Episode Report Card M. Giant: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Welcome to the TerrorDome
By M. Giant | Season 4 | Episode 6 | Aired on 01.23.2005
Driscoll, Kiefer, and Curtis show DaD to the conference room. DaD expresses his gratitude to Driscoll for his rescue. As he goes on and on, and, to a certain extent, on, Driscoll looks between DaD and Kiefer, who is looking right back at her and not quite openly smirking. She seems to be waiting for Kiefer to rat her out, but Kiefer stays mum. "Thank you, sir," Driscoll finally says, without further clarification. It's not like she wants to get herself in trouble by admitting that if she'd had her way all along, DaD would be a cloud of ash blowing across the Santa Clarita Valley right now. Besides, she's got plenty to be embarrassed about when DaD asks to see his son and she has to confess that DiCK is in a cell. Driscoll tattles that they had reason to believe that DiCK was holding out on them. "And what are you doing about that?" DaD asks carefully. Curtis looks like he just realized he's sitting in something sticky. Driscoll starts bullshitting, but DaD quickly says, "Stop B.S.-ing me. What did you do to him?" Curtis starts explaining about the Laser Floyd show, and how it's "non-invasive," until DaD cuts in with, "You subjected my son to SDT?" Ah, so he knows all about it. This is a very hands-on SecDef. He even does his own shooting now and then. Kind of refreshing. Curtis points out that they stopped DiCK's torture as soon as they knew DaD was safe. Heh. I don't know, I bet they let him have another few minutes just for fun. I would. DaD's gratitude is rapidly running out, and Kiefer is having more trouble than ever keeping his expression neutral. DaD wants to see DiCK right away, and he and Curtis head off to holding as DaD threatens Driscoll, "You better have cause for this." Kiefer's about to follow so Driscoll can't see the "big sister's in big trouble" look on his face, but she stops him. She wants to thank him for not telling DaD about their differences during the past few hours. Kiefer is magnanimous in victory, saying that they were both doing what they thought was best. Driscoll also asks Kiefer to fill in for the late Kiefer 2.0 "until we avert this crisis." What, CTU doesn't have any active field agents who could step in any better than this rusty old dude? They're sure going to be excited about reporting to Kiefer now, aren't they? Driscoll reminds Kiefer that "Kiefer 2.0 was under my command and you will be too." Kiefer says he understands, because that's his absolute favorite lie and he never gets tired of it. Oh, and apparently the photos of the TerrorCorpses are ready for DoDder to take a look at. It's 12:41:57.
Curtis lets DaD into DiCK's holding room. They embrace. They apologize to each other. In addition to being relieved that Team DoD is okay, DiCK's pretty pissed off about what's been happening to him, and now that he and DaD are all tight again, he wants his tormentors to pay. DaD assures him, "If they were out of line, heads will roll." DiCK doesn't like the sound of that "if." And he's not happy about what DaD is implying. He insists that he would tell CTU everything -- "If I thought it was relevant." Oh, DiCK, you fucking moron. DaD quietly says, "So there is something." DaD's leaning on DiCK to tell what he knows, even playing the "do you know what your sister has been through?" card. DiCK is all, "I'm not telling these people things about my private life." After about thirty seconds of being reasonable, DaD gives up and folds his towel neatly. "Agent Manning, could you come in here please?" he says. Curtis appears at the door. Right in front of DiCK, DaD authorizes Curtis to "do whatever you feel is necessary to get this information out of him." Well, that was the shortest familial truce ever. "I love you, son. But I have a duty to my country," DaD says, a paragon of mock regret. DiCK thinks his father is bluffing until DaD turns to leave and DiCK tries to follow, but Curtis is blocking DiCK's path. I'm so appalled at DaD's callousness that I can barely fall on the floor laughing. And I think DaD enjoyed it almost as much as I did.