Before we return to the mat
for our next down dog,
lets take a nice juicy
breath here in warrior two.
Mm... ah...
In the hustle and bustle of life,
it is so easy to forget
what really matters,
what's essential.
And nothing is more
essential than breathing.
- Shut up.
- (TV muted)
NEWS ANCHOR (on laptop): Senator
Morejon, if your colleagues
and President Dalton can't
come to some agreement
on the budget, there will be
a partial shutdown
of the federal government
in a matter of days.
Tens of thousands of employees
will be furloughed,
and many important government
services will be reduced
or halted altogether.
Tell us why that would be
necessary, in your opinion.
CARLOS (on laptop):
Look, no one wants a shutdown,
least of all me, but the hard fact is,
President Dalton is a spending addict.
And, like any addict,
he needs an intervention.
- Shut up.
- (laptop shuts off)
- Looks relaxing.
- (grunts)
I'm multitasking.
Women are famous for it.
How's the meeting prep going?
I'm numbing my feelings
with unhealthy substances.
Men are famous for it.
Oh, that sounds like a lot more fun.
- You want to talk about it?
- There's no good way to spin it.
What am I gonna say?
"Hey, Director Haymond,
"you know that Russian kid
I stuck my neck out for?
Turns out he's got a
drug problem. Whoops."
On the other hand,
Dmitri fooled a series
of trained interrogators.
You can't say he's not a good spy.
Haymond doesn't strike me as
a "glass half full" kind of guy.
Well, he knows how messy
intelligence work can be.
He'll appreciate you taking it to him,
handling it like a grown-up.
That, or he'll bounce Dmitri
out of the Agency,
- and me along with him.
- More time to spend with the kids.
You're really looking at the
bright side this morning, huh?
Well, it beats brooding
over the fact that this creep
wants to gut my department.
Even if POTUS doesn't let him,
I'll still probably have to furlough
thousands of employees.
Critical work all over
the globe will go undone,
raising the likelihood of an
otherwise preventable disaster
by, like, a thousand percent.
Plus, I hate his dumb, stupid face.
Well, at least you're
handling it like a grown-up.
- (laughs)
- Hang in there.
Yeah, you, too. I got to get dressed.
- Call me after, will you?
- Yeah.
Hey, that's...
We all have feelings we have to eat.
NADINE: I'm still
gathering recommendations
from all departments, desks,
embassies and consulates
on non-essential
personnel to be furloughed
in the event of a shutdown.
- That's fun.
- Oh, you have no idea.
You know, all I can do
is follow the guidelines
of the Office of Management and Budget,
but people here are acting like I'm
the great and powerful Oz.
And I... Sorry.
I will have a final
report to you shortly.
- Okay.
- Um...
oh, also, I had to move Daisy's
baby shower up to tomorrow.
That's good... with
the shutdown looming,
I think it's better sooner than later.
That's what I thought.
There'll be cake,
uh, champagne and sparkling cider.
Oh, sparkling cider,
the carob chips of beverages.
- Gifts?
- (chuckles)
Uh, individual gifts are welcome,
but we are pitching in
to get her a crib.
I invite you
- to only $ .
- Noted.
Hey, there's not gonna be
any baby games, are there?
No. You think Daisy likes games?
Deep down, it's my
conviction that nobody
normal likes baby shower games.
I mean, don't get me wrong,
I like a good baby shower
just like anybody else,
but I just can't stand
- all the... frippery.
- Excellent word choice, ma'am.
- ELIZABETH: I thought so.
- Good morning, ma'am.
- Good morning.
- Jay is in your office,
- ready to brief you on the overnight developments.
- Oh, good.
Oh, and regarding Daisy's shower,
I have some pretty lively
recommendations for games
- that I think would be...
- She hates games.
- Oh, uh...
- We all do.
- But...
- ELIZABETH: I want to start
with the riots
at the refugee camp in Lebanon.
Regarding the -some-thousand
Syrian refugees packed into this camp
in the northern Bekaa Valley
that's designed for
about half that number,
tensions have been brewing,
and last night they boiled over.
We have people on the ground there, right?
Yes, ma'am. There's a team
charged with bringing electricity
to the camp, and they're fine.
From what I've read, it sounds like
lack of electricity is what's
underlying most of the issues
that led to the riot.
