02x01 - The Show Must Go On

[bunniefuu]

Good game, Mr. Vice President.

Sir, how is it going...

Hello, good to see you.

Gentleman, glad we could provide a perfect day for golf.

The least we could do, seeing as you are stuck with the under-study.

The President is very sorry to miss out on the Pacific Rim Economic Forum but, he and Prime Minister Welton shared a close friendship.

Of course, he had to be on hand for the state funeral and is just flying home today.

Our hearts go out to our Australian brothers and sisters on this solemn occasion.

The good news for all of you is that Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership has been high on my agenda since I was a young Senator.

The bad news for all of you: I'm a much better golfer than the President.

Minister Chen, I believe you are in the first group?

We're assuming this is why Australia did not send a delegate to the conference this year.

They are a county in mourning, rather than protest.

Absolutely.

Because we are well aware that some of our members of the Asian-Pacific nations are not entirely comfortable with the inclusion of China at this forum this year.

On the contrary, Minister Chen, we need China in this discussion.

Given that much of the framework is about counterfeit issues.

We a... want to see some progress there.

It's a little warm today isn't it?

It's quite pleasant.

Warm to me.

I usually run cool.

Our we speaking in metaphors?

Ahh... what?

If that is the case, Mr. Vice President, let me remind you that a fish rots from the head.

Please, don't say that.

I thought you had this idiom: the fish rots from the head?

Please.

Just as the top part of the fish rots...

(throws up)

I'm so sorry.

We need medical...

There's something wrong...

(groans)

♪ We haven't done that in a longest time ♪
♪ Once, I thought that our free-trade was gone ♪
♪ Whoo-ee-oooh. Now, I know that Congress must go on ♪
♪ Ahhh. So, grab your iPhone. But promise that it's not a clone ♪
♪ And we won't see one for the longest time ♪
♪ Woah-oooh-ooh. Yeah ♪
♪ For the longest time ♪
♪ Time. Woah-ooh-oh. For the longest... ♪
♪ For the longest time ♪

That's as far as I got.

Madam Secretary?

I'm so sorry. I was hoping this was the part where I wake up.

It's the first draft and you know it will sound a lot better when you do it.

Mmm.

Of course, you'll have some of the staff backing you up.

I know it's cheesy.

But the Pacific Rim Economic Forum is important and the delegates love the talent show aspect.

The hosting country always performs.

Look it would be bad form to skip it.

And it really comes down to the Cambodians.

They're the swing vote on the Trans-Pacific agreement and they are huge fans of Billy Joel.

Oh... that's good... here's the thing.

I don't sing.

I mean a little bit in the shower, you know, here and there.

Do you guys sing?

Yeah... I do.

College, acapela.

Resume builder.

Madam Secretary. The whole thing is ludicrous.

But it has a lot more diplomatic importance that you might think.

(sighs) Just... tell me I have time in my schedule to work on this.

Oh, no ma'am.

But, I'm certain Daisy has a plan.

I'm sure you're better than you think.

That's your plan?

Well, she's right. If you can speak you can sing.

Unless, you're tone deaf or something.

I'm sure you're not. That's like 2 percent of the population.

Excuse me, ma'am, the Vice President has been taken to the hospital.

Following an incident on the golf course with the Pan-Asian delegation.

Flu-like symptoms. He'll be under going tests.

His condition is stable and they'll keep us informed.

Flu-like symptoms?

That sounds contagious.

Madam Secretary, you're going to be great.

E.M Forster said if I had to choose between betraying my friend or my country.

I hope I would have the courage to betray my country.

Anybody want to expand on that?

It demonstrates his distrust... of larger institutions.

As an outsider.

How an outsider?

Gay, in England at the turn of the century?

Okay, so you're suggesting that his outsider status gave him a unique perspective on nationalism, but does this statement make him unpatriotic?

Yes.

Why?

The point of serving your country is, you put the greater good ahead of the individual.

Okay, Ivan.

Okay, but what about fighting for your buddy in the foxhole?

I feel like that might be more of an American concept.

Well, I-I disagree.

