Latin Kiefer promo. 24. Blip blip blip blip blip blip. Previouslies. Someone dropped off a body infected with a weaponized strain of a pneumonic virus at the Health Services building in L.A. If released in L.A., it would infect nine percent of population. That's one million people, dammit. According to the terrorists' demands, they need to release drug lord Felipe Hartmano, one hammy actor, from prison within six hours. This is all being orchestrated by Felipe's brother, a drug lord himself, who's got a feisty wife who looks like Angelina Jolie and seems to fancy herself an honest woman. The virus seems to be inside a giant bag of cocaine, about to be delivered to distributors by some innocent white kid who just needs the money to help his family. Whatever. Meanwhile, Palmer is in town because he's running for reelection and is about to debate Senator Keeler, his opponent. Spawn is working at CTU. Yeah, I'll wait until you all stop sniggering before I continue…I said Spawn is working…I said Spawn is working at CTU, and she's getting it on with Kiefer's partner. Let it out. That's it. May I continue? Okay. Kiefer is hooked on heroin and trying to quit. The following takes place between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
Pretty as a midsummer's morn / They call her Spawn. We open with a closeup of Kiefer's desk -- more specifically, a framed photo-portrait of Spawn in her shag-tastic glory. Personally, I feel it's eerie to have pictures of your kids at your desk that weren't taken at least six or seven years ago. I suppose I could commend Kiefer for consistently updating the picture of Spawn on his desk, but I just think that photo needs a set of headgear or something. That's just me. The camera pans over to Sweaty Kiefer, who is staring in horror over at the corner in his office where he threw his works and stash last week…I mean, "moments ago." A split screen shows us the syringe lurking under a chair, calling out to Kiefer like a siren. "Kiefer! Kiefer! I'm heroin! Do me! I will make you feel wonderful." Kiefer krawls over to the syringe and throws it away in a nearby wastebasket. Some poor office worker will have to empty that trash eventually and they're going to see a used syringe. How sad is that? However, when Kiefer comes upon an unopened vial of heroin, he holds on to it. (Does heroin even come liquefied in a vial? I thought it was a powder you had to cook up. Maybe he has access to some pharmaceutical-grade heroin that's already in liquid form for those octogenarian cancer sufferers who can't deal with the whole spoon and lighter thing due to their arthritis.) He puts the vial back into his handy-dandy heroin case to the spare syringe and plastic tubing, closes the case, and breathlessly assumes the fetal position right there in the corner of his office.
Back out on the floor, Soul Patch, Mrs. Soul Patch, et al. are briefing Brother Palmer via videoconference on the nature of the virus, which is now officially a V-I-R-U-S. Soul Patch explains that Hector, Felipe Hartmano's brother, is threatening to release the virus unless Hartmano is released from prison. Brother Palmer asks Soul Patch how they know they are in possession of the V-I-R-U-S. Dr. Hazel Mat is patched in via satellite, sporting a Carol Brady "backflip" do. She explains in a really really tight voice that sounds like she's trying to smuggle diamonds in the hollows of her cheeks about the dead body left on the doorstep of the National Health Services building, and then shows a PowerPoint presentation to the assembled, which depicts how fast the virus will spread, complete with gory pictures of Patient Zero in all his skin-lesion-ed glory. Brother Palmer asks why he's never heard of this virus before. Dr. Hazel Mat explains that it was engineered specifically to kill ten times faster than its ordinary genotypes. "I cannot underscore enough how potentially devastating it would be if this virus were released by terrorists," says Dr. Hazel. Soul Patch asks Brother Palmer what the president is going to do about this. Brother Palmer replies that Palmer will not free Hartmano due to the "unwavering policy of the United States to stand firm against any terrorist demands." Meanwhile, somewhere in Virginia, Oliver North has just spewed a mouthful of microwave popcorn all over his television screen. Soul Patch points out that CTU only has five hours to find the source of the virus and contain it. Brother Palmer promises that CTU will have every possible resource at its disposal. Soul Patch calls for an end to the meeting so everyone can get back to work.