24 (TV Series)

Day 4: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (2005)

Alberta Watson: Erin Driscoll

Photos 

Quotes 

• Curtis Manning : [Giving a briefing on a monitor with Secretary Heller present]  there are a hundred and four nuclear power stations in the United States: we just learned terrorists are trying to convert all one hundred and four nuclear cores into weapons

  Erin Driscoll : Give us the worse case casualty scenarios first

  Curtis Manning : This graphic represents a single meltdown scenario. Edgar, break it down for us

  Edgar Stiles : If we can't get control of the Override, it will shutdown the entire cooling system and the core will melt through the containment building. In the first three hours, the population within a ten mile radius will receive the highest doses of radiation. Most people will die within two days

  Curtis Manning : Most of these a hundred and four cities represent seventy five thousand people. Multiply that by a hundred and four, we're looking at 7.8 million causalities: that's conservative the environmental impact will also be catastrophic. Thirty miles in all directions of each plant will be uninhabitable for at least five years

  Marianne Taylor : Don't these plants have multiple security systems to prevent this kind of breach?

  Curtis Manning : They do, the Override's already deactivated them

  Erin Driscoll : And if we don't succeed, how long before these cores start melting down?

  Curtis Manning : Projections in the first radiation shockwaves: approximately three hours

  Erin Driscoll : Alright I want everyone here from COMM and Logistics to work on getting a handle on the software. The rest of you will handle support and conjunction with NRC personnel, let's get to work

• Curtis Manning : [after entering the conference room]  excuse me Mr. Secretary, I'm going to have to interrupt you

  James Heller : What is it?

  Curtis Manning : This is Edgar Stiles, our chief analyst: his requesting access to the kernels of the power plants?

  James Heller : My understanding is that no one is to manipulate those kernels while the plants are online

  Edgar Stiles : Yes, but there is a way to do it if your careful. I had to stay away from the precompiled headers while I was putting a software lock on the Dobson Override code. But the chances of causing a load imbalance...

  James Heller : [Raises his hand, interrupting him]  I don't understand one thing you're talking about: just tell me what the "downside" is if the kernels are disrupted because of your manipulation?

  Edgar Stiles : [Before sighing]  if I make a mistake, I can accelerate a core meltdown in some of the reactors

  Edgar Stiles : [after Driscoll and Heller are silent]  this is probably a bad idea maybe we shouldn't do it

  James Heller : But if you're successful, you can gain control of the reactors?

  Erin Driscoll : Edgar, what we need to know is if you can do this without making a mistake?

  Edgar Stiles : [after looking down]  yeah I can do it

  James Heller : You're not filling me with confidence

  Edgar Stiles : I'm just a little nervous: if I say "I can do it"? I can do it

• James Heller : We're making good progress

  Erin Driscoll : Tell me

  James Heller : We've been able to take eighty seven power plants offline: their safe

  Erin Driscoll : What about the other seventeen?

  James Heller : The terrorists were able to use the Override to block a shutdown. Everything we're doing is being repelled

  Erin Driscoll : What are we doing to get around it?

  James Heller : Believe me, we're trying everything: if there's way, we'll find it. I'll keep you posted

• President John Keeler : [Through video conference]  if there are seventeen nuclear power plants about to meltdown, I need to update an evacuation strategy

  James Heller : I agree Sir, I've already laid the ground work with the National Guard: their preparing to go into individual communities and effect a civil evacuation upon on your command

  President John Keeler : And you say your worst case scenario gives us approximately three hours?

  James Heller : That's correct Sir

  President John Keeler : Erin, what are chances of shutting down the remaining seventeen?

  Erin Driscoll : At this time, I'd say it's less than fifty percent but we're trying something right now that might improve those chances

  President John Keeler : When will you know more?

  Erin Driscoll : In the next fifteen minutes

  President John Keeler : Alright, keep me updated

  Erin Driscoll : Yes, Mr. President