HOUR II: 7 AM – 8 AM
INT. CTU MIAMI – MORNING
As director Thomas Howitzer gets off a phone call, the front doors swing wide open and in walks Jack Bauer and Fernando Almeida with a dreadlocked thug in cuffs. He sets the phone down and walks downstairs to greet them. Rex is still trying to break free, but Jack has a strong grip on the scumbag.
HOWITZER: Agent Almeida, welcome back. I assume this young man is Jack Bauer.
JACK: That's right.
He extends his hand for Howitzer to shake. He shakes it.
HOWITZER: Welcome to CTU Miami, Agent Bauer. As you can see, the place is still under construction right now and we have yet to get most of our systems up and running.
He hands Jack a badge with a photo ID and a big red stamp reading: PROVISIONAL.
HOWITZER: We're a little caught up in the Colony incident and there's not enough time to get you fully registered. As of now, you're on provisional status. Any questions?
JACK: Yeah. Do I have to wear a uniform?
Howitzer scowls.
HOWITZER: Agent Almeida – please escort Agent Bauer to his workstation.
FERNANDO: Right this way, Jack.
Fernando leads Jack through the maze of cubicles.
JACK (Smiling): Somehow I get the feeling the chief doesn't like me to much.
FERNANDO: Don't mind Howitzer. He's just a ballbuster. Listen, everyone here is going through a lot of stress right now with the Colony explosion and the Palmer speech. And the last thing we need to do is piss Howitzer off.
JACK: I understand.
Fernando stops at a tiny desk in the very back corner of the building.
FERNANDO: Well, here we are Jack.
A tall, fat stack of papers is piled on the desk.
FERNANDO: Enjoy.
Fernando walks away.
JACK: You gotta be ing kidding me...
Jack sits down and begins his load of paperwork.
INT. GREEN ROOM – MORNING
Located a floor below the main offices of CTU Miami is a small, square room known as the "Green Room" due to its pastel green wall paint. There's a mirror that covers one of the walls. On the other side of it is a room filled with recording and surveillance equipment set to monitor everything that happens in the green room.
Sitting at a steel table in the center of the room is the Rastafarian bomber Rex. He's chained to his chair, but still trying to break out of it. Howitzer and Fernando enter the room.
HOWITZER: So this is the guy who blew up the hotel?
FERNANDO: Yeah.
Howitzer sits at the chair nearest to Rex. He inches closer.
HOWITZER (Snaps his fingers): You. What's your name?
REX: you, brudda! You ain't getting' another word outta me!
HOWITZER: Listen to me, you son of a , you just detonated a bomb within this city. That's a terrorist attack – you'll be spending at least 25 years in Guantanamo just for that. That building was also filled with innocent people too...and you'll get a life sentence for each life you took...needless to say you'll be serving a life sentence for each one of those lives you took. But if it were up to me...
Howitzer unholsters his 357 and puts it to Rex's head.
HOWITZER: I'd put a bullet in your head right now. But since I can't do that...we'll just have to settle this by the book. Now as much as I despise you, if you tell me everything I need to know, I can probably cut your punk a deal.
REX: Yo no see wha's happening here? It has only jus' begun my friend. Soon this little fire will be da least of your worries...Armageddon is coming, brudda and it will all begin in about an hour.
Rex grins. Howitzer looks to Fernando.
HOWITZER: Bring in Jack Bauer.
INT. HOTEL ROOM – BILTMORE – MORNING
CARLOS CERVANTES is inside his hotel room getting dressed for the day. After he finishes tying his tie, he slips on a black Armani jacket, grabs a manila folder and walks out of the room.
Outside is a large crowd of people – men and women in business suits. He moves through the crowd and finds Mayoral Candidate Palmer at the buffet table, filling a cup of coffee.
CERVANTES: Congressman Palmer – good morning.
PALMER: Good to see you, Carlos. How's progress on the speech coming?
CERVANTES: Excellent. (Hands Palmer the folder) This is the newest draft of it, sir. I've added all the key points that you asked for, sir – including details on Congressman Pike's involvement with the Klan.
PALMER: Thank you. I'm sure you've been briefed on the death threats, right?
CERVANTES: I'm afraid not, sir.
PALMER: Don't worry about it. I'll take a look at the speech compare it with my own personal draft. Thank you, Carlos.
CERVANTES: My pleasure, sir.