All of those soldiers fighting shoeless and without weapons on the Russian front in World w*r II were not serving the common good.

They were being forced into the battle, and they did it...

(phone buzzing)

...to keep themselves and their families from going to prison.

Ivan: That's an oversimplification, and you can't reduce Russian patriotism to that.

It took real idealism to defeat h*tler. _

And the Russian Army almost accomplished that single-handedly.

(loud, overlapping chatter)

All right. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.

(whistles)

Reign it in. Reign it in.

Uh, who won World w*r II is an entirely different class, and I don't teach it, thank God.

Uh, so let's talk for a minute about the ethical role of the individual in a commonwealth.

Sorry to call you in on such short notice.

We like to give more of a heads-up as a rule.

I'm Jane Fellows. I'll be your you main contact at DIA.

This is Cooper Ralston, Perry Thomas.

Hi.

How are you?

Hello.

Have a seat.

This is one of our safe houses.

It's smarter for you not to come to the office.

Uh, you look a little thrown.

I was told General Sarno briefed you on how this would work once you joined the faculty at the w*r College.

I was informed there'd be some overlap with DIA, but that's it.

Occupational hazard, being stingy with information.

I'm sorry about that.

Uh, getting right to the point, we have an eye on one of your students.

Ivan Kolashkov. Do you know him?

Yes, of course. He's in my m*llitary Ethics class.

He's training to serve under General Doroshevich, one of the highest-ranking members of the Russian m*llitary, and a close advisor to President Ostrov.

I believe that all the Russian students in my classes are under his direction.

Yes. But we like Ivan.

He seems pretty steadfast in his nationalism.

Good.

Observe and assess him. We need a basic psychological profile, character analysis.

What are you looking for?

To see whether or not he can be an asset for us.

We feel we could redirect all that fiery patriotism.

Do you want to let me in on the idea?

He's a closet h*m*.

Russian m*llitary takes a dim view of it.

Mean the end of his career, possible prison time.

What do you need me for?

There are other criteria to consider.

Uh, you're familiar with the checklist of intelligence modalities?

Inter and intra personal skills, situational awareness, so on?

So, you want me to tee him up so you can blackmail him?

All while teaching m*llitary Ethics.

(sighs)

National security is a vast network, and it's all part of the same fabric, Dr. McCord, but... you know that.

It's a corrupt government which forces him into the shadows.

Let's start there, or maybe you're squeamish because you're still new at this and thinking about the person, and not the politics.

But Russia continues to be our next real nuclear thr*at, and he's a very ambitious officer in their army.

No matter how cuddly he might seem in your classroom.

Perry, is it?

I think it's best we don't talk.

(sighs)

Just get to know your student, Dr. McCord.

Tell us what you think, that's all.

Man (on TV): The White House released a statement saying that Delgado is undergoing emergency gallbladder surgery.

The VP reportedly collapsed...

I didn't know gallbladder could have an emergency.

Well, it can if it's inside the Vice President of the United States.

Hey, one of you guys needs to sign this paper proving that I showed it to you.

Good morning.

Morning.

Why?

Oh, 'cause I got a "C", and they think I'm gonna hide it.

They don't have the honor code in public school like the Quakers did, so, they just assume you're a liar.

No.

Why did you get a "C" on your paper?

Because he's an average student.

Jason: Wrong again.

Does that ever get boring?

Oh, Jace, this is civics.

I thought you liked this class.

I do, which is why I threw myself passionately into the assignment.

Write about an American who has a positive influence on society.

I chose Erica James, The Washington Chronicle journalist who's in prison for not revealing her sources.

Well, maybe your teacher wasn't looking for, you know, a convicted criminal.

You mean like Rosa Parks?

Nice.

Mr. Crider said that being in prison actually prevents Erica James from contributing to society in a positive way, so, he, uh, gave me a "C""

Come on, Jace.

I mean, it's an admirable point, but you had to know you were poking the bear.

Okay.

So, what, civil disobedience isn't important?

Elizabeth: Well, it is.

And it will often get you a "C" in your civics class.

