[NB: This script isn't in real-time. Well, it is, but the action that takes place is minly a jist of what happens. In the real thing though, scenes would be a lot longer and yadda yadda yadda. Main characters in this season are Jack, Kim, Kate, Palmer and Michelle. I have also brought in new characters: Carl Matthews and Dana Hilton. And there's a dead body or two in this first episode- including a familiar face of CTU... Enjoy my story...]

"The Following Takes Place Between 4.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m...."
===

[It's Just gone 9.00p.m. in the United Kingdom. Three men dressed as army civilians guard a corridor. A mystery figure in black walks through, when a guard stops them.)

Guard: "I am sorry, but you are not allowed to enter this part of the building."

Figure: "Oh, I am very sorry. I'm new around here. Could you point me towards conference room B please."

Guard: "Certainly. You just walk down there, then you take a right-"

(Suddenly the mystery man pulls a handgun out of his large coat and shoots the guard. The other two men run towards him, but he shoots them both in the leg. As he enters the secret room that the men were guarding, one of the men pulls out a pager and types a message...)

(Los Angeles CTU- it's just gone 04:02:08. CTU Technician Michelle Dessler spies an incoherent warning on her computer.)

Michelle: "Tony, What's this?"

(Agent Tony Almeide approches Michelle)

Tony: "What's wrong?"

Michelle: "It keeps asking me to punch in a 4-digit code. It's never actually done that before."

Tony: "Huh. The server's been running a little slow all day."

(Agent Carl Matthews arises from his desk, next to Michelle's.)

Carl: "Slow? Pah! You must be kidding me. It's only taking me 35 crappy minutes to upload a 2 megabyte file. Geezus, my laptop's faster than this."

Michelle: "And.. good afternoon Carl."

Carl: "Hey, Lady, I'm only here for the night. Don't get your hopes up..."

(Carl winks at Michelle)

Tony: "Oh, brother..."

(CUT TO: Jack's Apartment. Kate Warner pulls out a tray of banana bread from the oven)

Kate: "C'Mon Jack, it's ready..."

Jack: "Oooh, Smells nice."

(The two kiss. They are interrupted by a loud delibrate cough. Jack looks up to see his daughter.)

Kim: "Hey they dad."

Jack: "Ki-him! You made it, sweety."

Kate: "(Laughs) She wouldn't miss your birthday for the world!"

Kim: "It's your birthday..?"

(Jack's smile is gone. He then hugs his daughter.)

Jack: "Kim, sweety, it's been a hell of a year for you. You've got engaged, you've turned twenty. The important thing is that you are here."

Kim: "Really? 'Coz I did bring a present and a card. But if you don't want it..."

(Jack Smiles. The two hug again.)

(The screen splits, and we see a large black limosine. The car doors open to reveal.. President David Palmer. It's New York, and it's gone 04:04:54pm. Numourous people cheer as he gets out of the limo. Reporters start asking him questions about his wife, etc..., but he ignores them. Once inside the building, he is approached by numourous campaign people, namely Dana Hilton.)

David: "How are the results coming along?"

Dana: "It's a sinch Mr. President. I believe that you're going to win the re-election."

David: (Laughs) "You get payed to say that!"

(David and staff enter a conference room. A counter in the back reads "3 Hours til' Result!". It is the day of the Presidential Election. Dana walks up to the stage and clinks a glass, ready to make a speech.)

Dana: "Hello, Palmer Campaigners! We made the record books four years ago when we helped David Palmer become the first black president of the U.S.A. Well, I for one believe the phrase that 'History Repeats Itself!'. We can do this again! And today will be that day!

(Everybody in the room cheers. Even David gives a thumbs-up approval. He asks to be excused for one moment. David walks down a corridor and picks up a phone.)

(CUT TO: Jack's Apartment. Kim sits on the sofa watching television, and occasionally glancing at her father's new girlfriend. The phone rings.)

Kim: "Any of you gonna answer that?"

(Obviously not. The phone keeps ringing until Kim answers it herself.)

Kim: "Hello?"

(The screen splits to see Palmer's side of the conversation.)

David: "Hello? Who is this?"

Kim: "I should be asking that to you.."

David: "Is that Kim Bauer?"

Kim: "Yeah..."

David: "Ah. Hi kim, it's the President here..."

(Kim looks a little stunned. She smiles. Before any more of the conversation, we cut to Jack and Kate.)