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the floor, Spawn calls Kiefer on his office extension to tell him that she and Adam are on the verge of finding an address for Patient Zero. Aw! Spawn figured out how to use the phone book! How could anyone think she's stupid? "And, uh, Dad, remember I want to talk to you," says Spawn. "Why, is something wrong?" asks Kiefer. "No," says Spawn. "I was just wondering if I could come up for a few minutes. It's something personal." Meanwhile, Special Agent Charlie Brown enters the Kiefer Kube at Kiefer's invitation and hears the tail end of their conversation on speakerphone. Kiefer tells Spawn that now is not a good time, but promises to come down and talk to her when he's got a moment. Charlie Brown has this "oh shit" expression on his face. Kiefer and Spawn hang up. Kiefer tells Charlie that they're getting close to finding Patient Zero's address. Charlie is all, "You didn't shoot up, did you?" Only he's not commending Kiefer for not shooting up; he's concerned that Kiefer may be done in by the withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting heroin cold turkey. Kiefer is all, "I've been tapering off. It's time to stop." "It doesn't look like it's time to stop," says Special Agent Charlie Brown. "Today is not a good day for you to be needing a fix." Kiefer tries to change the subject by telling Charlie to go work with Chloe on locating the whereabouts of Hector, Hartmano's brother. Charlie asks Kiefer why he's not going on methadone. Kiefer replies that he's not "going on record with this addiction." Charlie argues that Kiefer has nothing to be ashamed of, as "doing junk" was the only way to get close to Felipe Hartmano. "Nobody's gonna knock you for that." Kiefer cuts him off and tells him to get back to work.
Meanwhile, Chloe "Potato Face" O'Brien is sitting at her desk outside of Kiefer's office. She invites Special Agent Charlie Brown over and shows him the data about the V-I-R-U-S and how dangerous it is. "They aren't going to let this happen, are they?" asks Potato Face. "Hartmano's just one person, no matter how bad he is." Charlie tells her to forget all about it and concentrate on working to find the carrier. "In the four hours?" retorts Potato Face. "That's not likely, is it?" "Not if we sit here and debate it," says Charlie. He asks Potato for some more Whatever Data. Potato replies that Spawn has it and is bringing it upstairs to the Kiefer Kube momentarily. Charlie glances over at the Kiefer Kube, realizes that Spawn is going to talk to Kiefer about their relationship when she does come up, and makes his way downstairs so he'll be out of harm's way. Or at least that's what it looked like to me.
Spawn walks over to Special Agent Charlie Brown's desk and hands him the files on Patient Zero. Charlie tells her that she heard her conversation with Kiefer earlier. "Why do you want to tell him today?" he asks. "'Cause it's not a big deal?" says Spawn, with that teenage way of speaking where her voice rises at the end of the sentence so it sounds like a question. Charlie points out that it is a big deal, because he works closely with Kiefer and he's a field agent. And dating a field agent is the last thing that Kiefer wants for his last remaining blood relation. According to Charlie, Kiefer has told him how little he was there for Spawn or Bride and how he doesn't think a field agent can have a relationship outside of work. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe he'd be happy to know that his daughter's found someone she loves?" asks Spawn. Charlie replies that he loves her too, but he doesn't think today is a good day. They are interrupted by Potato Face who wants to be "copied" on some Whatever File. They pretend to be talking about work and then end their conversation.