JAY: The whole place
runs on generators,
and fuel is expensive,
so it's dark at night.
Then the criminals come out.
Yeah, then the women are
terrified to leave the tent
and go to the bathroom,
which contributes
to unsafe sanitation practices,
which leads to cholera.
Have they had an outbreak yet?
Not yet, but it's a matter of time.
Thousands of people crammed into a camp
where not one feels secure.
It's... It's a powder keg.
ELIZABETH: So is Lebanon.
If this camp melts down,
whether it's due to disease outbreak
or jihadis exploiting
the people's discontent,
it wouldn't take much for
the whole country to blow up.
The last thing we need
is another civil w*r
in the Middle East.
I want to talk to the
project manager on the ground.
Let's get those lights turned on.
And don't tell me
that they'll be furloughed
if there's a shutdown.
They are contractors,
and, under the guidelines,
their activities
are considered non-essential.
Unbelievable.
Deadline for budget negotiations
is end of day tomorrow.
After that, we're most
likely in shutdown mode.
Well, then, we'd better work fast.
So, what, exactly, do we do in there?
Well, I take notes from Russell.
You just sit quietly
until he or I need anything.
I can do that.
Also, pretend to take notes,
but really be watching
Morejon and his staffers.
See how they're reacting,
write down your impressions.
Russell might quiz you later.
Wait, what? Oh, man.
Look, I get it.
You're in the room
everybody in the country
is talking about.
You want to do a good job.
It's nerve-racking.
But your biggest asset in there is that
nobody thinks you matter.
Got it?
That's oddly reassuring. Thanks.
DALTON: Good morning, everyone.
- (all greeting)
- Please be seated.
(clears throat)
Let me start by saying that
as much as we may disagree,
we owe it to the American people
to negotiate in good faith.
I'm hoping we can do that this morning.
With that in mind, have you, uh,
had the opportunity to
review our latest proposal?
We have indeed. Mm-hmm.
A new auditing mechanism
for the Pentagon?
Everyone in this room knows that
that is a political non-starter.
RUSSELL: They also know
that if you really want
to achieve significant
long-term savings,
DoD's the place to start.
No-bid, cost-plus contracts
for multibillion-dollar
weapons systems the generals
aren't even asking for?
I mean, come on, members
of your own caucus
have complained about this for years.
If we tackle this together,
I'm confident
that we can get the deficit
reductions you want
and the clean
continuing resolution I want.
With all due respect, Mr. President,
I just don't see much
here to move the needle.
Well, Senator,
for the sake of the American people,
I would encourage you to look harder.
HUGH: I am not going
to lie to you, Henry,
- this looks pretty bad.
- And I take full responsibility.
You understand a breach of
this kind is a f*ring offense.
I do.
But Dmitri was honest with me,
and that speaks well of him...
all things considered.
And, obviously,
he's an invaluable resource
to our intelligence community.
Arguably, he won a w*r for us.
And, as you know,
we're trying to thwart Russia's efforts
in Afghanistan... he'll be
an important player in that.
First we arm the mujahideen
to fight the Russians,
now the Russians are
arming them to fight us.
(sighs)
It's a hell of a business we're in.
So, where's Petrov now?
I ordered him to stay at home.
I'm having him call in sick
until we figure out our next steps.
Well, here's the dirty little
secret that no one
in the spy game wants to admit:
this job takes a toll.
You can ask any of my ex-wives.
We have contingencies
for cases like Petrov's.
I can get him a bed in a facility
not far from here... very discreet.
We'll get him cleaned up
and assess from there.
Thank you.
We'll keep this between us.
You just come up with
some plausible reason
he'll have to be off the
job for a few weeks.
- Will do.
- But, Henry,
if Petrov's issues
come back to haunt us,
I-if he compromises
American security in any way...
It's on me.
I understand.
MATT: Oh, hi.
I'm not allowed to talk about it.
Of course not. Officially.
But a heads-up among friends...
It's mostly not even up to me.
The OMB has set out
strict guidelines...
Mostly not up to you.
Which means there's a teeny
bit that is up to you.
I can work with that.
No, no, no! I don't like lemon.
Okay.
Matt, Daisy, I am really sorry,
but my hands are tied
by these guidelines.
