Michelle's obvious bitterness towards Tony clouds her judgement with regard to his professional abilities, and she assigns him to low-level analyst work -- but when Sarah Gavin oversteps her bounds, Michelle fires her and has no choice but to ask Tony to resume a larger role in CTU operations. With Jack completely out of contact due to the EMP-induced blackout, Michelle and Tony argue about the best strategy to find Jack. Ultimately, Michelle is reluctant to trust Tony's instincts and disregards his suggestions. Audrey fills Michelle in on how Tony saved her and Jack's lives, and Michelle reconsiders her harsh attitude. Tony turns out to be right about Jack's field decisions, and Michelle realizes that his experience and personal connection to Jack will be invaluable in stopping Marwan. Tony informs Michelle that he wishes to resign because working with her again is too difficult on him emotionally, but Michelle refuses to accept his resignation, believing that CTU can't afford to lose him.

As Heller introduces Michelle to the CTU Team and thanks Tony for stepping up, Tony and Michelle lock smouldering gazes. Heller asks Tony to get Michelle up to speed. Somehow, Tony manages to remain cool and collected. He doesn't miss a step in explaining their current situation with Marwan down to the last detail.

As Tony tries to slink away from Michelle without confrontation after their CTU pow-wow, she chases him down and asks him for the access codes to CTU and Division. As he hands them over, their fingers deliberately almost, but not quite, touch. Tony then asks Michelle what she wants him to do. She orders him to do some menial research work on lists of possible contacts with Marwan. Tony tries to convince her that his time would be better utilized trying to find Jack and Paul. Michelle tells him the last time she saw him, he couldn't stay sober long enough to keep a job. CHEAP SHOT! Tony responds weakly by reminding her that was six months ago. Michelle tells him if he doesn't like his assignment, he is free to resign. Tony swallows his pride and agrees to her terms. He reminds her he needs a security clearance. She grants him a Level 3, which is 3 grades lower than what he had as Director of CTU before he went to prison. This is the most insulting of all! "I used to have a 6," he replies, his voice cracking. "Right now, all you need is three," snaps Michelle, as she turns her back on him. Tony is frustrated, but knows he has to swallow his pride if he wants to earn her trust and respect.

Michelle quickly tires of Sarah Gavin's petty personal agenda to get promoted and fires her sorry ass as Tony looks on, seeing a possible window of opportunity. Curtis reminds Michelle they don't have anyone qualified to replace Sarah who is not already overtaxed as it is. Michelle refuses to reconsider firing her. Curtis suggests Tony to take her place. Michelle is forced to concede. Michelle calls Tony over, addressing him as "Agent Almeida." She orders him to work with Curtis and Edgar for the rest of the day. Tony overhears Curtis and Michelle discussing a strategy for finding Jack. They plan to surround the dead zone's perimeter and wait for some kind of signal from Jack. Tony interrupts, saying he thinks it's a mistake. He believes Jack will deliberately engage McLennan-Forster's commandos in a firefight to force them to break radio silence so CTU could track their signal to his location. Michelle overrules him, telling Curtis to stick with the original plan. Though Tony tries his best to convince Michelle he knows how Jack thinks, Michelle still does not consider Tony competent enough to make tactical decisions, a move she will later regret.

Michelle learns from Audrey that Tony saved both Audrey's and Jack's lives earlier in the day. Audrey tells Michelle that Tony was the one person Jack knew would come through for him. Audrey feels that Michelle should re-evaluate her professional opinion of him. Michelle says she didn't realize Tony had laid himself on the line for Jack. She approaches Tony and tells him that even though she overruled him, she still values his opinion. Tony tells her not to patronize him. She assures him of her sincerity and says she will consider seriously any input he has to offer because of his experience running CTU. Tony snorts, assuring her that he'll tell her what he thinks whether she likes it or not. Even when Tony is down, he still has that Almeida sass going strong.

Tony asks Audrey how she is handling Jack being back in the field. Audrey acknowledges it is different than what she's used to, and not in a good way. Tony says he found it hard to believe Jack would have abandoned fieldwork for a desk job in DC. Audrey says Jack is happier, but Tony is skeptical that this could be true. He asks Audrey to consider, after having seen Jack in action, whether she thinks he could go back to wearing a suit. Audrey says she couldn't see Jack ever wanting to return to the field after the hell he'd been through so far during the day. Tony, finally verbalizing a long-standing unspoken theme of 24 and recognizing an unkind truth about his dear friend Jack, replies "Some people are more comfortable in hell."

When Edgar intercepts radio communications from the McLennan-Forster Commandos and tracks Jack's location to 1/4 mile from the M-F Building, Michelle and Tony exchange a smouldering look. Michelle has finally realized how valuable Tony's connection with Jack is to their mission, and Tony doesn't even need to say "I told you so" - she already knows.

