. This was well-concealed. We almost didn’t find it. Obviously it was of great importance to Syed Ali. We tried to read it, but it's encrypted with a Z-Q function. We don't have that kind of technology in the field.

Tony Almeida: OK. I'll get our people on it right away, see what they can find.

Agent Graves: OK.

Tony Almeida: Thanks.

Agent Graves: Sure.

[As the NEST techs load the nuclear bomb onto a Cessna, Jack calls Tony.]

Tony Almeida: Almeida.

Jack Bauer: Tony, it’s Jack. Have you found Kim yet?

Tony Almeida: No, we haven’t. We're still working on it.

Jack Bauer: I'm running out of time. I need to speak to her now.

Tony Almeida: Look, I understand how you feel, Jack, but we really got our hands full here. If you could wait until the plane takes off…

Jack Bauer: Tony, I'm flying it.

Tony Almeida: What?!

Jack Bauer: I'd like to speak with my daughter while I still got some time.

Tony Almeida: Jack, there's gotta be somebody else who can fly that plane. Somebody who doesn't have a family or at least doesn’t have kids, come on.

Jack Bauer: I didn't have time to take a census, and I can't order anyone to do this. Please, Tony, you've gotta find her.

Tony Almeida: All right, I'll find her.

Jack Bauer: Tony, one other thing.

Tony Almeida: Yeah?

Jack Bauer: In my apartment there's a safe. Inside is my will and a letter I wrote to Kim in case something ever happened to me.

Tony Almeida: I'll make sure she gets it, Jack.

Jack Bauer: Thanks.

Tony Almeida: I'll get back to you.

------------------------

[Kim is still hitchhiking along the road when another car pulls up. This time the driver is a woman named Anna.]

Anna: Are you all right, honey?

Kim Bauer: I could use a lift.

Anna: What are you doing way out here?

Kim Bauer: I was on a date and we parked. He got a little out of hand, so I got out.

Anna: Hop in.

Kim Bauer: Thank you. I really appreciate this.

Anna: Where would you like to go?

Kim Bauer: Um, I have an aunt in San Jose.

Anna: You were on a date, it didn't work out, so you're going to your aunt's in San Jose. Honey, your business is your business, but I'm not an idiot, OK?

Kim Bauer: I know. It's just been crazy, and it's a long story, and I'm kind of in a little bit of trouble. If you have a cell phone, I actually really need to make a call.

Anna: To whom?

Kim Bauer: My father.

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Agent: We synchronized this with the timer on the bomb. It tells you exactly how much time you have.

Jack Bauer: Thank you.

Agent: Good luck, sir.

Kate Warner: So the plane has some automatic pilot thing or something?

Tom Baker: Actually, no. It'll have to be flown out to a very precise location.

Kate Warner: So the pilot… Oh, my God. Who's it gonna be?

Tom Baker: Jack Bauer.

Kate Warner: Jack!

[Jack turns to Kate, but there are no words for what is happening.]

Tom Baker: I'm sorry, Miss Warner, but you're gonna have to stay here.

[Jack closes the cockpit door, and she watches as he starts the plane down the runway for takeoff.]

Jack Bauer: Cessna 47 Fox requesting immediate takeoff.

Man: 47 Fox, you're clear on runway three.

Jack Bauer: Roger that, tower. Thank you.

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Lynne Kresge: Sir, here's your preliminary draft for your statement tomorrow morning.

[Mike’s on the phone.]

Mike Novick: Yes. Right. Thank you.

David Palmer: How's the plane doing, Mike?

Mike Novick: Mr. President, it's at 3,000 feet and climbing.

David Palmer: Out of the city yet?

Mike Novick: No, sir. It's too soon for that, but they said they’d clear the main population centers in another ten minutes.

David Palmer: This is a good start, but I wanna go over it again. In the meantime, call Davis. I want him to get Air Force One ready as soon as possible.

Lynne Kresge: Sir? Do you mind if I ask where you're going?

David Palmer: Los Angeles.

Mike Novick: Mr. President, if I may speak frankly, I'm not sure that's a good idea. It may be a little too “hands-on”, for lack of a better term. The people wanna feel that you're managing events, not caught up in them. And, in any case, I doubt if the Secret Service will even hear of it.

David Palmer: Secret Service works for me. I don't work for them.

Lynne Kresge: Mr. President. Sir, I do agree with Mike. Once word gets out that this bomb has gone off, there's bound to be a certain amount of civil unrest, and I don't think your administration should be associated with that.

David Palmer: The whole country will be traumatized by the news of this bomb, especially the people in Los Angeles. I'm gonna do everything I can to reassure them that everything is under control. Understood?

Lynne Kresge: Yes, sir. I'll call Davis immediately.