The best thing that could
happen for all of us...
and by "us" I mean the United States,
would be to avert
this shutdown altogether.
Yep, that's what you say to somebody
- who's about to get furloughed.
- Nadine...
there's a personal call
for you on CONVYD.
Not a moment too soon.
Who is it?
Your son, Roman.
Oh. Thanks.
Wait, so Nadine and her son
are talking again?
How should I know?
Though I should probably call my mom,
'cause I'm gonna have to
move back in with her.
Uh...
- Hey, Mom.
- Hi, Roman. Hello, Shindy.
- Hi, Nadine.
- Well,
this is a nice surprise...
ROMAN: Well, speaking of surprises,
I'm glad you're sitting down because...
you're gonna be a grandma!
(laughs): Real...
Oh, well... Oh,
that's wonderful.
Oh, God, Shindy, how far along are you?
Four months.
I'm just so happy for both of you.
But, Mom, we were also calling
because we actually need
- a little favor.
- Oh, okay.
ELIZABETH: So, what are the odds
of getting the camp hooked up
to the Lebanese power
grid in two days' time?
Frankly, ma'am, not good at all.
We've done our part.
The camp is good to go.
But the Lebanese
government didn't calculate
the capacity issues
correctly, and their grid
is overtaxed as it is.
We're trying to resolve the problem,
but the bureaucracy here is
fairly challenging.
It's a complete nightmare.
Well, I'll speak to
the Lebanese government
at the highest level
and see if I can't get this
straightened out for you.
I appreciate that, ma'am.
My team and I are willing to stay
until the mission is complete.
Even if there is a shutdown in D.C.
Well, that is noble of you, Valerie,
but I don't think that'll be possible.
Permission to speak freely, ma'am.
Go ahead.
I started out in the Army Corps
of Engineers.
Did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.
I noticed you received a
commendation for your service.
Yeah.
For building schools that
stayed empty in Kandahar
until they were blown
up by the Taliban.
Clinics in Fallujah with
no doctors 'cause the money
got siphoned off.
I got into this line of work
to help people, you know?
You wouldn't believe
what the folks around here
have been through.
In terms of engineering,
powering up this camp
is complicated but completely feasible.
It's just the politics;
it's always the politics.
Apologies, ma'am.
Long night.
No, no, I appreciate your candor.
I'm gonna do everything I
can to make this work.
Meanwhile... you and your team
stay safe, okay?
Will do, Madam Secretary.
The purpose of government
is to manage core issues,
not to create more government.
This out of control spending
is imperiling
our nation's future.
Our CR gives the
American people a signal
that we understand that.
DALTON: That's the problem
with this whole discussion, Senator.
You're talking about signals.
I'm talking about actual
people's lives.
Yes, Mr. President, you've been
moralizing at us all morning.
RUSSELL: Well, this has all been most
illuminating.
Let's circle back in the morning.
Thank you.
Any takeaways?
Besides the fact that
POTUS's proposal is DOA
and Morejon is even less likable
in real life than he is on TV.
Whenever Russell says
something is "illuminating,"
what he's really saying
is that he doesn't like
what's being illuminated.
Meaning?
Meaning he doesn't think
Morejon is negotiating in good faith.
If I were you, I'd start
calling some temp agencies.
You're gonna need another job soon.
(knock on door)
- Dr. McCord.
- Hi, Talia.
Uh, what are you doing here?
I'm looking for your brother.
He's not answering his phone.
You mean you don't know
where he is either?
Wait, what are you talking about?
When was the last time you saw him?
Two days ago.
Why didn't you call me?
He told me he was going away for work,
that it was secret
and that you knew about it.
He couldn't even bring his phone.
He left it in his room.
Are you telling me this isn't true?
He's not on a mission.
(speaks Russian) _
If he lied to both of us,
he could be sh**ting up
heroin somewhere.
I should have never let him
keep taking those pills.
I shouldn't have helped him get them.
- I...
- Stop it.
- This is not your fault.
- Of course it is.
Everything he did,
everything he endured
was for me.
Th-This is how I repay him.
- We'll find him, okay?
- How?
We can't track his phone.
We can't call the police.
He's been calling in sick
for work every day
just like I asked.
