Episode Report Card M. Giant: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Management Issues
By M. Giant | Season 7 | Episode 9 | Aired on 02.16.2009
At Marika's apartment, Walker is showing her a veritable photo album on her cell phone of some of Dubaku's greatest hits, particularly the massacre "that earned him the nickname the Butcher of Sangala." Marika probably had different nicknames for him, but the multimedia presentation has her convinced. Kiefer quietly sits down and shares a Dubaku story of his own: "I was in Africa a few months ago. He was responsible for murdering a friend of mine." Well, yes, but he had a little help from a landmine, a stupid kid named Willie, and an even stupider scarf. Although I think this may be the most direct acknowledgment anyone's made this season to the effect that "Redemption" actually happened. Which, now that I think about it, was probably filmed after the first eight episodes of the season. I should look into that. Anyway, Kiefer is sympathetic to Marika's situation, but he says they need her help right away in finding Dubaku before he leaves the country. Marika says she was just supposed to wait for his call, and Kiefer asks for her phone, which she hands over. As he plugs his earpiece into it so he can listen in, he tells her to answer when he calls. Marika starts to freak out at the very thought, but Kiefer insists she can do it: "The man you thought you knew, the man you had feelings for? He doesn't exist. All you're left with are his lies and his betrayal." Sing it, girlfriend. Just then the phone rings, and she starts to hyperventilate, while Kiefer calmly but urgently tells her to just answer and find out where he wants to meet. "Please, you can do that." After several rings, Marika answers. Dubaku can tell right away that something's up with her. It's like he's got a sixth sense that allows him to interpret subtle clues like a shaky voice and shortness of breath. Marika claims that it's just an argument she had with Rosa. "Is she going to be a problem for us?" Dubaku asks menacingly. Marika assures him that Rosa's fine now. "She should thank heaven she has such an angel for a sister," Dubaku says. That line doesn't work as well on Marika as it would have a half hour ago. He says he's sent a car for her, and she should go downstairs to wait for it. He's not telling her where it's going right now, but she says okay and hangs up. That wasn't so hard, was it?
After the call, Walker asks if they have a rendezvous point, and Kiefer tells her no before pulling her aside for a quiet convo in the dining room, where they have a view of the street below. Walker suggests grabbing the driver when he arrives and getting Dubaku's location out of him. Surprisingly, Kiefer's not down with that idea, because he's not sure if they can torture it out of him fast enough. But that's okay, because he's got another idea: "We can get her to go meet with him." He says they can track her using her cell phone, and when Walker balks, he insists it's their only choice. "You want to get Dubaku, this is our shot," he declares, ending the discussion. So there. It must be handy to be Kiefer, and always having the first idea that comes to you be the only way to do something. I know I shouldn't knock Kiefer's ideas unless I have a better one of my own, and in this case I don't have one. I think it actually sounds like a decent plan. I just wish Kiefer didn't have to be so high-handed about it all the time.