Spawn walks over to the Kiefer Kube and knocks on the door. Kiefer beckons her in. Spawn is all, "Are you all right? Special Agent Charlie Brown said you were stressed out." "Stressed? What do you mean by stressed?" asked a totally stressed-out Kiefer. "You know," says Spawn. "Hartmano? The terrorist threat?" Realizing that Spawn isn't talking about the heroin, Kiefer kalms down and assures Spawn that everything is under control. "Can I talk to you now?" asks Spawn. Every three episodes, there has to be a moment in which Spawn does something where you feel compelled to fling your arms around your eyes and ears and scream, "No!!!!!!" This is one of them. I call it the Spawn Law of Narrative Structure. Kiefer closes the door behind them as Charlie Brown watches helplessly from Potato Face's desk. Spawn tells Kiefer about their relationship. Kiefer tries very hard to hide his discomfort. "So what do you think?" asks Spawn. I think you were adopted, says Kiefer. Oh wait, he doesn't. "I don't know what I think," says Kiefer, claiming to be distracted by everything else that's going on that day. They exchange "I love you"s and Spawn exits, kissing him on the forehead. Once she's gone, Kiefer glances anxiously back at the corner where he threw that vial of heroin. Spawn runs into Charlie Brown at Potato Face's desk. "I told him," she says smugly. "What did he say?" asks Charlie Brown. "Nothing," answers Spawn, walking off.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Soul Patch has a phone call. It's Dr. Hazel Mat. She's found something interesting. Judging by the placement of a white particle in the victim's nose, it seems the virus was "delivered" in a crystallized form. "It maybe what you're looking for is a white powder," she says. "So it would look like a bag of cocaine or heroin?" asks Mrs. Soul Patch. Dr. Hazel agrees that this might be the strategy. "Someone thinks they're buying a bag of coke, when in fact they're handling the virus," she says.
Speaking of cocaine distribution and virus handling, the screen splits to reveal the pool at the Cocaine Condo, where Lyle and Damone are hanging out with a couple of girls. Damone gets out of the pool -- the place where he's been since the bottom of the last episode, when he jumped into the pool right after Kyle asked him to accompany him on the cocaine drop-off. Well, Damone's been doing some thinking and some swimming. He tells Kyle that there's no way he's going to accompany him. "I don't care how much you pay me," says Damone. "It's dealing drugs." What is this, a Christian rock video? Kyle tries to play the best friend card, but Damone is ready with a comeback. "You should have talked to me before you went down to Mexico and bought a bag of coke." The swoopy cam goes back and forth between each of them in close-up as Kyle tries to get Damone to change his mind and Damone holds his ground. Kyle's cell phone rings, and he does that thing that I hate where he answers the phone, not with a "hello," but with a "yeah?" It's "Zach." He wants to "talk." Kyle heads inside so he can talk to Zach in private. The two bikini girls ask Damone who "Zach" is. Damone blows off their question. "What's with you guys today?" asks the blonder of the two girls. "Why is everything a secret?" Damone tries to pass it all off as Kyle's family problems. Over at the other end of the pool, Zach is asking Kyle if he's "got the powder?" Kyle informs Zach that he indeed has the powder. Zach tells him to drop by his place in about five episodes…I mean, "at seven-thirty." Kyle wants Zach to repeat the plan, or "how it's gonna go down." If this weren't a TV show that needed to spell everything out through exposition, I'd totally suspect Kyle of being a narc with this whole "let's go over this illegal plan one more time over my tapped cell phone" thing. "You drop off the coke, I give you the rest of the money," says Zach, feeling very confident that his phone is not being tapped. "Is that too much for you to handle?" Kyle assures Zach that he's totally cool with this forthcoming federally indictable and highly dangerous activity they are planning to perform sometime during the middle of Episode Seven. They hang up. The time is 02:13:06 PM.
