Getting back to Jack, he's compromising western civilization by providing Stoller with the "wet list," and Stoller gives up Pistol Girl like Judas gave up Jesus in the garden (at least he withheld a kiss). Pistol Girl is not too upset with Jack but is sad that Stoller gave her up (seems they both really loved the heck out of each other's bad asses). Just as the Princess of Death Mandy once demanded and got immunity from Jack, Pistol Girl also requires this before she gives up any info. She does make one effort to sway Jack, telling him everyone has a price. Of course, she doesn't know about Bauer Power or the ability to die and come back to life and fight terrorists.

With her immunity in place Pistol Girl gives up the source of the schematic: Audrey (Cry Me a River) Raines. Now, I really thought it was going to be someone else: maybe Potato Chip or even Lady MacDeath, but it's frigging Audrey! Damn, Jack has got to be one hurting dude at this point.

We do have to think this whole thing through clearly. The day started with everyone who knew Jack was still alive getting targeted. Jerko obviously (with Robo Henderson's assistance no doubt) knows about Audrey and so Pistol Girl has this set as a plan to throw Jack off, yet Jack has a history with women who turn out to be bad (think Nina Meyers), so it could be true that Audrey did it. Wow, her Papa (Secretary of Defense Nuts Landing) is going to be mighty angry about this whole thing.

Things are really heating up on 24 at this point, and with nine episodes left it seems like we're just getting to the great stuff (though so much has been so good already). I am amazed at how quickly this season is progressing, how fine tuned the show is at this time, and am more impressed each week with Kiefer's acting. Man, this guy just gets better and better.

Oh, and as a footnote, just try comparing this episode to the fresh episode of The Sopranos offered this week. While 24 was edge of the seat excitement, the whole story of Tony in a coma (which took up more than thirty minutes of an hour-long episode) really threatened to make me comatose too. While The Sopranos deserves high praise for its acting and almost incongruous literary nature in seasons past, it annoys me that 24, although popular, never gets the critical respect it so richly deserves.

Until next week, Klaatu Barada Nikto!