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TONY

I think we need to tell your father about the transactions.

AUDREY

You don’t know my dad as well as you think, okay? You don’t know him as well as I do…

TONY

I know what it’s like to be the quote-on-quote “good child”,
the one who played by the rules and didn’t get into trouble all the time like my brother Marco, who had been in and out of juvenile detention three times by the time he was eighteen.

—-

AUDREY

Jack, they…they took my brother.

JACK

Who? Who took your brother?

(pause)

Audrey, come on…I know this is hard, but you’ve got to work with me right now…who took your brother?

AUDREY

I…I don’t know…someone called me from his phone and they threatened to kill him…

JACK

Do you trust me?

Audrey hesitates for a moment, then nods ever so slightly and speaks quietly but decisively.

AUDREY

Yes.

—-

TONY

I just want to make sure you understand that the best chance we have of finding Richard is if you tell us everything you know and trust our people to handle it. No matter what happens, don’t try to handle it alone.

AUDREY

There were a few other questions they asked…a few really personal questions about my relationship with Jack, and they also wanted my checking account number.

—-

EDGAR

Someone uplinked footage from the security camera the day Jack disappeared.

CHLOE

(into phone)

Whoever sent it used an anonymous login…we matched the intended recipient to a name, although it’s probably either an alias or someone whose computer was hijacked.

JACK

Who was it?

CHLOE

Some guy in Arlington named Tad Williams…he’s not showing up in any of our databases and a background check didn’t raise any flags.

JACK

Hold on? Did you just say Tad Williams?

—-

Curtis continues rummaging through the papers in the drawer.
Suddenly, he notices something sticking out beneath the drawer liner, which is glued to the bottom of the drawer. He carefully peels off the liner and finds several photographs underneath. He is shocked to see Tony, Michelle, and President Palmer in the pictures. Curtis continues looking for additional photos. Suddenly, an EXPLOSION is heard.

The following takes place between 2 PM and 3 PM on the day of the Presidential Inauguration:

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. WAREHOUSE - PASADENA, CA - 11:00:01 LOCAL TIME

CAMERA FOLLOWS CURTIS MANNING as he runs out into the work area and sees Agent Joffey pulling a charred body away from a flaming car.

CURTIS

What happened?

AGENT JOFFEY

Howard went to try to open the car and it exploded.

CURTIS

Jesus Christ. Does he have a pulse?

JOFFEY

Not that I can feel.

CURTIS

Alright, bring him over here.

They lay AGENT HOWARD BERN’S body down on the ground and examine it.

JOFFEY

Howard, can you hear me?

No response. Joffey checks for a pulse and a heartbeat.

JOFFEY

(voice shaky)

He’s dead.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE: CONFERENCE ROOM

CHASE EDMUNDS is briefing TONY ALMEIDA on what CTU Los Angeles found at the warehouse. Tony has a distraught look on his face.

TONY

I don’t understand…there were pictures of me, Michelle, and President Palmer…but not Jack?

CHASE

Not that they could find…I asked.

TONY

And none of Chloe?

CHASE

No.

Tony puts his hands in his face and sighs, looking utterly spent and ready to give up.

CUT TO:

OMITTED INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE: MAIN FLOOR - CONTINUOUS

CTU Analyst TINA DOWNEY approaches Tony.

TINA

Mr. Almeida, Susan wanted me to let you know that Xing Shin had arrived.

TONY

Where is he?

TINA

He just cleared security.

TONY

Alright, thanks.

Tony walks over to the entrance, where Xing is being escorted by two guards, looking terrified.

TONY

I’ll assume custody from here. Thank you.

The guard nods. Tony motions for Xing to follow him.

XING

Tony, what’s going on? They said Richard’s been kidnapped.

TONY

Yeah.

XING

(close to tears)

I don’t understand…Secret Service picked him up…I was there…

TONY

Unfortunately, it appears that someone posing as Secret Service got to him first.

Xing looks horrified and shaken up. Tony escorts him to a holding room and motions for him to have a seat.

TONY

Listen, I know you had nothing to do with what happened to Richard, but it’s standard procedure to use a polygraph whenever we question a witness. You were the only one we know of who’s likely to know any details of how he was taken, and I ask that you cooperate in order to maximize our chances of finding Richard, alright?

Xing nods slowly, looking intimidated.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE: UNDERGROUND BUNKER

AUDREY

(on phone)

No, I don’t want to put a freeze on the account…I understand that…I’ll sign a waiver of liability if you need me to…I need you to keep the account active and notify me of any activity immediately…I’ll go through law enforcement channels if I have to.

She hangs up. JACK BAUER enters the room.

JACK

Hey…any attempts to access your account?

Audrey sighs.

AUDREY

No. The woman at the bank was giving me a hard time…she wanted to freeze the account because she’s afraid I’ll sue them if someone makes an unauthorized transaction.

JACK

I’ll call Tony and have him call from CTU and make sure they don’t freeze it.

AUDREY

Thanks.

JACK

Listen, I hate to add to everything you’re dealing with right now, but CTU Los Angeles found something I thought you should know about.

AUDREY

What’s going on?

JACK

Chloe and Edgar discovered that someone at CTU or Division sent what they believe is footage of us together from the security camera in the clinic after your abduction to an IP address that they identified as belonging to Tad Williams.

AUDREY

WHAT???

JACK

I don’t know what this is about…CTU is looking into it now…I just thought you should know.

AUDREY

Do you think that has something to do with why the terrorists who called me asked about us?

JACK

It might…although I have no idea why our relationship is of interest to these terrorists.

AUDREY

I don’t either.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE: MAIN FLOOR

CTU Director SUSAN WALKER walks over to the COMM department.

SUSAN

Scott, did you get a hold of Secret Service?

SCOTT

Yeah, I told them they needed to up President Palmer’s protection…I’m waiting for confirmation that they did it.

The phone rings.

SCOTT

That’s probably them now.

(into phone)

CTU, Marshall. Here, to CTU? Alright, let me check.

He puts the phone on hold and turns to Susan.

SCOTT

Secret Service alerted President Palmer of the threat and that they plan to increase his protection level, and he asked if he could come here, to CTU.

SUSAN

Why does he want to do that?

