Épisode 14h00 - 15h00 S05E08 - 24 Saison 5

Lynn revient à la CAT, il essuie le sang de sa bouche et se recoiffe. Ensuite il demande un topo à Buchanan. Bill lui explique la situation (vente de la puce de Rossler alors que celui-ci est mort) puis il lui annonce qu’Erwich a contacté des cellules terroristes dormantes afin de l’aider à propager le gaz sur tout le territoire américain.

Chloé leur annonce que le téléphone de Rossler sonne et tous trois entrent dans la salle de réunion pour écouter l’appel. Jack répond sans attirer les soupçons d’Erwich qui lui donne un rendez-vous 5 minutes plus tard sur le toit d’un parking. Apres avoir raccroché, Jack appelle la cellule, il propose de se faire passer pour Rossler afin de donner la puce.

Lynn dit qu’il y a des chances qu’il se fasse reconnaître, Jack pense que non car Erwich a bien dit «cherchez un van bleu ». Audrey et Bill lui disent que c’est risqué, qu’il risque de se faire abattre même s’il se fait passer pour Rossler. Jack dit qu’il n’a pas le choix et que cette opération mènera au gaz neurotoxique.

Buchanan donne son aval à Jack puis il donne l’ordre à Chloé et Edgar de prévoir des plans de la puce car Jack devra la modifier durant l’opération. Curtis indique à Jack que la puce est la bonne mais qu’elle ne marche pas sans le bon code. Il ajoute qu’on y a installé un traceur.

Il lui demande ensuite comment il va s’y prendre durant l’opération, Jack lui dit qu’il se montrera passif et apeuré. Ensuite l’agent Manning lui donne une oreillette avec laquelle il sera en contact permanent avec la CAT. Erwich informe un de ses hommes de la situation.

Celui-ci lui parle d’un plan B au cas où la puce ne fonctionnerait pas mais il faudrait laisser quelqu'un quand le tube serait activé. Mike Novick informe le Président du transfert du corps de Cummings aux services secrets, il lui rappelle qu’il faudra faire une déclaration au sujet de sa mort. Logan lui dit qu’il n’y aura pas de révélation à la presse tant que sa femme ne sera pas informée.

Mike ajoute que la mort de Cummings pourrait éviter de dévoiler sa trahison afin de ne pas mettre en péril l’administration toute entière, il propose d’évoquer une dépression due au stress afin d’expliquer le meurtre du conseiller. Logan remarque que cela lui causerait des problèmes avec sa femme qui semble favorable à l’idée de dévoiler la vérité. Mike lui rappelle que c’est lui le Président et non pas sa femme.

Martha rédige sur son ordinateur portable une ébauche d’allocution du Président. Son assistante Evelyn lui apporte un verre d’eau. Elle l’informe ensuite du fait que de nombreuses personnes dans le staff se posent des questions sur la mort de Cummings. L’assistante veut aussi savoir pourquoi il s’est tué. Elle est inquiète car elle n’as jamais vu de signes de dépression chez l’homme, elle craint même que ce ne soit pas un suicide. Martha lui dévoile la situation.

14 : 09 Jack arrive au point de rendez-vous, un grand parking circulaire. Curtis le couvre depuis l’entrée de ce parking. Le van bleu arrive, Curtis indique la plaque, Edgar annonce que la plaque ne correspond pas, elle a été changée. Deux hommes sortent du van. Jack/Rossler semble apeuré, il demande à voir l’argent et pour cela il montre la puce.

Un des deux hommes ouvre un sac rempli de billets. Ensuite, Jack modifie la puce sur les conseils de Chloé dans l’oreillette. Apres cela, le même homme lui annonce qu’ils l’emmènent afin de s’assurer le bon fonctionnement de la puce. Il se fait ensuite frapper et embarquer dans le van.

Audrey dit qu’Erwich reconnaitra Jack (il l’a vu à l’aéroport), Lynn lui dit qu’il devra rester assez loin pour ne pas être reconnu. Audrey dit qu’il faut arrêter les deux terroristes afin de les interroger. Lynn dit qu’ils n’ont pas le temps, qu’Erwich verra le piège et s’enfuira.

Buchanan ne réagit pas à l’objection d’Audrey. Curtis voit le van sortir, Lynn lui demande de monter une opération de filature. Bill donne raison à Lynn en évoquant l’intérêt de Jack de bien gérer la situation.

14 : 18 Evelyn entre dans la chambre de Martha, elle lui montre la déclaration que va faire le Président : Cummings va être traité en héros. Marcha folle de rage sort de sa chambre. Pendant ce temps, Mike informe Logan de l’avancée de la situation, qu’ils espèrent retrouver les tubes. Logan dit qu’espérer n’est pas suffisant, il exige des résultats.

Martha arrive dans la salle de réunion. Elle lit une partie de la déclaration qui traite Cummings en héros. Mike propose de sortir mais la Première Dame lui demande de rester car ce discours porte sa marque. Martha dit qu’ils avaient travaillé ce discours, son mari lui dit que la mort de Cummings arrange tout mais Martha n’accepte pas de mentir au peuple américain.

Mike rappelle qu’il est désormais inutile de révéler la trahison et cela permettrait de préserver sa famille. Martha dit que cela n’a rien à voir avec la famille Cummings mais que ce mensonge sert les intérêts de Logan. Celui-ci lui dit que sa décision est prise, il rappelle qu’il est le Président.

Elle lui dit que justement son rôle est de dire la vérité et que si il ne la dit pas, elle s’en chargera. Logan propose de commencer par dire la vérité à la femme de Cummings qui va arriver. Martha accepte.

Curtis suit le van à distance respectable grâce aux indications de la CAT qui le surveille grâce au satellite. Jack demande la direction puis il s’aperçoit que le van transporte un tub de gaz : Erwich veut un test sur le terrain. Jack ne veut pas être là quand le gaz se propagera, l’homme lui dit qu’ils auront des masques.

Jack lui demande ensuite qu’elle sera la cible, l’homme ne répond pas. Chloé qui suit le van grâce au traceur dans la puce s’aperçoit que celui-ci se dirige vers un centre commercial.

14 : 23 Le van arrive sur le parking du centre commercial, discrètement suivi par Curtis (et une équipe d’intervention) qui est informé de la situation. Il s’installe en hauteur sur le parking afin de surveiller les faits et gestes de Jack et des terroristes.Les 2 terroristes préparent le tube en le mettant dans une petite valise, ils vont tous 3 (avec Jack) se faire passer pour des réparateurs de climatisation. Jack tente de gagner du temps à la demande d’Audrey, il dit que c’est trop risqué car il y a trop de camera, il refuse de sortir du van.

