Spoilers

THE AGENCY ACTS TO STOP AN APOCALYPTIC EVENT - PROPHESIZED BY RAMBALDI - AND VAUGHN QUESTIONS DIXON'S STATE OF MIND, ON ABC'S "ALIAS"

David Carradine ("Kung Fu," upcoming "Kill Bill"), Amanda Foreman ("Felicity") and Patricia Wettig ("thirtysomething") Guest Star

"Countdown" -A Rambaldi artifact prophesizes that an apocalyptic event will soon take place, and Dixon's grief leads Vaughn and agency psychologist Dr. Barnett (Patricia Wettig, "thirtysomething") to question his intentions, as his thirst for revenge on Sloane intensifies. Meanwhile Sloane receives a life-changing revelation from a mysterious monk in Nepal (David Carradine, "Kung Fu," upcoming "Kill Bill"), Sydney and Dixon hunt for the killer who stole the heart from his victim, and Marshall falls for a new co-worker (Amanda Foreman, "Felicity"), on "Alias," SUNDAY, APRIL 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Alias" stars Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, Victor Garber as Jack Bristow, Ron Rifkin as Arvin Sloane, Michael Vartan as Michael Vaughn, Lena Olin as Irina Derevko, Bradley Cooper as Will Tippin, Merrin Dungey as Francie Calfo, Carl Lumbly as Marcus Dixon, Kevin Weisman as Marshall Flinkman and David Anders as Mr. Sark.

Guest starring are Amanda Foreman as Carrie Bowman, Jonathan Banks as Brandon, Jimmie F. Skaggs as captain, Patricia Wettig as Barnett, Danny Trejo as Vargas, Carlos Cervantes as Panamanian detective, David Carradine as Conrad, Allen Evangelista as Jandu, Ryan Honey as delta force leader and James Carraway as Proteo Di Regno.

The story for "Countdown" was by R.P. Gaborno and the teleplay by Jeff Pinkner. The episode was directed by Lawrence Trilling.

From sunnykyymee: My love! I've been gone awhile and missed you so! Got any "welcome back" Alias treats for me?
There's no new episode until April 27. Welcome freaking back. The next new ep is called "Countdown," and in it, we discover that Dixon's wife's death has left him with little reason to live--or to keep anyone else alive. In the ep, Sydney and Dixon encounter a mercenary who knows the whereabouts of the Rambaldi device. Much to the dismay of Jack and Vaughn, Dixon goes ballistic and threatens to blow all of them up if the mercenary doesn't give it up. Hence the answer to the riddle in Friday's column: Jack orders Vaughn to shoot Dixon in order to keep Sydney safe.

Confirmed Regular Cast to Appear from the following spoilers
- Sydney
- Dixon
- Marshall
- Jack
- Vaughn

Confirmed Guest Cast to Appear from the following spoilers
- Detective
- Proteo Di Regno
- Carrie Bowman
- Mercenary
- NSA Deputy Director Brandon

Sydney and Dixon, along with a Panamanian detective, are in Panama City standing next to a bed in which lays a dead Proteo Di Regno, whose chest was opened by the steel frame of a surgical retractor.

They try to get info about the crime. It is clear that there was a struggle at some point but forensics have found nothing so far. NOTHING. Well, the thing there sure about, something was taken: Di Regno's heart.

When the detective leaves, Syd and Dixon snoop around. They find something quite interesting, a <0> symbol tattooed between Di Regno's fingers.

Sydney explains a bit about the "Rambaldi Followers" and the fact that they identified themselves with a mark.

Back at the Rotunda, Marshall will work alongside a woman named Carrie Bowman, a woman in a wheeled chair, who is crying while working. Gentleman Marshall will offer her a tissue. Carrie's problem? She works while listening to Joni Mitchell! But of course, the work they are working on doesn't help much either as they are both trying to decipher the prophecy and predict what sort of disaster will hit in thirty-six hours.

They exchange words about the prophecy and if they think it's true. We will learn more about how Marshall was raised. (Marshall, you must wear your sweater, it's fifty-two degrees outside!) After more talking, Carrie asks Marshall THE question of the hour: Are you gay? No! (well, he'll say "no" in a Marshall-esque way)

Carrie asks him out for some sushi dinner when their work is done and if they survive the prophecy...

In Guadalajara, a masked man is "flying" around held by a second masked man. They are in some sort of underground club doing some wrestling. Dixon is chatting with a mercenary trying to get info about the transport of a weapon of mass destruction but the mercenary won't talk much even with a few punches thrown at him.

Dixon shows him a C-4 charge, sets it to 30 seconds and activates it. The mercenary thinks Dixon is bluffing and won't kill himself in the process. Sydney is a few feet from the scene wondering what Dixon is doing.

At the rotunda, NSA Deputy Director Brandon seems to be watching the scene. Jack orders Dixon to disarm the charge. Brandon asks Vaughn if he can see them from his position, he wants Vaughn to take Dixon down.

Dixon is counting down the time... as the timer still is active. He is ignoring Jack's orders to disarm it.

Vaughn can finally see the scene... NSA Deputy Director Brandon decides to pull rank on Jack and orders Vaughn to shoot Dixon... Vaughn lies and says he's lost sight. Brandon knows it and throws law in Vaughn's direction.

Timer is ticking... 5... 4...