SCOTT

He thinks he may be able to help us identify the source of the threat. He wants to sit down with Tony Almeida and see if they can’t put their heads together and figure out who’s threatening them. He wants me to check with you to make sure he wouldn’t be stepping on anyone’s toes.

Susan sighs, looking uneasy for a minute, then nods.

SUSAN

No, of course not.

SCOTT

Alright.

INT. WHITE HOUSE: PRESS ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Acting President JAMES HELLER is addressing a crowd of reporters.

HELLER

About an hour and a half ago, my son was abducted by terrorists posing as Secret Service agents.

His announcement elicits gasps from the reporters in the room. His statement continues in the background as the CAMERA PANS TO Patricia, who is standing off to the side of the podium. A reporter approaches.

PATRICIA

You’ll get a chance to ask questions during the briefing just like everyone else.

REPORTER

I’m doing this as a favor, and I hope that you’ll remember this next time you have a tip.

PATRICIA

What are you talking about?

REPORTER

You need to listen to this.

He gives her a headset. She listens, disturbed by what she hears.

PATRICIA

Do all of the media outlets have this?

REPORTER

I don’t know. We got an anonymous envelope a little while ago with this tape.

Patricia motions for Mike Novick to come over. Mike listens to the tape and whispers something to the reporter.

PATRICIA

I want you to stick around and brief the president when he’s done his statement. If he finishes before I get back get him away from the reporters and tell them I’ll be there shortly. I want to give Audrey a heads-up.

Mike nods. Patricia walks out into the hallway.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE: HOLDING ROOM

TONY

So he refused to take you with him?

XING

Yeah, the Secret Service guy said he was only authorized to take Richard…Richard started to argue but I reminded him that he promised Audrey he’d cooperate.

TONY

Did you speak to him at any time after that?

XING

No, I tried to call him a few times but I couldn’t get through. The cell phone circuits were overloaded after President Logan collapsed…Richard had trouble even getting through to Audrey to find out what was going on.

TONY

Yeah, I know…we were both trying to get a hold of him for a while. Did the man who picked up Richard give any idea where he was going?

XING

No…he said an undisclosed location.

Tony’s phone rings.

TONY

Excuse me.

He walks out into the observing area.

TONY

Almeida.

INTERCUT: INT. CTU / INT. PENTAGON

MICHELLE

Tony, it’s me.

TONY

Hey…what’s going on? Did you hear back from the police?

MICHELLE

Yeah…from the preliminary analysis, it looks like Sergio didn’t die as a result of the car being hit.

TONY

What do they think caused his death?

Michelle takes a deep breath, fighting back tears.

MICHELLE

They think it may be chemical poisoning.

TONY

What kind of chemical?

MICHELLE

Some kind of chemical agent…they think it may even be VX.

TONY

VX???

MICHELLE

They don’t know for sure yet…I told him to send what he had to CTU…make sure they did that.

TONY

Alright.

MICHELLE

I don’t understand this…why would anyone want to kill Sergio?

Tony sighs.

TONY

I don’t know exactly how to tell you this, but I don’t think Sergio was the target.

MICHELLE

What do you mean?

TONY

Curtis went to check out a warehouse in Pasadena that we linked to the terrorists Jack and Chase took down at L’Enfant Plaza, and they found pictures of us in the drawers of the office.

MICHELLE

What?

TONY

We don’t know who these guys are yet or why they’re interested in us, but there were pictures of President Palmer too.

MICHELLE

What about Chloe?

TONY

No, none of Chloe…that’s what’s strange about this. Listen, I called PFPA and asked them to send two agents to keep an eye on you until we figure out what the hell is going on.

MICHELLE

Okay.

TONY

Be careful, alright?

MICHELLE

Yeah. You too.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - UNDERGROUND BUNKER

Jack and Audrey are watching the speech. Audrey struggles to focus on reading the latest intelligence brief while Jack checks the status report from NSA on a laptop.

AUDREY

So how was your conversation with your daughter? It must have been good to talk to her.

JACK

Yeah. Yeah, it was…it was so good to hear her voice.

AUDREY

That’s great. You must be really excited to see her later.

JACK

(vaguely)

Yeah.

AUDREY

You don’t sound so sure.

JACK

I guess I’m just nervous…I haven’t seen her in three years, and I guess I feel a little guilty…I can’t help but feel like I abandoned her. When the aide came to tell me she was on the phone earlier, I realized I didn’t even know her number.

Audrey places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

AUDREY

You didn’t abandon her, Jack. You did what you had to.

JACK

That doesn’t make it okay.

Audrey’s phone rings before she can respond.

INT. CTU WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE PAN CTU INTERIOR:

People can be seen typing frantically. Phones are heard in the background.

FOLLOW Chase as he walks across the floor.

CHASE

(into phone)

Alright, we’ll keep you posted.

He hangs up and approaches Tony.

CHASE

Any update from Michelle on your car?

TONY

No, not yet. But we need to start investigating this…if there’s any possibility that someone’s in possession of VX we have to be prepared.

CHASE

I don’t disagree, but we’re overextended here. The network breach has essentially made DOD useless, and between the air traffic attack, President Logan collapsing, and Richard Heller’s abduction, we’re stretched thin. I just got off the phone with Jack, and he said there’ still been no contact from the kidnappers…something’s not right here. Why would they wait so long?

TONY

I’ve been wondering the same thing.

CHASE

Do you think it’s possible that the abduction has some objective other than to use the kid as leverage?

TONY

What do you mean?

CHASE

We’ve been acting under the assumption that someone was using you and Audrey and Michelle and President Palmer to get to Jack…but what if it’s the other way around? What if they’re using Jack and the people connected to him as a diversion for their true objective?

TONY

I guess that’s possible…what do you think their objective is?

CHASE

Given what Michelle told you, I think it could be some kind of chemical attack.

TONY

Geez…I guess it’s possible, but that still doesn’t explain why they haven’t gone after Chloe, nor does it explain why the terrorists were interested in Jack and Audrey’s relationship.

CHASE

Or her bank information…if they wanted ransom money why would they be stupid enough to do it in a way that leaves a paper trail instead of demanding cash or a wire transfer?

TONY

Holy shit.

CHASE

What?

TONY

(panicked)

I think this could be some sort of a setup.

CHASE

What do you mean?

