24 (TV Series)

Day 5: 3:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m. (2006)

Gregory Itzin: President Charles Logan

Quotes 

• President Charles Logan : [after agent Pierce is beaten up by Logan's men, Logan offers to allow Pierce to remain a Secret Service agent elsewhere if he keeps his mouth shut]  "... Is my offer acceptable to you?"

  Aaron Pierce : [Pierce, tied to a chair]  "There is nothing that you have said or done that is acceptable to me in the least. You're a traitor to this country and a disgrace to your office. And it's my duty to see that you're brought to justice for what you've done. Is there anything else, Charles?"

• Graem Bauer : [Over the phone]  we have a "solution" that will allow you to have the plane shot down

  President Charles Logan : I sure as hell hope so. I may be the President but there are certain protocols in place I can't just ignore

  Graem Bauer : What we're proposing will circumvent those protocols

  President Charles Logan : What is it?

  Graem Bauer : We're going to simulate a VCI distress signal: it will be broadcasted on the plane's transponder code and it will "appear" to come from Bauer's flight

  President Charles Logan : Hold on. What is a VCI distress signal?

  Graem Bauer : An emergency indicating a hijack is in progress and the perpetrators intend to use the aircraft as a weapon: it'll give you the pretext to shoot it down. There really is no other legitimate response to this "scenario." All you need to do is to "appear" to struggle with the ethics and then give the order

  Graem Bauer : [after Logan doesn't respond]  you sound reluctant

  President Charles Logan : I can't believe it's come to this: I'm going to shoot down a plane filled with innocent people

  Graem Bauer : [Before hanging up]  none of us is happy about this but we really don't have a choice. Bauer has evidence implicating you in this conspiracy and I don't have to tell you what the consequences will be for all of us if it's released

• President Charles Logan : What is it Mike?

  Mike Novick : A situation's come up regarding the hijacked plane

  President Charles Logan : Tell me what's happening?

  Mike Novick : The FAA just picked up a VCI distress code: it originated from flight ST520

  President Charles Logan : What's a VCI distress code?

  Mike Novick : VCI is a coding system that was recently installed in all commercial airliners. This particular code indicates a hijacking is underway and the plane is going to be used to target installations on the ground

  President Charles Logan : Oh my God

  Mike Novick : Admiral Kirkland is standing by on the video conference from Point Mugu: his ready to brief you on the details

• President Charles Logan : [Through video conference]  Mike's told me about this VCI signal, how could that be sent without Bauer's knowledge?

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : Most likely one of the pilots under duress secretly activated the transponder code

  President Charles Logan : Let me get this straight: our last report stated Bauer was in the passenger cabin, does this mean now his in the cockpit and his in control of the plane?

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : It appears that way Sir

  President Charles Logan : What do we do Admiral?

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : Sir, the protocols for this scenario are clearly specified: we're compelled to take preemptive action

  President Charles Logan : What action?

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : The aircraft must be shot down. We've already scrambled an F-18 out of Point Magu, we just need your approval to engage

  President Charles Logan : There are over fifty people on that plane

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : We have to take into account the people on the ground, over twenty million citizens live in Los Angeles county, each one of them now is a potential target

  President Charles Logan : [to Mike]  I don't believe this

  Mike Novick : [to Logan]  if I can interject?

  Mike Novick : [to the Admiral]  it's hard for me to accept Bauer tends to use the aircraft as a weapon against civilians

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : From my briefing documenting Jack Bauer is a distraught individual with a history of erratic behavior

  Mike Novick : [Raises his voice]  Jack Bauer spent his entire career protecting American lives. I think there's a reason for doing what his doing

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : And what would that be?

  Mike Novick : I don't have the answer but we should at least try to find out

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : We don't have the time

  Mike Novick : [to Logan]  we could have the F-18 "shadow" the aircraft: we could issue a standing order, fire only if the target deviates from it's present course

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : That's not a "viable" option Mr. President

  President Charles Logan : Why not?

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : Right now that plane is over the desert. In another fifteen minutes, it'll be above Los Angeles, if we're forced to shoot it down, then they'll be massive casualties on the ground and Mr. President, we must also consider the possibility that Bauer intends to attack the Presidential retreat

  President Charles Logan : The retreat?

