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FADE IN:

EXT. LAX - RUNWAY

Jack and Curtis are giving instructions to a pilot.

JACK

After the gas has been released into the air, you’ll have approximately three minutes to get out of the plane. Make sure your chemical suit is air tight.

The pilot nods and gets into the plane, clad in a protective suit.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU HOLDING ROOM 2

TONY

Come on. Just call him.

AUDREY

I can’t…not right now…he’s busy.

TONY

If he doesn’t have time to talk he won’t let you distract him. Like you said yourself, he may be gone before you get another chance.

AUDREY

Alright. I’m going to go to the room across the hall…I’ll be right back.

Tony nods.

BACK TO:

EXT. LAX - RUNWAY

Jack and Curtis are standing outside the plane when the pilot buzzes in on Jack’s earpiece.

PILOT (O.C.)

Agent Bauer, we’ve got a problem.

JACK

What’s wrong?

PILOT (O.C.)

The engine won’t start…it’s been disabled until the time of the launch.

Jack and Curtis run over to the front of the plane and take a look.

JACK

Can we hotwire it?

CURTIS

Not without activating the launch.

JACK

Can we keep it disabled?

PILOT

No. There’s nothing we can do to keep it from going off.

Suddenly, we see JACK staring over at another plane.

JACK

That’s not exactly true.

Curtis stares at Jack, confused. Suddenly, he gets a pained look on his face as he realizes what Jack is thinking.

BACK TO:

INT. CTU - UPSTAIRS OFFICE

Audrey takes a deep breath before dialing Jack’s number.

JACK (O.S.)

This is Bauer.

AUDREY

Jack, it’s me.

SPLIT WITH:

EXT. LAX - RUNWAY

We see the ANGUISH on Jack’s face when he hears her voice.

JACK

What’s going on?

AUDREY

I…I know it’s not the time, but with everything that’s happened today, I’m afraid I won’t get the chance again, so I want you to know that I love you, and wherever you go I’m going with you.

JACK

Audrey, I’m sorry, but you can’t.

AUDREY

Look, Jack, I know we have a lot to talk about, and I know you don’t want to put me in danger, but it’s a risk I have to take, because I can’t stand the thought of losing you again…I want to be with you, and I don’t care how dangerous it is.

Jack sighs and does not respond.

AUDREY

Jack, please, say something.

JACK

I’m…I’m not coming back.

AUDREY

(nervously)

What do you mean?

JACK

The engine on this plane is disabled…there’s no way to get this plane in the air, so we’re going to have to disarm it.

AUDREY

Okay…did you update CTU? We’ll send a specialty team.

JACK

It’s not that simple. We can’t disable the engine from here without setting off the launch sequence. The only way to stop this thing from going off is to evacuate the area and then crash another plane into this one before it’s set to go off.

AUDREY

No…no!

JACK

I wish there was another option but there isn’t.

AUDREY

Jack, this isn’t your job…you don’t have to do this…you can’t do this…please, Jack…

cut to:

INT. HOLDING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Tony watches through the window as Audrey becomes
increasingly hysterical.

He watches her hang up the phone and lean her head against the wall, tears streaming down her cheeks.

He walks out toward the hall and motions to the guard, who comes into the room.

TONY

I know you’re supposed to keep me here, but can I please go across the hall and see if she’s okay? You can go with me if you need to.

GUARD

I’m sorry, sir…my orders are to keep you here until the crisis is averted.

Tony sighs, frustrated.

Audrey looks up and sees Tony talking to the guard. He motions for her to come back into the room.

She wipes her eyes and tries to get a grip as she walks back over.

The guard watches for a minute but accepts her non-verbal signal to give them a minute and closes the door.

TONY

What’s going on?

(no response)

Is Jack trying to do something that’s going to get him killed?

Audrey nods, sobbing hard.

AUDREY

They can’t seem to disable the engine or stop the launch sequence…the only way to do it is to hit it with another plane before it’s set to take off.

Tony suddenly becomes indignant and determined.

tony

Audrey, listen to me. I swear to you on my life that I will not let Jack get on that plane, but I need your help.

AUDREY

I don’t understand.

TONY

I’ll explain in a minute, but first I need you to commission a chopper and tell them it’s urgent, then find a way to get me out of here.

Audrey hesitates for a moment as she realizes what he is thinking.

TONY

Come on. If we’re going to do this we’ve got to act quickly.

She looks at him and realizes that his confidence and sense of purpose seem to have returned upon hearing what she told him. Not having enough time to fully think things through, she decides that’s enough for her to be able to go along with what he’s asking her to do.