Act 3
CHICAGO, IL - 05:31:09 AM LOCAL TIME
A BABY’S CRIES can be heard from a room away. NICOLE PALMER REESE sighs and goes to tend to her daughter. Just as the baby’s cries begin to subside, there is a knock on the door. She opens it and is surprised to find Secret Service Agent AARON PIERCE on the doorstep.
PIERCE
I’m sorry to bother you ma’am, but we need to speak to your father. Is he awake yet?
NICOLE
Yeah, I think so. Dad!
She knocks on the door of her guestroom.
PALMER (O.C.)
What is it, sweetheart?
NICOLE
The secret service guy says he has an urgent message for you.
PALMER (O.C.)
Alright, tell him I’ll be right out.
NICOLE
Okay.
She walks back to the foyer.
NICOLE
He’ll be just a minute. Can I offer you something to drink? Coffee?
PIERCE
No, thank you.
Former President DAVID PALMER enters the room, looking a little worried.
PALMER
Good morning, Aaron. Is there a problem?
PIERCE
We don’t know, sir. All I know is that President Logan asked for you to be brought in immediately. And I don’t know if this is related, but I got a call a little while ago from the DOD. It seems that incoming Secretary Cummings has some concerns about the loyalty of a few DOD personell and feels there may be a possible security breach.
PALMER
They are asking me to cut short a visit with my daughter and granddaughter to help resolve a DOD staffing issue? How does this concern me exactly?
PIERCE
The woman I spoke to gave no specifics, other than to say that it involves a man you pardoned four years ago. Would you like me to find out more?
At the last sentence, a concerned look crosses the former president’s face.
PALMER
Yes, thank you.
CUT TO:
Michelle is sitting at the kitchen counter munching on pickles while Tony is cooking something.
TONY
I have to say, of all the weird things you’ve wanted for breakfast, zucchini and perogies has to be the weirdest.
MICHELLE
Are you making fun of me?
Tony smiles innocently.
TONY
Who, me? Never!
He serves her a plate of perogies and pours her a glass of orange juice.
TONY
Here you go, my love.
She kisses him.
MICHELLE
Thanks Tony.
TONY
Anything for you, sweetheart. So how’s your tummy feeling?
MICHELLE
Much better.
TONY
That’s good. So how are you feeling?
MICHELLE
Okay…just tired.
TONY
No, not just this morning. I mean about what’s going on…are you starting to get used to the idea of having a baby?
MICHELLE
Yeah, I guess so. I mean, it still hasn’t fully hit me. I mean, my whole adult life has been focused around my career…you know how ambitious I’ve always been…and this…well, this is a big change. I know that probably makes me sound really cold-hearted and uncaring.
TONY
No, sweetheart, it makes you sound honest. To tell you the truth, I’m still getting used to the idea too.
MICHELLE
Really? You were so thrilled when I told you.
TONY
I am thrilled…but that doesn’t mean I haven’t felt conflicted about it.
MICHELLE
I guess I’m a little scared.
TONY
Scared of what?
MICHELLE
Of everything. Scared that something will happen to our child because of who we are and the things we’ve done and the people we’ve known in our lives.
TONY
Sweetheart, that’s why we left CTU. That’s why we moved across the country when Secretary Heller offered me Jack’s old job.
MICHELLE
Yeah, I guess you’re right.
She looks away.
TONY
Michelle, did something happen recently to make you afraid?
MICHELLE
No, why?
TONY
Because I know you. I can tell when you’re not telling me the whole story, and I know that you weren’t telling me the whole story when you seemed apprehensive after work yesterday and you’re not telling me the whole story now.
MICHELLE
I was just tired. I at work until 2:30 AM the night before dealing with a potential threat to the DOD networks.
She looks away, and Tony can tell she’s hiding something. He lifts her chin and forces her to look at him. He strokes her cheek gently, a supportive look in his eyes.
TONY
Come on, baby…whatever it is, you can tell me.
MICHELLE
Alright. Chloe called me yesterday.
Tony looks slightly alarmed but tries not to show it.
TONY
What…what did she say?
MICHELLE
She said that someone hacked into her hard drive and accessed the coroner’s report.
TONY
What the hell? Jesus, Michelle, why didn’t you tell me earlier?
MICHELLE
I didn’t want you to worry…she said she deleted all of the information, so there’s not much they could have found…she just wanted to give me a heads up just in case.
TONY
Even if they didn’t find anything, the fact that someone went out of their way to access that information can’t be good.
Tony’s eyes suddenly pop open, indicating that he has just thought of something.
MICHELLE
What?
Tony sighs.
TONY
Yesterday Audrey told me she thought something weird was going on with her phone…she thought someone may be monitoring it.
MICHELLE
She doesn’t know Jack’s alive…why would someone bug her phone?
TONY
Whoever hacked into Chloe’s hard drive may not know who does and doesn’t know about Jack…if they’re trying to find him, it would make sense for them to be watching in case he tries to contact her.
MICHELLE
Should we tell her?
TONY
No…we’d put her more at risk if we did. Besides, she has enough on her mind right now. I’ll keep an eye out for her at work…we don’t even know if it’s all connected…it’s possible Skip could be monitoring her because her brother’s here and he’s afraid of political embarassment.
MICHELLE
What about Kim? Is it possible they could be watching her too?
TONY
Yeah, it’s possible, but there’s nothing we can do. If we try to contact her we could attract attention.
MICHELLE
Yeah, I guess you’re right.
She looks away, clearly uptight.
MICHELLE
I thought Audrey’s last day of work was yesterday.
TONY
It was supposed to be. But she decided to stick around a little longer…she wasn’t ready to stop working and become a full-time stage prop on the campaign trail.