David Palmer: Thank you. We'll leave for the airport now. Mike, who ended up flying the plane? Did you get a name?

Mike Novick: Yes, sir. Jack Bauer. I'd have told you sooner, but I figured you had enough on your mind already.

------------------------

[Jack is flying the plane.]

Man: Cessna 47 Fox, climb to 10,000 feet, 0-8-niner.

Jack Bauer: Roger. 0-8-niner. 10,000 feet.

Man: Expect final vectors in five minutes.

Jack Bauer: I copy.

Man: Agent Bauer, I've got Tony Almeida. I'm patching him through. Hold on one second.

Tony Almeida: Jack, can you hear me?

Jack Bauer: Yeah, I can hear you, Tony.

Tony Almeida: We found Kim. She's on the other line.

Jack Bauer: Thank you, Tony. Good work. Have you told her anything?

Tony Almeida: No. I didn't know if you'd want me to.

Jack Bauer: OK. Put her through, will you?

Tony Almeida: All right.

Jack Bauer: Kim?

Kim Bauer: Dad! Finally. Oh, my God, are you OK?

Jack Bauer: I'm OK, sweetheart. Are you all right?

Kim Bauer: Yes, I'm fine.

Jack Bauer: Thank God. You've had a hell of a day, haven't you?

Kim Bauer: Yeah. What's that noise? Where are you?

Jack Bauer: I'm in a plane.

Kim Bauer: A plane? Why?

Jack Bauer: Sweetheart, there's something I've gotta tell you. It's gonna be hard for you to hear, so I need you to stick with me, OK? We found the bomb. It was wired in a way that made it impossible to diffuse it. We needed someone to fly it over the desert, so when the bomb exploded nobody would get killed. That someone turned out to be me.

Kim Bauer: How are you getting off the plane?

Jack Bauer: I'm not, sweetheart. The bomb has to be dropped in a very specific area. There was no other choice. I'm sorry.

[Kim becomes upset and starts to cry.]

Kim Bauer: But… Dad? Dad, no! No, you can't do this to me!

Jack Bauer: Kim.

Kim Bauer: There has to be somebody else!

Jack Bauer: Kim, I’m sorry.

Kim Bauer: You can do this to me, daddy, no!

Jack Bauer: Sweetheart, I didn't have any other choice. Kim, I need you to listen to me.

Kim Bauer: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Jack Bauer: Sweetheart, what are you sorry for?

Kim Bauer: Oh, God, everything. I've been so mean and so bad to you.

Jack Bauer: Honey, anything that ever happened between us… it was never your fault. I love you just the way you are. I don't ever want you to change, you understand that? I love you more than anything in the world. Kim, can you still hear me?

Kim Bauer: I… Yes.

Jack Bauer: Honey, I want you to live your life. I want you to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you. I want you to try and grow up and be the kind of person that would have made your mom proud, OK?

Kim Bauer: Oh, God.

Jack Bauer: Promise me that.

Kim Bauer: I promise.

Jack Bauer: Honey, I've gotta start focusing on what I'm doing up here. I'm running out of time, OK? So… I'm gonna have to say goodbye. I love you more than anything in the world and I will always be with you, OK? Remember that.

Kim Bauer: I'm proud of you… and I love you.

Jack Bauer: I love you too, sweetheart.

Kim Bauer: No…

Jack Bauer: Goodbye.

------------------------

[Anna pulls over the car and tries to comfort Kim.]

Anna: I'm sorry, honey. What do you wanna do?

Kim Bauer: I gotta get out of here.

Anna: What do you mean? Why?

Kim Bauer: I was supposed to get out of Los Angeles, but it doesn't matter any more. I want to be alone.

Anna: No, wait a minute. Wait a minute. This is crazy. Wait. Just wait. Call someone else.

Kim Bauer: I can't. I'm OK. I need to be alone.

[Kim gets out of the car and runs off into the night.]

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[Michelle brings Tony a transcript of a recording pulled from Syed Ali’s decrypted hard drive.]

Michelle Dessler: Are you OK?

Tony Almeida: We found Kim.

Michelle Dessler: Did Jack get a chance to say goodbye?

Tony Almeida: Yeah. So what'd you find?

Michelle Dessler: We decrypted the hard drive from Syed Ali's apartment. It's a recording of conversation that took place in Cyprus about four months ago.

Tony Almeida: Conversation between whom?

Michelle Dessler: Syed Ali and high-ranking government officials from these three countries.

Tony Almeida: So what we’re saying is that these three countries not only knew about the bomb, but they bought it and supplied it to Syed Ali?

Michelle Dessler: Yeah. That's what it looks like.

