24

Previously on 24.

Jim, we both know that you've been one of the most outspoken opponents...

to my decision to call off this attack.

If you have something to say, I would expect you to bring it to me first.

Does the president have any idea what's going on?

I don't think so. Let's keep it that way.

Thank you for assembling at such short notice.

I'm sure you're all wondering why I've invited you here.

It is my sincere belief, based on his response to today's events,

David Palmer is unfit to continue as president of the United States.

Looks like you've had quite a day.

I didn't kill anyone. I know you didn't.

We know Gary Matheson killed his wife. We're looking for him now.

So you're off the hook for everything that happened this morning.

I thought I made myself clear, Tony. We're past Bauer.

No, sir. You are. I'm not.

If you're not comfortable with me making my own decisions here,

I suggest you relieve me of my duties right now.

That won't be necessary. Thank you, sir.

Don't thank me. I just don't have anyone to take your place right now.

No! Give me that!

Kate, are you all right? Yeah. They've got the chip.

All I want is the chip!

You come in here, I'm gonna smash this thing. I'll put it right under my foot.

The following takes place between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

At least let me know who I'm speaking to. Doesn't matter who we are.

Only thing that matters is we got something you want.

Something your girlfriend was about to pay us a lot of money for.

Listen to me, both of you. About five hours ago, a nuclear bomb went off.

I'm sure you know about that.

The chip you have has information about who's responsible.

It's vital to our investigation.

The man you assaulted was a foreign intelligence agent.

He was bringing the chip to my office.

I'm gonna give you one chance to get out of this.

Give me the chip back, and I'll let you walk, no questions.

Think we don't know you're setting us up? Kate, get back.

What are you doing? They killed Yusuf. They were about to kill me.

We're about to go to war against three countries

who are not responsible for today.

The only way I can stop it is by getting the president that chip, so right now,

I'm going to do everything I can to get it back.

Please, Kate, I need your help. Get in touch with C.T.U., please.

I'm gonna give you 30 seconds to open that door. Give it to him.

Are you crazy? This is the only thing keeping him...

from killing us like he killed Rouse. You got 20 seconds.

We're supposed to trust you? Right now, you don't have another choice.

Give it to him. No way!

He's serious. So am I!

He's gonna kill us if you don't open the door. He'll kill us if I do!

Against the wall! Now! Where's the chip?

I-I dropped it.

Don't move.

Kate! Kate! Get me some wire, so I can tie these guys up.

What about the chip? I got it.

I got this Pentagon briefing stating that our bombers...

aren't going back to their bases.

Do you know anything about this?

I understand they're in a holding pattern awaiting refueling.

I ordered them back to their bases.

Yes, sir, I know. That's why I'm here.

Could I ask you to come with me for a minute?

Come with you where? Just down the hall to the main conference room.

What's going on, Mike?

Please, Mr. President, come with me.

You're ordering me to the conference room? No, sir.

Of course not. I'm sorry. I'm... asking.

It's very important, sir.

Mike, I'm the President of the United States.

I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what this is about.

Mr. President,

it seems there are a number of people, cabinet members,

who question whether you're fit to continue as chief executive of this country.

And these people are in my conference room?

In a manner of speaking, sir, they are.

Well, then, let's go see them.

Mr. President.

So now I see why I had such a hard time reaching you today, Jim.

You were busy.

I apologize if this comes as a surprise, Mr. President.

This is a unique situation in the history of our country,

calling for unique measures.

Let's skip the sound bites and cut to the chase.

What's going on here?

Mr. President, we are invoking the 25th Amendment.

Who's "we"?

I think there's a general feeling that...

some of the decisions that have been made today--

Hold on a minute, Mr. Vice President.

With all due respect, sir, most of us here...

are scrambling just to understand today's events.

I think it's way, way too early to be referring...

to a "general feeling" about anything. Fair enough.

For the record, let me review the relevant portions of the 25th Amendment.

Section Four states that "whenever the vice president...

"and majority of the cabinet determine the president...

"is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,

the vice president shall immediately take office as acting president."

Is everyone clear on that? The 25th Amendment was designed for situations...

where the president is ill or incapacitated.