MICHELLE
That’s good…you must have been happy about that.
TONY
I’d be happier if she’d wake up and realize that he’s using her.
MICHELLE
I can’t say I disagree. I think she could do a lot better.
TONY
(getting worked up)
What really gets to me is that she doesn’t seem to think so. I think after everything that happened to her she felt like her options were limited…she was so relieved to meet someone that she’s afraid to question whether he’s really right for her.
He prances around the kitchen, frustrated. Michelle puts her hand on his arm, revealing matching rings.
MICHELLE
Tony…
TONY
Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so worked up.
MICHELLE
I know you promised Jack you’d look out for her, but you have to accept that this is her decision…don’t try to interfere.
TONY
I’m not…I don’t think she even knows how strongly I feel.
Secretary of Defense JAMES HELLER pulls into the driveway in a silver SUV. Audrey sees him through the window and opens the front door.
AUDREY
Dad, what are you doing here?
HELLER
Just stopped by to say good morning to my daughter before my last day of work. I brought bagels.
AUDREY
Ooh, thank you.
He walks up to the door and kisses her on the cheek.
HELLER
Where’s your car?
AUDREY
Skip took it. He had to go in early this morning for a meeting.
HELLER
So how are you getting to work?
AUDREY
I was going to get a ride from Tony.
HELLER
Uh huh. Well, I need to check in with him anyway, so I’ll tell him you don’t need one…I’ll give you a ride.
AUDREY
Did you come over because Skip called you and told you I was planning to take the Metro to work?
Heller nods sheepishly.
AUDREY
Daaad!
She rolls her eyes.
HELLER
I’m sorry, sweetheart…sometimes I still get nervous…I can’t help it…you’re my baby.
AUDREY
(groaning)
I’m thirty-six years old. That’s not exactly what you’d call a baby.
Heller’s tone becomes more serious.
HELLER
I know I’m probably being paranoid, but when those men…when they were holding you at gunpoint, I was so scared…I don’t think I’ve ever been more terrified in my life…that image still haunts me sometimes. So I can’t help but be a little overprotective. I’m sorry…
Audrey smiles and gives him a hug.
AUDREY
I understand.
Heller’s phone rings. He groans when he sees who’s calling.
HELLER
It’s Walt Cummings. I guess I should probably answer it, huh?
Audrey nods.
HELLER
(into phone)
Heller here. Walt, how are you this morning? Just calling to go over last minute transition details?
A three-way split screen shows Heller, Cummings, and Audrey, who can sort of hear the conversation.
CUMMINGS
Not exactly. It seems we have a bit of a situation.
HELLER
What kind of a situation?
CUMMINGS
Well, as you know, I’m a bit uneasy about having someone who was convicted of treason against the United States working in a high level staff position.
HELLER
(Exasperated)
Is this what you are calling about at 6:30 in the morning? As I told you yesterday, Tony Almeida has worked for me for three years and I will personally vouch for his loyalty as well as his talent and dedication.
CUMMINGS
With all due respect, sir, I’m well aware that he saved your daughter’s life a few years ago, but you can’t base your judgment on that alone.
HELLER
(angrily)
I based my decision to hire him on
his long history of service to his country and the dedication and talent I witnessed personally that day. For the last three years I have been nothing but impressed with his work as well as his character. He’s been a real asset to me and to the Department, and I feel privileged to have someone with so much experience and dedication. I would not hire someone I did not believe to be trustworthy no matter what the circumstances.
CUMMINGS
That may be so, but I don’t trust him. I have been uneasy about him since I was appointed, so I had him checked out. Just this morning, I found out that he has been in contact with a man believed to be responsible for several terrorist incidents in Peru and suspected of planning terrorist activities against the United States.
HELLER
There must be some mistake. Who is the suspected terrorist?
CUMMINGS
He goes by Jose Rodriguez, though that is believed to be an alias.
HELLER
An alias?
CUMMINGS
Yes. I believe it’s an alias for someone Tony helped to escape three years ago.
HELLER
I don’t understand…the terrorist Tony helped to escape is dead…and it’s been over four years.
Upon hearing this, Audrey, who had been getting the bagels set out, stops dead in her tracks. She looks around to ensure that nobody is looking, then runs into a room and locks herself in to make a phone call.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. KITCHEN, CHICAGO, IL - 05:40:07 LOCAL TIME
PIERCE
Mr. President, we have someone from the Secretary of Defense’s office on the phone.
PALMER
Thank you. If you don’t mind I’d like to take this call in private.
PIERCE
I’ll be right outside.
PALMER
This is David Palmer.
AUDREY
Mr. President, this is Audrey Raines from DOD.
PALMER
Yes, Ms. Raines, what can I do for you?
AUDREY
Sir, we have a problem that we believe you can be of assistance with.
PALMER
What sort of a problem?
AUDREY
Mr. President, four years ago, you pardoned a former director of CTU Los Angeles who had been convicted of treason, am I right?
PALMER
Yes…
AUDREY
We received a troubling report from Incoming Defense Secretary Walt Cummings this morning that this man was responsible for helping a prisoner escape three years ago.
PALMER
That’s what he was convicted for, if I recall…
Palmer seems confused for a minute, then realizes what she is trying to tell him.
PALMER
Hold on a second. Did you say three years, not four?
AUDREY
Yes, sir. According to Cummings, this occurred almost three years ago.
PALMER
I’ll be on the next plane.
FADE TO BLACK.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Stay With Me
Demons
Sleeping With The Enemy
Season 6
A Life Worth Living
Alternate Season 5
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Coming Out of the Dark