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INT. PENTAGON - THURSDAY EVENING - 3 DAYS, 13 HOURS BEFORE DAY 4

INT. JACK’S OFFICE

JACK BAUER is seated at his desk, going over a document with AUDREY RAINES, who is sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the desk.

JACK

I thought we didn’t need any more SmarTrucks.

AUDREY

We don’t.

JACK

So why is there $4.3 million dollars earmarked for them? We could reallocate that money and give DIA the money they requested to upgrade their satellite software.

AUDREY

It’s not that simple, Jack. The factory that manufactures the SmarTrucks we’re commissioning is in Senator Helmstrom’s district.

JACK

So what?

AUDREY

So, he’s the Senate minority whip, and if we don’t include the money for SmarTrucks, he’ll hold up the bill. We need to get it passed by next month or the Department will be operating without a budget until it does pass.

Jack shakes his head, obviously annoyed.

AUDREY

I don’t like it either, but that’s how it works around here. It’s not worth picking a fight with Helmstrom. What kills me is, he doesn’t even need the project to get reelected…Sabato has his seat marked solid Republican…he’s just doing this because of a 15-year-old grudge against the Secretary of Defense.

JACK

(irritated)

So an old political rivalry is more important than ensuring that agencies have the technology they need to do their jobs?

AUDREY

Come on, don’t get grouchy. If you want, go to the Hill and meet with staffers and try to convince them to reallocate the money. But you’re not going to get anywhere, and all you’ll do is make an enemy of Senator Helmstrom, which I can tell you from experience you don’t want to do. And I know it seems like a lot, but in the grand scheme of the federal budget, $4.3 million is not that much money.

JACK

That’s not the point.

Audrey sighs. She looks outside the office to make sure nobody is around before putting her hand on top of his.

AUDREY

Look, I know it’s frustrating, but you’ve got to let it go. I don’t disagree with you on the merits, but you need to learn to pick your battles, and believe me, this isn’t a battle that you’re going to win. So can we please move on to the next section?

JACK

(irritably)

Fine.

Audrey gives up on trying to get through to him and tries instead to hold out a carrot in hopes of getting him to let it go.

AUDREY

Come on…the sooner we get through this, the sooner we can get out of here.

She winks mischievously. Jack can’t help but chuckle.

JACK

Ah, so now you’re going to bribe me to be complacent about how absurd this whole process is?

AUDREY

(coyly)

I’m not trying to bribe you. Just…reminding you that there are probably…other things you’d rather be doing right now.

JACK

And you should know better than to get me thinking about what I’d rather be doing right now, because if you do that we’ll never get through this.

AUDREY

You’re right. Forget I said that. Let’s just get through the rest of the bill, okay?

JACK

Fine. What’s next?

AUDREY

The bill as amended by the House contains a 1.8 across the board cut, and we’re hoping to get that reduced to 1.5

JACK

Why are we doing an across the board cut at all? Wouldn’t it make more sense to make cuts and increases based on what different programs and departments need?

AUDREY

In theory, yes. But once again, that’s not how it works, and we don’t have time to take on the entire federal budget process this afternoon. Now, as I was saying, we’re unlikely to get the cut reduced in this round, but we’ll probably get most of it back in the emergency supplemental later in the year.

JACK

I don’t get it. Why don’t we just get it right the first time so we don’t need an emergency supplemental? Shouldn’t emergency supplementals be reserved for emergencies?

AUDREY

Once again, that would make more sense, except that the media would be all over the size of the appropriations bill, because if it actually reflected the total spending for the department for the entire year, it would look like a huge increase, and we’d be giving Democrats a golden opportunity to jump all over the president and Congress by complaining a bloated defense bill, which is the only thing they’d ever call bloated because they have absolutely no problem wasting billions of dollars of taxpayer money every year, but if we dare suggest spending any money on protecting this country, that must be the source of the entire $300 billion dollar federal deficit. Which, of course is all President Keeler’s fault even though he’s been in office for a little more than a year and almost all of the irresponsible spending that brought it on was authorized during the Palmer administration.

Jack shakes his head.