The time is 02:17:30 PM. Klockwise from the top left, Gael checks out the Kocaine Kids by the pool, Gael checks out the cocaine kids by the pool from a different angle, and Palmer poses for some photos. Kiefer Kube. Kiefer is just changing into a casual outfit -- a lilac-colored v-neck viscose sweater -- when he phone rings. It's Mrs. Soul Patch. They have an address for Patient Zero. Or at least where he lived as of two months ago. It's good enough for Kiefer, who tells Mrs. Soul Patch to have the LAPD send over a "perimeter" team to the crack house and to instruct them not to touch anything until Kiefer and Special Agent Charlie Brown get there. Bitchelle is on it. Kiefer leaves his office and beckons for Charlie to follow him to the Kiefmobile. On the floor, Bitchelle tells a redheaded extra to make sure that the police know they're not to go in until Kiefer gets there. Soul Patch comes over and asks Bitchelle how recent the last known address for Patient Zero is. Bitchelle admits that it's not that recent, but points out that they don't have another hour to find something better. Soul Patch retorts that they don't have an hour to waste on a wild goose chase either. For some reason that leads to Soul Patch decision to "put transmitters" on Kiefer and Charlie so they can analyze "all their interactions." "We can work it up in real time," says Soul Patch.
Bitchelle clack-clack-clacks off to the supply room, where Kiefer and Charlie are suiting up for the big confrontation. Kiefer has slipped on a barn jacket from J. Crew, while Special Agent Charlie Brown is keeping it all about the old-school classics in an L.L. Bean duck-hunting jacket. They select guns while Bitchelle hands them a dossier on Patient Zero and a case full of other necessary items. I guess that's where the transmitter is kept. On their way out, Spawn hands Special Agent Charlie Brown a medical kit that health services put together for them and tells him to be careful. It's like a samurai film where the pretty daughter of the landowner kisses the sword of the poor humble samurai and he heads into battle. They're about to have a moment, but Kiefer tells Charlie abruptly that it's time to go. Out in the parking lot, Kiefer starts to brief Charlie Brown about the setup at Patient Zero's address, but Charlie Brown cuts him off. "I know Spawn told you about us," he says. "I wanted to tell you myself but I just couldn't find the right time." And by not being able to "find the right time," Charlie Brown really means that he couldn't manage to convince Spawn to table the discussion for a day or two. "I just thought you should know," continues Charlie to an uninterested Kiefer. "It's getting serious." Kiefer is all, "That's what she said." Failing to get a reaction either way from Kiefer, Charlie Brown has no choice but to get into the Season Three Kiefmobile with him and head out toward Patient Zero's lair.
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.
The time is 02:24:36 AM. Vaselino leads two armed guards to Hartmano's cell -- the cleanest and most freshly painted jail cell I've ever seen, even on TV -- where they pull him out, put him up against a wall, and try to beat some information out of him with their nightsticks. "What is your slimeball brother trying to do?" asks Vaselino, as guards hit Hartmano with the butts of their batons. Hartmano evades the subject by asking how his brother is doing and wondering what to get him for his birthday. Vaselino warns Hartmano that he may never get out of there as long as he keeps "talking trash." Hartmano retorts that he might go free for some unexpected reason and that Vaselino might come looking for him if that happened. "Especially after the death of your wife, Elyce, and your two boys," taunts Hartmano. Vaselino rushes up to Hartmano and tries to strangle him. The time is 02:26:16 AM.
The time is 02:30:40 AM. Kiefer and Charlie continue towards their destination in the Kiefmobile, Kyle and his girlfriend make out, and Hartmano is back in his cell. Back at the USC auditorium, Palmer is fielding questions from the press as Brother Palmer talks on the phone with Soul Patch, who informs him that there's no new news to forward onto the president, except that Kiefer just left to go follow up on a lead on Patient Zero. Brother Palmer hangs up just as Palmer cuts it short with the press. Brother Palmer tells Palmer that the press conference went well. Oh, like he'd know when he was on the phone the entire time. He also relays the information from CTU about the V-I-R-U-S to Palmer. Palmer asks if they know who's behind the threat. Brother Palmer tells him about Hartmano's brother and suggests to Palmer that it might all be a bluff. "Dropping off a dead body is one thing," says Brother Palmer. "But infecting an entire city? That's something different."