Le terroriste le menace et l’oblige à enfile rune chemise qui le fera passer pour un réparateur. Audrey informe Jack que l’on est en train d’infiltrer les équipes d’assaut. Lynn refuse d’envoyer les équipes intercepter le tube avant d’entrer dans le centre commercial car Erwich le saurait et il serait impossible de récupérer les 19 autres tubes.

Cela sous entend qu’il faut laisser les terroristes rependre le gaz dans le centre commercial. Audrey est fortement choquée par cette décision et elle demande de l’aide à Buchanan qui reste de marbre. Lynn hausse le ton en disant que c’est lui qui décide. Bill décide d’appeler le Président. Jack et les 2 terroristes se dirigent vers le centre commercial.

14 : 30 Chloé vient d’entrer dans le système de surveillance du centre commercial, on voit les 3 hommes grâce aux caméras de surveillance. Audrey informe Jack que l’on va appeler Logan. Celui-ci aperçoit en même temps qu’il y a beaucoup d’enfants dans le centre commercial.

Ensuite, ils rentrent dans un accès réservé aux employés, un des terroristes tue le garde qui surveillait l’entrée. Puis, ils commencent à ouvrir un conduit d’évacuation afin d’y installer le tube. Pendant ce temps, la CAT reçoit l’appel du Président. Lynn lui explique la situation : choisir entre sacrifier des centaines de vies humaines et garder une chance de retrouver les autres tubes ou empêcher cela et perdre toute chance de retrouver Erwich et les 19 autres tubes.

Logan est consterné. Pendant ce temps, les terroristes finissent le trou dans l’évacuation, ils installent le tube à l’intérieur. Mike demande une estimation des victimes, Lynn pense qu’il y a entre 800 et 900 personnes dans le centre commercial. Audrey insiste sur le fait qu’il y a beaucoup d’enfants, Mike propose une évacuation mais cela est impossible sans éveiller les soupçons des terroristes.

Logan dit que le public n’acceptera pas que la Présidence ai cautionnée un tel acte, Lynn répond que cela restera secret et il ajoute qu’il est sur à 100% qu’après, les terroristes reviendront à leur base. Logan demande ce que recommande la CAT : Bill et Lynn sont pour et Audrey est contre. Les terroristes sont presque prêts à rependre le gaz.

 Lynn demande la décision de Logan, celui-ci dit que c’est à la CAT de décider car c’est une opération de terrain. Buchanan répond que c’est au Président lui de décider car il est le seul à le pouvoir. Logan demande un temps de réflexion, il coupe la communication. Logan décide, après un temps, de laisser les terroristes rependre le gaz sentox dans le centre commercial. Lynn décide donc de retirer les équipes d’intervention.

Le terroriste donne un masque à gaz à Jack. Ensuite, il lui demande le code de la puce d’activation : Buchanan donne le code à Jack mais celui-ci en donne un qui est faux. Lynn lui ordonne de donner le bon code car c’est un ordre présidentiel. Le détonateur ne marche pas, Jack/Rossler dit qu’il ne comprend pas et que le détonateur est peut être endommagé.

Le terroriste le menace et lui demande de le faire marcher, Jack dit qu’il ne peut rien faire. Le terroriste l’assomme. Ensuite, il appelle Erwich pour l’informer de la situation. Le chef des terroristes lui passe un de ses hommes qui connaît un autre moyen d’activer le tube. Pendant ce temps, Jack est déplacé dans une pièce adjacente. Le terroriste applique les indications données par téléphone.

14 : 42 Jack se réveille, il voit les terroristes manipuler le tube, il est menotté à une table. Près du corps du gardien assassiné auparavant. La CAT suit, impuissante, les manipulations du tube par le biais de l’oreillette de Jack (qui entend tout dans un rayon de10 mètres).

Audrey tente une dernière fois de convaincre Lynn d’intervenir pour stopper les terroristes. Il refuse en disant que c’est un ordre de Logan. La conversation est tendue, Lynn dit que c’est une guerre et qu’il y a forcement des victimes. Les terroristes mettent leurs masques.

Quand l’un d’eux s’apprête à tuer Jack, celui-ci lui fait une balayette et le tue. Pendant ce temps le gaz se propage. Quand Jack tente de tirer sur le deuxième terroriste (dont le nom est Polakov), il n’y arrive pas car il arrive à s’enfuir. Ensuite, Jack met le masque de celui qu’il a tué. Puis il se libère en trouvant les clés des menottes du gardien.

Une fois libéré, il arrête le tube de gaz qui se referme. Il informe Lynn qu’il y a quand même du gaz dans la ventilation. Il demande l’évacuation du centre commercial. Buchanan ordonne l’assaut des équipes de Curtis. Jack voit un responsable de sécurité, il lui ordonne de commencer l’évacuation.

Un speaker annonce au centre commercial la procédure d’évacuation, cela provoque un mouvement de panique. Jack apparaît avec son masque au milieu de la foule. Jack voit des victimes du gaz, une dizaine de gens tombent. Il trouve enfin la salle d’évacuation, il coupe tous les leviers. En ressortant de la salle, il informe Curtis qu’il y a au moins 11 victimes.

Puis il voit une petite fille à terre : il lui donne son masque et la transporte à l’extérieur. Ensuite, il lui fait une piqûre d’atropine. Apres avoir vu qu’elle avait la vie sauve, Jack la laisse sous surveillance et part avec Curtis chercher le terroriste enfui car celui-ci s’est enfui avec le détonateur (qui a toujours le traceur). Polakov brise la vitre d’une voiture et s’enfuie avec.

14 : 54 Le terroriste appelle Erwich et l’informe de ce qui c’est passé dans le centre commercial. Celui-ci lui demande de revenir au garage où ils sont basés. Lynn appelle le Président, ce dernier lui dit qu’il est incapable de diriger la CAT. Lynn dit que c’est a cause de Bauer qui a désobéi. Mike annonce au Président qu’il n’y aura finalement « que » entre 10 et 20 morts.

Il lui dit aussi que les medias ne savent rien pour l’instant et que la CAT poursuit un des terroristes. Enfin, il lui annonce l’arrivée de Suzanne Cummings, la veuve de Walt, Martha est en train de lui parler. Suzanne (qui est avec Matha Logan) est effondrée par la mort de son mari, elle ne comprend pas.

Pendant ce temps, Logan surveille discrètement leur conversation. La Première Dame tente de consoler Suzanne mais elle n’arrive pas à évoquer la trahison de son mari.

