24 Fan Fiction (story partially based on actual Season 7 spoilers)

Season 7

Season Premiere: 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM

The Following Takes Place Between 7 AM and 8 AM

//Washington, D.C. A prominent Washington broker and son of President Allison Taylor, ROGER TAYLOR, emerges out of the elevator in an office building. He's in his late 20s, handsome, and appears to be very self-assured and confident. He enters his office.//

BETTY [Roger's secretary: "Good morning, Roger."

ROGER: "Mornin', Betty. How are you today?"

BETTY: "Eh…the usual. [takes sip of coffee You might want to get ready quickly, because you have a visitor."

ROGER: "Who?"

BETTY: "He said his name was Joe? Joe Coleman? He's waiting in the other room. Do you want me to tell him to reschedule the appointment."

ROGER: "Ah..no, no , that's all right. I didn't expect him to be here this early. Um…send him in. I'll talk to him."

//Roger enters his office and takes off his jacket. He straightens his tie and takes his seat on his desk, quickly skimming over his files. Then, his client knocks on the door//

ROGER: "Come in."

//The client enters

ROGER: "Mr. Coleman! Nice to meet you. I'm Roger Taylor."

//Roger and Mr. Coleman shake hands. Coleman's in his early 40s, but taller than Roger and with a slightly more intimidating physique.//

COLEMAN: "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Taylor. I've heard many great things about you."

ROGER: "Please, call me Roger. Take a seat, please. So…what can I do for you this morning?"

COLEMAN: "Well…[takes seat…as a token of my appreciation for your giving me the opportunity to meet you in person, I would like to present to you this, as a gift." [hands Roger a bottle of Dom Perignon

ROGER: "Oh, wow. What can say I except thank you…for such a gracious gesture."

COLEMAN: "Don't thank me, Roger. You deserve it. I know you have a lot of pressure on you, especially from the media and all…it can't be easy meeting everyone's expectations when you're the son of the leader of the free world…especially when she's the first female President in our nation's history. Anyway, how's are things with your parents? I'm just curious to know, that's all."

ROGER [chuckles: "They're…adjusting."

COLEMAN: "Adjusting well, I hope. In any case, I hope you don't mind, but I would like to propose…[pours wine into shot glasses…a toast. A toast to you and your continued success. Maybe one day you'll be sitting in another office. The Oval Office perhaps?"

ROGER [takes shot glass, laughs: "Let's not go too far with this..."

COLEMAN: "Whatever you say, Roger. You're a good man. Cheers."

//Roger and Mr. Coleman drink//

ROGER [finishes drink, sets shot glass down: "Very well. I hope you don't mind, Mr. Coleman, but usually I don't do this small talk stuff that often with my clients. I like to get right to the point. So…tell me, Mr. Coleman…[leans over desk…what can I do for you today?"

COLEMAN [smiles: "You've already done what I wanted you to do for me."

ROGER [sweating profusely: "What are you talking about?"

COLEMAN: "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

//Suddenly Roger starts foaming at the mouth and convulsing//

COLEMAN: "Like I said before, Mr. Taylor. You deserve it."

//Roger Taylor slumps over his desk and dies. Mr. Coleman checks his pulse, and drops off a case of cyanide pills and a suicide note on Roger's desk. Mr. Coleman picks up his briefcase and leaves the office//

BETTY: "Have a nice day, Mr. Coleman."

COLEMAN: "Take care, Betty."

7:11:44…7:11:45…7:11:46

7:15:21…7:15:22…7:15:23

//Inside a hotel room, somewhere in Washington. The TV is on. Someone is putting on a tie. The scene is reminiscent of the first Jack scene in Season 4. The television is on FOX News, but no one is watching. The camera pans up to show JACK BAUER straightening out his tie and putting his suit. But unlike in Season 4, as he turns around, Audrey's not there in the hotel room with him. Jack's attention turns to the TV set as he's getting ready//

TV Anchor: "…as today, hearings will continue on Capitol Hill regarding the dismantling of the federal Counter Terrorist Unit. Senator Paul Anderson and the rest of his Senate Intelligence Subcommittee will hear testimony from former CTU Director Bill Buchanan, and the controversial former CTU agent Jack Bauer. According to Senator Anderson, CTU's aggressive interrogation tactics, including the use of torture, made it necessary for the government to dissolve it as a federal law enforcement entity, effective immediately. As for Mr. Bauer, Anderson accuses him of using excessive force in interrogation situations, including multiple occasions in which he disobeyed orders to assault suspects. Currently, former Counter Terrorist Unit employees from all over the country and their representatives are fighting hard to prevent, or at least delay, CTU's permanent dissolution…"

//Jack barely shows any reaction to the news. Instead, he takes a picture from his workdesk and stares at it briefly. It's a picture of him and Audrey, taken before Season 4. They look happy together. Jack sighs despondently and puts the picture away. He picks up his briefcase and heads out the door. As he leaves his hotel room and enters the elevator, his cell phone rings//

JACK [answers it: "Yes?"