AUDREY

I’m sorry, Jack. I know you have a personal relationship with President Palmer, and from what you tell me, it sounds like he might actually be an honest man, which is a rarity in this town. And I will even concede that he did a good job managing the Cordilla virus crisis, although I still think it was convenient that he happened to have a matter of national security to deal with right when he was asked about his girlfriend during the debate…what?

JACK

I didn’t say anything.

AUDREY

You look annoyed.

JACK

No, I’m not. I’m sorry, I’m just tired.

AUDREY

Okay…

JACK

(snapping)

Let’s just get through this, okay?

AUDREY

Fine with me. Here’s the part you’re going to have to know for the meeting with Driscoll.

JACK

If we’re just getting to the part I need to know why the hell have you been sitting here wasting my time with the rest of it?

AUDREY

I thought you’d be better off if you had at least some understanding of the whole bill and the process. What’s with you?

JACK

Nothing’s with me. I just don’t like wasting time with stuff that doesn’t matter.

AUDREY

Jack…

JACK

I said it’s nothing, alright? Please, just drop it.

AUDREY

Okay.

JACK

Tell me the part I need to know.

AUDREY

Okay. DOD wants 85 percent of all interagency revenues, which is causing a lot of grumbling from the other agencies, including CTU. I put together a preliminary list of talking points for you to use to justify giving such a large chunk to DOD.

Jack’s phone rings.

JACK

(into phone)

Bauer.

HELLER

(V.O., in phone)

How many times have I told you to stop pretending you’re still at CTU and answer the phone like a civilized human being?

JACK

I’m sorry, sir, you’re right. It’s a bad habit…

HELLER

Are you still going over FY07 with Audrey?

JACK

Yes, sir, we’re almost done.

HELLER

Alright, well, you’ll have to pick it up later. I need you in the conference room in five minutes…we’re getting a briefing from DIA on a new terror cell in Iraq that DIA believes was behind last week’s ambush.

JACK

Yes, sir.

He gets up and gathers his things.

JACK

I have to go to a meeting…we’ll pick this up later.

AUDREY

Okay.

He starts to leave, then turns back around toward Audrey.

JACK

And by the way, I can assure you that he wasn’t.

AUDREY

Who wasn’t what?

JACK

President Palmer wasn’t playing politics with the terror alert.

AUDREY

Okay…I’m sorry…I was just ranting, okay?

JACK

Yeah.

He walks away, still seeming annoyed. Audrey walks back toward her office, looking confused and unsettled.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM

KEVIN WALKINS, the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, is giving a presentation, pointing to pictures.

KEVIN

These are photos of one of the insurgents who carried out the attack. The logo on his tattoo is believed to belong to a previously unheard of insurgent group called Miftach Jannah, which translates to “Key to Paradise.”

HELLER

Are they operating independently or with other groups?

KEVIN

Unknown at this point, sir.

HELLER

How many of them are there?

KEVIN

We’re looking into that now, sir.

HELLER

Well, what can you tell us?

KEVIN

At this point, not that much, unfortunately. Just that they’re connected to the ambushes last week.

JACK

Have you cross-referenced the attacker you described with all the known terrorist databases?

KEVIN

Yes. Unfortunately, we don’t have a great deal of intelligence about insurgent groups operating in that region.

JACK

You’ve cross-referenced his fingerprints and description with information from all the other agencies and nobody has any information?

Kevin looks at him like he is nuts.

KEVIN

I’m afraid it’s not that simple. You don’t just log into a computer and magically access everyone’s data. There are protocols. DIA analysts are reluctant to seek information from other agencies because the process takes so long it’s usually out of date by the time they get it, and there’s a certain amount of territorialism involved.

JACK

I understand that, sir, but if I’m not mistaken, did you just tell us that this group may be responsible for the death of over 100 servicemen and women?

HELLER

(warning tone)

JackÉ

KEVIN

What’s your point?

JACK

My point is, when we send troops into danger in a foreign country, I think we owe it to them to have all the information possible to ensure their safety to the best of our ability.

KEVIN

I don’t disagree…

JACK

Then you don’t disagree that the imperative to protect our troops is more important than protecting agencies’ feelings?

HELLER

(under his breath)

Jack, cut it out.

KEVIN

It’s not that simple, Mr. Bauer. There are protocols and procedures…we can’t just ignore them every time we get new intelligence.