Palmer asks Brother Palmer about the "opportunity" they spoke about earlier. Brother Palmer doesn't think they should discuss that matter right now. Palmer asks Brother Palmer if it's because he's doing something that Palmer would disapprove of. Brother Palmer explains that he just didn't want to divert Palmer's attention with everything that's going on right now. "I can walk and chew gum at the same time," says Palmer, amused by Brother Palmer's obvious lie. Brother Palmer finally gives it up that they have an opportunity to see Keeler's debate play book so they know how Keeler is going to try to trip Palmer up on the issues. "How would we get it?" asks Palmer. "You don't need to know the details," says Brother Palmer. Palmer is shocked that Brother Palmer would ever imagine that Palmer would approve of a deceitful plan like that. "I'm not talking about pulling a 'Sherry' and stealing it," says Brother Palmer, totally confirming that he's this year's Sherry. "It may just drop in our laps and if it does, why shouldn't we look at it?" Palmer tells Brother Palmer to stop thinking like someone in the "private sector." "You have to get used to how my administration works." Brother Palmer argues that he just wants to give Palmer's administration "four more years," but agrees to drop it when Palmer gives him the Indian-Chief-crying-because-of-the-litter morality stare. But we know Brother Palmer is not dropping it.
Back at CTU -- more specifically, the infamous women's bathroom of CTU -- Bitchelle removes her wedding ring and places it on the mirror's stainless steel ledge as she washes her hands. Spawn enters and washes her hands in the sink. Bitchelle asks her if she's all caught up with her work. Spawn replies that she's finished everything, except she still needs to "refresh the drive" on her father's "panel." As Bitchelle dries her hands with a paper towel, Spawn asks her if she has problems working in the same office as Mr. Soul Patch. Mrs. Soul Patch replies that it's not a problem, but wants to know why Spawn is asking her a question like that. Spawn tells Mrs. Soul Patch about her relationship with Special Agent Charlie Brown and how Kiefer doesn't like it. Bitchelle tells Spawn that Kiefer is simply trying to protect Spawn. "But ultimately," says Bitchelle, "it's just between you and Charlie Brown." The ladies get back to work. On the way back to her desk, Bitchelle runs into Soul Patch, who tells her that some analysis people have determined that Brother Hartmano is probably operating out of Northern Mexico, and they're going to need a list of his properties down there. Mrs. Soul Patch tells Mr. Soul Patch that Potato Face is working on it. Soul Patch heads over to Chloe's desk, but first asks Mrs. Soul Patch to "fire up the contacts" in Northern Mexico for word on Brother Hartmano's location.
Meanwhile, at Rancho Narcotico, Brother Hector is talking to his surveillance guy about "the boy's" whereabouts. By the way, the surveillance guy is not the same Billy Bob Thornton look-alike who drove the van that blew up the Health Services door as I said in the last recap. My bad. The surveillance guy assures Brother Hector that "the boy" is in place and they have their eye on him. Brother Hector asks about Palmer. Surveillance Guy tells Hector that Palmer knows about the V-I-R-U-S but he's not canceling the debate. "He's got some cojones, I'll give him that," says Hector. Yes, he actually said the Spanish word for "balls." "Let's see what kind of tough guy he is when he has a couple of million lives on the line." He gets off the phone and looks around the corner just in time to see this wife, PoorMan'sAngelinaJolie, and his father-in-law, Juan Voight, having a heated discussion in really really poor Spanish. It's like they've consulting Berlitz Phrase Books in order to have this fight. Hector pull Angelina aside and asks her why she is fighting with her father. Angelina tells Hector that Juan Voight doesn't approve of the way she is living her life. Hector calls Juan Voight over and asks him if he thinks that Angelina is too good for him. Juan Voight is all, "No, señor!" with his hat in his hands and everything. Hector walks back over to Angelina and gives her a Lifetime Network smack upside the head, and tells her not to ever raise her voice to her father again. Angelina smacks him right back. "How I conduct myself with my father is my concern," says Angelina. "Not yours!" She stomps away from him, but he pulls her back and gives her a Lifetime Network post-battery kiss on her lips. Juan Voight looks away in disgust. Hector tells Angelina to tell the maid to prepare supper.
