Episode Report Card M. Giant: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Gassing The Gap
By M. Giant | Season 5 | Episode 8 | Aired on 02.12.2006
In the back of the van, Kiefer tries to get the bad guys talking by asking where they're going. Henchman #1 says they're planning to make sure the remote trigger works on the canisters. And he throws aside an oilcloth next to his seat to reveal that a large metal canister with a biohazard symbol is riding on the floor between the two front seats. "My God, you've got one of the canisters with you," Kiefer narrates for the folks at CTU, who react with appropriate surprise and shock. "Erwich wants a field test," Henchman #1 explains. Kiefer balks at the idea of being anywhere near such a test. "We have masks," Henchman #1 says breezily, although he doesn't say how many. The gun in his hand is pointed at Kiefer in any case. Kiefer "fearfully" asks what the target is, but the only answer is Henchman #1 covering the canister again. Now that no one's looking at him, Kiefer's free to make an "Oh, phooey" face.
In his pursuit vehicle, Curtis offers to set up an intercept, but McGill kiboshes that until they're sure there's actually a canister on board. Based on the movement of the blip representing the tracking beacon on her laptop screen, Chloe's already projecting potential destinations. She quickly announces that the terrorists are headed for the Sunrise Hills Mall. By the way, I looked it up, and there is no Sunrise Hills Mall. Even, as I had mistakenly thought, in a zombie movie. Does it or does it not sound like a total zombie-movie mall? Just me? Okay, never mind. Audrey widens her eyes at Buchanan, and McGill just looks bummed. Kiefer stays in character by biting his nails. Chloe's already sending schematics of the mall and surrounding area to Curtis and his teams. It's 2:22:37 as the blue van pulls into the mall lot, its driver unaware that CTU vehicles are converging on the shopping center at the same time. Converging like shiny, four-wheel drive zombies, in fact. I'm sorry, I'm going to try to let this go. Curtis parks at a distance and watches through his binoculars as Henchman #1 climbs out of the blue van and slides open the side door for Kiefer.
Who's asking, "How are you going to get the canister inside?" Henchman #1 says they'll bring it in the front door, disguised as a maintenance crew. I mean the guys will be disguised as a maintenance crew, not the canister. Which is too bad, because that would be funny. Kiefer balks again, saying he's not going in. Listening in, Audrey wonders why Kiefer is stalling. Kiefer explains to both her and the terrorists that the mall is full of video cameras. Henchman #1 ain't scared of no video cameras, but Kiefer refuses to "get my face all over the news." Waving the gun around some more, Henchman #1 threatens, "Erwich prefers to keep you alive, but only if you cooperate. Now hand me the jackets." Jackets? Audrey says in Kiefer's earpiece that they'll have time to move the tactical teams into position before the bad guys will be able to enter the mall, so Kiefer can let this play out. "Fine, let's get this over with," Kiefer snaps, and grabs three white jackets off the hanger next to him. The three men start shrugging into them.
At CTU, everything's being put in place for the operation to take the bad guys down, until McGill calmly orders, "Hold off on that." Audrey wonders what's up with him, and McGill just grimly says, "If we move in now, Erwich will know that we're onto him and we won't be led to the other canisters." Audrey looks to Buchanan before asking McGill if he's really going to sacrifice all the people at the mall. McGill says he's "accepting the damage that one canister can do versus what the other nineteen can do." Nobody can ever just say "Yes" on this show, can they? Audrey again turns to Buchanan to step in, which just causes McGill to snap, "Bill's not in charge here! I am!" Keep saying that, Rudy, and perhaps one day it will be true. Buchanan says they need to call the President. Oh, terrific, that'll be one of history's Great Moments in Decisiveness.