Mme Cummings demande ensuite à être seule un moment. En sortant Martha voit son mari, ils échangent un regard. Polakov arrive au garage. Curtis et Jack s’apprêtent à intervenir, ils mettent leurs masques. Le terroriste entre dans le garage, il n’y a plus personne.

Erwich, qui surveille le garage de loin, appelle Polakov. Pendant ce temps, l’équipe d’intervention s’apprête à entrer dans le garage. Le terroriste répond au téléphone, son chef lui annonce qu’il a été suivi et qu’il sait ce qui lui reste à faire. Au moment où Jack entre dans le garage, Polakov se suicide.

Le garage est vide, pas de tubes ni d’Erwich. Simultanément, les terroristes s’enfuient en voiture.

Voiceover: Previously on 24.

Logan: You helped terrorists acquire weaponised nerve gas.

Walt: I told you, we were going to trigger the detonators once the terrorists reached their base in central Asia.

Logan: Dammit, Walt. You got into bed with these people, and now they’re threatening to use the gas on American citizens.

---

Logan: So, what do we do about Walt?

Novick: We keep him out of sight long enough for us to construct a credible narrative.

---

Martha: Are you talking about a cover up? Walt Cummings was complicit in David Palmer’s assassination.

Novick: If we go public with Cummings, the credibility of this office will be destroyed.

---

Novick: Mr President, it’s Mike.

Logan: What is it, Mike?

Novick: I think you should come here.

Logan: What’s going on?

Novick: Just come here, sir. [He pushes the door further open to reveal that Walt has hung himself.]

---

Jenny: Lynn?

Mcgill: What is it?

Jenny: Yeah, Lynn I know you’re busy, but I need to see you, please?

[A man hits Mcgill from behind, and takes his wallet.]

---

Erwich: I need you to do some work for us, and we need it done fast. Get the canisters!

Rossler: You have to cut precisely ten centimetres from the bottom of the casing.

Rossler: You and I need a place where we can meet.

Erwich: I’ll call you back in five minutes.

---

Bill: Logan’s reinstated Jack on a temporary basis. He has full autonomy and access.

Chloe: We’ve got a possible intercept on Erwich. A man named Jacob Rossler. He’s a software programmer indicted for high security code infiltration – never convicted.

Jack: Copy that.

Jack: Federal agent! [He shoots the guards.]

Jack: Rossler is in custody, I repeat, Rossler is in custody.

Jack: Answer.

Rossler: Yes?

Erwich: We have the identification keys.

---

[Inessa shoots Rossler.]

Jack: No! Don’t! Is he gonna make it?

Curtis: No. He’s dead. Rossler was our only link to those canisters. Erwich’s gonna call here any minute, and he’s gonna expect to talk to him.

---

Voiceover: The following takes place between 2:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M.

[Lynn walks back into CTU, straightening his jacket and fixing up his tie. He wipes the blood away from the corner of his mouth. He approaches Bill.]

Mcgill: What’s the situation?

Bill: Rossler’s dead. Shot by his female companion.

Mcgill: What does that do to our plan?

Bill: We intended to use Rossler to lead us to Erwich and sentox.

Mcgill: How?

Bill: Rossler was going to sell Erwich a chip that would enable him to activate the canisters and release the sentox.

Mcgill: And we’d put a tracker on the chip.

Bill: Yes, and follow Erwich back to the canisters. Obviously that plan has to change.

Mcgill: Has Erwich set a time and place for the meeting yet?

Bill: No. We’ve also picked up increased chatter relating to the canisters.

Mcgill: Related how?

Bill: Erwich’s been putting out feelers to terrorist organisations with sleeper cells established here. He’s asking for help launching nerve gas attacks on large targets across the country.

[Chloe approaches.]

Chloe: There’s a call coming in on Rossler’s phone. We assume it’s Erwich. What do you wanna do?

Bill: Put it on speaker. [They enter the situation room.]

[Cut to Rossler’s penthouse. He lies dead on the floor. The phone rings.]

Curtis: Jack, this has to be Erwich.

[Jack runs back into the room.]

Curtis: CTU is on the line.

Jack: Ready?

[Curtis nods. Jack answers the phone.]

Jack: [in an indistinct voice] Yeah?

Erwich: Five minutes, roof of the parking garage, corner of White Oak and Madison. One of my men will meet you. Look for a blue van.

[Jack hangs up.]

Curtis: What do you think?

Jack: I think we’ve got a break. Get me the chip.

[Jack calls CTU.]

Operator: CTU Operations.

Jack: This is Jack Bauer; let me speak to Bill Buchanen.

[Cut to the situation room.]

Operator: Jack Bauer on the line.

[Bill answers the call.]

Bill: Buchanen.

Jack: Bill, did you get that?

Bill: Yes, Erwich is sending someone else to the meeting. That’s a problem.

Jack: No, I don’t think so. It means I can pass myself off as Rossler. We can keep the meeting, we can control this thing.

Mcgill: Rossler and the man Erwich is sending might know each other.

Jack: No, he said look for a blue van. He wouldn’t have said that if they knew each other.

Bill: It’s a big risk, Jack.

Audrey: Jack, they will probably kill you. Even if they do think you’re Rossler, it ties up a loose end.

Jack: Well, right now we don’t have much choice. If we’re lucky, this guy will take the chip back to Erwich, and that will lead us to the nerve gas.

Bill: All right, Jack. Do it.

Jack: Thank you. [He hangs up.]

Bill: Chloe, Edgar. Jack is gonna need your tech support through the installation of that chip.

Chloe: We’ll pull up the schematics.

Edgar: Already on it.

[Cut to Rossler’s penthouse]

Curtis: Now the chip you’ll be giving him is genuine, but it’s useless without the correct unlock code. The tracker is built into the chip itself.

Jack: Thanks.

Curtis: How do you wanna play this?

Jack: Non-threatening; I want these people to think I’m scared of them.

Curtis: [to other agents] Get the tac teams ready; we’re on the move. [to Jack] You’ll need a new comm unit with a fresh battery. [He gives Jack a new comm unit.] You’ll be patched into CTU at all times.

Jack: OK.

Curtis: With this, we’ll be able to hear everything within a 20-foot radius of you. I’m watching your back.

Jack: Thanks. Testing, one two three. Testing, one two three.

[Cut to Erwich and his men.]

Erwich: He’ll be waiting for you there. Let me know if there’s a problem. [Two of his men leave to meet Jack. Erwich walks over to another man, who is working with one of the canisters.]

