Episode Report Card M. Giant: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Thrilling Bureaucratic Intrigue!
By M. Giant | Season 5 | Episode 16 | Aired on 04.02.2006
Audrey marches out of the Sit Room at 10:21:25, just as her cell phone's ringing. It's Kiefer, calling Audrey so we can hear for the third time the episode's setup: Wayne Palmer, Evelyn, damning evidence, kidnapped daughter, Henderson, blah blah blah. Kiefer tells her what he needs: a surveillance satellite over the coordinates of the meeting place. He doesn't have those coordinates yet, but Audrey points out a bigger problem: CTU is being rolled up by Hayes and Homeland Security, and everyone's being replaced. Kiefer says that doesn't make sense, like Audrey doesn't already know that and like it isn't my line. All she can tell him is that Hayes is taking her orders from Vice President Gardner. While Kiefer looks freshly worried at this news, Audrey suggests bringing Hayes in on their little operation. But Kiefer doesn't want to risk it, because it's more fun going all lone wolf, and in any case Henderson is protecting someone powerful. "And now all of a sudden Vice President Gardner is shutting down CTU when we're actually in a position to bring Henderson in?" Kiefer snits. Wow, he's cynical when he gets blown up. He tells Audrey to have Chloe get ready to reposition the satellite. Audrey whines that Chloe and her entire department have been fired. He snaps, "Audrey, I need the satellite. Just figure out a way to get Chloe back on." Audrey says she'll call him back and hangs up, looking nervous. Then she happens to glance up at the boss's office, where she sees Slime conferring with Hayes. She comes to a decision and heads off in that direction, but not before throwing up a little in her mouth.
Up in the office, Hayes and Slime are arguing about their next move when Audrey comes in to announce that she's reconsidered. Hayes is suspicious about the sudden change of heart, so Audrey explains that she wants to shield DoD and her dad, the Secretary of Defense, from any controversy. Smirking, Slime brings her the document and hands her a pen. Perusing the statement, she says she wants one thing in return: Chloe kept on and assigned to Audrey. She says she needs Chloe's help to compile her report for DoD. "There are people who can do that job," Slime points out, and Audrey shirtily says, "I have a working relationship with Chloe," like that makes Audrey special. Okay, well, actually I guess it does a little. Hayes reluctantly agrees to the deal, and Audrey signs the document with a flourish. And she was doing so well there for a minute. But then I guess agreeing to sign documents they claim to repudiate runs in her family.