And believe it or not,
calling in sick to the
CIA is not so easy.
He's not using his own phone.
At the very least,
they'll have a record
of the phone he's been calling from.
We can start there.
I would love to be able to tell
you we could connect the camp
to our electrical grid
within a few days,
but, regrettably,
it's an impossible timeline.
The electrification project
has been going on
for six months, Mr. Ambassador.
This is Lebanon we're talking
about, Madam Secretary,
not Switzerland.
Well, how about you at least try?
So, you're browbeating me
for my government's dysfunction
while yours is about to shut down?
Fine. We're screwed up, too.
You got me.
Now can we talk about solutions?
It seems to me
you have two choices: buy
more time or buy more people.
Meaning figure out a way
to keep my team on the clock
or bribe the right guys in Lebanon.
Not me, of course. I...
want to help, Madam Secretary.
I'm just paying you the
respect of being honest.
Okay. More money.
See what I can do.
Thank you.
Well, it wasn't their mistake,
sir, it was your mistake,
so can you correct it or not?
All right, so your answer,
in so many words, is no.
Got it. Yes. Thank you so much.
Bad time?
I can come back.
No, it's fine. Please come in.
Lower yourself onto my couch.
(grunts)
My son, Roland, and his
girlfriend, Shindy,
are gonna have a baby.
- Hey, congratulations.
- Yeah. Thanks.
I'm actually really thrilled about it.
I'm just so annoyed
it doesn't show.
So, you and Roman are...
Talking again, yeah.
Yeah. Here and there.
He just told me about the baby today.
So, what was that call about?
They're relocating
to the Bay Area to have the baby.
Uh, Roman got a job offer there.
But apparently, Shindy's
name matches someone
on the no-fly list.
Well, doesn't sound
so hard to clear up.
But if I don't get this
resolved before the shutdown,
then, by the time the shutdown is over,
she may be too pregnant to fly.
- What are you gonna do about it?
- I'm gonna hump it over
to Homeland Security and
plead the case in person.
The things we do for love.
Anyway...
what's up?
So, um...
about the shutdown...
- Oy.
- I know, I know.
Just don't let them furlough me
because I'm pregnant, okay?
They won't say that's why,
but That'll be why.
You should be so lucky.
You could sue and
never have to work again.
Yeah, well, I want to work.
My career is important to me.
I mean, I'm just gonna take
a couple weeks of leave
and I'll be right back at it.
First of all, no, you won't.
Those first few weeks with the baby...
Are, like, super precious and magical,
so everyone keeps insisting.
Well, my experience was a little more
like the opening sequence
to Saving Private Ryan.
Way to sell it.
But you'll get through it.
And you will love that child so much,
you won't know what
to do with yourself.
That's what I'm afraid of,
losing myself.
My career, everything I've
worked for, just subsumed.
It's true. Things will change
and some things will fall away.
Drunken brunches, for example.
But then other things
will take their place,
other richer things.
That's how life works.
So take it while I can get
it is what you're saying.
That's my two cents.
Mr. President.
Just getting some fresh air.
Also contemplating
going back to smoking.
Wow. Budget negotiations
going that well, huh?
I've had more fun fighting off a snake
in a Vietnamese rice paddy.
But it's the job I signed up for.
So, Russell told me about your troubles
with the refugee camp in Lebanon.
Yeah. All we have to do
is turn on the lights.
We do that, most of the issues
inside the camp go away.
But if they fester, we could see
Sunni radicalization...
And in a country with such
a volatile mix of faiths...
wouldn't take much for the
whole place to blow up.
Sir, I remind you,
every single cabinet secretary
has trooped through here
asking special dispensation
for programs much closer to home.
He's right.
HHS, Veterans Affairs,
Education, Interior.
If the shutdown comes,
there's lots of Americans
are going to be hurting.
No, I understand, sir,
but we're just talking
about designating a few
contractors as essential.
And how would it look
when Morejon holds up
a picture of a sad,
furloughed park ranger next to
some Syrian refugee and asks,
"Who does Dalton care about more?"
All right, Russell, no need to pile on.
Try sitting across
from Morejon all day.
See what it does for your mood.
Look, Bess, I agree with you.
I mean, you'd think that
a little bit of money
or a little bit of extra time
for the team on the ground
wouldn't be too much to ask,
but... (sighs)
...today it is.