BILL BUCHANAN: "Jack. It's Bill Buchanan."

//Bill Buchanan is in a suit, walking down the National Mall heading towards the Capitol Building//

JACK: "Bill…"

BILL: "Look, Jack…I'm sorry about all this. I'm sorry to bring you back…to all this. I know you were happy in Africa and everything…doing humanitarian work. I'm sorry—"

JACK: "Bill, it's not your fault."

BILL: "I know. It's just that…this senator…Anderson. He wants to make a name for himself. And unfortunately…he has a lot of influence on Capitol Hill. Since there hasn't been a major attack in this country in three years, he wants to completely overhaul CTU and divert its resources to FBI, DOD, CIA, NSA, and other government intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Last year he threatened to cut off government funding for CTU and he did. Now he's trying to get rid of it altogether, while also pushing his moral agenda of 'eliminating torture on all levels of military and law enforcement' to boost his popularity in Congress. What this guy wants is the Oval Office…he's power hungry, and nothing will get in the way of what he wants. So he's going to ask us some tough questions. Make sure you're ready to handle him, Jack."

JACK: "I can take care of him, Bill. All I have to do is tell the truth. How hard can that be?"

BILL: "Harder than you think. Just don't fall into this guy's traps."

//Jack exits the hotel and motions for the valet parking guy to get his car for him//

JACK: "Don't worry, I can handle him. Look, Bill…I have to go! I'll talk to you when I get there, all right?"

BILL: "Okay, Jack."

//Jack puts away the cell phone and his Toyota Avalon pulls up to the curb. The valet parking guy exits the car and gives Jack his keys//

VALET PARKING GUY: "Here are your keys, Mr. Bauer."

JACK: "Thank you."

//Suddenly Jack sees a motorcyclist drive by the hotel. The motorcyclist, whose helmet obscures his entire face except his eyes, glares at Jack. Jack watches the motorcyclist closely as he drives past//

VALET PARKING GUY: "What's wrong?"

JACK: "Oh. Nothing. [takes keys"

//Suddenly an SUV slows down near the hotel and an automatic rifle is pointed out from the passenger window//

JACK: "GET DOWN!!!!"

//Automatic gunfire erupts as Jack pushes the valet parking guy down to the ground and takes cover behind his car. Bullets riddle the car, shattering glass everywhere. The SUV comes to a stop, and a couple of assassins dressed in all black and their faces obscured by ski masks emerge from the back of the SUV with submachine guns. Jack slowly opens the passenger door of the Toyota. His special messenger bag, the JackPack is conveniently placed underneath the glove compartment. He takes a pistol and some extra ammunition out from the bag and loads it//

JACK [to valet parking guy: "Stay down, kid."

//Valet parking guy nods nervously. Jack emerges from behind the Toyota and kills the first assassin with a head shot. The other guy reacts and sprays automatic gunfire over the front of the Toyota//

JACK: "Hey! Over here."

//The assassin reacts and points the submachine gun toward the rear of the Toyota, but it's too late. Jack kills him with another head shot//

//In the SUV, the driver panics//

DRIVER: "Okay, we need to get the hell outta here."

PASSENGER: "But we didn't capture our target!"

DRIVER: "We can't risk Bauer overpowering us and finding out who we work for. If he does, our entire operation today may be in jeopardy."

//The SUV speeds away//

JACK: "Son of a bitch…"

//Jack gets into the driver's seat of his Toyota and races after them//

7:27:30…7:27:31…7:27:32

7:32:18…7:32:19…7:32:20

//The Oval Office. President ALLISON TAYLOR has a cup of coffee in her hand. Her chief of staff, former Secretary of Defense ETHAN KANIN, hands her the Presidential Daily Briefing//

TAYLOR: "So Ethan…what do we have to deal with today?"

ETHAN: "Madame President…you have to attend a luncheon at the Chinese Embassy with the Ambassador, remember?"