TONY

What if someone’s trying to make it look like Audrey had something to do with President Logan collapsing, and they’re using her bank transactions as evidence and her relationship with Jack to demonstrate a motive?

CHASE

How would her bank statements be evidence, unless they’re modified?

Tony sighs.

TONY

She’s been withdrawing large sums of money and giving it to me to make certain transactions she didn’t want disclosed to the public.

CHASE

What kind of transactions?

TONY

A variety of things. Nothing illegitimate or illegal but the fact that her bank statements show unusually large withdrawals of cash leaves her vulnerable…there’s no way to prove where the money went, and even if she tells the truth it looks sketchy…and my record doesn’t exactly help her establish credibility. G-d, how could I be so stupid? How the hell did I not see this coming?

CHASE

Come on, Tony. There’s no way you could have predicted any of this. And we don’t even know if you’re right.

TONY

I sure as hell hope I’m wrong, because if I’m right it’s going to be next to impossible to set the record straight.

FADE OUT.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - HALLWAY

HELLER

Let me get this straight. You’re telling me that someone’s trying to make it look like Audrey had something to do with all of this?

MIKE

We don’t know, sir. But I think it’s a possibility. The timing of the president’s collapse looks awfully convenient, and it’s a well known fact inside the Beltway that she’s tried many times to convince you to run for president. Add that to what was going on with Jack and you have a perfect conspiracy.

HELLER

What exactly are you suggesting? Are you trying to say that you think my daughter’s guilty of something?

MIKE

No, sir. I know that Audrey’s innocent, but if this is as bad as I think it could be, her innocence is going to be almost impossible to prove.

HELLER

Maybe I’m naive, but I always thought that in the United States, you prove guilt, not innocence.

MIKE

I’m not saying that whoever’s behind this will be able to produce enough evidence to convict her in a court of law. But in the court of public opinion, we both know it doesn’t work that way. And you can say you don’t care about public opinion, but with everything that’s happened today, a scandal like this could have people up in arms and destabilize the entire government if you don’t handle it properly.

Heller shakes his head in disbelief.

MIKE (CONT’D)

The worse you let this get, the worse it’s going to look, the harder it’s going to be to clear things up, and the more scrutiny and investigations your daughter will have to go through.

Heller looks shell-shocked.

MIKE

Mr. President, why don’t you sit down for a moment?

HELLER

I don’t want to sit down!

Mike realizes that Heller is starting to panic.

MIKE

Mr. President, with all due respect, it is imperative that you remain calm.

Heller looks at Mike as if he is insane.

HELLER

Remain calm? My son has been abducted by terrorists. Someone is trying to frame my daughter for an attempt to assassinate the president and you expect me to remain calm?

Heller storms off, his hands shaking. Mike cautiously follows him for a moment, then stays back and takes out his cell phone.

MIKE

(into phone)

Audrey, it’s Mike.

SPLIT SCREEN

AUDREY

What’s going on?

MIKE

Am I remembering correctly that your father has some kind of a heart condition?

AUDREY

(nervous)

Yeah, why? What’s going on? Is he okay?

MIKE

He’s alright for now, but he’s pretty worked up about what the press is reporting.

AUDREY

Make sure he took his nitroglycerin…I’ll be right there.

MIKE

No, you need to stay where you are. If you come up here you’ll be mobbed by the press and that’s almost certain to put your father over the top.

AUDREY

Alright. Call me the second you think anything may be wrong.

MIKE

Alright, I will.

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE: UNDERGROUND BUNKER - CONTINUOUS

Audrey hangs up the phone and turns to Jack.

AUDREY

Jack, you need to get out of here.

JACK

What do you mean, get out of here? Where do you want me to go?

AUDREY

I don’t care…you can go to the hotel or go pick up your daughter…but you have to go now.

JACK

Why are you so anxious to get rid of me all of a sudden?

AUDREY

Because if you’re here when my dad gets back he’s going to go off on you, and it’s going to get ugly, and that’s the last thing any of us needs right now.

JACK

Why is he going to go off on me?

She gives him a look that says “why do you think?”

JACK

Audrey, he’s known about our relationship since the day you were abducted.

AUDREY

It doesn’t matter. I know my dad…please, Jack, just go.

JACK

No. I’m not leaving you here to deal with him by yourself.

AUDREY

Jack, you promised that if I asked you would go.

JACK

I said I would go if you felt uncomfortable working together. I’m not leaving so you can take a bullet for me.

AUDREY

I’m not trying to…

JACK

Audrey, stop it. No matter what you say, I’m not going anywhere.

She sighs, not sure what else to say. He looks her straight in the eye and continues.

JACK

Whatever’s going on, we got in this together when we started seeing each other. And like it or not, we’re going to have to fix it together.

She puts her head down on the table and sighs, frustrated not at him but at the whole situation.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE - CONFERENCE ROOM

SUSAN

We’ve called in all backup security, and Secret Service will cover the outside of the building.

TONY

Alright. Make sure you have someone to coordinate. The last thing we need is to get into a catfight over jurisdiction.

SCOTT MARSHALL enters.

SCOTT

I just got off the phone with an ITS person at Chevy Chase Bank. They noticed some suspicious activity on their network a little while ago.

TONY

Did anyone attempt to access Audrey’s account?

SCOTT

They don’t know. It’s a stealth script, and they don’t know exactly what it’s designed to do. But it looked like a whole bunch of customer records were simultaneously modified, and the logs showed that the modifications were made under a login that belonged to someone who died a few weeks ago.

TONY

Alright, get someone over there to investigate.

SUSAN

Mr. Almeida, we don’t have anyone who can do that here. This kind of investigation falls under the Cybercrimes Division.

TONY

Alright, get someone from there to check it out.

SUSAN

We’re working on it…like the rest of the federal government, they’re still calling in everyone who had the day off and trying to get back up to full staff capacity…

TONY

How long will it take for them to get someone there?

SUSAN

They said they should have someone thre within the next two hours…I told them that’s not good enough, but they’re doing everything they can to expedite the process.

CHASE

That’s way too long…for all we know the president’s son could already be dead. They could contact the White House with their demands at any moment…I’m amazed they haven’t already.

SUSAN

I don’t disagree with you, but I’m not sure what we can do. I called DOD to see if we could borrow someone from DISA but they have the same problem…they’re still short staffed.

