'24' Recap: Inside Man

'24' recap: Geek meet

Faster than you can say 911, the paramedics are at the greengrocer scene to aid the First Gentleman. I'm surprised he's still breathing; I wondered if his heroic battle with the neuromuscular paralytic had already zapped his energy reserves. Jack calls the Oval Office to report FG's status and theorize that Dubaku, lacking leverage, will flee the country. Our shaken president shakes off Ethan's safety concerns and demands to go to FG's bedside: ''Either find someone to take me to the hospital or I'll drive there myself!'' (How awesome would that scene be — our Commander-in-Chief giving the bird to a slow-moving Buick LeSabre?) Bill courteously offers to chauffeur her, reasserting his trustworthiness: ''I brought this conspiracy to your attention, Madame President. I would hope that I've earned it.'' This point is so powerful — as is her desire to capture Dubaku — that she reinstates Bill's government clearance, gives him control of White House staff, and allows Chloe to kick out the computer jams at the FBI. ''Whatever it takes,'' she says, ''I want that sonuvabitch found.'' (Another sonuvabitch! Drink!)

So, where is that sonuvabitch? Making a confession outside the restaurant where Marika works. ''I haven't been entirely honest with you,'' Dubaku tells her. ''My passport visa expired a couple of months ago and I've been in the country illegally.'' (Also, I occasionally jaywalk. And when I was 14, I TP'd some kid's house. And...I know there was something else...oh, right: I LIKE TO MURDER PEOPLE.) He demands that Marika leave the country with him tonight. She looks scared. (Trust that gut, Marika!) He apologizes. She explains that she has to take care of sister Rosa. After assuring her that Rosa can join them shortly in Belize, he goes in for the kill — metaphorically — cooing, ''Do you love me?'' Soon enough, she's saying, ''I'll get my things.'' (Ignore that gut!) Next, Dubaku dials some dude in a suit — a government insider — who's apparently sneaking him out of the country. ''Can't imagine General Juma will be pleased to learn that you're abandoning your mission,'' notes the Suit. Dubaku insists he did all he could: ''If that is not enough for Juma, then to hell with him.'' Looks like Public Enemy No. 1 is looking out for No. 1...

...while Jack and Renee look out for him, combing for clues in the grocery basement. Renee's sleuthing is sidetracked by a call from Larry, who's upset about a police report filed by Vossler's wife. Renee defends the hostage gambit. ''Yeah, right — 'Whatever's necessary.' Jack Bauer's rationalization for every unethical action he takes,'' scoffs Larry. First Renee backs Jack, but after looking in the mirror and trying to wipe off the blood/guilt, she concedes: ''I can see that woman's face...she looked at me like I was the monster.'' (The writers must remain vigilant about portraying Renee — caught between by-the-books Larry and by-all-means-necessary Jack — as conflicted, not flipfloppy.) Jack interrupts, reporting that he's discovered banking records on the dead guys' PDAs that lead to an address. Dubaku's hideout, perhaps?

NEXT: Marika learns who her man really is