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As the N.E.S.T. techs work on diffusing the
bomb, Mason arrives at Norton Airfield alone.
Although Jack tells him that it is not necessary for
him to be there, Mason had promised himself
that he would see this case to the end. The techs
alert Jack that they can not dismantle the bomb
because the trigger has been rendered
tamperproof. There is 55 minutes left until
detonation. Jack orders Agent Goodrich to find a
fast plane so that the bomb can be flown
somewhere else, and he calls the O.C. to notify
the President.
Kim walks along a deserted road, and flags down
an oncoming car. The male driver who pulls up
just happens to be heading toward San Jose.
Kim becomes suspicious, and refuses the ride.
When the driver gets out of the car to persuade
her to get in, Kim draws her gun on him. He
doubts her ability to use the weapon, causing
Kim to fire at his car as a warning. The guy drives
off, and Kim continues walking down the
highway.
Jack and Palmer discuss two different locations
to take the bomb -- the ocean and the desert.
The President tells Jack that they need to
analyze both options, and he will get back to him
as soon as possible.
Novick outlines for the O.C. war room staff the
disaster impact of releasing the nuclear
detonation in the Pacific Ocean, and Lynne does
the same for the Mojave Desert. Although the
facts point to less risk with the desert, there is
one problem: the bomb would have to be
deposited in a precise location. Since the aircraft
transporting the nuclear device is not a military
plane, there would be no method to deliver the
payload accurately. The pilot would be forced to
go down with the plane. Palmer calls Jack with
the news. Jack says that CTU analysts had come
to the same conclusion about the suicide
mission. He tells the President that several men
have already volunteered to pilot the plane.
Palmer pledges the nation's gratitude for that
man's service, and he vows to take care of
whatever family the man will leave behind.
Palmer asks Jack to call when the plane is in the
air.
Mason, who overheard the conversation with the
President, approaches Jack. He knows that there
are no volunteers for the mission because Jack
wants to do it alone. Mason offers up himself for
the flight. Not only is he an instrument rated pilot,
but he is already going to die by the end of the
day. Jack refuses to let him take over because
Mason may black out short of his destination.
Two CTU agents bring a suitcase full of Syed
Ali's personal effects from the safe house to
Tony. Among the items was a hard drive that has
been encrypted. The agents also have with them
Yusuf Auda, a visiting intelligence liaison from
the Arab country suspected of harboring the
Second Wave terrorists. Yusuf is eager to
participate in the analysis on Ali's belongings, but
Tony is evasive and not willing to trust this man.
Tony asks Michelle to assign someone to make
sure that Yusuf doesn't see anything of
importance related to the case. When Michelle
informs Carrie that she will handle Yusuf herself,
Carrie questions whether Michelle has problems
with her working there.
As the N.E.S.T. techs load the nuclear bomb
onto a Cessna, Jack calls CTU to ask Tony about
Kim's whereabouts. Jack says that since he is
flying the suicide mission, he needs to speak to
his daughter immediately. He also tells Tony that
there is safe in his apartment with his will and a
letter to her.
Kim is still hitchhiking along the road when
another car pulls up. This time the driver is a
woman named Anna. Kim tells Anna that she fled
a date who had gotten out of hand, and Anna
invites her for the ride. Anna lets Kim use her cell
phone to call her father.
Kate inquires about how the bomb will be
transported and is horrified to learn that Jack is
the one manning the plane. She calls out to Jack
as he boards the Cessna equipped with a clock
synchronized to the bomb's timer. He turns to
her, but there are no words for what is
happening. Jack closes the cockpit door, and she
watches as he starts the plane down the runway
for takeoff.
Novick gets word that the plane is in the air.
Palmer requests that Air Force One be prepared
to take him to Los Angeles. Novick and Lynne try
to talk him out of the trip, but Palmer wants to be
there to reassure citizens that he is in control of
the situation. The President is then shocked to
hear that Jack is the one flying the plane.
Tony patches through to Jack on the plane. He
has Kim on the line, and connects the two. Jack
is relieved, but tells Kim that he has to fly a
nuclear bomb to the desert and will not make it
out alive. Kim becomes upset and starts to cry.
She apologizes for the way she has treated him,
and Jack pledges his love for her. They say their
teary good-byes to each other.
Anna pulls over the car and tries to comfort Kim,
but she gets out of the car because she wants to
be alone. She no longer cares about leaving Los
Angeles, and she runs off into the night.
Michelle brings Tony a transcript of a recording
pulled from Syed Ali's decrypted hard drive. The
audio is of a conversation that took place months
ago in Cypress between Ali and high-ranking
officials of three Middle Eastern governments. It
confirms that these countries supplied Ali with the
bomb. Michelle requests that they run a
voiceprint authentication on the tape.
Tony phones Air Force One and tells the
President what he has found in the recording.
Palmer is concerned that CTU's Division
headquarters will have already notified the
Pentagon and other agencies, causing alarm to
spread. Palmer questions why Ali would have
taped his conversation, and Tony assumes that
Ali would want proof in case one of these
countries were to turn against him. Palmer isn't
thoroughly convinced, but thanks Tony for his
work. Palmer then tells Novick that they could
soon be at war. It would not only be with those
three Middle Eastern countries, but with others.
When that bomb goes off, the President's options
will quickly narrow.
As Jack is flying, he senses movement behind
him. He instinctively draws his gun and swings
around to find Mason behind him. Mason, who
snuck on the plane, hands Jack a parachute. He
says that the hardest part of the flight is over and
he can take over the suicide flight. Mason
questions whether Jack has wanted to die since
Teri was killed. Mason says it would be more
heroic for Jack to put his life back together,
reconnect with Kim and continue to serve his
country. Jack considers this seriously. He asks
Mason whether he is absolutely sure he is able to
man the plane. Mason concurs, and Jack gives
him instructions on where to crash land. Jack
thanks Mason solemnly.
Jack gets ready to make his escape, but will wait
to jump four minutes before impact so that he
can stay with Mason for as long as possible. He
phones Tony about the change of plan. Tony
then orders Michelle to send a helicopter to pick
up Jack in the desert. Yusuf notices the
commotion at CTU and inquires about what
evidence has been found. Tony won't give him
any information, and Yusuf becomes annoyed
because his country has shown good faith in
leading the Americans to Syed Ali's safe house.
Aboard Air Force One, General Bowden from the
Joint Chiefs comes in to see the President to
discuss retaliation plans. The military already
knows about Ali's tape that points the finger to
three Middle Eastern countries who funded the
Second Wave terrorist group with the nuclear
bomb. Plans for war are already underway even
though it is not yet confirmed whether the tape is
valid or that those three countries are actually
involved. Palmer gives the General approval to
activate the plan, but warns him that the military
can not implement the plan without direct
authorization from him. After the General leaves,
Palmer quietly says to Lynne that they may be
facing World War III.
As Jack loads his parachute to prepare to jump,
he inquires if there is anything he can do for
Mason. Mason says that he got to see his son
earlier, but asks Jack to look in on the boy after
he's gone. Jack places his hand on Mason's
shoulder, and Mason takes Jack's hand in return.
They let go, and Jack leaps from the plane to
safety.
Novick gingerly informs the President that they
will be able to witness the explosion from Air
Force One. Palmer grimly goes to the window
facing east.
While Mason pilots the Cessna determinedly
toward Ground Zero, Jack drifts down to the
ground and releases his parachute. He shelters
behind a rock, and the explosion roars in the
distance. Meanwhile, Kim looks up into the sky to
see a faint glow in the northeast. Palmer can also
see the light of the bomb from his plane.
A mushroom cloud grows over the desert. |
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