CHASE

Tony, can I talk to you for a sec?

Tony sighs and follows Chase, not liking the direction this is going.

CHASE

Look, Tony…

TONY

NO! No way.

CHASE

Look, I know you’re afraid that someone may be targeting Michelle…

TONY

May be? We have multiple pieces of evidence to confirm it.

CHASE

I know. I don’t blame you for not wanting her to do this but we both know she has more experience than probably anyone in the region with viruses and cyber security breaches.

TONY

It’s not her job anymore, alright?

CHASE

I know. And nobody can compel her to do it, but if she were asked we both know how she would respond.

TONY

Fine. Don’t ask her.

CHASE

It’s not up to me, Tony. Susan’s briefing the White House now, and we both know Jack’s going to call her no matter what you say. So I’m going to send a strike team to secure the site now before she gets there,
alright?

TONY

Fine…tell them I’m going with them.

CHASE

You can’t. Richard’s friend Xing is going to be arriving any minute and we need you here to question him…you’re the only one here who knows him, and you’ll be able to judge better than anyone how to handle him.

TONY

Fine. But I want the bank completely cleared out and I want the area surrounding the bank monitored by satellite.

CHASE

Alright, I’ll have COMM take care of that.

Tony sighs and wipes his forehead.

INT. WHITE HOUSE - UNDERGROUND BUNKER

Audrey stares up at the TV screen for a minute, trying to hold it together.

CHRIS MATTHEWS (ON SCREEN)

So what do you think, Pete? Do you think the president’s daughter had something to do with President Logan collapsing?

PETE (ON SCREEN)

I’m not going to jump to any conclusions, Chris, but I think there are a lot of questions that have yet to be answered. It’s a fact that she was having an affair with Jack Bauer when he disappeared…The fact that Logan collapsed just as Bauer was about to be handed over to the Chinese is a pretty lucky coincidence. It’s also a fact that she’s been withdrawing unusually large sums of cash from her bank account, and that raises questions about where the money’s going…

CHRIS MATTHEWS (ON SCREEN)

So you think she paid someone to take out the president?

PETE (ON SCREEN)

I don’t know what she did. All I’m saying is she has the means and the motive to finance an attempt to take out President Logan, and she’s going to have to answer some questions.

CHRIS MATTHEWS (ON SCREEN)

But why doesn’t her brother’s abduction exonerate her? I mean, why would she want to have her own brother kidnapped?

PETE (ON SCREEN)

I’m not suggesting that she had anything to do with her brother’s kidnapping, but it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s innocent. There are a number of possibilities here…

Jack comes over and sits down next to Audrey.

JACK

I just got off the phone with Susan Walker at CTU…Chevy Chase Bank called to report a possible network breach…they don’t know if it has anything to do with your account but they’re going to investigate.

He looks up at the TV screen.

JACK

Come on. Let’s turn this off.

AUDREY

I can’t…I need to keep up with this.

JACK

No, you don’t. You have press people who are paid to listen to this bullshit.

AUDREY

Listen, I know you think this is just political nonsense, but right now, the public’s confidence is already shattered, and if we don’t get this situation under control, if people lose confidence in my dad’s ability to lead, there could be widespread panic and chaos.

JACK

I know.

AUDREY

Jack…

JACK

Audrey, forget it. I told you before, I’m not going anywhere.

AUDREY

I know. I just…no matter what my father says to you, I want you to know that I don’t blame you for any of this.

JACK

You have every right to.

AUDREY

Well, I don’t. It’s not your fault.

JACK

(softly, looking down)

Thank you.

Audrey tenses up and bites her nails when her father storms into the room.

AUDREY

Dad…

HELLER

Audrey, leave the room.

AUDREY

Dad, please…

HELLER

NOW!

She starts trembling and reluctantly obeys. Haunting music intensifies the tension in the room.

JACK

(nervously)

Mr. President, I just want to say how sorry I am…if I had any idea that any of this was going to happen…

HELLER

(angrily)

Then would you have thought twice before screwing around with my daughter?

JACK

Mr. President, with all due respect, I wasn’t scr…

HELLER

I don’t care what the hell you think you were doing, Jack.
The bottom line is, if you’d kept your hands to yourself none of this would have ever happened.

JACK

I understand that, sir, and I’m sorry. The last thing I ever wanted to do was cause her any pain.

HELLER

Well, whether you wanted to or not, you sure did a pretty good job of it.

JACK

(looking down)

I know.

CUT TO:

– OUTSIDE THE ROOM

Audrey blinks back tears as she hears her father yelling at Jack.

HELLER (O.S.)

Did you know that she cried herself to sleep for months after you disappeared? Do you have any idea how much she’s suffered as a result of your actions?

Audrey hears this and decides she can’t take anymore. She takes a deep breath and steels herself for battle as she charges into the room.

AUDREY

Dad, stop it.

HELLER

Audrey, I told you to leave the room!

Audrey shakes her head nervously.

AUDREY

Dad, please…

HELLER

He ruined your life, Audrey! Don’t you understand that? Don’t you remember how much pain he’s caused you?

AUDREY

(screaming over her father)

DAD, STOP IT!

Dead silence follows. Both Jack and Heller are shocked to see Audrey scream at her father like that, and she seems slightly shocked herself.
She quickly recovers and seizes the opportunity to speak, knowing it won’t last long.

AUDREY

Jack, could you give us a minute?

Jack nods and leaves the room. (Kelly Osbourne version of “Papa Don’t Preach” begins to play in the background).

AUDREY

Dad, I know that you’re upset, and I know how hard this is for you. I know that you’re ashamed of me, and I don’t blame you for not being able to look me in the eye. But this crisis isn’t Jack’s fault.

Heller sits down and wipes his brow, his rage turning to a feeling of defeat. Audrey sits down next to him and places her hand on his shoulder.

AUDREY

As hard as it is, you have to accept that I am a big girl, and I am capable of making my own decisions. There is nothing Jack and I did together that I didn’t want as much as he did or that I was any less a part of than he was. You have to stop seeing me as a fragile little girl who can do no wrong and needs to be protected from everything and everyone.

She grips his arm tightly.

AUDREY

If you get yourself worked up you could give yourself a heart attack, and there is nobody in line right now who could take your place if something happened to you. This country is counting on you, Dad…you have to lead…you have to.