Andrei: Do we have the new chip yet?

Erwich: No. I sent Komar and Polakov to meet Rossler. We should have it in a few minutes. Anything?

Andrei: The remote will always be the most effect way of triggering the canisters.

Erwich: I understand, but what if the new chip doesn’t work? I need options in case Rossler fails us.

Andrei: There may be a workaround, but someone will have to be on site with the canister.

[Erwich grimaces.]

Erwich: Get it done.

[Cut to the retreat. Novick enters Logan’s study.]

Novick: Excuse me, Mr President. I thought you should know. Walt’s body has been moved to the secret service out-building for the time being. [Logan nods.] You realise, sir, we still need to release a public statement about his death.

Logan: No statement till his wife’s been notified.

Novick: Of course. Sir, if you don’t mind me saying, I think perhaps we have an opportunity here. This statement you and Mrs Logan planned to release, disclosing the fact that Walt was part of the conspiracy to supply the terrorists with nerve gas and that he was involved in David Palmer’s assassination –

Logan: What’s your point, Mike?

Novick: I’m sorry, sir. I wonder if his death might render all that moot?

Logan: Go on.

Novick: Very little will come of dragging Walt’s name through the mud when he’s not here to answer for what he’s done, and it would be devastating for this country, particularly if it, God forbid, that nerve gas is used against us.

Logan: What are you suggesting?

Novick: We could attribute Walt’s suicide to a despondency over the day’s events, work, personal issues.

Logan: Let him go out with some dignity, you mean, not as a traitor.

Novick: Yes.

Logan: My wife will have a considerable problem with that.

Novick: I respect the First Lady’s moral conviction, but this is your decision, not hers.

02:07:28 … 02:07:29 … 02:07:30 … 02:07:31 …

[In her room, Martha is working on the speech. Evelyn enters with a glass of water.]

Evelyn: Is there anything else I can get you, Mrs Logan?

Martha: No, thank you Evelyn, I’m fine.

Evelyn: Can I ask your advice on something?

Martha: Of course.

[Evelyn closes the door.]

Evelyn: Some of the staff were asking questions.

Martha: About?

Evelyn: Walt Cumming’s death.

Martha: Evelyn, I’m helping prepare a statement right now that the President’s going to give later. It’ll explain everything. Is there something else, Evelyn?

Evelyn: Yes.

Martha: What? What is it?

Evelyn: Why did he do it? Why did Walt kill himself? I deserve to know. A violent thing happened to someone I work with every day. Someone who had no visible signs of depression. What if it wasn’t suicide? What if we’re in danger? I don’t know what to think.

Martha: It was suicide.

Evelyn: How can you be so sure?

Martha: Evelyn, listen to me. What I’m going to say to you has to stay in this room until it’s gone public, do you understand? You do understand? Even his family doesn’t know the truth yet.

Evelyn: OK.

Martha: Walt Cummings was a traitor.

Evelyn: What?

Martha: I’m not going to go into any details, but suffice to say, Walt was responsible for some of the awful things that happened today.

Evelyn: I can’t believe that.

Martha: The President just found out. I suppose that Walt didn’t want to face the humiliation of a long public trial, and he decided to kill himself.

Evelyn: Was he working with the terrorists?

Martha: Our enforcement agencies are trying to figure that out. [She sits back down; Evelyn turns away, shocked.]

02:09:16 … 02:09:17 … 02:09:18 … 02:09:19 …

[Jack arrives at the parking lot. Curtis pulls up in a van outside.]

Curtis: Jack’s arrived at the rendezvous point.

Bill: Maintain your distance.

[Curtis sees the blue van arrive.]

Curtis: Heads up, we have a blue van at the parking garage. License plate: six, Quebec, four, nine, nine, five, one.

Edgar: Running the plates.

[Jack reaches the upper level.]

Curtis: He’s headed towards the upper level, Jack. I couldn’t get a visual on who’s inside.

Edgar: I have a hit from DMV. The plates don’t match the vehicle; they probably stole the van and put clean plates on it.

[The van arrives on the level Jack is waiting on. The two men get out.]

Jack: [quietly] Two men are getting out. Showtime. [He gets out of the car.]

[Back in CTU, Audrey looks worried.]

Jack: Rossler. I was told there’d only be one of you.

Polakov: Is that a problem?

Jack: Yeah, I don’t like surprises.

Polakov: Relax. We’ve got your money.

Jack: Let me see it.

Polakov: When I see the chip.

[Jack shows him the chip. Polakov shows him the money.]

02:11:02 … 02:11:03 … 02:11:04 … 02:11:05 …

Polakov: Erwich says you have to install it.

Jack: Where’s the remote trigger.

[Polakov gestures to Komar, who opens the back of the van.]

Polakov: [to Jack] Let’s go.

[Jack walks to the back of the van. The trigger is sitting on the floor of the van. He kneels down and picks it up.]

Chloe: OK, Jack, you need to remove the backing.

[Jack unscrews the back of the trigger.]

Chloe: Inside there are five jumpers. Toggle the one in the middle to the left. Then, pry out the old chip. But do it gently. When it’s out, clear your throat or something.

[Jack removes the old chip, and then coughs loudly.]

Chloe: OK, insert the new chip into the slot. Press the reset button directly under it. Screw the back on, and you’re done.

[Jack finishes his work. He hands the trigger to Polakov.]

Jack: The trigger’s been reconfigured; you can activate your canisters now.

Polakov: You’d better hope it works. You’re coming with us, just to make sure.

[Komar punches Jack in the stomach, and pushes him into the back of the van.]

Audrey: What are they doing?

Jack: [quietly] We’re on the move.

[The men get into the front of the van.]

Jack: [to Polakov and Komar] This isn’t the deal I made with Erwich. I reconfigured the trigger, you’re supposed to just give me the money.

Curtis: Standing by to move in.

Mcgill: Hold on, Curtis.

Audrey: Erwich knows who Jack is; he saw him at the airport. They’ll kill him.

Mcgill: By the time Jack gets close enough to be recognised, the tac teams will move in.

Audrey: No, we need to move in now. Take the two terrorists and make them tell us where Erwich is.

Mcgill: We don’t have time. Erwich will know something is wrong and move; this is our only shot.

Audrey: Bill?

[The van is driven out of the parking garage.]

Curtis: Are we letting them take Jack? I’m awaiting orders.

Mcgill: Stand down, Curtis, take no action. Reassemble the tac teams and mount a follow operation.

Curtis: All teams, standby.

Agent: Roger that, sir, all team standby.

Bill: Lynn’s right. Whatever happens, Jack can handle it. He has to.

