Episode Report Card M. Giant: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Guardian Angel
By M. Giant | Season 3 | Episode 22 | Aired on 05.10.2004
Kiefer approaches Soul Patch, who hands Kiefer the other end of the whatsis he attached to the payphone. Kiefer accepts it and screws it into his ear, casually glancing around. Yeah, it's a little late to wonder if Saunders is having the phone watched now, don't you think? But I suppose that since Saunders chose the pay phone, he wouldn't have any reason to position snipers on the roof across the street to take out Soul Patch when he turns up, and another guy on the ground to carjack the Patchmobile with Spawnders still in it. Saunders is a gentleman, after all. The pay phone rings, and Soul Patch picks it up. Saunders wants to talk to his daughter, but Soul Patch scotches that. Fortunately, it's not because Spawnders has slid over to the driver's seat and made off for Mexico. Saunders accepts that, and tells Soul Patch to meet him at an industrial park on Maltin Road. I'm not looking it up and you can't make me. Soul Patch shoots that down, rather unconvincingly, I might add. Saunders insists, but Soul Patch warns him about the imaginary satellites that will be looking for him there. Saunders says, "I've planned too long and too hard for this day and I will do whatever it takes to make sure nothing interferes. Including sacrificing my daughter." Well, that's kind of a non sequitur, but it factors into an otherwise inexplicable decision that Kiefer makes later on, so I'm allowing it. Kiefer's not, though, and he disconnects the call.
Soul Patch freaks. Kiefer tells Soul Patch that Saunders is just testing him, and he'll call back. Soul Patch asks how he knows, and Kiefer says loudly, "Because right now he thinks I'm going to kill his daughter." Quick cut here of Spawnders reacting to that not at all. Soul Patch isn't sold on Kiefer's methods, even when Kiefer tells him that Bitchelle's best chance of survival is if CTU controls the area where the exchange takes place. Soul Patch says, "But protecting her is not your priority, is it? If she were to get killed, that would be an acceptable loss, wouldn't it?" Which is pretty much what I was saying last week. Kiefer looks away uncomfortably. "My God, Kiefer," Soul Patch continues. "Didn't you learn anything from what happened to Bride?" Whoa! Kiefer shoves him hard and tells him to shut up. Spawnders watches uncomfortably from the Patchmobile. Mom and Dad are fighting. Soul Patch starts walking toward the Patchmobile. Kiefer calls to him. Soul Patch, now a safe distance away, turns and yells, "Just because you sacrificed your wife for this job doesn't mean I'm going to sacrifice mine!" Fair enough, but where are you going now? Soul Patch doesn't take three more steps before the pay phone rings again. Kiefer's still standing there with his Uhura earpiece, doing an outstanding job of keeping the "I told you so" off his face. Soul Patch answers, and Saunders, consulting his Cop GameBoy, instructs Soul Patch to meet him under the Sixth Street Bridge downtown. He reminds Soul Patch that if he's brought anyone else into this, Bitchelle dies. They hang up, and Kiefer tells Soul Patch, "You did great." Soul Patch walks away before Kiefer can kiss him. It's 10:24:37.