Episode Report Card M. Giant: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Gassing The Gap
By M. Giant | Season 5 | Episode 8 | Aired on 02.12.2006
Meanwhile, back at CTU, Audrey has decided its time for a little theater. She takes over the big screen and puts up the live images of the mall's play area, which is swarming with ankle-biters. Then she stomps up to McGill -- who's just standing there despondently at the apparent failure of his cunning plan -- to say there's still time to stop the terror attack. McGill reminds her that they have orders from the president, but Audrey says Logan isn't looking at the kids whose death he just authorized. McGill reminds her that many more people could die if they don't find the other nineteen canisters, and Audrey reminds McGill of the difference between "will" and "could" before stridently ordering McGill, "Look at the monitors!" Buchanan tries to step in, but Audrey isn't done: "Lynn, you tell me, if you were in Jack's shoes, would you follow through with that order? Stand by and watch as they murder all those people?" McGill: "If those are the orders of the president? Yes, I would have to!" Instead of pointing out that McGill was the one who talked the President into giving that order, Audrey just gets even more sanctimonious. "I hope that's not true, for your sake," she snits. Says the lady who works at the Pentagon. She had me and then she lost me. Chloe looks even more pinched than usual, torn between her desire to help terrorists kill a thousand people and her equally powerful desire to let them kill a million. Edgar looks blank, as usual. McGill, for his part, looks wounded. Or maybe he's just thinking, GOD, that Audrey chick is boring.
The hot-wiring of the gas canister is almost done, and Tinkering Henchman advises the guys at the mall, "Put your masks on. The next wire you splice will open the valve." And he tested this how? I don't remember the canisters coming with an owner's manual. As they mask up, Henchman #1 tells Henchman #2 to "go kill Rossler." Hearing this, Kiefer fakes unconsciousness as Henchman #2 gets his gun out of his bag at 2:43:52. And inside the vent, the top section of the nerve gas canister rises out of the main tube, revealing a fine metal grate inside that looks like the world's largest microscreen shaver. One assumes that's where the gas will be coming from, although it's not visible yet. By now, Henchman #2 is standing over Kiefer, ready to shoot him. But he's standing too close, even given Kiefer's limited reach, and with a mighty kick Kiefer sweeps Henchman #2's legs out from under him. He catches Henchman #2's head between his knees and snaps his neck. Out in the other room, Henchmen #1 is satisfied that his work is done, now that he can see the white vapor beginning to emanate from the canister. He moves toward the other room to see what's up with Henchman #2, and Kiefer takes a potshot at him with Henchman #2's gun. But for once Kiefer is too slow, and Henchman #1 darts out of sight and out of range. And Kiefer's still handcuffed to the table. He takes the gas mask off of Henchman #2's face and puts it on his own with his free hand. And now, for some reason, the guard is just within reach. I don't know what happened since the last time he tried that. Maybe there was a temblor or something. Kiefer tugs the guard's body closer by the edge of its shirtsleeve, then unhooks the walkie-talkie from the dead guard's belt, then uses the walkie-talkie's antenna to snag the guard's keys. He's free of the handcuffs with the first key he tries. Hey, Kiefer, can you think of another possible use for that walkie-talkie, now that poison gas is seeping into a crowded mall? No? In that case, are you sure you have a tight seal on that gas mask?