Back at CTU, Potato Face calls Soul Patch to tell him she just heard from Kiefer, who told her to tell him that they won't be using the transmitters because it will take too long to wire them up. Soul Patch tells Potato Face that she'd better keep him up to date on anything that Kiefer finds and reports to her. "Got it?" asks Soul Patch. "Oh, okay, you don't have to yell," says Potato Face, in spite of the fact that Soul Patch wasn't yelling. Soul Patch tells her that he wasn't yelling, but they've only got three hours to connect Hartmano to the virus so he needs to her keep him up to date. Potato Face is all, "I said 'okay'."
Meanwhile, Kiefer and Charlie reach the building -- a dilapidated old downtown L.A. pre-war high rise with art deco details. Their LAPD contact -- a handsome black man -- is waiting for them, and they all introduce themselves. HandsomeBlackManDuJour informs them that no one has gone in or out of the building since they got there, and points out for them the outside window of the apartment where Patient Zero lived. "How much back-up do you want?" he asks. Kiefer tells HandsomeBlackManDuJour that he only needs enough people to cover the exits, because he'd rather just he and Charlie went in without setting off any alarms. "You sure about that?" asks HandsomeBlackManDuJour. Kiefer tells him that he'll radio him if he needs him. Kiefer and Charlie go in with guns cocked. The time is 02:38:49 PM.
The time is 02:43:16 AM. Klockwise from the top left, Angelina and Juan Voight exchange uncomfortable looks, Hector stands inside the Hacienda deep in thought, and Kiefer and Charlie Brown enter what looks like a Crack Den. In the Crack Den, it really is a crack den with garbage everywhere and alternative music playing. People's doors are opened because they're too stoned to think to close and lock them. Kiefer spies a girl, in her apartment, shooting heroin in between her toes. Kiefer keeps staring at her. Either he's longing to be in her position (i.e., in possession of a hit of smack) or he's trying to get pointers on how to shoot up between your toes, since it's such a smart way to do heroin because you can hide your track-marks under a pair of shoes. They reach a doorway where they hear a lot of activity, and try to enter. A big shady-looking guy tries to block their entry, claiming that this area isn't "open to the public." Kiefer and Charlie slam him up against the wall as Kiefer explains that they're not looking to take anyone down. "We just want a little information," says Kiefer. With the guard restrained, Kiefer walks into the forbidden corridor. As Kiefer reaches a door, the guard shouts out a warning to his buddy. Charlie knocks the guard unconscious and Kiefer runs, shooting, into the forbidden room. A drug dealer -- you can tell he deals drugs because there's a giant bong on his kitchen counter -- shoots him right back with a huge piece. Kiefer gets out of the way just in time. More men emerge from the shadows of the forbidden apartment. Charlie comes over for back-up, and there's a big shoot-out where lots of people get shot and die who aren't Kiefer and Charlie Brown.