JACK

I understand that, sir. But by your own admission, your agency has very little intelligence in the region and very little information on this group.

KEVIN

I understand your position, but I don’t need you to tell me how to do my job.

JACK

(impulsively)

But you’re not doing it.

KEVIN

Excuse me?

JACK

If you were doing your job, you’d be able to tell us more than just the name of the group.

HELLER

(angrily)

Jack, that’s enough!

Jack realizes he has crossed the line and retreats.

JACK

I’m sorry, sir…I meant no disrespect. I just want to make sure we do everything we can to protect our soldiers.

Heller angrily motions for Jack to leave the room. Jack can
hear his boss apologizing for his behavior as he leaves.

INT. JACK’S OFFICE Ð 15 MINUTES LATER

Jack is typing when Secretary Heller storms in. Jack stands
up and picks up a piece of paper.

HELLER

(angrily)

Are you out of your mind?

JACK

Mr. Secretary, I know I was out of line before, and I’m sorry.

HELLER

You were beyond out of line, Jack. You essentially told the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence that he’s incompetent.

JACK

That wasn’t my intent, sir, I just…

HELLER

I don’t care what your intent was. You don’t tell a senior department official that you know how to do his job better than he does.

JACK

I understand. I know that I was out of line and I’m prepared to accept the consequences. Please accept my letter of resignation.

He hands the letter to Secretary Heller. Heller reads it briefly and sighs.

HELLER

Is that when you stopped having any regard for protocol and authority? After Operation Nightfall?

JACK

It’s not that I don’t respect authority, sir. But I lost all of my men on that mission, and if we’d had all the available intelligence before we went in, that may not have happened. Two years later I find out we accidentally killed Victor Drazen’s wife and daughter, then I find out Drazen somehow survived the blast and is out to kill my family.

HELLER

And you think if you’d known that before that day, you might have been able to prevent anything from happening to your wife?

JACK

(looking down)

Yes, sir. I can’t help but think that if I’d had all the information, some of which was withheld from me for hours after she had been kidnapped by terrorists and then taken to a safehouse for protection, I never would have let her out of my sight, and maybe…maybe she’d still be here today. So I learned never to take no for an answer when lives were at stake.

Heller sits down in the chair across from Jack’s desk and sighs.

HELLER

(softening a little)

Jack, I know that you’re a loose canon…I knew it when I hired you, and I decided that I was willing to take a chance, because being willing to go against the grain and trust your instincts can be a virtue, and I know you’ve saved a lot of lives by breaking protocol and going against authority. But it’s a different ball game here, Jack. On the front lines, people will grumble if you go against them but if you end up being right they’ll usually forgive you. Around here, people don’t forgive being insulted nearly as easily…there’s a lot of politics involved, and people can be incredibly petty. I’ve got people who still have grudges against me for things I did when I was in the House fifteen years ago. And if you can’t learn to play the game and play by the rules you’re going to make a lot of enemies and then when it’s time to make a really important decision that could effect a lot more lives, nobody’s going to take you seriously because they’re still bitter that you insulted them. And these are lessons I’ve learned the hard way.

He looks at the letter again and shakes his head while handing the piece of paper back to Jack.

HELLER

Rip that up.

JACK

Are you sure?

HELLER

I want you to write a formal letter of apology to Kevin, and show it to me before you give it to him. And don’t ever do it again.

JACK

Thank you, sir.

INT. OSD

Audrey is sitting in the waiting area of the office talking on her cell phone when Secretary Heller walks in.

AUDREY

(in phone)

Alright, thanks. I’ll get back to you when we have a final schedule. You too, take care.

She hangs up and walks over to her father’s desk and hands him a piece of paper.

AUDREY

Here’s a preliminary agenda for Monday. I moved Paragon to the afternoon so we’d have time to see if we can’t convince Richard not to go to the protest at Lockheed.

HELLER

Alright, good work. Is Congress still in session?

AUDREY

No, they adjourned a half hour ago.

HELLER

Alright. See if you can’t get a hold of Jennifer Grayson to see if we can get a little extra funding for DIA squeezed into the bill.

AUDREY

Alright. I’ll call her right now. In case she asks, is there any particular reason?