After learning that Jack and Paul are safe, Tony approaches Michelle in her office. She offers to let him head up analysis of the document from McLennan-Forster if and when Jack brings it back to CTU. Tony tells her to give it to Curtis. Michelle apologizes for the harsh remark she made about Tony's drinking. Tony tells her she owes him no apology, but that his life has been difficult and seeing her this way at CTU has only made things worse. Tony's voice is choked up, and tears well in Michelle's eyes as she sees him in so much pain. He tells her he's resigning and leaving her to do her job without their personal history getting in the way. Michelle stops him, saying that we (meaning CTU and herself) can't afford to lose him today. Tony asks her if she's sure. She says she is. He agrees to stay.

Michelle: Tony...I need the access codes for CTU and Division.
Tony: [nods. Hands them to her]
Michelle: Thank you.
Tony: What do you want me to do?
Michelle: Division is sending over a supplemental list of terrorists who supposedly had contacts with Habib Marwan. I want you to check any names that have been flagged by other agencies, including overseas.
Tony: Given what's happening right now, it doesn't seem like the best use of my time.
Michelle: It has to be done. And I'd like you to do it.
Tony: Michelle. Jack and Paul have information that could be vital to ending this crisis. I should be helping us find them. Michelle... [grabs her arm]
Michelle: The last time I saw you, you couldn't stay sober long enough to keep a job!
Tony: That was six months ago.
Michelle: This is what I need you to do. If you don't like it, you can resign.
Tony: I'm gonna need a security clearance.
Michelle: I'll make sure you get a Level 3.
Tony: Level 3. I used to have a 6.
Michelle: Right now, all you need is 3.

Curtis: (to Michelle) There's no sign of Jack or Paul. CTU Tac Teams are standing by, but the best we can do is spread them around the perimeter and wait for some sign of Jack.
Tony: (interrupting) I think that's a mistake. We should consolidate our teams. Be ready to meet strength with strength.
Curtis: And where would you place them?
Tony: At the McLennan-Forster building. Jack won't be far from there. Look, he knows we won't be able to find him without help. He's gonna help us by starting a firefight. I know the way he thinks. Now, the hostiles will have to break radio silence when they attack, when they do we can follow the signal straight to where he is.
Curtis: He's gonna deliberately engage and entire unit of commandos?
Tony: It's the most efficient way to be found and he's gonna expect us to be ready for it.
Michelle: Stick with the original plan. Cover the perimeter.
Tony: Michelle...
Michelle: If we send all our teams to one location and you're wrong, Jack and Paul won't survive an attack. If we cover the perimeter, we may have a chance to save them.
Tony: [unconvinced glare]
Michelle: (to Curtis) Do it.

Tony: I got those perimeter teams you asked for ready to go.
Michelle: Thanks. Tony, look, I just want you to know that just because I overruled you a few minutes ago doesn't mean that I don't value your input.
Tony: Don't patronize me, Michelle.
Michelle: I'm not. Look, you ran CTU for two years. Anything that you have to say, I will consider seriously.
Tony: Uh, don't worry. I'm gonna tell you what I think whether you wanna hear it or not, alright?

Tony: So, um ... did you tell Michelle what happened today?
Audrey: I said that Jack called you.
Tony: Anything else?
Audrey: I didn't say you were living with anyone if that's what you mean.
Tony: She probably already knows that and I'm sure she couldn't care less. So, uh, how and you and Jack faring with him out in the field today?
Audrey: It's different. A lot different than Washington.
Tony: Yeah. It is different. To tell you the truth, I couldn't believe it when I heard that Jack had taken a desk job in DC.
Audrey: He said he was happier this way.
Tony: Uh huh. Well, you've gotten a chance to see him in both worlds today. You think he'll go back to wearing a suit?
Audrey: After the hell Jack's been through today, you think he'd wanna come back to this?
Tony: Some people are more comfortable in hell.

Tony: Lee, it's Tony. Are Jack and Paul still alive?
Castle: Unknown at this point.
Tony: Alright, look, the hostiles cannot be allowed to leave the area with the information Jack took from McLennan-Forster, do you understand?
Castle: We'll do the best we can.
Tony: No, Lee, listen to me. Failure is NOT an option. That information is what this whole thing's about.

Tony: Jack and Paul are OK.
Michelle: What about the information?
Tony: We don't know if Jack has it yet, but even if he does, we don't know that it's gonna bring us any closer to finding Marwan.
Michelle: Well, we know that McLennan-Forster's involved. That should yield some leads.
Tony: Well, it's gonna have to be worked up here, because McLennan-Forster's computers were all knocked out by the EMP.
Michelle: Wanna head that up?
Tony: No, you know what, um, you should probably let Curtis handle that.
Michelle: Alright, I will. [pause] I shouldn't have said that earlier about your drinking. I was out of line. I'm sorry.
Tony: You don't owe me an apology. My life right now ... let's just say that I've been better and, uh, quite frankly seeing you here today has only made things worse. Uh, look, I'm gonna leave. Get out of your hair and let you do your job, alright?
Michelle: No. We can't afford to lose you. Not today.
Tony: You're sure?
Michelle: Yes. Yes, I'm sure.
Tony: Alright.

" We need to end this quickly and get that document. Understood? " - Dave Conlon

4x13 - Tony Screencaps

AIG Debrief Transcript