Episode Report Card Gustave: B+ | 110 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT Bitchelle of Mercy
By Gustave | Season 3 | Episode 17 | Aired on 2004.04.06
The time is 05:15:41 AM. In Palmerville, Brother Palmer briefs Palmer on the latest news from Inn Fection. The panic has been subdued, testing procedures should begin soon, and the press hasn't caught on yet. "But they're bound to before long," warns Brother Palmer. Palmer maintains that it's important to have a "cover" for the press so that people in L.A. don't panic. "Don't use the term 'Cordilla Virus,'" says Palmer. "People have never heard of it and the unknown creates more fear." Instead, Palmer wants Brother Palmer to tell the press that it's Legionnaire's Disease, because it's a curable disease that people have heard of. The Homeland Security Chief enters -- a forgettable guest star who kind of resembles Harris Yulin from last season. He advises Palmer to raise the terror level to red. Palmer agrees. Next, Homeland Guy advises the grounding of all domestic flights and the closing of all airports. Brother Palmer doesn't like that plan, as it will create more panic. "It's better than allowing a widespread release of the V-I-R-U-S," says Homeland Guy. "If you close those airports," says Brother Palmer, "you won't be able to explain it away as Legionnaire's Disease!" The two advisers bicker for a few minutes until Palmer breaks it up. Palmer calls for a possible shutdown of air transportation. "But wait for my authorization," he says.
The phone rings. Palmer picks up. Homeland Guy exits Palmer's office. "It's him," says Palmer to Brother Palmer, referring to the new supervillain, Stephen Sahhhhn-ders. Palmer keeps him on hold until Brother Palmer can run down the hall and alert a team of call tracers. He finally picks up, and Sahhhhn-ders tells him it's time for his first assignment. "It's a very simple one but one necessary to our future relationship," says Sahhhhn-ders. Oh, shut up, Sahhhhn-ders. Just tell him what to do and be quick about it. After a bitter exchange about the nature of said "relationship," Sahhhhn-ders orders Palmer to have his secret service men open up a mailbox across from Palmerville, find a package wrapped in black paper -- oh, how Barneys! -- and have them bring it to Palmer. "I'm not doing anything until you tell me exactly..." shrieks Palmer as the phone goes dead. Meanwhile, in the other room, the nerdy call tracers couldn't get a trace. The call was too short. Palmer has Brother Palmer send the Secret Service to pick up the package.