Henry: Yeah.

I have some good news.

School elections were held yesterday, and I was elected Peer Mediator.

Wow.

That's cool.

What... what is that?

That's like...

She gets to be the keeper of the talking stick.

Oh, like round-table discussions?

Yeah, but with a stick that tells you when to talk.

It's part of a program at school they call Life Skills, something you'll never know about.

So you're like a student counselor.

No, mediator.

Nora Trilling got Peer Counselor.

Oh.

Well, that's great.

Try to tone down the excitement.

Elizabeth: No, no, no, we are.

We just... We didn't have those kind of things at our school.

We had Sergeants-at-Arms, which probably not very Quaker.

Well, it's kind of a big deal, and I'm happy about it.

That's all that matters.

Hey, you know, before I get out of here, just one quick question.

Um... (laughs)

I can sing, right?

I mean, a little.

Like, I'm not... I'm not awful, right?

Are you kidding me? Those Beach Boys songs you sing in the shower... you k*ll it every time.

I mean the good kind of k*ll, not the...

Well, because there's this sort of silly thing at work, but I...

Mom, you're tone deaf.

What?!

What?!

Yeah. S-Sorry.

(alarm sounds, phone buzzes)

But that's like... two percent of the population.

Henry: You sound great to me. _

(sighs): Oh.

I have to go.

I love you.

Alison: Love you. Sorry.

Bye.

I love your singing.

You know, Dad, it's cruel to lie to her.

I heard that.

♪

Elizabeth: Morning. I heard about the vice president... is he okay?

Yeah, as far as I know.

He's being prepped for surgery.

That's not what you're here about.

What, then?

Air Force One is missing.

What do you mean?

We lost all communication somewhere over the Pacific... we can't find it.

When did we last make contact?

Half an hour ago, then they suddenly went offline.

They're out of radar range, so we have no idea what happened.

Where are we?

We're scrambling the F-*5's out of Hickam Field in Honolulu.

They're about two hours out of making visual contact.

All communication's down.

What could knock all that out?

Nothing, ma'am.

Obviously something.

A cyber att*ck... hijackers who knew what they were doing.

All due respect, the communications system on Air Force One is the most sophisticated in the world.

It's got firewalls in front of firewalls, and every kind of backup you can imagine.

All of it is designed so that this cannot happen.

And yet this has happened.

Then the plane has crashed.

There's no evidence of that.

(sighs)

Elizabeth: How long can we expect to control intelligence around this?

I mean, there's dozens of reporters on that plane who've suddenly gone dark?

We've reached out to their editors, told them the Wi-Fi is temporarily down.

They've agreed not to report it, but I don't know for how long.

The Pentagon has taken us to DEFCON 3.

And I think we should consider the decapitation strike scenario.

Someone is trying to take down the top tier of our government in one swoop.

It's being considered.

The president and the vice president suddenly out of commission at the same time?

That's why it's being considered!

Sir, I think it's time to discuss the line of succession.

Are we at worst-case scenario?

Whatever's going on, we need an acting president.

Has anyone reached out to the Speaker of the House yet?

He's on Air Force One.

He and the prime minister were college buddies, so he went to the funeral.

Was his itinerary public knowledge?

There was no reason to hide it.

Okay, let's convene the National Security Council, get the Chief Justice down here.

Pro Tempore of the Senate is next in line.

(low, indistinct conversation)

Elizabeth... do you know the Chief Justice?

Madam Secretary.

Yes, I...

I actually took your constitutional law class at UVA.

(chuckles)

(whispers): I got an "A."

(whispers): I remember.

Madam Secretary, excuse me.

I was hoping to come by and bid my farewell today, so I'll just do that now. Heck of a way to spend my last day as National Security Advisor.

What do you mean? You're resigning?

Yes. I gave my notice last week.

You must have heard.

I had no idea that it was official.

Afraid so.

My wife has some health issues.

I'm very sorry to hear that.

Thank you.

It's been a pleasure to serve.

Senator Gates and his staff are here.

Well, it's been some time since I found myself in this room.