TAYLOR: "Oh. Right. That's at eleven?"

ETHAN: "No. Ten."

TAYLOR [sighs: "Damn it. You know, Ethan…this job can really take its toll on you. Especially when you're the first woman to ever sit in this chair."

ETHAN: "Madame President…I don't think they elected you just because you're a woman. They elected you over Daniels because you pledged to be tougher than any President who was ever occupied this office. Tougher on defense…tougher on the economy…the people admire you because you are tough."

TAYLOR: "Are you sure about that? Don't you think they elected me over Daniels because I was the 'lesser of two evils?'"

ETHAN: "They elected you because they felt safer under your administration. Now, I was Daniels's Secretary of Defense for the first year of his term, and believe me when I say that I don't trust him to protect this country. But you…Madame President…you seem to be the kind of person that I can trust. That America can trust. That is why we elected you to be our President."

TAYLOR [smiles: "I'm flattered, Ethan."

ETHAN: "I'm just doing my job."

TAYLOR: "Your job is to flatter me?"

ETHAN[chuckles "Part of it."

//Someone knocks on the door//

TAYLOR: "Come in."

//Allison Taylor's husband, HENRY TAYLOR, enters//

HENRY: "Ethan…can we have a moment, please?"

ETHAN: "Of course, Mr. Taylor."

//Ethan leaves. Henry approaches his wife//

HENRY: "Honey…I've got some very bad news."

TAYLOR: "Bad news?"

HENRY: "Yeah…it's about Roger."

TAYLOR: "Roger? What happened?"

HENRY: "He's…[sighs…he's dead. I just got the call from Secret Service."

//President Taylor looks completely shocked//

TAYLOR: "Ohhh…oh, my God…"

//Taylor starts shaking. Henry walks up to her and tries to console her//

TAYLOR: "H-h-how….how did this happen?"

HENRY: "They're saying he committed suicide. They found a suicide note and some cyanide pills on his desk. They…just found the body."

//Allison Taylor tries to hold back the tears, but can't. Henry holds President Taylor in his arms as she sobs//

//Scene shifts to a busy street somewhere in the D.C. area. The assassins' SUV cuts across a few lanes and makes a sharp right. Jack weaves behind a pickup truck, close behind the SUV//

DRIVER [inside the SUV: "Is Bauer still behind us?!!!"

PASSENGER: "Yeah! Lose him, dammit!"

DRIVER: "I'm trying!"

PASSENGER: "Not hard enough! Our chopper's waiting at the safe house—if Bauer's still on our tail, neither of us will make it!"

DRIVER: "Don't worry. I can handle Bauer. Besides…I don't see you doing anything to help."

PASSENGER: "Very well, then."

//The passenger grabs his submachine gun, climbs into the backseat, and opens fire out the rear window. Bullets spray over the front of the Toyota//

JACK: "Damn it!"

//Jack slams on the brakes as he takes cover from the automatic gunfire. The SUV pulls away and heads onto a ramp for the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Jack regains control of his vehicle and proceeds up the ramp//

PASSENGER [inside SUV: "There. I think we lost him."

//Suddenly a van slams on the brakes in front of the SUV//

PASSENGER: "WATCH OUT!!!"

//It's too late. The SUV slams into the van. The back of the SUV juts out into oncoming traffic//

PASSENGER [woozy: "Damn. Scott…you okay?"

DRIVER[groans "Yeah…what the hell was that?"

PASSENGER: "Hmm…I think that's what they call a swoop and swap."

DRIVER: "Oh, no."

PASSENGER: "What?"

//The assassin looks left and sees a massive city bus bearing down on the SUV//

PASSENGER: "AHHHH!!!!!!!"

//The bus driver, who was asleep, wakes up from his nap and sees an SUV in the middle of the road. He slams on the brakes, but it's too late, the bus slams into the SUV. The SUV rolls over several times after colliding with another vehicle and lands on its roof. Jack arrives at the scene and gets out of his Toyota. He points his gun at the overturned SUV as he cautiously approaches it. Both the assassins appear to be dead. The driver, Scott, still appears to be moving//

JACK: "Hey. Hey, can you hear me?"

SCOTT: "…uhhhh…"

//Scott's face is covered with blood//

JACK: "Who are you working for? Who sent you to kill me?!!!"

//Scott starts to lose consciousness//

JACK: "No…no, dammit…stay with me!"

//Scott dies. Jack feels his pulse to confirm that he's dead//

JACK: "Son of a bitch."