HELLER

Not one you can use to justify it, if that’s what you mean.

(He sighs, still exasperated.

I have a few fences to mend with Kevin, so I’m hoping to pacify him by throwing him a bone in the appropriations bill.

AUDREY

Why, what did he say during the meeting?

HELLER

Practically nothing. That’s the problem. He had very little information on the threat he was supposed to be briefing us on, and Jack decided to go off on him and basically tell him he didn’t know how to do his job.

AUDREY

Jack said that to his face?

HELLER

Pretty much.

AUDREY

(trying hard to appear indifferent)

So are you going to fire him?

HELLER

No. I probably should, but when I read the letter of resignation he had prepared I couldn’t do it.

SCOTT enters the office, rescuing Audrey from having to respond.

SCOTT

You wanted to see me, sir?

HELLER

Yeah. What’s your schedule look like for Monday?

SCOTT

Fairly light so far…just a Senate approps hearing on Monday afternoon and a few meetings with senators before the hearing.

HELLER

Audrey, how far did you and Jack get with the bill?

AUDREY

We were just getting to the part that involves CTU, why?

HELLER

Alright, I need you to go through it with him thoroughly, make sure he knows the whole bill. Scott, prep him on what you were going to say to the committee…I want you to come on the trip instead.

Audrey tries not to show any emotion, but her father notices a troubled look on her face.

HELLER

What’s wrong? You look like something’s bothering you.

AUDREY

No, um, I’m fine…I’m just not sure sending Jack to the Hill is the right move.

HELLER

Audrey, this trip is going to be stressful enough without me having to worry about him keeping his mouth shut everywhere we go. I know he still doesn’t know Capitol Hill that well yet, but just sit down with him for an hour and make sure he knows the bill and he’ll be fine.

AUDREY

The reason we’re still not even halfway through the bill is because he was driving me insane when we were going through it…he had to stop to question almost every single earmark, and he refuses to accept that budgetary decisions on the Hill have more to do with politics than logic. Send him to the hearing and I guarantee you he’ll pick a fight with Helmstrom.

HELLER

Yeah, you’re probably right. Alright, we’ll stick with the original plan, but I’m putting you in charge of keeping him in line. Scott, you’re off the hook…let me know how the hearing goes, and see if you can get a little extra money for DIA somewhere in there.

SCOTT

Yes, sir.

Scott exits.

HELLER

You sure you’re alright?

AUDREY

Yeah, I’m fine. Why?

HELLER

You seem like something’s bothering you.

AUDREY

No, I’m fine…just tired. I haven’t been sleeping so well lately.

HELLER

More nightmares?

AUDREY

I guess…not sure why though. I’m fine, I promise. And before you say it, I am way too old to sleep with the light on.

HELLER

Alright, alright. You’re not five years old anymore, I get it.I guess you’ve just been really perky lately and I was getting used to it.

AUDREY

I have?

HELLER

Yeah, it seems that way. You’ve been smiling more than usual lately. It’s nice to see, that’s all.

She shrugs, hoping he will drop the subject.

HELLER

So am I crazy to let Jack get away with this?

AUDREY

I wasn’t there…I can’t say. Has he done this before?

HELLER

It’s the first time he’s behaved like that in front of another senior official, if that’s what you’re asking. But he’s been a pain in the ass since he started here…he asks too many questions, and he doesn’t know when to let things go. Thing is, he’s usually right…and there’s a part of me that can’t help but respect him for having the guts to call us on all the bureaucratic crap that goes on around here.

AUDREY

Yeah.

HELLER

But I meant what I said earlier. I’m leaving it up to you to make sure he doesn’t act out on this trip.

AUDREY

I don’t know how to do that…I don’t think anyone does.

HELLER

Yeah, but you seem to be better at it than anyone else.

He leans in and whispers in her ear.

HELLER

Between you and me, I think he may have the hots for you.

She blushes and looks away, trying desperately to act casual.

AUDREY

Dad!

HELLER

What? It’s just an observation…I’ve caught him staring at you more than once.

She shrugs nonchalantly, trying not to let onto anything.

AUDREY

Whatever.

- 3 DAYS, 12 HOURS BEFORE DAY 4

FADE OUT.