Senator Gates, you are, uh, familiar with the members of the National Security Council?

Oh, yes, yes, of course.

Yes, yes, uh, very, very unfortunate circumstances that we have to meet under.

Uh, do we have any news?

No. We are still out of communication with Air Force One, but measures are being taken to upgrade the status.

Oh, well, I guess in the meantime, then, we need an acting president, mm-hmm.

In accordance with the Succession Act of 1947, that would be you, Senator.

Right, well, then, uh... let's proceed, shall we?

The Chief Justice will administer the oath.

Uh, oh, here.

It's a formality, but you will also need to resign your position in the senate.

(chuckles): Uh, n... no way.

No, I never agreed to that, mm-mm.

No, no, no, it's-it's, uh, just protocol.

You'll resume your seat once the president returns.

Mm.

Oh, all right, right. The president will come back.

(chuckles) I mean, he survived one assassination attempt.

He's hard to k*ll. Hm.

Wh... What do you mean, Senator?

What do you think I mean? Talking about that Charles Manson lady.

Tried to sh**t him.

Well, that was President Ford.

Ah. Of course, you're right.

I meant Hinckley.

Where do I sign?

Um... actually, Senator, Mm-hmm?

I-I believe it is also protocol... you have to state the... full name of the current president.

For the record.

Of course. Sure.

Ronald Wilson Reagan.

I'm sorry.

Could we ask the senator to... step outside Hmm? just for a moment wh-while we prepare?

Is that all right?

That's fine.

Thank you.

Sure.

(whispers): What the hell?

Senator Gates had a series of mini strokes a few months ago, but we are working diligently to get him through his final term.

He has his good days and his bad days.

But basically, he's incompetent?

To take the oath of office for president?

Probably.

Then I think we have to go to the next in line.

That would be the Secretary of State.

Chief Justice: Madam Secretary, if you will place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand... and repeat after me.

♪

I, Elizabeth Adams McCord, do solemnly swear...

I, Elizabeth Adams McCord, do solemnly swear... that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States... that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States... and will to the best of my ability... and will to the best of my ability... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

...preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Good luck, ma'am.

(sighs) Thank you.

♪

Harrison: You know what I'm thinking?

Room service.

That's... not where I was gonna go.

Omelets and... and home fries and a... glutenous chocolate something.

(laughs)

Mmm.

I actually have to go to work.

That's too bad... I ordered it when you were in the bathroom.

What?

Mm-hmm.

You're gonna have to eat it alone, then.

I'm sorry... I have to go.

Come on.

I'm gonna be late.

You're an intern... it's not like you can get fired.

So, um, what does your dad think about all these mysterious and very expensive hotel charges on your credit card?

I think you'll be surprised to learn... the President of the United States of America doesn't do his own bookkeeping.

Really?

Yeah.

Wow. Um... but someone is, like, gonna say something eventually.

Right?

If they do, we'll deal with it then.

Okay.

Looks like it's going to rain.

Can I borrow your jacket?

Yeah.

Looks better on you, anyway.

Aw.

God, I remember this thing.

(laughs softly)

It's, like, falling apart.

You've had this since high school.

Look at this... there's rips everywhere.

It's vintage.

Okay.

You keep making fun of it...

(laughs) and I'm gonna take it back.

No! That's not fair!

Mm-hmm.

You said I could have it.

(laughs)

Uh... crap.

Harrison...

That, uh, it's not what you think.

Really? Because I think it's heroin.

You're supposed to be sober.

I am. I am sober.

It's-it's, um... it's an emergency stash.

I used to hide them in the lining of my coat, and I... I thought I got them all.

But I apparently... didn't.

Uh...

Come on.

You got to believe me. Uh...

It's an old junkie trick.

You can ask anyone.

I don't know any other junkies.

I'm not using, okay?

I swear to God.

(knocking)

(sighs) It's room service.

Just a minute!

Agent: Mr. Dalton, White House Secret Service.

(mouthing)

Hang on!

Agent: Sir, we have to take you in.

Harrison: What's going on?

We have a situation. Finish getting dressed.

We'll brief you on the way.