Kate: "So, Birthday Boy, What do you wanna do later?"

Jack: "Well.. I was kind of hoping that Kim could decide that."

Kate: "Ah. Do You think she's uncomfortable with me?"

Jack: "Well, she seems to be ignoring you a little. Every time you try to start a conversation with her, she ends it just as fast. I want her to be included in our relationship."

Kate: "I don't know Jack. She may need to learn that..."

(Kim taps Jack on the shoulder.)

Kim: "The President wishes you a happy birthday, Dad."

(Jack Laughs. Kate looks confused)

Kate: "The President? Are you two friends or something?!"

Kim: "Heh. A little like that."

(Jack smiles.)

Jack: "So, did he have to go quickly?"

Kim: "Dad! It's the re-election day today. He might be the president still for the next few years."

Jack: "He just might be. I'll call him later on tonight if he wins."

Kim: "You KNOW he'll win."

Jack: "Kim. We can't be sure about all of life's little things."

(CUT TO: CTU. Tony Almeida casually walks down the steps, but he has important information.)

Tony: "Everybody? Everybody meet up here please."

(CTU workers all gather to the meeting place of below Almeida's office.)

Tony: "Okay. We've just got some crucial information from a CTU branch located in the United Kingdom. About ten minutes ago, a set of very important documents were stolen from a level five security Block. Basically, it's the plans that were confiscated from a known terrorist group known only as "Burning Fuel." The main people from the group were isolated, and now have no records of them existing. However, last week, two members escaped."

Michelle: "What were these documents?"

Tony: "It was location and co-ordinate points of a factory in the Nevada Desert. As soon as the plans were took, the factory was demolished. However, we did find evidence of a terrorist attack.. in the form of germ warfare."

Carl: "Germ Warfare?"

Tony: "Yeah. Fortunately for us we have destroyed all evidence of 'Burning Fuel' ever existing. However, in the documents stolen was an encrypted CD. Experts in England have only decrypted half of it, and all they have found so far are profiles on every person to ever work for CTU."

Michelle: "I don't get it."

Tony: "We have reason to belive that this group plan to destory CTU's existance like we destroyed there's."

Carl: "With... Germ Warfare?"

Tony: "Exactly..."

(Split screens show Palmer mingling with others (well, others mingling with him), Kate and Jack talking, with Kim just staring, Michelle on her computer and Tony in his office. Zoom in on Palmer.)

(Dana approaches the President)

Dana: "Sir, I have a phone call from Tony Almeida."

David: "Is it urgent?"

Dana: "Well, it sounded urgent."

David: "Put me through."

(Dana hands the phone to David.)

David: "This is President Palmer."

(Split screen to see Tony's side of the convo)

Tony: "I'm needing some information. It's an emergency."

David: "What regarding?"

Tony: "Sorry sir. But it is an emergency. I'm needing some info on a terrorist group known as "Burning Fuel"."

David: "Agent Almeida- you and I know that there is now no history of that group ever existing. All the documents were destroyed."

Tony: "Untrue sir. The FBI have information on the factory we tore down three months ago."

David: "Are you going to tell me what's going on or not."

Tony: "If only I knew myself sir..."

(CUT TO: Jack's apartment. Kim is watching the television still. Kate hears a knock on the door.)

Jack: "That'll be Bob"

Kate: "You invited my dad?"

Jack: "Oh... sorry sweety. This is a Bob that I work with."

Kate: "It doesn't matter. He wouldn't have wanted to come."

Jack: "Fine."

(Jack opens the door, and the guy at the door attempts to stab Jack. Jack immediately wrestles him to the ground, and knocks him unconscience.)

Kim: "What the hell?"

Jack: "Get back Kim..."

Kate: (Freaked out) "Who is this man, Jack?"

Jack: "We'll see in a second..."

(Jack pulls the unconscience man onto the couch. He searches the pockets for identification.)

Kate: (Freaked) "I want him out of here.."

Jack: (Pissed) "Honey, this man tried to STAB me in the NECK."

(Jack pulls out a wallet. He seems shocked, and approches the phone.)

Kim: "What is it Dad?"

(Jack begins to dial...)

Kim: "Dad?! What is it?"

Kate: "Honey, you're scaring Kim."

(CTU: Tony answers the phone)

Tony: "CTU Almeida."