He nods, still struggling to come to terms with what she is saying.

AUDREY

I know that I messed up, and I’m sorry. But I can’t change the things I’ve done or the decisions I’ve made.

Heller nods, still refusing to look up.

AUDREY

Please, Dad, say something.

HELLER

What do you want me to say? Nothing I say is going to change the reality of the situation.

She sits there for a moment trying to read his facial expression, wanting so badly for him to acknowledge her and show her some sign of acceptance, but resigning herself to the fact that it isn’t going to happen right now.

AUDREY

Nothing, nevermind. I’m going to go work out a press strategy with Patricia.

She glances back at him one final time as she leaves the room, trying desperately not to cry. He watches her go and sighs, wanting more than anything to give her a big hug and tell her that he loves her and he’ll stand by her no matter what, but is paralyzed by a feeling of being powerless to protect her.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT THREE

FADE IN: INT. WHITE HOUSE: CONFERENCE ROOM (UNDERGROUND)

Jack hangs up the phone as Audrey appears at the door. He motions for her to come in.

JACK

Hey.

AUDREY

Hey.

(pause)

I talked to Mike and Patricia, and we think the best thing to do is declassify as much information as we can to help clear things up and show that we have nothing to hide. So I need you to look through these documents and mark anything you don’t want declassified.

JACK

It’s not up to me…you don’t need my permission.

AUDREY

Some of these are your CTU files that you may want to share with the entire world…anything you’re uncomfortable with, I will fight to keep classified.

JACK

I appreciate your concern, but I trust your judgment. Just make sure you check with CTU to make sure none of it will compromise any current investigations. And when this crisis is over, I’ll do anything I can to help clear your name in all this…if you want me to do any interviews or produce any records…anything you think would help, let me know.

AUDREY

Thanks…I appreciate that.

An awkward silence follows, neither of them sure what to say.

AUDREY

My father was out of line before…he shouldn’t have said those things.

JACK

(bitterly)

He didn’t say anything I didn’t already know. I just wish you hadn’t come in and interfered before. I told you not to take the bullet for me.

AUDREY

I don’t believe this. Right now, my brother is missing, the news media is airing details of my private life and analyzing whether or not I was involved in a presidential assassination attempt, and my father won’t even look me in the eye…the last thing I need is grief from you on top of everything.

JACK

Yeah? Well the last thing I needed was grief when I was trying to stop terrorists from annihilating us with a nuclear missile, but that didn’t stop you.

Jack instantly regrets his words the second they leave his mouth. He feels a pit in his stomach when he sees her shell shocked expression.

JACK

I’m sorry…I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.

AUDREY

You don’t owe me an apology…just please, let me be alone for a minute, okay?

JACK

Yeah.

He sighs and leaves the room, silently cursing himself for what he said.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE: MAIN FLOOR

Tina is listening to the audio file that the terrorists sent to media outlets, trying to do a voice analysis.

AUDREY (O.S.)

Fine. Jack and I were together for about six months before he had to disappear. We started sleeping together after about 2 months…you do the math.

Tony is walking across the floor when he overhears this. He walks over to Tina.

TONY

What the hell are you doing?

TINA

I’m analyzing the recording to see if I can get a voice match.

TONY

(irritated)

Well, could you do it a little more discreetly, and put headphones on instead of airing that for the world to hear?

TINA

Alright, I’m sorry…I put it on the speakers so Scott could hear it too, in case he noticed anything I didn’t.

TONY

Look, if you can’t do your job give it to someone else, but don’t air something that nobody should have to listen to in the first place for everyone to hear.

TINA

Alright, I’m sorry…

Chase notices them arguing and motions for Tony to come over.

TONY

I’m sorry…I know you said go easy on her…Audrey’s like a sister to me, and I know she’d appreciate it if we were as discreet as possible with handling this tape.

CHASE

I understand. I’ll make sure it doesn’t get played out loud again.

TONY

Thanks.

Tony’s phone rings.

TONY

Almeida.

MICHELLE (O.S.)

Hey, it’s me.

TONY

Hey…are you at the bank?

SPLIT SCREEN

MICHELLE

No, not yet. I should be there in a few minutes.

TONY

Alright. I want you to call me as soon as you get there.

MICHELLE

Alright, I will. Listen, Tony, I know you’re worried, but I’m going to be fine. I’m just going to look at their computers…and if it makes you feel any better, I’m using Audrey’s car.

Tony chuckles slightly.

TONY

Make sure you get the sequence right when you get back in the car.

MICHELLE

Don’t worry, I’m not going to accidentally alert local and state authorities and have to prove I didn’t steal the car.

TONY

You and Audrey are never going to let me live that down, are you?

MICHELLE

Probably not.

Her tone becomes more serious.

MICHELLE

G-d, to think that before today we used to make fun of how overprotective her father was…

TONY

I know. I was just thinking the same thing.

MICHELLE

I have to go. I’m almost there.

TONY

Michelle, listen. I want you to promise me that if you feel at all uncomfortable or sense anything unusual, you’ll get out of there right away, even if you’re not done with what you’re doing.

Michelle sighs.

MICHELLE

Alright, I promise.

CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE: UNDERGROUND BUNKER

Jack is walking toward the elevator when he realizes he forgot something. CAMERA FOLLOWS him down the hall as he walks back to the conference room, stopping short when he hears Audrey talking on the phone.

AUDREY (O.S.)

I need a little bit longer than that…I have to figure out how I’m going to get past all these Secret Service agents. Alright, I’ll call you as soon as I’m out.

Jack waits for her to hang up, then enters the room abruptly,
startling her. They just stare at each other for a moment as she tries to read his face to see how much he overheard.

JACK

Where are you going?

Audrey is silent for a minute, trying to decide what to do.
Finally, she realizes that she can’t lie and decides to take a chance and tell him what’s going on.

AUDREY

I just got a call from Tad Williams.

JACK

What???

AUDREY

He says he has information that may help us find my brother but he can’t give it to me over the phone.

JACK

What kind of information? And if he knows anything why would he go out of his way to tell you?

AUDREY

He says that he helped dig up information about us and about my brother for what he thought was to be used as political leverage. He claims he had no idea that what he was doing was part of some terrorist conspiracy.

JACK

And you believe him?

Audrey sighs.

