24 (TV Series)

Day 3: 6:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m. (2004)

Dennis Haysbert: President David Palmer

Quotes 

• President Palmer : I feel as though I'm crossing a line I will never be able to step back from.

• President Palmer : This Office isn't above the law: how could I justify the murder of an innocent man?

  Wayne Palmer : We're fighting a war, Ryan Chappelle is not a civilian

  President Palmer : I still can't order him to be killed

  Wayne Palmer : So what's the alternative? Yes I know, it's extreme. I realize that but it's the only move we have here. Look at what's happening right down at the Chandler Plaza Hotel, this man Saunders has proved to you he will use this virus to inflict mass causalities if you don't do what he says

  President Palmer : How long am I suppose to let Saunders dictate my actions? How long do I allow him to hold this country hostage?

  Wayne Palmer : Until we catch him

  President Palmer : What if we don't?

  Wayne Palmer : We will but until you do, your only option is to sacrifice Chappelle

• President Palmer : [Over the phone]  are you alone right now?

  Jack Bauer : Yes Sir

  President Palmer : Saunders called me a few minutes ago, his made another demand

  Jack Bauer : What is it?

  President Palmer : This is a hard one: so I'm going to as direct as I can. He wants Ryan Chappelle dead

  Jack Bauer : I'm sorry, I don't understand

  President Palmer : He wants his body delivered to the trainyard downtown

  Jack Bauer : Why would Saunders want Chappelle dead?

  President Palmer : I don't know, he wouldn't give me a reason but he was emphatic about the consequences if this demand wasn't met

• Gerry Whitehorn : [after entering the room with Wayne standing nearby]  Mr. President, Helen Stupen from the LA Times just called my office, she was just asking about some kind of "toxic accident" at the Chandler Plaza Hotel and if it was connected to the Red alert?

  President Palmer : What exactly did she say?

  Gerry Whitehorn : Not much: she was "fishing"

  Gerry Whitehorn : [Noticing David glances to Wayne]  Mr. President, I appreciate you need to keep certain things from me but this story will get out and when it does, I'll need to have answers

  Wayne Palmer : Gerry's right, the sooner we bring him into the loop, the better he can help with the press

  Wayne Palmer : [after David nods to Wayne, giving him approval to tell him about the infection at the Chandler Plaza Hotel]  a weaponized virus was released into that hotel's ventilation system

  Gerry Whitehorn : [Shocked]  oh my God

  Gerry Whitehorn : [to David]  when will you go public with this?

  President Palmer : Once we're sure the virus has been contained and there's no longer a threat

  Gerry Whitehorn : And how certain are you that it will be contained?

  President Palmer : We're doing everything possible