No, I understand, sir.
I'll find another way.
Well, we'd better
get back to it.
Give 'em hell, Conrad.
MAN: Look, Ms. Tolliver,
I'd love to help,
but these vetting protocols
are in place for a reason.
I can't just make an exception for you.
I'm not asking for special treatment.
I'm asking you to rectify
an obvious case
of mistaken identity.
But what if it isn't?
You mean what if
my son's -year-old girlfriend
is actually the -year-old
wife of a retired,
Burmese Army colonel with ties
to opium traffickers?
Uh, look, I'd have to review
the case more thoroughly.
By which time our
government may be shut down
for who knows how long, and meanwhile,
Myanmar has one of the highest
infant mortality rates
in Southeast Asia.
I don't make the rules.
It's been a pleasure, Ms. Tolliver.
(sighs)
Cute kids.
Huh? Oh, uh, thanks.
Madison and Hunter.
Mm-hmm.
You're gonna disappoint them.
What?
You don't believe me,
but you will.
And despite your best efforts,
they're going to resent you.
And that, Mr. Bryant,
will hurt more than you
can possibly imagine.
So much so that
in years, when Madison
or Hunter comes to you
and asks you for a favor,
you will embarrass yourself
doing anything you
possibly can to help them
as I am now.
This is the phone he called from?
According to Langley, yeah.
He could be anywhere.
What do we do now?
We find him.
Come on.
(door opens)
Help you?
Yeah, we have kind of an odd request.
We're looking for a missing
person. We think he might've
showed up on one of
your security cameras.
You think maybe we could
look at the footage?
Yeah, that's not happening.
Come on, man, this is really important.
So go get a warrant.
All right.
How much is a room?
Our presidential suite is bucks.
Here you go.
Now can we look at the tape?
_
You two looking for a Russian kid?
- Mitya?
- Alexander?
- Mitya?
- Are you in there?
- Mitya... _ - Hey, it's Henry.
Hi.
What do you mean, "Hi"?
Get inside. _
I'm clean. _
Oh, yeah, right. That's why
you're holed up in this dump.
I am clean, it's true.
Look, I knew I had to detox,
and the only way to do
that was to be alone.
So I came out here a
few days ago and...
I did it.
Did what?
I puked and cried
and I shivered and
watched a lot of bad TV,
but the point is, I'm better now.
You think the CIA's just gonna
take your word for that?
You think that's a thing
that's gonna happen?
If you want to keep your job,
you need to get your
stuff and come with us.
Hey, look, I-I will take
any drug test you want.
Look, I believe you're
clean right now, okay?
And I know that this started
because you had
some physical pain you
were trying to manage.
But the point isn't just to detox.
I'm a soldier.
I'm not gonna sit around in a circle
with a bunch of soft Americans
and talk about how my mother
didn't hug me enough.
- Although that's true. She didn't.
- Wha...?
- Talia!
- What?
She was a very withholding person.
It could be a factor.
Guys. Hey, guys.
Hey, can you work this out later?
I'm not an expert. Maybe
you have underlying issues
that drove you to addiction,
maybe you don't.
But right now Director Haymond
is getting you a bed in rehab.
A place where your line of
work won't be an issue.
I told you,
I handled it my way,
and I am clean now.
(sighs)
Can't you see that I am ashamed?
For what I have done
to you, to my sister? Please.
Please, it is better
for everyone if I can just...
if I can deal with this alone.
Alone and ashamed. That sounds
like a perfect emotional state
to stay sober.
Too bad for you, you're stuck with us.
Come on.
Let's go.
ELIZABETH: How many cases?
Just one so far.
And it's definitely cholera?
Yes, ma'am.
The clinic at the camp only
has power three hours a day.
I mean, they will never be able
to get it under control with that.
MATT: Good evening, ma'am.
- Matt.
- Sorry. I'm sorry.
Uh, I drafted some remarks,
in case of a shutdown.
Uh, an address
to the troops, if you will.
You know, a speech like
this could prove to be...
- "Essential"? Thanks.
- Yes.
- I'm just right in the middle of something.
- That's your word.
Okay, well, um...
hey, I'm always helping!
You guys heard about the
cholera outbreak, right?
