Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tony is evil, and the fake lawyer is a slut...

This week's episode of 24 was interesting...

We pick up after last week in the fiery aftermath of the apartment building Galvez blew up at Tony's behest. Macer gives Jack some drugs to take the edge off the bug-eyed "my best friend is an evil murderer" seizure he was gripped by at the end of last week's installment. Jack is still mumbling incoherently, but manages to tell Renee that Tony was Galvez's accomplice, and gets her to issue an APB. Speak of the devil, cut to Tony approaching two agents guarding the perimeter of the area. Just as Walker's comm transmission about the evil cat being out of the bag pipes over their comm units, they spot Tony. Tony wastes no time gunning them both down and swiping their SUV, en route to rendezvous with Galvez and collect his precious canister.

Macer gives Jack another med pack, and cautions Walker to "make sure he doesn't lose this one." Heh. Now that Jack has regained control of his faculties, he explains to Walker that Tony murdered Larry and has been playing all of them all day long like cheap violins from a Brooklyn pawn shop. He apologizes for the terrible mistake he made in convincing the FBI that Tony could be trusted. Just then, an FBI peon radios in and tells Walker that he's just discovered the bodies of two agents who were guarding the perimeter. Tony's handiwork. The hunt is on.

Cut back to Tony, pulling up to a motel a short four-minute drive away from the FBI's perimeter in his stolen ride. He approaches one of the doors and knocks. Galvez answers. Tony enters the room and wants to see the canister. Galvez wants to see his money. Tony gives him a PDA, and tells him to check his account. Galvez, satisfied, tosses Tony the black manbag. Tony opens it and finds a phone book inside. Oh shit. Wrong move, Galvez. Double-crossing Almeida? So, so dumb. Anyway, Galvez pulls a gun on Tony, demanding the name of his buyer. Greedy mofo. Tony warns him once, calmly, that he really doesn't wanna go through with this, but we can practically see the dollar signs in Galvez's eyes as he salivates over the idea of getting paid for the canister twice. Tony sighs, and knocks the gun out of Galvez's hand with one well-timed Krav Maga chop, and they struggle, ending up in the bathroom. Despite the fact that he just shot himself less than two hours ago, Tony easily overpowers Galvez, who is a rank amateur compared to Tony, and kicks him in the face while he's down. This is the third time this season where I've been delighted watching Almeida give someone a boot to the face. Tony then quickly rips the shower curtain off its rack and proceeds to stick it over Galvez's face a la Jack and Graem in Season 6. When a gunshot just won't do, asphyxiation seems to be Tony's preferred method of execution. At least he's consistent.

Meanwhile, over at the White House, Tim Woods is briefing the President on Hodges' suicide attempt, explaining that the soldiers transporting him got him to the hospital before the pill was completely dissolved in his stomach. He also fills her in on how Hodges' lawyer was actually Fake Lawyer, and that she supplied him with the suicide capsule. Just then, Jack and Walker call in, and they explain that they did not recover the canister because Almeida helped Galvez escape. Sic! Jack apologizes to Taylor for trusting Tony, and says they are pretty well out of leads. Taylor mentions that Hodges alluded to a larger conspiracy during his arrest, and that it could be a lead in finding the canister. Jack deduces that Fake Lawyer must have threatened Hodges' family if he was willing to commit suicide, so suggests that they offer Hodges a deal — "proof of death" and witness protection in exchange for any information he has on the canister.

Back at the No Tell Motel, Fake Lawyer arrives on the scene, and is mildly perturbed to discover a dead and bloody Galvez slumped on the bathroom floor, but Tony is in no mood for a lecture, so Fake Lawyer gets down to business: the bosses are expecting delivery of the canister imminently. Tony, however, has other ideas. He tells Fake Lawyer that he's not about to hand over the canister that he "sweated blood for" just so her employers can sit on it for the next six months. He's pushing for Fake Lawyer to call her bosses and convince then to move up their timetable and launch an attack now, while the government is vulnerable. Fake Lawyer caresses Tony's 3:11 AM shadow tenderly and explains that while she agrees with him, it is not their decision to make. Tony makes a point of reminding both Fake Lawyer and the audience that he is completely in the dark as to who she is working for, but posits that if they are serious about their agenda, they'll realize he's right. Fake Lawyer, hypnotized by Almeida's piercing black stare, agrees to make the calls. Tony, satisfied, begins to strip, on his way to grab a shower while a very dead Galvez watches. Good thing the No Tell Motel doubles up their shower curtains, eh Almeida?

Moving back to the White House for a moment, Pierce escorts Olivia to an important briefing with her mother. Olivia questions the President about the canister, and the President explains that she has no choice but to make a deal with Hodges. She asks Olivia to draft up the paperwork. Olivia is outraged, reminding her mother that Hodges ordered Roger's murder. Things get emotional, but ultimately Taylor reminds Olivia that as the President's Chief of Staff, she needs to act like a professional and follow orders.

Cut back to No Tell Motel. Fake Lawyer is in the middle of a teleconference with The Group. She is explaining the plan: an attack during the morning rush hour with the canister Tony "recovered" from Starkwood. They will set up a Middle Eastern civilian man, Al-Zarian, to carry out the attack and make it look like a suicide bomber-type scenario, with staged emails and other digital evidence to help sell the cover story. Al-Zarian was last seen in Season 4 when Jack Bauer helped him and his brother defend their sporting goods store against looters during the EMP blackout. Only back then his name was something else. And his brother was way older. But anyway...