02:13:52 … 02:13:53 … 02:13:54 …

02:18:13 … 02:18:14 … 02:18:15 … 02:18:16 … 02:18:17 … 02:18:18 … 02:18:19 …

[Split screen, with Komar and Polakov in the van; Curtis in his car; Jack in the back of the van; and Audrey in CTU.]

[Cut to the retreat. Martha is working on the speech. There’s a knock at the door.]

Martha: Come in.

[Evelyn enters.]

Evelyn: Excuse me, Mrs Logan.

Martha: What is it?

Evelyn: Lauren Campbell gave me the press release to give to you. I’m confused. [She gives Martha a piece of paper.]

Martha: About what?

Evelyn: It’s not what you said. They’re calling Walt Cummings a hero, not a traitor.

[Martha reads the press release, looking horrified.]

Martha: I don’t believe this! [She leaves the room.]

[Logan re-enters his study.]

Logan: Well? Is CTU any closer?

Novick: They’re mounting an undercover operation, which they hope will lead them to the canisters.

Logan: Hope is not good enough. We want results; you need to make that abundantly clear to them, Mike.

Novick: I believe they’re doing everything that can be done, sir.

[Martha enters.]

Martha: I’ve just read the statement you issued about Walt’s death. [Logan looks uncomfortable.] “Stress due to over-work robbed this country of one of its most dedicated servants. His work with this administration has been … ” [She composes herself.] You’re covering everything up.

Novick: I’ll wait outside.

Martha: Don’t go anywhere, Mike. Your fingerprints are all over this. Charles, we worked on this together; I thought we both agreed you needed to go public about Walt’s involvement with everything that is going on today.

Logan: I know. I know you’re disappointed, but I think it’s obvious that Walt taking his own life changes things.

Martha: What’s obvious is that this is a pack of lies.

Novick: Mrs Logan, full disclosure would have been necessary to ensure Walt faced justice for what he’s done. With his death making that a non-issue, it was decided this course was best for his family.

Martha: Oh, don’t! You don’t care about his family. You decided that this was best for you, for Charles. You are dead wrong.

Logan: Martha! Enough. I made my decision, and I am the President.

Martha: Which means it’s your job to tell the truth. Even when it’s ugly. And if you don’t, I will.

Logan: If you feel so strongly about telling the truth, you can start with Walt’s wife when she arrives.

Martha: Suzanne’s coming here?

Logan: To collect her husband’s body. So, you can be the one to tell her that the real reason that Walt took the coward’s way out is because he disgraced himself and he betrayed his country.

Martha: All right. It’ll be very painful, but it’s the right thing to do. [She leaves.]

02:20:55 … 02:20:56 … 02:20:57 … 02:20:58 …

[Cut to Curtis in his car.]

Curtis: We’re one mile behind Jack, heading west on {if anyone caught this street name or the next, please tell me}, just passing {street name}.

Bill: Maintain your distance. We’ve got them on satellite; we’re not going to loose them.

Jack: We are we going?

Polakov: What’s it matter?

Jack: I have another appointment; I just wanna know if I’m going to make it.

Polakov: We’re almost there. How long it takes once we get there is up to you.

Jack: What do you mean?

Polakov: I told you. We need to make sure the remote trigger works on the canisters. [Jack sees one canister lying on the floor.]

Jack: Oh my God; you’ve got one of the canisters with you.

[In CTU, Mcgill, Audrey and Bill react to this.]

Polakov: Erwich wants a field test.

Jack: I’m not going to be within 50 miles of that thing when it goes off.

Polakov: We have masks.

Jack: What’s the target?

Bill: Curtis, are you reading this?

Curtis: Yeah. You want me to reposition the tac teams for an intercept?

Mcgill: No. Not till we have a visual on the canister.

Chloe: If they stay on {street name}, up ahead there’s an industrial park and two retail complexes. They just turned north; that’s not good.

Bill: What is it, Chloe? What’s the potential target?

Chloe: Sunrise Hills mall.

[Around the room, Bill, Audrey, Edgar, and Mcgill react to this.]

[The van arrives at the mall.]

Bill: Curtis, the intended target is Sunrise Hills mall. Repeat, the target is the Sunrise Hills mall.

Chloe: Uploading schematics of the mall; running through to tac teams now.

Curtis: All right, all teams standby for positioning. We’ll set up on the second level of the parking structure.

02:22:37 … 02:22:38 … 02:22:39 … 02:22:40 …

[The van parks in the car park.]

Polakov: This is it.

[Curtis and his team arrive at the parking lot and watch the van.]

Bill: Curtis, do you have Jack on visual?

Curtis: Yeah. He and the two hostiles are in the south parking lot. Alpha team, take up position on the perimeter of the lot. Brava team, I want your plainclothes agents in position at the mall doors.

Jack: How are you gonna get the canister inside?

Polakov: Through the front door. Anyone asks? We’re working on the air-conditioning.

[He and Komar put the canister in a box.]

Jack: I didn’t agree to this; I’m not going in.

Polakov: Yes you are.

Audrey: Jack is trying to stall for time; what are we waiting for?

Jack: There are hundreds of video cameras in there. This entire country will know what we look like in the next few hours.

Polakov: We want your leaders to know who did this to them.

Jack: It’s your fight. The deal I made with Erwich was to sell him the chip, not to get my face all over the news.

[Polakov points a gun at Jack.]

Polakov: Erwich prefers to keep you alive, but only if you cooperate. Now hand me the jackets.

Audrey: Jack, we’re moving in tac teams to recover the canisters before you go inside the mall.

Jack: [taking the jackets] Fine; let’s get this over with. [The three men each put on a jacket.]

Audrey: I’ll let you know as soon as we’re in position.

Chloe: Sending redeployment orders now.

Mcgill: Hold off on that.

Audrey: What? Lynn, we have got to stop them before they get inside.

Mcgill: If we move in now, Erwich will know that we’re onto him, and we won’t be led to the other canisters.

Audrey: Are we talking about letting them go through with this? Sacrificing the lives of all those people?

Mcgill: I’m talking about accepting the damage that one canister can do versus what the other nineteen can do.

Audrey: This is insane. Bill?

Mcgill: Bill’s not in charge here. I am.

Bill: We need to call the President.

[Jack gets out of the van.]

Polakov: Let’s go.

[They walk into the mall with the canister while Curtis watches.]

02:24:56 … 02:24:57 … 02:24:58 …

02:29:22 … 02:29:23 … 02:29:24 … 02:29:25 … 02:29:26 … 02:29:27 …

[Split screen, with Novick in Logan’s office; Logan in his office; and Audrey in the situation room.]

