24: May 1, 2006 episode

[Tom]

By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY
Jack isn't the only one up in the air at 24 (Fox, Monday, 9 ET/PT). There are only five hours left in what may be the series' best day ever, and we still have questions. Ten of them, to be precise — and don't panic; we have no answers and will spoil no surprises. USA TODAY is just pondering 24 intangibles here. And we'll start with ...

1. Is Defense Secretary Heller dead?

Chances are Audrey Raines' father went over the cliff in his car. But it's also possible that he rolled out at the last minute, because people on shows like 24 are born knowing how to do such things. (I can't change lanes and the CD at the same time.) I'd guess the writers want us to wonder about his fate — but then again, the show often races over its plot holes, which sometimes causes fans to invent mysteries that don't exist.

2. Is Aaron with Behrooz?

One consequence of the speed with which 24 moves is that the show leaves unanswered questions in its wake — like what happened to the likable young Behrooz last year after the terrorists took him. It could be that agent Aaron Pierce was transferred, as the president said. It could be he's dead. It could be he's hiding and will return to save the day. Or it could be he's with Behrooz, in the land of vanished plot points.

3. What's up with Dr. Romano?

Surely when many fans saw actor Paul McCrane pop in as the evil genius behind the plot, their first thought was, "So that's where Dr. Romano went after that ER helicopter fell on him." The arrival of new conspirators raises all-new questions, but it also answers those who thought the weasel president was too dumb to come up with this complicated plot by himself.

4. Why would Jack send Christopher Henderson back to CTU?

You risk your life (again) to recapture this guy, and you send him back to a place under direct presidential control that already had let him escape once? And after all, it's not like CTU was ever known for its airtight security. Even Chloe walked out.

5. Why didn't Jack just copy the tape that incriminates the president?

It doesn't pay to pick nits at 24. Still, you'd think a man who can download satellite images to his phone would know how to use it to play a tape onto someone's voice mail. What, suddenly he's out of minutes?

6. How many satellites do we have, exactly?

Speaking of those satellites, isn't it lucky how there's always one available for "repositioning"? If there are that many satellites over Los Angeles, it's a wonder they don't crash into each other.

7. Do you have to live near CTU to work there?

Last year Chloe got out of her pajamas and into work in five minutes. Last week, it took her about that long to get from CTU to Bill Buchanan's house. True, the constraints of space and time tend to bend on 24. Even so, it makes you think there's some kind of walk-to-work requirement.

8. Why does anyone run for president?

David Palmer was shot at as a candidate, poisoned as president, and murdered after he left office. His wife was killed; his son was blackmailed. And the man who followed him into the White House was blown out of the sky. No wonder we ended up with such a loser this year — who else would want the job?

9. Why does anyone oppose Jack?

If Heller's dead, well, that's the price paid for trying to outsmart Jack. The man has saved the world multiple times. When he says you're making a mistake, you are.

10. Why does anyone support Jack?

On the other hand, you have to question the sanity of any guard or grunt who jumps in to help Jack in a firefight — a group whose collective life expectancy rivals the born-to-die extras on Star Trek. My answer? If you see Jack coming for the next five hours, run the other way.