At this point, The Group, who are all identified only by numbers and are using digital voice disguisers, begin to debate the faults and merits of Fake Lawyer's plan. They question Tony Almeida's motives and capabilities. Fake Lawyer sends Wilson a private message: he has thus far has remained silent. He responds that he's not sure which side he's on, as the plan is risky. Fake Lawyer pleads with him to do it "for her," and defends Tony, saying that he came through for them. At last, Wilson chimes in. He echoes all the sentiments Tony expressed earlier when convincing Fake Lawyer to support his strategy: Hodges gave them a unique window by softening up the FBI for them first, and they shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Fake Lawyer, who is both relieved and satisfied, calls for an immediate vote. As the panel votes, Tony emerges shirtless (!) from the shower. Fake Lawyer happily shows him the results... unanimous in favor of moving forward. Tony plants a dangerslutty kiss on Fake Lawyer.

Meanwhile, Jack and Renee are prepping for the interrogation of Hodges. Janis questions Renee as to whether Jack is up to the task, given the "Tony Almeida situation." Renee disregards her concerns. The three of them observe Hodges ranting about how they killed his family by saving his life. Jack enters the room and explains that Hodges' associates don't know he survived the suicide attempt, and if Hodges cooperates by giving him their names, they never will. Hodges will get witness protection and a new identity. Hodges briefly outlines what he knows: The Group planned to launch simultaneous multiple attacks in cities nationwide and offload the blame onto Islamic extremists in an effort to create public pressure to authorize the involvement of private companies in the country's defense strategy. Jack tells Hodges he wants names. Hodges says he doesn't have any names, claiming that everything was done anonymously through the help of an intermediary — Fake Lawyer. Renee's biometric equipment confirms that Hodges is telling the truth. Jack and the President discuss their options. Jack feels they need to assume that The Group plans to follow through with the attack immediately, and that they need to recommission CTU servers to get information on potential leads. Taylor agrees.

Jack calls Chloe, who is asleep in a hotel room with Morris and her son. After a brief moment where Buchanan's death is acknowledged, Jack gets down to business: he briefs Chloe on the bioweapon, and needs her to come back to the FBI and resume technical lead on getting the CTU servers up and running, and using them to track down anyone linked to The Group's plans. Chloe agrees, and tells Jack to send a car. Chloe wakes up Morris and explains the situation. She implores him to leave the city with their son, saying she needs to make sure they are safe.

Shortly thereafter, Renee and Jack brief the rest of the FBI team on the operation, identifying Tony and Fake Lawyer as the two prime suspects. He further elaborates that they are working under the assumption that the people behind the attack will try to lay blame on established groups or individuals with terrorist ties, and they can use the CTU servers to look for traces of that manufactured evidence. Janis voices concerns that the tactics are illegal, and violate the Constitution. Renee replies they are going forward with their directive, with or without her. Meanwhile, Chloe has arrived at the FBI and Jack explains to her that Tony is working with the people behind the attack. Chloe expresses doubts that Tony is really a terrorist, but Jack is adamant the friend she knew no longer exists, and that they must both be prepared to treat Tony like an enemy combatant. Chloe agrees to support Jack, but still seems conflicted.

By this point, Tony and Fake Lawyer have arrived at the residence of the man they plan to use to execute the attack. They discuss how they can use the man's brother and his illegal immigrant status to force him to cooperate, and that his history as a loner with parents who died in the conflict in the Middle East will lend credibility to him being a terrorist sympathizer. Fake Lawyer's backup team arrives, and they head toward the townhouse.

Meanwhile, Olivia gives Pierce the details on the witness protection order for Jonas Hodges. She rants about the injustice of Hodges living out his days in comfort while her brother rots in his grave. Pierce talks of all the many injustices he has seen in his years as a Secret Service operative, and the many guilty people who got away with their crimes. We get the feeling Charles Logan is at the forefront of his mind. Pierce asks Olivia if there is anything more he can do, and she replies other than killing Hodges, no. There is a weird beat, and then Olivia quickly retracts her statement, saying she was just venting. Exunt Pierce. Olivia picks up the phone and makes a call to a man named Martin, who appears to be some kind of political consultant. She asks him to meet with her. He asks for details. She alludes to a drunk conversation they had some time ago during her mother's campaign, in which Martin talked about "handling and eliminating problems." Martin says he can be at the White House in 15 minutes.

Over at the FBI, Janis and Chloe are sniping at each other while trying to get the CTU servers back online. Janis has a problem with doing things that violate the Bill of Rights, and refers to CTU as "Big Brother," which makes Jack lose his shit big-time. Jack gets in Janis' face and starts yelling at her about how President David Palmer ordered the servers recommissioned, and it dawns on Chloe that there is something severely wrong with Jack.

Back at the Pasty's townhouse, Team Almeida cuts the power and ambushes the brothers. Almeida holds a gun to Al-Zarian's head and tells him to shut up — one more word, and he puts a bullet in his brain. Boop beep.

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