- Hi, by the way.
- Yes, ma'am.
We're running out of time.
Here's my pitch:
what about solar?
To power the refugee camp?
No, my home.
Of course the refugee camp.
NADINE: So-so I take it the meeting
with POTUS didn't go as hoped.
We're on our own.
Here's my thought:
if we can't connect the camp
to a reliable power
source, then how about
we bring a power source to the camp?
BLAKE: If I may, ma'am,
that idea was first broached
when they built the camp,
but deemed not feasible at the time.
NADINE: Solar technology has improved
even since then.
This assessment is worth reconsidering,
given the circumstances.
But quickly.
- Yeah, if we had time.
- All we need is to find a contractor
who's willing to ship
enough solar panels
to power a small city , miles away,
before the government
shuts down tomorrow night,
for free.
JAY: All due respect, ma'am,
but I don't know if
we can pull that off.
We are damn sure gonna
try, so let's get on it.
- ROMAN: Hi, Mom.
- NADINE: Hi, Roman.
I just spoke with
Homeland Security, and...
good news, Shindy.
Your visa application
has been approved,
and you are free to travel to the U.S.
whenever you're ready.
Thank you so much, Nadine.
ROMAN: Mom, I can't tell you
how much that means to us.
It was my pleasure.
We've got a great place
lined up in Berkeley.
I hope you'll come out and see us.
Are you kidding? My first grandchild?
You'll have to drive
me away with a stick.
(both laugh)
Aw, I just wish you
lived on the West Coast.
You could hang out
with us all the time.
What'd I say?
Nothing.
That's...
(laughs softly)
Yes.
That would be nice.
(knocking on door)
BLAKE: Nadine?
You're missing the party.
Oh, I'll-I'll be right there.
I have to go now.
Um...
I love you both.
- Love you.
- Bye.
(types)
ELIZABETH:
Okay, this next one is from me.
Meaning Blake ordered it
and I signed the card.
It's an honor to serve, ma'am,
even if you inexplicably hate games.
Okay. Now, I-I know
what you're thinking.
"A wet/dry vac? I don't get it?"
But trust me,
even though you're having a girl,
from the minute they eat solid foods
until they go to college,
the place is a complete pigsty,
so... (whispers):
you'll thank me later.
Aw. I love it.
- (Elizabeth chuckles)
- Thank you, ma'am.
- Okay.
- JAY: Sorry I'm late.
DAISY: Hey, Jay.
Glad you could make it.
Also... here.
Uh, also, I need to borrow
the secretary for a minute.
Uh...
- A wipe warmer?
- Oh, believe me, it's the most important
baby product you've never heard of.
- ELIZABETH: Carry on without me, team.
- Thank you.
Okay, here. Just a little
something from me.
(laughing): Oh!
Come on.
It's adorable.
- Ah!
- (Blake clapping)
(laughs)
"Diplo Tot."
- So, the good news and the bad news.
- Pardon me.
- Yeah.
- I found a contractor
who can install a small
solar field at the camp,
probably within our time frame
because they're already in the region.
That's fantastic.
They're a new company
whose whole business plan
is using solar to power
up refugee camps.
They'd be willing to
do the job for free,
just for the publicity.
What's the bad news?
They're Israeli.
(sighs) And since Lebanon
is still technically at w*r with
Israel, they're not gonna allow
any Israeli goods, services
or citizens on their soil.
Correct, ma'am.
- That's...
- Bad.
That's a bummer.
Right?
What if they weren't Israeli?
- Ma'am?
- Does the company have
reps here in the States?
Yeah, actually. The
guy I was talking to
is here in D.C., hustling for contracts
with Department of Energy and DoD.
That's perfect. I want to talk to him.
Tell Nadine to call Haymond at CIA,
tell him I'm on my way over there,
and then get your guy
to meet me at Langley.
And also, the-the Lebanese
ambassador, okay?
And tell my guys that I'm
on my way down, okay?
Yes, ma'am.
Langley?
HENRY: Well,
here we are.
DMITRI: It looks like a day spa.
That's the idea.
(birds chirping)
What are you going to
tell the rest of the team
about where I am?
Well, if we get shut down,
I'll just tell 'em you were furloughed.
If I say you're non-essential,
don't take it personally.
