Episode Report Card Gustave: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Nina's bidding
By Gustave | Season 3 | Episode 9 | Aired on 01.05.2004
The time is 9:30:05 P.M. Klockwise from the top left, Charlie Brown gets beaten, Nina talks to someone on a cell phone, and Kiefer is in profile. The Presidential limousine pulls up to PoorMan'sVernonJordan's estate. It's big and has Doric columns framing the front porch, so you know he's rich and powerful. Palmer is escorted into a sitting room by a white butler. Milliken greets him and they exchange pleasantries. Milliken thanks Palmer for coming at a moment's notice, and Palmer explains that Milliken always had time for Palmer so it's no trouble at all. Um, did it occur to Palmer to tell him that they have a national emergency on their hands and to at least ask if this meeting can wait? Especially when it turns out that the reason this guy wants to talk to Palmer is because he wants Brother Palmer fired as his chief of staff. You see, back when Brother Palmer was the president of Milliken's company and Milliken was recovering from a stroke, Brother Palmer had an affair with Milliken's wife. So Milliken wants revenge. Oh, and Mrs. Milliken, played by Gina Torres, has to come into the room in a slinky slip dress and tell Palmer the story herself. "I waited for you to come to Los Angeles so I could do this face to face," says Milliken. Um, Milliken? National emergency? Hello? Palmer argues that Brother Palmer is his closest advisor and best friend. Milliken hints that "repercussions" will come to Palmer if he doesn't fire Wayne. Whatever.
Back at CTU, Bitchelle is briefing Adam the Woman Hater about some Whatever Technology issue when Spawn pulls her aside to talk to her. They go into Bitchelle's office -- or at least I think that's her office. The new CTU doesn't seem to have assigned seats, or is that just my imagination? "I don't know if Soul Patch is well enough to do his job," whispers Spawn. Bitchelle explains that Soul Patch was shot a few hours ago and won't be working at full capacity. Spawn tells Bitchelle about the security codes that Soul Patch thought he'd given her but didn't. Um, Spawn? Have you ever had a job before? The whole point of working for someone is that they always forget shit and you always take the blame for it. It's the American way. If they removed bosses from positions because of minor infractions like that, offices would be empty canyons from here to Pasadena. Anyway, Bitchelle tries to chalk it up to stress and health issues…plus the fact that everyone is the office is feeling the strain of the day's events. Spawn insists that Soul Patch might not be up to doing his job. "You're his wife," says Spawn. "You're also second in command. If Soul Patch can't do his job, somebody has to tell Chappelle and that somebody should be you." Tell Chappelle? What's he going to do about it? Appoint a replacement who will be fired in three hours? She exits, leaving Bitchelle staring at the wall really hard.