24 (TV Series)

Day 6: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (2007)

Peter MacNicol: Tom Lennox

Quotes 

• Vice President Noah Daniels : So, have you given any thought to our earlier conversation?

  Tom Lennox : Yes I have sir

  Vice President Noah Daniels : And?

  Tom Lennox : And I agree that the priority here is to protect our country and I am prepared to "look the other way" regarding "details" of the assassination plot "to a point"

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Well, what does that mean?

  Tom Lennox : It means the truth must ultimately come out: Reed and Carson need to be punished for what they did

  Vice President Noah Daniels : And they will. Look, all I'm trying to do is to keep America united. I can't have our critics screaming "Look how bad we are, we're worst than the terrorists." We need to keep our eye on the ball right now

  Tom Lennox : On that point sir, we are in complete agreement

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Good because I need you to tell the Ambassador and Assad's country that you saw Assad plant the bomb that injured the President

  Tom Lennox : Sir, "looking the other way" is one thing but choosing to tell a lie to the Ambassador, that becomes a matter of public record

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Now you listen to me, if we expect to navigate through this crisis, I need you to "cooperate"

  Tom Lennox : Yes and I would like to "cooperate..."

  Vice President Noah Daniels : [Interrupts him, raises his voice]  I'm still talking. Come on, let's just "count our blessings" here for a minute: President Palmer survived this awful attack and neither you nor I had anything to do with this heinous plot to kill him and the most beautiful fact of all is that we now have the opportunity to implement the correct policy to stop these terrorists lunatics. Can you just put aside your distastes for my methods for one minute and think about the great gifts that have been given to us?

  Tom Lennox : I will think long and hard sir

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Good. Now I need you to tell the Ambassador that Assad carried in the bomb, I'll take it from there ok?

  Tom Lennox : Sir, I would like to know what you "hope" to "achieve" in your talk with the Ambassador

  Vice President Noah Daniels : I want him to know that we'll hold his country responsible for "all of it." The nuke and the assignation attempt: they need to be "motivated" to rein in these terrorists and I want them to know America is mad as hell and is ready to retaliate with a nuclear "option"

• Vice President Noah Daniels : Have a seat Mr. Ambassador

  Ambassador : Thank you

  Ambassador : [after seating down]  how is President Palmer?

  Vice President Noah Daniels : The President's a tough man: his injured but we're confident he'll make a full recovery

  Ambassador : What a tragic and despicable act

  Vice President Noah Daniels : I agree, what makes it more troubling is that a citizen of your country, Hamri Al-Assad was responsible for the assassination attempt

  Ambassador : My understanding is Assad lost his life in the process but I was lead to believe he was "working" with President Palmer to promote a "peace plan"

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Well, I'm afraid that was all a ruse Mr. Ambassador. Assad's real intentions became clear when he detonated the explosive

  Ambassador : [Surprised]  you have proof of this?

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Conclusive, forensic evidence, at least one eye witness that saw the detonator in Assad's hands immediately before the explosion: isn't that right Tom?

  Tom Lennox : Yes Sir, that is correct

  Ambassador : Even if what you say is true, you must know Hamri Al-Assad was not working at the behest of our government. He was as much as a wanted in our country as he was in yours

  Vice President Noah Daniels : [Amused]  oh, not as much but that's going to change

  Ambassador : What are you referring to?

  Vice President Noah Daniels : The terrorists currently on US soil are acting on the orders of the citizens in your country who have the support of your government: you know it and I know it

  Ambassador : [Stands up]  that is simply not true

  Vice President Noah Daniels : I say it is and I'm willing to "bet" you that I'm right

  Ambassador : What do you mean?

  Vice President Noah Daniels : I have a carrier group within striking distance of every major city in your country waiting for me to give the order

  Ambassador : You would attack us?

  Vice President Noah Daniels : Abu Fayed, a citizen of your country, enters the United States, detonates a nuclear bomb, killing thousands, next Assad attempts to assassinate the President

  Ambassador : We cannot be held responsible, you know full well that we have cooperated with you since the inception of this crisis. These threats against us are reckless and counterproductive, I had an "understanding" with your President

  Vice President Noah Daniels : [Raises his voice]  and now you're going to have one with me. You help us find those nukes before another goes off, or I'm going to unleash the full power of our military on your country