Episode Report Card M. Giant: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Two Can Play at That Game
By M. Giant | Season 7 | Episode 1 | Aired on 01.11.2009
In the hallway at 8:31:32, Ethan introduces a guy from Homeland Security named Tim, and tells him to snap it up so they can get back to the meeting. Tim quickly explains about the technology thefts, the abduction of Michael Latham, and the recent ATC glitches. A concerned Taylor asks, "Do I need to give the order to ground air traffic?" Tim says that would take at least twelve hours and possibly trigger a panic. His recommendation is to quietly decrease air traffic (which sounds to me like a lot of stranded, profoundly annoyed travelers at gates) while the FBI works on it and he keeps her briefed. "I don't like the timing of this," Taylor muses, wondering if this is connected to the Sangala operation. Clearly this is her first rodeo. Tim thinks it's more like "a domestic terror group. Homegrown. Strong anti-government bias." Taylor asks if they'll be able to catch the bad guys in time. Tim diplomatically says they have everyone on it. "You didn't answer my question," she says. "No, ma'am, I didn't," he agrees. Are we sure he isn't really from the Department of Homeland Smartasses? It's 8:33:14.
At 8:38:03, Henry appears to be in mid-debate with that reporter, Aldrich, a total fish-eyed weasel type. They discuss the merits of the invasion, until Henry offers, "If I gave you an exclusive preview of the President's post-invasion plans, you might change your mind." Aldrich pretends not to be tempted y the bribe: "What are you asking me to do? Stop writing, or write what I don't believe?" "Either one would be fine with me," Henry says, and cracks a smile. Just then, with the tension broken anyway, Henry's young-Brad-Pitt-looking Secret Service guy interrupts to say that Henry has a private phone call coming in. Henry asks the reporter to leave the room so he can take it, and the agent reports that the caller is Chuck Tolan. Chuck Tolan? CHUCK TOLAN? Okay, I have no idea who Chuck Tolan is, but Henry clearly does, and he takes the call.
At 8:39:23, Tolan is walking along the Mall as he talks to Henry on his cell phone. He appears to be a private investigator, and he tells Henry he just learned that Samantha, the girlfriend of Henry's dead son Roger, received a large deposit three days after Roger's suicide. "You mean his alleged suicide," Henry snits. All the PI knows is that Samantha came into $400,000 of apparently laundered money, and he's going to need to talk to her to find out more. Henry would rather talk to her himself, and after confirming that she still works at the Sloan Kittredge brokerage firm, he hangs up and tells his Secret Service agent they're going somewhere as soon as he finishes with the reporter. "And keep it off the manifest. I don't want anyone to know where we're going." The agent is about to comply, but then Henry says, "You think Chuck's taking advantage of me, don't you?" Reluctantly, the agent says, "Sir, the police and FBI have both investigated your son's death. And yes, I believe this PI could be exploiting your grief for personal gain. These so-called leads that he's generating have led nowhere." Henry insists that his son didn't kill himself. All the agent can do is mutter, "Yes, sir." On Rome, at least he would have been able to say, "As you say," which was a polite ancient Roman way to say, "whatever, dude."