Tony Almeida: How sure are we about this translation?

Michelle Dessler: We were rushed, it needs to be refined, but the substance of it is accurate.

Tony Almeida: All right, look, we're gonna need voiceprint authentication on all four of these men as soon as possible.

Michelle Dessler: I've already got people working on it.

Tony Almeida: Get Division involved as well.

[Tony calls to notify the President, who is already aboard Air Force One.]

Woman: Northwest Regional.

Tony Almeida: This is Tony Almeida at CTU. I need to speak to the President about today's terrorist attack. It’s urgent.

Woman: I'll transfer you.

[From his office, Tony sees Michelle and Carrie arguing downstairs.]

David Palmer: What is it, Mr. Almeida?

Tony Almeida: Mr. President, we have a recording of Syed Ali collaborating with high-ranking officials from three Middle Eastern countries in preparation for today's terrorist attack.

David Palmer: How long ago did this come to our attention?

Tony Almeida: Just within the last few minutes.

David Palmer: Who else knows?

Tony Almeida: Our Division Headquarters, sir.

David Palmer: They have ties to the other agencies including the Pentagon, which means everybody knows.

Tony Almeida: I tagged it with a section-four security, sir. But I did think it was important to get going on the authentication process as quickly as possible.

David Palmer: And how long will that be?

Tony Almeida: We should have initial confirmation within the hour, sir.

David Palmer: Let me ask you another question, Mr. Almeida. Why would Syed Ali record a conversation like this in the first place?

Tony Almeida: Mr. President, half the time these people don't trust each other any more than they trust us. My guess is Ali wanted some ammunition to protect himself, in case any of these three countries ever turned against him.

David Palmer: All right. Thank you, Mr. Almeida. I'll let you get back to work. Good job. Please pass on my appreciation to the rest of your staff.

Tony Almeida: Thank you, Mr. President.

David Palmer: Thank you. There’s evidence three governments in the Middle East are behind this bomb.

Mike Novick: Yes, sir. I gathered that.

David Palmer: We could be at war soon, Mike. And once it begins… there's no guarantee it'll be limited to these three countries. I've been thinking all day about something Lincoln said during the Civil War. “I don't claim to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.” It's bad enough that someone tried to smuggle a nuclear weapon into this country. Worse that they succeeded. Once this bomb actually goes off, my options will narrow very, very quickly.

------------------------

Jack Bauer: This is Cessna 47 Fox. I have just crossed over to the low desert. I'm on final line to target. Any change in my coordinates?

Man: Negative. They're confirmed as given.

Jack Bauer: Copy that. Confirming autopilot 0-8-niner. Coordinates are now locked.

Man: Roger. Over.

[As Jack is flying, he senses movement behind him. He instinctively draws his gun.]

Jack Bauer: Don't move!

George Mason: Hey, hey, hey. The service is bad enough on this flight. You don't have to shoot me.

Jack Bauer: George, what the hell are you doing here?

George Mason: I felt like taking a ride.

Jack Bauer: How the hell did you get on this plane?

George Mason: It wasn't that hard. To them, I'm still head of CTU.

Jack Bauer: Son of a bitch.

George Mason: I brought something for you. It's a parachute.

Jack Bauer: I can see what is it, George. I already told you, I'm taking this plane in.

George Mason: And that might have made sense back on the ground, but let's face it, Jack, the hard part's over. You took off, cleared the city. What's left but flying straight and level and taking it into a dive? Am I right? Unless of course maybe you wanna die.

Jack Bauer: What are you talking about?

George Mason: Come on, Jack. You've had a death wish ever since Teri died. The way things have been going for you the past year and a half, this probably doesn't look like such a bad idea. You get to go out in a blaze of glory, one of the greatest heroes of all time. Leave your troubles behind. This could be the easy way out, huh? You still got a life, Jack. You wanna be a real hero? Here's what you do. You get back down there and you put the pieces together. Find a way to forgive yourself for what happened to your wife, you make things right with your daughter, and you go on serving your country. That’d take some real guts. Go on, Jack. You got 12 minutes. What's it gonna be? You wanna live or not?

[Jack considers this seriously.]

Jack Bauer: You really think you can do this?

George Mason: Yes.

Jack Bauer: You are absolutely sure you can do this?

George Mason: Jack, I'm supposed to do this.

Jack Bauer: You need to maintain this heading and this airspeed. The second the LAD reads a minute and a half, you initiate a dive at a 30-degree angle.

George Mason: Won't that get me in a little early?

Jack Bauer: That's the point. You have to be absolutely certain that the bomb is already in the depression before it goes off.

George Mason: I got it.

Jack Bauer: Thank you, George. Thank you.

------------------------

[Jack gets ready to make his escape.]