The language speaks for itself, Mr. President.

"Unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office."

The reason for the disability isn't limited to any particular cause.

The attorney general agrees with this interpretation.

And just what exactly is my supposed disability?

It seems clear to me, Mr. President,

that the stress of today's events has overwhelmed you.

An atomic device has been detonated on American soil today.

We have clear evidence which countries are responsible,

along with details of the terrorist group they sponsor.

The evidence implicating these countries is not clear, Mr. Prescott.

Far from it. The Cyprus audio has been...

independently verified by every intelligence group we have.

I have reason to believe that those agencies are mistaken.

Because of this lone C.T.U. agent, Jack Bauer?

Yes. Mr. Bauer believes that the Cyprus audio is a forgery.

He also believes that he will soon have proof.

He's been telling you that for hours,

Mr. President. You still don't have the proof.

If military strikes do not occur imminently,

casualties to American soldiers will increase by tens of thousands of lives.

That analysis is undisputed.

The risk of attacking innocent countries is unacceptable.

- We have to be sure. - Everybody is sure, Mr. President.

Everybody but you. Well, as it happens, I'm the only one who counts.

This meeting is over.

Mr. President, one way or another, there will be a vote.

I think that you should be heard before that vote is taken.

You don't like one of my policy decisions.

The 25th Amendment does not give you the right to reverse that policy...

under the pretense of saying I have a disability.

Mr. President, I agree.

What I intend to show is a pattern of erratic...

and irrational behavior on your part since the start of this crisis.

Seen in that light, your refusal to authorize military action...

is simply another symptom of your disability.

Listen to me. All of you.

I know you're not in the same room with me...

but you can see and hear me plainly enough.

Take a good look.

Do I seem scared?

Am I breaking into a nervous sweat?

Am I babbling? At a loss for words?

Is my voice shaking?

Can any one of you look me in the eye and tell me I'm disabled?

Mr. President, the issue is not...

your demeanor over the past few minutes,

but your actions over the past 20 hours.

Mr. President,

the vice president has raised serious questions, and in my opinion,

it would be a mistake to ignore them.

For my own part, I'm confident that if you explain yourself...

with your usual candor and clarity,

all questions will be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone here.

Mr. Prescott, there seems to be a collective feeling...

that a discussion is called for.

In the interest of putting this behind us,

I'll agree... on one condition.

When it's over, if I'm supported,

you tender your resignation as the vice president of this country.

Very well, Mr. President. I agree.

I, uh, suggest we all take a few minutes to compose ourselves,

and, uh, then get on with the... proceeding.

Let's not mince words, Mr. Secretary.

You mean the trial of David Palmer.

The problem here is that they don't correspond. I need them to.

Ryan, can I have a word with you, please?

Give me a minute.

I got a message the president called off the military offensive over an hour ago.

Who told you this? Someone at D.O.J.

Someone I trust.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Is it true? Yes.

And you knew about it? I did.

And you didn't tell me?

Why are you so determined to keep my people processing intel...

on an operation that's been scrapped?

Because there's a strong possibility the

White House will reinstate the attack order.

Doesn't make sense.

Why would the president reverse his orders twice?

Just keep your people on a war footing.

Tony, phones are up. I've got Jack Bauer on line two.

Where is he? He's at Kate Warner's house.

What's he doing there? I don't know, but he has the chip.

Conference the call into my office. Okay.

Jack, it's Tony. What are you doing at Kate Warner's house?

You were supposed to bring that chip here over an hour ago.

We ran into some interference. Yusuf Auda is dead.

What happened? I don't have time to explain,

but he's the only reason why we've still got this chip.

I'm trying to read it now. I've put it in a flash-card adapter,

but something's not working. Jack, this is Michelle. Just give me a minute.

You may be able to override the reader

function manually. I'll talk you through it.

Good. Tony, while she's getting set up, I need you to do a couple of things for me.

I want you to run a background check on the name, "Peter Kingsley."

It's probably an alias, but we might get lucky.

I want you to cross-reference it with every major player in the oil industry.

Peter Kingsley? Why? I'll explain it to you later.