Cervantes turns and walks into the bathroom at the end of the hall. He exchanges "hi's" with a man who is just exiting. After the coast is clear, Carlos gets inside a stall, closes the door and places a call on his cell phone.
Armando Ortega picks up.
ARMANDO: Yes?
CERVANTES: Armando. It's Carlos. The Congressmen is going over the speech right now.
ARMANDO: When do the festivities begin?
CERVANTES: 8:30. Right on time.
ARMANDO: Good. We'll be ready. Just remember, Carlos...while the congressman is giving his speech...steer clear of the stage.
Armando hangs up.
INT. GREEN ROOM – MORNING
Jack steps into the Green Room and closes the door behind him. Rex immediately recognizes him and starts SHOUTING.
REX: YOU!
Rex cowers in fear. Jack moves forward, grabs Rex by the collar and drags his chair back into the wall. The stain in his pants grows wider and darker. Fernando and Howitzer back away.
HOWITZER: He said something about another target, but he wouldn't say who or what it was.
JACK: Not a problem.
Rex is shaking. Jack moves in closer...
JACK: I'm only gonna ask you once. Who is the target?
REX: If I tell you, I'm dead!
JACK: Same thing happens if you don't tell me. WHO IS THE TARGET?
Rex is shuddering...he finally blurts it out.
REX: CONGRESSMAN PALMER!
Jack lets go of Rex.
HOWITZER: We already knew there was a death threat on Palmer...but we didn't know the urgency of it. But now that we do, we better warn him. Fernando – call his office. Tell them to cancel the speech.
FERNANDO: Yes, sir.
HOWITZER: Good work, Jack.
JACK: Thank you.
INT. CORRIDOR – MORNING
Fernando walks out of the green room and quickly calls Palmer's office. Palmer picks up.
PALMER: This is David Palmer.
FERNANDO: Congressman, this is Fernando Almeida at CTU. Listen, I'm afraid we have some troubling news, sir.
PALMER: Don't waste your breath, Agent Almeida. I know perfectly well about the death threat and my people are handling it accordingly.
FERNANDO: Sir, we have reason to believe that the attempt on your life will be carried out by the same people that detonated a bomb at the Colony Hotel about a half-an-hour ago.
PALMER: What's your source?
FERNANDO: We captured the man who planted the bomb at the hotel. He informed us that you were one of the targets of his group.
PALMER: My god...what are you suggesting?
FERNANDO: That you cancel the speech immediately.
PALMER: You know I can't do that, Almeida. Today is the 2nd most important day in my campaign and I am not about to ruin it because of this. But if you want to help, send a CTU security team over to the Biltmore now.
Palmer hangs up.
Fernando walks back into the Green Room.
HOWITZER: Did you speak to Palmer?
FERNANDO: Yeah. He wants us to send a security team over to his hotel.
HOWITZER: Alright. I want you, Stanton, Briggs and Bauer to head over there. Keep me up to speed on everything as it happens.
FERNANDO: Yes, sir. Come with me Jack.
Fernando and Jack leave the room and walk up the stairs. CHARLIE STANTON and SHANE BRIGGS of the FIELD OPS department are already waiting there.
STANTON: Howitzer said you guys needed some help.
FERNANDO: Yeah. Let's get suited up, I'll brief you on the way over there.
INT. BILTMORE – BALLROOM – MORNING
PALMER FOR MAYOR campaign banners are hung up all over the room, along with red white and blue banners and other Miami-themed decorations. Palmer's campaign manager, RACHEL VALLANCE is on the stage with Carlos Cervantes going over the final copy of the speech.
VALLANCE: I don't think he's doing the right thing by eliminating Congressman Pike from the speech...something's not right here.
CERVANTES: What do you think it is?
VALLANCE: He's afraid of something. Think there's any way Pike could behind the threats. I mean – the guy is ex KKK.
CERVANTES: You know. But once CTU arrives, this place is going to be guarded better than Fort Knox.
VALLACE: I sure hope so.
Cervantes pats her on the shoulder and walks backstage. He passes the room where Palmer's getting make up applied and locks himself into a small, empty dressing room. He makes another call on his cell phone.
Vargas picks up.
CERVANTES: Antonio. Send your men over now.
VARGAS: Have you secured an entrance yet?
CERVANTES: We have a problem. CTU is sending a team of their best men over...there's no way anyone's getting in through any of the ground entrances.