AUDREY

Tad Williams is a jerk, but I don’t think he’s a terrorist. And his story makes sense…he has every reason to want to humiliate me and have something to hold over my head.

JACK

What, because you weren’t willing to sleep with him to get a senator to vote for missile defense?

AUDREY

I know it sounds petty but that’s Washington for you. There are a lot of people with oversized egos in this town and Tad is one of them.

Jack wipes his forehead and sighs.

JACK

Where does he want you to meet him?

AUDREY

A parking garage near 16th and I.

JACK

How do you know this isn’t some kind of a setup?

AUDREY

(softly)

I…I don’t know. But it’s a chance I have to take.

Jack opens his mouth to protest but Audrey stops him.

AUDREY

Please, Jack. We both know that if you were in my situation, you’d go.

Jack is quiet for a minute as he considers.

JACK

Alright. Here’s how it’s going to work…I will help you get out of here, but I’m going with you to the garage, and I want CTU and Secret Service stationed in and around the garage.

AUDREY

No, you can’t…I have to be alone…and if we put Secret Service outside it’ll tip the press off that I’m inside.

JACK

Not if we do this right. Audrey, listen to me. We both know you’re never going to be able to get past Secret Service on your own, and if you do, they’ll lock down the entire city until they find you, which means diverting resources from finding your brother. So if you want to meet Tad you’ve got to work with him. I will help you but I am not going to let you put yourself in danger. So what’s it going to be?

AUDREY

We have to go now, before my dad gets out of his meeting.

JACK

Alright. Let’s go.

FADE OUT.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT FOUR

FADE IN: SUPER: EXT. 6TH & E STREETS

A black CTU vehicle pulls out of a parking garage and starts driving.

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. 6TH & E STREETS / INT. VEHICLE

CHASE

(on phone)

Alright, I got a schematic of the garage…we can have teams at both entrances and on the roof.

JACK (O.S.)

Negative. We need to be discreet. He wanted Audrey to come alone…if he sees CTU he may run.

CHASE

Alright, how do you want to play it?

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. 16TH STREET NW - CONTINUOUS

Jack is standing outside the vehicle looking around while talking to Chase.

JACK

I want as many vehicles with tinted windows as you can spare inside the garage, but they have to enter separately and make sure they look parked and empty. And I want you to station a team in the AFL-CIO driveway across the street…make it look like you’re part of their security apparatus.

CHASE (O.S.)

Alright, got it.

JACK

Did you get a feed of the garage’s surveillance cam?

INTERCUT:

CHASE

Scott’s working on that now. We’ve got satellite coverage in place, and Mollie’s doing a thermal scan of the building now.

JACK

Alright. I want Tony to run point.

CHASE

What about the Secret Service? Are they going to be on site too?

JACK

I’m working on it…I’m not going to give them our location until I can get the President to put them under my command…otherwise I’m afraid they’ll compromise our covert positions.

CHASE

Aren’t they going to notice that Audrey’s missing?

JACK

Mike’s covering for her until he can update the President…he’s going to tell them she’s in the Counsel’s office. How soon can you get here?

CHASE

Five minutes.

JACK

Alright, I’ll see you then.

BACK TO:

EXT. 16TH STREET NW / EXT. VEHICLE - CONTINUOUS

Jack hangs up and his phone rings again.

JACK

This is Bauer.

HELLER (O.S.)

JACK, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

JACK

Sir, I know you’re angry, and I’m sorry I had to go behind your back on this. But Audrey believes the guy she’s meeting may have information that could help us find your son and get to the bottom of all this.

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

HELLER

You knocked out a Secret Service agent, hijacked a government vehicle, and put my daughter in a potentially dangerous situation…I’m beyond angry. I’m sending Secret Service to pick up Audrey and I’m having you arrested.

BACK TO:

EXT. 16TH STREET NW / EXT. VEHICLE - CONTINUOUS

JACK

No you won’t, sir. Because if you do that, you will not only compromise our position, you’ll create a public spectacle that would put Audrey in more danger. After this is over, I will turn myself in, but right now, if you want to protect her, you’ll call Secret Service now and put them under my command so I can position them covertly.

BACK TO:

INT. WHITE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Heller sighs angrily and turns to Mike.

MIKE

Sir, I don’t think you have a choice but to go along with him right now.

HELLER

Fine. But if anything happens to her, I will have your head.

BACK TO:

EXT. 16TH STREET NW - DAY - CONTINUOUS

JACK

She’s going to be safe, I promise.

HELLER (O.S.)

How do you know that, Jack? How can you know this isn’t some kind of a trap?

JACK

I don’t, sir. But if it is we’ll be prepared.

HELLER

‘We’ll be prepared’ isn’t good enough, Jack. We’re talking about my little girl here.

Jack walks away from the car and takes a deep breath.

JACK

With all due respect, sir, I had to bury the woman I loved once. I’m not going to do it again.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE - CONTINUOUS

SCOTT

Alright, I got a feed of the surveillance cam.

SUSAN

How long before our teams are on site?

SCOTT

Less than five minutes.

The phone rings. MOLLIE LANGDON answers it.

MOLLIE

CTU, Langdon. Alright, what’s your frequency? I’ll get it set up now.

She hangs up and turns to Susan.

MOLLIE

Secret Service is on board…they want to hook up to our COMM-SAT so everyone’s on the same system.

SUSAN

Alright, get that set up now. Make sure they understand the chain of command.

MOLLIE

Yes, ma’am.

INT. PARKING GARAGE / INT. VEHICLE - CONTINUOUS

JACK

Did you get a hold of Tad?

AUDREY

Yeah. He’ll be here in a few minutes.

JACK

How are you feeling?

AUDREY

I’m…I’m a little scared.

JACK

I don’t blame you. Are you sure you want to do this?

AUDREY

I don’t have a choice, Jack. These terrorists kidnapped my brother, and there’s every indication that they’re planning further attacks. If people die and there’s a chance I could have done something to prevent it I could never forgive myself.

Jack nods.

AUDREY

I realize now that’s probably what drives you to extremes.

JACK

Something like that, yeah.

AUDREY

I guess I never really understood that until now.

JACK

How could you? You’d never had to make these kinds of decisions.

AUDREY

Yeah.

JACK

I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I was way out of line.