[Cut to the situation room.]

Chloe: I just got into the mall’s internal security video surveillance server. We should be able to see Jack.

[She brings up the video surveillance on the television screen. Jack is seen walking into through the mall.]

[Jack walks through the mall.]

Audrey: Jack, we’re still waiting for the President to call. I’ll let you know as soon as we have him.

[Jack sees a children’s Birthday party in progress in the mall.]

Mother: Now, we’re going to go to the ice-cream shop and visit the sundae bar. [Children laugh.] Yeah. Any flavours you want.

[Jack and the terrorists enter the security station.]

Polakov: [to Jack] Get the security guard. Knock on the glass.

[Jack does so. The security guard leaves his room.]

Security guard: What are you guys doing here?

Polakov: Servicing the HVFC units.

Security guard: We didn’t call about that.

Polakov: I don’t know what to tell you; we did.

Security guard: You got paperwork?

Komar: Just a minute. [He looks through his bag, then pulls out a gun and shoots the guard. Jack tries not to react. Polakov moves over to the ventilation system.]

02:30:47 … 02:30:48 … 02:30:49 … 02:30:50 …

Polakov: [looking at a diagram] Will this work?

Komar: Yeah.

Polakov: Do it. [to Jack] Throw me the bag. [Jack does so.] And your jacket. [Jack takes off his jacket and throws it over. Polakov gets out the canister. Komar cuts into the metal panelling.

[Cut to CTU.]

Operator: Mr Buchanen, the President is on line one.

Bill: Put him through.

Operator: Yes, sir.

Audrey: Jack, we have the President on the line; I’m gonna patch you in.

Logan: Go ahead.

Mcgill: Mr President, this is Lynn Mcgill. You also have Bill Buchanen, Audrey Raines, Chloe O’Brien and Edgar Stiles in the room.

Logan: Go ahead.

Mcgill: Sir, we’re calling you for a decision on a critical operational matter.

Logan: What is it?

[Jack listens intently.]

Mcgill: Jack Bauer is currently undercover with some of the terrorists. They’re expecting Jack to help release a single canister of sentox nerve gas in the Sunrise Hills shopping mall where they are right now.

Logan: Well, then arrest them. What’s the problem?

Mcgill: Sir, the problem is, if we don’t maintain Jack’s cover there’s no guarantee they’ll lead us back to the other 19 canisters.

Logan: Do you mean, actually let them release the sentox? Are you out of your mind?

Bill: Mr President, Bill Buchanen. I had the same initial reaction, but then I looked at our updated scenarios. With the help of other terrorist organisations, the remaining 19 canisters could be deployed at other, more crowded areas such as subway stations, hospitals and sports arenas, sir. The loss of life could exceed hundreds of thousands of people.

Logan: My God.

[In the mall, Komar has cut a square hole in the metal panel.]

Komar: Right over here.

02:32:43 … 02:32:44 … 02:32:45 … 02:32:46 …

[They place the canister inside the ventilation duct. Jack looks worried.]

Novick: What kind of casualties are you predicting at the mall?

Mcgill: We don’t have exact numbers, but based on video surveillance, our best guess is between eight and nine hundred.

Audrey: Sir, many of them are children.

Novick: Can’t you evacuate the mall?

Mcgill: Not without the terrorists knowing.

Logan: The public will not tolerate the government’s complicity in this.

Mcgill: They wouldn’t know, sir. This would be a covert decision. We’re monitoring the terrorists. We know with 100% certainty that when they leave the mall, they’re going back to the remaining canisters.

[Logan looks conflicted.]

Logan: What’s your recommendation?

Mcgill: Bill Buchanen and I agree that the greatest good would be served by allowing them to release this single canister of sentox nerve gas.

Audrey: And I believe, sir, we have no right to sanction the deaths of innocent people. We should take our chances, interrogate these men, and find out the location of the other canisters.

[The canister has been placed inside the ventilation duct.]

Polakov: Are we ready?

Komar: Almost.

Mcgill: Mr President, we’re running out of time. We need your decision, sir.

Logan: This is a field operation. It’s up to you.

Bill: With all due respect, Mr President, it’s not. We don’t’ have the legal authority to make this decision; only you do.

Logan: You’re putting me in a terrible position. Hold on. [He mutes the call and turns to Novick.] Mike?

Novick: CTU has laid out the facts well, but you have to make the call. [Logan grimaces. He turns off the mute on the call.]

Logan: All right. The terrorists are forcing us to make a tragic choice. I’ll go along with your assessment. Let them release the sentox. But you’d better find those other canisters, or those people will have died in vain.

02:34:52 … 02:34:53 … 02:34:54 … 02:34:55 …

[Bill ends the call.]

Mcgill: Pull all tac teams out of the mall. Jack, you heard the President’s decision.

Komar: Let’s go.

Polakov: [to Jack] Put your mask on. [He throws a gas mask to Jack. Jack, Komar and Polakov all put on their gas masks.]

Polakov: I’m going to open the valve. What’s the unlock code?

Bill: Jack, the unlock code is alpha, kilo, charlie. I repeat, alpha, kilo, charlie.

Polakov: Come on, what’s the unlock code?

Bill: Alpha, kilo, charlie, Jack.

Jack: Echo, bravo, charlie.

[Mcgill looks frustrated.]

Mcgill: Enter the correct code, Jack. That’s an order. Jack, this is a direct order from the President. Now enter the correct code and let them release the gas. Now!

Polakov: It’s not arming the canister. Why isn’t it working? [They remove their masks.]

Jack: Maybe the remote’s been damaged.

[Polakov points a gun at Jack.]

Polakov: Make it work, or I’ll kill you.

Jack: There’s nothing I can do.

Polakov: Make it work!

Jack: I told you, there’s nothing I can do!

[Polakov punches him in the face, then knocks him out.]

Mcgill: Jack, can you hear me?

[Polakov calls Erwich.]

Erwich: Yes?

Polakov: We can’t arm the canisters.

Erwich: What is the problem?

Polakov: Rossler says he doesn’t know.

Erwich: Do you believe him?

Polakov: I don’t know. Should I kill him?

Erwich: Not until we are sure we have another way to release the gas. Andrei thinks he’s discovered an alternative. I’ll put him on.

Polakov: [to Komar] Get him in the other room. [Komar drags Jack into the other room.]

Erwich: [giving the phone to Andrei] Polakov.

Andrei: The canister is in front of you?

Polakov: Yeah.