//Jack takes out a notepad and a pen and quickly scrawls down the SUV's license plate number. He runs back to his Toyota and quickly flees the scene//

7:46:52…7:46:53…7:46:54

7:50:17…7:50:18…7:50:19

//Scene shifts to the US Capitol Building. Bill Buchanan is making his way through the security checkpoint. His cell phone starts to ring//

BILL: "Hey, that's my phone."

//The guard tosses Bill his cell phone. Bill answers it//

BILL: "Hello?"

JACK: "Bill, it's Jack! Where are you right now?"

BILL: "Capitol Hill, I just got through the security checkpoint. Why?"

JACK: "Listen to me very carefully! A group of assassins tried to kill me this morning! I walked out of my hotel and the assassins pulled straight up to the curb and started shooting!"

BILL: "What?!"

JACK: "For some reason, they want me dead!"

BILL: "Who is they? Are they still out there?!!!"

JACK: "Look, I don't know, but they're all dead. I'm trying to find out who they were working for, but right now we have to assume that this is somehow connected to this morning's testimony. You need to go dark, Bill. Get somewhere safe before they track you down, too."

BILL: "Jack…I'm in the US Capitol Building right now. I am safe—"

JACK: "No, you're not! These guys are trained and there's probably more of them! Do NOT trust anybody, including the local and federal authorities! Just get out of Washington as fast as you can, and make sure you're not followed!"

BILL [sighs: "All right, Jack."

JACK: "And Bill…I need you to do one more thing for me. Is Chloe in the DC area right now?"

BILL: "Yeah. Her husband works for DOD right now. She lives in Alexandria."

JACK: "Tell her to meet me at a coffee shop on Wisconsin and M Street in Georgetown in fifteen minutes. And tell her that it's a matter of life or death."

BILL: "I will, Jack."

JACK: "Thanks, Bill. Be careful."

//Jack hangs up. Bill puts away his cell phone//

BILL [to security guard: "Actually…I left some of my prep notes in my car. Do you mind if I go back and get it real quick?"

SECURITY GUARD: "Go ahead, but don't take too long. I'm told the subcommittee is expecting your testimony in less than an hour, Mr. Buchanan. You don't want to keep them waiting."

BILL: "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

//Bill heads out of the Capitol Building//

//Scene shifts to Roger Taylor's office building. A team of Secret Service Agents arrive at the scene. An FBI team is already at the scene, taking pictures and samples at the crime scene. The lead Secret Service Agent flashes his badge at the FBI Washington Special Agent in Charge, RENEE WALKER. The Secret Service Agent is AARON PIERCE//

AARON: "Good morning, my name is Aaron Pierce, I'm in charge of the Secret Service's Washington division. This is Agent Sanchez and Agent Williams. I believe we have the privilege to investigate the crime scene, considering it involves a member of the First Family."

RENEE: "Mr. Pierce. [shakes hand A pleasure to meet you. I hate to say this…but FBI has already claimed jurisdiction to this case. We're already in the middle of our investigation. If we were to simply let you guys waltz in here doing your stuff…it would be impeding our own investigation."

AARON: "With all due respect, Ms. Walker, we do not intend to impede your investigation. We just want to do our jobs."

RENEE: "Well, I'm trying to do mine, too."

AARON[sighs "At least give us ten minutes to collect any evidence left at the scene so we can investigate it from our own point of view. Perhaps we'll be able to come up with some conclusions that you couldn't."

RENEE: "I'll give you ten minutes. After our investigation here has concluded."

AARON: "And how long will that take?"

RENEE [checks watch: "Give us until 10 AM. Ish."

AARON: "That's not good enough—"

RENEE: "That's the best we can give you."

AARON: "At least give us what you have so far on the case."

RENEE: "We're not releasing any details until our investigation is over."

AARON [shakes his head in disbelief: "Excuse me for one second."

//Aaron takes out his cell phone. Henry Taylor answers on the other end//

HENRY: "Yes?"

AARON: "Mr. Taylor, it's Aaron Pierce. My team just arrived at Roger's office, but the FBI is shutting us out of the case."

HENRY: "What?!!!"

AARON: "I'm sorry…I tried reasoning with the special agent in charge, but she won't budge. They won't let us investigate the scene until they've finished, which will be around ten…at the earliest."

HENRY: "This is unacceptable. [sighs I'll talk with my wife. Maybe she'll talk with the right people so we can get you guys in there do get what you need."

