Episode Report Card Gustave: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Mike Novick is back. Hide your heart.
By Gustave | Season 2 | Episode 7 | Aired on 12.09.2002
Meanwhile, inside Palmer's office, Rolaide breaks the news to him that people are looking for that nosy reporter Palmer had locked up earlier this morning. His production crew hasn't seen him for hours, and someone is going to figure out that the last place he was seen was in Palmer's office. "Then leak a story," says PMHC, entering Palmer office mid-conversation. Palmer stands up to greet his chief of staff. They embrace warmly, but PMHC keeps calling him "Mr. President." Is that a measure of respect? Or evidence that he's in cahoots with Lady Mac, with whom he's on a first-name basis? ["I believe everyone save the president's family is required to address him as 'Mr. President.'" -- Sars] They sit down, and PMHC goes over his plan to legally get away with the kidnapping of NosyReporter. They decide to leak a story that had the reporter going up to Portland to attend to some personal business. "It's a Band-Aid but it will get us through the day," says PMHC. Rolaide exits to go "leak the story." PMHC warns Palmer about letting Lady Mac hang out in his office. Palmer says that it was "her decision to come here." Um, but it was Palmer's decision not to have Secret Service throw her out on her ass.
Back at CTU -- where there is absolutely no trace of damage left from the bombing earlier this morning -- Bitchelle comes up to Mason and tells him that Kiefer drugged Agent Miller, and then he and Nina got on the plane without him. Mason is freaked out, but realizes that there's nothing they can do except hope that Kiefer's desire for revenge doesn't "cloud his judgment." "'Cloud his judgment'?" says Bitchelle. "You mean, like, drugging one of our agents?" "The guy's a little crazy," shrugs Mason. "But he gets results." Mason gets to the Ye Olde Kiefer Kube and doubles over in pain. I guess this pain has something to do with his left nipple, because he unbuttons his shirt and checks it out. According to the Fox recaps, he has a radiation rash on his left nipple, but I can't see anything. Maybe it's my TV.
Back at NSA, Palmer is telling PMHC about Lady Mac's conspiracy theory. PMHC points out that Lady Mac could have her own agenda and might not be telling the truth herself. Palmer admits that it's possible, but if she is telling the truth and there is conspiracy against him, it's going to affect every aspect of dealing with the B-O-M-B. And after all, she was right about the military evacuation. Plus, adds Palmer, if they keep her around, they can also find out who her sources are. PMHC promises to do an informal investigation of his own into the "cabal." "Start with Yulin," says Palmer. "The head of NSA?" says PMHC. Apparently Raygun and Yulin were buddies, and Yulin could be carrying out the agenda that Raygun failed to complete earlier.
Erotic Airlines Flight 69 zooms across the screen like a scene out of Top Gun. Ride into the danger zone… Oh, Kenny Loggins, all your talk of "spreadin' wings" and "revvin' engines" just gets me hot. Inside the plane to Visalia, Kiefer asks Nina how far Mamud Faheen is from the airport. Nina tells Kiefer that she's going to tell him Faheen's location when they land, and asks him for some water like he's a stewardess. Actually, that's kind of weird that she'd ask Kiefer for water, considering what happened to the last guy who took water from Kiefer. I mean, isn't that like asking Typhoid Mary for a can of soup or Susan Smith for a ride to the lake? Then again, Agent Miller looked like he was having a good time before he hit the ground, so maybe Nina just wants to party. Kiefer does a [grab…slam] on her to get her to talk. PoorMan'sSeanAstin warns Kiefer that they need Nina to kooperate. Uh, way to undermine Kiefer's authority in front of the enemy, PMSA. Kiefer backs off, but asks PoorMan'sSeanAstin to get her changed. "I need her to look like a civilian," says Kiefer. A civilian, as opposed to a salesgirl at Barneys. PMSA uncuffs her and takes her into the bathroom. "No," kommands Kiefer. He tells them not to let her leave his sight. Nina disrobes in front of him right there on the plane. Oh, they are having way too much fun with this. As soon as her shirt comes off, a huge red gash is revealed on her lower back. I guess Nina's girlfriend in prison doesn't trim her nails. The time is 02:12:44 PM.