Episode Report Card M. Giant: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Mayer, Mayer Not
By M. Giant | Season 7 | Episode 14 | Aired on 03.16.2009
Kiefer has not only gotten that laptop booted up in the Metallicar's shotgun seat, but has also loaded the CD-ROM he stole from the hospital's security system. He pages through some screen grabs and finds a shot of Burnett's killer, Quentin. While driving, he's doing this. I doubt the owner of this car and computer would appreciate the way the guy who stole them is using both at the same time. "Gotcha," Kiefer says to Quentin's photo. I don't know how; Quentin isn't exactly the only one roaming the hallways in these photos, and I'd like to know how Kiefer is able to recognize a shot of a man he only saw in a full-face gas mask while paralyzed and unable to lift his head. But he blows up Quinn's face, hooks that product-placed PDA he also stole into the laptop's USB port, and opens an application called "Anonymous Secure Email." That sure sounds handy for a man on the run. Thanks, Sprint! America's tech-savvy fugitives appreciate your contribution. Then he dials his cell phone.
His call goes through to Walker, who luckily is back in her office. He talks fast: "Renee, it's Jack. Don't hang up the phone, please. Whatever they told you, I did not kill Burnett." Walker stands there looking shocked that he actually used her first name. Kiefer's got it all figured out: he tells her that Buchanan was right, and there are people not on Dubaku's list who are still out there and up to no good. "They're trying to cover their tracks. They killed Burnett and they're framing me for it." Walker says she's not in any position to help him, but Kiefer says he just wants her to ID someone for him. As she opens up her laptop and finds the photo in her inbox, Kiefer says that Quentin is the only connection to the people behind the conspiracy, and asks for her help. "I know you don't agree with some of the things I did today, but I'm telling you the truth." She pauses for so long that Kiefer apologizes for calling her and says it was a mistake. Hey, Kiefer, maybe this is something Chloe could help you with? Or maybe not. But before he hangs up, she finally says she'll call him back. You know, if these two do ever end up together, I hope they don't have to make a go of it as a long-distance couple. They'd spend all their time on the phone with Kiefer just listening to Walker think. After she hangs up, she plugs Quentin's photo into some facial recognition software, which fortunately for national security is always one hundred percent accurate.
Driving along in his own vehicle, Quentin hears the police bulletin for Kiefer over his scanner. Looking annoyed, he calls Hodges's office and says that Kiefer got away, although he doesn't know how. "Bauer's an extremely impressive operative." "You don't have to tell me that," Hodges agrees. Yes, yes, Kiefer is awesome, let's keep it moving. At 9:07: 17, Quentin adds that Kiefer won't be able to evade the FBI dragnet for long. "Monitor the situation and keep me apprised," Hodges orders, and Seaton disconnects the call. He says, "If Bauer connects us to Juma it could seriously impede this operation." Whatever it might be. Hodges agrees, confirms that the "shipment" is due in port in the next hour, and says, "Once the weapons are deployed, then it doesn't matter what Mr. Bauer or anyone else knows." Seaton looks a little sick at hearing the old, familiar "Soon it will be too late to stop us" speech, and Hodges suddenly just goes off on him, drawing on what was apparently an illustrious career in high school drama club. "Mister Seaton! I get no pleasure from the knowledge that people will die at our hands. One single soul, the loss of one soul is tragic to me, let alone the numbers we're talking about. But do not forget that every war worth fighting involves collateral damage. And what we're doing is fundamentally and absolutely necessary. And I know you understand that!" Looking uncomfortable, Seaton agrees and shifts in his chair, wondering how long he needs to wait before he can get up and pee without looking like he's trying to escape. Hodges orders, "Wake up our colleagues and have them assembled in one hour. And tell them to pack their pajamas, their toothbrushes. It's going to be a long night." That was quite an impassioned performance Hodges just gave. Let's see, who else do we know who likes to use the word "necessary" to justify his actions?