  Rear Admiral Kirkland : You're inside the target zone: Bauer's a ready's been accused of killing one President today, the simple fact is we don't know what his intentions are

• Mike Novick : I'm sorry Sir, I was on the phone with Colonel Owens: he's the Marine Field Commander on the site

  President Charles Logan : Is Bauer in custody?

  Mike Novick : No Sir

  President Charles Logan : [Sternly]  what happened?

  Mike Novick : As ordered: the Marines sealed off a one mile radius around the landing site. They've complete a sweep of the area

  President Charles Logan : And?

  Mike Novick : And it's Colonel Owens' estimation that Bauer is no longer inside the perimeter

  President Charles Logan : He got away

  Mike Novick : It appears so Sir

  President Charles Logan : I can't believe this

  Mike Novick : It's only a matter of time before Bauer is apprehended

  Mike Novick : [after Logan is silent]  Sir, are you alright?

  President Charles Logan : Thank you, I need some time alone now

• President Charles Logan : [after knocking on her door]  may I come in?

  Martha Logan : Now you want to talk

  President Charles Logan : Please?

  Martha Logan : What do you want? Is there something else you want to "confess"?

  President Charles Logan : No, I want to tell you how sorry I am: for everything

  Martha Logan : When you forget to give me something for my birthday, that's when you say you're sorry

  President Charles Logan : I know what I did was wrong, horribly wrong, and unforgivable. I know that, what I can't live with is the fact that I hurt you. That's the last thing I wanted to do

  President Charles Logan : [after she ignores him]  please, that's the truth

  Martha Logan : The truth? You know what really gets me?

  President Charles Logan : What?

  Martha Logan : That you had me going for so long. I had no idea you were such a good liar, I wasn't so horrified by the fact that I was married to someone who might actually impress me

• Graem Bauer : [Over the phone]  I've been trying to reach you

  President Charles Logan : I know

  Graem Bauer : Bauer slipped through the cordoned off zones didn't he?

  President Charles Logan : Yes

  Graem Bauer : I've just been told the Attorney General's office received a phone call from the Director of CTU: it's fairly obvious they're in possession of the recording. I think that phone call is about you

  President Charles Logan : I didn't expect it to happen so soon

  Graem Bauer : I am sorry, you don't deserve this

  President Charles Logan : Despite how things turned out, I still believe we were in the right. I still believe we acted in the best interest of this country

  Graem Bauer : And we have to "keep" putting the country's well being ahead of our own: the spectacle of a sitting President on trial for murder would be devastating

  President Charles Logan : Yes it would. Aside from the psychological damage to this country, a trial would expose realities that should never see the light of day

  Graem Bauer : [Implying Logan should commit suicide]  if only we can keep a certain trial from taking place

  President Charles Logan : That thought occurred to me as well

  Graem Bauer : I'm glad we agree

  President Charles Logan : I want you to know I've taken steps to ensure that you and your associates won't be implicated in any of this

  Graem Bauer : I appreciate that: we all do

  President Charles Logan : There's nothing more to say. I'm going to hang up now, there are a few things I'd like to take care of

  Graem Bauer : Good bye

• Miles Papazian : [Over the phone]  you don't know me: my name is Miles Papazian, I work under Karen Hayes

  President Charles Logan : What is this about?

  Miles Papazian : It's about a recording Sir that Jack Bauer has just delivered here to CTU. Sir, my understanding is that this recording is a conversation of yours that leaked could "significantly" compromise national security

  President Charles Logan : Go on

  Miles Papazian : My superior Ms. Hayes, is working with Bauer and Bill Buchanan: their intention is to play the recording for the Attorney General

  President Charles Logan : Why are you telling me this?

  Miles Papazian : Because Sir, I feel "compelled" to intervene and I just wanted to make sure that you would approve

  President Charles Logan : I do, Mr. Papazian, I do approve. I'm going to text you my private number: let me know how it goes. I promise you I won't forget this

  Miles Papazian : Thank you Sir. That's all I wanted to hear, I look forward to speaking again soon