We need to get you to a secure location.

You, too, Ms. McCord.

Um, I have to get to work.

I'm sorry, you're coming with us.

♪

(sighs)

Have a seat.

Give me a moment.

Ma'am, can I get you anything?

She's fine, thanks, Lucy.

Really?

We don't have time for you to get comfortable, Bess.

Oh, there's no danger of that.

But I would love a cup of coffee.

Of course.

The jets are an hour away from being within radar range of Air Force One.

We'll be able to determine if it's on a prerecorded flight path.

If so, they'll try to get close enough for a visual.

Excuse me. Madam President's former staff is here.

We'll be with them shortly.

And, Lucy, you don't have to call her that.

Lucy: Sorry, sir.

The protocol is confusing.

Tell me about it. Send Colonel Preston in, please.

(door closes)

If it's any consolation, I'm not enjoying this.

In addition to everything else, one of my oldest friends might be dead.

Why don't we get through it with as little snark as possible.

Sorry, Bess. You're right.

Henry: Hi, guys. May I join you?

Yes.

Thanks.

I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

Ivan was just lecturing me on the Ukraine, his favorite pastime.

I'm simply making the point that the Russian involvement in the Ukraine, if there were any, is no different than the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.

So the economic sanctions implemented against us is quite hypocritical.

No offense.

Henry: Nobody asked my opinion about taking action in either one of those disputes.

The world is a safer place if we stand united against those splinter group who have more firepower than philosophy.

Very poetic.

Well, sorry to bore you and rush off, but, uh, Russia is playing Brazil.

We will get creamed.

(chuckles)

But still.

(chuckling): Good luck.

You're not a soccer fan, Dmitri?

I prefer American football.

Don't tell anyone.

Ivan is pretty outspoken about the situation in Ukraine.

Well, that and anything else.

Uh, he was... he was raised in politics. His family are high-ranking officials in the Kremlin.

Aren't you from a m*llitary family?

Oh, yes, but my father was just an Army field sergeant.

He d*ed in the Chechen conflict.

Then there was my Georgian grandfather.

Were you close with him?

I found his stories amusing.

This is the Football. It's a remote device that can authorize a nuclear att*ck in the unlikely event that we are required to do that.

This is the Biscuit. It's an authenticator card containing all the launching codes.

That stays with you.

The Football stays with the colonel, who is never far away.

Thank you, Colonel.

I hope we never work together.

My hope as well, ma'am.

(door opens)

Until further notice, everything that's happening here is classified.

Of course.

When order is restored, we'll... figure out how to report it.

In the meantime, we have to be able to trust your staff.

Well, I don't have any concerns there.

Well, give them as little as possible.

No mention of a decapitation strike.

As far as we're concerned, it's a perfect storm of bad luck.

And when equilibrium is restored and I have my old job back, I'll give you my list of candidates for National Security Advisor.

You neglected to tell me Darren is resigning.

Ah, sorry.

His wife has... health issues.

So he said.

Is there some... reason why I was kept out of the loop?

We were hoping to change his mind.

This really can wait. I-I should get back to the Sit Room.

Of course.

It goes without saying, but you are just warming that chair.

Absolutely.

Call if you need anything.

Can you send them in?

My staff.

Sure.

Would you like this closed, ma'am?

Uh, yes, please.

You better sit down.

(birds chirping)

(ducks quacking)

Excuse me, Dr. McCord.

Is my wife okay?

The secretary's fine, but you need to come with us, sir.

This way.

I'll get started on your statement, Madam President.

No statements.

We're going with no comment, Madam President?

Please stop saying "Madam President."

I can't.

Please try.

Now, the only thing that we are on record about is that the Wi-Fi is down on Air Force One.

I mean, obviously we are in communication with the president.

Daisy: So lie?

Yes, lie.

In the interest of national security.

You can imagine how the stock market alone would react to the news, "We've misplaced the president."

Um, should I inform the deputy secretary, Madam President?

I had to say it once.

(sighs) Yes, but just... say I was called to the White House.

Okay, are we assuming something catastrophic has happened?