Kiefer notices someone escaping and goes after the runner. He follows him down some stairs, passing some faded gilt interior molding, and catches up with him in the balcony of some august rotunda. After a heated exchange of gunfire, Kiefer disarms his pursuee and gets him where he wants him. "I'm clean!" protests the runner, a guy who looks like Daryl Hall. "Shut up, stupid," says Kiefer. "You just fired at a federal agent!" Charlie Brown runs over, and they ask Daryl Hall what he knows about Goss, a.k.a. Patient Zero. "Goss is a dealer," says Daryl. "I score from him from time to time." "Not anymore," says Kiefer. "He's dead." Kiefer asks who Goss's supplier was. Daryl refuses to answer, and I have to point out that it's really unusual for junkies to know who supplies their dealers. Suppliers are really cagey about people knowing their identities, because that's who the feds are dying to arrest and dealers don't like their customers knowing where they can get uncut drugs at wholesale prices. Nevertheless, Kiefer tortures him by stepping on what looks to be his gunshot-wounded knee. Daryl screams in pain for a few moments and then finally tells them that Goss's dealer was a man from Tijuana named Carlos Corretja. Kiefer explains to Charlie Brown that Corretja was a mid-level dealer for Hartmano's family. He asks Darryl if he's doing business with Corretja. "I'm supposed to call him tonight," gasps Daryl. He explains that Corretja wanted him to find a mule, "someone clean, without a record." Kiefer asks him what he wanted someone clean for. "He wanted to move a small bag of coke across the border," says Daryl. "It didn't make any sense to me." He explains that he paid ten thousand dollars for the bag, but coke isn't normally worth that much. Kiefer asks him where the coke is now. Darryl answers that it's still with the clean guy who brought it across the border, whose name is -- ta da! -- Kyle Singer. Oh, and I think this Daryl guy is really Zach.
Meanwhile, "the boy" is still in his apartment, watching Mama Diabetes trying to persuade the landlord not to evict them. But the landlord is immune to such pleading; he hands Mama Diabetes a "final notice" and informs her that she has to pay her rent by tomorrow morning or he's calling the marshals to start the eviction process. Mama Diabetes pleads that she'll have the money in a "couple days." Kyle runs back to his bedroom and removes a wad of cash from his gym bag. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, a poor man's Jennie Garth, is in his bed, sitting topless in a fetal position like she had some really bad sex with Kyle a moment ago. She watches him count up some money. When he leaves the room again, she stares at the gym bag really hard. Kyle asks his mother how much money they need. Mama Diabetes tells him they owe $1,800, but not to worry about a thing because they're going to talk to a rich uncle soon. Kyle runs after the landlord with his wad of cash. Meanwhile, PoorMan'sJennieGarth wanders over to the gym bag whilst putting her bikini top on. She fishes around inside and finds the big Ziploc bag of V-I-R-U-S coke and caresses it with her nails. Meanwhile, Kyle gives the full amount to the landlord and tells him to talk to either him or his dad if they have another problem with the rent. "Where did you get that money?" asks Mama Diabetes as Kyle goes back inside the house. Kyle doesn't answer her.
Back at CTU, Soul Patch has an announcement. Everyone on the floor is to start gathering information about Kyle Singer. "Everything there is to know about Kyle Singer, I want it: where he lives, where he works and more importantly, where he is right now," says Soul Patch, snapping his fingers. "Let's go." The time is 02:48:56 PM.
The time is 02:53:20 PM. Klockwise from the top left, Palmer and Brother Palmer walk around the USC auditorium, Spawn gathers information about "that boy," Soul Patch looms over Spawn's desk, and Hartmano rots in jail. Over at the Cocaine Condo, Kyle's girlfriend is putting on her clothes and packing. "I can't believe you're this stupid, Kyle," she says, piling her possessions into a Coach beach bag. "So this is how you're going to help your family?" she says. "By dealing drugs?" Kyle explains that he's not dealing, he's just making a delivery. "It's quick money, which my folks need right now," says Kyle. "Where are your parents going to get the money to bail you out of jail, Kyle?" asks PoorMan'sJennieGarth, which is such a stupid line. I mean, bail is merely a loan. What will really break Kyle's family are the attorney's fees. Kyle admits that he was stupid to enter into a situation like this, but now that he's in it, he has no choice but to go through with tonight's delivery. "I promise you, it will be over after that." Poor Jenny is undeterred. "I'm not waiting until tonight. It's over now," she says heading for the door. "I can't be with someone who does stuff like this." Despite his pleading, she leaves. Meanwhile, Mama Diabetes demands an explanation for what is going on. Kyle tells her to forget about it and stomps back into his room. So let this be a lesson for the kids out there. Don't deal drugs. If you do, you won't get any tail and your mom will bug you about stuff. Also? The drugs you are dealing could contain a deadly virus and you'd feel really guilty for introducing a Type III pneumonic virus into the L.A. population.