AUDREY

No, you weren’t…like you said before, you didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know…that’s why it stung so much. I’ve spent the last three years feeling guilty about the way I treated you that day. You saved my life and all I could do was criticize and question you.

JACK

Audrey, you’d been to hell and back that day. Anyone in your situation would have reacted the same way. You had every right to be angry with me.

AUDREY

That doesn’t make it okay.

Chase knocks on the window. Jack motions for him to get in the car. He climbs into the back.

JACK

Hey…thanks for getting this together so fast.

CHASE

No problem. Here’s your COMM unit.

JACK

Alright, thanks. Do you have something for Audrey?

CHASE

Yeah, right here.

He turns leans forward and turns to Audrey, handing her a little box.

CHASE

These are earrings with a bug inside…we should be able to hear anything you say, and it should be strong enough to hear what he’s saying, but try to repeat as much as you can just in case.

Audrey nods and puts the earrings on.

JACK

Will she be able to hear what we’re saying?

CHASE

No. I can give her an earpiece, but if I do that Tad will know she’s not the only one he’s talking to.

JACK

Have someone at CTU be set up to call Audrey in a second’s notice…I want the number punched in and ready to be dialed. As soon as I give Secret Service Team A the order, call Audrey’s cell phone, and a Secret Service vehicle should be there before she has time to answer it.

CHASE

Alright.

JACK

Listen, Chase, the president put Secret Service under my command but they still have first priority in terms of operational objectives. Ensuring Audrey’s safety takes priority over any investigative objectives. That’s direct from the president.

CHASE

I understand. I’m going to get out of sight before he gets there.

JACK

Make sure your teams understand that they only move in on my order.

CHASE

They understand. Secret Service is on board too…here’s a diagram of where everyone’s stationed.

JACK

Alright, thanks. Now get out of here.

Chase runs back to his car and drives to the bottom of the ramp.

TONY (O.S.)

A red sedan just entered the garage.

AUDREY

That’s him…he said he’d be driving a red car.

JACK

Alright. You have your panic button?

AUDREY

Yeah.

JACK

I want you to promise me that you’ll push it the second you feel the least bit uncomfortable, okay?

AUDREY

Okay.

A red car pulls up. Audrey trembles a little, and Jack can tell how nervous she is as she turns to go. She turns around briefly and opens her mouth to say something, then loses her nerve.

JACK

What’s wrong?

AUDREY

Nothing…I’m fine…I’ve got to go.

She turns back around and walks toward Tad. Jack turns on his COMM unit.

JACK

Alright, I have a visual. Tony, do you have it on screen?

TONY (O.S.)

Yeah, I can see her walking toward the other car.

JACK

Chase, do you copy?

CHASE (O.S.)

Yeah, I have it on my screen.

FOLLOW

Audrey to Tad’s car.

TAD

Audrey! Glad you could make it.

AUDREY

What’s going on, Tad?

TAD

Not so fast…I want some assurances that you’re not going to report me to the authorities first.

AUDREY

Uh uh. You promised that you would give me the information if I met you here. That was the deal.

CHASE

Jack, he’s giving her the runaround. Should we move in?

CUT BACK TO Jack, who is watching the exchange closely from the passenger seat of the car.

JACK

Not yet. Give her a little more time to see what she can get from him.

SPLIT SCREEN:

Audrey talks to Tad in one box and Jack watches the conversation in the other.

AUDREY

Tad, if you don’t start talking soon I’m going to press my panic button, and Secret Service will be here to arrest you faster than you can say slimeball. So quit giving me the runaround and tell me what you know.

Jack looks impressed.

TAD

Fine. About a year and a half ago, I was approached by someone from President Logan’s reelection campaign who asked me to see what I could find that could be used to embarrass your father…this was back when there was talk of him mounting a primary challenge to Logan.

AUDREY

So what did you tell them?

TAD

I told them about you and Jack Bauer, and they told me to find more information on your brother, both his political activities and his sexual orientation.

Audrey grits her teeth.

AUDREY

Go on.

TAD

So I hired this guy to go undercover as a peace activist who was part of Southern Californians for a Peaceful Future. I thought I was spying on him for political leverage…I had no idea this was part of some terrorist conspiracy…you have to believe me.

AUDREY

Who did you hire to spy on my brother?

Tad hands Audrey a piece of paper.

TAD

His name is Trevor McLane…here’s everything I have on him.

She looks at the piece of paper.

AUDREY

So Trevor McLane’s a student at USC like my brother?

TAD

Yeah, at least that’s what he told me. He had just transferred there from San Diego State…he was an active CR at his old school, but he went by his first name, Michael…Trevor’s actually his middle name, but that’s what your brother knows him by.

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE - CONTINUOUS

Tony plugs Trevor’s name into the search module on the laptop he is using.

JACK (O.S.)

Tony, do you copy?

TONY

Yeah. I’m running the name through the database now. What’s a CR?

JACK (O.S.)

I have no idea.

AUDREY (O.S.)

CR as in College Republican?

TONY

(chuckling)

She knows us too well.

BACK TO:

INT. PARKING GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

AUDREY

What about the footage from CTU? Who sent that to you?

TAD

I…I don’t know.

AUDREY

It just appeared in your inbox one day?

TAD

Pretty much.

AUDREY

So do you have any idea where my brother is?

TAD

No, but I have something that might help you figure out who took him.

AUDREY

I’m listening.

TAD

If you breathe a word of this to anyone you will live to regret it.

AUDREY

What?

TAD

As you probably know, after the primary season I stopped being an active part of the campaign when I went to work for Votronix…the campaign didn’t want to create the appearance of a conflict of interest. What few people in the campaign knew was that my going to work for the company that manufactured the vote tabulation software used in Florida and several other states was part of a plan to make sure President Logan got reelected.

AUDREY

You rigged the election???

CUT TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE - CONTINUOUS

MOLLIE

Tony, I got a hit.

TONY

What do you have?

MOLLIE

It looks like this guy wasn’t just a College Republican at San Diego…according to what I have, it looks like he was skinhead. He was expelled from San Diego State after repeated complaints of harassment from gay and lesbian students.

TONY

Geez…do you have an address?

MOLLIE

Yeah, he lives on campus.

TONY

Alright, upload this to CTU Los Angeles…tell Curtis to get over there now.

