24 (TV Series)

Day 3: 5:00 a.m.-6:00 a.m. (2004)

Dennis Haysbert: President David Palmer

Quotes 

• President David Palmer : [Over the phone]  the man I spoke to, who controls this virus, why did he use you to get to me?

  Jack Bauer : I wish I could answer that Sir: he says he knows me but we haven't able to ascertain a positive identification, the only thing I can tell you is that within the last hour he was in Los Angeles

  President David Palmer : He made it clear he intends to use the threat of releasing the virus to control me and through me the entire apparatus of our government. Obviously, we cannot let that happen

  Jack Bauer : I understand Sir

  President David Palmer : Find him

  Jack Bauer : We're doing everything we can. I'll keep in touch

• President David Palmer : Bauer says he doesn't know who this man is

  Wayne Palmer : But he knows Bauer?

  President David Palmer : Apparently

  Wayne Palmer : How's that possible?

  President David Palmer : I don't know: all I know is that their doing everything they can to find this man

  Wayne Palmer : Did he give Bauer any indication of what he wants?

  President David Palmer : No, but he controls enough of the virus to wipe out a significant portion of this country's population. So, whatever he wants, we don't have much choice but to give it to him. At least for now

• Wayne Palmer : The situation at the hotel seems to be under control: now SWAT's in place. NHS is there and will start the testing procedures soon

  President David Palmer : Any "sense" that the press picked up on this?

  Wayne Palmer : No, not so far but they're bound to before long

  President David Palmer : Containing the virus is crucial but containing the story that it was released in the hotel is just as important. If the story breaks, we need a possible cover

  Wayne Palmer : I'll work up some scenarios

  President David Palmer : Don't use the term "Cordilla virus", people have never heard of it and the unknown creates more fear. Say it's similar to Legionnaires' disease. People are familiar with that and they know it was handled successfully

• President David Palmer : [Talking privately]  eleven vials of the virus are unaccounted for: what's Homeland Security's assessment?

  Joseph O'Laughlin : Sir, we believe the threat level should be raised to Red

  President David Palmer : Do it, what about domestic air travel?

  Joseph O'Laughlin : It is our suggestion that flights be grounded and airports closed

  Wayne Palmer : Mr. President, if your concern is to avoid panic, stopping air traffic might have the opposite effect

  Joseph O'Laughlin : That's better than allowing the wide spread release of the virus

  Wayne Palmer : [to David]  if you shut down those airports, you won't be able to explain its Legionnaires' disease

  Joseph O'Laughlin : We're talking security issues Mr. President. We are not talking about "public relations"

  Wayne Palmer : How the public relates to this is a security issue

  Joseph O'Laughlin : Mr. President, we also advocate shutting down interstate rail and bus traffic in the interest of...

  Wayne Palmer : [Interrupts him]  listen, whoever has these vials could already be in their cars. Now we can't shut down every single highway...

  Joseph O'Laughlin : [Interrupts him]  Mr. President...

  President David Palmer : [to O'Laughlin]  alert the airlines to a possible nationwide shutdown but wait for my authorization

  Joseph O'Laughlin : [Before leaving the room]  yes Sir

• Stephen Saunders : [Over the phone]  it's time for your first assignment: a very simple one but one "necessary" to our future relationship

  President David Palmer : We don't have a relationship

  Stephen Saunders : No, you don't negotiate with terrorists. Well, I don't negotiate with Heads of State so do what you're told. Across the street is a mailbox, have the Secret Service open it, inside is a package wrapped in black paper. Have them bring it to you in ten minutes

  President David Palmer : [Before Saunders hangs up the phone]  I'm not doing anything until exactly who you...

• Stephen Saunders : [Over the phone]  good, you're using your new phone: consider it our private line and as no doubt you have been informed, don't bother tracing my calls

  President David Palmer : What'd you want?

  Stephen Saunders : Within the next half hour, you'll hold a televised press conference

  President David Palmer : About what?

  Stephen Saunders : Space program, price of wheat. It's entirely up to you but at some point, you will use the phrase "The sky is falling." You can use it however you like Mr. President but use it

  President David Palmer : [to Wayne, after hanging up with Saunders]  he wants me to hold a press conference, on what it doesn't matter. Just use the phrase "The sky is falling"

  Wayne Palmer : Maybe it's a signal of some sort, maybe for an attack or a wave of attacks

  President David Palmer : Maybe it's a signal to show his in control

  Wayne Palmer : Either way, you can't do it. You can't give him that kind of power

  President David Palmer : You saw what that virus does

  Wayne Palmer : I read the file, yeah

  President David Palmer : A thousand people are dying as we speak, not just in a file but in real life right here in Los Angeles

  Wayne Palmer : I realize that but the problem...

  President David Palmer : [interrupts him]  if I don't do what this man says, it will be millions. This will buy us some time, maybe CTU can find this manic before things get out of hand. Call a press conference

• President David Palmer : [Giving a press conference as Stephen Saunders demanded]  please be seated: good morning, I know the hour is unusual, so are the times in which we live. As a result of intelligence on terrorist activity gathered by the office of Homeland Security and other agencies, I am announcing that a threat level red exists throughout the United States. Therefore I am grounding all domestic and international air traffic and the closing of airports. I am not taking this action because "The sky is falling," but I'd rather be overprotective than unprepared and as always diligence and calm are your best weapons against the insidious nature of the enemy. And God willing, we and all those who love freedom will remain safe and secure, thank you

• President David Palmer : [Over the phone]  what?

  Stephen Saunders : I enjoyed your press conference Mr. President: it's good to know "The sky's not falling"

  President David Palmer : What'd you want?

  Stephen Saunders : To give you your next assignment: a sort of "preliminary action" to "clear the decks" for the "main event" to come. There's man Ryan Chappelle: Regional Director of CTU

  President David Palmer : Yeah, what about him?

  Stephen Saunders : I want him killed

  President David Palmer : What?

  Stephen Saunders : 7am, have his body delivered to the train yard downtown just off the main line

  President David Palmer : That is out of the question

  Stephen Saunders : What a shame. Before you decide, you might want to drop by the Chandler Plaza Hotel take a good look at what's happening. Then imagine the same event happening at hundreds of locations all over the country

  President David Palmer : [Before Stephen hangs up]  you're insane