[Komar gets a set of handcuffs from the belt of the dead security guard and handcuffs Jack to a table.]

Polakov: Yeah, I understand. Yeah, OK.

Komar: What’s going on?

Polakov: [to Komar] Andrei thinks he may have another way to release the gas.

[In CTU, Mcgill looks angrily at Bill. Audrey stares at the desk, concerned.]

[Jack lies on the floor, handcuffed to the table.]

02:37:22 … 02:37:23 … 02:37:24 …

02:41:44 … 02:41:45 … 02:41:46 … 02:41:47 … 02:41:48 … 02:41:49 … 02:41:50 …

[Split screen, with Jack lying on the floor; Bill in CTU; Logan in his office; and Komar and Polakov working on the canister.]

[Cut to Jack lying on the floor. He wakes up. Out in the other room, Polakov is working on the canister, under instruction from Andrei via the phone.]

Andrei: You see the circuit configuration?

Polakov: Yes, I see it.

Andrei: Now, move the jumper over. Expose the red and yellow wire.

Polakov: Hang on; I’m going to put you on speaker phone. [He does this.] Are you sure the valve won’t open without warning?

[In CTU, they listen in on the call.]

Andrei: If you make a mistake, it could, so pay attention. Five more splices to go.

Polakov: Which one now?

Andrei: The orange wire is next in the sequence. [Jack watches Polakov and Komar.] Exactly as before. [Jack tries to move the table.] The white wire and the blue wire need to be connected directly through the circuit board, then into the release valve itself.

Polakov: [to Komar] Get the masks; we’re almost ready.

[Jack tries to reach the security guard but fails. Komar gets two masks.]

Andrei: You’ll see three inputs on the bottom left of the circuit board and three outputs on the top right.

[Audrey brings up surveillance footage of a children’s playground in the mall.]

Audrey: Lynn, there is still time to move in and stop them before they murder all those people.

Mcgill: Audrey, we have a directive from the President.

Audrey: The President’s not looking at all these children whose death warrant he just signed.

Mcgill: Don’t you realise how many more people could die if these people don’t lead us to the other 19 canisters?

Audrey: They could. That’s theoretical right now. Those children will die within minutes. Look at them. Look at the monitor!

Bill: Audrey, that’s enough.

Audrey: No, it’s not. Lynn, you tell me. If you were in Jack’s shoes, would you follow through with that order, stand by and watch as they murder all those people?

Mcgill: This is war. There are gonna be casualties. If those are the orders of the President, yes I would have to!

Audrey: I hope that’s not true. For your sake. [She walks away from him.]

Andrei: Three more wires to go. [Polakov continues re-configuring the device. In CTU, Audrey leans against the wall, shaking her head.]

Polakov: All right. The wires are together.

Andrei: Put your mask on. The next pair you splice will open the valve.

Polakov: [to Komar] Go kill Rossler.

02:43:52 … 02:43:53 … 02:43:54 … 02:43:55 …

[Jack pretends to be unconscious. Komar gets his gun and walks into the room. Polakov splices the wires together. Komar points the gun at Jack. Jack kicks him and knocks his legs out from under him. Komar falls to the floor. Polakov finishes splicing the wires, and the valve opens. The sentox gas is being released. Jack gets Komar’s gun and shoots at Polakov, who manages to escape.]

Andrei: Polakov? Polakov? Polakov?

[Jack takes Komar’s mask and puts it on. He manages to get the keys to the handcuffs off the security guard and frees himself.]

Mcgill: Jack, can you hear me?

[Jack goes into the next room, and sees that the sentox gas is being released. He rushes over and pulls the spliced wires apart. The valve closes.]

Mcgill: What’s happening, Jack? What’s your status?

Jack: I managed to stop the flow of gas but some got into the ventilation system. We need to evacuate the mall now.

Mcgill: What about the terrorists?

Jack: One’s dead, one escaped. Have Curtis and his men start looking for him.

Bill: Curtis, this is Buchanen. Move in now.

Curtis: About time. Move in, move in, all teams, move in.

[Jack encounters a man in the corridors.]

Jack: You! Up against the wall. [He pushes the man against the wall.]

Man: Hey!

Jack: I’m a federal agent. Terrorists have released a toxic substance into the ventilation system; you need to evacuate people now. This is not a joke, this is not a robbery or a drill. Do it now!

Man: All right. [into his radio] We have a red alert. Begin evacuation procedures immediately.

Jack: Where’s the power source for the ventilation system?

Man: It’s next to the food court. The control room door’s right there.

Jack: Get everybody out now.

02:45:42 … 02:45:43 … 02:45:44 … 02:45:46 …

[In the mall itself, shoppers listen as the announcer tells them to leave.]

Announcer: … to the nearest mall exit in an orderly fashion.

[Shoppers start to scream and run for the exits. Jack emerges from the security room. Jack runs towards the food court.]

Jack: Curtis, it’s Jack. Do you copy?

Curtis: Yeah, Jack. We’re closing in on the mall.

Jack: I’m gonna try and shut down the ventilation system in the mall. I do not have a visual on the hostile. Make sure your men take him alive.

Curtis: Understood.

[In the food court, shoppers rush for the exit. Jack rushes up the escalators into the food court. A girl falls to the ground, coughing. A man helps her to her feet. Another woman falls to the ground. Jack shoots the lock on the entrance to the control room. He rushes into the ventilation control room and cuts the power for the ventilation system. The system shuts down.]

Jack: Curtis, it’s Jack. The sentox gas that escaped has managed to stay in the food court. I got at least eleven people down; I need assistance. I need assistance now!

[He sees a young girl lying slumped against a wall and rushes over to her.]

Curtis: Got it.

Jack: Sweetheart, can you hear me? I want you to hold the mask to your face when I take it off, OK? [He takes off her mask and she holds it over her face. Jack picks her up and carries her out of the mall. More people are still fleeing the scene, while bodies lie on the floor.]

[Curtis and his team approach the food court from outside.]

Curtis: All right, everyone, masks on. Check everyone that’s down and get them outside soon as possible.

[Jack emerges, carrying the girl. He puts her down and Curtis rushes over.]

Jack: I need a shot of atropine for a child under twelve. Curtis, give me that jacket for her head. [Jack lies her down with the jacket under her head as a pillow. He takes the gas mask off her face. She is not moving.] I’m loosing her! [An agent gives him a syringe containing atropine. Jack injects it into the girl’s thigh.]

Jack: [quietly] Come on … She’s responding. Her pulse is stabilising.

