User:Blue Rook/Shrine

Moments before 11:00PM, it was revealed that President Logan, not Vice President Hal Gardner, was the man whom Christopher Henderson seemed to be protecting, regardless of the cost. But the writers of 24 were not happy with the shocking fact that a President was involved in a highly treasonous plot gone further awry. Just before 1:20AM, the President was seen on the phone with a man who headed a mysterious cabal. It is this untouched cabal, so densely surrounded by intrigue, which fascinates me and many other fans.

I laugh at the fan speculation that includes any interaction between the Cabal and Day 2's Max. Max simply wanted to cripple America. The Bluetooth Cabal and the President only permitted the harm of American lives to serve a net, overall improvement of the country's situation. Just what exactly what that view was remains fairly foggy (though it certainly involved the wholesale slaying of radical eastern European terrorists on their own soil and then a subsequent increase of profitable American military and business intervention... had everything worked smoothly). But apparently when things fell through, the net improvement shifted toward the protection of the President's office and was far more valuable than even a diplomatic passenger jet loaded with V.I.P.s. When it became impossible to protect the President, Logan himself subscribed so wholly to the views of the Cabal concerning the morale of the American public, that he was moments away from committing suicide to protect it.

The Bluetooth Cabal was unknown to its enemies, and feared above all else among its best pawns, including Logan, the President of the United States, and, arguably one of the most foul villains of 24 thus far, former CTU Director Christopher Henderson. Here is a little tribute to my favorite fictional conspirators, and a tip of the hat to the 24 writers, staffers, and actors for portraying such a sublimely fascinating group with such impressive dramatic skill.

Christopher Henderson just turned down an immunity option, and Jack is halfway out the door, approximately 4:22AM.

Henderson: Jack... That recording was my only immunity. They give me a piece of paper, I walk out of here, and I'm a dead man. Two days, two hours, two months, who cares. They're gonna take me down.

Jack: Who's they?

Henderson: Same people who made Walt Cummings look like a suicide. C'mon Jack, you can't really believe that Charles Logan masterminded this all by himself.

Jack: Give me the names.

Henderson: You can't touch them. But they can touch you.

Jack Bauer begins his interrogation of President Charles Logan, approximately 6:19AM.

Jack: The plan involving the Sentox nerve gas was designed to fool the terrorists and the Russians. Whether or not you formulated the plan is irrelevant, you authorized it.

Logan: You're delusional.

Jack: David Palmer uncovered evidence of this plan. When he started asking questions, he was assassinated. Other people were killed to cover that murder up. Men and women who served this country with distinction, people that I worked with, friends of mine.

Logan: No. You're wrong. This is all a pack of lies.

Jack: The terrorists discovered your deception, and they deployed Sentox nerve gas on American soil. Every American who died today, as a result of terrorist activity, is another murder that you're accountable for. And before you leave here, you are going to admit it.

Logan: Suppose if you hurt me enough Jack, I'll say whatever you want. But that won't make it the truth. Everybody who watches this will know that, perfectly well.

Jack: What are the names of your co-conspirators?

Logan: There are no co-conspirators! Because there is no conspir...

Jack: Walt Cummings! Christopher Henderson! James Nathanson! Have all admitted to being part of this conspiracy. Now they are dead. Right before Christopher Henderson died, he acknowledged that there were others. What are their names!

Logan: A man will say anything under torture. This won't mean a thing.

Jack: Mr. Logan, I'm not gonna torture you. But you are gonna tell me what I want to know. Or, so help me God, I will kill you.

After a pause, Jack seats himself directly in front of Logan.

Jack: A year and a half ago, I was warned that my life was in danger, by someone within the government. I was told that the only way I could stay alive was to create the illusion that I was dead. I was forced to deceive people that I loved. My only daughter will never forgive me. As I see the depth of your corruption unfold, I have no doubt that you are that source of danger. David Palmer was a great man. And he was a great President. He was also my friend. He tried to warn me about you, and now he is dead. Other people tried to help me, and they are dead too. So Mr. Logan, I hope you understand... I have absolutely nothing to lose. You are gonna be held accountable for your part of everything that happened today. You are not gonna be able to hide behind the Presidency! Right here! Right now you are gonna face justice! and make no mistake about this. This is personal. And if you think for a second that I am scared to put a bullet in your brain: you don't know me. I'm gonna ask you one last time. Who are your co-conspirators?

Logan shakes his head

Jack: You have until the count of three, or I will kill you. One.

Logan: You make me a martyr, I'll go down in history with Lincoln and Kennedy. But you'll go down with John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald. Is that what you want?

Jack: Two!

Logan: You're a man of honor! How can you assassinate a President of the United States in front of the entire world? If you love your country, you won't pull the trigger.

Jack: Three!

''Jack's pistol shakes uncontrollably. Logan is afraid at first, then calm.''

Logan: You can't do it, can you. No, Jack! It's alright. Jack! It's alright. It's alright. It's right that you can't. I'm the President. Jack... Jack, they're here.

''Jack is spent, and surrenders to the small army of troops... 6:24.''

1. Graem — Played by Paul McCrane
 * The speaker and chief decision-maker for the Cabal was called Graem, a man who exercised the enviable freedom of being able to just about bully the President of the United States. In Day 6, it turned out that he was absolutely none other than the blood brother of Jack Bauer. Upon discovering this, I knew I had to meet the parents who were simultaneously able to raise my favorite fictional TV hero and one of the coolest villains of serial history. I got half my wish.

2. Ron — Played by Carl Gilliard
 * A man whose baritone rumbling is adorned with an accent that is – at least for my ear – quite unusual, Ron is first seen reading from a paper file (1:20AM) during the introductory, Kubrick-esque zooming shot of the Cabal, then questions the soundness of the plan to Graem (1:40), is later visible smoking a giant stoge (3:04), and is finally found in a chair at 3:45.

3. unidentified male (Caucasian, dark black hair)
 * Wearing what might be the same suit as Graem (a lavender/violet shirt, unbuttoned at the top without a tie, and a black suit coat), this man appeared casual and professional. And that's about it... he spoke no lines. At 1:20AM when the Cabal is first seen, the silhouette of his head is visible to the far right; at 1:40 we get our best close-ups of him; at 2:45 he is barely visible passing behind Graem; at 3:04 he can be seen in the background behind Ron, with his hand to his ear (on a cell phone?); and lastly, he can be seen sitting patiently at a desk in the glass-walled room at 3:45.
 * [Played by Chris Gann? Jeff Brockton?]

4. unidentified male (Caucasian, fair/graying hair)
 * The only conspirator with a tie and a bright shirt, this man turns up in just a handful of shots. At 1:20AM when the Cabal is first seen, he is in the foreground, reading from a piece of paper at a desk; at 1:40 he is seated with his legs crossed, eyes diverted from the lecturing Graem; at 2:56 he can barely be seen as a blurry blob behind Graem; and at both 3:45 and sometime after 4:00 he is seen leisurely enjoying a whiskey on the rocks (like Graem) in the glass-walled room.
 * [Played by Mike Gunther?]