Episode Report Card M. Giant: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT What is it with chicks, man?
By M. Giant | Season 5 | Episode 15 | Aired on 03.26.2006
Audrey's still undergoing her interrogation, and apparently nobody's gotten word to Burke that it's off, because he's shooting a fresh syringe into the tube in her arm, even as she begs him not to. Her hair is completely saturated with sweat right now, and she starts screaming as the new drugs go to work. Kiefer rushes in, yelling at Burke to shut it down. For some reason he listens this time rather than just tasering Kiefer again, which is lucky for Audrey. Kiefer tells Burke to confirm Audrey's innocence with Buchanan. When Burke's a little slow on the uptake, he roars, "I said you're finished! Get out!" Once they're alone, Kiefer quickly undoes Audrey's restraints, and explains that Henderson set her up to get at Kiefer. Because it's always all about Kiefer, even when you're the one being tortured. Even when you're being tortured by someone other than Kiefer. He hugs her, saying he's sorry. And then it gets gross, because Audrey tells him, "The only thing that got me through this was knowing that you would come." What, since things went so great for her the last time he showed up in this room? And then they kiss, which, ick, at least give me an hour between the choking and the macking, not to mention you know her lips are going to be all gummy after all the screaming and grimacing. But it's supposed to be a tender moment, and I'll let them enjoy it like the twisted specimens even I didn't realize they are. Kiefer's cell phone rings, and it's Buchanan calling him out to the floor. Audrey tells him to go, and I'm like, "Yes, go. Scene over, already." I knew they were going to get back together, but I didn't think it would be like this. This is just ooky. I'd rather see her go back to Walt in his current condition. "I'll be right back," Kiefer promises, and leaves her to wait for the medic who's now en route. Hey, it's not like Dr. Besson has a patient any more.
Chloe's pulled up a satellite screen that shows flashing icons representing about 60% of the natural gas distribution centers in the greater Los Angeles area. The other 40% are out of satellite range, which, as Chloe explains, is worrisome. She's working on getting more online when Kiefer shows up. Buchanan exposits, "Our analysts tell us, once the Sentox hits the main tank, it goes right into the pipes and becomes impossible to stop. From there it goes straight into people's homes." Well, into people's pipes and appliances. And we're about to learn that the stuff burns, so. They're estimating a couple of hundred thousand casualties and guessing they have fifteen minutes. Kiefer says he and Curtis will take a team airborne. I assume he means a helicopter or some other aircraft, but it's hard to know for sure with Kiefer. He heads off, saying he'll be ready to go once they find the right plant.
Shari, who has heard the whole conversation from the next desk over, decides to chime in with an incredibly handy bit of random knowledge that she picked up as a chem major at CalTech: "Most toxins become inert under high pressure. The PSI would have to be lowered before the nerve gas was introduced." Buchanan asks if Chloe can check on pressure readings for the gas plants on her screen, and she taps a couple of keys to make percentage figures blink into existence next to the icons on her map. Most of them are in the upper nineties, except of course for the Wilshire Gas Company, currently at 75% and dropping. Buchanan heads off to tell Kiefer, brushing by Shari with a "great work." Chloe congratulates her new sidekick, who just stands there staring after Buchanan: "Did you see the way his hand brushed across my shoulder as he walked by?" Even Chloe's like, "What?" "That was wrong," Shari says unhappily. "He shouldn't have done that." Yes, 24 isn't afraid to tackle the thorny issues that people are really talking about, even if those people live in 1994. Chloe turns back to her computer, like, whoa. The amazing thing is, that wasn't even the most offensive portrayal of gender relations this act. And I don't even get to be cheered up by hearing Kiefer wail off camera, "Already? But I'm not ready yet!"