(Split screen to see Jack's conversation)

Jack: "Hey Tony. Jack Bauer. Why the hell did a member of 'Burning Fuel' attempt to KILL me?"

Tony: "What?"

Jack: "Yeah. The terrorist group which CTU has all detained.."

Tony: "Weren't you told?"

Jack: "Told what?"

Tony: "Umm. Jack.. a few weeks ago, three members of the terror group escaped. Are you saying there's one in L.A?"

Jack: "I'm saying that there's one unconscience on my couch."

Tony: "...Huh. Should we send a team."

Jack: (Sarcastic) "Clever thinking."

(CUT TO: Inside a shopping mall, Los Angeles. CTU technician Milo Pressman looks around the DVD players. He spies his girlfriend, Samantha, across the mall, and approaches her from behind, and covers her eyes.)

Milo: "Guess who?.."

Sam: "(Giggles) Milo?"

(Mile reveals himself, and the two kiss.)

Sam: "I was just looking at some Gucci dresses there..."

Milo: "(Laughs) Typical Sam..."

(Sam playfully punches Milo. Suddenly, a large muscle bound man approches the pair.)

Man: "C'Mon Sam, we're gonna be late.."

(Milo looks at the man, then Sam.)

Milo: "Who's this...?"

Man: "*I* am Samantha's husband.."

(Milo is obviously upset. He walks away from Sam.)

Sam: "Milo..."

Milo: "I knew it. I knew it was too good to be true. So, what was I to you? A fling? A bit on the side..."

Sam: "I don't think of you as a boyfriend, Milo..."

Milo: "No Sam, No! We are through. I cannot let myself be led by you. I run my own life..."

(A shot is heard in the distance. People scream as Milo falls down through shattered glass. He's been shot. Sam and her husband run down to see if he's alright... He's dead..)

(Cut to: CTU. Tony is on the phone to Ralph Phillips, a main man for the F.B.I.)

Phillips: "The remaining files on Burning Fuel have been sent to CTU. I hope this helps your investigation."

Almeida: "It will do. Thanks Ralph."

(Almeida puts the phone down, and opens a new document on his computer. Searching through the text, a name catches his eye. He smiles, but then is shocked. He calls Michelle to come up to the office immediately. After coming up, he swivels the computer screen. Michelle looks through herself.)

Michelle: "What's this?"

Tony: "It's a list of detained agents that have been arrested for treason. It's usually rare for this type of thing to happen. In fact, we've only had three arrested in the past five years."

Michelle: "And?"

Tony: "Well, only one occurance have we had to pardon one agent, Agent Myers."

Michelle: "Nina? The woman I replaced?"

Tony: "Yeah. Well, I think she may know about Burning Fuel's plan."

Michelle: "Why do you think this?"

Tony: "She's related to Arnold Kempsfeld, an escaped member of the group."

(CUT TO: Jack's Apartment. Jack searches through the wallet of the unconsience man on his couch. The man then wakes up.)

Man: "(Sleepy) Who are you? Where am I?..."

Jack: "Ah, so you speak English. I shoulda known, Burning Fuel is a US based terror group."

Man: "What... what is Burning Fuel?..."

Jack: "The group you work for. Last week you and two other members escaped from the United Kingdom prison system, only to wreck your havoc here."

Man: "I do.. I do not know what you are talking about. Let me go..."

Jack: "Drop the act... you tried to stab me in the neck thirty minutes ago."

Man: "(Sighs) I do not believe you."

Jack: "I have two witnesses in the other room, and there is a CCTV camera outside my apartment corridor. I think we have enough evidence."

Man: "I... I do not know who I am..."

Jack: "What do you mean you don't know who you are?"

Man: "Where am I?"

Jack: "Drop the act. What is your name."

Man: "I do not know.."

Jack: "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!!"

Man: "Stop it! Stop the questions."

Jack: "Well, it just so happens I have your wallet here. Lets see if we can find some information about you there.."

(As Jack searches through the wallet, we see through numourous split screens: Paramedics surrounding Milo at the mall, Tony and Michelle searching through the documents, Palmer at the election result meeting and Kim, with Kate, sitting in the next room. Zoom in on Jack."

Jack: "Okay- found some name here. Huh. Does the name "Arnold Kempsfield" mean anything to you?"

Man: "It.. It sounds familar."

Jack: "Should do. It's yours..."

04:59:57

04:59:58

04:59:59

05:00:00...