Episode Report Card M. Giant: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Small Consulation
By M. Giant | Season 6 | Episode 12 | Aired on 03.04.2007
Inside the building, the Consulate's other three security guys quickly grok that something's up, and split up to check things out. Meanwhile, Kiefer draws his weapon and enters Markov's office. The Consul was apparently just sitting back in his chair in the semi-dark, doing nothing but staring into the gloom and waiting to stand up in alarm. He does so now as Kiefer comes at him with his gun leveled, demanding to know where Gredenko is. Markov is still denying any knowledge. The fact that we already know Markov's lying sucks a lot of the suspense out of this scene. Kiefer is distracted when the lights suddenly come back on, and Markov takes advantage of the moment to hit the panic button on his desk, triggering a klaxon throughout the building. Wait until the three security guys hear that. Kiefer locks the office door as Markov bellows at him that he's breaking international law and violating the sovereignty of the consulate. Kiefer's like, been there, done that, got the pajamas. Putting the muzzle of his gun against Markov's forehead, he says he doesn't have time to ask nicely where Gredenko is. Not that asking nicely worked earlier for Logan anyway. Markov is still claiming not to know from Gredenko.
In the hallway outside the office, a blond, beefy Russian consulate cop meets up with a skinny, dark-haired one, who reports that Markov hit his panic button when the power came back on. So now it pretty much looks like they're standing around trying to decide what to do next. Someone isn't quite clear on the concept of "panic button," methinks. It's not a "vague, nameless dread button," comrades. The blond consulate cop bangs on the door and asks if the Consul is all right. He's not, of course, because Kiefer just knocked him unconscious. Kiefer yells back through the door that he's taken the Consul hostage and will kill him if they try to come in. Blondsky instructs a minion to alert Moscow. The minion scampers off without protesting, "Dudesky, it's 4:30 in the morning there." Inside Markov's office, Kiefer gets on his cell phone and tells the CTU operator, "It's Jack. Let me speak to Buchanan." Of course all the receptionists there know who "Jack" is, even the ones who just started last month.
Buchanan takes the call in the CTU Situation Room. Kiefer says, "I got a situation," when of course what he means is that he created a situation. He quickly explains the fix he's in and how he got there. Buchanan's not happy, saying that he can't exactly sanction Kiefer's actions on Russian territory. Kiefer already knows this; he just wants Buchanan to alert the White House so that they're not surprised. So considerate. Buchanan tells Kiefer to get out of there, but Kiefer refuses to leave until Markov tells him what he needs to know. He'll have to wait until Markov wakes up, naturally, which might add a minute or two. "I'll get back to you as soon as I've got something," Kiefer promises, and hangs up. It's 5:38:48.