Episode Report Card M. Giant: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Kiefer's Ex vs. World War III
By M. Giant | Season 6 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.15.2007
11:52:04. As Wayne is rolled out of the White House on yet another gurney, the Veep is already ensconced in the Oval Office, along with Lisa, Karen and Tom. Dr. Welton comes in and reports that it looks like Wayne done gone and had himself a cerebral hemorrhage due to his earlier injuries. And he was doing so well this hour, too. "Meaning he never should have been brought out of the coma," the Veep bitches. Karen objects, and the Veep blames her for causing Wayne's stroke. The doctor says he'll take full responsibility, but Tom interrupts to say that the recriminations can wait until later, after they know how bad the damage is. The doctor says that Wayne is going to Bethesda for an MRI, but he doesn't think Wayne will be waking up any time soon in any case. From the couch, Lisa bottom-lines that it sounds like the Veep's in charge now. The Veep is a little smoother, dismissing Welton with a sincere-sounding, "Take care of him, Doctor." The Veep turns to Karen and tells her to notify Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs that he's invoking the 25th Amendment. "Yes sir," Karen nods. Except then she doesn't move. He then tells Tom to issue a statement to the public, and to be ready to go over Wayne's agenda with him. Wayne has something on his agenda for three a.m. besides "Sleep?" He is a hard-working individual. Getting blown up probably resulted in the longest nap he's had since his election.
Lisa pipes up and says there's something of immediate interest, namely Kiefer's plan to hand over Russian defense technology to the Chinese in exchange for a "covertly held hostage." Tom and Karen make matching "Oh, shit" faces as the Veep turns to them for an explanation. Karen calls it a personal request from Kiefer to Wayne, in light of their "longstanding relationship... and as Jack Bauer was largely responsibly for recovering the suitcase nukes today, the president wanted to honor his service to this country." "I asked you to explain it, not excuse it," the Veep says. Karen swallows her annoyance and relays Kiefer's guarantee that he won't let the component out of his hands in one piece. Tom adds, "The hostage in question is Audrey Raines, daughter of [former Secretary of Defense] James Heller." The Veep says he's all for honoring Kiefer's service -- maybe a free membership to the Smithsonian or a Bundt cake or something -- but he doesn't want to risk damaging the country's relationship with Russia. More than he already did by authorizing an invasion of the Russian Consulate in L.A. during his first hour in charge, I assume he means. "You tell CTU to stop Bauer immediately," he orders. Karen tries to argue, but the Veep brusquely dismisses both her and Tom from the room. He's got his eye on that presidential seal on the rug, and he thinks it would be a great spot to do it with Lisa.