AARON: "Yes, Mr. Taylor. I hope you don't mind me asking, but what makes you think this case should be treated as a homicide?"

HENRY: "It's just…wrong. There's nothing that happened in recent weeks, other than some mistakes he made in the stock market, that would suggest that Roger may be suicidal. What did his suicide note say?"

AARON: "We don't know. Like I said…the FBI haven't released any information to us yet."

HENRY: "Damn it. Well…tell you what, just sit tight and give us half an hour to get you guys in there, okay?"

AARON: "All right, Mr. Taylor. Let us know if anything falls through."

//Aaron hangs up//

//Scene shifts to a large house in the suburbs. A phone blares in the kitchen as a baby cries in another room. The crying gets louder as someone picks up the phone. It's CHLOE O'BRIAN, with her baby son, EDGAR O'BRIAN, in her arms//

CHLOE: "Hello?"

BILL[driving in his car "Chloe? I'm sorry to bother you, but it's Bill Buchanan."

CHLOE: "Mr. Buchanan? Um…why are you calling me?"

BILL: "Chloe…Jack needs to see you immediately. He says it's a matter of life or death."

CHLOE: "What? Is this a joke? I thought Jack was supposed to be testifying today on Capitol Hill! And you're supposed to be with him!"

BILL: "I know. But someone…someone tried to kill Jack this morning."

CHLOE[stunned "Oh, no. It's happening again, isn't it?"

BILL: "What is?"

CHLOE: "Some mysterious assassin is trying to kill all of my friends. Oh, my God, I have to call Morris—"

BILL: "Chloe! Relax, this has nothing to do with you! Jack thinks it's about this morning's subcommittee hearing. He thinks that he and I are both targets for whatever reason. Please…do us a favor. Jack needs to see you. He'll be waiting at a coffee shop in Georgetown, on the corner of Wisconsin and M Street. Can you make it?"

CHLOE: "Um…yeah. I can make it."

BILL: "Good. That's very good. Jack wants you there in about fifteen minutes. Be careful, Chloe."

CHLOE: "Yeah. You too."

//Chloe hangs up the phone//

CHLOE: "Morris!"

//MORRIS O'BRIAN emerges from the dining room munching on an English muffin//

MORRIS: "Yes, darling?"

CHLOE: "I need you to call the babysitter and watch Edgar until she gets here."

//Chloe gives Edgar to Morris//

MORRIS: "Whoa! Now why in bloody hell would I do that?"

CHLOE: "Because. I have to go someplace."

MORRIS: "Are you mad, woman? I'm going to be late for work!"

CHLOE: "Well…think of something. Call in sick. Tell them you have pink eye. [Chloe grabs her stuff and leaves"

MORRIS: "Chloe! Honey! Don't leave me! Oh, for goodness sake…"

SPLIT SCREENS

Chloe entering her car

Jack driving somewhere

Aaron watching Renee and the FBI team operate outside Roger's office

Henry pacing outside the Oval Office

Allison Taylor holding a family picture

//Scene shifts to outside Capitol Hill. Senator PAUL ANDERSON, head of the Senate Subcommittee on Intelligence, is climbing the stairs up towards the Capitol. A crowd of reporters surround him//

REPORTER #1: "Senator Anderson…do you think Jack Bauer is a criminal?"

ANDERSON: "We'll determine that soon."

REPORTER #2: "Senator! Some of your critics say that CTU played a vital role in stopping, or at least limiting, several major terrorist attacks on our country, including the thwarting of a nationwide nuclear holocaust and a nuclear missile strike in the same day six years ago. What is your response?"

ANDERSON: "One, that was six years ago. Times have changed. And two, CTU's mistakes in the last three years have caused the deaths of thousands of American lives. Not to mention that their methods of obtaining intel have become morally questionable. I see no reason to keep them as a functional entity, when we have other domestic counterterrorist entities like NSA and Homeland Security who can do the job better than they can. That's all I have to say for now."

//Anderson makes his way past the crowd of reporters and continues walking up the steps of the US Capitol. The reporters continue to hound him with more questions. Suddenly, a loud gunshot is heard and Anderson falls to the ground. A pool of blood flows out of his neck. Chaos erupts as reporters panic and scream. Secret Service Agents scour the area to find the shooter//

RANDOM PANICKED PERSON: "Somebody get medical assistance! THE SENATOR'S BEEN SHOT!!!!!"

7:59:57…7:59:58…7:59:59

8:00:00