Uh, it's, uh,
it's probably better for them
to take a little break from me.
They think I'm crazy.
Maybe a little.
But you impressed them before.
And you'll impress them
again when you come back.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
But we'll see how I do, right?
Yeah, we'll have to see.
So, let me understand this.
You want us to hand over
proprietary technology,
that we've spent years developing,
to a CIA front company
to install
in a refugee camp in Lebanon,
and we won't even get
any of the credit for it?
That's about the size of it, yeah.
In fact, this meeting
never even happened.
And why would I do that?
And why would we let them do that?
Why would we accept charity from
a country that invades ours?
That destroys our homes
and kills our citizens?
To defend ourselves
from rocket and guerrilla
att*cks launched by t*rrorists
- harbored in your country.
- Gentlemen.
Gentlemen.
ELIZABETH: We're not here to re-litigate
the Israeli-Lebanese conflict.
We're here to bring light and power
to tens of thousands of
desperate, traumatized people.
Yes, there are secondary
benefits, like...
ensuring stability in your country
and proving that your
product can work at scale,
not to mention having the U.S.
government in your debt.
If the shutdown happens,
I will have to pull my team out,
and there will be no one
on the ground to set
up the solar field.
I need you both to help
me help these people.
SAMIR: By working with the Israelis
and the CIA. What a world.
Fine.
Just please
keep this to yourselves.
I have plans this weekend,
and it would be nice to live till then.
So?
We're in.
But don't ask me to shake his hand.
We're not Rabin and Arafat here.
Great.
So are we a go?
It's never an easy ask
with you McCords, is it?
No.
Mr. President, the fiscal
year ends in a few hours.
Either accept our amendments to the CR
or we let the clock run out and
let the American people decide
who to blame for the shutdown.
You want to play that game? Fine.
Our numbers may not be great,
but Congress?
You guys literally poll
worse than staph infections.
DALTON: Carlos...
I understand that you and the
party feel betrayed by me,
but you're talking about
throwing hundreds of thousands
of people out of work,
delaying Medicare checks,
projecting uncertainty to the world.
Is that what you want?
CARLOS: Mr. President,
I know this might be difficult
for you to comprehend,
but this isn't about you.
It's about loyalty to principles.
Well, I guess that's that.
I did my best.
Now you do your worst.
Meantime, I'm going to continue
serving the American people, so...
if you'll excuse me,
I have somewhere to be.
Y-You're leaving?
But we still have three
hours before the deadline.
And you have my final offer.
Permission to ask
an impertinent question.
Well, you did save my life
that time, so you get one.
sh**t.
Shouldn't POTUS still be in there,
negotiating right up to the deadline?
I mean, where is he going?
You're right.
That is pretty impertinent.
Sorry.
No, wait.
You're still on the clock
for a few more hours.
Come on and find out.
DALTON: So, if you're having
any issues with the VA,
or retiring from active duty,
or if your family
is getting jammed with your bills,
you call that number
and somebody will get it
straightened out for you.
And if you're in a bad place
and you just want to talk to a brother
who understands, you call
and you ask for me.
I give you my word as a Marine,
I will answer that call.
And those phone lines
aren't getting shut down ever.
And that even goes for you
Army sons of b*tches.
Hooah.
ALL: Hooah.
Now I'll shut up so you all can talk.
What's your name?
Sean Johnson, Mr. President.
United States Air Force.
Thank you for your service.
You're welcome, sir.
- Thank you for your...
- RUSSELL: So...
- Pop quiz time.
- Hmm?
What did you learn about
Morejon and those guys
during all those meetings?
That his chief of staff
has a staring problem.
Good to know,
I guess.
What else?
I think Morejon is scared.
Yeah, he should be.
- He's the dog that caught the car.
- (cell phone vibrates)
(sighs)
Well...
let's hope you're right...
'cause the Senate just
let the clock run out.
Wow.
Yeah.
Buckle up.
- Thank you, sir.
- Glad you made it back.
RUSSELL: You want to know
why I brought you here?
Because I asked an
impertinent question?
(chuckles)
Look, the next few weeks
are gonna be ugly.
People will say, "Ah, that's
Washington for you.
A pox on both their houses."
Meanwhile, Conrad Dalton
comes here every month,
no matter what, and never
talks about it to anyone.
