Episode Report Card M. Giant: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Now That's Hospitality
By M. Giant | Season 5 | Episode 9 | Aired on 02.19.2006
Out at the motorcycle garage, Curtis's cell phone rings. It's Buchanan, telling him to bring Kiefer in. And then we pan over to Kiefer, who's obliviously giving orders regarding the disposition of Henchman #1. That goes on long enough that by the time he's done, Curtis is off the phone and telling Kiefer that McGill "is on some kind of warpath" and looking for someone to blame for the loss of their only lead. Kiefer spits back that he didn't think releasing the gas in the mall was "an acceptable loss," and reminds Curtis that he was appointed by the President of the United States. Whose direct orders he just disobeyed not a half hour ago, but he'll invoke Presidential authority when it's convenient for him. Curtis agrees that Kiefer made the right call (I'd drink, but I'm out), and Kiefer decides to call Logan. Curtis tells him not to bother; they'll work it out when they get to CTU. Kiefer grumpily agrees, and gets even grumpier when Curtis puts a hand on his arm and asks for his gun. "Don't make this any more difficult than it already is," Curtis warns. "Difficult"? Something tells me it wouldn't be difficult at all for Curtis to pound Kiefer on top of the head with a single blow that leaves him driven waist-deep into the ground. Kiefer, appearing to share my assessment, hands over his weapon. If only they knew that the nerve gas was within a two-minute radius from this location, they could avoid all this grief. They could simply set up a perimeter, and hope the bad guys leave a fresh clue behind when they sneak through it.
It's 3:09:12 as Buchanan and Audrey pedeconference through CTU. She's complaining about McGill's decision to bench Kiefer, but Buchanan says there's nothing they can do: "Lynn's in charge." "He may be in charge, Bill," Audrey shoots back, "but he is not in control." Good line. Before Buchanan can say as much, Audrey is called away to answer her phone.
The call is from Nathanson, who is multitasking behind the wheel. Not only is he driving and talking, he's also laying out a gun and ammunition on the passenger seat of his car. I would make a joke here about how he's clearly planning to get on the freeway, if only it were 1988. He introduces himself to Audrey, who's surprised to be speaking to "the one who sold nerve gas to the terrorists." Nathanson rather shortly asks to be transferred to Kiefer, "on a clean line." He doesn't want to tell her what it's about, and says he's only going through her "because I know you have a...special relationship with Bauer." Rather smugly for someone who's on the run from terrorists and largely out of options, he tells her that he can help CTU find the nerve gas. "How do I know you're telling the truth?" Audrey says. "You don't," Nathanson says. "Now put me through to Bauer." Even Audrey can't argue with that, so after stealing a look at McGill through the glass wall of his stolen office, Audrey dials Kiefer's cell phone number.