MOLLIE

Got it.

TONY

Make sure they cross-reference his name with the leads they found at the warehouse.

BACK TO:

INT. PARKING GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

AUDREY

Did you write the code yourself?

TAD

Yeah, but here’s what’s strange…it was further modified after we distributed the software. The way I had it setup, it was supposed to ensure that Logan got one out of every 20 votes cast for Kaplansky…we estimated that would be enough to put Logan over the top without winning by enough to make people suspicious. But it got screwed up…instead of giving 1 of every 20 Kaplansky votes to Logan, it gave them to Peter Buckman. That’s why Florida was so close.

AUDREY

Who else had access to the code after you modified it?

TAD

I don’t know. But here’s what I have that may help you. R&D for the Votronix software was funded by a front corporation for the RNC…it was headed by a man named Christopher Yardley…he’s a well heeled businessman with radically reactionary political views who’s been involved in all kinds of shady dealings…I think he might be the one who’s been financing today’s events and trying to frame you for it.

AUDREY

What makes you say that?

TAD

It’s the only thing that makes sense.

AUDREY

Let’s just say you’re right for a second. Did you have some kind of epiphany and see the error of your ways and decide to contact me?

TAD

I thought I was helping President Logan get reelected. I had no idea until today that what I was related to an effort to assassinate him. I’m in way over my head…

AUDREY

So you came to me because you want my help getting out of this mess?

TAD

Look, I know we haven’t always been the best of friends…

BACK TO:

INT. CTU WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE - CONTINUOUS

Tony notices something on the thermal scan.

TONY

Chase, does CTU have anyone on the roof?

CHASE (O.S.)

Negative. We’re all in concealed positions.

TONY

Agent Sterling, does Secret Service have anyone up there?

STERLING (O.S.)

Negative.

TONY

Jack, we may have a hostile.

JACK (O.S.)

Roger that.

TONY

Mollie, has anyone entered or exited the building in the last 20 minutes?

MOLLIE

No, we’ve got it sealed off. They must have been there before.

TONY

Jack, I think you need to move.

CUT TO:

INT. PARKING GARAGE / INT. VEHICLE - CONTINUOUS

JACK

All teams, this is Bauer. Secret Service Team A, you have the go ahead. CTU, stand down until I give the order.

STERLING (O.S.)

Roger that.

BACK TO:

INT. PARKING GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

AUDREY

Fine, I’ll see what I can do. But the best thing you can do for yourself right now is to go to the authorities…

TAD

No way…if I do that…

Audrey’s phone rings before he can continue. She sees a Secret Service vehicle driving down the ramp.

AUDREY

I’ve got to go…I’ll talk to my dad and see what I can do.

CUT TO:

INT. JACK’S VEHICLE - CONTINUOUS

Jack stares at the vehicle coming down the ramp suspiciously.

JACK

Agent Sterling, do any of your vehicles have Virginia license plates?

STERLING (O.S.)

No, all the cars on this detail are DC.

Jack bolts out of the car and starts running toward Audrey. Someone gets out of the Secret Service vehicle holding a gun.

JACK

(screaming)

Audrey, get away from there!

Tad runs and ducks behind another parked car. Audrey turns around just in time to see Jack get shot in the arm and fall to the ground. Jack winces in pain as he fumbles around and manages to pick up his mouthpiece.

JACK

Secret Service, move in now. CTU, hold your positions, secure the exits.

Audrey drops her cell phone when she sees Jack get shot. She runs over to him and crouches down.

JACK

Audrey, take the keys and get in the car.

AUDREY

(not wanting to just leave him there)

Jack…

JACK

Audrey, go, NOW!

Trembling, she picks up the keys and runs toward the vehicle she and Jack came in.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

1) Secret Service agents swarm Audrey and herd her into a car.

2) Jack uses his good arm to pick up his gun and starts shooting at the hostile vehicle.

3) Audrey’s Secret Service detail starts driving down the ramp.

4) Chase and another agent watch from their vehicle as the Secret Service car exits the garage

STERLING (O.S.)

Liberty secure. I repeat, Liberty secure.

Jack is visibly relieved.

CUT TO:

EXT. PARKING GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

The Secret Service vehicle exits the garage and starts to pull away. Suddenly, a deafening noise is heard. Audrey screams in horror as she hears the explosion.

AUDREY

JACK!!!!!

She jumps out of the car and tries to run back into the garage but is restrained by Secret Service. Tears stream down her face as the vehicle drives away.

CUT TO:

INT. PARKING GARAGE - CONTINUOUS

A thick cloud of smoke blocks the scene of the explosion, making it impossible to see what has happened.

CUT TO:

EXT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - ARLINGTON, VA

A Hispanic man in his early 40’s is sitting in a beat up Chevy Cavalier waiting for someone, looking nervous. A long black limousine pulls up, and CHRISTOPHER YOUNG, a bald white man in his mid-50’s dressed in a business suit gets out and approaches the Chevy.

CHRISTOPHER

Are you Marco Almeida?

MARCO

Yeah, that’s me. Here…here’s the laptop.

He hands Christopher a briefcase. Christopher opens it, takes out the laptop, and sees a STICKER that reads “United States Department of Defense”.

CHRISTOPHER

Everything appears to be in order.

MARCO

Do you have the money?

Christopher hands him a metal briefcase. Marco opens it and sees $100 bills arranged neatly inside. They shake hands, and Christopher drives off.

FADE OUT.

END OF SHOW

03:00:00

Author’s Note: Thank you very much to everyone who gave me a record number of reviews last time. I am planning to continue this for the time being, and if I keep getting lots of reviews I will definitely be encouraged. I am trying my absolute hardest not to incorporate any of the real season 5 into my fic, but the producers keep stealing my ideas before I get to finish writing them. Still, I think this fic is safely spoiler free for people who have not seen season 5, though you may want to stay away from the reviews, as some of those contain s5 spoilers. Disclaimer: As usual, the characters you recognize don’t belong to me. MSNBC personality Chris Matthews is featured in this episode, but his actions and dialogue are purely fiction and should not actually be attributed to him.

Also, due to the correspondence between this episode and certain historical events, I would like to emphasize that this is purely the work of my imagination. While I question the legitimacy of the 2000 election, I am in no way implying that anything like this actually happened.