VARGAS: You work for this campaign, Cervantes – do what your being paid for and get us an entrance!
CERVANTES: The roof is clear. Your men can probably get in through the glass dome on the top of this ballroom. It won't be quiet, but you should have the element of surprise on your side.
VARGAS: That shouldn't be a problem.
CERVANTES: How many men are with you?
VARGAS: Ten. The best that Mariel had to offer. Our orders from Armando are to kill anyone that gets in our way except for Palmer. Do me a favor and get out of the building before the bullets start flying.
CERVANTES: I'll do my best.
Cervantes hangs up.
INT. VARGAS' APARTMENT – MORNING
Vargas is in a seedy apartment with 9 other, muscle bound Cubans – all are dressed in black with bullet proof vests and utility belts equipped with all sorts of gear. Cortez is among them, putting the finishing touches on his sniper rifle.
INT. CTU ARMORY – MORNING
Stanton, Jack, Fernando and Briggs are loading up. Stanton's got a laser sight equipped sniper rifle, Jack's loading up a USP and Fernando and Briggs are going with submachine guns.
FERNANDO: Here's the deal, guys. The same men that blew up the hotel this morning are planning a hit on Congressman Palmer. Now we don't know the reason behind it – but we know one thing: they're serious. And if we don't get there in time, they might damn well kill the man. So we gotta get there quickly and keep the Congressman under watch at all times. Are we clear?
JACK, STANTON and BRIGGS: Yes, sir!
FERNANDO: Good. Now let's move out.
EXT. CTU – MORNING
Jack, Fernando, Briggs and Stanton walk out of CTU Miami dressed like secret servicemen with a Miami twist – white linen suits, no tie, no belt, no socks and pastel T-shirts instead of the traditional white button downs. They get inside a white FORD van and pull out of the CTU parking lot.
INT. VAN – MOVING – DAY
Stanton, the sniper, meticulously cleans and polishes his sniper rifle. He adjusts the sights, makes sure the magazine is in tight and tests the cocking mechanism.
BRIGGS: What the hell are you doin', Stanton?
STANTON: Making sure everything's locked and loaded before we go...I'm hoping to put this baby to good use today.
FERNANDO: Shut up, Stanton. You'll jinx us.
STANTON: C'mon, Almeida. You don't actually believe in that do ya?
FERNANDO: Better safe than sorry, my friend.
STANTON: True.
FERNANDO (To Jack): I read your record before you came in today, Jack, and frankly I'm a little worried about this.
JACK: Why?
FERNANDO: You've got quite the reputation of being a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of a guy. We can't deal with that on a job like this. If – God willing this doesn't happen – the congressman comes under fire, you have to negotiate before you start blowing heads off.
JACK: Fernando, these guys aren't the kind that negotiate. And judging by Rasta, they're pretty in' determined. If I see anything that poses a threat to the congressman, you're damned right I'm gonna shoot first and ask questions later.
FERNANDO: Whatever. But I'm not gonna take the blame for your...
BOOM! An RPG SLAMS into the van from a rooftop nearby! The impact sends it rolling, fire spewing out. Jack grabs onto a side railing and holds on for dear life as his fellow agents bounce around the van.
Stanton is tossed into the back of the van, ending up impaled on a rack. As fire races inside, Jack LEAPS forward, propelling himself through the front windshield.
He ROLLS on the pavement, asphalt CUTTING through his white suit and digging into his skin. Fernando FLIES out and lands next to him, quickly pushing himself off the ground and helping Jack up.
Behind them, the VAN EXPLODES in fiery FLASH, launching debris every which way. Cars swerve, crashing into shop windows and other vehicles.
FERNANDO: C'mon! Let's go!
Another RPG is FIRED. It WHIZZES by Jack and CRASHES into a shop. The resulting explosion knocks him to the ground and launches flying shards of glass into the sea of pedestrians.
JACK (Getting up): LOCATE THE SHOOTER!
Fernando scans the rooftops with his gun. He spots a ski-mask wearing man on the top of a parking garage with a rocket propelled grenade launcher. He FIRES a burst, ripping a red line of holes across his chest.
FERNANDO: Shooter's down!
Jack doesn't respond.
Fernando turns to face him and sees...
A team of SIX HEAVILY ARMED GUNMEN in ski-masks and urban camo heading toward them. He lowers his weapon.
FERNANDO: Oh Hell no...
They OPEN FIRE!
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