Episode Report Card Gustave: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Pulling a Sherry
By Gustave | Season 3 | Episode 2 | Aired on 11.03.2003
Back at the USC campus just outside of the auditorium, Brother Palmer has just finished briefing Palmer on this conversation with CTU. Palmer authorizes Brother Palmer to give CTU "carte blanche" in their investigation. "Whatever they need, make sure they get it," says Palmer. In his stern, manly moral way, Palmer concludes that he cannot in good conscience go on with the debate when there's an eminent terror attack lurking. Brother Palmer tries to downplay the threat, because he feels that Palmer shouldn't ruin his standing with the voters by canceling a debate. "We get threats every day," says Brother Palmer. "Not like this one," says Palmer. Brother Palmer points out to Palmer that the CIA and the Pentagon are working on this and there's no need for Palmer to get involved. He urges that Palmer adopt a wait-and-see approach. They cut the conversation short when they see Senator Keeler's entourage approaching. Brother Palmer wants to take a different route back into the building to avoid a confrontation, but Palmer has something else in mind. He approaches Senator Keeler warmly, and they speak jovially about a mutual friend of theirs from South Dakota. Palmer makes a friendly dig at Keeler about him having to do some last-minute cramming if he wants to survive the debate. Keeler retorts that Palmer has greater resources, compliments of the taxpaying American public. "I actually have to do some of the shoe leather myself!" "Touché," says Palmer. "Touché"? "Shoe leather"? What is this? Herbert Hoover versus Al Smith in 1928? Shouldn't they both be wearing straw boaters and have red-white-and-blue sashes pinned to their suits? Meanwhile, some nebbishy guy walks over to Brother Palmer and they start having a private conversation. After Palmer stops talking to Keeler, he calls for Brother Palmer to accompany him inside. Brother Palmer is still in deep conversation with the Keeler staffer. He pulls away and follows Palmer. "What were you talking to him about?" asks Palmer. "I think we may have an opportunity," says Brother Palmer. Palmer asks for further explanation, but Brother Palmer doesn't want to talk about it just then.
We go back to the silent and tension-filled interior of the Kiefmobile on its way to Patient Zero's last known address. Special Agent Charlie Brown finally breaks the silence with an apology for "not being good enough" for Kiefer's daughter. Kiefer explains that the only reason he set Spawn up with her job was so that he could keep an eye on her and protect her as she sat behind her desk at a computer. (So Kiefer got her a job in the very same building where her mother was murdered?) He doesn't want her dating a field agent. Charlie Brown argues that Spawn is a grown woman who is capable of making decisions for herself. Oh, like Charlie Brown has noticed anything about Spawn but her boobs. Kiefer argues that his job at CTU has ruined every relationship he's ever had. "That's you, Kiefer," says Charlie Brown. "No!" says Kiefer. "It's the job." He insists that he lost his own wife because of this job, and almost lost his daughter. "I'm not going to let that happen again," says Kiefer. "So you're saying I shouldn't have a relationship?" asks Charlie Brown. "That's exactly what I'm saying," says Kiefer. Kiefer's call phone rings. It's Vaselino, wanting to know why he was refused permission to move Hartmano to solitary confinement. "The bastard murdered his own attorney right in front of us," says Vaselino. "What the hell is Division doing protecting him?" Kiefer reluctantly tells Vaselino -- after swearing him to secrecy -- that Hartmano might walk due to the "leverage" that Brother Hector has. "I don't believe this," says Vaselino, fuming. Kiefer tells him to "hang tight" and that he'll be getting back to him as soon as possible. He hangs up and tells Charlie Brown that they'll have to talk about the Spawn issue later, because now they've got to focus on what they are going to do when they get to their destination.