And the reason he's
in that room right now
and not me or Morejon
or some other windbag
is 'cause he understands
that some principles...
really can't be compromised.
Some duties really are sacred.
I wanted you to see that.
Thank you, Russell.
Ah.
Well?
(sighs)
I'll edit the speech on Marine One.
Let's go.
(sighs)
We're really doing this, huh?
(sighs) Indeed we are.
I've sent out the
department-wide e-mail
to all non-essential personnel.
And per your request, I asked everyone
who worked in the building
who's been furloughed
to gather in the main hall.
Thanks, Nadine.
Any changes to Matt's remarks?
Uh, no. No, I think they
strike just the right tone.
Believe this? Government shutdown.
I mean, what kind
of message are we sending
our friends and allies?
I mean, not to mention our adversaries.
- Ma'am...
- And now I've got to go out and send
thousands of hard-working
men and women home
on indefinite, unpaid leave.
I mean, what are they
supposed to tell their families?
And for what?
I... I'm sorry, I'm ranting.
Well, I know this is not the best time,
but I really need to ask you something.
Sure, yeah.
- Just...
- Thank you.
(both sigh)
Well... (sighs)
...speaking of family,
I'd like to request some
personal leave to spend
some time with mine.
- Of course.
- Thank you.
- Is everything okay?
- Yes.
Yes. Um... (stammers)
...I'm going to be a grandmother.
- Oh!
- (chuckles)
(laughs) That's really...
that's wonderful.
- Congratulations. Wow.
- Thank you.
Thanks. Yeah.
My son...
said something to me
today that... (sighs)
...I guess I've been waiting
a very long time to hear.
Whatever you need, we'll make it work.
Thank you.
I mean, that is if you,
if you want to make it work.
Ma'am?
Something tells me you're not
coming back from that leave.
(sighs)
I thought I needed time
to think about it, but...
you're right. No.
I won't be coming back from that leave.
I love public service, but
it's gotten so vicious.
Oh, and this pointless
government shutdown.
Conspiracy mongering.
Careful. You're talking
to a murderess, remember?
Right. Right.
I don't know.
Somehow, we've become
our own worst enemy.
And I don't want to spend the
rest of my career fighting.
Well, I-I've become very dependent
on you, Nadine.
And as much as I'd like
to beg you to stay,
sounds like you know what
you want in your heart.
You're gonna be someone's grandma.
(chuckles lightly)
(chuckles)
Well, it's, it's very gracious
of you, Madam Secretary.
(sighs)
Well, we made a damn good team.
Yes, we did.
And it has been my great
honor to serve you.
The honor has been mine.
Now brace yourself.
I'm going to hug you.
Oh. (laughs)
Thank you, Nadine, for everything.
Thank you...
Elizabeth.
(chuckles lightly)
- Shall we?
- Mm.
Good evening.
I really appreciate
you all indulging me here
for a few moments
when I'm sure you'd rather be
at home with your loved ones,
figuring out what comes next.
Or at the very least,
at a bar with your colleagues,
cursing the day you turned
down that job on Wall Street
to work in government.
(laughter)
Well, that commitment
is what I want to talk
to you about tonight.
Our work isn't political.
Our work is representing
the interests and values
of the United States
to the best of our ability.
And let me be clear
that in that effort,
not one of you are non-essential.
This department and this
nation and the world
will be poorer for your absence.
As for myself,
each one of you pushes me
to be better every single day.
And I will be counting the
days until you return,
especially the guy
who wrote this speech.
(laughter)
He-He put that line in
the speech, by the way.
(Elizabeth laughs)
All of you,
you chose to be here because
you believed in something
larger than yourselves.
(people cheering)
That sense of duty
and service is, well,
particularly in today's
egotistical culture,
in my mind, truly heroic.
And so, on behalf of myself
and the people of the United States,
I say to each and every one
of you a heartfelt thank you.
Until we see each other again...
good night and good luck.
04x03 - The Essentials
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"Madam Secretary" follows a former CIA analyst and college professor who is promoted to United States Secretary of State as she tries to balance her work and family life.
"Madam Secretary" follows a former CIA analyst and college professor who is promoted to United States Secretary of State as she tries to balance her work and family life.