Back at the USC auditorium, Aaron, the Secret Service guy, who really is the butler as far as this episode is concerned, leads Palmer into a private dining room, where Dr. Anne is alone and waiting for him. Palmer apologizes to her for not being able to join her for lunch, and instead picks her brain about Type III pneumonic viruses. Dr. Anne doesn't know much, because they're new viruses, although she does know that most of them are fast-acting and all of them are deadly. Palmer informs her that someone is threatening to release one in L.A. "Oh God!" exclaims Dr. Anne. Palmer wants her to talk to Dr. Hazel Mat and learn more about this particular virus. Dr. Anne says she'll get in touch with Hazel, but more importantly, she feels that Palmer needs to get out of town if there's even a remote possibility of mass infection in the L.A. area. "This isn't something the Secret Service can protect you against," she says. Palmer swears to her that they'll leave as soon as the "situation warrants," but now he needs her to talk to Hazel and learn everything she can about the V-I-R-U-S. They hold each other until there's a knock on the door. It's Aaron the butler again. He wants to let Palmer know that Brother Palmer wants to speak to him urgently. Palmer tells him to send him up, but Aaron tells Palmer that Brother Palmer wants Palmer to come to him. "He has something to show you." Dr. Anne tells Palmer to go meet with his brother while she calls Dr. Hazel. They kiss goodbye in front of Aaron and everything.
Outside the Crack Den, Kiefer has Daryl brought back to CTU and set up in a "white room." He tells Special Agent Charlie Brown to go back to CTU and try to get more information out of Daryl. Special Agent Charlie Brown doesn't want to go back to CTU. He wants to be out in the field like the rest of the field agents. He accuses Kiefer of trying to get rid of him. "Are you punishing me for dating your daughter?" Kiefer tells him he can't have it both ways. He can either date Spawn or live the dangerous life of a field agent, but he can't do both. "And that's an order," says Kiefer, spinning off in the Kiefmoble.
The time is 02:58:30 PM. Palmer approaches Brother Palmer's office. "What is it?" he asks. Brother Palmer slides a folder at him and tells him to look at it. Palmer is pissed off that Brother Palmer went ahead and got a copy of the debate playbook. Brother Palmer tells him to read it anyhow. "There's something in there you need to see," says Brother Palmer. "It's about Dr. Anne." Palmer maintains that Keeler would never play the "race card" or the "girlfriend card." "It's neither one of those, so that's why I'm giving these to you," says Brother Palmer. Apparently there's something they didn't know about Dr. Anne that could damage the campaign. But they're not going to tell us until the episode…I mean, "hour." The screen splits as Palmer stares Brother Palmer down. Other images appear: Dr. Anne alone in the dining room, Kyle stroking his bag of V-I-R-U-S coke, Felipe Hartmano being led to a new cell, the PowerPoint presentation with all of the death statistics on it, and Kiefer driving the Kiefmobile to its destination.
The phone rings in the surveillance guy's room, wherever that is. He answers it. It's Hector, wanting an update. Surveillance Guy tells Hector that Kyle is still home and still has "de package," and that Felipe Hartmano is waiting to come home. They hang up, and the camera pulls back to show us more of Surveillance Guy's surroundings. They look awfully familiar, don't they? He types some more directions on the computer and turns his attention to a video feed of the inside of CTU. How is he getting access to the surveillance cameras of CTU? He steps away from the computer and pushes a red button that opens the door for him so he can leave. He walks down an even more familiar-looking hall and walks toward a floor painting of the CTU seal. He is inside CTU. Spawn calls him Gael and discusses Whatever Technology with him. Gael works for CTU. He's the mole! The time is 02:59:58…02:59:59…03:00:00 PM.