Bill: Jack, we’ve secured the exits. We don’t have a visual on the other terrorist. If he got out of the mall before we locked down, he may be lost, and he’s our only remaining chance of finding Erwich.

Jack: Monitor the tracking device in the remote trigger. The hostile that escaped still had it on him.

Bill: Chloe. [Chloe starts monitoring the tracking device.]

02:48:15 … 02:48:16 … 02:48:17 … 02:48:18 …

Chloe: Jack’s right. The signal’s moving away from the mall. Looks like he’s on foot.

Curtis: Michaels.

[Michaels walks over to him.]

Curtis: Jack and I are going after the remote trigger. You’re in charge here; report directly to Bill Buchanen.

Michaels: Yes, sir.

[The little girl opens her eyes and looks at Jack.]

Curtis: Walsh, gather your team. You’re with us.

Jack: [to girl] Don’t be scared. You’re gonna be all right. [points to an agent] This man’s gonna take care of you. [He moves away to join Curtis. They run over to the cars.]

[Polakov jumps a fence. He jogs down a street, then breaks into a car. He hotwires it and drives away quickly.]

02:49:26 … 02:49:27 … 02:49:28 …

02:53:52 … 02:53:53 … 02:53:54 … 02:53:55 … 02:53:56 … 02:53:57 …

[Split screen, with Mcgill walking  out of the situation room; Polakov driving; and Jack and Curtis in their car.]

[Cut to Polakov. He looks nervous. He grabs his phone and calls Erwich.]

Erwich: Yes?

Polakov: Rossler, or whoever he was, killed Komar and tried to stop us.

Erwich: What are you talking about? Why?

Polakov: I don’t know! I managed to activate the valve before I got away. At least some of the gas was released in the mall.

Erwich: You sure you’re not being followed.

Polakov: Yes. What do you want me to do?

Erwich: Come back here.

Polakov: I’ll be there soon.

[Erwich hangs up.]

[At CTU, Chloe is tracking Polakov.]

Chloe: He’s turning left on Reese.

Jack: We’re six blocks out.

[Mcgill walks up the stairs to his office. He is on his phone.]

Operator: One moment, Mr Mcgill. I’ll connect you with the President.

Logan: Yes?

Mcgill: Mr President, I know this was not what your order stipulated. That’s why I thought it was important to let you know what was happening.

Logan: What’s happening is that I sent you over there to make sure that CTU was running smoothly in a time of crisis, and you seem to be incapable of doing that.

Mcgill: Sir, Bauer refused the order. There was nothing I could do.

Logan: No, I don’t want excuses. Just do your job, and if you can’t do it, I’ll find somebody else who can. [He ends the call.]

02:55:11 … 02:55:12 … 02:55:13 … 02:55:14 …

Novick: The estimates from the mall are much lower than we originally anticipated. It appears the fatalities will be limited to between ten and twenty people.

Logan: Thank God. So, what are we telling the media?

Novick: Nothing yet. CTU is maintaining a blackout on the ground there until we give them direction on a cover story.

Logan: What about the other 19 canisters?

Novick: CTU has a terrorist under surveillance as we speak. They believe there’s a good chance he’ll lead them to Erwich and the other canisters.

Logan: All right. Good.

Novick: There’s something else, sir. Suzanne Cummings has arrived to claim Walt’s body. Martha is on her way to speak with her now.

Logan: Thank you, Mike. [He leaves the room.]

[Cut to another room in the Presidential retreat. Suzanne Cummings is sitting down. She looks devastated. Martha enters. She looks at the other woman.]

Martha: Suzanne. Hi, honey. [She sits by Suzanne. Suzanne shakes her head, crying a little.]

Suzanne: I can’t believe he’s gone.

Martha: I’m sorry. [Martha hugs her.] I’m so, so, sorry.

Suzanne: I should have been with him today.

Martha: Don’t do that.

Suzanne: I wanted to be.

Martha: Honey, don’t do that. Don’t blame yourself.

[Logan approaches quietly. He waits just outside the room, listening.]

Suzanne: He told me he …

Martha: Don’t. You know how much we love you, honey. No matter what you need, we’ll always be here for you.

Suzanne: I just don’t understand. This doesn’t make any sense. You were with him today. Why, Martha, why in the world would Walt do this? [He voice breaks again. Martha is silent for a few seconds, thinking.]

Martha: It’s so sad. Walt … loved this country. And … he loved you.

Suzanne: I’m sorry. I think … I need a moment.

Martha: Of course. Right. [She gets up and walks out. She sees Logan; he moves to hold her, but she looks down and moves just past him. She looks at him with a mixture of anger and sadness, then walks away.]

[Polakov arrives at the mechanic’s shop. Chloe is still tracking him. Polakov parks the car and gets out, then walks into the building.]

Chloe: Slowing down … he’s stopping. Cross-referencing with the street grid … He’s in front of 1136 East Muldowra.

Jack: Bill, we’re gonna have to hit them hard and fast to try and stop them releasing any more of the sentox canisters.

02:58:47 … 02:58:48 … 02:58:49 … 02:58:50 …

Bill: Agreed.

[Mcgill re-enters.]

Mcgill: Set up a perimeter. Begin your approach.

Curtis: All right, all teams, we’re moving in.

Jack: Put your gas masks on. [They all do so.]

[At the retreat, Logan re-enters his study, while Martha is back with Suzanne.]

[Polakov enters the building, to find that Erwich and Andrei are gone, and they have taken the canisters with them. Erwich and his remaining men are watching from nearby. They see Curtis, Jack and the team arrive, and run towards the building. Erwich gets out his phone.]

Jack: Team B, take the front entrance on the street. We’re taking the side. Go now. Go! [They start their advance, moving into the yard and towards the entrance.]

[Inside, Polakov’s phone rings. He answers.]

Polakov: Yes?

Erwich: You were followed.

Polakov: I don’t know how.

Erwich: It doesn’t matter. You know what to do.

Polakov: Yes. [He hangs up, and pulls out a gun. He holds it at his head. Jack enters behind him. Polakov shoots himself through the head.]

Jack: No! Hostile down. I repeat, hostile down. [He checks the body. Curtis enters.]

Curtis: Air’s clean. [They all remove their masks.]

Jack: Curtis, have your men call in now.

Curtis: Team A, Team B. Report. Come on, guys, what have you got?

Agent 1: Team Alpha. There’s no one here. We’re clear.

Curtis: There’s nothing.

Jack: Erwich is gone. The canisters are gone. We’ve got nothing here. Dammit!

[Erwich and his men drive away.]

02:59:57 … 02:59:58 … 02:59:59 … 03:00:00.