INT. CTU - OBSERVING ROOM OUTSIDE HOLDING

Curtis is monitoring the polygraph. Bill approaches.

BILL

What’s going on? Why aren’t you monitoring?

CURTIS

I’m monitoring the polygraph. Jack wanted to turn the audio monitoring off…she’s going to have to answer some pretty personal questions and he thinks she’ll have an easier time talking if she doesn’t have to talk to an audience. He’s going to buzz the second she says anything that may be relevant.

BILL

How’s the polygraph so far?

CURTIS

100% a minute ago. But right now she’s not saying much…

BILL

So why isn’t Jack forcing her to talk?

CURTIS

He doesn’t think it’s the right way to handle this.

Bill sighs and glances into the holding room, where Jack is sitting fairly close to Audrey at the table. His expression and non-verbals make it clear that he is being gentle with her.

BILL

Is Jack letting his emotions get in the way of doing his job?

CURTIS

I’ve been wondering the same thing, but honestly, I don’t think so. She’s pretty freaked out as it is. I have to agree with Jack that interrogating her isn’t the best approach right now.

BILL

Alright, but I want you to keep an eye on him. Let me know the second you think he’s letting personal get in the way of professional.

CURTIS

Alright, I will.

INSIDE THE ROOM

JACK

After you got into the room, what happened? Did you get right into bed or was there any point when he was out of your sight.

AUDREY

No, I don’t think so…

JACK

I need you to retrace your steps as carefully as you can and try to think about when he had the opportunity to do anything he didn’t want you to see him doing.

She puts her head down on the table.

AUDREY

(muffled)

I can’t…I can’t do this.

JACK

Audrey, come on. I know it’s hard but you’ve got to look at me and we’ve got to keep going with the questions.

Audrey looks up and speaks quietly at first, still not looking right him.

AUDREY

Please, Jack, stop saying you know how hard it is.

Her voice gets slightly louder and more defiant as she continues.

AUDREY

You don’t know how hard it is to have to sit here and rehash the details of something that’s been making me sick to my stomach all day. You don’t know what it’s like to feel so dirty and exposed and violated. And you don’t know…

Her voice becomes quieter yet more emotional as tears start streaming down her face.

AUDREY

You have no idea how hard it was to realize this morning that I slept with the man who tried to have you killed!

Jack sighs, understanding for the first time why she has had such a hard time talking to him.

He hesitates for a moment, then places a firm but gentle hand on her arm and lifts her chin up gently, forcing her to face him.

JACK

Audrey, listen to me. I know exactly what you’re going through, alright? I slept with the woman who succeeded in killing my wife, and that’s something that’s haunted me since the day she died.

Audrey looks really surprised.

AUDREY

What?

JACK

When Teri and I were separated, I got involved with Nina for a little while. I never told you that because it was something I was trying to forget, something I was and still am deeply ashamed of. I know how betrayed and angry and vulnerable you must feel right now, and I know that the thought of having him so close to you knowing what you now know is probably making you uncomfortable in your own skin.

Audrey nods, reassured slightly by how well he understands what she’s going through.

cut to:

CTU CONFERENCE ROOM

Karen, Miles, and Bill are seated around the conference table.

MILES

I’m uneasy about how this is being handled. Why is it taking so long to get the information we need about the target?

BILL

We’re following a few leads…unfortunately, I don’t think anyone here knows the answer.

KAREN

What about Audrey Raines?

BILL

Jack’s still questioning her, but it looks at this point like she was being set up…I don’t think she knows where the target is.

MILES

From what I gather, it doesn’t look like she’s been pressed very hard.

BILL

Jack doesn’t think that’s the right way to handle this.

MILES

So whatever Jack says goes? Is that how it works around here?

BILL

(trying to remain calm)

Jack worked with her at DOD for almost a year. He knows her better than anyone else here…so I think it’s wise to defer to his judgment in
this case.

MILES

On the flip side, don’t you think it’s possible that the fact that they worked together is biasing his judgment?

BILL

Considering the way he handled her when he first got back, no, I don’t. And given the situation, I think it’s wise to air on the side of caution when questioning her. If we interrogate the Secretary of Defense’s daughter and we’re wrong, there will be hell to pay for all of us.