George Mason: Come on, Jack. Get your chute on and get the hell out of here.

Jack Bauer: I'm staying with you as long as possible.

George Mason: I got it together, Jack. I'm fine.

Jack Bauer: George, this is non-negotiable. I'm bailing out four minutes before impact. That should get me far enough away from the blast zone to make it.

[Jack asks the tower to patch him through to CTU.]

Jack Bauer: This is Jack Bauer. Patch me through to CTU.

Man: Yes, sir. Right away.

Tony Almeida: Almeida.

Jack Bauer: Tony, this is Jack. I need you to get a helicopter in the air immediately. We got a change of plans up here. I'm bailing out. George is taking the plane down.

Tony Almeida: What the hell is George doing there?

Michelle Dessler: We need authentication from at least three independent sources for each voice. Now, Division has public speeches from the foreign minister. See if you can get his voice on any phone taps, OK?

Tony Almeida: Michelle. I want you to send a chopper to trail Jack's plane. Mason got on board. Don't ask me how, but He's gonna take the plane the rest of the way. Jack’s gona bail out. We need that chopper to pick him up, all right?

Michelle Dessler: How…?

Tony Almeida: I'll explain later.

[Yusuf notices the commotion at CTU and inquires about what evidence has been found.]

Yusuf Auda: Mr. Almeida, may I know what you found on the hard drive?

Tony Almeida: I’m afraid you don't have the necessary security clearance for that, Mr. Auda.

Yusuf Auda: Mr. Almeida, I and my country have shown good faith in helping you to find Syed Ali's safe house in the first place. I'm just asking you to do the same by giving me some idea of what's going on.

Tony Almeida: I'm sorry, but I can't tell you at this time.

Yusuf Auda: You Americans.

Tony Almeida: We Americans what?

Yusuf Auda: Nothing.

------------------------

David Palmer: Come.

Lynne Kresge: Sir, General Bowden's here to see you.

David Palmer: Of course. Show him in.

General Bowden: Mr. President.

David Palmer: General Bowden.

General Bowden: I understand the bomb is over the Mojave now. It may actually detonate without causing any immediate loss of life.

David Palmer: That is our hope.

General Bowden: That's wonderful news, Mr. President. Congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement.

David Palmer: Thank you, General.

General Bowden: And now perhaps it's appropriate to begin discussing the matter of retaliation.

David Palmer: Go on.

General Bowden: Yes, sir. Up to now, the Joint Chiefs have been assuming the bomb was the work of a terrorist group called “Second Wave”. Now it appears “Second Wave” had the backing of at least three governments.

David Palmer: That's not definite yet, General.

General Bowden: No, sir. I understand that. But for planning purposes, I think we should proceed as if it is. I request authority to activate plans to invade the countries in question.

David Palmer: Activate? You mean there are plans already in existence?

General Bowden: We have plans for every conceivable contingency, Mr. President.

David Palmer: I see. So what exactly do you mean by activate?

General Bowden: Putting the relevant military units on alert, beginning logistical operations, coordinating intelligence sources regarding the probable level of resistance to an invasion by American forces.

David Palmer: Talk of an invasion is premature.

General Bowden: I agree, Mr. President. This is in the planning stages only.

David Palmer: Activate your plan, General. But take no steps to implement without my direct authorization.

General Bowden: Of course, Mr. President.

David Palmer: Lynne. We may be talking about World War III.

------------------------

[Jack loads his parachute to prepare to jump.]

Jack Bauer: OK. I'm set. George, is there anything you want me to take care of?

George Mason: Oddly enough, I think I got everything pretty much squared away. I even got to spend a little time with my son.

Jack Bauer: I didn't even know you had one. I'm glad you got to see him.

George Mason: Yeah. Me, too. I don't think he was particularly, but… You know, actually, I wouldn't mind if you checked in on him.

Jack Bauer: Of course I will.

[Jack places his hand on Mason’s shoulder, and Mason takes Jack’s hand in return.]

George Mason: It's time.

Jack Bauer: Yeah.

George Mason: Yeah.

[Jack leaps from the plane to safety.]

------------------------

Mike Novick: Mr. President. At this altitude, the explosion should be visible on the eastern horizon. I don't know if you wanna take a look.

[Palmer grimly goes to the window facing east.]

------------------------

[While Mason pilots the Cessna determinedly toward Ground Zero, Jack drifts down to the ground and releases his parachute. He shelters behind a rock.]

Jack Bauer: Four, three, two…

[The explosion roars in the distance. Meanwhile, Kim looks up into the sky to see a faint glow in the northeast. Palmer can also see the light of the bomb from his plane.]

[A mushroom cloud grows over the desert.]