I mean, is the president dead?

Are we under att*ck?

We're not assuming anything.

Don't speculate.

We'll know better in a couple of hours.

Is there anything in my actual office that needs my immediate attention?

Uh, Madam...

Acting President?

That's fine.

I'm sorry to bring this up, but there is one pressing event on your calendar today.

(sighs)

The P.R.E.F. talent show.

So we will have to provide a plausible explanation for canceling.

No, we can't cancel.

We can't change anything.

We have to keep her agenda exactly the same if we want to avoid global panic.

He's right.

Okay.

But in the interest of full disclosure, I did some research, and apparently I'm the two percent.

Jay: Considering our situation, ma'am, there's no way that your singing could be worse than your not singing.

I think it'll be a photo finish.

But I'm willing to take the b*llet.

We need this trade agreement to go through.

Okay, if you guys really want to help, then you will focus on this and make it really good. In the interest of national security, you won't let me humiliate myself.

That's all. Thank you.

Your family's here.

We're taking them to the Emergency Ops Center in the basement of the East Wing.

It's protocol until we know what's happening with the president.

Can I see them?

Yeah. Make it fast.

There's something, uh, you need to know first.

And it's awkward.

(sighs)

Mmm.

You doing okay?

I have no idea.

Any update?

Not yet.

Listen, did they tell you about Stevie?

Yeah, she's here with Alison and Jason.

When they found her, she was with Harrison.

In a hotel room.

(sighs) What are they thinking?

They're not. They're young.

That's not an excuse.

I know. But it's gonna have to be today.

Right. Yeah, you're right.

We got to be cool with her. We can't... wander into a big family argument.

Exactly. But...

You think I can't be cool?

With the other kids, absolutely.

You're Lou Reed.

But when it comes to Stevie...

What?

She pushes your buttons.

I don't have buttons.

Elizabeth.

Fine. Maybe she won't bring it up.

But if she does...

Lou Reed.

I need you.

Right. Think Velvet Underground.

Of c... Obviously. I got this.

Let's go.

(sighs) Our jets are five minutes away from Air Force One.

Radar has confirmed that the plane is on course, but there's still no word from anyone inside.

Working theory is that the cabin has depressurized.

Everyone on board could be dead.

It could be a ghost flight.

Autopilot will keep it going until it runs out of fuel.

Yeah, and becomes a b*mb somewhere over the mainland.

In that scenario, we need to handle it while it's over water.

Your first act as president might be to sh**t down Air Force One.

(indistinct chatter)

(door opens)

Ah, ah, ah.

Jackson: What have we got?

The jets are approaching.

They've made visual contact.

Pilot: I've got movement inside the cockpit.

Definitely somebody alive in there.

Is that Colonel Romano?

Affirmative, sir.

He's communicating through Morse code.

Communication... down.

Navigation okay.

A-S-A-F.

A-S-A-F.

All souls accounted for.

Jackson: How do we know he doesn't have a g*n to his head?

That last sentence is code, sir.

He wouldn't have used it if he had been in distress.

We're clear.

Ma'am, I'd like to recommend landing at Hickam Field.

The F-15s can escort them.

Good.

I want a completely secure hangar.

And then we're gonna take that plane apart, piece by piece, until we've found out whatever caused this.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Bess, your tenure holds until we're back in direct communication with the president.

Understood.

Nobody's breathing easy until that plane touches down.

Alison: Can't you give us any idea?

They just said security concerns.

Well, if it were nuclear, we'd all be dead by now.

It's probably just another 9/11.

Oh, no.

I-I didn't mean "just"...

Then don't say it, idiot.

I think we're okay, Noodle.

(chuckles)

By the way, he does know. He just can't tell us.

Hey, can I talk to you for a second?

Sure.

Okay, I know that they told you where they found me today.

Honey, it's your life.

You're an adult.

We can't interfere with who you decide to date.

Believe me, I learned my lesson there.

So... don't worry about it, okay?

(chuckles) We got enough going on today.

I'm really glad that you feel that way.

Um, I really need your help, actually.