Bill looks at Karen meaningfully, hoping that playing to her political concerns will be enough to hold her off for now.

KAREN

I’m inclined to agree with you. Let’s give Bauer a little more time to see what he can come up with.

Miles looks disappointed, but before he can object, HAILEY MARSHALL, a young woman with red curly hair, knocks on the door, twirling a pen nervously.

Bill motions for her to come in.

HAILEY

(shyly)

Hi. I’m Hailey Marshall…I’m here to replace one of the senior systechs.

KAREN

Yes, come on in. Thank you for coming down here on such short notice.

HAILEY

Of course.

MILES

Why don’t you come with me and I’ll get you set up.

Hailey nods and follows him.

OUTSIDE THE ROOM

Miles leads Hailey to a corner of the main floor, then points discreetly at Chloe.

MILES

That’s Chloe O’Brien, head of COMM…you’ll be working with her, but run everything through me for the time being.

Hailey nods.

MILES

The first thing I need you to do is to help with the restructuring by reconfiguring the systems in COMM so that all communications go through DHS channels. I’ll give you access to the master server so you can get that set up.

HAILEY

Okay.

MILES

(discreetly)

For the time being, let’s keep this  between us.

HAILEY

Can I ask why?

MILES

Because I think someone in COMM may have divided loyalties.

He nods subtly in Chloe’s direction.

Chloe notices him staring and gives him a look that says “what the hell do you want?”

Miles motions “nothing, get back to work.”

ON CHLOE

Look on her face says “what was that about?”

back to:

HOLDING ROOM 1

AUDREY

I just feel so stupid…Tony and Michelle and President Palmer and g-d knows how many other people might still be alive if I hadn’t been so naive.

JACK

Look at me.

She reluctantly turns toward him.

JACK

(firmly)

This is not your fault. People like that are masters of deception…I’ve had years of counterintelligence training and I know all the signs to look for but I was blind to the fact that I was sleeping with the enemy until after my wife was dead. Everything that may seem obvious in hindsight wasn’t obvious at the time because you had no reason to be suspicious…you trusted him, just like I trusted Nina. That’s why I was so rough with you when Collette claimed you sold her the schematic…

AUDREY

Jack, you were doing your job.

JACK

No, I wasn’t. I was so afraid that I had made the same mistake again that I jumped to conclusions without stopping to assess the situation rationally. I know that you’re probably hurt that I didn’t trust you, and I know that my behavior scared you, and if you want, when this crisis is over we can sit down and talk about it, but for now, I just want you to know that my reaction had nothing to do with you and everything to do with me and my past.

AUDREY

I understand.

JACK

So now that you know that I made the same mistake you did, why don’t you try again to see what you can remember about that night and see if we can’t pinpoint anything unusual?

Audrey nods slowly, wiping tears from her eyes.

Jack suddenly gets an idea, hesitating for a second before deciding it’s worth a shot. He leans in and whispers to her.

JACK

Unless you now feel worse, knowing that in addition to sleeping with someone who betrayed this country, you’ve also slept with someone who slept with someone who betrayed this country.

AUDREY

What???

She takes a minute to process, then chuckles ever so slightly when she figures it out.

AUDREY

You’re ridiculous.

Jack grins slyly, and she manages a small smile. The tension is lifted significantly as they both realize the absurdity of the situation.

Jack wipes a tear from her eye and pushes a few strands of hair out of her face.

JACK

You ready to get back to work?

She takes a deep breath and nods, and Jack can tell she is feeling a little better.

AUDREY

Yeah, I’m ready.

JACK

Alright. Let’s take a few steps back and talk about what happened before you went upstairs…

cut to:

CTU DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

Miles is sitting at the computer typing when the phone rings.

MILES

Yeah?

HAILEY (O.S.)

I just wanted to let you know, I reconfigured the servers, like you asked.

MILES

Alright, good work.

He hangs up and types something into the computer, then takes out his personal cell.

MILES

Alright, we’re good to go. You should have access to all CTU activity.

HENDERSON (O.S.)

Alright, keep me posted. Let me know if you notice anything strange.