I have heroin in my pocket.

You have what?

It fell out of the lining of Harrison's jacket.

And he swears that it was just an old stash that he had forgotten about.

And we were arguing about it when the Secret Service came in.

I panicked. I didn't know what to do.

I slipped it in my pocket. Now we're here.

I didn't have time to flush it...

Are you out of your mind?

In all the world, you choose an addict and not just any addict, the son of your mother's boss, who happens to be the President of the United States.

Dad...

This is the only guy for you?

You are gonna have to face the fact that something is compelling you to make the world's most irresponsible decisions.

It is wrong for you to date someone this early in recovery.

It's gonna hurt him, and it's gonna hurt you.

Can't you just get out of your own way for a change?

Get out of your mother's way.

Peer Mediator's looking pretty good now, huh?

Unemployment figures are coming out tomorrow, so I kept the president's morning pretty light.

How are the projections?

Good, but I never trust them.

I'm almost finished with the roster of Air Force One.

Are we contacting the families once they've touched down?

Uh, I can handle that.

One other question.

Why is Craig Sterling on board?

He was meeting with the president.

Do you know him?

He was at the defense department when I was at the CIA. Yeah, you could say that our paths crossed.

What do you make of him?

Nakedly ambitious, self-serving obstructionist, all suit and no substance.

But other than that, I'm a fan.

I know he's on the short list for national security advisor.

Not anymore.

He's accepted the position.

When?

Yesterday.

I can't believe Conrad would make that appointment without consulting with me.

That's his prerogative.

What's going on?

Is this some kind of reelection strategy?

That's not the kind of decision you shut the secretary of state out of.

Don't be paranoid.

The NSA is practically my counterpart on matters of foreign policy.

He can't just force that decision on me.

The President of the United States can do whatever the hell he wants.

(sighs)

(laughs softly)

You know what? You're absolutely right.

You can go now.

Excuse me?

Go. Now.

The pardon attorney says everything is in order and that the president needs to sign in just these two places.

And the papers don't have to be processed?

No, ma'am.

He says the minute the signature is confirmed, it's a simple phone call.

Erica James will be released from prison.

And the order cannot be revoked?

No, ma'am. It's an official presidential pardon.

Your journalist will be home for dinner.

Great.

For what it's worth, I applaud this action, ma'am.

Thank you, Lucy.

Well, it's reassuring to know you don't knock on the president's door, either.

He's touched down.

Everyone is okay.

Thank God.

I'll take care of this now, Madam President.

Madam Secretary.

Yes, sir.

The, uh, initial sweep of the plane didn't turn up anything.

NASA's reporting solar flares over that area. It's our best guess right now.

Thought that was impossible on Air Force One.

98%, which makes it more like highly improbable.

Well, any idea on how we're gonna report on all this?

Working on a strategy now. So, uh... what business was that? With Lucy.

Oh, don't worry about it.

The president can do whatever the hell she wants.

But you're not...

But I was.

Henry: I don't think Ivan is your guy.

Why not?

There's something... unstable in all that passionate rhetoric.

He's not a complex thinker.

I feel like his opinions are a mile wide and an inch deep.

Our team's been vetting him for a while now, and they feel differently.

I have someone better for you.

Dmitri Petrov.

It's been my observation that he has a better capacity for abstract thought, a more analytical mind.

He's quieter, more guarded, which means he's probably more discreet and disciplined.

But what's his weakness?

How can we get to him?

His father d*ed in Chechnya.

I sense some inner conflict around that.

And his grandfather was Georgian.

So there's a foundation of counter-nationalism in his background I think we could cultivate.

It's a better way to go than just blackmailing someone because of their sexuality.

And I know you guys like to exploit people's secrets, but I think it's an unreliable, not to mention heinous, approach.

You asked.

That's my analysis.

Mm.

Then I want you to bring him in.

You mean recruit him?

And be his handler.

What? No, wait... No. I-I have no experience with that.

I wouldn't have signed up for it.

Henry, we need this.

We believe you're the guy to do it.

(indistinct conversations)

The president's arrived.

Elizabeth.

It's nice to have you back, Mr. President.

I wanted to thank you for minding the store.

My pleasure. Well... not really that, so much.

I'm thrilled to relinquish the post.

I saw your presidential pardon.

I saw your national security advisor appointment.

All right. I'll give you that.

Erica James really did need to be released.

Craig Sterling really is the right man for the job.

Mm.

I'm sorry I couldn't let you in on the discussion, but... I know you two have history and I couldn't get bogged down.

With the secretary of state's opinion?

I needed to make a move.

Then I will do my best to work with him.

Wanted to let you know that, uh, we released a statement to the press.

We admitted to the communications failure and the world knows that you were on the desk for a few hours.

Ah.

As usual, your approval rating is higher than mine.

Well... we have a long road ahead of us.

I could t*nk at any time.

Like in about five minutes.

Break a leg.

(exhales heavily)

(inhales deeply)

So, you're... kind of a funny color.

Are you okay?

I haven't fainted in the longest time. What does it feel like?

Let's find you some private space.

Madam Secretary, could...

Oh, this doesn't look good.

Madam Secretary, you okay?

Yup, I am. I am okay.

Just need to take a look at those lyrics.

Let's do this.

How much time do I have?

Nadine: Ten minutes.

Or as long as you need.

Mm. Okay. Okay.

(humming a tune hoarsely)

(humming, grunting)

I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't.

Blake: Okay, all right, here we go.

Nadine: Oh, okay, okay, okay.

Okay, it's all right, it's all right.

We have a contingency plan.

What is it?

You're looking at it.

♪ If you said good-bye ♪
♪ To me tonight ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ There would still be ♪
♪ Policy to write ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪
♪ We'd be the greatest pair if we could just ♪
♪ Agree on tariffs ♪
♪ We haven't done that ♪
♪ For the longest time ♪

Daisy: ♪ 60% ♪
♪ Of global GDP ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ That's what we bring ♪
♪ To world economy ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪
♪ There's so much to gain ♪
♪ Say we can create supply chains ♪
♪ That hasn't happened ♪
♪ For the longest time ♪
♪ Maybe market access ♪
♪ Will be fair ♪
♪ Ooh, ah, ooh, ah ♪
♪ We'll get along ♪
♪ We'll get our share ♪
♪ Skilled migration ♪
♪ Visas will be free ♪
♪ Some flexibility ♪
♪ Is all that we ask for ♪
♪ Oh, what Trans-Pacific ♪
♪ Partners we will be ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Sharing food ♪
♪ And our technology ♪
♪ Say deregulation ♪
♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪
♪ We'll be your most favored nation ♪

(laughter)

♪ We haven't been that ♪
♪ For the longest time ♪
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ For the longest ♪
♪ For the longest time ♪
♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ For the longest ♪
♪ For the longest time. ♪

(whoops)

(mouthing)

All right, so...

(door opens)

Elizabeth: Good night, you guys.

Oh, look, oh, there she is.

Alison: Aah!

Oh, my God, you were president?

How could you not tell us?

Slipped my mind.

Seriously, what was that like?

It was exhausting.

Well, forget that. What was the song like?

I'll tell you about it later. How did it go with...

Great.

Okay, good.

Listen, I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed.

Jace, tell your teacher you're getting an "A".

Alison: Good night.

Erica James is coming home.

(phone beeps)

No.

Yes.

Sorry.

I know you've had a rough day.

Well, we all have.

But you need to be up to speed on the situation.

We got the test results back on the vice president.

No foul play.

He's fine.

That can't be why you called me in.

Come in.

Elizabeth, you know Craig Sterling.

Madam Secretary. It's been a few years.

Congratulations on your appointment.

Pretty sure I wasn't first on your list.

Why don't you tell Elizabeth what we know so far about Air Force One.

The system malfunction wasn't a solar flare.

They found a piece of malware on the plane... an incredibly sophisticated virus that knocked out every communication device.

This took planning, resources and engineering.

It couldn't have been a single actor.

There had to be a major power behind it.

This was an act of w*r.